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Agent Orange Infertility – For the hearts that Ache; but may still find joy

On May 1, 2013 By Q.A.S

Agent Orange & Infertility – Issues all too common for children of Vietnam Veterans

Today my words are meant to help uplift, empower and heal you. I know the feelings written here personally and it has hurt me in the past. I would like to give you some helpful ideas on how you can help children. How you can have them be a part of your life. How you can help them to fulfill their dreams, goals and lives even if you cannot have your own.

Recently I lost another child and finally put into motion a means that I would not concieve again to avoid the pain. I wanted to have my husbands child so badly that I could almost see him already. I felt that he was almost here and I could reach out and touch him and change my life. It was a boy I know that and it tore me open. I cried for weeks about this and I just want you to know that I truly understand how hard it is. This was not my first loss of a child but this one hurt the most.

I have had my share of trouble conceiving a child and then when I could was not able to carry to term. I made some changes in my lifestyle without the intention of having a baby at that time. I got rid of all the chemicals and animal products and voila ..side effect I was pregnant. I was so excited and happy. Then I found out the truth about what was happening and in the end I kissed my child goodbye and told him through tears that I was so sorry that I couldn’t be the mother that he had chosen.

I dealt with that pain and came out the other end knowing that I am here for another reason. That as much as my whole life i heard things like *Oh my god you will make such a good mom* to *You are so maternal* Why can’t I help children or adopt them and give them a better life? Why can’t I be their teacher and inspiration? Why can’t I help other people who feel like i do? I thought about it for months and came to the conclusion that I could do all and any of these things that I wanted to. The only limitation in place is what you believe there is. You can accomplish so much more than you may even realize.

I think that it is very important to remember that you may not be able to have your own child. But there are millions upon millions that could benefit from the love you hold in your heart for the ones you cannot have. They are just there waiting for you to find them, to lift them up and out of their desperate circumstances. To show them a better world and a kinder heart than they may have seen. So long as your choice is kindness and love towards a lonely or hurt child it is a good one.

These links will be a road that you may choose to go down. Remember while you do that just as you may feel alone and without joy and love, there are many children that feel the same exact way that you do. You hold this amazing gift in your hands and it is called free will. You can choose to gift and uplift and show these young people that they may suffer and that life is difficult but it is also filled with surprising kindnesses and gentle loving people.

http://kids-alliance.org/

http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301295/k.BE9A/Home.htm

http://www.shiningstarsfoundation.org/how-to-help-1/volunteer/

http://www.ymca.net/volunteer

I try to think what the reasons could be as to why people cannot have children. There are so many it would take a very long time to cover even half of the reasons. But I think that while it is a heartbreaking thing to have to realize there is a reason I believe. We are here to help others. We are here to look at and find children that need us and just help them in any way we can. Mourn your losses and move on it is the best thing you can do for yourself. It may sound harsh but that is the truth. You are here for another potential purpose. Perhaps you are meant to be Father or Mother to the children of the world. Perhaps you were given a gift instead. One that could make a huge difference in the world. Have you considered that?

We are all here just floating around and sometimes we see something. We stop and look at it and examine it closely because it speaks to us. Loving other human being that may not be your blood is one of those things that passes by us. We should stop and examine it and see what we can do to help others and in doing so heal ourselves.

http://www.freearts.org/volunteers

http://www.pageahead.org/volunteer.php

I have been amazed at how many things we can do to help children. We could just type in volunteer to help children and find out for yourselves what is out there. What we can do to make a difference in the lives of so many children that lack hope. Because they have been hurt so badly that they find trusting someone difficult. But if this is what you want to do then there is nothing stopping you from helping someone else. Imagine the power that you possess! You could change the life of another human being for the better!

http://www.freethechildren.com/get-involved/

You could volunteer at your local school. See if they need any help and do what you can. If you have medical problems and I know that many of you do then tell them your limitations. Many would be happy to have the help from anyone. If they cannot work with you then keep trying and see what you might be able to start in your community. There is always some way to help others.

http://www.americaspromise.org/Act/Volunteer.aspx

http://www.abetterchance.org/abetterchance.aspx?pgID=963

http://www.mentoring.org/get_involved/become_a_mentor/volunteer_referral_service

http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962345/k.E123/Volunteer_to_start_something.htm

I am including as many things that I can find that you could go out and do for yourself. Helping others can help to heal your own suffering. That is a proven fact in this world. If you reach out and help another human being you heal a hurt inside of you. These children that you help will not forget you or the things that you do to try and help them. I know you are hurting inside and I understand and this is a way to heal what is ailing you and your heart. Couples can benefit from this as well. Reach out and take a chance!

Quiescent Aureate Serpent

BECOME AN EMAIL MEMBER OF CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE

YOU WILL RECEIVE A ONCE DAILY EMAIL OF ANY BREAKING AGENT ORANGE NEWS AND RELATED TOPICS IN ADDITION TO ANY COVVHA UPDATES

PLEASE ENTER YOUR EMAIL IN THE BOX BELOW, A CONFIRMATION LINK WILL BE SENT TO YOUR EMAIL. YOU MUST OPEN THE EMAIL AND CLICK THE CONFIRMATION LINK TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.

GMO LEGISLATION Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act Endorsed By COVVHA

On April 25, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act

Take Action and make your voice heard now!!!!!!

All Legislation Endorsed and/or Opposed Has Been Approved and Reviewed by Kelly L. Derricks

It has never been easier to write your State Representative and share your position on current legislation. C.O.V.V.H.A. has been making it even easier for members, fans and followers!! The days of getting your pens and papers out to send your letters are over!!!

An “action page” link has been set up for the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act H.R.1699 & S.809 which takes you directly to the specific legislation as well as an area for your Name, Zip Code, and YOUR VOTE. That’s it!!! You hit enter and your information is sent directly to your State Representative in letter form which you will receive a copy of via email.

Your VOICE does count, PLEASE, use it!!!

Kelly L. Derricks (T.T.)

CLICK TO CAST YOUR HOUSE VOTE ON POPVOX NOW

CLICK TO CAST YOUR SENATE VOTE ON POPVOX NOW

I personally casted both of my votes and included the following statement to the United States House and Senate: I support H.R. 1699 (“To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that genetically engineered food”) because… GMO foods are engineered with health threatening compounds and chemicals and then sprayed with half of the chemical compound used in the production of AGENT ORANGE. The U.S. Gov’t killed my Father at the age of 37 after serving in the Vietnam War. Agent Orange/DIOXIN was passed through his sperm mutating my DNA. I have to fight for my life every single day with more than 30 diagnosed illnesses at the age of 38 and so do tens of thousands of other Children of Vietnam Veterans who were exposed. Now the gov’t doesn’t care that we are being DOUBLE EXPOSED. That’s Capital Murder if you ask me. You’ll see me standing in a court room bringing charges of Murder against the United States Govt before you see me standing down on GMO.

Truth Teller
www.covvha.net

AGENT ORANGE DARK MATTERS TWISTED BUT TRUE

AGENT ORANGE – The Accidental Inventor – VIDEO

On April 19, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Dark Matters Season 3 Episode 1, Agent Orange – The Accidental Inventor
Synopsis: A chemical that speeds up the flowering process in soybeans turns into a weapon during Vietnam.
Original air date: November 22, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw8OS925lUY

Dark Matters: Twisted But True is a television series featured on the Science Channel. Hosted by actor John Noble of Fringe and Lord of the Rings, the show takes the viewer inside the laboratory to profile strange science and expose some of history’s most bizarre experiments. This show uses narration and reenactments to portray the stories in this show

COVVHA Welcomed to Salem News

On March 28, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Children of Vietnam Veterans: Their Voice Keeps Growing

Originally Published By Salem-News.com (Mar-27-2013 11:36)

(WASHINGTON DC) – Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance, INC. (COVVHA), is an organization that was founded to address the specialized needs of the children and grand children of Vietnam Veterans who have been negatively affected by their parent’s exposure to the herbicide, Agent Orange, during the Vietnam war. We educate veterans, their families, the general public, and lawmakers about Agent Orange and it’s effect on our lives.

COVVHA was founded by two children of Vietnam Veterans. Heather A. Bowser and Kelly L. Derricks. Both of their lifes have been significantly affected by Agent Orange. Kelly lost her father at age seven due to Agent Orange illnesses. Kelly currently suffers from twenty eight, unexplained illnesses which forced her to retire from her career in the mental health field. Heather was born with several birth defects, including missing her right leg below the knee, several of her fingers and big to on her left foot. Heather was born two months premature and only weighed 3.4 ounces. Her father is also deceased. Heather’s father had five bypasses on his heart at age 38, subsequently he died at ace 50 from a massive heart attack. His death was service related due to his Agent Orange exposure.

Kelly and Heather founded this organization because there are so many needs that are not being met in their peer group. The most pressing one, is the government has not acknowledged the devastating birth defects and illnesses in the children of male Vietnam Veterans, like they have in the children of female Vietnam Veterans. Currently, the government acknowledges eighteen plus birth defects in the children of female Vietnam Veterans. They only acknowledge one birth defect in the children of Male Vietnam Veterans. Spina Bifida. This, Kelly and Heather both feel is discrimination. Especially because they have so many reports of similar birth defects and illness.

COVVHA has also built a private support community for only children of Vietnam Veterans. It has over six hundred members. They educate and support each other in this group. Kelly and Heather want their members to understand that they are not alone. Many of them have lost, or are in the process of losing their Vietnam Veteran, plus they are dealing with birth defects or unexplained illnesses.

They are also seeing an influx of children of Vietnam Veterans who start researching Agent Orange because their child, the grand child of the Vietnam Veteran has been born with an issue, or suddenly has a rare illness.

COVVHA deals with a lot of issues, like grief, illness, anger and the like. The group also enjoys each others company and find many similar anecdotes of what it was like growing up with a Vietnam Veteran.

COVVHA is also involved in supporting international efforts in cleaning up, and disclosing locations of buried herbicide. Heather has traveled three times to Vietnam. She has visited two of the most poisonous hot spots still contaminated with Agent Orange, Da Nang, and Bein Hoa. Heather has also worked with organizations in Vietnam who support the on going health care of the Vietnamese children who are still being born today with birth defects due to their parents or grand parents exposure and the continued environmental pollutants. Recently Heather traveled to Okinawa, Japan to educate those seeking answers about reports that Agent Orange herbicide was stored, used and buried on the island of Okinawa. Building community with those who may have suffered due to Agent Orange in Japan is very important to the organization.

COVVHA seeks unity in all those who have been affected by Agent Orange dioxin so that our community may build strength in numbers and that our voices would be heard by those who make decisions.

Children of Vietnam Veterans: Their Voice Keeps Growing

Product Alert!!! Dirty Secrets Test Results

On March 13, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Cleaning product companies aren’t required to disclose the ingredients they use in their products, and what they’re keeping secret from you could be hazardous to your health. Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) commissioned an independent laboratory to test twenty popular cleaning products for hidden toxic chemicals from five top companies: Clorox, Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, SC Johnson and Son, and Sunshine Makers (Simple Green).

We found reproductive toxins, carcinogens, hormone disruptors, and allergens, and none of these chemicals were listed on the product label.  Consumers deserve to know what chemicals they are being exposed to, so that they can easily avoid products that may cause allergic reactions or serious long-term health impacts like cancer, birth defects, or pregnancy complications.

WVE is calling on Congress to pass new federal legislation that requires cleaning product manufacturers to disclose all the ingredients they use in their products directly on the product label. Read More…

Procter & Gamble Must Scrub Carcinogen Dioxane From Tide (via Environment News Service)

SACRAMENTO, California, January 25, 2013 (ENS) – Procter & Gamble, makers of Tide and Tide Free & Gentle detergents, has agreed in a California court to reduce the levels of the chemical 1,4 dioxane in its laundry products. The Oakland-based nonprofit organization As You Sow filed a lawsuit against…

Agent Orange Testimony To Institute of Medicine January 2013 – COVVHA VIDEO

On January 29, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS AGENT ORANGE TESTIMONY TO IOM WWW.COVVHA.NET

Good Afternoon, My name is Tanya Renee Mack. I am here representing (COVVHA) Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance INC. I am 39 years old and am a 2nd generation Agent Orange Survivor. My father, SSGT. James Sciaccotti was a Combat Controller in the United States Air Force and was part of the Special Operations Squadron, 101st Airborne Unit in the A shau Valley from 1966 –1968.

The age range of children of Vietnam Veterans is roughly between the ages of 20-45. Many of us have Fathers with service connected Agent Orange Claims recognized by the Veterans Administration. Most of us have Dads who are dead or dying of Agent Orange presumptive illnesses that have been recognized by the VA. Our lives and the lives of our kids are the result of a giant science experiment between the United States Government and the chemical companies gone awry. New information known about human exposure to dioxin and trans-generational exposures, reinforces our belief of a strong plausibility of an epigenetic link to our illnesses and our Father’s or Mother’s service connection to the Vietnam War. We have been treated as collateral damage. The science is now quickly catching up with what we have known all along, we’ve been damaged by a war we did not fight.

COVVHA completes an informal survey when a new member joins our private support community. Through our 500 members (only COVVs) we have consistently been faced with like illnesses, and deformities. We want to bring this information to you, the IOM, urging this committee to finally investigate fully what has been done to us and our children. From our informal research we believe the children and grandchildren of Vietnam Veterans have a much higher instance of several types of disease. (In our submitted documents you will see the categories of illnesses and the number of times the illness has been reported). Represented in our membership also, are several suffering from the illnesses on the Veterans Presumptive lists, please keep in mind this is a group of people between ages 20-45. Diabetes Type II, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Ischemic Heart Disease, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Peripheral Neuropathy, Acute and Sub-acute Respiratory Cancers, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Parkinson’s Disease.

Our membership of 500 COVVs have reported as many as 93 different congenital anomalies. Fourteen of them listed on the testimony we have submitted are some of same birth defects that are currently covered for the children of Women Vietnam Veterans. Considering there were 6-8 thousand women Vietnam Veterans and Approximately 2.8 million men who served, COVVHA believes this Study was used to keep the children of male Vietnam Veterans from making claims even though early studies showed dioxin caused birth defects in the children of Male Vietnam Veterans. Our fathers were told they were overreacting; there was no scientific link to their children being born with birth defects, rare illnesses and cancers. Air Force study of Ranch Hand personnel responsible for herbicide spraying reported statistically significant increase in reported birth defects in the Ranch Hand group (Albanese, 1988). Defects included: Skin defects, Neural tube defects, Heart defects, Oral clefts, and Kidney defects. Erickson, et al (1984) reported that risks for fathering an infant with spina bifida, cleft lip, and certain neoplasms” were higher for Vietnam veterans than controls. Increased evidence of birth defects were also reported in a population of Vietnam veterans living in Tasmania (Field and Kerr, 1988)., These were ignored, as were many other studies on the effects of dioxin on offspring from other countries, like in Vietnam where reports of birth defects, miscarriage and deformities were rampant.

In September of 2012, Washington State University released an epigenetic study looking at exposures of female mice to dioxin and the trans-generational effects dioxin had on the children and grandchildren of the mice. The Study showed there was a negative trans-generational effect. We need more of this type of research, Skinner, et al (2012). That study was funded partially by the Department of Defense. Why can’t they replicate the same study, but just expose male mice?

COVVHA would like to offer the following recommendations (See our submitted testimony for more):

A. The eighteen plus birth defects for children of female Vietnam Veterans should be approved for children of male Vietnam Veterans: This act alone would help some of the most disabled, and those in most desperate need of services, in the COVV community.

B. Free DNA and Epigenetic testing for the biological Children of Vietnam Veterans : (Our Data shows that biological children of Vietnam Veterans who have been required by their Doctors to have DNA Testing have proven to show genetic mutations. See submitted documents).

C. An official agent Orange Registry for Children of Vietnam Veterans (COVVHA proposes that an official Agent Orange registry be made available to the biological children of Vietnam Veterans.) COVVHA has submitted the types and numbers of each of the roughly 694 illness we have had reported over the past year.

We are willing to cooperate with the IOM in any way possible.

The following is a glimpse of how my Father’s exposure to Agent Orange has affected my life. I am 39 years old and am a 2nd generation Agent Orange Survivor. I was born with severe hip dysplasia and started having hip reconstruction surgery at just 4 months old. I learned to walk in a full body cast after my second reconstruction at 13 months old. After 15 hip reconstruction surgeries, at age 17, I had my first total hip replacement surgery. 22 years later, I’ve had 4 total hip replacements. Currently, I’m scheduled to have it replaced for the 5th time. At 32 years old I started to develop multiple basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. They were very aggressive and according to the pathology reports, were a different mutation than normal. I was sent to UCLA to have genetic testing. There, I was diagnosed with Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome (also known as Gorlin Syndrome) with a Mutation in my PTCH1 gene. A mutation in this gene is only caused one of two ways. It is either inherited from a parent or a new mutation occurs due to chemical or biological environmental exposures. Only 20% of all cases reported are new mutations. Both of my parents were tested, and neither one had the mutation which means that I am in the 20% of new mutations.

By the time I was 34 I had a total hysterectomy due to Squamous Cell Carcinoma in my Uterus and on my Ovaries. At 35 years old, I was diagnosed with Lupus and Raynaud’s Disease, again no family history. I was also informed the severe back pain that I was having was a curve in my spine. In 2010, I was diagnosed with Melanoma. I was fortunate that is was caught early and had not spread to my Lymph Nodes. It did however, spread far enough to have tissue and muscle removed, causing a golf ball size disfigurement in my shin. August, 2011, I was diagnosed with another rare form of Cancer called Bowen’s Disease. Now, my Oncologist was extremely worried because they almost never see this in someone as young as me. Bowen’s Disease is caused by extreme exposure to Arsenic and is considered Arsenic Poisoning. Since I have never worked or been exposed to herbicides or pesticides, I was told by my Oncologist that it was due to my Father’s exposure to Agent Orange. Over 50% of the Compound used in Agent Orange was Arsenic. In March 2012, my Oncologist found a large tumor on the neck of my gallbladder which required another surgery to have my entire gallbladder removed.

As of today, I have had 198 skin biopsies of which 181 were positive for Cancer. I am currently on a new Cancer drug in which I was involved in the Clinical Trial. This drug, however, will only slow down the progression of Basal Cells and still leaves me vulnerable for Squamous Cell and Melanoma. I’m in constant pain and my quality of life has decreased drastically over the last several years. My medical costs with insurance runs an average of $800-$1000 dollars a month. These costs consist of office visit copays ($45 per visit) and tier 6 drugs, these do not count toward my annual out of pocket maximum. Because of this, I struggle every month to make ends meet as my medical insurance and copayments/coinsurance have to be first priority. In March 2007, in an attempt to get help with my mounting medical costs, I applied to the Department of Veterans Affairs for benefits (38 U.S.C. 1815). I sent the V.A all of the required documents, and medical records. I felt confident I would get some help because after all, Hip Dysplasia is a covered birth defect. Four months later I received a letter from The Department of Veterans Affairs denying my claim (See Statement below).

“We denied entitlement to a monthly monetary allowance for your claimed birth defect(s) because the evidence
does not show that your biological Mother served in Vietnam to qualify for payment under 38 U.S.C. 1815. The
claimed disability is hip dysplasia which is considered a qualifying condition. However, regulation 38 C.F.R. 3.815
refers to benefits allowable for an individual with disability from covered birth defects whose biological mother is or was a Vietnam Veteran”

I remember thinking that my Father’s Service to his Country would end up killing me. In my opinion, this was blatant discrimination against men and their offspring. I became depressed and wanted to give up. I was undergoing systemic chemotherapy at the time of my denial letter, and did not know how I would be able to continue since I could not afford the coinsurance for each treatment. Without going into detail, I will say my family has had to give up a lot so I could stay alive. August 21, 2012, My father passed away from Lung and Colon Cancer. He was 64 years old. His Cancer had been attributed to his exposure to Agent Orange. At the time of his death, he was receiving benefits from the V.A. and was considered 100% disabled due to service connected Agent Orange Exposure…..But of course, according o the V.A., there was no possible way that his exposure could have any effect on me, Sad!

Please See Below COVVHA’s Full IOM Testimony Packet

Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides (Ninth Biennial Update… by
Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

BECOME A MEMBER OF CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE

YOU WILL RECEIVE A ONCE DAILY EMAIL OF ANY BREAKING AGENT ORANGE NEWS AND RELATED TOPICS IN ADDITION TO ANY COVVHA UPDATES

PLEASE ENTER YOUR EMAIL IN THE BOX BELOW, A CONFIRMATION LINK WILL BE SENT TO YOUR EMAIL. YOU MUST OPEN THE EMAIL AND CLICK THE CONFIRMATION LINK TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.

Living With Fibromyalgia, Solutions For Suffering

On January 28, 2013 By Q.A.S

Fibromyalgia where to begin.

Where do you begin when you are feeling ill and overwhelmed with pain? When each movement is like some sort of agony, when stress can end your day and you spiral into another bout of pain. Getting out of bed can be a struggle and most days you most likely wish that you could just crawl back into bed and stay there. Does any of this sound familiar to you? Have you been wondering why do I feel this way? Why me? What have I done to deserve this? We can beat ourselves up over this or we can try to understand it. We can choose to give up or we can decide to take charge of our life and diet. We can crawl back into bed and wish it was all over or we can take some control back and realize that life IS worth fighting for. We can listen when people tell us it is all in our head, we made it up etc.

We can let the world bring us down or we can research, listen, learn, try something different. We oftentimes repeat our patterns over and over and wonder why nothing changes. In order for change to exist we have to try a new choice and stick to it. Fibromyalgia can become more bearable and I am living proof of that. Do you find that your skin tingles? Do you get muscle spasms? Weakness in your limbs or nerve pain? Do your muscles twitch or do you begin to find that good sleep is becoming more and more rare? Are you finding it difficult to concentrate? Do you suddenly find that either you can remember things that happened long ago and short term memories are disabled? Or is it the other way around for you? Did you used to be able to multitask like a pro and now you sit there wondering what you can do. Spend time doing that and before you know it your day is coming to an end and you are so tired and you go to bed. Then while you toss and turn do you turn to pills? All of these questions are linked to Fibromyalgia. We all feel this at some time or another. Some of us get all of these symptoms, some only a few.

http://www.fmnetnews.com/fibro-basics/symptoms

So you have just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and you are terrified and overwhelmed and full of questions. You looked into the eyes of your doctor and found little help there. It is frustrating and sometimes you will cry. You might come home and look up on Google this then you will read it. You might even read between the lines and realize that this is just a name for something that they do not really understand at all. That is when you got a little angry, when you realized that your doctors were practically clueless. That they wanted to throw pills at it and then hopefully you would leave them alone. For some a prescription for Lyrica works.You pray and hope and sit nervously in your chair. This is supposed to help you, you look at that bottle like a potential saviour. You might think that with this pill you just might be able to feel normal again, or at least to some degree. Right? Well the chances of it working are just like any other pill. It may or may not work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregabalin

One thing that you may have noticed having Fibromyalgia is that not only are you more sensitive physically. You may also find loud noises unbearable. Strong smells bother your olfactory sense as well. So on top of everything else your other senses may go into overload. Even spicy food is a bit too much for some people. Add in the extra strong senses into the situation and it can make most mundane tasks more difficult. It is a bit like being the most sensitive person in the world. You may wonder why you did not get your cape and outfit if you are going to have super anything. You might ask why you cannot at least fly along with super senses.

Treating Fibro can and should be more than just a pill. Pills treat symptoms but they do not cure. So this means that the root cause is somewhere either inside of you or around you. I am suggesting that you look at the inside of your home and inside of your body. Your home can be hiding many toxins that can only make you more miserable. This website goes on to speak about this. Chemicals are not going to help you at all. Whether it is a glass cleaner or a surface cleaner be very careful of chemicals. There is a way to make your own homemade cleaning items that work just like those cleaners bought from the store. The benefit of this is that you can eliminate not only chemicals that are having an effect on your Fibromyalgia symptoms, but also you are getting rid of chemicals that are harming your family too. People buy these items without thinking. Sometimes they do not even read the labels. You have to begin to read labels and take responsibility for what you are bringing into your environment. These take a toll on your health.

http://managingfibromyalgia.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/fibromyalgia-and-chemical-sensitivities.html

You may wonder how to make household cleaners or something that will clean your bathroom etc. You may also buy home fragrances, air fresheners, scent warmers or scented candles. The trouble with many of these is that they are chock full of synthetic scents etc. You should not be exposing yourself to things like this. This teaches you how to make your own. It is not hard at all once you get used to this. Not only that but doing this thoroughly around your home when you have the energy can really help you. If you cannot do it find someone that can and ask for help. Do not be ashamed to admit you need help. You are sick and you deserve understanding and compassion. Once you get this done then your home will not smell as bad. The vinegar does fade away leaving a clean surface. Plain candles can be substituted for those chemical nightmares.

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/a/Homemade_Cleaners.htm

You also need to take a long look at what you are eating. This is no joke, this is your comfort and happiness here. You need to look at everything that you are eating and get rid of anything that is overly processed. You would be wise to seek out food in its most whole form. Instead of frozen potatoes or powdered ones buy the fresh ones. I know that Velveeta tastes good but it is nothing but chemicals and food colorings really. If you are going to eat cheese then make sure that you eat it sparingly and try to spend a little more and get real cheese. The same goes for sodas of all kinds. Sodas are not worth it. I know they taste good, but is it worth your health? Really consider this please. You may be saying but it tastes so good, or only a little bit can’t hurt me. A little bit can hurt you. Getting rid of processed foods and sodas is step one.

http://waterforlifeusa.com/blog/8-ways-soda-fizzles-your-health

Continuing on with diet, there have been studies done. There are clear links with a plant based diet and improving of symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Your author is on a plant based diet and has lost weight and symptoms have become better over time. Remembering how bad it was and where it is now, things are better. This is something worth looking at. There are many many places that tell you fish will help. I advise against consuming fish vehemently.There are studies coming out right now showing that mercury contamination is much higher than previously believed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_poisoning

http://www.greenandhealthy.info/fish.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11093597

Sleep is a very big issue with people suffering from Fibromyalgia. Sleep comes rarely and you wonder when it will come by and visit you. It becomes that thing that people talk about and you hear but seem to almost never experience. You toss and turn add pillows and finally you will sleep after tossing enough. When you wake up you may feel like you have been wrestling with sleep rather than sleeping next to it. This does not help you when all you want is sleep, some peace from the constant pain. This article goes over some of the problems found with patient suffering from this.

http://www.musculoskeletalnetwork.com/fibromyalgia/content/article/1145622/2110825

Now I will cover medical marijuana uses for people with this.It can be said that the author uses this for medical reasons and it has helped tremendously. Each person makes their own choices and finds their own path. Personally, this coupled with a plant based diet and complete elimination of household chemicals and processed foods have helped. Symptoms are much less than they were which of course does tend to cause worry. Because it makes you wonder how bad it would be if these measures had not been taken. It is not so much pain relief as a disassociation from your pain that it provides. It makes it feel slowly less and less until your pain becomes easier to deal with.This is what most people that suffer from Fibromyalgia usually lament. They will say “I wish I had one day without pain, that would be nice, Or that would be a gift” or they will simply lay in bed and cry wondering why they are suffering so much from something that even the doctors wonder about. These things do not inspire confidence or peace of mind.

http://www.medicalmarijuana.net/uses-and-treatments/fibromyalgia/

Herbal relief can also be something else that you can incorporate into your regimen. Now they do say that you should consult your doctor before you begin taking these supplements. Personally, I would make sure that my doctor knew and was open to the idea of herbal remedies. Many doctors seem to be against herbal remedies opting for the more standard western practices. So please be forewarned and forearmed. I am suggesting that you research it and try to find a homeopathic doctor in conjunction with your regular doctor. Just to make sure that you are not getting a biased opinion.

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/conditionsetoh/a/Fibromyalgia.htm

http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=285

You can also try alternative therapies to find relief from your symptoms. There are many things that you can do that do not involve taking a pill, getting surgery of some kind, etc. Massage does help with the pain aspect of this. While massage is expensive for some it is possible to just do it yourself. You can give yourself a massage and relax somewhat if there is nobody to help you with this. You could also save up to buy a used massage table that you and your partner can use. You do not have to rely on a professional for the rest of your life. You can get books and begin to practice gently on your partner and eventually it can be something that you can share with your significant other. Acupressure and acupuncture can be very helpful as well. Read more about various other things that you can look into.

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/self-massage-for-fibromyalgia.html

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/alternativetreatments/a/bodywork.htm

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+for+Fibromyalgia+Syndrome

Remember, you can be your own worst enemy if you do not watch what you say and do carefully. Do not pay attention to others that show you no patience at all while you suffer. The following is an article on ten things that you should stop doing to yourself.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/a/10-Things-To-Stop-Doing-To-Yourself.htm

Ways of coping are very important tools. Sometimes perhaps write yourself small notes when you are feeling good. Then keep them stashed away somewhere for when you are feeling bad. When you are having a bad day read what you wrote and remember to smile even if you do not feel like it. You can fool yourself into being more happy over time if you just continue to smile.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/a/pacing101.htm

Finally I want you to repeat after me. This is not my fault and I am a beautiful worthy person. You deserve to be happy and have enjoyment in life. This can feel like a heavy burden but you can find ways to lighten the load. My advice comes from living with Fibromyalgia myself. I know what it feels like and how hard it is. So just know that this advice is coming from someone that does indeed know how you feel. Find something that you enjoy doing that helps others. There is a joy in helping someone that cannot possibly pay you back for your kindness, but it brightens the world. You can smile and find joy and hope and a reason to go on. Life is beautiful and you are not alone.

Quiescent Aureate Serpent

©Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

agent orange gmo monsanto children of vietnam veterans www.covvha.net

Agent Orange, Children Of Vietnam Veterans, Monsanto, GMO – The Video That Explains Everything

On December 18, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

On October 16, 2011, Kelly L. Derricks (TRUTH TELLER) traveled to New York City where she gave a public speech about Agent Orange after being invited by Millions Against Monsanto to participate in the rally event for World Food Day. Below is the video recording of that speech.

Kelly has battled severe health issues since she was born that continue today. Some of her illnesses, presumed to be associated with the inter-generational effects of Agent Orange, include but are not limited to the following:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Addison’s disease
• Congenital adrenal hyperplaysia
• Intersticial cystitis.

*Her complete list of illnesses staggers to 30 different things.

Kelly continues to fight for the Children of Vietnam Veterans as well as Vietnam Veterans and their families. In January of 2012 She Co-Founded The Non-Profit Organization (COVVHA) Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance INC

Visit The Main Website At WWW.COVVHA.NET

https://www.youtube.com/user/teppnme?feature=watch

Never Forgetting Our Heroes

On December 10, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

I just got done watching an episode of Bones called “The Patriot in Purgatory”, starring David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. It is a show on the FOX network and it was originally aired on November 12th, 2012. This is a clip from that show, http://youtu.be/ooRloIi1Yq4. It was about a homeless man that they were trying to identify, he had been found in a parking garage, believed to have been murdered. It turns out that he was a veteran from Afghanistan that had PTSD and he was at the Pentagon on September 11th. The injuries that he sustained were believed to be from being beaten to death but were in fact from saving 3 people from the rubble of the Pentagon after the plane hit. He had been there every day, yelling out the names of the soldiers that were with him in battle and were killed in an ammo dump. He thought it was the only way to get these guys the silver star, he had petitioned the Pentagon 56 times to no avail. He bled out after 10 days from a punctured lung. Once he was identified, he was given a full military funeral.

The reason I am writing this article is that I am extremely humbled in knowing that there are thousands of homeless veterans in this country and they seem to be invisible. They went to war, be it in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan, they fought for us, they lost men that they loved as brothers in doing so and we can’t be bothered to help these men. I think back to my own family. My dad was in Vietnam in 1965, he was one of the lucky ones, he got to come home. My brother was in Desert Storm in Iraq in 1991. He also came home but at what price? Dad was exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin and has health problems because of it. His best friend didn’t come home. He was killed in an accident due to carelessness. My brother has issues due to his service over there. How much is a human life worth? You can’t turn on the TV these days without hearing about the suicides of the vets coming back from Iraq/Afghanistan. Has this county gotten so jaded that these men mean nothing, that their service to this country was just for fun? We have forgotten our heros! We have forgotten that without them, we would be living a much different life. This is unfair and it is unacceptable!

We have all lost something due to war. These men and women have lost so much, their health, their lives, their sanity, their hope! This country was changed on September 11, 2001. Some lost parents, husbands, wives, their humanity, their faith in GOD, what have you. That should have been a wake up call for us, for us to take care of our own and make sure that they know how much we appreciate them and how important they are to us. Instead, we focus on our own trivial lives and continue on like these men are just window dressing. PLEASE, take some time out to thank a veteran today and to welcome him or her home. There was a number and a website at the end of the show for the Veterans Crisis Line, www.veteranscrisisline.net, the phone number is 1-800-273-8255.The VA has a program to help homeless vets, that address is www.va.gov/Homeless,www.voa.org/ If you know of a veteran that is need of help, reach out, give them a hand up. Go to the VA and see if you can volunteer, if you know of a veteran that is homeless, give him or her a blanket and steer them to where they can get help. Write or call your Senators and Congressmen and women to tell that they need to support the legislation concerning veterans and their welfare. The reason that the man in the show was homeless is because he was the only one of his unit that survived an attack on the ammo dump they were in. He couldn’t handle being indoors and his wife would find him sleeping in a park somewhere. These men and women aren’t lazy or pathetic, who among us knows what they went through and why they are homeless? There is no purple heart for PTSD and no recognition for what they have given up or lost to fight for us.

We as the children of Vietnam Veterans know better than anyone what life is like for our vets. We need to help them through whatever hardship they may be facing, they fought and died for us, what more can they do? Be thankful, so many of us have lost them for different reasons, most of which are due to Agent Orange/ Dioxin exposure. We have each other to lean on for support and for comfort, these men have fallen through the cracks and don’t have anyone. We can’t give up on them. We can’t forget what they have sacrificed for us and what they stand for. We aren’t alone, don’t let them be, you can make a difference in someone’s life today. It is time that we showed them just how much they are not forgotten. They didn’t forget us when they laid their lives on the line for all of us, not just their own families but for all of us as a nation. Don’t let their sacrifices mean nothing!

In closing, I would like to say Thank You and Welcome Home to any and all veterans that are reading this article and I would just ask that you not forget out heros! We can make a difference if we all just stick together and do something. Thank you for reading this and know that none of us are alone. We just have to take the time to see what has been invisible for too long. It is up to us as a nation to uphold all veterans, whether they are Vietnam Vets or Iraq/ Afghanistan vets. Without them, where would we be now?

Karen Y. Wengert

(COVVHA) Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance Lapel Pins On Sale Now!

On November 21, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!

The Perfect stocking stuffer gift that will shine the whole year through!!!

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance is proud to introduce our new Lapel Pins for purchase

Individual Pins Are Priced At $12.00

Email Us At PMASON@COVVHA.NET To Place Your Orders!!!!

COVVHA Organic View Radio Agent Orange Veterans

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance On The Organic View Radio Show – Veterans Day Episode

On November 13, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

On Monday November 12, 2012, Kelly L. Derricks and Karen Y. Wengert were please to return to the Organic View Radio Show, hosted by June Stoyer, for a special Veterans Day feature about Agent Orange and the children of Vietnam Veterans.

Click the player below to hear the show!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theorganicview/2012/11/12/the-children-of-vietnam-veterans-health-alliance

Listen to internet radio with The Organic View on Blog Talk Radio

COVVHA BY DESIGN CUSTOM CLOTHING LINE

On November 5, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEW AGENT ORANGE AWARENESS CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE CUSTOM CLOTHING LINE “COVVHA BY DESIGN” SPONSORED BY

RED ZONE GRAPHIC EMBROIDERY

Check out some of our photos for our different brand lines like :

COVVHA SPORT FOR WOMEN

COVVHA GEAR FOR MEN

COVVHA COMFORT SLEEP LINE

COVVHA VETERANS & MILITARY

COVVHA LAPEL PINS

R2M CUSTOM

For Ordering and product Information Please Contact

PMASON@COVVHA.NET

To View Photos, please Click HERE

Agent Orange News Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance 2012

Agent Orange Dioxin & GMO News September – October

On October 8, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

One veteran’s story about fighting Agent Orange

Ruben Rosario: Did this veteran’s service cost him his life?

Ken Blum: Focus on Agent Orange before victims are all gone

John Bury: Victims of Agent Orange must band together to push …

Despite knowing Agent Orange, Parkinson’s link some veterans still have …

France May Issue Call for Europe-Wide Ban on GM Corn

Red Fridays – Burn Pits, the new Agent Orange

Genetically Modified Organisms No Answer to Food Shortage

Treatment of veterans is totally disgusting

Federal Judge Dismisses Agent Orange Case in NY

Agent Orange in Okinawa: the Smoking Gun

Prop 37: 8 Reasons for Voting Yes for Labeling GMO Foods

New method of cleaning Passaic River fails test in Lyndhurst

Promise made, promise kept: Son takes father’s fight about Agent …

Agent Orange wrecks future generations’ too?

Corpus Christi Army Depot’s safety history sometimes spotty

Letters: A veteran’s take on his healthcare

After military service, veterans next battle V.A.

Vietnamese, Korean dioxin victims on epic bike trip

Homeland Security is Working for Monsanto

US says to help clear dioxin from Da Nang airport by 2016

War veterans’ children supported by scholarships

Over VND2.5 billion raised for disadvantaged children

Agent Orange consequences to be overcome by 2020

Vietnam Veteran Remembered As Kind, Proud American

SEARCH TIME.COM

US, Vietnam join hands to deal with AO consequences

Agent Orange chemical in GM war on resistant weeds

Agent Orange cleanup effort stirs questions about responsibility

Mag Links Romney To Monsanto

Remember Vietnam,Continuing Birth Defects Caused By Agent …

Massive Attack on GMO Labeling Proposal in California

Monsanto: One of Romney & Bain’s Earliest Clients

Andrew G. Reiter: Questions on efforts to clean up Agent Orange

Oregonians Fear Harmful Effects From Timberland Herbicides

AGENT ORANGE Rainbow Herbicides A Bioforming Pandemic Killing Some …

Feds May Acknowledge Ground Zero Cancer Link

FRA | Legislative Update: Agent Orange Reform

Debate over genetically modified food gets political with Prop. 37

Agent Orange’s shameful legacy

U.S. and Vietnam looking to improve trade relations

American student asks justice for AO victims

Birth defects caused by Agent Orange : WTF

Dow denies succour to Bhopal despite new-found enveronmentalism

Navy veteran says Agent Orange is still a concern

Dow Chemical still blamed for deaths and birth defects and under …

Laos still in the dark on Agent Orange impact

United States and Laos yet to deal with Agent Orange legacy

I look to the positives rather than the ifs or the buts’

United States Embarks On $43 Million Effort to - Birth Defect Lawyer …

Da Nang: 62 people infected with dioxin

VA Harnesses Big Data For Broader Impact

McNair researcher to use Vietnam’s toxic aftermath for realistic theatre

Craig Wehrle: War supporter Grothman should look at birth defects

The Terrible Legacy of Agent Orange

Vietnam forgotten, more than a ‘Lost Generation’

150, 000 Vietnamese children born with birth defects - Agent …

He’s telling the other side of war

Veterans For Peace: U.S. just beginning Agent Orange cleanup in …

Cleaning Agent Orange - Video Library – The New York Times

Behind the front line

The Toxic Effects of Agent Orange Persist 51 Years After the …

Children of Vietnam Health Alliance Makes Debut Appearance On Vietnam Television – VIDEO

On October 1, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

We here at COVVHA, get this question a lot…

When I made my first trip to Vietnam, my biggest fear was that I would be considered a traitor, a war sympathizer, and God forbid, a Hanoi Jane (A.K.A. Hanoi Heather). Even after my first trip, I was a little hesitant to start speaking out. Then it happened. I just started sharing my experiences with others. To my surprise, as I started speaking out, many American Vietnam Veterans came to me asking questions. They would ask, “Did you go to XXX? I served there, what is it like now?” Others would speak of the topography, where they went on R&R, more than one told me of a lost love, asking if I met any Vietnamese American children. Some would tentatively ask how I was treated by the Vietnamese. When I would tell the stories of meeting aging Vietnamese veterans, who once fought for the North or South, and how they would listen to my family’s tragic Agent Orange story, and tear up, then tell me through the translator, how they are very sick from diabetes, cancers and heart conditions and how their children are very ill or dead. The American Veteran would listen, and then more often than not say, “I’m glad you went, I’m not sure if I would go back, but I’m glad you went. I know your Dad is very proud of you.” That was all the affirmation I needed. I was on the right path. It took the men who are living the long Shadow of the Vietnam War to give me the courage I needed.

A few times, and I say very few, because it’s only happened twice, I have been called a “War sympathizer,” I will tell you no Vietnam Veteran has ever called me such. Maybe they are too polite or too pissed to speak with me, I get that, but I’ve never had that experience. When it has happened, I have said, I am not a war sympathizer, I am a humanitarian, the war is over, and our countries are at peace with each other. The mental, and physical pain left from the war is not over, on either side, but the actual taking up arms and killing each other is.

The Vastness of the problem with Agent Orange in Vietnam took till my third trip to even grasp. Vietnam is roughly the same size in square miles as the state of New Mexico. Vietnam reports it has over three million Agent Orange victims. Now think about a county in your state. In one small province in Vietnam I visited, there were 14,000 Agent Orange Victims, 7,000 of them were second generation victims. Can you imagine? Remember the polio epidemic? If it were happening again, would you just sit by and watch? Now, not only throw in the polio epidemic, but also throw in extreme poverty, very poor health care and toxic local environments that are continuing to poison the food supply, creating more victims. This is the current state of things in Vietnam. Would you support those who were doing the work to stop it, and improve the conditions of innocent children? There are many trying to stop this epidemic in Vietnam.

How can helping those offspring affected by Agent Orange in Vietnam help the offspring of Vietnam Veterans in the US or Australia? Currently, there is more research going on in Vietnam on issues of Agent Orange than anywhere else in the world. In Vietnam, there are more supporters globally then there have ever been for the children of US or Australian Veterans. Ninety nine percent of these global supporters do not even know there are Agent Orange offspring Victims in the United States or Australia. If none of the children of American Vietnam Vets or Australian Vietnam Vets are speaking out and educating those in the global community that we are in fact here, how will they ever know? How will they ever know we need help with health care costs and the like?
Why is all this research happening and global supporters still do not know other victims exist? Number one, it is the multitudes of identifiable Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. Remember, three million victims in the area as large as the state of New Mexico. Secondly, it has to do with the fact that Vietnam acknowledges there is a problem, unlike the Australian and US Governments, and invites researchers in to try to help. I do have to have a side note to say, at least the Australian Government has been more open to appropriate research. Our governments and chemical companies have worked hard to dismiss the Vietnam Veteran’s story of suffering in their children and stifle any real research. Then they turn around and say, there are no reputable studies on the affects of Dioxin in the offspring of Vietnam Veterans
.
Wouldn’t it be helpful if this international support would come to the offspring of American and Australian Agent Orange victims as well? Especially after the last 40 years that our own governments have turned their back on our Fathers, and our families. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the same pressure that is happening in Vietnam to require the government to create social/medical change for the victims of Agent Orange could also happen in the US and Australia? Unless the children of American and Australian Vietnam Veterans engage with the rest of the world, it will pass us by while we wait for our governments to just do the right thing. How much longer should we be passive?

There is something to be said for the emotional healing that has happened for me as a result of my trips to Vietnam. I was once extremely bitter, especially after my own Father died as a result of his AO illnesses. It changed me to see other disabled children born after the war, who also like myself, had no say in the politics of the 60’s, interacting and caring for each other. Their simple acts of compassion for each other helped heal a very lonely place left in my heart from childhood. It’s also given me hope by watching Non Government Organizations, physically help those in most need in Vietnam. I see what could be. I see the future for projects that could meet the unique needs of American and Australian generational victims of Agent Orange. We have to be out there meeting each other, we have to understand the suffering we ALL are going through. One of our dreams is to facilitate a group of American/Australian victims of Agent Orange to go to Vietnam as a delegation to experience this for themselves. It’s only with doing, engaging and acting can real change happen.

It’s about public relations, building relationships, comparing research, and comparing experiences, that helps not only the greater good, but us in the long run. Some may never agree with me, and that is fine. I am a humanitarian, not a war sympathizer, I have my Father’s approval and that is all I need to continue this work. Caring about the Vietnamese Agent Orange victim really does matter.

© Heather A. Bowser

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxhnIKp3WlU

DIOXIN WSU EPIGENETICS AGENT ORANGE #COVVHA

#Dioxin Agent Orange causes disease reproductive problems across generations – WSU #Epigenetics COMPLETE Study

On September 27, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

“Dioxin (TCDD) Induces Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult Onset Disease and Sperm Epimutations,”

Dioxin causes disease, reproductive problems across generations

By Eric Sorensen, WSU science writer

PULLMAN, Wash. – Since the 1960s, when the defoliant Agent Orange was widely used in Vietnam, military, industry and environmental groups have debated the toxicity of its main ingredient, the chemical dioxin, and how it should be regulated.

But even if all the dioxin were eliminated from the planet, Washington State University researchers say its legacy would live on in the way it turns genes on and off in the descendants of people exposed over the past half century.

Writing in the journal PLoS ONE, biologist Michael Skinner and members of his lab say dioxin administered to pregnant rats resulted in a variety of reproductive problems and disease in subsequent generations. The first generation of rats had prostate disease, polycystic ovarian disease and fewer ovarian follicles, the structures that contain eggs. To the surprise of Skinner and his colleagues, the third generation had even more dramatic incidences of ovarian disease and, in males, kidney disease.

“Therefore, it is not just the individuals exposed, but potentially the great-grandchildren that may experience increased adult-onset disease susceptibility,” says Skinner.

Skinner is a professor of reproductive biology and environmental epigenetics – the process in which environmental factors affect how genes are turned on and off in the offspring of an exposed animal, even though its DNA sequences remain unchanged. In this year alone, Skinner and colleagues have published studies finding epigenetic diseases promoted by jet fuel and other hydrocarbon mixtures, plastics, pesticides and fungicides, as well as dioxin.

The field of epigenetics opens new ground in the study of how diseases and reproductive problems develop. While toxicologists generally focus on animals exposed to a compound, work in Skinner’s lab further demonstrates that diseases can also stem from older, ancestral exposures that are then mediated through epigenetic changes in sperm.

This latest study was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Skinner designed the study; the research was done by Assistant Research Professor Mohan Manikkam, Research Technician Rebecca Tracey and Post-doctoral Researcher Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna.

The study, “Dioxin (TCDD) Induces Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult Onset Disease and Sperm Epimutations,” is embedded below and also available at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046249.

Contact:
Michael Skinner, WSU Professor of Environmental Epigenetics And Reproductive Biology, 509-335-1524, skinner@wsu.edu

Dioxin (TCDD) Induces Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult Onset Disease and Sperm Epimutations

COVVHA Biography – Karen Wengert

On September 18, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

My name is Karen Yvonne (Ridgeway) Wengert and I was born June 28th, 1974, to George and Barbara (Dunn) Ridgeway in Columbus, Ohio. My dad is a Vietnam Veteran and I am his very proud daughter. He was in Bien Hoa and Tan Son Nhut in 1965- 1966 and they were two of the heaviest effected areas for Agent Orange. He was a Flight Operations Coordinator with the 197th Aviation Company, his rank was SP5.

I had the typical childhood until I started to get migraines at the age of 4. I was officially diagnosed after many tests and treatments when I was 6. I still suffer with them to this day and on Social Security for them. They are so bad now that they effect my vision and I am on 3 types of medication to control them.

I grew up with an older sibling, who has had learning disabilities from a young age, and led an relatively uneventful life until I started to get Chroic Bronchitis when I was 12. I got it 4 times a year every year until I was 30.

I suffer from several mental disabilities, which I am on Social Security for now, and have from the age of 12. It began as depression. It turned into Clinical depression, which I was diagnosed with at 19, Bipolar disorder was next but I had to fight for an official diagnosis for that and got it at 26. I also have General Anxiety Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Dysthemia.

I had a cancer scare in 2008. I was having a lot of health problems and come to find out that I had Type II Diabetes and Gall Stones. I was having trouble at work because I was sick all the time. I went for a CT scan as I was having pain in my abdomen and they found spots on my lungs. To make a long story short, after more tests, they told me that I was looking at Lymphoma. It turned out to be Sarcoidosis.

I have always had problems with my menstual cycle, I started at 13 and didn’t have another cycle until I was 15. I had excrutiating pain with my periods and I was sick every time. I was diagnosed at 18 with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I went on over the years dealing the best that I could and it finally came to a head last year when I had to have a complete Hysterectomy at the age of 37. My ovaries were the size of small potatoes and I had scar tissue trying to attach to my bowel.

I take 12 different pills everyday so that I am able to function properly. Not to mention the Vitamin D, as my levels are so very low. It has been a struggle over the years but I am here to tell the tale. My sibling and I both have mental issues and have been hospitalized for them, well, since we were teenagers.

My hope in being involve with COVVHA is that I can help Heather and Kelly to make a difference, to make a change. They are strong, independent fighters and I hope that I can take up the mantle and help where I can. I have been in the Vietnam Veteran Arena since I was 8 years old. My parents, along with a group of Vietnam Vets started the local VVA chapter here in town. I was at the Wall when it was opened on November 11th, 1982 and it is something that I will never forget. My mother was a lot like Kelly. She fought for those that didn’t have a voice or couldn’t. She would provide food and clothes for those that didn’t have any, we would have someone at our house for dinner or I was always babysitting so someone could go job hunting. I want to be able to say that I could help, even if it is from the background. I don’t have a very loud voice but I have other talents that will be beneficial to this group. I am proud of what my parents accomplished with the VVA and I am proud of this group as well!!

American Grief, Or Is It? September 11, 2001

On September 10, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

We are the children of Vietnam Veterans, the ones left behind, the collateral damage of a war we never signed up for. Yet today, and everyday, we share our grief world wide with other children, the children of September 11, 2001.

This article is not being written to discuss and or debate the who’s, why’s, and what’s of that day. It is being written to simply state that WE, the children of Vietnam Veterans and our families, hear you and your families.

We understand your grief, your pain, and your horror. We understand your questions. We have asked the same questions. Why. The question is always WHY.

Our tragedies did not happen on one day as did yours. Our tragedies have been occurring for more then 50 years. Our fathers lay dead and dying because of Agent Orange / Dioxin poisoning. Now we lay dead and dying. Regardless, it is a tragedy that we suffer together.

When people ask me the same question that has been haunting Americans for 11 years, “What do you think happened that day”, I reply with the same answer each time; “My opinion does not matter. What matters is that there are now thousands of children growing up without a father or a parent. Children just like me. Children that we at COVVHA have founded our principles on standing up for. My father died when I was 7 years old and I would never wish that grief upon anyone that walks this earth.”

Whether it be the Vietnam War, Agent Orange Dioxin, or September 11, 2001, it is a shared grief. No, it is not the grief of America, it is indeed the grief of the world.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”
Washington Irving

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Agent Orange Pregnancy Outcomes Among Us Women Vietnam Veterans – IOM Report

On July 31, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

The possibility of long-term health effects includingadverse reproductive health outcomes resulting frommilitary service in Vietnam has been a subject of researchinterest in the United States over the past two decades [CDCVietnam Experience Study, 1988; Stellman et al., 1988].The U.S. Congress, responding to concerns of many womenVietnam veterans, legislatively mandated a comprehensive health study of women Vietnam veterans. This mandate ledto three separate but related epidemiologic studies of women Vietnam era veterans: (1) post-Vietnam servicemortality follow-up; (2) assessment of psychologic healthoutcomes; and (3) reproductive health outcomes. Resultsof the ®rst two studies were published or submitted to Congress previously [Thomas et al., 1991; Dalager andKang, 1996]. The present report deals with the thirdstudy. The studies of reproductive outcomes among maleveterans have been mostly negative in that service inVietnam was [...]

This mandate ledto three separate but related epidemiologic studies of women Vietnam era veterans: (1) post-Vietnam servicemortality follow-up; (2) assessment of psychologic healthoutcomes; and (3) reproductive health outcomes. Resultsof the ®rst two studies were published or submitted to Congress previously [Thomas et al., 1991; Dalager andKang, 1996]. The present report deals with the thirdstudy.

The studies of reproductive outcomes among maleveterans have been mostly negative in that service inVietnam was not associated with the risk of fathering a childwith birth defects, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth orneonatal death [Erickson et al., 1984; Donovan et al.,1984; Aschengrau and Monson, 1989, 1990]. However, inthe recent “Ranch Hand study”, neural tube defects (spinabi®da, anencephaly) were reported in four children of U.S.Air Force personnel who sprayed Agent Orange and other herbicides in Vietnam, while none was observed among children of control veterans [Wolfe et al., 1995].

Further-more, when the CDC birth defects study was reanalyzedusing the exposure opportunity index based upon interview data, the risk of spina bi®da was signi®cantly associatedwith the highest estimated level of Agent Orange exposure[Erickson et al., 1984]. Based on these data and others, anInstitute of Medicine panel suggested an associationbetween herbicide exposure in Vietnam and an increased risk of spina bi®da in children [IOM, 1996]

Agent Orange Pregnancy Outcomes Among Us Women Vietnam Veterans1097-0274(200010)38!4!447–AID-AJIM11-3.0

Vietnam Vets Pushing for More Research on “Agent Orange Corn”

On June 28, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Moms and food activists have been fighting genetically modified foods for years. Now, they have a new ally.

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) sent a letter to President Obama just before Memorial Day asking for his assistance in delaying approval of a new breed of corn that’s genetically modified to resist heavy applications of the herbicide 2,4-D, one of the two active ingredients in the infamous Vietnam-era defoliant Agent Orange.

The corn and 2,4-D are both being manufactured by Dow Agro Science, which has named its new corn “Enlist,” a name the veterans said in the letter was “a slap at all Vietnam veterans.” Multinational seed company Monsanto also manufactures 2,4-D.

Most of the health problems caused by Agent Orange during the Vietnam War have been attributed to unintended dioxin contamination of the two active ingredients, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. Dioxin builds up in the fatty tissue of humans and animals and can cause damage for years after exposure. The government continues to add to the known health conditions related to Agent Orange’s dioxin poisoning, but currently they include diabetes, neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, liver dysfunction, numerous cancers, and birth defects in the children of exposed soldiers and Vietnam residents. Studies in recent years have found that 2,4-D is just as likely to be contaminated with dioxin when used alone as it was when used in combination with 2,4,5-T.

Adding to that danger, 2,4-D itself has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cell damage, hormonal disruption, and reproductive problems, according to the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year in an effort to ban the substance permanently. The EPA denied the NRDC’s petition.

“Although there is a lot that science has learned about the effects of dioxin on the human organism, there is still a lot that science has yet to learn,” writes VVA. “Now, Dow and Monsanto wish to release genetically modified corn that has increased resistance to 2,4-D. What will this mean to Vietnam vets, who have already been exposed to this chemical through our military service? To our progeny?”

The group’s letter went on to state that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) conclusion that 2,4-D–resistant corn would have no “significant” impact on the environment was inaccurate and “raises more questions than it answers.” The vets are asking President Obama to push for more research by independent scientists, not those affiliated with Dow Agro Sciences.

“We are not calling for a complete ban of this new product at this time,” the group writes. “We are simply not willing to be lied to or withheld information from again. Vietnam veterans were lied to about our exposure to chemicals which claimed many lives long after our troops left Southeast Asia.”

The VVA isn’t alone in its attempts to get Obama’s attention. Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance, another group made up of veterans’ children who were impacted by dioxin poisoning and Agent Orange, is endorsing the California ballot initiative that would require labeling of genetically modified ingredients. That initiative will be voted on in the November 2012 election.

The USDA has closed the public comment period on Dow’s 2,4-D–resistant corn, but the nonprofit Center for Food Safety continues to pressure the EPA to ban 2,4-D altogether. Take a minute to sign the center’s petition and to protect your family from the potential for more toxic pesticide exposure.

Originally Posted On Infinitymuscle.com

http://www.infinitymuscle.com/showthread.php?15187-Vietnam-Vets-Pushing-for-More-Research-on-quot-Agent-Orange-Corn-quot

Agent Orange’s deadly legacy spreads to Japan

On June 18, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

The fallout from the US military’s use of Agent Orange may have spread from Vietnam to Japan. Massive caches of the toxic herbicide were buried on Futenma, “the world’s most dangerous base,” potentially poisoning the island, a Japanese daily reports.

The US military presence has long been a point of contention for locals on the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, a cluster of islands located some 400 miles south of Japan.

A slew of violent crimes committed over the last 40 years by US servicemen has led 85 per cent of locals to oppose the presence of American bases on Okinawa. However, the military’s most deadly mark on the islands may be a far less visible killer: Agent Orange.

Scores of barrels of the defoliating chemical were clandestinely buried at Futenma Air Base on Okinawa Island following the Vietnam War, the Japan Times reports.

The Pentagon allegedly ignored repeated requests from soldiers serving on the island in the 70s and 80s to safely dispose of a pesticide a million times more toxic than any naturally occurring poison.

In the Summer of 1981, “unacceptably high readings” of chemicals in the wastewater flowing out of the installation prompted Lt. Col. Kris Roberts, the former head of maintenance projects on Futenma, to start digging up the ground near the end of the base’s runway.

“We unearthed over 100 barrels buried in rows. They were rusty and leaking and we could see orange markings around some of their middles,” Roberts, now a state representative in New Hampshire, told the Japan Times in a recent interview.

Agent Orange, the most widely-used of the “Rainbow Herbicides” deployed during the United States’ decade-long herbicidal warfare program in Vietnam, got its moniker from the orange-stripped barrels in which it was shipped. The US used over 76 million liters of defoliants to rob the Vietcong of cover and food.

As Okinawa was a forward staging post for the US military during the war, the base was a likely transit point for the herbicides despite the Pentagon’s insistence to the contrary.

Roberts’ ranking officers tried to hush the find up by having local workers haul off the seeping barrels to an undisclosed location. A typhoon soon flooded the burial site, whereby Roberts and his men jumped down into the toxic cesspool and drained “the contaminated water off the base.”

Since his contact with the chemicals, Roberts has been plagued by a series of life-threatening illnesses, including prostate cancer, precursors of lung cancer, and heart problems. His doctors have no doubt his ailments stem from his exposure to Agent Orange.

Roberts has fought to have the US Marine Corps and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contact his former crew out of fear they were similarly poisoned, but his appeals have fallen on deaf ears.

Despite the official Pentagon position, in February the Department of Veterans’ Affairs awarded two former service members compensation for exposure to Agent Orange during their deployment on Okinawa at the time.
One of the sick veterans said it was routine to ship goods contaminated with Agent Orange for cleaning as the Vietnam War was winding down.

In fact, between 1962 and 2010, 132 Veterans serving on Okinawa during the Vietnam War era claim to have been exposed to Agent Orange, despite repeated denials from the Pentagon that the defoliant was ever present on the islands.

Read The Full Story

http://www.rt.com/news/agent-orange-buried-okinawa-932/

“Heart Of Rage”
Harry C. Mackel Jr. – In Memory Day 2012 Washington D.C.
Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance Original Article

On June 15, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Harry C. Mackel Jr. September 4, 1945 – October 14, 1982
In Memory Day 2012

Today is a day I would have rather just kept to myself. As a matter of fact, for the last 2 weeks less than 5 people knew that exactly 30 years and 8 months to the date of my father’s death, his name would be included at a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall known as “In Memory Day”.

I’m not there. It was quite a difficult decision for me to make. A decision that made me feel forced to attend a funeral of sorts. I buried my father 30 years ago when I was 7 years old. There’s not anything about the day that I don’t remember. When I was told that his memory was to be included in today’s events I felt very sad. I expressed to the people that did tell that I thought most would expect me to be happy about it. But I wasn’t. Not in any way.

Let’s face it. People don’t visit the Vietnam Memorial Wall to be happy. It is in essence a collective grave stone with more than 58,000 names on it. 30 years later our government has decided to acknowledge my father’s service in Vietnam and his death thereafter as something special? 30 years later?

To be clear, I did not submit the application, a relative did. One that I have spoken to less than 10 times over the last 20 years. When and if I ever go back to The Wall, it will be on my own terms and my own time. It will certainly not be yet another day in history that the United States Government dictates to me how I am to feel about my father’s death and the Agent Orange that killed him.

So on a day that I wanted to keep to myself, I feel yet again forced to deal with the issue since going through my emails today; I was faced with an article written about the ceremony events. An article that shared the story of another PA Vietnam Veteran who lost his life to Agent Orange & Dioxin exposure and was also being honored today. The article failed to include the names of the other 9 PA Vietnam Veterans who are also being remembered today. I felt that I should at least include my own father’s name, however in doing so I thought it necessary to share the story with all of you.

If anything positive has come out of today, I can say that it was one simple thing that I have been waiting for over the last 37 years of my life….. To see my Father, Harry C. Mackel Jr., an active member of The United States Air Force for nearly 10 years, who voluntarily served 2 “Boots On The Ground” tours in Vietnam, in his USAF Military Uniform. Yes, that is correct, for my entire life I have never seen a photo of my Father in his uniform, until now. Included in the ceremony events are the names and photos of all of the Vietnam Veterans being honored today. I received a photocopy of the picture being used in the booklet early last week. It took me several days to convince myself that it was even my father. My husband insisted that it was. In the picture, he was probably just 17 years old, making it the youngest photo I have ever seen of my father. For days, I traced the harsh lines of a photo that came out of a copy machine and then tri-folded for mailing. For days, I had no idea who this man was in the photo, thinking it had to have been a mistake. For days, as I have done many times over the years, I questioned my own Identity. Until I finally stared at his eyes. They are unmistakable, they are mine.

Yet, as I write this story, I am filled with A Heart Of Rage. The kind of rage that only a daughter of a Vietnam Veteran who has long been dead would know. The rage of her Father being taken away. You see, there is even more to this story then one could possibly imagine. I found out about “In Memory Day” on a week night at 8:00 p.m. Only 6 short hours before that, I received a different phone call. One informing me of a situation which I knew in my heart would come one day, a situation I have been running from since I was a teenager.

AGENT ORANGE AGAIN RIPPING THE LIFE AWAY FROM YET ANOTHER LOVED ONE OF MINE.

Who you ask? The only other man that I have ever called my father. A man that is now suffering the effects of Agent Orange and Dioxin.

My adopted Father.

© Kelly L. Derricks

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Below I have included the booklet that was at the Ceremony. I have also included the link to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund for anyone interested in applying for the program. In addition, you will find the original article written about the PA Vietnam Veteran also being honored.

In Memory Day Ceremony Book

Agent Orange & Dioxin The VVA Veteran — May 2012

On June 4, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Agent Orange & Dioxin The VVA Veteran — May 2012 Table Of Contents

The VVA Veteran — May 2012

LIST OF GMO FOODS

On June 1, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

BABY FOOD GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Nabisco
(Phillip Morris)
Arrowroot Teething Biscuits
Infant formula Carnation Infant Formulas
(Nestle)
AlSoy
Good Start
Follow-Up
Follow-Up Soy
Enfamil Infant Formulas
(Mead Johnson)
Enfamil with Iron
Enfamil Low Iron
Enfamil A.R.
Enfamil Nutramigen
Enfamil Lacto Free
Enfamil 22
Enfamil Next step (soy and milk-based varieties)
Enfamil Pro-Soybee
Isomil Infant Formulas
(Abbot Labs)
Isomil Soy
Isomil Soy for Diarrhea
Similac
(Abbot Labs)
Similac Lactose Free
Similac with Iron
Similac Low Iron
Similac Alimentum

BAKING GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

baking mixes
Aunt Jemima
(Quaker)
Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix
Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix
Cornbread Mix
Easy Mix Coffee Cake
Betty Crocker
(General Mills)
Pie Crust Mix
Original Pancake Mix
Complete Pancake Mix
Buttermilk Complete Pancake Mix
Muffin Mixes
Banana Nut
Lemon Poppy Seed
Blueberry
Wild Blueberry
Chocolate Chip
Apple Streusel
Quick Bread Mixes Banana
Cinnamon Streusel
Lemon Poppy Seed
Cranberry Orange
Gingerbread

Cookie Mixes Chocolate Chip
Double Chocolate Chunk
Sugar
Peanut Butter

Bisquik
(Betty Crocker/General Mills)
Original
Reduced Fat
Shake ‘n Pour Pancake Mix
Shake ‘n Pour Buttermilk Pancake Mix
Shake ‘n Pour Blueberry Pancake Mix
Duncan Hines
(Aurora Foods)
Muffin Mixes
Kellogg’s All-Bran Apple Cinnamon
Kellogg’s All-Bran Blueberry
Blueberry
Blueberry Crumb
Chocolate Chip
Hungry Jack
(Pillsbury)
Buttermilk Pancake Mix
Extra Light & Fluffy Pancake Mix (all varieties)
Jiffy
Corn Muffin Mix
Blueberry Muffin Mix
Raspberry Muffin Mix
Pie Crust Mix
Mrs. Butterworths
(Aurora Foods)
Complete Pancake Mix
Buttermilk Pancake Mix
Pepperidge Farms
(Campbell’s)
Buttermilk Pancake Mix
Pillsbury
Quick Bread & Muffin Mixes
Blueberry
Chocolate Chip
Banana
Cranberry
Lemon Poppyseed
Nut

Hot Roll Mix
Gingerbread
baking needs
Bakers
(Kraft/Phillip Morris)
Unsweetened Chocolate
Semi-Sweet Chocolate
German Sweet Chocolate
White Chocolate
Hershey’s
Semi-Sweet Baking Chips
Milk Chocolate Chips
Mini Kisses
Nestle
Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Milk Chocolate Chips
White Chocolate
Butterscotch Chips
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Bars

BREAD GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Holsum
(Interstate Bakeries)
Holsum Thin Sliced
Roman Meal
12 Grain
Round Top
Home Pride
Buttertop White
Buttertop Wheat
Pepperidge Farms
(Campbell’s)
Cinnamon Swirl
Light Oatmeal
Light Wheat
100% Whole Wheat
Hearty Slices
7 Grain
9 Grain
Crunchy Oat
Whole Wheat
Light Side
Oatmeal
Wheat
7 Grain
Soft Dinner Rolls
Club Rolls
Sandwich Buns
Hoagie Rolls
Thomas’
(Bestfoods)
English Muffins Original
Cinnamon Raisin
Honey Wheat
Oat Bran
Blueberry
Maple French Toast

Toast-r-Cakes Blueberry
Toast-r-Cakes Corn Muffins
Wonder
(Interstate Bakeries)
White Sandwich Bread
Country Grain
Buttermilk
Thin Sandwich
Light Wheat
100% Stoneground Wheat
Fat Free Multigrain
Premium Potato
Beefsteak Rye
Wonder Hamburger Buns

BREAKFAST GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

breakfast bars
Kellogg’s
Pop Tarts
(all varieties)
Pop Tarts Snack Stix
(all)
Nutri-Grain Bars
(all)
Nutri-Grain Fruit Filled Squares
(all)
Nutri-Grain Twists
(all)
Fruit-Full Squares
(all)
Nabisco
(Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
Fruit & Grain Bars
(all varieties)
Nature Valley
(General Mills)
Oats & Honey Granola Bars
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Cinnamon Granola Bars
Pillsbury
(General Mills)
Toaster Scrambles & Strudels
(all varieties)
Quaker
Chewy Granola Bars
(all varieties)
Fruit & Oatmeal Bars
(all varieties)
waffles
Aunt Jemima Frozen Waffles
Buttermilk
Blueberry
Eggo Frozen Waffles
(Kellogg’s)
Homestyle
Buttermilk
Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat
Nutri-Grain Multi Grain
Cinnamon Toast
Blueberry
Strawberry
Apple Cinnamon
Banana Bread
Hungry Jack Frozen Waffles
(Pillsbury/General Mills)
Homestyle
Buttermilk

CEREAL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

General Mills
Cheerios
Wheaties
Total
Corn Chex
Lucky Charms
Trix
Kix
Golden Grahams
Cinnamon Grahams
Count Chocula
Honey Nut Chex
Frosted Cheerios
Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
Multi-Grain Cheerios
Frosted Wheaties
Brown Sugar & Oat Total
Basic 4
Reeses Puffs
French Toast Crunch
Kellogg’s
Frosted Flakes
Corn Flakes
Special K
Raisin Bran
Rice Krispies
Corn Pops
Product 19
Smacks
Froot Loops
Marshmallow Blasted Fruit Loops
Apple Jacks
Crispix
Smart Start
All-Bran
Complete Wheat Bran
Complete Oat Bran
Just Right Fruit & Nut
Honey Crunch Corn Flakes
Raisin Bran Crunch
Cracklin’ Oat Bran
Country Inn Specialties
(all varieties)
Mothers Cereals
(Quaker)
Toasted Oat Bran
Peanut Butter Bumpers
Groovy Grahams
Harvest Oat Flakes
Harvest Oat Flakes w/Apples & Almonds
Honey Round Ups
Post
(Kraft-Phillip Morris)
Raisin Bran
Bran Flakes
Grape Nut Flakes
Grape Nut O’s
Fruit & Fibre date, raisin and walnut
Fruit & Fibre peach, raisin and almond
Honey Bunch of Oats
Honey Nut Shredded Wheat
Honey Comb
Golden Crisp
Waffle Crisp
Cocoa Pebbles
Cinna-Crunch Pebbles
Fruity Pebbles
Alpha-Bits
Post Selects Cranberry Almond
Post Selects Banana Nut Crunch
Post Selects Blueberry Morning
Post Selects Great Grains
Quaker
Life
Cinnamon Life
100% Natural Granola
Toasted Oatmeal
Toasted Oatmeal Honey Nut
Oat Bran
Cap’n Crunch
Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch
Cap’n Crunch Crunchling Berries

CHOCOLATE GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

candy
Cadbury
(Cadbury/Hershey’s)
Mounds
Almond Joy
York Peppermint Patty
Dairy Milk
Roast Almond
Fruit & Nut
Hershey’s
Kit-Kat
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Mr. Goodbar
Special Dark
Milk Chocolate
Kisses
Symphony
Kraft
(Kraft/Phillip Morris)
Toblerone
(all varieties)
Mars
M&M
(all varieties)
Snickers
Three Musketeers
Milky Way
Twix
Nestle
Crunch
Milk Chocolate
Chunky
Butterfinger
100 Grand
drink mixes and dessert toppings
Carnation
(Nestle)
Hot Cocoa Mixes:
Rich Chocolate
Double Chocolate
Milk Chocolate
Marshmallow Madness
Mini Marshmallow
No Sugar
Hershey’s
Chocolate Syrup
Special Dark Chocolate Syrup
Strawberry Syrup
Nestle
Nesquik
Strawberry Nesquik
Swiss Miss
(ConAgra)
Hot Cocoa Mixes:
Chocolate Sensation
Milk Chocolate
Marshmallow Lovers
Marshmallow Lovers Fat Free
No Sugar Added

CONDIMENTS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Del Monte
(Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
Ketchup
Heinz
Ketchup
(regular & no salt)
Chili Sauce
Cocktail Sauce
Heinz 57 Steak Sauce
Hellman’s
(Bestfoods)
Real Mayonnaise
Light Mayonnaise
Low-Fat Mayonnaise
Hunt’s
(ConAgra)
Ketchup
(regular & no salt)
KC Masterpiece
(Clorox)
Original BBQ sauce
Garlic & Herb Marinade
Honey Teriyaki Marinade
Kraft
(Kraft/Phillip Morris)
Miracle Whip
(all varieties)
Kraft Mayonnaise
(all)
Thick & Spicy BBQ sauces
(all varieties)
Char Grill BBQ sauce
Honey Hickory BBQ sauce
Nabisco
(Nabiso/Phillip Morris)
A-1 Steak Sauce
Open Pit
(Vlasic/Campbells)
BBQ sauces
(all)
salsa
Chi-Chi’s
(Hormel)
Fiesta Salsa
(all varieties)
Old El Paso
(Pillsbury)
Thick & Chunky Salsa
Garden Pepper Salsa
Taco Sauce
Picante Sauce
Ortega
(Nestle)
Taco Sauce
Salsa Prima Homestyle
Salsa Prima Roasted Garlic
Salsa Prima 3 Bell Pepper
Thick & Chunky Salsa
Pace
(Campbells)
Chunky Salsa
Picante Sauce
Tostitos Salsa
(Frito-Lay/Pepsi)
All Natural
All Natural Thick & Chunky
Roasted Garlic
Restaurant Style

COOKIES GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Delicious Brands
(Parmalat)
Animal Crackers
Ginger Snaps
Fig Bars
Oatmeal
Sugar-Free Duplex
Honey Grahams
Cinnamon Grahams
Fat Free Vanilla Wafers
English Toffee Heath Cookies
Butterfinger Cookies
Skippy Peanut Butter Cookies
Famous Amos
(Keebler/Flowers Industries)
Chocolate Chip
Oatmeal Raisin
Chocolate Sandwich
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Vanilla Sandwich
Oatmeal Macaroon Sandwich
Frookies
(Delicious Brands/Parmalat)
Peanut Butter Chunk
Chocolate Chip
Double Chocolate
Frookwich Vanilla
Frookwich Chocolate
Frookwich Peanut Butter
Frookwich Lemon
Funky Monkeys Chocolate
Ginger Snaps
Lemon Wafers
Keebler
(Keebler/Flowers Industries)
Chips Deluxe
Sandies
E.L. Fudge
Soft Batch Chocolate Chip
Golden Vanilla Wafers
Droxies
Vienna Fingers
Fudge Shoppe Fudge Stripes
Fudge Shoppe Double Fudge & Caramel
Fudge Shoppe Fudge Stix
Fudge Shoppe Peanut Butter Fudge Stix
Country Style Oatmeal
Graham Originals
Graham Cinnamon Crisp
Graham Chocolate
Graham Honey Low Fat
Crème Filled Wafers
Chocolate Filled Wafers
Nabisco (Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
Oreo
(all varieties)
Chips Ahoy!
(all varieties)
Fig Newtons
(and all Newtons varities)
Lorna Doone
Nutter Butters
Barnum Animal Crackers
Nilla Wafers
Nilla Chocolate Wafers
Pecanz Shortbread
Family Favorites Oatmeal
Famous Wafers
Fudge Covered Mystic Sticks
Honey Maid Graham Crackers
Honey Maid Cinnamon Grahams
Honey Maid Chocolate Grahams
Honey Maid Oatmeal Crunch
Teddy Grahams
Teddy Grahams Cinnamon
Teddy Grahams Chocolate
Teddy Grahams Chocolate Chips
Café Cremes Vanilla
Café Crème Cappuccino
Pepperidge Farm
(Campbell’s)
Milano
Mint Milano
Chessmen
Bordeaux
Brussels
Geneva
Chocolate Chip
Lemon Nut
Shortbread
Sugar
Ginger Men
Raspberry Chantilly
Strawberry Verona
Chocolate Mocha Salzburg
Chocolate Chunk Chesapeake
Chocolate Chunk Nantucket
Chocolate Chunk Sausalito
Oatmeal Raisin Soft Baked
Sesame Street
(Keebler)
Cookie Monster
Chocolate Chip
Chocolate Sandwich
Vanilla Sandwich
Cookie Pals
Honey Grahams
Cinnamon Grahams
Frosted Grahams
Snack Wells
(Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
Devil’s Food
Golden Devil’s Food
Mint Crème
Coconut Crème
Chocolate Sandwich
Chocolate Chip
Peanut Butter Chip
Double Chocolate Chip

CRACKERS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Keebler
(Keebler/Flowers Industries)
Town House
Club
Munch ‘Ems
(all varieties)
Wheatables
Zesta Saltines
Toasteds
(Wheat, Onion, Sesame & Butter Crisps)
Snax Stix
(Wheat, Cheddar & original)
Harvest Bakery
(Multigrain, Butter, Corn Bread)
Nabisco
(Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
Ritz
(all varieties)
Wheat Thins
(all)
Wheatsworth
Triscuits
Waverly
Sociables
Better Cheddars
Premium Saltines
(all)
Ritz Snack Mix
(all)
Vegetable Flavor Crisps
Swiss Cheese Flavor Crisps
Cheese Nips
(all)
Uneeda Biscuits
Pepperidge Farm
(Campbell’s)
Butter Thins
Hearty Wheat
Cracker Trio
Cracker Quartet
Three Cheese Snack Stix
Sesame Snack Stix
Pumpernickel Snack Stix
Goldfish
(original, cheddar, parmesan, pizza, pretzel)
Goldfish Snack Mix
(all)
Red Oval Farms
(Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
Stoned Wheat Thins
(all varieties)
Crisp ‘N Light Sourdough Rye
Crisp ‘N Light Wheat
Sunshine
(Flowers Industries)
Cheeze-It
(original & reduced fat)
Cheeze-It White Cheddar
Cheeze-It Party Mix
Krispy Original Saltines

FROZEN DINNERS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Banquet
(ConAgra)
Pot Pies
(all varieties)
Fried Chicken
Salisbury Steak
Chicken Nugget Meal
Pepperoni Pizza Meal
Budget Gourmet
(Heinz)
Roast Beef Supreme
Beef Stroganoff
Three Cheese Lasagne
Chicken Oriental & Vegeatble
Fettuccini Primavera
Green Giant
(Pillsbury)
Rice Pilaf with Chicken Flavored Sauce
Rice Medley with Beef Flavored Sauce
Primavera Pasta
Pasta Accents Creamy Cheddar
Create-a-Meals Parmesan Herb Chicken
Cheesy Pasta and Vegetable
Beef Noodle
Sweet & Sour
Mushroom Wine Chicken

Healthy Choice
(ConAgra)
Stuffed Pasta Shells
Chicken Parmagiana
Country Breaded Chicken
Roast Chicken Breast
Beef Pot Roast
Chicken & Corn Bread
Cheese & Chicken Tortellini
Lemon Pepper Fish
Shrimp & Vegetable
Macaroni & Cheese
Kid Cuisine
(ConAgra)
Chicken Nugget Meal
Fried Chicken
Taco Roll Up
Corn Dog
Cheese Pizza
Fish Stix
Macaroni & Cheese
Lean Cuisine
(Stouffer’s/Nestle)
Skillet Sensations Chicken & Vegetable
Broccoli & Beef
Homestyle Beef
Teriyaki Chicken
Chicken Alfredo
Garlic Chicken
Roast Turkey

Hearty Portions Chicken Florentine
Beef Stroganoff
Cheese & Spinach Manicotti
Salisbury Steak

Café Classics Baked Fish
Baked Chicken
Chicken a L’Orange
Chicken Parmesan
Meatloaf with Whipped Potatoes

Everyday Favorites Chicken Fettuccini
Chicken Pie
Angel Hair Pasta
Three Bean Chili with Rice
Macaroni & Cheese

Marie Callenders
(ConAgra)
Chicken Pot Pie
Lasagna & Meat Sauce
Turkey & Gravy
Meat Loaf & Gravy
Country Fried Chicken & Gravy
Fettuccini with Broccoli & Cheddar
Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes
Country Fried Pork Chop with Gravy
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes
(Heinz)
Fast Fries
Steak fries
Zesties
Shoestrings
Hash Browns
Tater Tots
Potato Wedges
Crispy Crunchies
Rosetto Frozen Pasta
(Heinz)
Cheese Ravioli
Beef Ravioli
Italian Sausage Ravioli
Eight Cheese Stuffed Shells
Eight Cheese Broccoli Stuffed Shells
Stouffer’s
(Nestle)
Family Style Favorites Macaroni & Cheese
Stuffed Peppers
Broccoli au Gratin
Meat Loaf in Gravy
Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole

Homestyle Meatloaf
Salisbury Steak
Chicken Breast in Gravy

Hearty Portions Salisbury Steak
Chicken Fettucini
Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes
Chicken Pot Pie

Swanson
(Vlasic/Campbells)
Meat Loaf
Fish & Chips
Salisbury Steak
Chicken Nuggets
Hungry Man Fried Chicken
Roast Chicken
Fisherman’s Platter
Pork Rib

Voila!
(Bird’s Eye/Agri-Link Foods)
Chicken Voila! Alfredo
Chicken Voila! Garlic
Chicken Voila! Pesto
Chicken Voila! Three Cheese
Steak Voila! Beef Sirloin
Shrimp Voila! Garlic
Weight Watchers
(Heinz)
Smart Ones Fiesta Chicken
Basil Chicken
Ravioli Florentine
Fajita Chicken
Roasted Vegetable Primavera

ENERGY BARS AND DRINKS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

energy bars
Power Bar
(Nestle)
Oatmeal Raisin
Apple Cinnamon
Peanut Butter
Vanilla Crisp
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Mocha
Banana
Wild Berry
Harvest Bars Apple Crisp
Blueberry
Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Strawberry
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

drink mixes
Carnation Instant Breakfast Mix
(Nestle)
Creamy Milk Chocolate
Classic Chocolate
French Vanilla
Strawberry
Café Mocha

HEAT AND SERVE MEALS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Chef Boyardee
(ConAgra)
Beefaroni
Macaroni & Cheese
Mini Ravioli
ABC’s & 123′s
Dinty Moore
(Hormel)
Beef Stew
Turkey Stew
Chicken & Dumplings
Hormel
Chili with Beans
Chili No Beans
Vegetarian Chili with Beans
Kids’ Kitchen
(Hormel)
Spaghetti Rings with Meatballs
Macaroni & Cheese
Pizza Wedges with 3 Cheese
Franco-American
(Campbell’s)
Spaghetti O’s
Mini Ravioli
Power Rangers Pasta in Sauce

MEAT AND DAIRY ALTERNATIVES GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

meat alternatives
Loma Linda
(Worthington/Kellogg’s*)
Meatless Chik Nuggest
Morningstar
(Worthington/Kellogg’s*)
Harvest Burger
Better ‘n Burgers
Garden Veggie Patties
Grillers Burgers
Black Bean Burger
Chicken Patties
Natural Touch
(Worthington/Kellogg’s*)
Garden Vegetable Pattie
Black Bean Burger
Okra Pattie
Lentil Rice Loaf
Nine Bean Loaf
Worthington
(Worthington/Kellogg’s*)
Vegetarian Burger
Savory Slices
dairy alternatives
Nutra Blend Soy Beverage
(Bestfoods)
Original
Vanilla
Apple
Orange

MEAL MIXES AND SAUCE PACKETS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Betty Crocker
(General Mills)
Garden Vegetable Pilaf
Creamy Herb Risotto
Garlic Alfredo Fettuccini
Bowl Appetit Cheddar Broccoli
Macaroni & Cheese
Pasta Alfredo

Knorr
(Bestfoods)
Mushroom Risotto Italian Rice
Broccoli au Gratin Risotto
Vegetable Primavera Risotto
Risotto Milanese
Original Pilf
Chicken Pilaf
Rotini with 4 Cheese
Bow Tie Pasta with Chicken & Vegetable
Penne with Sun-Dried Tomato
Fettuccini with Alfredo
Classic Sauce Packets Hollandaise
Béarnaise
White
Brown
Lemon Herb
Mushroom Brown
Onion
Roasted Chicken
Roasted Pork
Roasted Turkey

Pasta Sauce Packets Alfredo
Four Cheese
Carbonara
Pesto
Garlic Herb

Lipton
(Unilever)
Rice & Sauce Packets Chicken Broccoli
Cheddar Broccoli
Beef Flavor
Spanish
Chicken Flavor
Creamy Chicken
Mushroom

Sizzle & Stir Skillet Supers Lemon Garlic Chicken & Rice
Spanish Chicken & Rice
Herb Chicken & Bowties
Cheddar Chicken & Shells

Near East
(Quaker)
Spicy Tomato Pasta Mix
Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil Pasta Mix
Falafel Mix
Lentil Pilaf
Couscous
Tomato Lentil
Parmesan
Toasted Pinenut
Herb Chicken
Broccoli & Cheese
Curry
Pasta Roni
(Quaker)
Fettuccini Alfredo
Garlic Alfredo
Angel Hair Pasta with Herbs
Angel Hair Pasta with Parmesan Cheese
Angel Hair Pasta with Tomato Parmesan
Angel Hair Pasta Primavera
Garlic & Olive Oil with Vermicelli
Rice-a-Roni
(Quaker)
Rice Pilaf
Beef
Chicken
Fried Rice
Chicken & Broccoli
Long Grain & Wild Rice
Broccoli au Gratin
Uncle Ben’s
(Mars)
Long Grain & Wild Rice
(Original & with Garlic)
Brown & Wild Rice Mushroom
Country Inn Mexican Fiesta
Country Inn Oriental Fried Rice
Country Inn Chicken & Vegetable
Country Inn Chicken & Broccoli
Natural Select Chicken & Herb
Natural Select Tomato & Basil
Chef’s Recipe Chicken & Vegetable Pilaf
Chef’s Recipe Beans & Rice
Chef’s Recipe Broccoli Rice

FROZEN PIZZA GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Celeste
(Aurora Foods)
Supreme
Pepperoni
Vegetable
Four Cheese
Deluxe
Cheese
Tombstone
(Kraft/Phillip Morris)
Pepperoni
Supreme
Sausage & Pepperoni
Extra Cheese
Stuffed Crust
Three Cheese
Totino’s
(Pillsbury)
Crisp Crust
Pepperoni
Combination

SNACK FOODS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Act II Microwave Popcorn
(ConAgra)
Butter
Extreme Butter
Corn on the Cob
Frito-Lay*
(PepsiCo)
Lays Potato Chips
(all varieties)
Ruffles Potato Chips
(all)
Doritos Corn Chips
(all)
Tostitos Corn Chips
(all)
Fritos Corn Chips
(all)
Cheetos
(all)
Rold Gold Pretzels
(all)
Cracker Jack Popcorn
Healthy Choice Microwave Popcorn
(ConAgra)
Organic Corn
(soy/canola oils)
Mothers Corn Cakes
(Quaker)
Butter Pop
Orville Redenbacher Microwave Popcorn
(ConAgra)
Original
Homestyle
Butter
Smart Pop
Pour Over
Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Cakes
Chocolate
Caramel
Orville Redenbacher Mini Popcorn Cakes
Butter
Peanut Caramel
Chocolate Peanut
Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn
(Betty Crocker/General Mills)
Natural
Homestyle
Jumbo Pop
Extra Butter
Light
94% Fat Free Butter
Pringles
(Procter & Gamble)
Original
Low Fat
Pizza-licious
Sour Cream & Onion
Salt & Vinegar
Cheezeums
Quaker Rice Cakes
Peanut Butter
Chocolate Crunch
Cinnamon Streusel
Mini
Chocolate
Ranch
Sour Cream & Onion
Apple Cinnamon
Caramel Corn
Quaker Corn Cakes
White Cheddar
Caramel Corn
Strawberry Crunch
Caramel Chocolate Chip
*Frito has informed its corn and potato suppliers that the company wishes to avoid GE crops, but acknowledges that canola or other oils and ingredients in its products may be from GE sources.

SODA AND JUICE DRINKS GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

sodas
Coca Cola
Coca Cola
Sprite
Cherry Coke
Barq’s Root Beer
Minute Maid Orange
Minute Maid Grape
Surge
Ultra
PepsiCo
Pepsi
Slice
Wild Cherry Pepsi
Mug Root Beer
Mountain Dew
Cadbury/Schweppes
7-Up
Dr. Pepper
A & W Root Beer
Sunkist Orange
Schweppes Ginger Ale
juice drinks
Capri Sun juices
(Kraft/Phillip Morris)
Red Berry
Surfer Cooler
Splash Cooler
Wild Cherry
Strawberry Kiwi
Fruit Punch
Pacific Cooler
Strawberry
Orange
Grape
Fruitopia
(Coca Cola)
Grape Beyond
Berry Lemonade
Fruit Integration
Kiwiberry Ruckus
Strawberry Passion
Tremendously Tangerine
Fruit Works
(PepsiCo)
Strawberry Melon
Peach Papaya
Pink Lemonade
Apple Raspberry
Gatorade
(Quaker)
Lemon Lime
Orange
Fruitpunch
Fierce Grape
Frost Riptide Rush
Hawaiian Punch
(Procter & Gamble)
Tropical Fruit
Grape Geyser
Fruit Juicy Red
Strawberry Surfin
Hi-C
(Coca Cola)
Pink Lemonade
Watermelon Rapids
Boppin’ Berry
Tropical Punch
Smashin’ Wildberry
Blue Cooler
Blue Moon Berry
Orange
Cherry
Kool Aid
(Kraft/Phillip Morris)
Blastin’ Berry Cherry
Bluemoon Berry
Kickin’ Kiwi Lime
Tropical Punch
Wild Berry Tea
Ocean Spray
Cranberry Juice Cocktail
Cranapple
CranGrape
CranRaspberry
CranStrawberry
CranMango
Squeeze It
(Betty Crocker/General Mills)
Rockin’ Red Puncher
Chucklin’ Cherry
Mystery 2000
Sunny Delight
(Procter & Gamble)
Sunny Delight Original
Sunny Delight With Calcium Citrus Punch
Sunny Delight California Style Citrus Punch
Tang juices
(Kraft/Phillip Morris)
Orange Uproar
Fruit Frenzy
Berry Panic
Tropicana Twisters
(PepsiCo)
Grape Berry
Apple Raspberry Blackberry
Cherry Berry
Cranberry Raspberry Strawberry
Pink Grapefruit
Tropical Strawberry
Orange Cranberry
Orange Strawberry Banana
V-8
(Campbells)
V8 Tomato Juices
(all varieties)
Strawberry Kiwi
Strawberry Banana
Fruit Medley
Berry Blend
Citrus Blend
Apple Medley
Tropical Blend
Island Blend

SOUP GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Campbell’s
Tomato
Chicken Noodle
Cream of Chicken
Cream of Mushroom
Cream of Celery
Cream of Broccoli
Cheddar Cheese
Green Pea
Healthy Request Chicken Noodle
Cream of Chicken
Cream of Mushroom
Cream of Celery

Campbell’s Select Roasted Chicken with Rice
Grilled Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes
Chicken Rice
Vegetable Beef

Chunky Beef with Rice
Hearty Chicken & Vegetable
Pepper Steak
Baked Potato with Steak & Cheese
New England Clam Chowder

Soup to Go Chicken Noodle
Chicken Rice
Garden Vegetable
Vegetable Beef & Rice

Simply Home Chicken Noodle
Chicken Rice
Garden Vegetable
Vegetable Beef with Pasta

Healthy Choice
(ConAgra)
Country Vegetable
Fiesta Chicken
Bean & Pasta
Chicken Noodle
Chicken with Rice
Minestrone
Pepperidge Farms
(Campbell’s)
Corn Chowder
Lobster Bisque
Chicken & Wild Rice
New England Clam Chowder
Crab Soup
Progresso
(Pillsbury)
Tomato Basil
Chicken Noodle
Chicken & Wild Rice
Chicken Barley
Lentil
New England Clam Chowder
Zesty Herb Tomato
Roasted Chicken with Rotini
Fat Free Minestrone
Fat Free Chicken Noodle
Fat Free Lentil
Fat Free Roast Chicken

TOMATOES AND TOMATO SAUCES GENETICALLY ENGINEERED INGREDIENTS

Del Monte
(Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
Tomato Sauce
Five Brothers Pasta Sauces
(Lipton/Unilever)
Summer Vegetable
Five Cheese
Roasted Garlic & Onion
Tomato & Basil
Healthy Choice Pasta Sauces
(ConAgra)
Traditional
Garlic & Herb
Sun-Dried Tomato & Herb
Hunts
(ConAgra)
Traditional Spaghetti Sauce
Four Cheese Spaghetti Sauce
Tomato Sauce
Tomato Paste
Prego Pasta Sauces
(Campbells)
Tomato, Basil & Garlic
Fresh Mushroom
Ricotta Parmesan
Meat Flavored
Roasted Garlic & Herb
Three Cheese
Mini-Meatball
Chicken with Parmesan
Ragu Sauces (Lipton/Unilever)
Old World Traditional
Old World with Meat
Old World Marinara
Old World with Mushrooms
Ragu Robusto Parmesan & Romano
Ragu Robusto Roasted Garlic
Ragu Robusto Sweet Italian Sausage
Ragu Robusto Six Cheese
Ragu Robusto Tomato, Olive Oil & Garlic
Ragu Robusto Classic Italian Meat
Chunky Garden Style Super Garlic
Chunky Garden Style Garden Combo
Chunky Garden Style Tomato, Garlic & Onion
Chunky Garden Style Tomato, Basil & Italian Cheese
Pizza Quick Traditional

Children of Vietnam Veterans & Those Exposed To Agent Orange – Organic View Radio

On May 24, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Listen To the Archived Broadcast Now

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theorganicview/2012/05/24/children-of-vietnam-veterans-those-exposed-to-agent-orange/scrub/0

The Children of Vietnam Veterans and Those Exposed To Agent Orange & Dioxin is an organization founded by children of Vietnam Veterans dedicated to finding justice, finding answers and offering support for the generational victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. This is the first group of its kind because it was founded by children of Vietnam Veterans who desperately want our peers to no longer feel alone. They acknowledge the vast amount of people around the globe who have come into contact with Agent Orange such as Americans, Australians, Vietnamese, Koreans, Canadians, Japanese, People of Guam and many more. Because the generational victims are rarely recognized, COVVHA seeks to collectively bring about change and make the voices of those affected heard.

Kelly L. Derricks is the daughter of deceased Vietnam Veteran Harry C. Mackel, Jr. Harry died in 1982 at the age of 37 after being exposed to Agent Orange while serving two tours in Vietnam in addition to a tour on Johnston Island. After serving with the United States Air Force, Harry went on to serve the City of Philadelphia as a highly regarded and awarded officer of the Stakeout Unit with the police department. Kelly was only seven years old when her father died.

Kelly has been working as an independent Agent Orange/Dioxin advocate since early 2007. She has expanded her work under the name “Truth Teller” to legislative areas, environment and agriculture, public speaking, blog authoring, and medical awareness, while tying everything back to encompass her main platform of seeking justice for those exposed.

Kelly’s COVVHA partner Heather A. Bowser, is also an Agent Orange activist. Heather was born with multiple birth defects due to her father’s exposure, as a US solider during the Vietnam War, to the chemical defoliant, Agent Orange. Heather was born in 1972, two months premature; she weighed three pounds, four ounces. Heather is missing her right leg below the knee, several of her fingers, her big toe on her left foot, her remaining toes were webbed.

Heather started her activism early in her life along side her parents in the late 1970’s. As a young child, she had a passion to explain what the chemical Agent Orange had done to her family. Like how Mother Sharon, suffered three unexplained miscarriages and her Father had five bypasses at the age of thirty eight and died of a massive heart attack at age fifty.

As former high school teacher, and current mental health licensed professional, Heather uses her skills to reach out and educate others on the devastation that is Agent Orange. Heather has a strong belief in empowering all second and third generations of Agent Orange survivors, to use their voice when possible to speak out and tell others about Agent Orange. Heather’s wish is all Agent Orange survivors will find justice.

In this segment of The Organic View Radio Show on Thursday May 24,2012 at 4p.m. EST, host, June Stoyer talks to Kelly L. Derricks and her COVVHA partner Heather A. Bowser. Join in and Stay tuned at the link below!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theorganicview/2012/05/24/children-of-vietnam-veterans-those-exposed-to-agent-orange/scrub/0

DoD Letter Discovered in Federal Register Proves TCE and Cancer Have Been Linked for Years

On May 21, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

The letter reveals what we all know; that the exorbitant cost associated with TCE is what scares the government to death, yet they admit in the letter introduction, that the DoD is indeed responsible for the TCE problem and everything that goes with it. It is a pattern repeated time and time again, and TCE is the new Agent Orange in many respects. The government has a responsibility, morally, legally and ethically, to inform members of the U.S. military and former members, of known carcinogens. It has clearly failed to do this, showing no interest in the health and safety of those potentially impacted by the toxicity.

Follow the link to read the full Salem News Article

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may172012/dod-tce-confirmed-tk.php

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
AIR FORCE INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENT
SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH RISK ANALYSIS (AFMC) BROOKS AIR FORCE BASE TEXAS
9 Page document

DOD Letter to National Toxicity Panel on TCE

What my father could never tell me: The Vietnam Interview

On May 15, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

What my father could never tell me: The Vietnam Interview

NURSEINTERUPTED

My father and I have *never* had a good relationship. I’ve spent the better part of a lifetime trying to figure out why he was the way he was—impatient, temperamental, moody, and the tendency to go from 0-360 in seconds—especially when it involved me. Out of myself and two brothers for some reason it was my father and I that could instantly ignite an inferno. Over the years mistakes have been made, a lot of hurt has piled up in dark, dank places. Although in recent years we have begun to heal old wounds, one word was always persisted in the back of my mind: Vietnam. I’ve always wondered whether his behavior and our tendency to spontaneously combust had anything to do with that. This “tough it out, don’t cry, be strong” mentality he instilled in me. This weird way he would startle easily and get agitated over the smallest things. Things I thought were of no consequence, stupid stuff. Something always seemed amiss. I used my time at Northern Arizona University to not only take a Chicano History course to understand my culture and his years as a child, but I also took a few courses about Vietnam—the politics of the war, as well as the social side—the side experienced by the soldiers, their families, how the media portrayed the war, and how the people of our nation reacted to the war and to the men and women who selflessly served during one of the worst campaigns in recent history.

I came away with a new understanding of the Vietnam experience, the politics behind it, as well as how expertly the media here in the states twisted and turned and refashioned the war for the American public to see and read. I learned about the lasting effects of the war on the veterans, and how poorly they were received when they came home from their tours. I speak often of the Vietnam veterans I have encountered as a nurse and on the streets—the ones that continue to wander, stuck in time, and forgotten—their minds left back in a place they can no longer get to. I’ve said more than once how much it infuriates me that we failed these men and women and how much I want to make up for that in my own way. My ultimate goal as a nurse “WAS” to use my Adult NP as a means to open my own heart failure clinic and a free health clinic for veterans. Obviously there has been a big AXE taken to those plans so I am going to find another way to do my part as a way of making up at least a small part of what we did not give these vets when they stepped off the planes for the first time…battle weary, broken, confused, tired, displaced, and sick with memories that they would live with forever.

Despite the classes, the books, the documentaries, the stories relayed to me by numerous patients over the years I still felt there was a piece missing with regard to my father, my understanding of him, and why our relationship was always so difficult, discombobulated, and disconnected. I needed his story. I needed his memories. I needed to understand what happened to him over there….what he experienced, heard, felt, smelled, saw…..He never would talk to me about Vietnam. In fact, when I was younger my mom told me that one day he had gathered up a box of memorabilia from his tour of duty, went to my grandparent’s house and proceeded to dump it all in a big metal drum in the alley– setting fire to all of it. His efforts were in vain….burning it did not make anything leave his mind. My mother shared with me that I am the only one of us kids that has persisted over the years in studying the war and trying to learn more from my father. Call it my own little mission I guess. But, I felt I had missed out on a part of who my father was—the part that the war took from him and took from me as his daughter.

In 2009 the Voces Oral History Project was started at the University of Texas. Its purpose was to “foster a greater awareness of the contributions of Latinos and Latinas who served in World War II and Vietnam.” In World War II approximately 250,000-750,000 Latinos and Latinas served in all areas of the military. The Project has actually been gathering data and stories since 1999 having compiled “850 interviews with men and women, thousands of photos, publishing three books on the subject, and increasing awareness via numerous exhibits.” My father was one of eight Vietnam veterans selected from Arizona to be interviewed so that he could share his memories…among them the day he got summoned for duty, the night he walked off the big transport plane to their base camp—magazine loaded and weapon ready to fire (there was conflict right from the start) and numerous other experiences.There were three segments in the video: Life story, enlisting and battle, coming home and readjusting/rebuilding a life. Each veteran was asked to share something they had learned in life, something to pass on to anyone who viewed his/her story.

I didn’t know this video existed until I asked my mom for any pictures remaining from Vietnam that I could use for my ongoing research. In the process she found this video, dated August 16, 2010. She said that there was only one segment on it and was disappointed that no more videos came so they could watch the whole interview. I was skeptical about this, thinking to myself that they probably didn’t fast forward far enough…..fortunately, I was right. She went out to the backyard, DVD in hand, and I watched her ask my father if I could view it. I saw his jaw tense, watched him toss the hose he was using to water the flowerbeds to the ground, shaking his head, hands on his hips. Then there was the familiar stance when he gets irritated, arms folded, pursed lips. I watched my mom motioning with her hands and I knew she was pleading my case. He quickly nodded his head and turned his back to her, picking up the garden hose again. I had my mom’s blessing—at least.

I was unsure about watching this video, perhaps scared about what I would learn or discover about my father and his experiences. This knowledge, this last piece of the puzzle between he and I—had been years in the making.I took the incidental discovery of the DVD by my mom as a sign that it was time to close the circle so the healing could continue between my father and I. Before my dad could change his mind I tucked the DVD away in my purse, hugged my mom goodbye, and headed home with racing thoughts and some hope that this might be what would help me see my father in a whole new perspective and what my place was as his daughter, his first born.

After picking up some dinner for me and Anaya I popped in the DVD, we settled onto the couch to eat, and clicked “play.” I was in no way prepared for what I would see, or what I would hear from my dad, or how I would become profoundly affected by his recollection of events. To say the experience of watching him on the television screen, his nervous body language, his discomfort with some of the questions, his fidgeting….and at times, the obvious efforts to hold back emotion was difficult is putting it lightly.

I was fascinated to hear about our family history, his days growing up, the political unrest of living in the barrio and the segregation of blacks, Hispanics, and whites, as well as how he assimilated into a mixed high school learning how to speak English so he could learn more. I learned his goal was to be a business mogul someday….Vietnam was the “someday” that arrived first….forever altering the determined path he had set for himself so he could get out of the poverty ridden barrios of South Phoenix. He had finished just one year at Phoenix College.

My father’s journey to Vietnam actually came by chance. Although he was drafted and enlisted, he didn’t mind going. He wanted to be part of something important for his country and felt going to fight was the “right thing to do.” He felt he would regret not doing his part as an American—and that if he did not serve and “do the right thing” he would live with regret and shame for not doing so. He was actually slated to go to Germany after basic training…but at the last minute, his orders changed. He was sent to Fort Benning to go through “jungle training” and would be deployed to Vietnam shortly thereafter. This is where the second and most difficult segment of the video begins. My father relays the one quote he remembers from the “pep talk” given to them before they boarded the big military plane bound for Vietnam: “Some of you will not make it back.” It was the moment everything became “real.”

I learned about the experiences he was “willing” to discuss—the racial tension in the tents, the frequent fighting, times he had been injured, escaped death, was pinned down in a bunker at night under fire while he was doing his night “guard shift.” He described, with swallowed emotion, the death of his best friend who was shot in the head. When asked what event stuck with him the most, he became silent, looking downward. With a deep breath he tells of an attack on a nearby major weapons depot at 0400, waking him up out of sleep. The depot was stocked with massive amounts of artillery, bombs, rockets—everything. With vivid recollection he paints the scene: The sky lighting up in fire. The confusion of his unit as they struggled to get their flak jackets and weapons loaded. When the Vietnamese blew up the depot, many were killed and they had to take cover for days because bombs and other devices were continuing to be set off by the initial bombing and flames. On one of those days, my dad had decided to take a peak outside his tent because it had quieted down…as he did so, a short distance away he remembers seeing a “miniature atomic bomb” go off, the sound louder than anything he could ever describe. He felt the earth beneath his feet shaking violently, and how the earth seemed to shake with more violence as the effects of the bomb got nearer to their base camp. He was caught up in this explosion, along with the entire basecamp—and was injured. With carefully measured words he recalled seeing the bombing of the depot, the bomb going off a short distance outside his tent, and being a part of this massive explosion as the event that impacted him the most. Afew days after his return to the states he would learn that his base camp was overrun, the VC had dug tunnels underneath it, killing all of his remaining comrades.

An especially moving part of my father’s story was the experience of realizing his tour was up… the few short days before he was to return to the United States. He described his level of anticipation, his relief, and his elation at the prospect of leaving Vietnam….of SURVIVING what many of his brothers did not. His recollection of seeing the Pan Am airliner for the first time was the most poignant. He relays, in vivid detail how he and his comrades cheered as the plane came into view, landing, to take them home. He also smiles as he recalls the cheers of all the men on the plane as the airliner took to the air. But he also felt a twinge of guilt as he caught a view of a military plane that had just landed and was unloading fresh troops to begin their tours. The stewardesses, the “American Women” were a “beautiful sight for sore eyes.” What the battle fatigued and traumatized soldiers were not prepared for was the unsavory welcoming they would receive when they landed in the states…a place they used to know as “home.” In Vietnam, the soldiers were never clued into the political climate in the states. They had no idea that there were protests, or ugly pictures painted on TV screens and magazine covers all over the country portraying their “supposed” activities. They had no warning. Their much dreamed about first steps off the plane on their home soil…were met with signs of protest and crowds yelling “murderers and baby killers.” The feelings of rejection and betrayal, he says, were overwhelming. My father marks those moments as the “beginning of knowing I was never going to be the same person I used to be, that I might not ever fit in here ever again, that I might not ever be able to connect like I used to.” “The war took something from me, I was never the same.” After being met at Sky Harbor airport with a much more loving reception than his previous landing in San Francisco, my father went home with his family. In the first few days home he recalls noticing a very “loud” feeling of being “numb and totally disconnected from everything and everyone.” There was the constant question of “Now what?” My father also discusses (rather cautiously) his struggles with PTSD, how it’s affected him, his family, thinking that it started the day of the bomb and never left him.

Of the entire three hour interview, these were some of the most emotional stories/memories. What I was not expecting, what brought me to tears, were the last ten minutes of the video when he talked about me. His daughter. He said things about me, about my life, my accomplishments, his overwhelming pride about watching me get off of welfare, raise my daughter alone, while getting both a Bachelors and Master’s degree. At one point, he swallows his emotions and struggles to talk. As I hear these words I am overcome with emotion and begin sobbing. He has never said these things to me; he has never said these things about me in my presence. This moment is the first time I have heard my father talk about how he really feels about the person I am, the mother I am, and how proud he is of me as his child.

The ending of the video follows shortly thereafter…and the irony of his last statement comes at a devastating and life altering time in my own life. The interviewer asks my dad to share something he learned by his experiences in Vietnam and coming home and having to rebuild his life again:

He responds:

“ I think anybody watching this video should remember to do what feels right, if you know what the right thing to do is, do it…because those choices become part of you, part of your life forever…”

He wipes away a single tear and grows quiet as the camera remains on him. A faraway look comes over his face as he stares quietly past the camera.

The television screen goes black.

Tears run down my face…Naya sits in silence holding my hand.

Now I understand it all…

http://nurseinterupted.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/what-my-father-could-never-tell-me-the-vietnam-interview/

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

C.O.V.V.H.A. SUPPORTS – H.R. 3337: Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2011.

On May 10, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

H.R. 3337: Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2011

Sponsor: Rep. Todd Akin [R, MO-2]

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an open burn pit registry to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who may have been exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits while deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq receive information regarding such exposure, and for other purposes.

CLICK ON THE POPVOX PICTURE TO SUPPORT THIS BILL!!!

https://www.popvox.com/orgs/covvha/_action/3067

Take Action!!!!!!

All Legislation Endorsed and/or Opposed Has Been Approved and Reviewed by Kelly L. Derricks

Please view our POPVOX Legislative Agenda for all updated information

Kelly will also be endorsing and opposing legislation that will affect our veterans and their families, as well as areas regarding health, environment, agriculture, education.

Each week Kelly highlights a bill on behalf of Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance that has been endorsed and/or opposed after careful review.

An “action page” link, that she has set up for each specific bill, takes you directly to the specific legislation as well as an area for your Name, Zip Code, and YOUR VOTE!!

That’s it!!! You hit enter and your information is sent directly to your State Representative in letter form which you will receive a copy of via email.

Your VOICE does count, PLEASE, use it!!!

Kelly L. Derricks

Murder By Agent Orange

On May 8, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

It never ends. Agent Orange destroys every aspect of life that one person can have. I was told once “Kelly, I’m sorry, but your Father never had a chance.” He died only one month after turning 37 in 1982. I was the 7 year old little girl he left behind. It appears to me now that I never had a chance either.

Recently, a sophomore from University of Oregon was interviewing me about Agent Orange for her term paper asked one final question, “What aspect of your childhood did Agent Orange have the most impact?” Followed by, if I was uncomfortable answering I did not have to. That statement has been made hundreds of times to me. I always answer the questions. Immediately, I had a flash of a memory that would form my answer to her, a memory that I think until last Friday only 3 people knew of. “My Father died when I was in second grade, one day on the bus going home from school, a girl named Rachel W. started arguing with me about something stupid. As the bus began to make its turn to my stop, I began moving to the front so that I could get off and run. I did not know at that point that in the 10 seconds to follow that turn, I would want to run for my life and never stop. The last words that came from Rachel’s mouth that would pierce my eardrums for the rest of my life were, “Hey Kelly, at least I still have a father.” So, I said to the college student “in every way shape and form of my childhood, my father’s death was what impacted me the most in regards to Agent Orange.” It did not just impact my childhood though, Agent Orange and the resulting death of my father has impacted every aspect of my entire life. Every choice, every decision, every twist, every turn, every illness, every fear, every tear, every relationship, or should I just say, there’s NOTHING, NOT ONE MOMENT, of my life that hasn’t been impacted by Agent Orange and the death of my father.

I’m tired, I’m angry, I’m sick, I’m 38. I’m fighting a war every day that, to most, ended decades ago. Long after the protests, ignorance, boots on the ground, and clearing of jungles have ended, we are still fighting the Vietnam War. Agent Orange, the chemical war that has never ended. Agent Orange, the defoliant used to clear the jungles of Vietnam so our soldiers could have an “advantage” over the “enemy”. Agent Orange, the Dioxin ridden carcinogen as lethal as radioactive waste in the bodies of our soldiers, in the bodies of their children, in the bodies of their children’s children, in my body.

In my father’s obituary, it is written and quoted that my father, Harry C. Mackel Jr., said he felt like he had a bomb ticking inside of him. He knew the bomb was Agent Orange. He knew. I know. We all know. Millions of us know all over the world and yet, until the United States Government actually comes out and publicly states that THEY KNEW, we will continue spinning on this never ending hamster wheel of life. The life of Agent Orange.

I will never stop fighting for the millions of us that are sick and dying because of Agent Orange and Dioxin exposures, the Veterans, the children like me, and the innocent all over this world who have been effected by this nightmare. Agent Orange is a colorless, silent, ruthless killer. Agent Orange is by every definition of the word, a murderer, a serial killer. In essence, those of us still living are walking crime scenes.

I may still be a walking, breathing human being but, Agent Orange murdered me on October 14, 1982. The same date it murdered my father.

(COVVHA) Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance INC.

Seeds of Destruction – The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation – F. William Engdahl Interview

On April 25, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Seeds of Destruction The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation By F. William Engdahl

Book Review and Full Length Author Interview

Seeds of Destruction : Full Spectrum Dominance : William Engdahl Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKyRAy48qBk

This skillfully researched book focuses on how a small socio-political American elite seeks to establish control over the very basis of human survival: the provision of our daily bread. “Control the food and you control the people.”This is no ordinary book about the perils of GMO. Engdahl takes the reader inside the corridors of power, into the backrooms of the science labs, behind closed doors in the corporate boardrooms.

The author cogently reveals a diabolical World of profit-driven political intrigue, government corruption and coercion, where genetic manipulation and the patenting of life forms are used to gain worldwide control over food production. If the book often reads as a crime story, that should come as no surprise. For that is what it is.

Engdahl’s carefully argued critique goes far beyond the familiar controversies surrounding the practice of genetic modification as a scientific technique. The book is an eye-opener, a must-read for all those committed to the causes of social justice and World peace.

F. William Engdahl is a leading analyst of the New World Order, author of the best-selling book on oil and geopolitics, A Century of War: Anglo-American Politics and the New World Order,’ His writings have been translated into more than a dozen languages.

What is so frightening about Engdahl’s vision of the world is that it is so real. Although our civilization has been built on humanistic ideals, in this new age of “free markets”, everything– science, commerce, agriculture and even seeds– have become weapons in the hands of a few global corporation barons and their political fellow travelers. To achieve world domination, they no longer rely on bayonet-wielding soldiers. All they need is to control food production. (Dr. Arpad Pusztai, biochemist, formerly of the Rowett Research Institute Institute, Scotland)

http://globalresearch.ca/books/SoD.html