The news this morning carries an item on the risks from mercury in energy-saving light bulbs and the extra hazards presented by handling broken bulbs.

It is right of the government's Environment Agency to draw attention to such risks. I, for one, am grateful for the reminder of the hazards of the mercury vapour and shall spread the word. However, without losing the message, I would also value proportionality.

How great a risk is this, compared to mercury wilfully injected into children and adults in government-funded vaccination programmes (e.g. influenza)? How great a risk is it compared to a lifetime of government-funded exposure to mercury from mercury amalgum fillings in our teeth, still the only type of dental filling funded by the NHS? How does it relate to the amount of mercury put into the atmosphere by power stations, as they generate the extra electricity required for conventional incandescent light bulbs?

Joined-up thinking is required but where is the information we all need, to help us to make informed decisions? Where is the government's inclusive, balanced and holistic comment on the whole mercury issue? Where are the government health warnings on vaccinations and mercury fillings?

Come on, government, this is research you should have commissioned, to help you make the decisions you make. Let us all have the information, please.

Meanwhile, for info., here's a collection of varying 'takes' on the light bulb issue:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7172662.stm 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=506082&in_page_id=1774

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_article_id=505571&in_page_id=1965&ito=1490

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=506082&in_page_id=1774&ico=Homepage&icl=TabModule&icc=picbox&ct=5

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4922496.stm

http://www.newstarget.com/022279.html

http://www.reportage.uts.edu.au/stories/2007/society/lightbulbs.html

http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/lamp-mercury.html

http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/chemwaste/mercury.htm

http://www.epa.gov/hg/spills/index.htm

http://h2e-online.org/docs/h2e10stepfluorescent121802.pdf

http://www.lamprecycle.org/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/18/nbulb118.xml

http://www.newswithviews.com/Peterson/rosalind1.htm

Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?

The RSPCA has called for increased welfare for chickens reared for meat.

The RSPCA quite rightly states that the welfare of many chickens being reared for cheap food is very much below acceptable levels.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=chickens

It is to be hoped that the RSPCA's own house is in order on their 'Freedom Food' chicken farms. However, no one can check, as the location of their farms is secret. I say to the RSPCA: tell us where all your farms are and let us all see how you lead the farming world in welfare standards.

It is an uncomfortable situation when our key animal welfare organisation is itself in the intensive farming business. There is always a danger that vested interest can blind one to the obvious.

www.alternativevet.org/rspca.htm

Cheap food policies engender corner-cutting, cost-cutting, lack of respect for the animals involved and massive welfare risks.

Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?

The news that two new mothers have died, soon after giving birth is deeply tragic. No words can improve this terrible situation for the families but we can offer our prayers and express our sympathy, love and support. The enormity of their loss is unimaginable.

As far as the medical establishment is concerned, if this infection proves to have come from the hospital concerned, lessons must be learned.

Whatever the cause, I make a plea that homeopathic care in hospitals should be considered, alongside the current methods, whether in A & E, Maternity, Surgical Wards or elsewhere, in an effort to improve the level of care offered and to try to reduce the risk of such appalling tragedies. Who can tell when the risk might come closer to home and which of us may personally be at risk in the future, from hospital-borne infections.

"Teachers Amy Kimmance, 39, and Jasmine Pickett, 29, both became mums on December 21.

They died days later of complications from group A streptococcal infections."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article653939.ece

information also at:

http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=7158121

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23430688-details/Two%20new%20mothers%20die%20of%20identical%20bug%20after%20giving%20birth%20at%20SAME%20hospital%20on%20SAME%20day/article.do

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=505949&in_page_id=1774

http://itn.co.uk/news/f2f4def06f1fe6599d59f4e30f2194ed.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7170464.stm

Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?

With Norovirus gastroenteritis threatening schools at the start of a new term and already causing the closure of hospital facilities (98 wards in 44 hospitals so far), with an estimated cost to the NHS of £100 million and an estimated cost to UK business of £80 million in the last two days alone, why does no one ask if homeopathy could help? In the absence of a conventional weapon to fight this predictable annual infection, what possible objections could there be to trying homeopathy and homeoprophylaxis (preventive by nosodes e.g.)?

It appears that the establishment would prefer to lose these huge sums and suffer massive disruption to hospital services, operations, school time and industry losses, let alone all the human suffering and potential risk to life, than give homeopathy a chance to show its mettle.

Couldn't even one hospital break the mould and strike out into new territory, by consulting homeopathic doctors for a possible treatment and preventive? What can we lose? I suppose that the big danger would be that it might work!

Why has the pharmaceutical industry not leapt on this annual epidemic to cash in on a huge bonanza from vaccine production and sales? I suppose we can rest assured there will be something in the pipeline so that these rich pickings can be harvested in the future.

Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here? (e.g. www.alternativevet.org/nosodes.htm : www.alternativevet.org/homeopathy.htm

Here's hoping for a great 2008 for all visitors to my blog and websites.

Thought for the year: "We are rarely limited by others - most of our limitations are self-imposed."