Dr. Santo Rullo : Soccer as Therapy for Mental Illness

From Newsweek (18.01.2007), Barbie Nadeau's interview with Dr. Santo Rullo :

NEWSWEEK: How do you use soccer to help treat mental illnesses?
Rullo: Soccer is used for socialization in the treatment of many mental illnesses. Since soccer is such a part of our national culture, it is a natural way to help our patients touch base with their core and their backgrounds. It gives them a sense of balance. All of our patients played soccer as children and teens; many played in organized clubs. It is not a new sport they must learn, it is almost inherent in them, and that is what makes it such a useful tool. In many ways, it helps them return to the concept of fun and play.

So soccer therapy would work best here in Italy or Brazil, or other countries where soccer is the predominant sport?
Yes, here in Italy, soccer is part of daily life and often family life. For Americans, basketball or baseball would probably work much the same.

What forms of mental illness are best treated through soccer therapy?
Our patients are primarily battling depression, schizophrenia, multiple-personality disorders and bipolar disorder.

What other sports work to treat mental illnesses?
Swimming has also been a very successful tool as part of an integrated treatment plan.

Soccer therapy... Ummmm...

Millions of children 'damaged by chemicals'

By Nick Fleming at Telegraph (08.11.2006) :

American and Danish researchers describe a "silent pandemic" of disorders including autism, attention deficit syndrome, mental retardation and cerebral palsy caused by chemical pollution.

In a report, they identified 202 industrial chemicals that could damage the brain. They called for tighter controls although other scientists accused the study's authors of scaremongering and a "gross over-statement".

Dr Philippe Grandjean, from the Department of Environmental Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark in Winslowparken said the brain was such a vulnerable organ that even limited damage could have serious consequences.

Insurance Horror Stories

By Paul Krugman at The NY Times/Donkey O.D. (22.09.2006).

Depleted Uranium Radioactive Contamination In Iraq: An Overview

By Prof Souad N. Al-Azzawi at Global Research (31.08.2006) :

Depleted Uranium (DU) weaponry has been used against Iraq for the first time in the history of recent wars. The magnitude of the complications and damage related to the use of such radioactive and toxic weapons on the environment and the human population mostly results from the intended concealment, denial and misleading information released by the Pentagon about the quantities, characteristics and the area’s in Iraq, in which these weapons have been used.

Agent Orange ViêtNam : Rencontre avec Duc et Viêt, nés siamois

By André Bouny at Bellaciao (14.08.2006) :

Après 1975, l’Ogre est parti bouffer ailleurs, en Irak, au Liban... Au Viêt Nam, il a chié partout.

Dans les années 80, de nombreux siamois naissent au Viêt Nam dans des proportions tellement inhabituelles que les personnes autorisées pensent aussitôt à l’Agent Orange.

Beeves of Mass Destruction

From "Farm ministry officially lifts ban on U.S. beef" by AP at The Japan Times (28.07.2006) :

The agriculture ministry on Thursday formally approved the resumption of U.S. beef imports following a ban in January due to concerns about mad cow disease, a ministry official said.

The ministry's mad cow advisory committee approved resuming imports, and the government planned to officially announce the move later Thursday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity per ministry protocol.

The lifting of the ban, imposed after Japanese inspectors checking a veal shipment found banned parts believed to be at risk for mad cow disease, would remove a key source of friction between Tokyo and Washington.

It would also give U.S. beef exporters access once again to what had been one of their most lucrative markets.

Worker exposed to radiation at Aomori nuclear plant

At Mainichi Daily News (24.06.2006).

Stop Rokkasho form for petition.

Japanese, Kurdish groups co-host 1st A-bomb exhibition in Iraq

At Crisscross (21.06.2006).

Also see "The perfect monster kills quietly" at Uruknet.info (19.06.2006).

In Minamata, a 'sad anniversary'

At Asahi.com (02.05.2006) :

MINAMATA, Kumamoto Prefecture--The city that gave its name to Minamata disease marked the 50th anniversary Monday since doctors first diagnosed what proved to be the nation's worst case of pollution-related illness in the postwar period.

A sense of betrayal and mistrust of the central government among some citizens pervaded Monday's observances, not surprising since no prime minister has ever visited to assess the situation first-hand.

Minamata resident Fujie Sakamoto, 81, summed up the feelings of many sufferers when she said, "The 50th anniversary is not a festival. The government should be ashamed that it cannot solve the problems of uncertified patients, even after 50 years. For us, this is a sad anniversary."

"水俣に関する空虚な首相談話" at 壊れる前に….

9 millions d’enfants africains devenus orphelins par le Sida

By Leila Salem at Agence PAF/Bellaciao (23.03.2006) :

L’organisation "Save the children" a annoncé que 9 millions enfants africains ont perdu leurs mères suite au Sida.

L’organisation s’est étonnée sur l’indifférence générale de la communauté internationale à propos de ce fléau : "Dans les pays africains subsahariens, 12 millions d’enfants, ayant moins de 15 ans, ont perdu l’un ou les deux parents suite au Sida".

“19 millions de femmes dans le monde atteintes du Sida ont des enfants, la majorité d’entre elles habitent les pays pauvres ; par manque d’infrastructure dans ces pays, elles ignorent leur affection et ne prennent connaissance de leur maladie qu’en phase terminale lorsqu’elles deviennent trop faibles » déclara Mme Jasmin Whitebread présidente de l’ONG “Save the children”

アフリカではエイズ禍と貧困のせいで母親を失って、９００万人の子供が孤児になっている。英語の "AIDS" は、フランス語では "Sida" と表記される。

Agent Orange Viêtnam : De la rélité de vie des victimes à une lointaine actualité

By André Bouny at Bellaciao (12.02.2006) :

Mais maintenant que la guerre est finie, elle continue. Une guerre silencieuse, si laide qu’elle n’a pas l’honneur des écrans. Bien sûr on la rencontre au "Village de l’Amitié" de Van Canh à Hanoi ou dans le "Village de la Paix" de Tu Du à Ho Chi Minh-Ville, deux lieux qu’on peut qualifier d’établissements pilotes du pays. Elles sont là les victimes visibles de l’Agent Orange. Les écrans du monde n’en veulent pas. Elles font peur. Certaines le savent. Elles souffrent d’être. Elles vous fouillent la pupille et semblent demander : "Qu’ai-je fait pour être comme ça ?" et vous devenez l’accusé du monde entier. Celles-là ne sont que l’infime partie apparente d’un iceberg qui fait froid dans le dos.

無言の戦争はいまだに続いている……。枯葉剤について、「ヴェトナムの子供たちの父」、アンドレ・ブーニーのエッセー。誰か訳したほうがいいよ。

Construire un monde solidaire にも、同じ記事がある。

Avian flu extends its reach to Iraq

Elizabeth Rosenthal, "Avian flu extends its reach to Iraq," at IHT (31.01.2006) :

A 15-year-old Iraqi girl has died of the H5N1 bird flu virus, Iraqi and international health officials confirmed Monday, indicating the arrival of disease in yet another country - one that, in its current war-torn state, may be ill prepared to control spread of the disease.

More alarming still, officials said, the finding suggests that the disease may be spreading widely - and undetected - among birds in countries of Central Asia that are poorly equipped to pick up or report infections. Bird flu has never been reported in animals in Iraq.

なんとも不気味。小泉政権が鳥インフルエンザで崩壊するなら、それでもいいとするか。