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05-26-2009, 01:58 PM | #11 | |||
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Senior Member
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PWP need a nationally recognized symbol like the pink ribbon. Let the orgs keep their logos - but use the PD Tulip as well to represent AWARENESS for ALL people with Parkinson's.
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Jean B This isn't the life I wished for, but it is the life I have. So I'm doing my best. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | gardengrl (05-28-2009) |
05-26-2009, 04:59 PM | #12 | |||
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Senior Member
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1817 - Dr. James Parkinson established PD as recognized medical condition
1981 - Dutch horticulturist who had PD, named his prized tulip, the ‘Dr. James Parkinson’ tulip 2005 - Red Tulip launched as worldwide symbol at 9th World Parkinson’s Disease Day Conference 2007 - Karen Painter gifted her PD Tulip to entire Parkinson’s community 2008 - CEOs of each national Parkinson’s organization agreed to allow use of PD Tulip for awareness 2009 - Use of the PD Tulip continues to spread across the country
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Jean B This isn't the life I wished for, but it is the life I have. So I'm doing my best. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | gardengrl (05-28-2009) |
05-27-2009, 11:44 AM | #13 | ||
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I share your frustration as well. I said this quite awhile ago. My feeling is the L-dopa based therapy is a cash cow for big pharma. There really isn't any incentive to look farther than their own pockets right now. Let's face it, the patents may have run out on the initial design, but there are many smaller pharma companies cranking out generic replacements. The big companies still benefit by supplying the raw materials to the smaller manufacturers.
The cost to produce these medications is also quite low because there are no research and development costs associated with it. All they do is squeeze out the recipe into their pill form, slap their own patent on it, and then market the medication to the doctors who prescibe it. Regarding a march on Washington. It is quite do able. A small group of PALS and CALS (People with ALS and their Care givers), marched on Washington last year regarding IPLEX. Team IPLEX as they are know as, organized this along with some television and newspaper coverage. This caused enough embarassment for the manufacturer to allow the drug to be available in the US. Surprisingly the company was able to resolve its patent dispute, and the drug was made available on a limited basis for trials. Hmmm.... Getting the squeaking wheel oiled becomes a priority when it squeaks loud enough to get in their face. Their battle isn't over yet as the FDA and the big pharma companies involved put up different hurdles to discourge these poor PALS and CALS. But these people don't give up easily. What else do they have to fight for? Their lives! Getting the PDF and the MJF involved won't happen easily. They're taken care of way too well by big pharma and other influential people. If they were to make waves and squeak too loudly, they would lose the very hands that are feeding them. After all, a big tax write-off for the big pharma companies is a wonderful thing to help protect their bottom line as they suck the money out of the patients. Anyhow, not to drag this thread too far off topic, if anyone is interested in doing a march, I am willing to help out. I have contacts within the graphics industry to help us with professional looking and designed T-shirts, and other goods. What we would need to do is come up with a game plan, and stay focused on completing the tasks needed to get the march coordinated on a particular day/weekend. This means arranging for permission with the city, hotel and transportation to and from the site, and many other things necessary to make the march happen. John |
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05-27-2009, 12:09 PM | #14 | |||
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Senior Member
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jcitron quote:
"Getting the PDF and the MJF involved won't happen easily. They're taken care of way too well by big pharma and other influential people. If they were to make waves and squeak too loudly, they would lose the very hands that are feeding them." I agree. All of the orgs rely heavily on pharma aid (hey "Pharma Aid"!? - maybe we should recruit Willie Nelson as our spokesperson!), including PAN, our political advocacy arm. I'm not sure they could survive without them; I'm not sure they want to. MJFF is innovatively partnering with "industry" in some research projects - they see the need to fund the part of the drug pipeline called the "valley of death" (where new drugs die) - the piece between designing the drug and making it a reality - instrumental in helping get new treatments to market. We need to be able to be discerning enough to separate good from bad pharma behavior. Pharma needs to be more discerning as well - deal with the obvious criminal behavior while still doing their job. And the orgs also need to be discerning; they should be able to explain to us how they can continue to ignore (completely, it seems) bad behavior in order to get their money. Seems like they are in a position to speak out on these issues; they are obviously more powerful than patients - should they be challenging the status quo? I wish they would. If pharma needs org financial help to pass through Death Valley, then maybe orgs should make that help available with strings attached. Question: do the Pharmas need the extra cash to get over the hump to preseve big profits? Or does Death Valley represent an actual loss?
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Carey “Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.” — Susan B. Anthony |
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05-28-2009, 03:45 AM | #15 | ||
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Senior Member
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It is just a thought, but in just over a year it is the WPC in Glasgow. For all the obvious reasons many people with PD will NOT be able to make it. It would however be a really good opportunity to put PD not just on a national agenda, either here in the UK or in the US, but worldwide. Many of our support orgs worldwide are linked in someway............anyone interested in such a venture? A coordinated and visible effort such as john describes......... I too believe this kind of action is do-able and there are key people in many countries who could engage media interest. There is nothing wrong in thinking big
Lindy |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | gardengrl (05-28-2009) |
05-28-2009, 07:25 AM | #16 | |||
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Senior Member
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The World Parkinson Congress would be a wonderful place for international exposure! I'm pretty tied up this summer helping with babysiting grandkids, but we need to start planning something.
Peg |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | gardengrl (05-28-2009) |
05-28-2009, 09:42 PM | #17 | ||
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Member
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I've been reading a little about the history of AIDS activism, which is the only time in the last few decades where patients took matters into their own hands. What can we learn from this?
http://www.thebody.com/content/art31153.html That's one account. I think it would take incredible unity and what would feel like strident demands or nothing would ever get done. Like if all the PD organizations together confronted Amgen about why they won't release the rights to GDNF to other takers. But there would have to be a lot of charged-up people ready to lay themselves on the line here.... Worth thinking about at least.... |
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05-29-2009, 03:44 AM | #18 | ||
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Member
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Fiona,
Thats great idea to see how AIDS activists work. They have done a great job at every level in my opinion. I agree there is still no cure or vaccine, but in 25 years after the first AIDS case, there has been a lot of progress. On a different, very personal note, I managed to persuade CEO of the biotech i work for to let me focus on PD research and I am sending my first PD grant proposal this week. This is my way of dealing with the frustration of no new drugs or therapies. I will be a true lab rat if any of my experiments show promise. .Wish me good luck! girija |
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05-31-2009, 02:42 PM | #19 | ||
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Junior Member
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Fiona-
Add natural hot springs flowing with lithium waters, natural pine forests, organic vegetarian meals, bioresonance treatments, and thirty years of experience taking care of visitors and that fits a description of the spa in Mexico that I love. I've thought of dropping my life in New York for a few months and staying there for some serious attempt at recharging and healing my coporeal mass, but I feel like I'm running out of the steam associated with taking risks. The more I find that I cannot depend on my body to respond in any reliable way, the less I am willing to put myself out on a limb to try something new or even challenging, just when I need it the most. It might be possible to arrange a small group visit for a few weeks to a few months to Mexico for a good rate, especially with this swine flu scare deterring travel to Mexico. The spa is Rio Caliente outside of Guadalajara. What did you have in mind for a retreat space. Cyndy Quote:
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05-31-2009, 06:56 PM | #20 | ||
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Member
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Do you need company to go and check this place out to make sure its suitable for PwPs?
Count me in. On a SERIOUS note, Fiona, I like your idea, I am interested. If not now, some time later I would need a place.. Girija Add natural hot springs flowing with lithium waters, natural pine forests, organic vegetarian meals, bioresonance treatments, and thirty years of experience taking care of visitors and that fits a description of the spa in Mexico that I love. I've thought of dropping my life in New York for a few months and staying there for some serious attempt at recharging and healing my coporeal mass, but I feel like I'm running out of the steam associated with taking risks. The more I find that I cannot depend on my body to respond in any reliable way, the less I am willing to put myself out on a limb to try something new or even challenging, just when I need it the most. It might be possible to arrange a small group visit for a few weeks to a few months to Mexico for a good rate, especially with this swine flu scare deterring travel to Mexico. The spa is Rio Caliente outside of Guadalajara. What did you have in mind for a retreat space. Cyndy[/QUOTE] |
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