All of the issues noted in this thread as causative factors in these evasive diseases are in fact true, but I do also wonder about things that we may have been exposed to in the past. I wonder about some of the vaccinations I was given as a child (at a Naval hospital), or in a line-up in the auditorium of my grade school in the 1960's.

It may sound paranoid, but can we really know for certain what we have been exposed to? Remember the MK-ULTRA program? One experiment in 1966 subjected masses of people in the New York Subway system... This is but one of a slew of biological experiments that used the general population unknowingly and without consent. Some have been unclassified, such as the NYC subway experiment, though I wonder how many other classified experiments there are right now. Agent orange exposure or Gulf War Syndrome create terrible illness. GWS has a symptom profile much like FMS/CFS and SFN...

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

Just a slightly different angle on things..

Mere

--there is beginning to be evidence in the developed world that given the still-stubborn rates of cancer (many of which I'm sure are linked to environmental toxins) and the obesity induced conditions such as Type II diabetes, kidney disease, and stroke, lifespan may have actually stopped increasing, and in some places may actually be DROPPING a bit . . .the biggest drop has come in Russia and other areas of the former Societ Union, in which there seem to be NO regulations on things anymore . . .

Lifespans are still rising in the developing world, except in places with high concentrations of HIV patients, but as those areas develop and degrade their own water, land and air, one wonders how long it will last . . .

I've heard it said recently that the lifespan is dropping here in the US starting with the generation of children who are in grade school now. That's why we hear of the emphasis on improving school lunches and trying to get kids to go outside and play more, etc.

a fair bit of the volatility of that statistic is the decrease in early childhood death rate....

I have yet to see the children in my neighborhood actually playing outdoors and there are quite a few... what gives. It is a safe area. Okay, I saw one kid on a bicycle the other day but I felt sorry for him because his tires were almost flat and the seat was too low. The kid probably doesn't have a clue on how to correct it (perhaps the parent doesn't either).

I was a child in the 1960's and 1970's and we were ALWAYS outdoors running around, and so was everyone else I knew. We played street hockey, rode our bicycles - with tires that were in good shape because we knew how to patch the inner-tubes and use a tire pump. I hated it when the street lights came on and it was time to come indoors.

It is my observation (and I am not saying that I am right), and perhaps it is just like this in my area, but that today's youth seem lazy, overweight and apathetic. This is only my opinion and observation and of course I am sure it is not true for all... but it worries me. What happened? Does anyone else feel this way? Or, is my observation skewed...

I would add to that, Mere, that the ADULTS do not come outside either! I am one of the very few people in my neighborhood outside. Our neighbors, even drive up, press the garage door opener and go into the garage, close the door, and never come out. They have patio furniture outside, that is never used!

The only people we see occasionally are those walking their dogs. And several of those are professional dog walkers, and not even the owners!

I live in the inner city in a row house (Town House if it weren't so old- built in 1902). In our neighborhood we have a few people who are 'stoop sitters'.
They sit on their front steps (no porch) and converse with passersby, talk on cell phones, smoke a cigarette, etc. in the rear of our homes, there are patios, yards, decks, etc - but are seldom used. I grill on the BBQ in summer almost every eve. Except for pleasantries with a next door neighbor whose car pad in in the back, I see almost no one out. Weekends there sometimes are parties on the decks- after dark, but seldom see kids play outdoors, or others grilling dinner.
I also was
".....a child in the 1960's and 1970's (er... make that '40's & '50's)and we were ALWAYS outdoors running around, and so was everyone else I knew. We played street hockey, rode our bicycles......"

Doesn't seem to be happening in my neighborhood today, either.

Here is an interesting paper with life expectancy and many other statistics, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a U.S. govt. dept. so there should be no problem quoting from this. This is a very large pdf (10MB) so you may have to be patient. If you only have dial-up, probably forget it.

Health, United States, 2009
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus09.pdf

See Table 24 (p. 187), "Life expectancy at birth..."
Data only goes to 2006 but life expectancy at birth is steadily increasing, although flat for most groups from 2004-2005.

Also interesting is:
Table 26 (page 1 of 4). Age-adjusted death rates for selected causes of death, by sex, race, and Hispanic origin: United States, selected years 1950–2006

The rates of death from most of the diseases listed are declining. I have been reading and generally believed that rates of chronic diseases are increasing. This chart does not bear this out, but it does not show all diseases, for example it does not show those that don't generally cause death, like PN.

Electron

Just my opinion: kids haven't changed, and they are not lazy. Kids don't run around outside, and haven't for a while now because somewhere along the way, we got hysterical about child abducters. The kids next door can't walk two short city blocks to school, cause, you know, some stranger (stranger danger!!!!) is going to grab 'em. The parents actually drive them to and from instead of letting them take a five-minute walk. And I think this is the norm these days.

I understand that there really are child abductions, and if anyone here has ever had one touch their life personally, my heart goes out to you. But I really think child obesity is statistically far more dangerous. Is there even any evidence that children are abducted any more now than they ever were?

I'm new so I don't know exactly how or where to add this post...I want to add it to the discussion but not in reply to anyone's post so have put it here, please excuse....I hope it shows up OK. Or someone could instruct me a better way...

I received this email today and had to show it, I am on the American Diabetic Assoc.'s email list. Please read the last 2 paragraphs of the letter.

From: American Diabetes Association
To:
Subject: Don't wait to invest in our children's future
Date: Jul 8, 2010 11:00 AM
Dear ,

Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions in our country and,
in turn, creating a diabetes crisis. This is not a problem that will
go away easily. We must take action to make change happen now...and give our children a chance at a healthier future.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307) is a crucial step in the
right direction. Don't wait another minute - ask your Senators
to support this critical legislation today!

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act would make a strong investment in
our school nutrition programs, including increasing the federal
reimbursement for the school lunch program. The added funding will
provide local school districts with resources to improve the quality
and nutritional value of meals served to students. The bill will
also require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to strengthen
nutrition standards for foods sold in vending machines, a la carte
lines and school stores so they are based on current nutrition
science-that means removing sugary beverages and high-calorie
snacks from schools.

Congress must pass this bill and the President must sign it before it
expires on September 30th. Please tell Senate Leadership to
bring Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act to the Senate floor this summer.

Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions in our country and,
in turn, contributing to the diabetes crisis. If current trends
continue, 1 in 3 children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes
at some point in their lifetimes.

This is a crisis we cannot afford to ignore. Thank you for all that
you do to give our children a healthier future.

Sincerely,


Nash Childs, PE
Chair of the Board
American Diabetes Association



_____________________________________________
American Diabetes Association Action Center

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