MindFreedom International News - 10 December 2007

http://www.mindfreedom.org  

Today, 10 December, is International Human Rights Day. Celebrate!

BELOW: Nine (9) *brief* news items on human rights & mental health:

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1) Ratify UN Treaty on Disability Human Rights!

MindFreedom International had a team led by MFI board president Celia

Brown inside the United Nations for several years worked in a spirit of

mutual cooperation with disability groups from all over the world.

The result was a United Nations treaty on disability rights that

could also help people in the mental health system. But now that

treaty needs to be ratified by nations all over the world. Disability

activists have created a campaign to win that ratification. Here's a news

release for the campaign and web site, RatifyNow.

More info:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/mental-health-global/united-nations/disability

Or go directly to: http://www.ratifynow.org/

Today, 10 December, is International Human Rights Day! More info:

http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/2007

Last week, 3 December, was International Disabled Persons Day. More info:

http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=22&pid=109

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2) Federal prisoner says he is forced to take psychiatric drugs

Mike Heston says he is a prisoner who is experiencing involuntary

psychiatric drugging. He is locked up in the Federal medical Center in

Rochester, Minnesota. Mike asks people to make civil complaints on his

behalf.

Mike writes, "Dr. Hart won't let me out of the hole unless I take

pills... it only makes me sicker and even more nervous. My nerves are

shot as I have claustrophobia and need I tell you how I feel right now:

my heart is racing."

More info:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/prison-mental-health/forced-psychiatric-drugs

or use this link: http://tinyurl.com/yocwcs

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3) NY Times: Willard Suitcase Project Exposes Psychiatric History

The New York Times ran an article about a special exhibit in New York

that exposes the history of the psychiatric system in a very personal

way.

MFI board president Celia Brown lives in New York said, "I'm so proud of

the work that Darby Penney and Peter Stastny did. I remember when they

were researching the suitcases from WIllard. I also think the NY Times

did a great job in reporting and nice quotes from Darby. This is the kind

of story that can educate the public on the horrors of the mental health

system."

More info:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/history/ny-times-willard-suitcase

Or go directly to:

http://tinyurl.com/27clzh

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4) Power of a small group: Leafleting World Psychiatric Association

Even a few people can make a difference. When the World Psychiatric

Association held a meeting in Melbourne, Australia, represents from three

psychiatric survivor groups were there to speak out and leaflet. We are

everywhere!

See a photo and the historic document that the Australians handed out

here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/mental-health-global/wpa-dresden/australians

or use this link:

http://tinyurl.com/2kkbae

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5) Martha Rosenberg on the Common Dreams website explores the

pharmaceutical industry's reach:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/psych-drug-corp/many-faces-of-big-pharma

or go directly to:

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/05/5622/

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6) Wall St. Journal examines neuroleptic psychiatric drug abuse of

seniors in nursing homes:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/mental-health-abuse/nursing-home-prescription-abuse

or go directly to:

http://tinyurl.com/3ao2jj

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7) The largest daily newspaper in Oregon exposes psychiatric drugging of

youth in foster care:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/youth-mental-health/foster

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8) Bruce Levine, author of the new book _Surviving America's

Depression Epidemic_, has several new articles challenging

psychiatric industry oppression:

http://www.brucelevine.net/recentarticles.html

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9) Care for some humor?

The satiric publication Onion has been skewering the rampant use of

psychiatric labeling, drugging and abuse for years. Find a link to the

most recent piece along with more than a dozen other examples here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/mental-health-arts/humor/onion

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More news at the MindFreedom News Web Site:

http://www.mindfreedom.org

Don't see a news item? Submit it to news@mindfreedom.org

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Build united strength in numbers!

JOIN MINDFREEDOM INTERNATIONAL!

http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate

* Win human rights campaigns in mental health.

* End abuse by the psychiatric drug industry.

* Support self-determination of psychiatric survivors.

* Promote safe, humane, effective options in mental health.

MindFreedom is a nonprofit human rights group that unites 100 sponsor and

affiliate groups with individual members.

MindFreedom is one of the very few totally independent activist

groups in the mental health field with no funding from governments, drug

companies, religions, corporations, or the mental health system.

All human rights supporters are invited to join or donate here:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/join-donate

For hard-to-find books and gear go to:

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MindFreedom International Office:

454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB 11284; Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA

web site: http://www.mindfreedom.org

e-mail: office@mindfreedom.org

office phone: (541) 345-9106

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fax: (541) 345-3737

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