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“MCS” Beacon of Hope
Foundation
Saving Our Environment Today
– For A Healthier & Brighter Tomorrow! The
Honorable Linda Lingle Governor, State
of Hawaii Executive Chambers State
Capitol Honolulu,
Hawaii 96813 Fax:
808-586-0006 Dear Governor Lingle, Sept.
3, 2010 We
were just made aware (via email) that you signed a proclamation
declaring July 2010 as Toxic Injury Awareness and Education month. We,
here at "MCS" Beacon of Hope, appreciate you signing on in
support of Toxic Injury Awareness and Education, like you did for
us, back in 2006. It is pertinent that you signed in July, as
you also declared July 26th as American's With Disabilities Act 20th Anniversary
recognition Day. Toxic Injury is the fastest growing segment of the
disabled population. (ADA Region 10) This is truly a victory for
your office, and for our community. However,
we were surprised to see our group, "MCS" Beacon of Hope
Foundation, misquoted, misidentified and misrepresented in the
proclamation; the drafter of that document is unknown to us and we were
not consulted concerning the statements made about us. Yes, we've been
active under the name "MCS" Beacon of Hope Foundation since
2000. However, we do not, equate "MCS", in our name, as
"Multiple Chemical Sensitivity." as your proclamation implied.
You see, Toxic Injury accounts for many more conditions of poisoning
than just those who identify themselves as having "Multiple
Chemical Sensitivity." Toxic
Injury and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity are not
synonymous. While those who call themselves MCSers are Toxically
Injured, medically speaking, chemical sensitivity is a symptom of Toxic
Injury, just as a runny nose, itchy, watery eyes or sneezing can be a
symptom of allergies. Those with Toxic Injury frequently include
chemical sensitivities in their manifestation of symptoms, but it is by
no means the sum total of the condition. If pressed, the same
individuals that claim chemical sensitivities may also claim headache,
runny eyes or dizziness. All are symptoms. Many, whose list of symptoms,
include the aforementioned, have been diagnosed with Toxic
Encephalopathy, or Acute Toxin Induced Intermittent Porphyria,
along with many other forms of toxic injury. While the latter two are
actual diagnosis, sensitivity to chemicals is a symptom, an important
distinction. For verification, you can check out the CDC's Environmental
Medicine Continuing Education courses, located on the ATSDR web page.
They have begun an excellent accredited educational program aimed
specifically at identifying the various environmental toxins that cause
Toxic Injuries. In addition, the recent research paper entitled
"The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substance Control
Act" by Safer Chemicals, Safer Families, went through congress in
July 2010, which presented specific research on cancer, neuro-degenerative
diseases, reproductive disorders, birth defects and Asthma, all caused
or exacerbated by consumer product and environmental toxins. They
estimate 70% of deaths last year and 75% of healthcare costs that are attributed
to these toxin induced injuries... The
15% of the population quoted, on your proclamation is old data,
from around 1998. More current data states 44% that suffer with chemical
sensitivities as one of their symptoms. If you take the 70% of deaths
and extrapolate that out to represent known chronic diseases
(mentioned in the above paper) caused or exacerbated by consumer product
toxins, add to that the 44% of known Toxically Injured that include
chemical sensitivity in their list of symptomology, as well as those
with Toxic Injuries who do not necessarily have chemical sensitivity,
(i.e. conditions like lyme disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,
fibromyalgia, toxic mold illnesses,
etc.) and allow for overlap of conditions, we estimate a much
larger percentage of the population have some adverse effect due to
toxic exposures/injury. That doesn't even bring into play the countless
other research papers that are available, by credible scientists that
attribute the diseases of their field of study, to the same thing.
(i.e. Dr. John Greene, neurodegenerative disease specialist in children, DAN
Seattle Conference 2006, "6 out of 10 children have a neurologic
condition due to toxins. We are no longer the minority.") While
we would have liked to applaud the work of those who achieved this
proclamation, we wish they had provided you with current and accurate
information. We decry their misuse of our name and reputation. Anyone
who visits our website, or reads our official letters, should be acutely
aware that the "MCS" in our title stands for: multiple toxic
chemicals and other toxins are involved, multiple symptoms are presented
and multiple body systems are adversely affected. They would also
be aware that "MCS" Beacon of Hope was founded by
Peggy Troiano and Julia Williams (mother and daughter), as Domenic
(husband and father) passed away in 1999 of chemical poisoning, due to
solvents, a Toxic Injury. It is especially shocking and cruel that
someone would attempt to legitimize their label of
"MCS" by misrepresenting our Foundation. Our
mission, the promotion of Toxic Injury Awareness and Education, is not
to be confused with or embroiled in the medical debate over the
nomenclature surrounding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. With the
exception of a few states, the rest of the world, and the majority of
the medical community, perceives Multiple Chemical Sensitivity as a
psychiatric condition and that nomenclature, currently, does more harm
than good, for those that suffer the symptom of chemical
sensitivity due to multiple exposures to toxic substances. Toxic
Injuries are physiological conditions, supported by the CDC, Secretary
of Health, Kathleen Sebelius and Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the EPA. Once
again, we are pleased with your signing of the Toxic Injury Awareness
and Education Proclamation but out of respect and concern for all those
who have had their lives devastated or prematurely lost due to toxic
exposures, we feel the need to bring this matter to your attention as we
must make every effort to keep the information current and accurate. As
we cannot allow our name to be misused and misrepresented in this way,
we respectfully ask that you reconsider and/or correct the current
proclamation. For
the record, we have sent our request letter/proclamation to you starting
in February 2010 and faxed several more times as, “attn: Roz.” as
per your office staff’s request. We would still welcome you signing it
(you may make it for July or for any other month), as it needs and
deserves recognition and awareness every day of every year. We
will gladly add it along with the others posted at: toxicinjury.org If
we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact
us. Sincerely,
your friends in Hope & Health, Peggy,
Julia, Jennifer, and John Peggy
Troiano, Founder and Program Manager: 7339
Philatelic Dr. Spring
Hill, Florida 34606 Phone
AND fax 352-835-7208 Email:
mcsbeaconofhope@yahoo.com Julia
Williams, Executive Director: Weeki
Wachee, Florida 34614 E-mail:
juliamcs2004@yahoo.com Jennifer
McKinnis, Regional Director of Toxic Injury Awareness Hermiston,
OR 97838-6812 E-mail:
mckinnis@oregontrail.net John
McBride, New Jersey State Representative & Toxic Mold
Activist/Consultant E-mail: moldleg333@live.com We
welcome you aboard the “MCS” Beacon of Hope at: www.toxicinjury.org “MCS”
in the “MCS” Beacon of Hope Foundation stands for: multiple toxic
chemicals and other toxins are involved, multiple symptoms are presented
and multiple body systems are adversely affected. The
“MCS” Beacon of Hope Foundation is a 501(C) (3) charitable project
under Congressional District Programs
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