Derek Markham

Interesting finds, random goodness, and pointless bits & pieces that don't fit anywhere else

Family of @LeonardPeltier accuses U.S. government of medical neglect

“A man dies from prostate cancer every 16 minutes in this country.  Why does my brother have to wait over a year to receive even a diagnosis?”

Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who maintains his innocence, was wrongfully convicted in connection with the shooting deaths of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1977.  Imprisoned for 35 years—currently at the federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania—Peltier has been designated a political prisoner by Amnesty International.  Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, 55 Members of Congress and others—including a judge who sat as a member of the court in two of Peltier’s appeals—have all called for his immediate release.  Widely recognized for his humanitarian works and a six-time Nobel Prize nominee, Peltier also is an accomplished author and painter.

Sister Betty Solano says Peltier began exhibiting symptoms commonly attributed to prostate cancer over a year ago.  His age (he is 66 years old) and family history are risk factors for the disease.  Pressured by Peltier’s attorneys, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) ran standard blood tests in June.  Peltier received the results last week, over four months later.  A physician only now says a biopsy is needed to make a diagnosis.

Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 men in the United States.  Medical experts agree that the cure rate for prostate cancer is high, but only if detected early.

Even if Peltier doesn’t have cancer, the symptoms indicate a serious medical condition and one that could lead to serious complications if left untreated.

A physician who conducted an independent review of Peltier’s medical records in 2000 concluded that Peltier’s overall medical treatment is below a reasonable standard of care.  Decades ago, Peltier suffered a stroke which left him nearly blind in one eye—damage physicians say could have been prevented had he been treated sooner.  In the 1990s, there was international outrage after the BOP botched surgeries to correct a jaw problem.  Only then was Peltier transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for treatment.  Subsequent procedures were recommended by a specialist, but never performed by the BOP.

“Last week, at the United Nations, the United States claimed that it is unequivocally committed to the humane treatment of all individuals in detention, including criminal detention.  Delaying tests, avoiding a diagnosis, and preventing proper medical treatment for a potentially life threatening disease is not humane by anyone’s definition,” a spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee said.

“Unfortunately, this situation isn’t unique to Mr. Peltier.  Many U.S. prisoners die prematurely because treatment is delayed or denied.”

Family members want the government to release Peltier who was denied parole in 2009.  His North Dakota tribe has twice passed a resolution asking the government to transfer Peltier into their custody.  Peltier’s many supporters believe his release from prison is the only way Peltier will receive humane treatment.

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Launched into cyberspace by the
Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
PO Box 7488, Fargo, ND  58106
contact@whoisleonardpeltier.info
http://www.whoisleonardpeltier.info

Rich Foods, Poor Diets

Nope, it's not that. This is why we're fat:

A group of researchers at the UW's Center for Public Health Nutrition tracked the cost of roughly 380 food items over the course of four years...The price of healthy food—produce and whole grains, among other things—rapidly outpaced the price of items like soda and jelly beans.

"That's not a good pattern," said lead researcher Pablo Monsivais. "Already, the foods that are the most nutrient dense are the most costly to begin with. It's kind of making a bad situation worse."

food price inflation chart

The chart to the right shows the longer-term food price trends for the US using data from the Consumer Price Index. Since 1985 fats, oils, and sweets have gotten cheaper, after adjusting for inflation, while fruits and vegetables have gotten more expensive. 

The results speak for themselves. The USDA's Economic Research Service finds that American diets contained 31 percent more calories from fat per day in 2008 than in 1985, and 8 percent more sugar—but fruit and veggie consumption over the period remained basically unchanged. And over the same period US obesity rates simply skyrocketed.

Which all reminds me of this fascinating paper on obesity in the developed world. The authors tried to estimate how much weight gain was due to eating more vs. exercising less, and found that the bulk of our increasing bulk can be explained by higher-calorie diets. And diets, in turn, are largely a function of the economics of food: when fats and sweets are cheap, we eat more of them! Low prices are a powerful inducement for poor eating. Simply offering healthy food choices alongside junk food doesn't necessarily make us eat more healthfully—in fact, seeing healthy foods on a menu seems to make people feel OK about indulging. Even subsidizing fruits and veggies may not do much to improve eating habits, since many people use the money they save on produce to buy more junk. Which all makes me think that as long as sweets and fats stay cheap, more and more of us are going to feel like we need to go on a diet.

via daily.sightline.org

Sprouting | How to Grow Sprouts at Home for Low Cost Nutritious Meals

Sprouting at home is a simple way to lower your food costs, increase the amount of raw food in your diet, and be assured that the sprouts you eat are safe.

Sprouting seeds to eat is a skill you can learn quickly, and a sprout garden takes very little time to maintain. All the sprouting supplies you need can be had for free or for a minimal investment. In no time at all, you’ll be enjoying the crunchy goodness of homegrown sprouts with every meal!

via Sprouting: How to Grow Sprouts at Home for Low Cost Nutritious Meals