The AFA Blog

SafeMinds Video on the Autism Vaccines Drumbeat

by Jackie Lombardo

Election Day has just passed and we want a fresh start with our legislators and with our approach to the story of autism and vaccines. For too long, the media has misrepresented or oversimplified the science surrounding the autism and vaccines controversy. "Vaccines don't cause autism... except when they do" is what we hear in the news. Check out our new video about the conflicting claims of the press regarding the link between vaccines and autism, and statements the government and officials have actually made.

Our concerns do not fit neatly into a "sound bite world." So, we are going to work towards explaining this story in clearly understandable, user-friendly chunks in the hopes that it is a compelling story that people will share. This is our first Whole Story video entitled, "Except When They Do." you find it compelling, we hope that you will share it with as many people as you can - your friends, your family, your co-workers and your newly-elected representatives - so that we all really can have a fresh start. Please send out this link via e-mail, facebook or twitter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqZfQeMsqHM

We appreciate your time helping to set the record straight.

 

Vote!

by Ken Mosesian

November 2nd is Election Day. The day that Americans go to the polls - if they haven't already cast their ballots by mail - and vote for the people we'd like to represent us, as well as the many ballot measures that are also up for consideration. 

In a time of unprecedented apathy and anger, voting is all the more important. There are too many issues, particularly for those who are contemplating assisted reproduction, adoption or other family building options, for anyone to stay home. 

Although it is easy to say that "all politicians are alike", we know that not to be the case. There will be consequences for our lives depending upon who gets elected. Candidates hold vastly different views on issues from stem cell research to IVF to marriage equality.

And as we learned in races from 2000, 2004 and 2008, your vote does matter. A few hundred votes can change the outcome of an election.

Young men and women throughout the history of this country have fought, bled and died for our right to vote. Some will lose their lives today. So on Tuesday the 2nd of November, do the most patriotic thing possible: vote.  

 

Raising barns in Farmville? Or raising hell that 1 in 70 American boys now have autism?

by Jackie Lombardo

And it's not just autism...1 in every 3 children in the U.S. has either allergies, ADHD, asthma, or a mental health problem, and is predicted by the CDC to be diabetic and/or obese by adulthood. Do you remember when children used to be healthier than their parents? When children weren't on medication, and didn't use medical devices like inhalers instead of toys? The US Senate woke up to the fact that children's health is in a state of emergency. Recently,  they held a hearing on autism - "State of Research on Potential Environmental Health Factors with Autism and Related Neurodevelopment Disorders."

Watch below.

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_id=1ab3cf42-802a-23ad-4a3a-686da83bf6d0

For more information, click here:

http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-national/cdc-confirms-autism-affects-1-110-children-1-70-boys#comment-11297926