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Re: Fumento's "Tampon Terrorism" Forbes Article
Hello,
I missed this message, and Willi Nolan's message about the Forbes
article.
The tampon controversy is indeed about dioxin. Women are exposed to
dioxin from beached tampons. This is a simple problem. Women need to know to
use unbleached tampons. However, there are powerful interests - as we all
know - that don't want the truth about dioxin, either that people are
exposed to it or that it is harmful.
What Willi Nolan has endured is an attack by one of industry's PR
men. That is what the chemical industry must do because they can no longer
defend themselves with science. We are fortunate that this fellow Fumento is
not on the list; he would be a pain in the neck. You'll recall the stupid
uproar that another one, Steven Milloy, raised when he joined the list.
These guys are professional contract hit men, except that their weapon is
their loud, right-wing, disinformation-spreading mouth.
Willi, you have been a courageous voice in the wilderness, and it is a
testament to you that you made it to the pages of Forbes. After all, it does
say, in bold letters, that is The Capitalist Tool!
Regards
Jon
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Fraikin <CFraikin@GOLDER.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list DIOXIN-L <dioxin-l@essential.org>
Date: Friday, May 14, 1999 2:13 PM
Subject: RE: Fumento's "Tampon Terrorism" Forbes Article
> I thought this list existed specifically for dioxin and dioxin-like
> compounds-related issues?
>
> If this is not the case, please inform me the purpose of this list.
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
>_________________________________
>Subject: Fumento's "Tampon Terrorism" Forbes Article
>Author: "Cold Mountain; Cold Rivers" [SMTP:cmcr@wildrockies.org] at
>US_SEATTLE_WA
>Date: 5/14/99 1:04 AM
>
>
>===== A message from the 'pulppaper' discussion list =====
>
>[NOTE: The following message has been sent to inform women of the many
>libellous comments made about my work and myself in a recent Forbes article
>entitled "Tampon Terrorism." I am concerned about this blatantly abusive
>media manipulation and attack on my (and U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn
>Maloney's) personal integrity, and seek to inform those who have indicated
>their interest in this work.
>I hope that this initiative will result in women taking action on my behalf
>where I have little power to do so. If this subject does not interest you,
>please delete it, and accept my apologies for any inconvenience. Willi
>Nolan]
>
>May 13, 1999
>
>Hi,
>
>It was interesting to me to learn about the Forbes article. I especially
>noted the fact that the writer pointed only at one little company, i.e,
>person, and not the growing plethora of sites (and the other natural tampon
>companies) that provide information about tampon health risks.
>
>WHY ME? I guess we must be getting a little too effective at getting the
>truth out. No one's come around to launch a lawsuit against US, so I guess
>that we're still on track. Should I also note that, of these others, I am
>the only one with brown skin?
>
>FYI, the "journalist," Michael Fumento, works full time for the Hudson
>Institute, which apparently gets hired out to "produce" articles for
>companies in national publications. He has a website too:
>http://www.fumento.com. I wonder which company hired him to write that
>"Tampon Terrorism" article?
>
>Fumento's also apparently been known to write articles that spell out why
>dioxin is not harmful, that no veterans are really sick from Agent Orange,
>and that second-hand smoke is not dangerous. His web site, "Mythbusters 'R
>Us," notes his expertise in dispelling "myths" including An "epidemic" of
>racially-driven black church arsons swept the South, and well-known hazards
>such as airbags; breast implants; pesticides; pollution; Gulf War Syndrome
>- he actually says that these being health hazards are myths! The site
>reads "Mr. Fumento has built a solid reputation for busting icons, striking
>fear into the hearts of scare-mongers, and distinguishing the risks we
>grossly exaggerate from those we ignore at great peril."
>
>Guess I'm becoming an icon :-) Or I wonder, maybe he chose me because I
>also work full time with Dr. Rosalie Bertell
>(www.globaleduc.org/iicph.htm), an internationally recognized champion of
>communities at risk from exposure to hazardous substances, including the
>people of Chernobyl, Bhopa,l India, Love Canal and yes, the victims of GULF
>WAR SYMDROME (who were exposed to depleted uranium and never tested for
>it!)!
>
>He called our office identifying himself as a freelance writer, and accused
>us of spreading the "EMAIL" (written by a biology student) that's been
>going around for about three years and encouraging women to become
>hysterical about tampons. HYSTERICAL? - isn't that just so patriarchal to
>say something like that, as if women have no minds of their own. He writes
>in the longer version of the article, "Nolan and Maloney also invoke the
>horror of toxic shock syndrome." INVOKE? Is he calling us witches too? Get
>a life, Mikey! I hear that a lot of women have been calling "those" tampon
>companies, asking questions that aren't answered accurately or completely.
>Fumenta writes that Proctor & Gamble (Tampax) is getting over 500 calls a
>month, and that a Kimberly-Clark spokeswoman calls my approach "guerilla
>tactics." We've nicknamed him "Pimento."
>
>All kidding aside, this seems to be a classic example of industry
>manipulation of the media that results in denying information and leaving
>women at unnecessary risk. I wonder why they placed it in Forbes? Maybe the
>shareholders have [finally] begun to ask questions about tampons. I hope
>that they also begin to demand that these products are made to be safer for
>women and the Earth.
>
>I'm also hoping that women will help us out, and spread the word about this
>personal attack. Just this morning, I got an encouraging message this
>morning from an OB/GYN Nurse practitioner, who's been researching cervical
>dysplasia/cancer. I humbly and gratefully provide her comments:
>>"It seems that you are one of our Women's health pioneers and we thank you
>>for your interest
>> and leadership."
>
>I did not set out to be a pioneer, just to provide the best alternative I
>could find to toxic products. We do not, as even "Pimento" acknowledges,
>make much money for a company that's been around for 7 years. I'm told that
>we should sue, but wouldn't that take our time away from what's always been
>important - doing business with compassion, addressing the human and
>environmental costs first? We are proud to know that we are making a
>difference in the way that people look at the products and companies that
>they give money to.
>
>Maybe responsible journalists could investigate and expose the practices of
>Michael Fumento, organizations like the Hudson Institute and those that
>hire them.
>
>I hope and pray that you will take the information in this message and use
>your wisdom to expose the corruption that's around. This small brown woman
>could also use some positive thoughts of protection from destructive
>influences, such as the ones behind the article. I do feel somewhat
>vulnerable, except to know that there are people out there who appreciate
>and support our work.
>
>Thanks for listening.
>
>Sisterly,
>
>Willi Nolan
>
>>Messages from senders:
>
>Brenda wrote:
>>This story, Tampon
>>terrorism(http://www.forbes.com/forbes/99/0517/6310170a.htm),
>>has been sent to you by Brenda <snip>.
>>
>>---------------------------------------------------------
>>Interesting....
>
>Ruth wrote:
>>I thought that you might be interested in this link. Not sure if you have
>>seen the article in Forbes magazine yet (May 17,1999 issue; Tampon
>>Terrorism)..... But I found it online......
>>
>>http://www.fumento.com
>>
>>WISN News is mentioned in the longer version of the story that did not get
>>printed in the Forbes articles.
>
>--------------------------
>here's the Forbes/Fumento article found at "www.fumento.com" on May 13,
>1999:
>--------------------------
>
>Tampon Terrorism
>
>New Technique in Marketing: Using the Web to Spread Lies about Your
>Competition
>
>
>By Michael Fumento
>
>Forbes Magazine, May 17, 1999
>Copyright 1999 by Forbes Magazine
>
>Terra Femme's site encourages women to spread a terrifying message that
>competitors' tampons may be horribly dangerous.
>
>Fear is just a sales pitch that has been used for decades to flog
>everything from alarm systems to underarm deodorant. But just think how it
>can be used on the Internet to whip up paranoia -- and get people to open
>their wallets.
>
>The Net myth is the computer age's version of the urban legend, like the
>one about alligators prowling the sewers of Manhattan. Sent out as e-mail,
>posted in newsgroups or on Web pages, Net myths can reach thousands of
>people a day and multiply like viruses.
>
>As stock touts and shorts have managed to both lure and spook investors on
>the Web, a little Toronto-based outfit called Bio Business International
has
>
>already become quite adept at spreading myths through its Web site. Bio
>Business markets only one product -- 100% cotton, nonchlorine bleached
>tampons under the brand name Terra Femme. Among other things, the site
>encourages women to spread a terrifying message that tampons made by U.S.
>competitors may be horribly dangerous.
>
>Specifically, the site warns that tampons made with rayon or that contain
>dioxin -- a by-product of some bleaching processes -- can be harmful.
>"Dioxin is now PROVEN to cause many kinds of cancer in women and men along
>with with birth defects, and to disrupt the natural hormones in our
>bodies," the Terra Femme site says.
>
>
>[Image] A little bit of terror built into every tampon
>
>
>
>Bio Business also invokes repeatedly the horror of toxic shock syndrome, a
>potentially fatal bacterial infection. The claim: 100% cotton tampons are
>safer than rayon or rayon blends when it comes to protecting women from
>toxic shock.
>
>Wilhelmina (Willi) Nolan, a 40-ish, longtime environmental and social
>activist, is Bio Business' founder and president. She has an ally in
>Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.). Maloney has introduced
>legislation that would, require the federal government to test menstrual
>pads and tampons, even though it is common practice for companies to test
>their own products,whether they be drugs, medical devices or cars.
>
>[Image] Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y.
>
>
>Maloney, in her press releases and on her own Web site, asks if tampons are
>"the equivalent of a ticking time bomb, capable of increasing women's risks
>for several life-threatening or fertility-threatening diseases." She had
>Nolan at one of her press conferences announcing the bill.
>
>The problem is that very little of this bleating is accurate. Animal
>testing of dioxin has shown an incredible range of toxicity. For example,
>it knocks over guinea pigs like tenpins, but it takes 500 times as much to
>have the same effect on hamsters. No dramatic health effects have been
>shown in human studies including those of Vietnam vets who sprayed Agent
>Orange, a dioxin-containing defoliant. A continuing study of these men
>finds them as healthy as the general population.
>
>"Every year the case becomes weaker and weaker that dioxin causes cancer in
>human beings," says Michael Gough, a scientist with the Competitive
>Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. who has studied dioxin for
decades.
>
>He adds that evidence dioxin causes other noncancerous problems in humans
>(other than a form of acne) ranges from speculative to nonexistent.
>
>Never mind that, according to the Food & Drug Administration, no U.S.
>tamponmaker uses a bleaching method that creates dioxin as a by-product. No
>matter either that in tests ordered up by Kimberly-Clark, a leading
>tamponmaker, even Nolan's tampons were found to have trace amounts of
>dioxin. In a survey of contamination rates, Terra Femme came out somewhere
>in the middle of a range from 0.2 parts per trillion to 10 parts per
>trillion.
>
>Explanation? Dioxin is a combustion by-product of many materials. It goes
>into the air and lands on everything. Accurate-enough testing will find it
>on everything.
>
>What about the toxic shock scare? According to the March-April 1999 issue
>of FDA Consumer: "There is no evidence [that] rayon fibers in tampons cause
>toxic shock syndrome."
>
>Nolan wants to hear none of this. She told Forbes that a Swedish firm has
>done dioxin testing on Terra Femme tampons. Bio Business' marketing head,
>Roni Bregman, said the results can't be released because they are
>"proprietary information." Yet earlier Nolan had promised to deliver them.
>
>Of course, the Terra Femme Net myths continue, enabling Bio Business to
>sell a box of 20 tampons for $5.49, $2 more than Kimberly's Kotex or
>Procter & Gamble's Tampax. The Terra Femme brand is hard to find in stores,
>but you can order it directly from the company if you are willing to pay
>shipping and handling.
>
>Given the distribution problems for its product, Bio Business probably
>isn't about to siphon away a large part of P&G's and Kimberly's market, but
>it can do a fair amount of damage to their reputations. P&G spokeswoman
>Elaine Plummer says her company has been getting up to 550 complaints a
>month through letters, e-mails and phone calls. "I am horrified to learn
>via e-mail that the tampons I have been using for 33 years contain dioxin,"
>reads one message.
>
> Still, if the Internet provides weapons to people like the Terra Femme
>tampon terrorists, it can help expose them as well. The ability of anybody
>to read messages posted in a newsgroup allowed this author to discover that
>Roni Bregman provided aid to feminists preparing a petition to form a
>boycott of Terra Femme's U.S. competitors. One was signed, "In health,
>Roni, who believes more and more that the best way to deal with
>environmental problems is to directly attack the products that create
>them." Especially when the attacks are good for her business?
>
> ------------ end of Forbes/Fumento article --------------
>
>But my daughter, when I told her of our topic [cancer] and my difficulty
>with it, said "Tell them about how you're never really a whole person if
>you remain silent, because there's always that one little piece inside of
>you that wants to be spoken out, and if you keep ignoring it, it gets
>madder and madder, and hotter and hotter, and if you don't speak out, one
>day it will just up and punch you in the mouth."
> Audre Lorde, Cancer Journals
>
>==================================================================
>Terra Femme web site favorites:
>"The Politics of Tampons" <http://www.biobiz.com/terrafemme/uspoltam.htm>
>Health Info & References: <http://www.biobiz.com/terrafemme/health.htm>
>Ordering: <http://www.biobiz.com/terrafemme/ordering.htm>
>
> **SUPPORT WOMEN-RUN ETHICAL BUSINESS NOW! **
>
>Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers
>PO Box 7941
>Missoula, Montana USA 59807
>406-728-0867 phone
>406-327-1209 fax
>cmcr@wildrockies.org
>http://www.wildrockies.org/cmcr
>
>Take action today! Sign the petition to protect
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>