If you take some time to scroll back through my blog posts over time, or if you’ve been a follower of my blog from the beginning, you’ll note that I am highly concerned about the dangerous toxins and chemicals that have become an increasingly common part of our environment. I’m passionate about finding ways to limit our exposures where we can, especially when it comes to young children, infants and pregnant women. Our most susceptible population deserves a healthy, less-toxic future.
Around this time every year the flu shot is one concern that flares on my radar because all of the pharmacies are pushing it…right alongside many doctors, pediatricians, grocery store chains and even friends and family members. Just this weekend a well-meaning extended family member asked me (after I told her that I was battling a cold) if we had gotten our flu shots. We’ve had this discussion before. In fact, we’ve had this discussion several years in a row (every fall); she just doesn’t seem to remember.

UPDATE 11/7/11: I JUST LEARNED THAT THE FREE VIEWING HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 8TH!
Enjoy, ~Leigh
Did you know that this week is Vaccine Awareness Week? Dr. Mercola and the National Vaccine Information Center have teamed up to offer free viewing of a particularly powerful film on the subject of vaccines through November 5th. THE GREATER GOOD is a film I strongly recommend to any person who chooses to be informed about vaccines, whether for yourself or for your child.
My husband and I saw the film together last spring at the Dallas International Film Festival. I feel the film makers did a marvelous job of carefully examining both “sides” of this controversial topic by speaking to experts in the field and interviewing individuals and families who have personally witnessed adverse vaccine reactions. It is a MUST SEE in my opinion.

Last month I broke down the ingredients in many different flu shots that are on the market and this month I wanted to define each of them for you in detail. Please read over October’s blog to refresh your memory. The decision to vaccinate for the flu is a decision made by each family and many feel pressured to do it all the while wondering what the facts or potential harm may be, this will hopefully help those wanting more information.
Some things to consider before you get your flu shot….

Did you know that the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) is negotiating a “legally binding instrument to reduce mercury exposure” worldwide? The third meeting for the Global Mercury Partnership is scheduled next month in Nairobi. Historically speaking, this is monumental. This group containing government, non-government, public and private entities from 140 countries has chosen to come together to address mercury – one of the most dangerous toxins on earth.
Since Ethan was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and I started to question anything in his environment that could impact his health and wellbeing, I’ve found myself very interested in learning more about mercury and mercury exposure. Many people suffer from the ill effects of mercury exposure, which is (in my opinion) all-too-common these days. People like Ethan may have compounded ill-effects due to impaired detoxification systems. For Ethan’s benefit I try to follow the most recent science and news regarding mercury and I feel compelled to share this news with our AutismSpot readers!

If you’ve followed my blog for much time, you probably know that I’m very concerned about how changes to our environment in the past 50-100 years have affected the health and wellbeing of our entire society, but especially our children’s generation. With Autism Spectrum Disorders, asthma, life-threatening allergies, ADD/ADHD, diabetes and so much more at record numbers and on the rise in our littlest population, I’ve come to the conclusion that many variables must be to blame for these frightening increases.

I’ve seen a lot of celebrity endorsements for one or another approach at handling autism. Green our Vaccines, Autism Speaks, Rethinking Autism and varied groups or advocates all have their own approach. They all have one inherent flaw holding back their progress. They all speak as if their way is the way to handle all forms of autism. There is no blanket approach to handling autism. That will not work and causes unrest in the autism community.