An article on the death penalty and interesting commentary from readers led me to state:
The death penalty is final - what happens when we get the verdict wrong? How many innocent lives can we justify as the means to the end?
The only way I would accept the existence of capital punishment is if juries, prosecutors and judges were also given the death penalty if it was found that they'd convicted (and thus murdered) the wrong person.
With that caveat I doubt anyone would be game to take the chance.
What Lies Beyond the Activism?
Featured in The West Australian, Saturday 4 October 2008 pg14. This is the unedited version - italicised areas differ from the printed version.
Taking the opposing view of a high profile group, such as Pride WA, is always fraught with danger. And if, as the devil's advocate, you happen to be an out (and proud) activist for human rights, questioning the validity of Mardi Gras' poorer and impotent WA cousin is likely to inspire a gay fatwa.
Religion and ice-breaker aside, this debate is about whether the Pride Parade still offers any significant purpose in a modern society that has largely redeemed itself of a torrid, but relatively short-lived, history of fear and hatred towards non-heterosexual citizens.
During the last few decades of activism, lobbying, community consultation and legislative debate, Pride was one of a handful of necessary tools used to highlight the cause of homosexuals (bisexuals and trans-folk were forgotten for many years) and sway public opinion. To this end the successive committees achieved their purpose and the battle was won.
Today, just a few years after the first parade in 1990, we have sexual and gender equality exceeding other states and beyond what most countries could hope to achieve in a similar time frame.
Even the current Premier, who vehemently opposed the 2002 legislation that transformed our state, is unwilling to water down this advancement. What is done is done; we now move forward as a progressive and respectful society.
This year Pride has donned the tag-line of "re-invention". And it is timely that it do so, just as a teenager must eventually lose the unruliness and loutish nature of its youthful exuberance in favour of a more cultured, mature and civil interaction with a diverse society.
The question for Pride, once famed for attracting a six figure audience to witness political parody, is what lies beyond the activism?
Sydney's internationally famous Mardi Gras has grown up from its protest roots to become a unique tourist drawcard that injects millions of dollars into the economy. Perth, due to its isolation and population, is incapable of achieving the same.
The Parade is waning, the after-party has retired to a nightclub, and Northbridge Fairday attendance has dropped significantly. Homophobic crimes are no more concerning than racial or religious inspired ones and the majority of our GLBT youth enjoy the company of their straight friends across venues without question.
Pride is in the sunset of its years. It deserves our respect and thanks, not our lifeline.
The new web is mobile!
Further to my previous post about the "new web" comes a story that proves I'm a bit behind the times!
http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/google-takes-aim-at-apples-iphone-20080915-4gnz.html
http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/google-takes-aim-at-apples-iphone-20080915-4gnz.html
The new web is on its way
In answer to a question on LinkedIn about the future of Google ("As the "Google-age" continues to unfold, what do you think their next move is in changing the universe?"), I provided the following answer on May 17 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/5u8wca
Google have since released their Chrome browser. Just one step closer ;-)
Worthwhile reading this too:
http://etech.eweek.com/content/web_technology/just_browsing.html
Clearly Google has one agenda - to strip Microsoft of their monopoly over day-to-day applications like the internet browser, email and office suite.
Imagine the day when you turn on your PC/laptop, PDA or mobile phone and simply connect to iGoogle through your Google (Firefox?) browser. From there you have ready access to your entire collection of files (no longer reliant on your own hard drive) for work and leisure. You edit, store, send, print from Google's powerful suite of tools and not once do you utilise a single Microsoft application (except perhaps for the operating system), let alone any other vendor's product. Google provides all for free (and a few non intrusive adverts). Bring it on!! ;-)
http://tinyurl.com/5u8wca
Google have since released their Chrome browser. Just one step closer ;-)
Worthwhile reading this too:
http://etech.eweek.com/content/web_technology/just_browsing.html
A Google Conspiracy?
I don't really have an opinion about the hypothesis presented by this video, except to say that it is plausible and thus should concern us all. However, as a great user of all that is Google, I know what they know about me ... I can't say the same for my own government!
Where to Invade Next?
I was wandering through Planet Books in Mt Lawley (highly recommended for topical, political and thought-provoking material) and noted a book titled "Where to Invade Next?" by Stephen Elliot. On the back cover was the following quote:
Inside the book is listed the top countries (along with explanations) on the USA's hit list ... and yes, Venezuela is there along with the usual suspects of Iran, Sudan and North Korea ;-)
More detail at http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781932416930-0
"About ten days after 9/11, I went through the Pentagon and I saw Secretary Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz. I went downstairs just to say hello to some of the people on the Joint Staff who used to work for me, and one of the generals called me in. He said, "Sir, you've got to come in and talk to me a second." I said, "Well, you're too busy." He said, "No, no." He says, "We've made the decision we're going to war with Iraq." This was on or about the twentieth of September...
"So I came back to see him a few weeks later, and by that time we were bombing in Afghanistan. I said, "Are we still going to war with Iraq?" And he said, "Oh, it's worse than that." He reached over on his desk. He picked up a piece of paper. And he said, "I just got this down from upstairs" (meaning the Secretary of Defense's office) "today." And he said, "This is a memo that describes how we're going to take out seven countries in five years."
— General Wesley Clark, February 27, 2007
Inside the book is listed the top countries (along with explanations) on the USA's hit list ... and yes, Venezuela is there along with the usual suspects of Iran, Sudan and North Korea ;-)
More detail at http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781932416930-0
America's growing enemy
Keep an eye on Venezuela.
According to reports like this and this, Chavez is being too much like a Robin Hood for the US and international bank boys to just stand by and do nothing.
He has already taken back the oil & gas fields, now they plan to ramp up production and hit foreign companies with a 50% tax on excess oil profits.
He also plans to nationalise the cement industry as well as the Argentinian controlled steelmaker and even take measures to ensure that the people of Venezuela have enough food for the future - no way!
And in the back of his mind is still the plan to introduce a Tobin styled tax on financial transactions.
How will they stop him? Rumours of impropriety? Another coup? Acts of terrorism? Assasination? Here's a start.
But there is also the growing concern about who should be the local sherrif of this region of the world. Perhaps The South American Defense Council?
At least that might explain why Venezuela and Brazil are spending big on arms. (Does anyone know why Greece is at the top of the list of big spenders?)
But despite all this, Chavez does appear to have some interesting friends ...
Belarus
China
Iran
Maybe it is a case of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"?
And if that isn't enough to make you at least question the US stance on Venezuela, try reading the works of Eva Golinger, namely The Chavez Code and Bush vs Chavez - Washington's War on Venezuela or start by reading this review.
Of course, you are also welcome to ignore this and simply take the view that Venezuela deserves everything it gets for its socialist, anti-American, communist-loving, anti-semitic, Simpsons-hating philosphy.
According to reports like this and this, Chavez is being too much like a Robin Hood for the US and international bank boys to just stand by and do nothing.
He has already taken back the oil & gas fields, now they plan to ramp up production and hit foreign companies with a 50% tax on excess oil profits.
He also plans to nationalise the cement industry as well as the Argentinian controlled steelmaker and even take measures to ensure that the people of Venezuela have enough food for the future - no way!
And in the back of his mind is still the plan to introduce a Tobin styled tax on financial transactions.
How will they stop him? Rumours of impropriety? Another coup? Acts of terrorism? Assasination? Here's a start.
But there is also the growing concern about who should be the local sherrif of this region of the world. Perhaps The South American Defense Council?
At least that might explain why Venezuela and Brazil are spending big on arms. (Does anyone know why Greece is at the top of the list of big spenders?)
But despite all this, Chavez does appear to have some interesting friends ...
Belarus
China
Iran
Maybe it is a case of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"?
And if that isn't enough to make you at least question the US stance on Venezuela, try reading the works of Eva Golinger, namely The Chavez Code and Bush vs Chavez - Washington's War on Venezuela or start by reading this review.
Of course, you are also welcome to ignore this and simply take the view that Venezuela deserves everything it gets for its socialist, anti-American, communist-loving, anti-semitic, Simpsons-hating philosphy.
The Other War
Whatever happened to the other war ... you know, the one started by Ronald Reagan, and continued by successive US governments .. the other war against a faceless enemy that was designed to bring fear into the hearts and minds of every Joe and Jane Citizen ... the War on Drugs! ???
Now we know that the USA has used the "War on Drugs" to great effect in achieving its goals in Central and South America. So what would happen if the USA ran up against a rebellious state telling the local sherriff to nick off?
Well, one side would naturally have to make claims of a worsening trafficking problem to highlight the ineffectiveness of the insubordinate regime:
Cocaine Finds a New Latin American Home.
Take particular note of the "tracked" routes (see image below) used by traffickers ... one could easily be led to think that the Dominican Republic is one VERY tripped out place with all the drugs going there, but not seeming to leave! Not to mention that the drugs don't even seem to originate in Columbia anymore either.
Apparently the White House knows where the drugs come from (Venezuela) and knows where they arrive (Dominican Republic) but somehow loses track of them after that!
However, it is also quite evident by these "tracks" that the drugs are not going through any of the usual Central American countries anymore, which must, of course, be due to the incredible success of the long-standing partnership with the US Drug Enforcement Agency ;-)
Of course there's always the other, less popular or politically convenient, side of the story, which boldly claims that Venezuela Boosts Drug Seizures, Arrests Triple.
Now, they can't be both right, can they?
Given the USA's track record on propaganda, I'd bet my Aussie dollar along with a few thousand overinflated Bolivar against the dirty greenback anyday!
Now we know that the USA has used the "War on Drugs" to great effect in achieving its goals in Central and South America. So what would happen if the USA ran up against a rebellious state telling the local sherriff to nick off?
Well, one side would naturally have to make claims of a worsening trafficking problem to highlight the ineffectiveness of the insubordinate regime:
Cocaine Finds a New Latin American Home.
Take particular note of the "tracked" routes (see image below) used by traffickers ... one could easily be led to think that the Dominican Republic is one VERY tripped out place with all the drugs going there, but not seeming to leave! Not to mention that the drugs don't even seem to originate in Columbia anymore either.
Apparently the White House knows where the drugs come from (Venezuela) and knows where they arrive (Dominican Republic) but somehow loses track of them after that!
However, it is also quite evident by these "tracks" that the drugs are not going through any of the usual Central American countries anymore, which must, of course, be due to the incredible success of the long-standing partnership with the US Drug Enforcement Agency ;-)
Of course there's always the other, less popular or politically convenient, side of the story, which boldly claims that Venezuela Boosts Drug Seizures, Arrests Triple.
Now, they can't be both right, can they?
Given the USA's track record on propaganda, I'd bet my Aussie dollar along with a few thousand overinflated Bolivar against the dirty greenback anyday!
See the light!
Thanks to my very good friend Adam for these two gems this week:
A fundamentalist preacher was taking a walk one day and happened upon a young girl who was playing with something in a cardboard box. When he got closer he could see that in the box was a litter of newborn kittens.
"What kind of kittens are those?" asked the preacher.
"Why, they're Christian kittens," replied the little girl.
The preacher walked on, pleased to see that the little girl had Jesus foremost in her heart.
A week later, the preacher was walking down the same street and saw the little girl again playing with the kittens.
"And how are your little Christian kittens doing today?" asked the man of God.
"Oh, they aren't Christian kittens, they're Atheist kittens," replied the girl.
"But...but... I thought you said last week that they were Christian kittens," sputtered the flabbergasted preacher.
"Oh, they were. But now their eyes are open."
A fundamentalist preacher was taking a walk one day and happened upon a young girl who was playing with something in a cardboard box. When he got closer he could see that in the box was a litter of newborn kittens.
"What kind of kittens are those?" asked the preacher.
"Why, they're Christian kittens," replied the little girl.
The preacher walked on, pleased to see that the little girl had Jesus foremost in her heart.
A week later, the preacher was walking down the same street and saw the little girl again playing with the kittens.
"And how are your little Christian kittens doing today?" asked the man of God.
"Oh, they aren't Christian kittens, they're Atheist kittens," replied the girl.
"But...but... I thought you said last week that they were Christian kittens," sputtered the flabbergasted preacher.
"Oh, they were. But now their eyes are open."
Serendipitous Serenity
Moments like this leave me speechless.
Life just smacks you in the forehead and you stand their gob-smacked, mouth wide open and unable to utter a syllable.
A myriad of emotion welled up from within every synapse and sinew, enveloping me like a blanket, and just as suddenly there was an epiphany of light and beauty that broke through the dark clouds.
Yesterday there was sad news; the death of someone I did not know and who did not know me, but who had brought much joy into my life and the lives of many people I know.
I feel for the loss that his partner, family and friends must endure and the many questions that might be asked by those who wish to understand. However, I am strangely at peace; content in simply understanding without question.
Thank you to Brett and Andy for the joy of Toybox. My love to you both.
The following is copied from the Toybox website as a memorium to the greatness of a single human being.
BRETT BUSH
14.03.1966 - 18.11.2007
As I write this, my heart weighs heavy with unfathomable loss.
You may have already heard that Brett, my partner of 13 years and a co-founder of Toybox and the creative genius behind its brand, was found dead on Sunday evening, 18 November, having finally decided that the time was right for him to end his life.
For years Brett had told me and others as well, that he intended to end his life at a time of his choosing. His conversations and comments about this, while frequent and consistent, were never distressed or despairing. And he always seemed philosophical, wanting me to be prepared that he might leave me sooner rather than later. But I simply wasn't prepared.
When I started my 13 years with Brett I was a long way away from being philosophical about the prospect of losing him prematurely, and over the course of our relationship no amount of talking about such things with Brett, or with friends and family, and even with professionals, served to prepare me for the finality of his death last Sunday.
I am fairly sure though that Brett was clear that he was done with his life here.
He'd thought about choosing to end his life for many years, probably initially in the context of his HIV positive diagnosis in the 1980's, and living for years with the fear of an untimely and awful AIDS-related death right up until the mid-1990's when anti-retrovirals brought some brighter health prospects for his future.
But the constant consideration Brett gave to his mortality doesn't seem to have been about his HIV status alone, because about two months ago, in spite of being in very good health, Brett made a first but unsuccessful attempt to end his life, causing us to have to make an unprecedented and very difficult decision to cancel our 30 September Luminere Party.
In the context of treatment following that suicide attempt, Brett's attending physicians said he was not depressed, and that he was not a danger to himself nor to anyone else. They told us they were perplexed by Brett's positive life circumstances – his good health, financial security, family, friends, and being in a loving and happy 13 year relationship – and why those circumstances didn’t seem to be enough for him to want to stay alive.
I don't profess to have understood Brett in all of this – but I loved this man, and in so doing I have always chosen to do my utmost to honour his living on his terms, and I also intend to honour his dying – on his terms as well.
As I said earlier, I think Brett was done here – he clearly wanted to go. And while I feel bereft as I struggle to form pictures of my future without him, I am committed to accepting his choice.
In accordance with his wishes, Brett will be cremated privately at 2.30pm this Thursday 29 November.
At 4.00pm that same day there will be a celebration of Brett's life at Will and Toby’s, Level 1 of the Oxford Hotel in Taylor Square, Darlinghurst. No-one will be more welcome at this celebration than you, the members of Toybox. Please come if you'd like to be there – most especially if you knew Brett, or knew of his work or his life through Toybox, or elsewhere.
Finally, concerned about how quickly rumours can spread and grow, and also how wrong rumours can become when facts aren’t known, I decided to write this to ensure that you at least would know the circumstances surrounding Brett's death. Importantly, the content of this statement was agreed in principle by Brett in a number of conversations he and I had about what might or should be said publicly in the event of his death. I have been very careful to honour the spirit of those conversations and our agreement, and most especially Brett's wishes in this regard.
In finally saying goodbye for Brett, I know he’d also want me to say thank you – for all the fun, and for all the love.
Life does go on - and I’m looking forward to catching up with you when we’re out and about during the coming weeks, and if not, then hopefully at Toybox Luna Park in March next year.
Andy
Life just smacks you in the forehead and you stand their gob-smacked, mouth wide open and unable to utter a syllable.
A myriad of emotion welled up from within every synapse and sinew, enveloping me like a blanket, and just as suddenly there was an epiphany of light and beauty that broke through the dark clouds.
Yesterday there was sad news; the death of someone I did not know and who did not know me, but who had brought much joy into my life and the lives of many people I know.
I feel for the loss that his partner, family and friends must endure and the many questions that might be asked by those who wish to understand. However, I am strangely at peace; content in simply understanding without question.
Thank you to Brett and Andy for the joy of Toybox. My love to you both.
The following is copied from the Toybox website as a memorium to the greatness of a single human being.
BRETT BUSH
14.03.1966 - 18.11.2007
As I write this, my heart weighs heavy with unfathomable loss.
You may have already heard that Brett, my partner of 13 years and a co-founder of Toybox and the creative genius behind its brand, was found dead on Sunday evening, 18 November, having finally decided that the time was right for him to end his life.
For years Brett had told me and others as well, that he intended to end his life at a time of his choosing. His conversations and comments about this, while frequent and consistent, were never distressed or despairing. And he always seemed philosophical, wanting me to be prepared that he might leave me sooner rather than later. But I simply wasn't prepared.
When I started my 13 years with Brett I was a long way away from being philosophical about the prospect of losing him prematurely, and over the course of our relationship no amount of talking about such things with Brett, or with friends and family, and even with professionals, served to prepare me for the finality of his death last Sunday.
I am fairly sure though that Brett was clear that he was done with his life here.
He'd thought about choosing to end his life for many years, probably initially in the context of his HIV positive diagnosis in the 1980's, and living for years with the fear of an untimely and awful AIDS-related death right up until the mid-1990's when anti-retrovirals brought some brighter health prospects for his future.
But the constant consideration Brett gave to his mortality doesn't seem to have been about his HIV status alone, because about two months ago, in spite of being in very good health, Brett made a first but unsuccessful attempt to end his life, causing us to have to make an unprecedented and very difficult decision to cancel our 30 September Luminere Party.
In the context of treatment following that suicide attempt, Brett's attending physicians said he was not depressed, and that he was not a danger to himself nor to anyone else. They told us they were perplexed by Brett's positive life circumstances – his good health, financial security, family, friends, and being in a loving and happy 13 year relationship – and why those circumstances didn’t seem to be enough for him to want to stay alive.
I don't profess to have understood Brett in all of this – but I loved this man, and in so doing I have always chosen to do my utmost to honour his living on his terms, and I also intend to honour his dying – on his terms as well.
As I said earlier, I think Brett was done here – he clearly wanted to go. And while I feel bereft as I struggle to form pictures of my future without him, I am committed to accepting his choice.
In accordance with his wishes, Brett will be cremated privately at 2.30pm this Thursday 29 November.
At 4.00pm that same day there will be a celebration of Brett's life at Will and Toby’s, Level 1 of the Oxford Hotel in Taylor Square, Darlinghurst. No-one will be more welcome at this celebration than you, the members of Toybox. Please come if you'd like to be there – most especially if you knew Brett, or knew of his work or his life through Toybox, or elsewhere.
Finally, concerned about how quickly rumours can spread and grow, and also how wrong rumours can become when facts aren’t known, I decided to write this to ensure that you at least would know the circumstances surrounding Brett's death. Importantly, the content of this statement was agreed in principle by Brett in a number of conversations he and I had about what might or should be said publicly in the event of his death. I have been very careful to honour the spirit of those conversations and our agreement, and most especially Brett's wishes in this regard.
In finally saying goodbye for Brett, I know he’d also want me to say thank you – for all the fun, and for all the love.
Life does go on - and I’m looking forward to catching up with you when we’re out and about during the coming weeks, and if not, then hopefully at Toybox Luna Park in March next year.
Andy
...ovember
Something is happening!
On the first of November there'll be a change taking place across Australia and internationally ... Gillette, Schick and other similar companies are shaking in their boots at a potential downturn in their sales.
But society will benefit.
Watch this space!
On the first of November there'll be a change taking place across Australia and internationally ... Gillette, Schick and other similar companies are shaking in their boots at a potential downturn in their sales.
But society will benefit.
Watch this space!
The French are revolting!
Well ... they are trying to rise up against Iran, at least!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6997935.stm
Apparently the French think that threatening Iran with war is meaningful. I think they are kidding themselves. I mean, honestly - given France's war record of the last 100 years, I don't even think they could successfully invade Luxembourg without the help of at least one major world power!
But at least they seem to have learned some lessons. Their own nuclear record has always lacked a good PR spin doctor and the covert operation that sank the Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand was more like a chapter from Inspector Clouseau's police manual! Perhaps they are hoping that some honest and open threats might get the French some positive media attention ... riiight! haha.
Despite France being one of the handful of permanent UN Security Council members, I doubt that the world, and especially Iran, will do much more than yawn at this bit of lame sabre-rattling.
C'est la vie!
LOL
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6997935.stm
Apparently the French think that threatening Iran with war is meaningful. I think they are kidding themselves. I mean, honestly - given France's war record of the last 100 years, I don't even think they could successfully invade Luxembourg without the help of at least one major world power!
But at least they seem to have learned some lessons. Their own nuclear record has always lacked a good PR spin doctor and the covert operation that sank the Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand was more like a chapter from Inspector Clouseau's police manual! Perhaps they are hoping that some honest and open threats might get the French some positive media attention ... riiight! haha.
Despite France being one of the handful of permanent UN Security Council members, I doubt that the world, and especially Iran, will do much more than yawn at this bit of lame sabre-rattling.
C'est la vie!
LOL
Censorship rating
The above rating is due to the words "gun" and "penis" being located in my posts, according to mingle2.com
It's a tough audience!
Positively new blog description
The previous month has been a time of change for me ... a bit like an enormous spring clean - out with old and in with new. I start my new position with another recruitment firm on Monday, my domestic situation has taken an interesting, but positive, turn and my immediate family deciding to relocate to Brisbane in coming months.
I have had this week in between jobs to ponder a number of large and minor issues, one of which has been this blog. It had occurred to me that the previous description of this blog was rather negative and defensive. It stated simply what I was against, rather than what I stood for.
I have had this week in between jobs to ponder a number of large and minor issues, one of which has been this blog. It had occurred to me that the previous description of this blog was rather negative and defensive. It stated simply what I was against, rather than what I stood for.
This blog represents the voice of an Aussie from the libertarian left who is committed to fighting conservatism, nationalism, economic rationalism, fascism and religious fanaticism. If you disagree with my perspective, please state your case and have a rational debate. I don't care much for people using religious texts in an attempt to prove their argument. Try using reason and logic instead!So, out with the old and in with the positively new ...
This blog represents the voice of a left leaning Aussie who is committed to liberal democratic socialism, with a strong emphasis on pluralism throughout all facets of society - economic, cultural, political, demographic etc. I am particularly valiant when it comes to issues of rights, justice, and freedom from religion.
More cancers found to be caused by a common virus
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor!
And with that out of the way, I can confidently express my long held theory that many cancers of today are caused, directly and/or indirectly, by viruses. it seems that science is just starting to unravel the evidence to back it up!
I first developed this inkling of a theory when researchers from Western Australia uncovered the gob-smacking truth that most stomach ulcers were caused by a bacteria. They went on to develop a simple antibiotic treatment for this debilitating condition. It also stemmed from the knowledge that viruses are known to cause mutations in our genes - much of our DNA is actually redundant viral DNA (conspiracy theorists would believe it to be extraterrestrial DNA) from generations of infection.
In more recent years, a Queensland scientist has invented a vaccine for the variants of the human papilloma virus (HPv) that are known to be responsible for approximately 90% of cervical cancers.
What is not so widely known is how widespread the infection of HPv is across the human race. Some studies have shown that around 50% of western civilisation have been infected with the virus at some point in their life. It is literally as common as the cold!
What sparks me to write this post today is reading two articles that appeared in my Google Reader. The first, from the ABC, indicates that the new HPv vaccine might be useful in warding off other cancers. The second, from New Scientist, warns of the risk of cancer stemming from oral sex.
How are these two articles related? They both talk about HPv as being a cancer causing virus. In the second article, scientists discovered that:
Here are some little known facts:
Quite the opposite - those are well proven factors associated with risk of cancer. however we are now starting to explain why a healthy non-smoker can end up with throat cancer and that will mean a great deal when it comes to preventative measures such as vaccinations.
5 years ago, cancers were known to be caused by environmental conditions and exacerbated by diet, lifestyle or genetic factors.
Today, we know that HPv is the likely cause of several common cancers including that of the cervix, vulva and vagina in women, and potentially tonsils, throat in the wider populace. Previous studies have shown that the risk of bowel cancer does not increase through anal intercourse per se, however it is known that some variants of HPv can lead to cancer of the bowel, anus, penis and testes. Do your own risk assessment.
Given what we know today compared with what we knew yesterday, I think the medical world still has some surprises left for us. it won't come as a surprise to find that we have an all-purpose cancer vaccine within the next 20 years.
And with that out of the way, I can confidently express my long held theory that many cancers of today are caused, directly and/or indirectly, by viruses. it seems that science is just starting to unravel the evidence to back it up!
I first developed this inkling of a theory when researchers from Western Australia uncovered the gob-smacking truth that most stomach ulcers were caused by a bacteria. They went on to develop a simple antibiotic treatment for this debilitating condition. It also stemmed from the knowledge that viruses are known to cause mutations in our genes - much of our DNA is actually redundant viral DNA (conspiracy theorists would believe it to be extraterrestrial DNA) from generations of infection.
In more recent years, a Queensland scientist has invented a vaccine for the variants of the human papilloma virus (HPv) that are known to be responsible for approximately 90% of cervical cancers.
What is not so widely known is how widespread the infection of HPv is across the human race. Some studies have shown that around 50% of western civilisation have been infected with the virus at some point in their life. It is literally as common as the cold!
What sparks me to write this post today is reading two articles that appeared in my Google Reader. The first, from the ABC, indicates that the new HPv vaccine might be useful in warding off other cancers. The second, from New Scientist, warns of the risk of cancer stemming from oral sex.
How are these two articles related? They both talk about HPv as being a cancer causing virus. In the second article, scientists discovered that:
"After controlling for other risk factors for throat cancer, such as drinking and smoking, the analysis revealed that people who had prior infection with HPV were 32 times as likely to have this cancer as those with no evidence of ever having the virus. And those who tested positive for a particularly aggressive strain of the virus, called HPV-16, were 58 times more likely to have throat cancer."I said earlier that I am not a doctor, and I will also state that mathematics is not my forte and that I almost failed statistics at university. But even George W Bush should be able to see an obvious correlation the more you learn about HPv.
Here are some little known facts:
- HPv is a virus responsible for causing common warts as well as sexually transmissible (or genital) warts
- that's right! A variant of the virus that causes genital warts is responsible for the wart on your toe or your nose!
- there are over 100 known variants of HPv, only a handful of which are known to cause cervical cancer
- specific variants of the virus are known to affect specific areas of the body - such that, one variant will cause face warts, while another will cause warts on the feet, and yet another on the hands etc
- external warts are relatively easy to remove by chemical treatment or burned off with liquid nitrogen, internal warts usually require surgical removal
- HPv is highly contagious - it can be transmitted simply by touching an infected area even if there are no warts visible.
- the majority of HPv carriers will show no signs of infection and can transmit the virus to anyone they have close contact with.
Quite the opposite - those are well proven factors associated with risk of cancer. however we are now starting to explain why a healthy non-smoker can end up with throat cancer and that will mean a great deal when it comes to preventative measures such as vaccinations.
5 years ago, cancers were known to be caused by environmental conditions and exacerbated by diet, lifestyle or genetic factors.
Today, we know that HPv is the likely cause of several common cancers including that of the cervix, vulva and vagina in women, and potentially tonsils, throat in the wider populace. Previous studies have shown that the risk of bowel cancer does not increase through anal intercourse per se, however it is known that some variants of HPv can lead to cancer of the bowel, anus, penis and testes. Do your own risk assessment.
Given what we know today compared with what we knew yesterday, I think the medical world still has some surprises left for us. it won't come as a surprise to find that we have an all-purpose cancer vaccine within the next 20 years.
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