June 12, 2005 as posted on KHA Message Board
"Last fall after testing positive for HIV my viral load was 33,600 (PCR). Four months ago it dropped to 7,180. Recently, it is down again to 3,850. My CD4's have gone from 370 to 687. I am on no HIV meds. My work and much expense have apparently paid off. I was so elated at the news. My doc wanted to know what I'm doing and said half jokingly that it should be patented.
"The results of the recent testing are nothing short of miraculousŠ.. How I (seemingly) stopped the progression of HIV: Mushrooms, many kinds, but primarily Maitake, Shitake, Reishi, Royal Agaricus. I take so many other things but let me highlight a few- NAC, plant based selenium, large doses of Vit. A and Beta carotene, prednisone, 5mg, oxygen supplements, including ozone, hydrogen peroxide, etc., probiotics, lots of vit. C in the form of Rosehips powder and fresh fruits/veg. I often take herbs such as licorice, heal-all (prunella vulgaricus) lots of cayenne and fresh, raw ginger, ginseng, oregano, Siberian ginseng. That is just some of the things I have tried consistently.
"I tend to rotate things and eat as much fresh, organic food as possible. My gut feeling is that the mushrooms were probably the biggest boost to my immune system, but I really can't be certain. I have worked hard, prayed, studied, spent so much money, but I made up my mind that I was going to beat this virus without meds! (Well, maybe a little prednisone) Thanks to all of you for sharing and thanks especially to Mark. You have helped me more than you will ever know. Dan "
"I reported awhile (June 2005) back the good results I was having with my mushroom and supplement protocol and would like to again report continued good results. My recent blood work showed a viral load of 3,400 and a CD4 count of 704. My doc is amazed and said I could go for a year before my next lab work since my numbers have remained stable over the last year and a half. I said I would still like to check it at 6 months another time just to make sure it's not slipping.
"In the last year, I have added Naltrexone, 4.5 mg at night, and continue taking Prednisone, 5mg. in the a.m. For mushrooms, I am taking a blend by Source Naturals, and started ACHH, which is VERY expensive and is basically hybridized shitake mushrooms that are specially processed.
"Other supplements include DHEA, NAC, ALA, fish or flax oil, various probiotics. I believe that I have stopped the progression of HIV, and I have the lab work to back that up. After first being diagnosed in 2004 and having a CD4 count of 374 and a viral load of well over 33,000, I have since kept my CD4 count between 500-700 and a viral load below 7,000 ever since. I hope and pray that I continue to maintain this progress. I want to express my gratitude to the Universe. I hope this will give others encouragement."
June 10 2006 Dan
"I take a lot of supplements and often change or rotate things. I will try to record some of the main ones. You may also refer to my previous posts on the subject."
"Naltrexone 4.5 mg at night, Prednisone 5mg. in the a.m. Plant-based selenium 200-600mcg, Vit. A 25,00 IU or Beta-carotene, Magnesium Malate 3 tabs daily, manganese 1 tab daily, NAC 600-1200mg. daily, Vit E 200-400 IU, Rose hips powder for Vit. C, Alpha-Lipoic Acid 200 mg.
"I have taken all kinds of mushrooms, primarily Maitake, Shitake, Reishi and various blends. I take 3 mg. of Melatonin at night and 50 mg of DHEA, also fish oil caps, about 6 daily. I take Brewer's yeast for B Vitamins and different probiotics along with occasional fiber and green foods like chlorella, spirulina.
"Often I just take a rest from certain supplements. I have also taken various herbal preparations to rid the body of parasites, such as black walnut, wormwood. I have never taken any HIV meds. I eat a very healthy, partly organic diet. Hope this helps. Good luck to all."
Dan dcrow@bex.net
Mark Konlee.
MA: June 15, 2006. Karen had discontinued her drug cocktail for HIV in Sept of 2005 due to elevated liver enzymes. By early April of 2006, she had a viral load of 450,000 and her CD4's had dropped to nearly 700. In April 2006, she made two changes in her daily supplements that she has since credited with turning her lab results around. In 6 weeks that followed she used CM4 (a Siberian Ginseng extract) and the daily use of hydrocortisone cream applied topically - about _ teaspoon at 9 am and another _ teaspoon applied at 1 pm. The result is that six weeks later her CD4 count increased to 1006 and her viral load dropped to 70 000. She is elated and is still not using the drug cocktails.
She plans to ask her doctor for a prescription for prednisolone 10 mg once daily and will use this in place of the hydrocortisone. If the doctor won't give her the prescription, she will keep using the topical hydrocortisone that she believes has helped increase her CD4 counts. She also credits the CM4 for the CD4 increase. CM4 has been reported for years to increase CD4 counts. Karen has dealt with HIV for 12 years and has been on and off protease inhibitors and drug cocktails for up to a year at a time several times during this period. Karen can be reached days at 781-447-7346 (published with permission).
Note: CM4 is distributed by the Boston Buyers Club as well as the Houston Buyer's Club.
Yushima Japan: Kurata S and Yamamoto N report in the Journal of Cell Biochemistry (1) that glucorticoid can induce IkappaBalpha gene in several cell lines. Increasing IkappaBalpha proteins markedly reduces the amount of active NF-kappaB, a strong activator of HIV-1 promoter. NF-kappaB stimulates the activation of inflammatory cytokines (il-6 and tnf-a). The Japanese researchers thus present a scientific thesis on how glucocorticoids could reduce HIV activity by reducing inflammatory cytokines associated with HIV-1 replication.
Note: This research raises the possibility that there are several other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory products ranging from the common aspirin to botanicals like Curcumin that could also inhibit HIV and increase CD4 counts. In the early 1990's Aspirin was used in one NIH study to increase CD4 counts but because high doses were used, side effects occurred and further research was discontinued. Aspirin, like curcumin (tumeric), is an anti-inflammatory and one a day is not likely to produce adverse side effects. Taking a couple Curcumin capsules (Jarrow Formulas) and one Aspirin daily (St Josephs) could only help the T cell counts and is not enough to cause side effects in most instances.
Millions of people take an Aspirin a day now to prevent blood cells from sticking together and causing a stroke or coronary occlusion. In Africa, an aspirin a day along with a little hydrocortisone could go a long way in preventing HIV progression to AIDS and would cost only pennies.
Another formula for HIV is a low cost herbal combination of Licorice (to help the adrenals produce cortisol) with Siberian Ginseng, Tumeric and Ashwaganda to help with thyroid function.
1. J Cell Biochem; 1999 Nov;76(1):13-9
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new protease inhibitor, TMC114 (darunavir, Prezista), which has been developed specifically for people who have already developed resistance to many existing HIV medications. TMC114 will be taken twice a day, and must be boosted with ritonavir (Norvir). This is the first new HIV medication to be approved by the FDA since the protease inhibitor tipranavir (Aptivus) was given a green light in June 2005. A total of 26 HIV medications have now been approved in the United States.
The body at www.thebody.com has weekly email updates on the latest in pharmaceutical drugs to treat HIV, benefits and adverse effects of the drugs, surgery for lipodystrophy, and other AIDS related news but no information on immune-based therapies. While the number of drugs to treat HIV is now at 26, there is not a single government approved immune-based therapy or vaccine. The fact that the government has gone to such extremes in approving 26 anti-viral drugs indicates that the drugs are failing to provide long-term safe and effective treatments for many of the people who depend on them.
Why don't these folks talk to Mark Milano (See Journal of Immunity for July to Sept 2005) who has used low dose prednisone for the past 16 years to control his HIV with no side effects, maintaining high CD4 counts and has not had a single opportunistic infection in all this time. Oh, did I fail to mention he has never used an anti-viral drug in all this time? The secret of his success and others who use immunotherapy is to maintain high CD4 counts that prevent infections that are life threatening.
Maintaining CD4 counts above 300 is far more important to survival and well being than using toxic drugs to maintain low or non-detectable viral loads that alone do not guarantee a functional immune system and whose adverse effects may cause lipodystrophy or kill a patient with a heart attack. Safe?
C. LeBeau
New Dehli, India. An oral supplement as well as a personal lubricant with Neem is being tested in India. Neem (azadirachta indica) seed and leaf extracts have spermicidal, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. (1) They are also immuno-modulators that induce a TH1 type response. These properties are being exploited to develop two different methods of fertility control. One is to take Neem orally and the other is its use as a personal lubricant before and during intercourse.
Oral use of Neem at early post-implantation stage terminates pregnancy in rodents and primates. A herbal cream with Neem extract is being tested. The use before mating had high contraceptive efficacy in rabbits and baboons. The authors Talwar et al also stated "another interesting property is their inhibitory action on a wide spectrum of micro-organisms, including candida albicans, C tropicalis, gonorrhoeae, staph and E-coli, Herpes simplex 2 and HIV-1."
Phase 1 studies have already been completed in India, Egypt and the Dominican Republic. The snail pace of the government approval process can be annoying at times. If a person is sexually active and needs a personal lubricant, they should look for one that contains an extract of Neem seed oil. These products are available but cannot be legally marketed as helpful in preventing the spread of some sexually transmitted diseases even though they may well have this effect. I say "some" as a sexual encounter that results in an exchange of body fluids through ejaculation inside another person is likely to transmit some types of infection like HIV that may occur despite of use of antimicrobial lubricants.
The use of sufficient antimicrobial lubricants or condoms and the avoidance of ejaculation in another person will substantially reduce the risk of disease transmission. Studies have shown that the transmission of HIV through oral sex is almost nonexistent although some other STDs can be transmitted. Post activity: The use of oral hydrogen peroxide and Listerine is recommended.
1. Immunol Cell Biol 1997 apr;75(2):190-2
Song Y,Ridker PM, Manson JE, Cook NR, Buring JE, Liu S. Diabetes Care. 2005 Jun;28(6):1438-44. Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Avenue East, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether and to what extent magnesium intake is related to systemic inflammation and the metabolic syndrome.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis on data from 11,686 women > or =45 years of age participating in the Women's Health Study who were initially free of cardiovascular disease and cancer and had no use of postmenopausal hormones.
RESULTS: In age- and BMI-adjusted analyses, magnesium intake was inversely associated with plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations; CRP concentrations were 12% lower in the highest intake quintile than in the lowest (P for trend <0.0001). This association was not appreciably altered by further adjustment for other potential confounding variables including dietary factors; the mean CRP concentrations for ascending quintiles of magnesium intake were 1.50, 1.39, 1.35, 1.34, and 1.31 mg/l (P for trend = 0.0003). This inverse association was stronger for women with a BMI > or =25 kg/m(2) (P < 0.0001 for interaction) and those who were current or past smokers (P = 0.0009 for interaction).
After adjustment for confounding lifestyle and dietary factors, women in the highest quintile of magnesium intake had 27% lower risk of the metabolic syndrome (defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria) compared with those in the lowest quintile of intake (odds ratio 0.73 [95% CI 0.60-0.88], P for trend = 0.0008).
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that magnesium intake is inversely associated with systemic inflammation and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older women.
He K, Liu K et al
Circulation. 2006 Apr 4;113(13):1675-82.Epub 2006 Mar 27.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that magnesium intake may be inversely related to risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus and that higher intake of magnesium may decrease blood triglycerides and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.
METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively examined the relations between magnesium intake and incident metabolic syndrome and its components among 4637 Americans, aged 18 to 30 years, who were free from metabolic syndrome and diabetes at baseline.
Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program/Adult Treatment Panel III definition. Diet was assessed by an interviewer-administered quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and magnesium intake was derived from the nutrient database developed by the Minnesota Nutrition Coordinating Center.
During the 15 years of follow-up, 608 incident cases of the metabolic syndrome were identified. Magnesium intake was inversely associated with incidence of metabolic syndrome after adjustment for major lifestyle and dietary variables and baseline status of each component of the metabolic syndrome. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of magnesium intake, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio of metabolic syndrome for participants in the highest quartile was 0.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52 to 0.91; P for trend <0.01). The inverse associations were not materially modified by gender and race. Magnesium intake was also inversely related to individual component of the metabolic syndrome and fasting insulin levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that young adults with higher magnesium intake have lower risk of development of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is one word that covers a whole range of diseases from obesity that affects over half the population of the United States, to high blood pressure, insulin resistance, diabetes and heart disease. Magnesium deficiency along with deficiency of other major and minor trace minerals and an extreme daily intake of sodium (salt) have a major role to play in the most prevalent diseases of our time. The RDA for magnesium, which stands at 400 mg, may be too low when added as a supplement to reverse the effects of metabolic syndrome. Perhaps 400 mg of magnesium twice a day for adults would be better starting point for a magnesium deficient person.
Blandford TB, Seamon PJ, Hughes R, Pattison M, Wilderspin MP.
Vet Rec. 1975 Feb 22;96(8):175-8.
Five cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) died within 30 minutes following exposure to fumes from a frying pan coated with the "non-stick" plastic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that had accidentally overheated. Within an hour the owner developed symptoms of "polymer fume fever" but recovered in the next 24 hours. Clinical signs and post mortem lesions of the cockatiels are described and reference is made to the unusual susceptibility of parakeets to the pyrolysis products of frying pans coated with PTFE.
Boucher M, Ehmler TJ, Bermudez AJ.
Avian Dis. 2000 Apr-Jun;44(2):449-53.
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia, 65211, USA.
"A poultry research facility that housed 2400 Peterson x Hubbard cross broilers (48 pens of 50 chicks each) experienced 4% mortality within 24 hr of chick placement. Mortality started within 4 hr of placement, and within 72 hr, cumulative mortality had reached 52%. Mild dyspnea was the only clinical sign noted in some chicks prior to death. The primary gross lesion noted in the chicks submitted was moderate to severe pulmonary congestion. The microscopic lesions noted in the affected chicks were moderate to severe pulmonary edema and congestionŠ..
"Further investigation revealed that the only change in management practice in this facility prior to the onset of the severe mortality problem was the replacement of 48 heat lamp bulbs (one for each pen). The new heat lamp bulbs were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated. PTFE gas intoxication has been reported in several exotic avian species, but this intoxication has not been previously reported in a poultry flock."
The National Institute of Health library list the following titles of articles on the adverse effects of exposure to the fumes of overheated Teflon pans but has published no abstracts.
1. [Risk for pet birds following exposure to burn products of pans coated with PTEF and butter] Lumeij JT. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 1997 Dec 15;122(24):720. Dutch. No abstract available.
2. PTFE toxicity in birds. Woodhall S, Stamford M. Vet Rec. 2004 Dec 11;155(24):784. No abstract available.
3. What are the health risks of nonstick pans? [No authors listed] Mayo Clin Womens Healthsource. 2005 Mar;9(3):8. No abstract available.
Published scientific research on the adverse effects of cooking in a Teflon pan spans a time frame from 1975 to 2006, yet how little media attention has been paid to the toxic effects from cooking in a Teflon frying pan at high temperatures. Could inhaled fumes from cooking over a Teflon pan cause lung cancer and explain the high incidence of this disease among nonsmokers?
After learning about this in the past few months, I have tossed out all my Teflon pans and plastic pancake turners as well. My only current choices for using a frying pan are those made of stainless steel or Pyrex glass. A possible link between inhaled fumes from Teflon pans and lungs cancer urgently need investigation.
As I looked over a folder filled with clippings and articles from the past 3 years for possible use in this newsletter, I read an email from Bryan B of CA about the remarkable results he obtained using "Seven Forests Composition A" for HIV for the past 10 years. For most of this period, he states he did not use antiviral drugs due to their side effects.
Composition A is a Chinese herbal formulation that has been available for many years and is distributed by the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland Oregon. There are some other Chinese formulations that are similiar like Resist (by Pacific Biologic) that have also been in use for the past 15 to 20 years.
The following letter is dated Jan 5, 2005 followed with an update from June 29, 2006.
Hi Mark, (Jan 5, 2005)
God Bless your precious soul and I wish you all the abundant blessings that come from this very important work. Your website is fabulous.
I'm HIV+ for 18 years and symptom-free - praise the Almightly above, and Seven Forests Composition A - the immune building immune herbal complex. I have been without a doctor up here in the mountains (Big Bear Lake, CA) for almost 3 years. I do a lot of self-treatment and the herbs I take do the trick. I have been totally dependent on this one supplement for many years.
I am not affiliated with Composition A. It is just that the herbs in this product have saved my life. I had very bad chronic fatigue, candidiasis, dementia, irritable bowel syndrome and a foul conditions with my legs the doctors could not figure out. From the waist down, my nerves were raw, and I had to crawl out of bed to get to the bathroom. I was basically bed-ridden, and the pain was excruciating! That was back in 1994.
Ever since I started taking the herbs (composition A) I have been able to do anything and I mean ANYTHING! Including shoveling snow, walking 10 miles on icy roads while taking care with every step so as not to slip on the ice. I have had a bounty of energy due I believe to Seven forests Composition A. It is formulated by a non-profit organization - the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon, 2017 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214 503-233-4907 www.itmonline.org
On June 28th, 2006 I sent Bryan an email to see if he was still kicking and if he still believed in Composition A and if I could post his story and email address. Here are excerpts from his reply:
From: "Bryan Baird"
Date: Thu Jun 29, 2006
Hi Mark:I was so happy to hear from you tonight! I do regret not having taken the time to try and make contact with the other fellows and gals on the web site through the community bulletin board, but I am grateful that some little message I left about Composition A is doing some good. And so that it reaches the maximum number of people, and does more good than it might have, I want to share with you a little more info about my personal experience with it.
Yes, Mark, I am continuing to take Seven Forests Composition A, and having fantastic results from it! I have been taking this herbal compound since 1994 since I left the world of HIV drugs. I really think this HIV+ junk would take over my body if I didn't take my herbs regularly. In fact, I bicycle around town often because I don't have a car, but I have bought a house (we just closed on it), we are moving to Oregon in October or so, I sell antique restored pianos on the Net.
You see what's happening here, Mark? I have energy! And it seems the older I get, the more the Virus tries to take hold, the more Comp A I take, then the better I feel! I also have Hep C and my liver hardly ever causes discomfort for me at all. Before I took the Comp A - all the time - not now.
Well, I want to say this, and it is very IMPORTANT!: One my Doc and I were going over my chart results over a period of years. I noticed that my CD4 cell counts increased and the viral load decreased when I wasn't even on any HIV meds - I was only using composition A. And my liver did not bother me anymore either. I think this Comp A kills both viruses - HIV and HCV.
Composition A is much more than a herbal, as opposed to medicinal, compound I take. It is my life partner. I hope sincerely this little account will help others, as I simply don't feel I have time enough sometimes to do all I would like to help my fellow man. But I love him just the same.
You can get the herbs from ITM (Institute for Traditional Medicine), in Portland OR
I remember back in 1994, when this big German doctor stood over me and started raising her voice and pointing her finger, "You cannot take herbs. There is no research!!! There is no research!!! YOU MUST TAKE YOUR AZT!" Ummmmm, I have several friends who are dead because of too much AZT, and so do all of us. There used to be a time in our world when herbs and herbal doctors were respected. I think that is slowly coming around again, but only in the metropolitan areas of the U.S. But please let your web site visitors know, doctors also have an agenda. That they do not always do what is right for the patient, but rather tend to take the path of the pharmaceutical salesmen.
I think this kind of informed natural remedy is brilliant! We all have the personal power to make the decision to not be a guinea pig to western medicine and to what everyone else is doing. But we can stand up and say, "I'M GOING TO BEAT THIS THING."
God has already placed on this planet Earth the plants and herbs with which to preserve and maintain and restore health, accomplish energy, calm and good spirits that results from good health.
Thank you, Mark, for your continued work for the human family, and bless you always. So nice to hear from you.
You have full permission to use and or reprint all or part of above, and you may display my e-mail address as well, in case anyone has any questions, I would love to hear from everyone. Thank you, again. Bryan
Seven Forests Composition A is sold to health care professionals and is available from the ITM Institute for Traditional Medicine
2017 S.E. Hawthorne Boulevard Portland, Oregon 97214 Phone: (503) 233-4907 Ask for Debbie to make an order. Fax: (503) 233-1017 http://www.itmonline.org
The following list was provided by Bryan Baird as we were going to the printers. The 1st ingredient is Ganoderma also known as Reishi mushroom. There are several good anecdotal reports listed on our Message Board about Reishi and other mushrooms like Maitake. The second ingredient is Astragalus. This herb is known as one of the most important herbs for immune function in Chinese medicine. Ginseng and licorice are herbs with which we are familiar and their presence in the formula is logical. Several of the other ingredients are those with which we are not familiar. This formula has been in use for about 15 years.
To locate a health care professional who can order Composition A for you, go to http://www.itmonline.org/arts/newprac.htm#w for a national list of ITM practitioners. Note: Just before finishing this report, I located a place on the net that will sell Composition A without a prescription. 404-591-0405.
Milwaukee, WI. June 10, 2006
Duwayne recently discussed with friends how strange it was for his left leg to be swollen. I asked him what prescription drugs he had been taking for his Arthritis. He said he had been using Celebrix to treat his Arthritis and added that it must be safe to use as it was prescribed by his physician. I asked him if he was aware of reports linking Celebrix to blood clots in some patients and even heart attacks. He said he was not aware of it.
The conversation evolved to the possibility of a blood clot having formed in his leg that was causing the swelling. A search of the internet found that Clelbrix, was like Vioxx, was a Cox 2 inhibitor drug that has been linked to multiple cases of blood clots and heart attacks. Vioxx is reported in several media sources as being linked to as many as 40,000 heart attacks. Celebrix is still allowed by the FDA to be prescribed but it remains controversial as there are isolated cases of reported blood clots and heart attacks linked to its use.
Upon learning all this, Duwayne decided to stop using the Celebrix and opted to take a formula with Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate with MSM.
Meanwhile, about a week after this happened, he set up an appointment with his doctor to have an ultrasound test to determine if there was a blood clot in his leg. Three days before the test, he took one teaspoon of cayenne (red pepper) with a glass of water for 3 days. On the day of the test, the doctors could not find a blood clot but his leg remained swollen. The doctor speculated that there might have been a collapse of tissue in one of the blood vessels.
It was suggested that Duwayne try magnetic therapy for his leg. He taped a small 1 inch circular ceramic magnet to his leg near a spot that hurt on his leg and with the North Pole seeking side of the magnet against his skin. He slept with it for 3 nights. By the 4th day the swelling and hurt had all disappeared. His leg was back to normal.
A Theory: As the doctor could not detect a blood clot, is it possible that it never existed or did the 3 teaspoons of cayenne pepper dissolve the clot before he took the ultrasound test? If the cayenne dissolved the clot, inflammation may have remained in the area due to previous damage to surrounding tissue.
The magnet with its anti-inflammatory effects reduced the swelling and the circulation returned to normal in a few days. The use of cayenne to dissolve a blood clot and then the use of a magnet to help this process by reducing the inflammation may sound like an unlikely duo. However, having witnessed the whole sequence of events, it has happened as it is described here.
Dear KHA,
I believe each PWA must keep hope alive to survive and find their own path through their own situations - medical, mental etc. My son, 33 years old, died in April - not of illness, but of a self-inflicted gunshot. He lived with great hope for 14 years, and I cannot question his choice for him, but I will forever miss him. He was my son and I was so privileged to have walked with him through these years.
The shotgun was my father's and I sold the gun as soon as the police released it back to me. The $100 I received for it is being donated to Keep Hope Alive to help is a small way to prevent someone else from losing the hope that is life.
Stephenie Sims, Stephenville, TX
Editor's Note:
Words are difficult to express how moved I was to receive this letter and special offering. I pray her son finds in the birth of eternal life the hope that was lost here during that one final moment. Peace and love to all. Mark
It may a bit out of place for a health publication to publish a plan to end this long and tragic war. I can justify this on the grounds that it would be good for the emotional and mental health of the nation to see an end to the human carnage on their TV screens night after agonizing night.
The violent deaths of human beings in war, whether friend or foe, dehumanizes all of us and radicalizes minorities who use the death of their friends to justify their own extreme violence. The three great religions of the world all claim the Ten Commandments God gave Moses as their heritage. What is it about the 5th commandment "Thou shalt not kill" that they do not understand?
When neither war nor peace is waged effectively a change in course is clearly called for -first to bring about a ceasefire, then dialogue with all parties to the conflict to bring about a political solution to end the war. I am asking each of you to do a small part to give peace a chance in Iraq. Please read the enclosed plan. If you agree with it, make 2 copies and mail them to both your US Senators and to your Congessmen. You can find their Washington DC address by looking in your local white pages phone book under "Government" or online. Thank you for your support.
Mark / Conrad
Peace Plan or Home PagePublished quarterly. Copyright 2006- To subscribe to this newsletter, send a donation to Keep Hope Alive, PO Box 270041 West Allis, WI 53227. Phone 414-751-4998 Note: You can also read this and other past newsletters online at www.keephopealive.org