Sydney, Australia - Imagine working your entire life as a blue collar employee of a large industrial plant spending countless hours to make products that people depend upon and just hoping to one day retire and live the rest of your life in comfort and peace.
For thousands of workers who were employed by James Hardie Industries during the middle of the century, this was there dream. They didn't know at the time that the products they manufactured contained asbestos and was making them sick.
Years later many of them have died painful and preventable deaths caused by asbestos exposure and their former employer is doing everything it can to prevent paying the price for their deaths.
This week at the annual board meeting, they are trying to approve a 130% raise for their members as a 3 year battle to create a victim's compensation fund continues.
Limiting Liability
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, James Hardie Industries aggressively restructured the company to minimize their exposure to financial liability for asbestos claims. In 2001 it set up a front organization the "Medical Research and Compensation Foundation" which was aimed at providing victims with compensation.
However the committee has been heavily 綠色分泌物不會癢 criticized by both internal and external observers as being wholly inadequate in terms compensation and distribution of funds. A plan to overhaul the foundation has been "in the works" over the past 3 years but nothing has been made in the way of progress.
What's Next
James Hardie chairman Meredith Hellicar has stated that the delays in overhauling the foundation are attributed to making sure it has long term viability to pay out current and future claims.
However employees and members of medical groups have feel that unless a representative for victims is appointed to the board, the funding problems will continue.
There are signs of reform for the much maligned company, now headquartered in the Netherlands. Recent investigations by Australian authorities and internal restructuring have focused company energy to resolving their long-standing dispute with asbestos litigants but this week's news is certainly a step in the wrong direction.
-William Gallahue
Have you ever wondered why some people never seem to get sick, and others always seem to have come down with something? The answer may be more complicated than you realize. There are five major causes of disease or dysfunction in the body. Some of them get a lot more of our attention than others, but they are all of great importance.
Traumas
These are the injuries and accidents that occur from time to time. Chiropractors treat conditions ranging from whiplash to disc herniations, all of which can occur following a trauma. The body has very specific phases of repair, some of which can take a year or more to complete in severe injuries. We have had countless patients who have been in a car accident and not experienced any immediate symptoms, but days later feel the effects. This is due to the soft tissue inflammation that often takes several days to reach painful levels. Early response is the key to ensuring the best response to traumatic injuries!
Poor Nutrition
This is an often overlooked cause of dysfunction in the body. As more research on the subject is published, the saying you are what you eat proves even more true. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, essential fats, and healthy sources of protein (such as seafood, poultry, and grass-fed meat) can significantly reduce your risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and virtually every chronic disease. Adding a few key supplements to the diet also helps to ensure you are getting everything you need to function at your peak. At Ocala Integrative Medicine, we have developed a comprehensive nutritional plan for our patients that help you sort through the information available and make the best choices to ensure optimal health!
Lack of Sleep
Did you know studies have shown driving while sleep deprived is as bad as driving drunk? The body undergoes important repairs while we sleep, and when we cheat ourselves out of valuable rest, these repairs can't properly occur. Stress hormones such as cortisol, many of which are linked to chronic disease, increase when we do not get enough sleep. To optimize your rest, try to sleep at least 8 hours a night and get to bed by 11 pm. Our bodies are designed to function on specific cycles, and sleep deprivation short-circuits this mechanism.
Mental Stress
Most of us have at one point or another felt the physical effects of stress. Whether it is tightness in the shoulders, an upset stomach, or increased blood pressure, we can all agree that our mental attitude affects our physical well-being. Research has even shown that certain inflammatory chemicals are elevated in people who are under chronic stress. It is important to develop healthy ways to manage the stress in our lives. Prayer is an excellent way to obtain spiritual strength, understanding, humility, emotional stability, peace of mind, and contentment.
Viruses, Parasites, and Bacteria
These are the microorganisms that receive most of the blame as the cause of disease. However, have you ever stopped to think about how this process works? We know there are germs everywhere, but most of us seldom become sick. As we all know, our immune system is the bodies' natural way of fending off virtually all of the invaders that enter our body. When the immune system is sufficiently weakened, usually due to trauma, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, or mental stress, we become vulnerable to attack from viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Therefore, the microorganisms we are so concerned about are not the sole cause of disease; rather they can cause disease given the right opportunity.
Keep this in mind during your daily routine. While habits such as hand washing, water purification, and sanitizing food are all healthy, they are not adequate to prevent disease. The most effective anti-microbial agent you can possibly imagine is a healthy immune system. This can be boosted by working to eliminate trauma, nutritional deficiencies, sleep deprivation, and mental stress as much as possible.