WORLD-FIRST STUDY TO EXAMINE HEALTH OF CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS |
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WORLD-FIRST STUDY TO EXAMINE HEALTH OF CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS |
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Study of Gulf War illness gets $75 million boost |
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DALLAS - A Gulf War illness research center will be established at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center under legislation that also allocates $75 million toward research. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who has pushed for the study of Gulf War illness for years, wrote the bill, which passed both chambers Friday. It will be sent to President Bush for his approval. The legislation requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to spend at least $15 million a year for five years on the research. It consolidates ongoing research at facilities in New Jersey and Washington, D.C., with study under way at UT Southwestern.
"Consolidating research and supporting it with real funding is a solid commitment to providing the right care to our Gulf War veterans," Ms. Hutchison said. Gulf War illness has been reported by thousands of veterans, though the cause has been widely debated. The symptoms are varied and are often debilitating, including chronic fatigue, migraines, memory problems, stomach upset and dizziness. "There is a whole slew of different problems," said Steve Smithson, deputy director for veterans affairs and rehabilitation with the American Legion. "Science really hasn't been able to find a unique syndrome, but more of a compilation of syndromes." For years, the Defense Department debated whether Gulf War syndrome existed. Many people blamed veterans' health problems on post-traumatic stress. Last week, the Veterans Affairs Department was criticized by veteran advocates for spending only $400,000 out of $15 million allocated on how toxic substances affect soldiers. "It's frustrating. There are still some who feel it's all in their head, but mainstream research is moving into other directions looking at physical exposures," Smithson said. Dr. Robert Haley, an epidemiologist at UT Southwestern, was one of the first to study the exposure of Gulf War veterans to toxic chemicals. The research was launched in 1994 with the help of a grant from the Perot Foundation of Dallas. Haley's work helped establish the foundation for the research to move to Dallas, Hutchison said. "We've got a long track record. We've got a productive line of research and nobody else does. She's going to put some money here and let us run with it," Haley said. UT Southwestern has made several steps positioning itself as the leader in Gulf War research. The medical center, which worked on funding of $2.1 million in 2004 and $1 million this year, has established an advanced brain-imaging center and is poised to complete a national survey of Gulf War veterans to identify how many are ill. It is also studying mice and rats to try to determine the effects of sarin nerve gas. "When this new funding becomes available, all of this will come to fruition," Haley said. "We're going to learn from the combination of these things what is going on in the brains of sick Gulf War veterans."
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| Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations | |
| These proposed regulations for C-45, the new Veteran Charter were posted on the VAC site 17 Dec 2005, just before the Christmas holiday season. Unfortunately, only as of yesterday did a few veterans find the regulations, by chance. Apparently there was little or no indication that the proposed regulations had been published under the official federal governmental newspaper site, Canada Gazette. It would appear that little time is left for current and future veterans to make any comment on the proposed regulations. It is recommended that all subscribers review the proposed regulations. As well, no contact point to submit comments has been made, hence it is recommended as a minimum, your comments be directed to the Minister VAC. VeteranVoice.info will also accept and post your comments in regards to the proposed regulations. The link to the Canada Gazette page on the proposed regulations to the new Veteran Charter is as below: http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2005/20051217/html/regle7-e.html#avis
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| A spécial Thank's to VeteranVoice.info |
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Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Official Opposition Critic Veterans Affairs Canada News Release For Immediate Release November 10, 2005
Hinton Supports Veteran's Call For a Veterans Affairs Ombudsman
KAMLOOPS – Yesterday a group of modern day veterans, led by Capt. Sean Bruyea (ret’d.), held a press conference on Parliament Hill to unveil their 2005 Ombudsman Report on Veterans Affairs Canada. This report clearly outlines the need for an ombudsman for VAC and calls on the government to institute this office.
Betty Hinton made the following comments on the need for an ombudsman: “Last March at the Conservative party policy convention, I put forward a number of policies that concern veterans and Veterans Affairs Canada, including the institution of an Office of the Ombudsman for the department. All of the policies were adopted.
As the critic for Veterans Affairs I am constantly in contact with veterans that are not being served by the department in a fair, transparent and timely manner, they require the services of an ombudsman. We have heard the former DND/CF Ombudsman, Andrè Marin, echo these sentiments and now this group of modern-day veterans are expressing the same need.
Clearly, everyone but the government, sees that our veterans not only require but deserve the support of such an office. This is the Year of the Veteran and there is no better time to give Canada’s veterans the services of an ombudsman.’’
For further information call: (613) 995-6931 or (613) 715-0889
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Sean Bruyea speaks to media in Ottawa on Tuesday. |
CTV.ca News Staff Canada needs an ombudsman to serve its veterans, says a new lobby group. "Once that uniform is off, the door is closed,'' Louise Richard, a retired navy lieutenant, told a news conference on Tuesday. "Where is the support? "This should not be acceptable. It is not acceptable.'' She is one member of Veterans Ombudsman - An Independent Client Evaluation (VOICE). A report prepared by the group says there are at least 45,000 veterans released by the Canadian military since 1953 who are receiving pensions for disabilities such as environmental illness and post-traumatic stress. Some of the more recent vets -- those who served in the Balkans, for example -- are having to wait up to five years for decisions to be made on their benefits, it says. "An ombudsman's office at Veterans Affairs would ensure that systemic problems would not be filtered by middle managers,'' said Sean Bruyea, an ex-captain in the intelligence corps. "Instead, key bureaucrats would be aware of concerns at all levels.'' Bruyea said a charter, or public declaration of commitments and principles, should also be drafted. A spokeswoman for Veterans Affairs Canada says the department is not considering an ombudsman. "The largest ex-service persons organization, the Royal Canadian Legion, is not in favour,'' said Janice Summerby. "They don't want any buffer between themselves and us and we're very much a consulting organization. "The other factor is that we have a very elaborate appeal process now -- maybe as good as any in the country.'' That appeal board is independent, she said. "I think what's really important to note is that there are a lot of satisfied clients. We're not an adversarial process at all.'' However, Bruyea noted that active-duty soldiers do have an ombudsman. "Furthermore VAC does not have any publicized services guarantees for processing claims and/or reimbursement for treatment. This is a bizarre oversight for a department mandated to provide critical and life-saving services," he said. Canada has about 700,000 veterans. Veterans Affairs has 210,000 clients. About 150,000 of those are paid a total of $1.6 billion per year in disability benefits. With files from The Canadian Press
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| Pressure on MoD as ruling backs Gulf war syndrome case | |
| Richard Norton-Taylor Tuesday November 1, 2005 |
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| After years of controversy, Gulf war syndrome was officially recognised yesterday as a distinct set of symptoms suffered by British army veterans sent to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1991. In a decision which has widespread implications for the Ministry of Defence, the war pensions appeals tribunal ruled that the syndrome existed as an "umbrella term" covering specific symptoms and conditions attributed to service in the 1991 Gulf war.
The tribunal suggested the syndrome could be defined by a collection of symptoms, not by a specific cause. It heard evidence from medical specialists, and found that Mr Martin "suffers from a number of conditions which fall under the umbrella of GWS [Gulf war syndrome]". Veterans have been trying for years to persuade the MoD to acknowledge the existence of a collection of symptoms, if not a single identifiable disease, attributable to service in the Gulf war, including cocktails of |
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| Project Day Lily chronicles the events surrounding the "Gulf War Syndrome” suffered by over 150,000 veterans (and tens of thousands dead) without proper acknowledgment or treatment to keep secret the origin of their illnesses. Were our Armed Forces exposed to chemical and biological toxins that were supplied, in part, by a sinister network of rogue bureaucrats, intelligence operatives and scientists? This is the story of how one of these biological agents was found by two American scientists as part of a massive testing program and how various academic and government employees did everything in their power to keep this information secret.
Project Day Lily is based on a true story. The authors wrote Project Day Lily in order to shed light on a crisis facing our country and the world. A fictional format was used to maximize dramatic content; the events described are true, and the scientific principles discussed in the book have been documented in the authors’ publications, reports and sworn testimony to Presidential Commissions and committees of the U. S. Congress. Project Day Lily is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Fred Conrad (Colonel, USAF, retired) and five other academic colleagues who died under mysterious circumstances while investigating aspects of the alleged illegal testing of Biological Weapons in Texas hospitals, nursing homes and prisons. This book is also dedicated to the men and women of our Armed Services and their family members who were put in harm’s way and were never properly warned about the dangers of Biological Weapons, and to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice personnel and its prisoners and to the people of the Great State of Texas
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| Federal
leaders reach $1B deal on veterans May. 10 2005 9:08 AM |
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| A special Thank's to Louise to keep-up up-to-date on the english News | |||
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Gulf War vets finally get their thanks
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| Jennifer Campbell The Ottawa Citizen Tuesday, March 01, 2005 |
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The government of Kuwait gave its thanks yesterday to Canadians who helped liberate the country during the  Gulf War, marking the 14th anniversary of the end of the war. According to the veterans, the ceremony also marked the first time they were recognized, on their own, for their contributions.The event came about after Kuwaiti Ambassador Musaed Rashed Al Haroon arrived in Canada in January and met with veterans. He asked them what Canada usually does to commemorate their efforts on the anniversary of the war's end. "We said, 'Um, nothing sir'," explained Louise Richard, a retired navy lieutenant. "He was very shocked and very disappointed because they are so grateful to us." The ambassador then decided to hold the first official ceremony for Gulf War veterans in Canada -- and he invited Veterans Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri. "It's been 14 years -- it's not as though we haven't given them time," said Sean Bruyea, a retired intelligence officer. "Now that it's happening, the (Veterans Affairs) minister's in like a dirty shirt." Asked why Canada hasn't commemorated the Gulf War soldiers, Ms. Guarnieri said Gulf War veterans receive disability pensions and are therefore acknowledged by Veterans Affairs. "There's no denying that commemorating the service of veterans is an imperative," she said, adding that she wasn't aware this was the first exclusive event for Gulf War veterans. The veterans have other complaints, too. They don't get announced at Remembrance Day ceremonies when they lay a wreath, nor are they mentioned on the Cenotaph, Mr. Bruyea said. They've so far been denied medals given by the government of Kuwait. The Kuwaiti government sent the Liberation of Kuwait medals to Canada, but the federal government has refused to turn them over to veterans. The veterans claim Canada is the only country of the 38-member coalition to deny the medals to its vets. Yesterday's representatives were wearing two medals -- one from Canada and one from Saudi Arabia for service in the same war. "I would think the Kuwaitis would be wondering why Canada accepted the medal from Saudi Arabia, but not Kuwait," Ms. Richards said. The ceremony included two minutes of silence as well as a wreath-laying. Speaking to the group of dignitaries, Mr. Al Haroon thanked the veterans. "On behalf of my government, I thank you for coming today, for giving us the opportunity to say to disabled veterans, thank you for your services, thank you for your sacrifices," he said. |
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© The Ottawa Citizen 2005  |
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| A US government-appointed panel has reportedly concluded that toxic chemical exposure and not wartime stress caused neurological damage and illness suffered by many veterans of the 1991 Gulf War. "The Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses concludes in its draft report that 'a substantial proportion of Gulf War veterans are ill with multisymptom conditions not explained by wartime The paper said the draft report cited a growing body of research on effects of exposure to low levels of neurotoxins suggesting that many veterans' symptoms have a neurological cause and that there is a "probable link" to exposure to neurotoxins. Among the potential sources cited were "sarin, a nerve gas, from an Iraqi weapons depot blown up by American forces in 1991; a drug, pyridostigmine bromide, given to troops to protect against nerve gas; and pesticides used to protect soldiers in the region," the daily reported. Doctor Joyce Lashof, the chair of a presidential advisory group that reported in 1996 that there was no causal link between toxic exposure and the veterans' symptoms, told the newspaper Thursday that she had not seen the new draft report. But she said she was "open to changing her views if the findings were based on solid new research and not advocacy by veterans' groups," the Times reported. "We certainly weren't sure that our report was the definitive answer," Lashof told the Times. "It was based on the best evidence available at the time." The chemicals cited in the new study belong to the group called acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which can cause a range of symptoms from pain to fatigue, diarrhea and cognitive impairment. Committee members told the Times, which obtained a copy of the draft, that one changes could be made in it but that basic scientific findings would not change. Some 22,000 US service men and women, out of the 700,000 who participated in the first Gulf War, are still suffering from a host of chronic and debilitating illnesses more than a decade after they returned from the region, according to US officials. "Gulf War Syndrome" is a term popularly applied to a vast range of symptoms among veterans of the 1990-91 conflict in Iraq About 100,000 US troops as well as thousands of British, Canadian and French troops who took part in the operation against Baghdad to liberate Kuwait To date, researchers had been unable to pinpoint the cause, or causes of the condition and there is no approved therapy to treat it. Speculation about the origin of the illnesses has focused on the veterans' exposure to chemical and biological agents and pesticides during the Gulf War. Some 158,000 US troops received shots designed to protect them from the biological warfare agents, anthrax and botulinum toxoid, for example. A combination of behavioral therapy and graded exercise has been shown to help sufferers of other multisymptom chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, prompting the Veterans Administration to explore its benefits for veterans with Gulf War Syndrome. A Special Thanks to
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| Armed Forces Institute of Pathology of USA | |
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AFIP
develops Chemical Toxicology Testing Program and Registry on Depleted
Uranium in collaboration with the Baltimore VA Medical Center |
| Scientists
in the US say they have demonstrated the existence of the illness known as
"Gulf war syndrome". The findings can be seen in a report by the influential Research Advisory Committee on Gulf war veterans' illness, leaked to the New York Times. Committee chief scientist Professor Beatrice Golombe said that exposure to certain substances in the Gulf may have altered some troops' body chemistry. |
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Thousands of veterans of the 1991 war suffer from unexplained poor health. Servicemen and women from the US, UK, Canada and France who took part in the operation to drive Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait have reported one or more symptoms, including memory loss, chronic fatigue and dizziness. 'Really ill' Many continue to suffer from chronic and debilitating illnesses more than a decade since the war. However, scientists had until now been unable to establish their causes. The report said the troops' problems were definitely caused by exposure to toxic chemicals rather than stress or psychiatric illness. Potential sources include Iraqi nerve gas and drugs given to the troops to protect them from chemical weapons. "Gulf war veterans really are ill at an elevated degree and several studies bring consistent findings that about 25%-30% of those who were deployed are ill," Professor Golombe told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3748844.stm Published: 2004/10/16 10:52:30 GMT © BBC MMIV |
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Revised : 15 Sep 2007
