Members may have received the public discussion document "Towards a Code of Social & Family Responsibility" in the mail recently. This document was produced by the Department of Social Welfare and contains a series of expectations for individuals (note not corporations or State departments).

Among the expectations is the following:

"[Parents] will make use of free health checks and immunisations… Immunisations are easy and cheap. They give children a healthy start in life and help them remain healthy".

Also included in the mail-out was a form "Having Your Say" where people and organisations are invited to pass comment.

It puts forward the following questions for discussion:

"What more can we do to make sure all young children receive immunisations and child health checks?" [document's emphasis] and "Should up-to-date immunisations be required for entry to early childhood education services and schools?".

NZAVS telephoned for some "Factsheets". We received a series of cards containing sourced information. However it turned out on closer inspection that the sources were just Government ones anyway. The writer of the factsheets must have been reading the vivisectors' pamphlet (also co-published by the Government) Animal Research Saves Lives, for the first fact on "Factsheet 3" is:

"The incidence of a number of serious infectious diseases in New Zealand has been reduced dramatically by immunisations". We are unsure which drama the writer was referring to, obviously a fictional one.

In response to the Government code a "Corporate Code of Responsibility" has been launched by the transnational company monitoring group Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa. Among its expectations are that transnationals shall: "accept the precautionary principle: that in the absence of scientific knowledge, the benefit of the doubt shall be given to the course of action that has least risk of serious damage to health, safety or the environment"; Transnationals shall "respect animal rights"; Transnationals shall "ensure the health and safety of customers and communities in marketing their products, freely disclosing to the public all appropriate information on the products' contents and possible hazardous effects".

The deadline for responses to the Government mail-out is, ironically, World Day for Laboratory Animals 24 April 1998.

My son was brain damaged by the state's mass-medication vaccination programme as an infant.

Now in his 30s, autistic, epileptic, menatlly retarded with no speech, no writing ability or communication, he needs full care with every aspect of his life and - as such - is a prime target for Shipley and company

As his sole carer, on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week I have saved the state about $500,000 and continue to save it about $900 a week. Will he be judged socially irresponsible? Will I?"

R Carter
Rotorua

This letter appeared in the Sunday Star Times, 1 March 1998, page News 8