Project MK-ULTRA - C.I.A 'Mind Control' human experimentation

Project MKULTRA, or MK-ULTRA, was the code name for a covert, illegal CIA human experimentation program, run by the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence. This official U.S. government program began in the early 1950s, continuing at least through the late 1960s, and it used U.S. and Canadian citizens as its test subjects.
The published evidence indicates that Project MKULTRA involved the use of many methodologies to manipulate individual mental states and alter brain functions, including the surreptitious administration of drugs and other chemicals, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as various forms of torture.

Project MKULTRA was first brought to wide public attention in 1975 by the U.S. Congress, through investigations by the Church Committee, and by a presidential commission known as the Rockefeller Commission. Investigative efforts were hampered by the fact that CIA Director Richard Helms ordered all MKULTRA files destroyed in 1973; the Church Committee and Rockefeller Commission investigations relied on the sworn testimony of direct participants and on the relatively small number of documents that survived Helms' destruction order.

Goals

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The Agency poured millions of dollars into studies examining methods of influencing and controlling the mind, and of enhancing their ability to extract information from resistant subjects during interrogation.
Some historians have asserted that creating a "Manchurian Candidate" subject through "mind control" techniques was a goal of MKULTRA and related CIA projects. Alfred McCoy has claimed that the CIA attempted to focus media attention on these sorts of "ridiculous" programs, so that the public would not look at the primary goal of the research, which was developing effective methods of torture and interrogation. Such authors cite as one example, the fact that the CIA's KUBARK interrogation manual refers to "studies at McGill University", and that most of the techniques recommended in KUBARK are exactly those that researcher Donald Ewen Cameron used on his test subjects (sensory deprivation, drugs, isolation, etc.).
One 1955 MKULTRA document gives an indication of the size and range of the effort; this document refers to the study of an assortment of mind-altering substances described as follows:

1. Substances which will promote illogical thinking and impulsiveness to the point where the recipient would be discredited in public.
2. Substances which increase the efficiency of mentation and perception.
3. Materials which will prevent or counteract the intoxicating effect of alcohol.
4. Materials which will promote the intoxicating effect of alcohol.
5. Materials which will produce the signs and symptoms of recognized diseases in a reversible way so that they may be used for malingering, etc.
6. Materials which will render the induction of hypnosis easier or otherwise enhance its usefulness.
7. Substances which will enhance the ability of individuals to withstand privation, torture and coercion during interrogation and so-called "brain-washing".
8. Materials and physical methods which will produce amnesia for events preceding and during their use.
9. Physical methods of producing shock and confusion over extended periods of time and capable of surreptitious use.
10. Substances which produce physical disablement such as paralysis of the legs, acute anemia, etc.
11. Substances which will produce "pure" euphoria with no subsequent let-down.
12. Substances which alter personality structure in such a way that the tendency of the recipient to become dependent upon another person is enhanced.
13. A material which will cause mental confusion of such a type that the individual under its influence will find it difficult to maintain a fabrication under questioning.
14. Substances which will lower the ambition and general working efficiency of men when administered in undetectable amounts.
15. Substances which promote weakness or distortion of the eyesight or hearing faculties, preferably without permanent effects.
16. A knockout pill which can surreptitiously be administered in drinks, food, cigarettes, as an aerosol, etc., which will be safe to use, provide a maximum of amnesia, and be suitable for use by agent types on an ad-hoc basis.
17. A material which can be surreptitiously administered by the above routes and which in very small amounts will make it impossible for a person to perform physical activity.

Experiments

CIA documents suggest that "chemical, biological and radiological" means were investigated for the purpose of mind control as part of MKULTRA.

Drugs

LSD 

Early CIA efforts focused on LSD, which later came to dominate many of MKULTRA's programs.
Once Project MKULTRA officially got underway in April, 1953, experiments included administering LSD to CIA employees, military personnel, doctors, other government agents, prostitutes, mentally ill patients, and members of the general public in order to study their reactions. LSD and other drugs were usually administered without the subject's knowledge or informed consent, a violation of the Nuremberg Code that the U.S. agreed to follow after World War II.
Efforts to "recruit" subjects were often illegal, even though actual use of LSD was legal in the United States until October 6, 1966. In Operation Midnight Climax, the CIA set up several brothels in San Francisco, CA to obtain a selection of men who would be too embarrassed to talk about the events. The men were dosed with LSD, the brothels were equipped with two-way mirrors, and the sessions were filmed for later viewing and study.
Some subjects' participation was consensual, and in these cases they appeared to be singled out for even more extreme experiments. In one case, volunteers were given LSD for 77 consecutive days.
LSD was eventually dismissed by MKULTRA's researchers as too unpredictable in its results. Useful information was sometimes obtained by questioning subjects after they had ingested LSD.

Other drugs

Another technique investigated was connecting a barbiturate IV into one arm and an amphetamine IV into the other. The barbiturates were released into the person first, and as soon as the person began to fall asleep, the amphetamines were released. The person would then begin babbling incoherently, and it was sometimes possible to ask questions and get useful answers.
Other experiments involved drugs such as temazepam (used under code name MKSEARCH), heroin, morphine, MDMA, mescaline, psilocybin, scopolamin, marijuana,alcohol,sodium pentothal, and ergine.

Extent of participation

Forty-four American colleges or universities, 15 research foundations or chemical or pharmaceutical companies and the like including Sandoz (currently Novartis) and Eli Lilly and Company, 12 hospitals or clinics (in addition to those associated with universities), and three prisons are known to have participated in MKULTRA

Notable subjects

• A considerable amount of credible circumstantial evidence suggests that Theodore Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, participated in CIA-sponsored MKULTRA experiments conducted at Harvard University from the fall of 1959 through the spring of 1962. During World War II, Henry Murray, the lead researcher in the Harvard experiments, served with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which was a forerunner of the CIA. Murray applied for a grant funded by the United States Navy, and his Harvard stress experiments strongly resembled those run by the OSS. Beginning at the age of sixteen, Kaczynski participated along with twenty-one other undergraduate students in the Harvard experiments, which have been described as "disturbing" and "ethically indefensible."
• Merry Prankster Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, volunteered for MKULTRA experiments involving LSD and other psychedelic drugs at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Menlo Park while he was a student at nearby Stanford University. Kesey's experiences while under the influence of LSD inspired him to promote the drug outside the context of the MKULTRA experiments, which influenced the early development of hippie culture.
• Robert Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Along with Ken Kesey, Hunter was an early volunteer MKULTRA test subject at Stanford University. Stanford test subjects were paid to take LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline, then report on their experiences. These experiences were creatively formative for Hunter:

  Sit back picture yourself swooping up a shell of purple with foam crests of crystal drops soft nigh they fall unto the sea of morning creep-very-softly mist...and then sort of cascade tinkley-bell like (must I take you by the hand, every so slowly type) and then conglomerate suddenly into a peal of silver vibrant uncomprehendingly, blood singingly, joyously resounding bells....By my faith if this be insanity, then for the love of God permit me to remain insane.

• Candy Jones, American fashion model and radio host, claimed to have been a victim of mind control in the 1960s.
• Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger volunteered for testing while in prison

November 2011- Health Observations and Events

Awareness Event	Coverage	Related Organization
Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Month	Australia	Muscular Dystrophy Australia
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month	Canada	Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of Canada
Amaryllis Month	Canada	Huntington Society of Canada
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Awareness (CPR) Month	Canada	Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Diabetes Awareness Month	Canada	Canadian Diabetes Association
Hemophilia Awareness Month	Canada	Canadian Hemophilla Society
Osteoporosis Month	Canada	Osteoporosis Canada
National Marrow Awareness Month	United States	National Marrow Donor Program
National Hospice Month	United States	The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Diabetic Eye Disease Month	United States	Prevent Blindness America
National Healthy Skin Month	United States	American Academy of Dermatology
Prematurity Awareness Month	United States	March of Dimes
National Epilepsy Month	United States	Epilepsy Foundation
American Diabetes Month	United States	American Diabetes Association
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month	United States	Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month	United States	Alzheimer's Association
Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month	United States	Pulmonary Hypertension Association
Lung Cancer Awareness Month	Worldwide	Macmillan Cancer Support

November 2011 Health Current Events - Weeks

Event	Date	Nation	Organisation
Scleroderma Awareness Week	3rd Nov - 9th Nov	United Kingdom	Raynauds & Scleroderma Association
Mouth Cancer Awareness Week	11th Nov - 17th Nov	United Kingdom	Mouth Cancer
GERD Awareness Week	18th Nov - 24th Nov	Worldwide	IFFGD
Diabetes Awareness Week	18th Nov - 24th Nov	New Zealand	Diabetes New Zealand

November 2011 Health Events - Days

Event	Date	Nation	Organization
World Diabetes Day	14th Nov	Worldwide	World Diabetes Day
Great American Smokeout Day	20th Nov	United States	American Cancer Society

[Infographic] The Stats about Pharmaceutical Companies

How Youth Drive Change - UNESCO Youth Forum 2011

          Today’s youth are raising their voices to shape the present and futures of their countries. They want to be heard, to be included in decision-making debates and to make change. Student engagement, social innovation, fostering democracy, youth employment, conflict and sustainable development are among the issues that will be discussed on the floor of the 7th UNESCO Youth Forum. 

• Young  people in the world: So different and so alike, Monique Coleman
• Mobile revolution, Gigi Ibrahim
• Spring of outrage, Alfredo Trujillo Fernandez
• Miracle Weapons, Serge Amisi
• When poetry is louder than a bomb,Nate Marshall
• Moonlight stars, Carol Natukunda
• A young sughar, Noshan Abbas
• Rebels with a cause, Jens Lubbadeh
• Prescriptions for a sick planet, Zhao Ying
• Green architecture, Carlos Bartesaghi Koc

Held from 17 to 20 October 2011 in UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, the Forum brings together youth delegates, civil society participants, UN entities, intergovernmental organizations, academics and the private sector. Participants will discuss, debate, and exchange ideas on the Forum’s timely themes and have the opportunity to present their recommendations to the representatives of Member States during the 36th UNESCO General Conference. 

During the 7th UNESCO Youth Forum, youth delegates and key partners will examine achievements and lessons learnt during the International Year of Youth and will discuss ways to maintain and capitalize on the momentum created by the Year.

The main theme of the Forum is How youth drive change pdf. [ http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0019/001937/193773E.pdf]

The sub-themes are:

• Citizens in action: youth in political and public life
• Countering youth exclusion, vulnerability and violence
• Breaking through employment barriers

The output of the Youth Forum is a Final Report drafted by youth participants containing key recommendations on the themes that will be presented to representatives of National governments at the 36th UNESCO General Conference

Join

Join the UNESCO Facebook page to discuss the issues of the Youth Forum and share your views!

Participate in the Twitter conversation @unescoNOW using the hashtag #UNESCOYOUTH.

Contact

• youth(at)unesco.org

Marijuana replaces Ritalin treatment in Children and Adolescents with ADD/ADHD

Brief Overview 
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is also known as hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder (ADD). ADHD is a common condition that affects children and adolescents, while ADD is more common in adults.
        The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 3% to 5% of children have ADHD. Some experts, though, say ADHD may occurs in 8% to 10% of school age children. Experts also question whether kids really outgrow ADHD. What that means is that this disorder may be more common in adults than previously thought.

       Children with ADHD generally have problems paying attention or concentrating. They can't seem to follow directions and are easily bored or frustrated with tasks. They also tend to move constantly and are impulsive, not stopping to think before they act. These behaviors are generally common in children. But they occur more often than usual and are more severe in a child with ADHD.
The behaviors that are common with ADHD interfere with a child's ability to function at school and at home.
Adults with ADHD may have difficulty with time management, organizational skills, goal setting, and employment. They may also have problems with relationships, self-esteem, and addictions.

      The primary ADHD medications include stimulants, nonstimulants, andantidepressants.
Stimulants are the most common treatment for ADHD in children andadolescents. They include methylphenidate -- Ritalin, Metadate, Concerta -- oramphetamines, including Dexedrine, Dextrostat, and Adderall. A newer drug,Vyvanse, is a type of amphetamine that’s formulated to last longer and to beless conducive to dependence than other stimulants.
     As always there is a flip-side to these prescription drugs, and in the case of Ritalin, substance abusers have found various ways to ingest the drug recreationally, which gives an effect similar to cocaine or amphetamine so the use of ritalin is to be closely monitored.

• For the child diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, the side effects of using Ritalin, are many, including psychosis (abnormal thinking or hallucinations), difficulty sleeping, stomach aches, diarrhea, headaches, lack of hunger (leading to weight loss) and dry mouth. In some cases, the use of Ritalin has led to death.
• If Ritalin or its side effects, are causing your children problems, ask your doctor about using marijuana as an alternative.

Dr Claudia Jenson, who was a consultant pediatrician from USC, came up with a novel way of treating ADD/ADHD, without any of the unwanted side effects which can result from using popularly prescribed medicines several years ago.

How to Turn your iPhone into a Microscope

       CellScope is a UC Berkeley project designed to enable microscopic image captures from a cell phone’s camera. At first it might sound like a pointlessly geeky project to do microscopy on a cell phone, but in fact it has important applications for mobile health services in remote areas. In some areas of sub-Saharan Africa and other developing areas of the world, access to health care of any kind is scarce, and it often falls upon poorly-equipped doctors or volunteers to take up the slack.

Since health care equipment is generally expensive to begin with, outfitting even a low-power microscope with a wireless transmitter capable of communicating with doctors at a remote location could easily run into the thousands of dollars. Not only that, but the equipment itself would likely be bulky, temperamental, and easily damaged. That's where CellScope comes in. Via an attachment, CellScope can turn a standard cell phone camera into a 5x to 50x microscope, essentially creating a miniaturized blood lab that can capture images and transmit them far more cheaply than traditional equipment.
The iPhone 4 pictured above  isn't the first mobile phone to be hooked into the CellScope rig, but with its high-quality camera and extensive photo sharing abilities, it might end up being the best mobile device for the job. Plus, viewing microscopic images on a Retina Display sounds like a great alternative to peering into one of those microscope eyepieces. This obviously won't replace traditional setups in a fully-equipped laboratory, but for the kind of remote and rural applications that CellScope covers, it sounds like an ideal solution.

Smartphone vs. Traditional Microscope: Plant Matter

These are stained samples of pollen (left images) and plant stems (right two images). Top row: commercial microscope. Bottom row: cell phone microscope

Smartphone vs. Traditional Microscope: Polarized Light

                    These are images of a sugar crystal taken through polarized light filters. Left: 
                                 traditional microscope. Right: cell phone microscope


The CellScope clips easily to a cell phone via a modified belt clip. Illumination is provided by a ring of low-cost, low-power, high-brightness white LEDs, powered by a battery attached to the device. It can be angled to fully illuminate a sample at the focal point.
Originally the idea for the CellScope began with Daniel Fletcher, a professor of bioengineering at Berkeley, who challenged his students to develop a camera phone microscope. The team is working now on another version of the CellScope to be used in more developed countries. With the CellScope, for example, cancer patients may be able to perform critical tasks, such as blood cell counts, at home and send in the data, avoiding the need to make stressful trips to hospital.



http://cellscope.berkeley.edu/
http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/09/turn-iphone-coolest-microscope-10
http://www.earthtimes.org/scitech/app-for-that-turn-iphone-medical-imager/1456/

2011 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 Years Old

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and the Vaccines that Prevent Them

• Diphtheria (Can be prevented by DTaP vaccine)*

Diphtheria is a very contagious bacterial disease that affects the respiratory system, including the lungs. Diphtheria can be passed from person to person by direct contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. When people are infected, the diphtheria bacteria produce a toxin (poison) in the body that can cause weakness, sore throat, low-grade fever, and swollen glands in the neck. Effects from this toxin can also lead to swelling of the heart muscle and, in some cases, heart failure. In severe cases, the illness can cause coma, paralysis, and even death.

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Can be prevented by Hib vaccine)

Hib disease is caused by bacteria called Haemophilus influenzae type b.
The disease is very serious for children younger than age 5, especially infants. Hib is spread from person to person by direct contact, or by contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. Hib is most commonly spread by people who have the bacteria in their noses and throats but who are not sick. Hib can cause meningitis—an infection around the brain and spinal cord—which can lead to life-long disability, mental retardation, or death. Hib can also cause epiglottis (infection in the throat) and pneumonia (infection in the lungs). All these infections can be life threatening.

• Hepatitis A (Can be prevented by HepA vaccine)

Hepatitis A is an infection in the liver caused by a virus. The virus is spread primarily person-to-person through the fecal-oral route. In other words, the virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces (stool) of an infected person. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). An infected person may have no symptoms, may have mild illness for a week or two, or may have severe illness for several months that requires hospitalization. In the U.S., about 100 people a year die from hepatitis A.

• Hepatitis B (Can be prevented by HepB vaccine)

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. It spreads through contact with blood or other body fluids, for example, from sharing personal items, such as toothbrushes or eating utensils. Hepatitis B causes a flu-like illness with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, rashes, joint pain, and jaundice. The virus stays in the liver of some people for the rest of their lives and can result in severe liver diseases, including fatal cancer.

• Influenza (Can be prevented by annual flu vaccine)

Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. It spreads easily through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can cause mild to severe illness. Typical symptoms include a sudden high fever, chills, a dry cough, headache, runny nose, sore throat, and muscle and joint pain. Extreme fatigue can last from several days to weeks. Influenza may lead to hospitalization or even death, even among previously healthy children.

• Measles (Can be prevented by MMR vaccine)**

Measles is one of the most contagious viral diseases. Measles is spread by direct contact with the airborne respiratory droplets of an infected person. Measles is so contagious that just being in the same room after a person who has measles has already left can result in infection. Symptoms usually include a rash, fever, cough, and watery eyes. Fever can persist, reaching 104˚F or higher, rash can last for up to a week, and coughing can last about 10 days. Measles can also cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, or death.

• Mumps (Can be prevented by MMR vaccine)**

Mumps is an infectious disease caused by the mumps virus, which is spread in the air by a cough or sneeze from an infected person. A child can also get infected with mumps by coming in contact with a contaminated object, like a toy. The mumps virus causes fever, headaches, painful swelling of the salivary glands under the jaw, fever, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Severe complications for children who get mumps are rare, but can include meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), permanent hearing loss, or swelling of the testes, which can lead to sterility in men.

• Pertussis (Whooping Cough) (Can be prevented by DTaP vaccine)*

Pertussis is caused by bacteria that spread through direct contact with respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In the beginning, symptoms of pertussis are similar to the common cold, including runny nose, sneezing, low grade fever, and cough. After 1-2 weeks, pertussis can cause spells of violent coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe, drink, or eat. This cough can last for weeks. Pertussis is most serious for babies, who can get pneumonia, have seizures, become brain damaged, or even die. About two-thirds of children under 1 year of age who get pertussis must be hospitalized.

• Pneumococcal Disease (Can be prevented by PCV vaccine)

Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection that invades the lungs, causing the most common kind of bacterial pneumonia. The bacteria are commonly found in many people’s noses and throats and are spread by droplets when people who have the bacteria in their throats or noses cough or sneeze. People—especially children—often have the bacteria in their throats without being ill. In fact, the bacteria are present in about 25% of people. Why the bacteria suddenly invade the body and cause disease is unknown. The bacteria can invade both the bloodstream (bacteremia) and the brain (meningitis, that is infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord). Symptoms include high fever, cough with chest pain and mucus, shaking chills, breathlessness, and chest pain that increases with breathing. Pneumococcal disease can result in hospitalization and even death.

• Polio (Can be prevented by IPV vaccine)

Polio is caused by a virus that lives in an infected person’s throat and intestines. It spreads through contact with the feces (stool) of an infected person and through droplets from a sneeze or cough. Symptoms typically include sudden fever, sore throat, headache, muscle weakness, and pain. In about 1% of cases, polio can cause paralysis. Among those who are paralyzed, up to 5% of children may die because they become unable to breathe.

• Rotavirus (Can be prevented by RV vaccine)

Rotavirus is caused by a virus and is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among children. Rotavirus is spread primarily person-to-person through the fecal-oral route. In other words, the virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces (stool) of an infected person. Common symptoms of rotavirus include vomiting, watery diarrhea that lasts for 3-8 days, fever and abdominal pain. Approximately 55,000 children are hospitalized each year in the United States from severe diarrhea and vomiting caused by rotavirus.

• Rubella (German Measles) (Can be prevented by MMR

vaccine)** Rubella is caused by a virus that is spread through coughing and sneezing. In children rubella usually causes a mild illness with fever, swollen glands, and a rash that lasts about 3 days. Rubella rarely causes serious illness or complications in children, but can be very serious in preg nant women. If a pregnant woman is infected, the result to the baby can be devastating, including miscarriage, serious heart defects, mental retardation and loss of hearing and eye sight.

• Tetanus (Lockjaw) (Can be prevented by DTaP vaccine)*

Tetanus is caused by bacteria found in soil that enters the body through a wound, such as a deep cut. When people are infected, the bacteria produce a toxin (poison) in the body that causes serious, painful spasms and stiffness of all muscles in the body. This can lead to “locking” of the jaw so a person cannot open his or her mouth, swallow, or breathe. Complete recovery from tetanus can take months. Three of ten people who get tetanus die from the disease.

• Varicella (Chickenpox) (Can be prevented by Varicella vaccine)

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus. Chickenpox is very contagious and spreads very easily from infected people. It can spread from either a cough, sneeze. It can also spread by contact with virus particles that come from the blisters on the skin, either by touching them or by breathing in these virus particles. Typical symptoms of chickenpox include an itchy rash with blisters, tiredness, headache and fever. Chickenpox is usually mild, but it can lead to severe skin infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), or even death.


2011 Recommended immunizations for children from birth through 6 years old  CDC http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/infants/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf

Links: 
Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 7 - 18 Years— 2011
Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule - 2011