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The Fat Activist Task Force
lists activism alerts on a variety of great projects.
See:
http://www.naafa.org/fatf
* Email Your Elected Officials
http://www.congress.org
* Writing Successful Complaint Letters
http://www.naafa.org/exclusives/complaint_letters.html
* Join the FatPolitics Discussion List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FatPolitics/join
* Hell-Raising 301: Changing the World in Your Spare Time
http://www.casagordita.com/tools.htm
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Femme
Revolution website
Find the addresses of all the major girls'/women's mags
here and tell them what you think!
letter writing tips
http://femmerevolution.8m.com/webpage/HTML/Enemy/enemy.htm
addresses
http://femmerevolution.8m.com/webpage/HTML/Enemy/addresses.htm
home
http://femmerevolution.8m.com/
Disney Initiative For A Plus-Sized Heroine
This petition is designed to help convince Walt Disney
Pictures to
design a movie with healthy body imagery in mind for its lead heroine!
Click here to sign the petition:
http://www.petitionpetition.com/cgi/petition.cgi?id=1471
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FTC Addresses Diet Scams
The Partnership for Healthy Weight
Management has agreed to help stamp out some of the more sleazy diet fraud. The
FTC is spearheading this effort, and they're asking for help from the group
members. They want to identify as many of these sleazy chitosan, exercise in a
bottle, diet soap, kind of ads as they can, and we need your help to locate any
of these
ads that run after January 1, 2001.
This is our chance to really do something to help stamp out these most
exploitative scams, some of which are harmful to people and all of which take
money our people could use better elsewhere in their lives. Below is what the
FTC needs you to send them. Please put in the subject line "CSWD - Diet
Fraud".
Spam: We all receive them and they annoy the hell out of us. Now
you can do something about them. Send your spam to
wgross@ftc.gov
Newspapers: If you see any full page ads please send them to
Walter Gross at the FTC address below. Be sure that you include the name
of the publication and the date the ad was run.
Direct Mail or catalogue products: If any of you receive any
direct mail promotions of weight loss products or catalogs containing such
products, please send them to Walter Gross, Federal Trade Commission, 600
Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., S-4302, Washington, D.C. 20580.
Websites: If you find a particularly bad web site, e-mail
the url address to wgross@ftc.gov
If you have any examples of advertising from any medium (no earlier than 1
January 2001) please send them as well.
Radio & Television: Here is where our Partners can make the most
significant contribution! We need samples of radio and TV advertisements. We can
usually obtain copies of radio and TV ads if we know the station it appeared on,
the time and date it was run, and the product name. Use the form below to record
information about TV or radio spots that come to your
attention. Copy it and pass it around to friends and colleagues that might want
to help:
Weight Loss Ad Broadcast Media Report
Date Aired:
Metropolitan area:
Station: Television: call letters ; Channel # or cable channel name
Radio: call letters am or fm (circle one); dial setting
Time of day: : am or pm (circle one)
Or, if only approximate, please check one:
? early morning (before 6:00 am)
? morning rush hour (6:00 to 10:00)
? late morning (10:00 to noon)
? early afternoon (noon to 3:00)
? afternoon rush (3:00 to 7:00)
? evening (7:00 to 10:00)
? late evening (10:00 to midnight)
Product Advertised:
Claims:
Send to:
wgross@ftc.gov OR fax/mail to:
Walter Gross
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
S-4302
Washington, D.C. 20580
Fax No. 202-326- 2190
We talk about how awful and offensive these scams are all the time. Now's
our chance to do something about it!
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to write to me.
Lynn McAfee
Director, Medical Advocacy
Council on Size & Weight Discrimination
lynn@sprynet.com
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Family Action Council and the Eating Disorders Coalition
One of the goals of the FAC and the
Eating Disorders Coalition is to increase the awareness of
eating disorders on a federal level, which also means meeting with our
state representatives. We would like to have families, friends and
survivors of an eating disorder represented from all 50 states. Right
now, we are a bit short of our goal and still need representation from
the following states:
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and
Wyoming
If you know of anyone who might be interested in joining the FAC,
especially if they are from one of the above states, please contact
either
Jeanine Cogan, Ph.D., Executive Director, Eating Disorders Coalition at
(202) 543-3842 or EDCoalition@aol.com
; Kitty Westin, Co-Chair, FAC at
(952) 448-4544 or
kitty@annawestinfoundation.org ; or Doris Smeltzer,
Co-Chair, FAC at (707) 224-8032 or
doris@andreasvoice.org .
Additional information about the Family Action Council is also available
at the following website:
www.annawestinfoundation.org
Thanks a lot for your help with this request!
Mary Gee
mgee@isomers.com
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Dads and Daughters GO Girls!
http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/Actions/gogirlaction.htm
Congress is now considering the Getting Our Girls Ready for the
21st Century Act (HR 1536) to encourage girls to pursue studies and careers in
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Sponsored by 18
Representatives, the "Go Girl" Act would allocate 50 million dollars for
programs in grades 4 through 12 to overcome the historic shortfall of girls and
women in technology, science, math and engineering. The idea: spark girls'
interest early so that they (and their teachers) are motivated to create more
opportunities.
The Go-Girl Act is now before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
- contact committee members and tell them to approve the bill!
Get committee member contact info at
www.dadsanddaughters.org/Actions/gogirlcmte.htm
Urge your own Member of Congress to support Go-Girl, too. You can email your
Representative at
http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?ItemId=11129
Read the text of the bill at
www.dadsanddaughters.org/Actions/gogirlbill.htm
See the bill's sponsors at
www.dadsanddaughters.org/Actions/gogirlsponsors.htm
Dads and Daughters
www.dadsanddaughters.org
info@dadsanddaughters.org
218-722-3942
218-722-4058 (fax)
PO Box 3458
Duluth, MN 55803
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If you (or a girl you know), know a girl age 8 to 14 who is
truly beautiful just for being herself, send us an essay
of no more than 200 words telling us EXACTLY why she is beautiful on the
inside. Make it as unique and interesting as
possible. Be sure to include the name, age, address, phone number, and e-mail
address for yourself and your beautiful girl. If possible,
send us snapshots of both of you (that you don't need returned). The
nomination deadline is November 1, 2001. (Nominations longer than 200 words
will be disqualified.)
Twenty-five girls will be selected by the New Moon Girls
Editorial Board and be featured in the May/June issue of New Moon: The
Magazine For Girls And Their Dreams.
This is our second "Beautiful Girls" issue and is set
to be released in conjunction with "Turn Beauty Inside Out Day" in
May of 2002.
Send nominations to:
Beautiful Girls, P.O. Box 3620, Duluth, MN 55803
or email to girl@newmoon.org
Seat
belt Activism:
Elizabeth Fisher writes:
"Please please please please please take a few minutes out of your day today if you haven't already and write a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Just think, no matter what automobile you wanted to ride in, if you fit in the vehicle, there'd be a way for you to fasten your seat belt. And with every federal regulation, every state and local law we lobby to change or have created, we set a precedent for future laws and regulations. The internet is giving us a great tool to join together and fight for common issues. Please don't let this opportunity to participate pass you by.
** SEAT BELT FEDERAL REGULATION ALERT **
Federal Regulation only requires automobile manufacturers to make their seat belts fit people who weigh up to 215 lbs. There is a petition before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration right now to change this regulation.
Supreme Court Rules OK to
Jail for No Seat Belt
As you may have heard, the Supreme Court recently gave their vote of approval to
police officers to arrest and jail people for not wearing seat belts. To read
more about the 32-year-old soccer mom who was arrested and jailed for a seat
belt violation, go to
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ipmi/20010508/cm/minor_offense_equals_jail_time_1.html
I wonder if the supreme court knows that automakers are only required by federal
regulation to manufacture seat belts that fit people up to 215 lbs?
Please, take a few minutes right now and write a strongly worded letter to NHTSA in support of the petition. Your letter could be the one that makes a difference. The officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs to hear from people who are having problems fastening their seat belts and from those of you who care about people who are having trouble fastening their seat belts.
NHTSA is not going to know the extent of the seat belt problem for larger people if we do not tell them. The media is starting to pick up on this story too. Expect to see some nationwide coverage later this week.
Please write. Right now. And spread the word. Send this message to your size-positive and size-friendly allies. We have the power to influence those responsible for writing the regulations that protect us--all of us--even if we weigh over 215 pounds.
Sample letters are available at http://www.ifisher.com/nhtsa/index.html.
They are also included with this message. Please email a copy of your letter to
elizabeth@ifisher.com.
Thanks!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth@ifisher.com
http://www.ifisher.com
It's a good idea to try and personalize your letter in some way, even if you only add a sentence or two of your own experience with seat belts.
"
-------------------------------------
SAMPLE LETTER :
Administrator
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Re: Elizabeth Fisher's Petition for an amendment to SEC. 571.209 Standard No. 209, Seat Belt Assemblies.
Dear Administrator:
I am writing in support of Elizabeth Fisher's petition to amend Federal Regulation 49CFR571.209.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and President Clinton's Buckle Up America campaign are asking America to buckle up. In order for all Americans to buckle up, vehicle manufacturers must be required to manufacture seat belt assemblies that fit all people, not just those who weigh less than 215 lbs. Vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, just like people, and if a person fits in a vehicle, they ought to be able to buckle their seat belt.
Sincerely,
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Protest
Honda's refusal
to make seatbelt extenders for large people
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I Am Beautiful
Calling All Girls: Tell Us Why You Are Beautiful
I Am Beautiful authors seek Teen Submissions for New Book
The authors are seeking written responses from teen girls to these questions:
Do you think you are beautiful? What makes you beautiful? Who are the most
beautiful people in your life? How do your favorite magazines, TV shows,
music videos and movies make you feel about your beauty? When do you feel the
most beautiful?
Written responses should be no more than 200 words and should be accompanied
by a clear photo of the girl. For more information, see the I
Am Beautiful website.
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Celebrate the passage
of San
Francisco's antidiscrimination law by spreading the activism to your city!
Is your community ready to
end size discrimination? We'll tell you what worked in SF: Marilyn
Wann:
marilyn@fatso.com
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Nominations for Women's HealthyWeight Day
Awards - 2002
"Women in the media all seem to look alike � hollow-cheeked,
self-absorbed, and extremely thin. It's a stereotype that sets nine-year-olds dieting and teaches teenage girls their bodies will
never be good enough. Women's Healthy Weight Day is
an attempt to change all this by celebrating size diversity in women.
"The Weight Realities Division of the Society for Nutrition Education joins
Healthy Weight Journal this year as a sponsor of the day and the Awards we give to
businesses and media who portray women of all sizes.
"Will you help us by sending in your nominations in these categories:
best advertisement, TV network or show, magazine, fashion catalog or
"other"?
"We need more than just a name in most cases, such as an advertisement or sample, or maybe a name and address that will help us get more
information.
Nominations for the 13th annual Slim Chance Awards:
The "worst" weight loss products and promotions of the year, to be
announced during Healthy Weight Week. We select 4: worst product, worst promotion, most outrageous, and worst gadget. Again, we'd like
the ad or information and claims.
For more information:
http://www.healthyweight.net
or email fmberg@healthyweight.net
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International Size Acceptance Day -
April 24
Contact the International Size Acceptance
Association (ISAA)
www.size-acceptance.org
International No-Diet Day - May 6, 2002
List your event or find events to
attend by connecting with:
www.eskimo.com/~largesse/INDD/
www.naafa.org/events/indd.html
Contact the Council on Size and Weight
Discrimination, Inc.
P.O. Box 305, Mt. Marion, NY 12456
914-679-1209
See more of NAAFA's policies on activism
and legislation
to prohibit discrimination
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Eating Disorders Awareness and
Prevention (EDAP)
Media Watch - register your reactions
to media images
Activism site:
http://www.edap.org
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Challenge the
Weight Loss Industry to be Accountable
The 1992 National Institutes of Health
(NIH) Technology Conference published a list of recommendations for consumers considering
weight loss programs. They were not aware at the time of any programs which could answer
these criteria, nor do any programs seem to have complied since. Dr. Berzins of
VITALITY successfully lobbied the Connecticut legislature to require weight loss
advertising to be more truthful. What do you think about the fact that the weight
loss industry continues to make billions of dollars without having to be accountable?
What have others done to make the
industry accountable? We need to get similar legislation passed in other states.
Contact NAAFA www.naafa.org if you would
like to organize for your state.
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NAAFA Kid's Project
READ, SEND FOR CURRICULA, REQUEST SPEAKERS:
www.naafa.org/kids.html
Read comments from other students, get background info on
bullying and teasing, sign-up to receive mailings and materials. Discussion works well in
diversity or health class. NAAFA is the National Association to Advance Fat
Acceptance.
Marilyn Wann, P.O. Box 423464, San Francisco, CA 94142, or
call 415-921-5967
Kids' Curriculum and Outreach Project
Nancy Summer, Council on Size & Weight Discrimination, P.O.Box 116, Bearsville, NY 12409
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The Body
Positive (The "other" [nonprofit organization]
Body
Positive)
See updated
info about this fabulous organization!
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Girls, Inc.
JOIN for a variety of fantastic projects.
Girls Incorporated is a national research, education, and
direct advocacy organization that inspires girls to be strong, smart, and boldsm.
There are many wonderful projects, addressing health, physical activity, physical safety,
along with all sorts of competencies.
www.girlsinc.org
Girls Inc., 441 West Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN
46202-3287, or call 317-634-7546
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Use the "BODY
DISPARAGEMENT FREE ZONE" door hanger to provoke discussion in your
house/dorm/workplace.
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