MINDFREEDOM-NEWS UPDATE - 19 March 2005
http://www.MindFreedom.org - IMMEDIATE RELEASE

      Activists call for "Nonviolent
      revolution in the mental health system"

      Latest Updates About MindFreedom 2005
      Action Conference and Protest of PhRMA

      Friday, April 29 to Monday May 2, 2005

      American University Washington College of Law
      Washington, DC, USA

Activists and advocates for human rights in the
mental health system are registering for a
unique and historic conference that ends with
a protest of the psychiatric drug industry.

Rather than the usual conference featuring
speakers and a passive audience, this event
is action oriented. Participants will work
side-by-side on campaigns and strategies to win
what they call a "nonvinolent revolution in
the mental health system."

Experienced leaders and facilitators will work
as equals with participants new to the field.

The conference is co-sponsored by MindFreedom
International and American University Washington
College of Law, where the conference will be held.

At the end of this Action Conference, all are
welcome to join participants in a peaceful
protest in front of the pharmaceutical industry's
main headquarters. Organizers say they oppose
PhRMA's unethical support for fraud, force,
and limited choice in the mental health system.

The title of the conference is: "Activism for
Human Rights in Mental Health: How the Law Can
Support Grassroots Action for Human
Rights in the Mental Health System."

Krista Erickson, chair of the Action Conference
Planning Committee said, "Space is limited but
there is still enough room if you register soon.
Pre-registration is absolutely required, first
come first served. We're going to get some work
done with some very dedicated people."

For your invitation to the conference
with complete updates and information
about registration, agenda, transport,
lodging and the protest, go to the
ACTION CONFERENCE INFO CENTER:

http://mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/action_conference.shtml.

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BELOW ARE *UPDATES* ABOUT
THE ACTION CONFERENCE:

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(1) CURRENT TRACKS & FACILITATORS

Participants can stay in one track or work in several.

Here are the latest descriptions with the current list
of experienced facilitators for each track.

** INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS:
Stop globalization of psychiatric human rights violations!

Facilitators: MindFreedom President Celia Brown,
leader of the MindFreedom team at the UN, and
MindFreedom Director David Oaks. Both are
psychiatric survivors.

Topics: Advocacy with The World Health
Organization (WHO) as well as the United
Nations (UN) especially related to the
International Convention on the Rights of
People with Disabilities.

 Including:

 - fighting drug industry dominance worldwide

 - organizing in developing countries

 - protesting globalization of human rights violation in psychiatry

** US CONGRESS/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:
Resist PhRMA's take over of our government!

Facilitators include: Dominick Riccio, PhD, Executive
Director of the International Center for the Study of
Psychology and Psychiatry (ICSPP) and Jake Johnson.

Jake Johnson is a professor at Bowie State University
in Bowie, Maryland. He is an expert on cultural
competence in mental health treatment, especially
working with African Americans. He is a member
of ICSPP and is a frequent presenter at ICSPP conferences

Topics: Planning actions to resist the unfair influence
of the psychiatric drug industry on the US government.

 Including:

 - Lobbying congress and federal government

 - Challenging the Food & Drug Administration

 - Enforcing the Federal Data Quality Act

 - Opposing the implementation of mandatory mental health screening

** CHOICES IN MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN:
More options for mental and emotional well being!

Facilitators: Janet Foner, MindFreedom International
board member. Leah Harris, spokesperson,
MindFreedom Washington, DC Metro Area.
Both are psychiatric survivors.

Focus: Support humane alternatives to the
traditional mental health system.

 Include:

 - Network groups and individuals promoting
empowering options for recovery

 - Create a referral directory of humane alternatives

 - Plan a MindFreedom conference on
alternatives to the current mental health system

** HOW THE LAW CAN HELP STOP FORCED TREATMENT:
End coerced psychiatric drugging, electroshock and more!

Facilitators include: Noted attorney,
Jim Gottstein, Director of the Law Project
for Psychiatric Rights (PsychRights).

Focus: Fight the increased use of
force in the mental health system by
combining the tools of the legal system
and grassroots activism.

 Include:

 - approaches for defending people subjected
to forced treatment

 - strategic lawsuits stopping forced treatment
and other human rights abuses

 - effective legal efforts

 - supporting ongoing efforts such as the
MindFreedom Shield Program

** PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE MEDIA:
Break the Corporate Media Silence on these Issues!

Facilitators include: Bob Whitaker, journalist and
author of the book _Mad in America_. Laurie Ahern
is a staff person at Mental Disabilities Rights
International, and a psychiatric survivor.

Focus: Relationship between the media,
science and grassroots actions for human rights
in mental health.

 Includes:

 - Grassroots actions to challenge the dominance
of the psychiatric industry in the media

 - Public educational campaigns.

 - Use of paid advertising and "sign on" ads

** OPEN TRACK: Your voice and leadership
are respected and encouraged!

Facilitators include: MindFreedom board
member Al Galves, PhD.

Focus: Provide an open space for any
conference participants to raise topics,
ideas or concerns not covered by other
conference tracks, especially voices
from neglected and marginalized groups.

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(2) PROTEST PLANNING COMMITTEE

MindFreedom International is pro-choice.
Some members choose to take prescribed
psychiatric drugs. However, the domination
and control by the pharmaceutical industry
over the mental health system must be
challenged now to win human rights.

MindFreedom is sponsoring a nonviolent protest
in front of the headquarters of the Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
at 1100 Fifteenth St. NW, Washington, D.C. on
Monday, 2 May 2005 -- Noon. A police permit
application has already been submitted.

Protesters will bring props including a huge pill to
re-enact PhRMA's take-over of psychiatry & politics.

Volunteers are urgently needed to take leadership.
If you would like to be on the protest planning
committee and participate in e-mail and teleconference
planning, please contact office@mindfreedom.org.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(3) MORE FUNDS NEEDED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

The deadline for scholarship applications is
now *OVER*. Far more requests for funds have
been received than are currently available.

MORE DONATIONS are urgently needed for this
scholarship fund. Whether or not you plan on
attending this event, please consider helping
others go to this conference now!

Your donation is tax-deductible under IRS 501(c)(3).
You may donate via the web, please specify in the
"comments" section that your donation is for
SCHOLARSHIPS:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/join.shtml

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(4) IMPORTANT HOUSEKEEPING NOTE:

This MindFreedom-News announcement
system replaces the DENDRITE list.
This is still a free, public, one-way,
occasional announcement list about
news and alerts regarding human
rights in the mental health system.

All other MindFreedom e-mail lists will
also soon be replaced by this new service.
Please note Intenex is spelled without an "r."

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(5) UPDATES ON WEB SITE:

More updates about lodging and other
logistics have been posted on the web
with the date listed for each update.
This is also where you can print out
your registration form to fax or mail
it in to the MindFreedom office, soon!

ACTION CONFERENCE INFO CENTER:

http://mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/action_conference.shtml.

Please help build the momentum for this importante event.

PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL APPROPRIATE PLACES
ON AND OFF THE INTERNET.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

MINDFREEDOM INTERNATIONAL wins
human righs in the mental health system.

For information about MindFreedom's
human rights action campaigns see:

http://www.MindFreedom.org

MindFreedom is a non-profit uniting over
100 sponsor groups in 15 countries
and is a Non Governmental Organization
accredited by the United Nations with
Consultative Roster Status.

Sometimes called the "Amnesty
International of mental health,"
MindFreedom is independent from any
government, mental health provider,
corporation or religion.

To join or renew your membership in
MindFreedom go now to:

http://www.mindfreedom.org/join.shtml

Those interested in joining may
request a free sample copy of the
_MindFreedom Journal_ by
e-mailing your postal mailing address to:
office@mindfreedom.org.

Or write to:

MindFreedom
454 Willamette, Suite 216
PO Box 11284
Eugene, OR 9744-3484 USA

Please forward to all appropriate
places on and off the Internet.