#comment 7

After our in depth discussions of Fracking last semester in 231, and even more so in 131 this semester, i feel that this article is very relevant. The fact that these families are living in an area where chemicals are invading their basic human need is despicable. It is even more so despicable that companies contest to these happenings and try to continue their practices, even with factual proof right under their noses. These families need a support system to contest fracking operations, and the cities that have done so already that we discussed in class are the first step.

The only FDA approved treatments that are common in trying to cancer are radiation and chemotherapy. These treatments are highly toxic and exhausting to the patient, but are effective in destroying cancer cells most of the time. Scientists are now working on genetically changing viruses to attack specific cancer cells instead of the entire human body. With human trials already underway with a genetically modified measles virus the prospects of finding a way to specifically target only cancer cells are already underway. 

The attached article talks about whether or not vaccines should be mandatory and gives the opinions of many of the top medical doctors in the world. Whether or not vaccines should be made mandatory is a big topic currently being debated with many thinking that mandatory vaccines are either a violation of our rights, with many others saying mandatory vaccines are the only way to keep the public safe. Tests done on the effectiveness of vaccines have given proof that when less people get vaccines, larger numbers of people get affected with various diseases that could have easily been preventable. I for one think if there is no risk of harm from the vaccine, then they should be mandatory as without them, there is again a risk of preventable disease. The current system for giving out vaccines works fairly well as it prevents going to many schools without receiving certain vaccines, but it will be interesting in the coming years whether or not the laws will change on having mandatory vaccines.