More of your letters to Woodford

Dec 15, 2011

Dear Woodford Folk Festival Organisers,

I would like to offer my support to the vaccination information seminar that you will be holding at the Woodford Folk Festival.

I am a parent to a 2 ½ year old girl, who I love dearly and cherish with all of my heart. One of the biggest issues that I have had to deal with in her 2 ½ years is whether or not I choose to vaccinate. I have researched and read so much information for both the pros and cons on this subject and the only organisation that is willing to answer my questions with much knowledge and honesty and WITHOUT ANY HATE regardless of whether I choose to vaccinate or not has been the AVN. I am so thankful that Meryl is providing a voice for ME to be able to make an informed decision about MY child.

I am all about PRO-CHOICE and in order to make an informed decision I need to hear both sides of the vaccination issue and I would hope that all parents would want to take the opportunity to educate themselves in this subject. So I would urge you to ensure that Meryl is allowed to stay on and present her seminar. There is a reason why parents are starting to question vaccinations! Having attended Meryl’s seminar in the past, you will see she is professional, honest and very knowledgeable and most of all you will see that her words come from a place of concern and love for children and parents alike.

Dear Woodford Supporter,

Freedom of choice is something that many people take for granted, whether it's the choice of which supermarket to spend our dollars with, which doctor to see, which member of parliament to vote for or which airline to use for our next vacation.

The thing that makes this freedom of choice possible is the information that each supplier provides, whether it's brands carried by a store, ethics of a multinational chain, the training and beliefs of a general practitioner, the policies and views of your local parliamentary representative or the cost and availability of flights to Bali this weekend.

Imagine for a moment if the ABC were not permitted to advertise or promote its programmes. Imagine if politicians had no way of telling their electorate what their views were; which issues they stood for. Imagine if people didn't realise they had a choice in wastewater treatment options, couldn't find out how much Qantas flights are until they paid, had no way of knowing if their doctor was pro-choice.

Stop the AVN seem to condone this form of censorship, and their smear campaigns and threats to boycott sponsors of the Woodford Folk Festival screams of vulnerability. It appears to me that they are scared that people might get another view point that doesn't fit in with what they believe. The thing with people is we believe all sorts of things, but none of us have the right to force our beliefs on others, whether it's through duress or, as is the case in this situation, censorship of alternatives.

I urge you, as a prominent sponsor of this event, not to allow their threats to cause valuable information covering the other side of the vaccination issue from reaching people. For a truly open and honest society, people must be given the opportunity to make an informed decision, and giving in to Stop the AVN would be detrimental the the supply of a balanced set of information.

While I choose not to vaccinate, I based on information from years of study of scientific and peer-reviewed findings, as well as a thorough understanding of the human immune system, I won't discuss the validity of either side of this debate, as I strongly believe that this is not the issue.

The issue here is that I believe vaccination is not the way and some people think it's the only way. We both have a right to our beliefs, but Stop the AVN want to stop others from hearing my views. If we only know one way, we will believe there is no other option. And if that happens, we don't have informed choice any more.

I will leave you with one closing thought; imagine if the premise that the sun revolves around the earth was never challenged.

Sincerely,

Victoria

Dear Bill and Ingrid,

I am so very grateful that you have chosen to have Meryl Dorey as a speaker at your festival. I realise that this must have taken a lot of courage in the first instance, and I beg that you hold your ground now. There is enormous pressure on you right now but please know in your hearts that you are doing the right thing by allowing Meryl to speak.

If governments, doctors, etc were forthcoming with ALL the information about vaccinations groups like the AVN would not exist. Indeed if vaccines were so profoundly "safe" the AVN would not exist. The AVN exists because thousands of vaccine victims are testament to the fact that all vaccines carry a risk; and the victim list continues to grow every day.

I do not vaccinate my children. With their long list of allergies and intolerances they are in the high risk group for vaccine reactions. Incidentally they are also the healthiest children in the district.

All their fully vaccinated counterparts are seemingly always sick and on the antibiotic merry go round.

I have a university Science degree. I was indoctrinated well with all the pro-vaccine arguments. Unfortunately for the powers that be I can read and I can think, which they would prefer I didn't do. Vaccines are NOT safe and are NOT effective, but they ARE highly toxic. No longer can any of this be denied.

From the bottom of my heart I thank you very,very much for allowing Meryl to speak at the festival. I just wish I lived closer so I could attend.

True courage and strength of character are rare is todays world; thank you for displaying such large quantities of both.

Yours in support of freedom of information

Dear Bill.

I am shocked that there should be ANY objectors to the Australian Vaccination Network’s well known Meryl Dorey, being hamstrung in any way with the dissemination of information of the Values (?) shortcomings and other nasties of mass vaccination.

Quite apart from this is of course, the knowledge gained from these presentations MUST also help worried and caring parents to make an informed choice on whether to vaccinate or not.Let us not forget the ENORMOUS profits for the pharmaceutical industry (and others..guess who?) would profit from the continuation of the ignorance of parents by these worried and confused people. Free speech...free choice..what is all this talk of “Democracy” for our people’

Woodford MUST accept this presentation in the name of “Free” choice......are we all ignorant cabbages?

Thank you and the Compliments of the Season to you and yours.

Sincerely,

Hello

In support of the right to choose to vaccinate or not

I was only vaccinated when I was 6 as my family history is one of an allergic reaction to immunizations but due to not being raised by either natural parent only found out at the age of 28 and had given my son one needle to which he had a reaction and has not been vaccinated again.

If I can have a written guarantee it will not cause any permanent damage we would not need to be writing in support

God Bless

Dear madam/sir,

Why I chose NOT to vaccinate my 3 children who are all now in this day with perfect "natural health and immunity" at 9, 11 and 14 years of age.

I read much over the years "before and after" their births (home births) about the "pros and cons" of vaccination. As a personal trainer who has been in the health and fitness industry for over 33 years I made an "intelligent, responsible and informed choice" for the benefit of my children's future health and wellbeing NOT to vaccinate them.

Everything I read from Meryl Dorey (a friend and home birth attendant to my two youngest kids) and the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) and other well respected medical and scientific journals since 1994 "rang alarm bells and flashing lights" for me concerning the "dangers and serious permanent side effects" of vaccination drugs which I discovered are comprised entirely of "many highly toxic chemical substances" and therefore totally foreign and toxic to the health and wellbeing of the human physiology and immune system - which has evolved to perfection over the past 4 million years of human evolution.

As an intelligent and informed sentient being it would have been a totally "irresponsible duty of care" for me as a responsible concerned and informed parent to vaccinate my children knowing of the toxic ingredients and side effects of these "independently and scientifically UNPROVEN" toxic vaccination drugs. Very sadly and "very unnecessarily", as history and "independent medical and scientific evidence" has repeatedly proven - "vaccination drugs have very serious mental and physical side effects or death to adults and children."

Success always leaves clues and the simple observation and study of EVERY "native culture" prior to the introduction of pharmaceutical drugs/vaccinations (less than 100 years ago) reveals that they ALL lived in perfect health and wellbeing. We only have to look in our own backyard at the "tribal originals" who prior to the invasion of the "white man" reveal a 40,000 plus year historical and DNA record of absolutely NO diseases of any kind...

They did NOT suffer from any of the rampant and "skyrocketing lifestyle diseases and primary killers" we see every day in adults, children and "even domestic pets" such as heart and hormonal disease, cancer, alzheimers, impotence, obesity, the common cold and not even a record of tooth decay... And unless they were "speared or choked on a roo tail" ,,, like all the other native cultures they lived long healthy and vibrant lives.

WHY didn't they suffer from ANY of theses "lifestyle diseases"???

Because they had natural health and immunity endowed to ALL sentient beings by "our creator and mother nature" and they were totally free from ANY medical and pharmaceutical intervention... Like most intelligent beings I do not believe that "the creator and mother nature" made any mistakes or errors in the evolution and perfection of the human body

It is therefore universally self evident and blindly obvious that only through the interference of the "creators natural process" and with the introduction of the UN-NATURAL vaccination drugs and other pharmaceutical interference and peoples total ignorance and self-responsibility of "the original human diet and nourishment" for the human body and immune system - that we see the lifestyle diseases of this very day despite the fact that we are living in the most technologically advanced time of human history.

It is no coincidence that in the last 100 years ALL of these lifestyle diseases have and CONTINUE to increase in "direct correlation" to the introduction of pharmaceutical vaccination drugs, financial incentives to doctors and the corporate "profit at all costs" of the medical and pharmaceutical cartels.... I therefore support totally Woodford and their sponsors for allowing this very important issue to be aired through freedom of communication thereby allowing others and concerned parents to make an "intelligent, responsible and informed choice" about the future health and well being of their children..

NSW

To the Woodford festival team,

i just wanted to thank you for offering the woodford community the opportunity to hear both sides of the Vaccination issue by inviting the AVN's Merly Dory as a guest speaker.

I am a mother of a beautiful healthy and strong unvaccinated 2 year old and the aunty of 2 very strong and health unvaccinated adults. There are many reasons that we have decided not to vaccinate our children, too many to go into now, but in brief the risk of vaccine injury and possible side effects and messing with our immune systems and bodies by injecting toxins and diseases into our babies is too much of a risk for us. There are not enough independent studies on the effects of vaccination to truly know how it is affecting the human race, and the studies that have been done have been funded by the vaccine manufacturers themselves.

I find it difficult to understand that although we live in a country that allows us to make the decision on whether or not to vax our children, any attempt to speak out about the danger and risks of vaccination are stifled not giving people the opportunity to a fair and balanced view on vaccination. Look at the controversy surrounding your event simply by inviting Meryl Dory to speak, what has happened to freedom of speech and living in a democracy??

I commend you for inviting Meryl Dory to your festival, we all have the right to make our own choices on the matter and the right to as much information possible to make an informed choice.

The AVN is a great network available for people to go to for support, information and facts on the vaccination topic, they are doing an amazing job with guiding people on their journey in making an informed decision.

Unfortunately i am unable to attend the festival, however i would have loved to be able to attend even if just to hear Meryl speak.

I wish you great success with your festival and if Meryl will be attending again next year, i will be sure to attend.

Keep up the great work.

Hi,

I just wanted to share my support in your initial decision to allow Meryl Dorey from AVN to present seminars at the Festival. Although some people might find the topic controversial, we live in a land of free speech and we should all have a right to voice a differing opinion. It would be up to the listeners to walk away and weigh up the options and make their own decision. What a controlling society we would live in if a proportion of the population had the capacity to sensor what the puplic could talk about.

Unfortunately I have not yet been able to attend the Folk Festival but from what I hear it is the perfect place to hold such presentations. I look forward to having a place to expand my thinking, question the status and be around people who enjoy the same in the future.

Kind Regards

Dear Bill

Many thanks for allowing the AVN to appear at the Woodford Festival. For too long government and big pharmaceutical companies have been peddling their vaccines without revealing the full side effects, toxins in the vaccines and long term effects on ours and our childrens health. The AVN are a responsible organisation who believe in telling the truth about vaccination so that everyone can make an informed decision. The AVN is not against vaccination, they just want to inform the public about the possible dangers involved so parents can decide what is best for their children.

Please do not let any anti AVN organisations use their bully-boy tactics to prevent this seminar from taking place. Freedom of speech is for everyone and this is a very important topic that has been supressed for way too long.

Kind regards

DO,

Dip RT, ND

To the Woodford Folk Festival Organisers,

Please, don't let the "free speech police" interfere with your festival programming!

Dedicated individuals, like Meryl Dorey, are providing some balance so we can all make informed choices. Global pharmaceutical companies are in the business of selling drugs - preferably with Medical Board and Government endorsements. They also have the influence and financial resources to ensure they silence, or at best distort, any messages which question the safety of their products.

Occasionally, like in this instance, our Australian democratic right to free speech is challenged.

I strongly encourage you not to be bullied into altering your festival programming.

Regards,

Dear Woodford Team,

I heard that you might be pressured by sponsors and the government to block an anti vaccination talk at Woodford?

This is OUTRAGEOUS.

Of all people/events/festivals I would expect Woodford and Woodfordians to fully embrace this important voice.

There is SO much evidence and insights out there that clearly demonstrates that we are all being duped by the powers that be

and this is all going at the expense of the health and wellbeing of young kids. It's a disgrace.

Please Woodfordians.... rise up against this terror and allow Meryl to shine.

Not for her. Not for me. But for all of mankind.

Hi,

I would be very disappointed if the vaccination talks were cancelled. These talks help parents to make an informed desion, they help people to hear both sides.

I have not vaccinated my son as an outcome to the research I have undertaken. There is so much push and drive to vaccinate that these talks also remind me why I have chosen not to vaccinate and renew my faith in my decision.

We currently and I hope it continues, have choice to vaccinate therefore please help people make an informed one. People who have had a bad experience have a right to share their stories for those that choose to listen.

I work with children with ASD and epilepsy, and as many people say there is good and bad with vaccination and I often hear people say but the good out weighs the bad, maybe? But I work with a lot of the damaged children so I see a lot of the bad. And its too many to sweep under the carpet.

Please keep these talks, this is what Woodford is about, the truth! Not being black mailed.

Please allow the AVN to have freedom of speech..

I have chosen not to vaccinate my first two children who are 16 and 21.

I also have a child who is now one and he hasn’t even had a runny nose since he was born. His nutrition is perfect and he is still breast feeding and eating wholesome foods...

Instead of imposing on the immune system of the children, why not encourage more breast feeding and healthy living and improved nutrition... Of course this approach does not make money for the drug companies, that is why.....

There are countries throughout the world that do not agree with the drug companies approach to Business. We deserve the right to encourage both sides of the argument and freedom of speech.

I have colleagues at work that have personally witnessed challenges with their children’s health and they would never recommend vaccination to anyone....

The AVN has helped me significantly with update information that is not restricted by the multi billion dollar drug companies. What are they worried about except losing money...

We deserve the truth to be heard and freedom of our rights....

REGARDS

Hi Bill,

I should imagine you are too busy to read this so close to the festival start date but I would like to endorse your invitation to allow Meryl Dorey to speak about vaccination on behalf of the many questioning doctors and scientists who are being silenced by the pro vaccination lobbyists throughout the world.

In my opinion Meryl is broadminded, highly knowledgeable about aspects of the vaccination debate most skeptics would prefer to ignore because it doesn't fit into their truth system and as a Mother of a vaccine damaged child she is qualified as wise about the dangers of vaccination.

I was recently accosted by a pro vaccination lobbyist - during an unrelated medical visit with a new doctor at our local clinic who refused my daughter medical treatment because i refused to concede on my well reasoned and researched choice to not vaccinate. With a cousin seriously brain damaged by vaccine and a child who had a serious reaction to a vaccination shot i was forced to question the wisdom of the science.

I don't oppose the ideal of vaccination only that i consider it an incomplete science as it exists today. Any science that requires a certain percentage of the population be sacrificed for the good of the many is in my books a science that is in need of development and improvement.

Meryl speaks for those too intimidated to speak for themselves, lends reason to the vaccination debate and is highly credible despite the disparaging opinions of her persecutors and the vilification of her good intention and character that she has endured over these past two years.

Silence the balanced voice of reason and the science stops evolving.

If we had silenced our questioning forefathers the earth would still be flat.

As a Western Australian we have made two family pilgrimages (all three generations of us including my 80 year old Dad) to the AWESOME Woodford Festival and tell everyone willing to listen that it is a wonderful platform for all avenues of social diversity. Give these bullies their way and they will have crushed the essence of Woodford.

Bless you Bill - may WFF 2011 be another successful event.

Thanks Bill!

I am delighted that you are having Meryl Dorey as a spokesperson this year at the festival.

After my son was diagnosed with Autism I started researching everything.

When I learned of the adverse effects of immunisation on some children words cannot express how angry I felt.

I couldn’t believe living in a country like Australia that I had not been informed of this before I vaccinated my child.

I myself was vaccinated as a child and had no adverse effects. But both of my children have, my daughter very obviously when a huge lump appeared in her lymph nodes in her armpit one week after her 6 month vaccination.

I believe in the right of an informed choice for the health of our children.

Please let Meryl speak, people have a right to know and make their own decision.

Thanks

Dear Ingrid,

My family and I are greatly looking forward to the festival this year. This will be my 8th or 9th festival.

I have greatly enjoyed hearing a wide range of natural therapies presenters who have ended up enriching my life over the years (Graeme Sait, Dr Carole Hungerford, Dr Sarah Buckley to name a few).

I have also discovered my favourite artists though the festival: Harry Manx, Riley Lee and Lindsay Pollack.

I have heard that there are powerful lobbyists trying to stop Meryl Dorey speaking. Meryl will be presenting one seminar and participating in a forum on toxicity (Thursday, December 29th from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM - Autism Emergency - 1 child in 38; Friday, December 30th from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Forum on Toxicity - both at the Blue Lotus)

I am really looking forward to hearing her speak. I think it's very important for freedom of speech. I really admired Woodford for having Dr Philip Niezche speak. Meryl is the same sort of speaker.

I am part of a group of families form the 'Sydney Natural Parenting Group' travelling up for the festival, many of which do not vaccinate their children because they are so well informed, thanks to independent, non-pharmaceutical or government interested people like Meryl speaking out. Woodford is sp special in providing a forum for discussion about such issues. I cant wait for the debate!

Could you please allow Meryl to speak at the festival?

Thanks,

BM and family

The Vaccination issue:

I write to thank you for inviting Meryl Dorey to speak at your festival and confirm it is essential the public learn the "other side" of the vaccination issue .

Meryl is an excellent speaker .. her aim is to enable parents to make an "informed choice" regarding vaccination .. to encourage them to "research" the pros and cons of vaccinations instead of blindly adhering to the limited information their GP gives them

I have worked in the medical profession all of my adult life and have met very many physicians who do not vaccinate their own children but because of peer pressure continue to vaccinate the children of "others" accepting payment along the way for so doing .. it is a brave physician whose ethics prevent them from following this path but I assure you there are many in this country who are aware of the adverse side effects of vaccinations and whose integrity spells out every aspect of vaccination to unwary and uninformed parents to give them every opportunity to make an "informed choice"

Vaccinations are given on the first day of birth before the immune system is developed .. I refer to the Hep B vaccination now mandated for every child instead of those just at risk from an infected mother and for a child born with a compromised immune system this puts them on the downward slope .. followed by regular vaccinations which further weaken an already struggling immune system until at approx 14 months the child regresses completely, loses speach, awareness, cognition, no longer meets their early childhood milestones and is subsequently diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum .. included in this spectrum are those children who are in severe pain, resulting in reactions of uncontrollable behaviour because they are unable to speak and say what hurts .. their poor parents at wit's end do not know how to help them and at this stage wish they had been better informed !

I am surrounded by hundreds of children in whom this scenario has developed and it is a very very sad indictment on our Govt an our medical profession that they will not "listen" to parents and experts like Meryl Dorey who are all to familiar with the tragedy that has developed in the current generation of children and is set to increase with every passing year UNTIL common sense prevails and vaccinations are scaled back or given when the child is older and has developed a viable immune system better able to counteract the horrendous contents of vaccines .. especially those that are combined to cover multiple perceived illnesses

Meryl has researched for years and is perhaps the most informed person in this country .. she very much needs to be heard because it is only when a child experiences an adverse reaction to vaccines that the parents become aware of the inherent dangers and by then it is TOO LATE

One of my own grandchildren succumbed in this way .. tragic to witness and appalling in the effect it had on parents .. subsequent grandchildren have not been vaccinated and are very healthy neurotypical children with strong immune systems because "informed choices" were made

If all parents in this country were aware and could make an "informed choice" I am positive the levels of autism and sickness in the current generation of children would vastly diminish .. yes there are other external factors why so many children now have health problems but there is more awareness of environmental toxins and no awareness of the dangers vaccinations can present

Sincerely

To whom it may concern,

I write this email in support of Meryl Dorey's appearance at the WFF this year. I understand that there has been some debate or pressure applied to exclude her from the program. While I would be astounded if the Folk Federation was actually considering such action, I wish to express my satisfaction with the Folk Festival and its sponsors for supporting the right of all people to educate themselves about numerous topics and issues that are presented and discussed during the festival.

I am a university academic and lecturer with a background in science and education. I am currently completing my PhD thesis (in science education) and have a strong background in research. I took an interest in the 'vaccination debate' five years ago when I was pregnant with my son. To date, I have read over 100 books and articles (including peer reviewed studies from international journals) and visited numerous doctors and spoken to representatives from pharmaceutical companies to educate myself on the benefits or otherwise of vaccines. The AVN provided information that allowed me to conduct further research to make an informed choice about this issue.

I have worked as a volunteer stage manager at the Woodford Folk Festival for the last 6 years, and look forward again this year to supporting this worldclass event and listening to educated and passionate individuals share their knowledge and expertise.

I congratulate the Woodford Folk Festival and its sponsors for supporting speakers such as Meryl Dorey and I look forward to the opportunity to hear Ms Dorley's presentation.

Thank you for your time

BSc Bed

Hello,

I understand that you are being pressured to disallow the AVN to share information at Woodford this year.

I would like to share my experience with you and tell you why I support the AVN. About 5 years ago I had the yellow fever vaccination before going to Africa. A few days later I experienced the worst fever in my life where I was talking gibberish and burning a 40 degree fever. The doctor told me there was no way that it could have been caused by the vaccination. About 12 years ago, I went to India and had every recommended vaccination. I then stopped having periods for 10 months, got acne and could not control my weight. All this was fixed when I got home and detoxed my system.

I now have a 2 year old and we moved to India when she was 14 months. She has not had any vaccinations, and her health has been much better than mine or my husbands.

I know that everyone has their own story and everyone has to make their own choices. I would not force anyone to or not to be vaccinated. But I do appreciate that there is an organisation that provides me with the information that I need to make informed decisions for my family.

At no time has anyone at the AVN said do not vaccinate. They just provide a balanced story and provide support to families that have vaccine damaged children.

And there must be some problems, otherwise the US and UK would not have government funded vaccine injury funds??

Please allow the AVN to share information at Woodford this year.

Dear Bill,

As a long time presenter in the childrens festival at our beloved Woodford I would like to express my support to let Meryl speak at this years festival. I believe it is important to allow different and opposing point of view to be put forward in any discussion and hope you may feel the same. I find it sad to hear that others are trying to stop her and her organisation. People have a right to hear all information.

look forward to seeing you there

Best Wishes

Dear Bill,

I would like to offer my support for the AVN Group to provide information and statistics to the general public with regard to mass vaccinations.

I am 64 years of age and have come from an era where very little or no vaccinations were administered to babies/children. During my childhood and teenage years I never came across a person who suffered symptoms of autism or problems associated with contacting the childhood illnesses that have left my generation with life immunity to these diseases.

Also, my grandson who is now 2 1/2 years of age has not been immunized at all and his is a very healthy and bright little boy. He has been in contact with children with cold, throat and stomach viruses and has remained healthy. It appears his immune system is growing strong as opposed to children who have had all their vaccinations.

These children, two in particular that I know of, have even had to be hospitalized because of their ill health. (breathing difficulties, skin disorders etc)

This and my own childhood experience leads me to support what your group is telling us.

Naturally I do not discount all vaccinations as I believe there may at some time be a need for not only myself but for anyone who may require it for any reason.

Over the years I have found by my own experience that I have been able to research a situation before my health decisions were made. I am a very healthy and fit senior citizen because I have taken the time to take care of my own health. Minimal research has lead me to adhere to natural and organic remedies and I have found that because of this lifestyle I require very little medical intervention to maintain good health.

This is why I strongly believe in making available information and research data to the general public so that those of us who truly care about our own health and also that of the community in general can make our own choices.

Please persist in what you are doing because over time I am seeing that our lives are becoming more and more controlled by Government bodies that in a lot of cases are receiving recommendations that may not be in our best interests.

Thank you for your ongoing efforts to help us help ourselves.

With my best regards,

To whom it may concern,

My attention has been drawn to the scare mongering occurring due to the AVN presenting at the Woodford Folk Festival.

I am astonished in this day and age people are afraid of knowledge. What do Mamma Mia and the SAVN have to be afraid of? The AVN is pro choice and only presents information that is available anywhere if you look for it. This organization does nothing but present scientifically researched material in a concise practical matter that is useful for parents or people in general who wish to make an informed choice about vaccination.

We live in a democratic society that has free choice and freedom of speech. Everybody does have an opinion on vaccination, but at the end of the day that’s all it is and we must respect the rights of individuals to access information and to make an informed choice, regardless of our own viewpoint.

It is wrong to force your own opinion onto someone else or to block information.

The actions of SAVN and Mamma Mia seem fear based and present no logical reason for stopping Meryl and her team educating people about vaccinations.

Knowledge is power.

Yours sincerely

Dear Woodfordians,

I choose not to vaccinate myself or my children because of the numerous risks and the lack of any significant benefit, especially as we satisfactorily use homeopathic immunisation when needed (eg if we have come into contact with someone with pertussis.) Also for the sake of the community, we chose to build our immunity naturally and therefore contribute to our community rather than to contribute to the spread of significant diseases like pertussis through ineffective vaccination and compromised immunity.

Our children have not had any vaccinations. When I was a child I contracted a serious case of measles leading to encephalitis and temporary paralysis soon after I had the measles vaccination.

I have researched widely on vaccination and also on natural health and so make clear decisions on issues like vaccination.

The Australian Vaccination Network has helped by providing information (not my only source) and advocacy for citizens like myself whose choice is threatened. AVN conducts themselves appropriately.

I have attended the Woodford Folk Festival previously and think it is a wonderful place for a group like AVN to contribute to the atmosphere of community and discussion of what is important in sustainable and ethical living. The information AVN presents (and the way it is presented) is not threatening, it is simply what it is - information. In fact it is information that is crucial to make truly informed choice concerning vaccination and health (both personal and community).

Thank you for your time. I hope people attending the festival are able to attend such a useful session.

Yours sincerely,

NSW

Dear Bill, Ingrid, and other festival organisers,

I'm increasingly impressed and inspired by the job that the festival has done in opening people's minds and hearts to other ways of thinking, acting, and being. My son has travelled long distances to attend the festival on occasion. I'm strongly tempted to attend it myself this time round if I can.

It's a joy to me to know that you've invited Meryl Dorey, of the Australian Vaccination Network, to show another side of vaccination at the forthcoming festival. It's a side that is invisible to most of us; is almost never discussed in a rational and balanced manner in mass media even by medically qualified people; and is even, strangely, actively censored in the mass media. And it's become plain to me, through 31 years of interest and research in the area dating from before my first child was born, that it's an important topic to bring into the open.

I'm aware that the hate organisation founded by Australian so-called skeptics specifically in order to destroy the AVN has been applying its usual tactics to the festival's organisers in order to remove your choice to allow others a choice. I trust that you plan to maintain your principles, but thought I should write to let you know that your courage under fire is widely valued.

Incidentally, I provided photography for a couple of national festivals this year; if I am able to attend, perhaps I could help out similarly (gratis) at Woodford. If you'd be interested, please let me know. I love the web site, by the way!

Kindest regards,

To the Woodford Folk Festival organisers

I commend you for programming Meryl from the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) to speak about the need for parents to do their own research about vaccination and make their own informed choices. There is a misunderstanding in the community generally that vaccinating children is not a choice - the media and health authorities omit all other information - except to say 'the benefits far outweigh the risks' of vaccination.

I have a family who follows natural health alternatives, we believe in supporting the body's natural functions to come back to health. We practice this by eating healthy, drinking filtered water, taking vitamins and minerals, and treating illness with homeopathics, herbs and tissue salts, as well as visiting practitioners of Chinese Medicine, massage and spinal alignment, Naturopathy and Western Medicine when necessary. I have used Isaac Golden's homeoprophelaxis treatments when there is has been Whooping Cough and Meningicoccol in the immediate community. I feel safe and empowered when I take responsibility for my family's health in this way.

My mother and grandmother never vaccinated their children either. My partner's parents did, but they were supportive of our choice not to vaccinate our children. This was partly because I could provide evidence about the risks of vaccination and other information from the AVN including their magazine the personal stories of readers. This information helped to confirm for them the story of their friend - a mother whose first two children developed autism - which she is 100% sure was caused by reactions from vaccinations (and her third child, whom she chose not to vaccinate, has remained healthy)

My thanks to the AVN for providing the information I needed to validate my beliefs about vaccination and discuss the issue with some level of authority when doctors and other mothers would question my choice. I personally feel that our current medical system promotes too many unnecessary and unhelpful medical procedures.

My thanks to the Woodford Folk Festival and their sponsors for allowing the other side of the vaccination issue be heard. Let us promote natural health options wherever we can and encourage people to take charge of their own health. I believe you are well within your rights to do so, and your audiences are critical thinkers who will appreciate the information and debate. You know your punters are interested in this - so don't be bullied by the 'skeptics' who surely have motives, money and power to make their voice heard.

When we care for our selves and take personal responsibility for our choices we will surely raise the health of the broader community... Instead we have people feeling disempowered, ill-informed or 'not clever enough', and bullied into medical procedures, where we give over our power and responsibility to the 'experts': that is not the way to a healthier society.

You are allowing space for other voices - the voices of the People rather than the Institutions. Congratulations. Strength and courage to you as you stand by your belief in freedom, health, and choice.

QLD

Hi Festival Organisers

it's been brought to my attention that you have received emails opposing the appearance of Meryl Dorey at your Festival.

In the interest of upholding the value of Freedom of Choice I would encourage you to disregard these emails and allow Meryl to talk at your Festival. What these opposing voices would like to achieve akin to censorship, a questionable goal, especially here in Australia.

Kind Regards

Dear festival organisers,

I would just like to add my total support for the AVN and Meryl Dorey to speak at your festival. I have a vaccine damaged child and I just wish I had had access to all the information prior to making the decision to vaccinate. Perhaps there are some simple questions that need to be asked, why is there no mandatory reporting of adverse reactions? Why is there no mandatory reporting of the vaccinations status of those presenting with the "vaccine preventable diseases"? We do not collect this data so how on earth do we know of their safety and efficacy?

Kind regards

To whom it may concern,

I am a proud mother of 2 beautiful girls, 3 and 1. I made the choice not to vaccinate my girls based on an immense amount of research I conducted myself and with the help of the AVN.

My nephew sadly had an adverse reaction to vaccination and now has a lifetime of dietary and allergy issues. He will not be receiving any follow up vaccines as his immunity is compromised.

I believe in informed choice, and not all mothers/families have the means or time to conduct their own research. This is why I believe that the AVN absolutely have the right and obligation to present information to the public based on sound scientific research.

It is important to remember to treat people like intelligent human beings and trust that they will make the right choices for themselves and family. Trying to keep people ill informed is just screaming that there is a bigger issue, what secrets need to be hidden from the public?????

Sincerely,

To whom it may concern,

I write in regard to the Woodford Folk Festival.

Sadly we have case files filled with client history forms completed by parents of children who they claim were “typically developing” and following vaccination often the MMR they appeared to shut down with varying degrees from loss of language right through to completely detached.

These parents express they believe there is a direct link to their child’s vaccination and the resulting “damaged” child they are left to try and deal with. An enormous emotional and financial drain on their family.

Parents should be in an informed place to enable them to make informed choices on the wellbeing of their children. Let the people listen and form their own educated opinion.

Dear Woodford Festival organisers,

I am writing in support of Meryl Dorey, after recent attacks online in regards to her upcoming presentation at Woodford Festival.

Unfortunately I haven't yet had the opportunity to attend Woodford Festival, but as a former employee of Kali Wendorf and Kindred magazine, I am very familiar with both the Woodford Festival and the AVN/Living Wisdom magazine and I greatly respect and admire the work that you both do.

I also believe in freedom of speech and freedom of choice and I sincerely hope that any pressure you might be feeling from recent events in the media does not make you change your mind about having Meryl appear at Woodford this year.

I only wish I could be there to hear her speak about such an important topic.

Kind regards,

NSW

To whom it may concern,

This short email is in response to information received regarding a request for the organisers of the Woodford Folk Festival to cancel the presentation by Meryl Dorey from the Australian Vaccination Network.

Our democratic society needs people like Meryl, with passion and knowledge to be able to provide information to those who require it.

I have a child with life threatening allergies, he cannot even touch a piece of bread, if he is sprayed with yoghurt at a school lunch break he could stop breathing, and if he inhaled any nuts or eggs the result could be fatal.

Having access to an organisation such as the AVN, gave my family the ability to conduct informed research into vaccinating our child. Research that continues to this day.

If organisations such as this are silenced, then persons like me, who have to live with children who are already struggling with "normal" daily living, would have no where to turn for accurate information and support.

Congratulations for allowing this organisation to be heard, your willingness and that of your sponsors to stay impartial towards such issues in our community will see you supported by many.

Regards

Don't stop the information!

Please allow the A.V.N to share information about the possible negative side to vaccination so people can make their own decisions.Life is all about making choices and we do live in a free country. I have heard that the sceptic association is trying to block this from happening for some strange reason. regards E

We live in a free country, and freedom of speech used to be our Constitutional right or DO WE? I vaccinated my children who are now aged 24 to 31, 2 of them had reactions to vaccines but I was too young at the time to question this. One of my daughters has serve allergies to antibiotics and food allergies so I had to look at alternative Naturopathic treatments to keep her healthy. I found that by keeping them healthy naturally that they rarely got sick. I have been working in the natural therapies and supplement industry for approx 10 years now, and have changed my views drastically. None of my 8 grandchildren are vaccinated and I support my children with their decision. We choose to build, our children’s and our own immune system up with natural products and natural therapies. The only health issue they have had is colds and teething.

EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM and the right to research additional information.

How can an unvaccinated child harm a vaccinated child? If the parents believe in what they are doing, then they should have no concerns about their children catching a disease that they have been vaccinated against. My view is - how can pumping our bodies with harmful chemicals make us healthy?” Look at the rising rates of disease in our communities. If drugs work why are we becoming more unhealthy?? Back in ancient history, our medicines came from nature and overall our health was far better than it is now. Doctors don’t know what’s best for us all the time, they have been trained in drugs only. And yes, I go to my doctor for emergencies but I chose a doctor that combines natural and medical and he supports non vaccination and my choices to treat naturally first and he has not vaccinated his own children. Scientists develop drugs for drug companies to make huge profits, they don’t care if people are harmed. It’s all about mega profits. Why don’t scientists research natural alternatives, because there is no money in it for them? They can’t patent nature!!!! Doctors have continuing education from WHO?? Drug companies, so how on earth can they be neutral, the majority anyway.

I have been choosing natural therapies over drugs for the past 20+ years since my daughter could not take antibiotics and many other medications. So, I have been researching natural alternatives since she was a small child. I’m pleased to say she is a healthy adult and drug free.

My eight grandchildren are all healthy and do not have the health issues that their little friends contract and have never had to take antibiotics. They range in age from 4weeks to 6 years old.

I have attended many AVN seminars and have found the information excellent. This organisation gives people information on alternatives to stay healthy. We should all have the choice to deal with our health in the way that we feel is best for us.

I have always seen Woodford Festival as an alternative Festival, healthy living and healthy choices. It would be a great shame that your management committee buckles under the pressure from one section of the community’s narrow viewpoint. I support Woodford and their sponsors for allowing this issue to be aired.

Regards,

Good morning

I'm writing this email to show my support for Meryl Dorey and the AVN.

I believe it is extremely important for all Australians to have a choice about their health and the health of their children and family - especially concerning Vaccination.

My eldest child is 14 this year and i have been researching and reading about Vaccination for that long. It disturbs me that our choices could one day be removed and it become compulsory to vaccinate. An act that i find disturbing and unhealthy and dangerous.

I have had an experience with my now 9 year old who is unvaccinated where a nurse in our local emergency department asked my permission to give my son the Tetanus vaccine after he had burnt himself. I informed them i would consider it after i do some research, where i was then looked at and sneered at and spoken about and pointed at from the nurses quarters. They were very pushy with me and tried their hardest to talk me into it. It was a "booster" injection. I declined the shot and when i got home i called the AVN's direct info line and spoke to a lady who informed me, after reading the information from the fact sheet directly from the vile, that "if not previously vaccinated, DO NOT ADMINISTER, WILL cause cardiac arrest and death"

I owe my sons life to the AVN and Meryl Dorey.If it wasnt for their hard work and dedication to this issue, i wouldnt be as informed as i am and my son may not be with me today.

I have been a member and/or follower of the AVN for many years and i am very grateful that we have Meryl standing up for peoples choice.

If you chose to exclude her from speaking at Woodford because of 1 particular fearmungering group of people, then what is woodford really about?

In this day and age, it helps to be as educated and informed as possible. Please keep Meryl at Woodford. Everyone has a human right to hear every side of every story. This issue needs to be spoken about!

Thank you for your time

Dear Woodford Folk Festival organisers,

I am writing to request that Meryl Dorey's planned appearances at the 2011-2012 Woodford Folk Festival will go ahead.

It is very important that free speech and freedom of choice continue to be acknowledged, respected & upheld in our communities.

I've heard via the AVN that the organisation SAVN are currently denigrating Meryl Dorey and the AVN for being booked to speak at this upcoming community Festival.

I have one son & I have chosen freely to vaccinate selectively and this should remain entirely each parents/family's choice.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and it amazes me there is so much energy invested to stop the freedom of speech,opinion and choice by organised internet blogs & Facebook pages

for issues such as vaccination.

It is a contentious issue and the number one aim is to keep our children safe and healthy. Yet there are many reports both via my immediate network and those i read about or hear about where

children have a very adverse reaction to vaccines. Let's just say the vaccines used today are NOT for everyone's children and nor should that ever be imposed upon anyone as compulsory.

I have a great respect for the AVN and I continue to believe we all should be allowed the freedom of choice when it comes to injecting vaccines into ourselves and our children.

The AVN always maintains they are pro information and NOT anti vaccination. They are presenting the risks of vaccination which there are some of course.

I believe that a threat made to boycott the Woodford sponsors & to attempt to censor healthy discussions of vaccine information & matters is both immoral & unjust.

The Woodford Folk Festival has been known for years to be a collective of creative expression for artists, poets & workshop/discussion forums.

Please continue to have this variety of presentation & to rejoice in the freedom of expression in this country.

Kind regards,

Dear Council Members

It has been brought to my attention that there are some who may have contacted you regarding Meryl Dorey of the AVN who will be speaking at the Woodford Folk Festival. Please try to disregard the negative and hateful comments they are making about her. EVERYONE has the right to speak their mind, even if some do not agree with what is being said. Meryl is an intelligent, articulate and passionate person who possesses a wealth of knowledge on the vaccination issue. Her talks convey the less publicised but very real 'down' side of vaccination- information for all people to hear to make their own decision. This is not a censored dictatorship we are living in is it?

Please support her right to speak and other's right to listen, or not.

Thank you

Dr PM

Informed Choice

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