Willi's response to "SERIOUS" E-MAIL: Tampons Are Dangerous!

HELLO OUT THERE!

I'm Willi Nolan, the woman with the non-chlorine cotton tampons (Terra Femme).

One of you sent the "serious message - tampons are dangerous" to me, and I want to thank you all for the email activism; I really need your encouragement to keep going! I also wanted to tell you a little about what started it all, and to encourage you to keep on spreading the word!!!

I COULD REALLY USE SOME HELP IN THIS WORK!!! If you're interested, read on; if not, please accept my apologies for sending unsolicited email.

This business started as a way to get me off of welfare, and to support my activism (my issues: violence against women and children, women's health and the environment). Offering non-toxic tampons seemed a good business, because it addresses YET ANOTHER FORM OF ASSAULT AGAINST WOMEN'S BODIES.

It's been *really* hard to do, because:
- I'm not a capitalist
- women's lives are more important to me than money
- the big companies do everything they can to stop what I'm doing, including keeping us off the shelves in stores!
- the media is controlled by the big companies
- tampons are a taboo topic for many people

I have some comments on the "serious message" email to offer (in italics):
Re:
>>>>... most of the females wound
>>>>up feeling angry and upset with the tampon industry, and I for one, am
>>>>going to do something about it.
>>>>To start, I want to inform everyone Ican, and email is the fastest way
>>>>that I know how.

WANTING to add fuel to the angry fires out there, here's MORE information about tampon health risks that are unknown to many women.

Re: >>>> Tampons contain two things that are potentially harmful: rayon
>>>>(for absorbency) and dioxin (a chemical used in bleaching the products).

Tampons can also contain other absorbency enhancers, waxes, surfactants
(such as "tween-20" and polysorbate), boron, magnesium, aluminum,
polyester, alcohols, acids, nitrogen compounds, and copper.
Plastic applicators also pose a health hazard. They have been known to
cause arterial laceration, and ANY applicator can lacerate (cut) the
vaginal tissue.

Re:
>>>>The tampon industry is convinced that we, as women, need bleached white
>>>>products--they seem to think that we view the product as pure and clean.

They also seem to think that we need ads that tell us that our bodies are
dirty & that menstruation is something to hide and be ashamed of - "absorbs your
worries" "no one needs to know when you're using a tampon." We've been
countering this with marketing that respects women's fertility - our logo
is a "blood-red" rose. And letting women know that menstruation is
health-giving; our bodies de-toxify each month in preparation of the
possibility of nurturing new life! And we call them MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS,
not "feminine hygiene" or "sanitary products." Women, our bodies, and
*everything* about them, are wonderful!

*****************************************

Re: Dioxin & Menstrual products

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-14) is about to re-introduce the "Women's
Health & Dioxin Act of 1996" (H.R.3796) to Congress. The bill seeks to
require the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to determine health risks
to women from menstrual pads and tampons. This includes Toxic Shock
Syndrome, cancer of the ovaries and cervix and endometriosis. It also
asks for warning labels on menstrual products found to pose a threat to
women's health. Most importantly, the legislation requests that the NIH
report these finding not only to Congress, but to the PUBLIC!
(See the Feb. 6/97 issue of the New York Daily News for the latest update
by medical writer Colette Bouchez - includes info on the false
advertising lawsuit against Tampax! More info on the bill can also be
found at the terra femme web site:
www.biobiz.com/terrafemme/uspoltam.htm

SUPPORT THIS BILL! CALL YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND TELL THEM TO
GET ON THE BALL!!

*****************************************

Re:
>>>>WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
>>>> Using feminine hygiene products that aren't bleached (which
>>>>causes the dioxin) and that are all cotton (the rayon will leave fibers
>>>>and "breeding grounds" in the vagina). So, what can you do if you can't
>>>>give up using tampons?
>>>>Use tampons that are made from 100% cotton, and that are unbleached.

I would say here, use tampons that are not bleached with chlorine. We
use hydrogen peroxide (oxygen bleaching) to hygienically sterilize (to
destroy potentially harmful bacteria and molds) the cotton for terra femme
tampons. Peroxide 'bleaches' the cotton, but the by-products from this
process are harmless; oxygen and water.
NOT USING TAMPONS AT ALL IS THE SAFEST WAY TO AVOID THESE HEALTH RISKS!!

Re:
>>>>Unfortunately, there are very very few companies that make these safe
>>>>tampons. They are usually only found in health food stores.

This is not for our lack of trying. What we need are women to DEMAND
that stores stock our tampons. The big companies have lots of money to
keep us off the shelves, just the same as they have lots of ways of
keeping information about the dangers of their products from women. Like
I said, it's been 5 years of trying to get this info out. But, it sounds
like women are pulling together and sharing the story. I always knew we
would ;-)

Re:
>>>>In 1989, activists in England mounted a
>>>>campaign against chlorine bleaching. Six weeks and 50,000 letters later,
>>>>the makers of sanitary products switched to oxygen bleaching (one of the
>>>>green methods available) (Ms. magazine, May/June 1995). Personally I
>>>>think its time that the U.S. switches, and we need to make our voices
heard.

************************************************

ALERT! PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHAT TAMPONS THAT YOU BUY!!! THERE ARE
COMPANIES NOW TRYING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE TAMPON CONTROVERSY AND SELL POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PRODUCTS TO WOMEN!!

- In England, a company that used to sell non-chlorine, all cotton
tampons ONLY, is now selling (non-chlorine) RAYON tampons as well!
- Another company that sells non-chlorine tampons WITH APPLICATORS in health food stores is
being sued for claiming that they're 100% cotton when they're (allegedly)
not!
- A major tampon company is also being sued for selling 100% cotton
tampons when they're (allegedly) not all cotton either!

I KNOW what I'm selling, 100% cotton tampons, with no chlorine used
anywhere in the manufacturing process, not even in the recycled
paperboard for the boxes.
I have no fear about letting my own daughter use my tampons. But, to be
very sure that you are not at risk of tampon-related Toxic Shock
Syndrome, you need to be tested for antibodies to the TSST-1 toxin.
NOT USING TAMPONS AT ALL IS THE SAFEST WAY TO AVOID THESE HEALTH RISKS!!

************************************************

Re:
>>>>WHAT TO DO NOW:
>>>> Tell people. Everyone. Inform them. We are being manipulated
>>>>by this industry and the government, let's do something about it!
>>>>LET THEM KNOW THAT WE
>>>>DEMAND A SAFE PRODUCT--ALL COTTON, UNBLEACHED TAMPONS.

I met with representatives from a major tampon company last year, and I
don't believe that they really want to do what's best for women OR the
environment. For example, when I asked about dioxin in their tampons,
they said that they couldn't detect any. So I asked about the dioxin in
the waste from manufacturing the tampons - THEY DID NOT ANSWER THIS
QUESTION!
For another example, a letter from a woman in the Jan-Feb/97 issue of
Ms. Magazine details her inquiries to a major tampon company. She asked
about dioxin in tampons, and was told that dioxin is in everything,
including soil and ice cream. I mean, how stupid do they think we are?

Re:
>>>>If you're not comfortable giving up
>>>>tampons (although this is obviously the best way to make our voices
>>>>heard), try using less by alternating with pads (but remember that you
>>>>still must change your tampons as much because of TSS).

NOT USING TAMPONS AT ALL IS THE SAFEST WAY TO AVOID THESE HEALTH RISKS!!
This may sound funny coming from someone who sells tampons, but I feel
compelled to tell the truth, because I know that 60% of menstruating
women use tampons during all or part of their period. Some women won't
use anything else. We need to know the facts, and we need a safer
alternative.
I've had the symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), and I know that the
TSS toxin will probably live in my body for the REST OF MY LIFE, and I
will always be at risk, and shouldn't use tampons AT ALL.
But they are awfully convenient, aren't they? I try to limit myself to
using them only when I think I really need to (for working out, long
meetings, travel, swimming - works out to 3-5 tampons a month). And if I
ever start to feel TSS symptoms, that tampon comes out right away! And,
DO NOT USE TAMPONS OVERNIGHT, NO MATTER WHAT THE ADS SAY!

Lots more information can be found at our web site, including WHO WE ARE
AND WHAT WE DO IN THE WOMEN'S COMMUNITY. Please feel free to copy the
information and pass it around. A page of references is included, in
case you want to do your own detective work [which you should, because
after all, I DO run a tampon company :-) ]:
http://www.biobiz.com/terrafemme/

If you have any questions, I encourage you to write and ask them. I have
been at this for 5 years, and although I'm not a medical professional, I
really care about women (and I may know more than most doctors about
this, or at least, where you can find non-biased information). I also
really like to give workshops and seminars, so let me know if your local
groups are interested in a presentation.

Re:
>>>>let's get the ball rolling
>>>>and take control of what the industry is doing to our bodies.

WOMEN ARE THE MOST POWERFUL CONSUMER GROUP IN THE WORLD!
We direct the buying of over 87% of all goods produced (even 74% of men's
clothing!). Use this consumer power to question the chlorine content of
everything that you buy, including; paper toilet paper, paper towels,
tissues, plastics, dry cleaning, clothing, etc. Chlorine and dioxin
contamination is slowly poisoning the entire planet, and tampons are just
the tip of the iceberg. Your local environmental group and library have
lots of information too!

*****************************************

Here's a short commercial - we REALLY do need to make sales to keep
going, and the big guys REALLY make it hard for us! WE'VE EVEN BEEN
THREATENED!:

Part of the profit from terra femme goes to support our work in the
women's community, work like women's shelters and housing, women's
economic development and health.

I encourage women to buy in bulk and use terra femme as a fundraiser too!
- great for women's shelters, health groups, environmentalists
(International Women's Day and Earth Day are coming up soon!).
We can also ship smaller mail orders to individuals - an easy order form
is at our web site, which can be printed, copied and mailed.

USE YOUR CONSUMER POWER TO SUPPORT WOMEN'S BUSINESS!! BUY TERRA FEMME
TAMPONS!

*************************************

Thank you for your time and effort, everyone. And thanks for listening. Be well.

In health,

Willi (Wilhelmina) Nolan

Bio Business International Inc., 78 Hallam Street, Toronto, Canada M6H 1W8
T. 416/539-8548. T. 800/755-0212. F. 416/539-9784
Email: willi@biobiz.com Web Site: www.biobiz.com/terrafemme/

Re:
>>>> Kelly Fuller (fullerk@stolaf.edu)
>>>> 1500 St. Olaf Ave.
>>>> Northfield, MN 55057-1001
>>>>
>>>>P.S. For those of you that are interested (and live near me), a bunch of
>>>>people in the class decided to order a big shipment of the 100% cotten,
>>>>unbleached tampons-- we got them wholesale ($3 for a box of 20, much
>>>>better than the $6-7 you'd pay in a store) so if anyone is interested in
>>>>buying a box or two, contact me ASAP.

Thanks for your hard work, Kelly! You're amazing!

"Responsible public health officials have pointed out that the biological
effect of chemicals are cumulative over long periods of time, and that
the hazard to the individual may depend on the sum of the exposures
received throughout his lifetime. For these very reasons the danger is
easily ignored."
Rachel Carson "Silent Spring"

New! at the terra femme web site: the
Terra Femme Web Site: http://www.biobiz.com/terrafemme/uspoltam.htm>