Early last month, January 2022, I developed a cough and fatigue. At first my doctor suspected pneumonia, but tests were negative. My nurse suggested a COVID test, and unfortunately this was positive. For two years, I have been very concerned about getting this pandemic virus, because I have only 27% breathing capacity. In addition to being quadriplegic, this is a vulnerable combo.

The good news is that I fully recovered. My lung specialist, Dr. Ameen, was able to get me in to receive a monoclonal antibody infusion, one of only 18 available that week. This, along with having been vaccinated and boosted, may have saved my life. After 46 years of challenging the pharmaceutical industry, I do appreciate this incredible assistance. Thanks, everyone, or as my ancestors said in Lithuanian: Aciu!

I’m fine right now, but today got sad news: A positive COVID test. Symptoms are mild, but I’m quadriplegic with 27% lung capacity so must have an abundance of caution. After 3 Moderna jabs, this is a “breakthrough case.” For decades I’ve opposed Big Pharma fraud, but these vaxes may have saved my life! I’m conserving my voice, but I will read all messages. I’ll post updates occasionally on my personal blog, and you can get notified automatically when I publish a new entry:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/pRPKrcN/davidwoaksnews

If you’ve taken, thanks.

If not, why not? Please act soon!

Deadline VERY SOON for Mind Justice Survey: This Thurs. 23 Dec 2021. Unite Mental & Physical Disability Movements. Have you taken? So far 325 have replied. Takes less than 5 min. Click below NOW, take survey & share:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mind-justice

As a wheelchair-riding psychiatric survivor, I’m in both physical & mental disability movements. But this survey is for EVERYONE whether you’ve ever been disabled or not. MindFreedom International co-sponsors. We’ll ONLY report anonymous & aggregated results.

If you’ve taken the survey, please copy the above blurb & link, for your friends & colleagues on e-mail & social media.

Did You Miss The Deadline?

Please take the survey anyway, you can use the same link. Our first report will not include your data, but your response will still be helpful for the future.

❄ Happy Solstice Everyone! ❄

Unite Mental & Physical Disability Movements: Survey Takes Less Than 5 Minutes

So far, about 250 people have responded to our brief survey bridging mental and physical disability. About half identify as having both. Because of last-minute interest, the new deadline is midnight of Thursday, 23 December 2021.

I am both in the mental and physical disability movements. I am a psychiatric survivor who uses a wheelchair, but this survey is to EVERYONE, whether you have ever been disabled in anyway or not.

While this survey is all-inclusive, and people of any faith or non-faith are encouraged, I am glad to see that many Unitarian Universalists have taken this survey. I am UU, and there is a lot of support in UU for justice for marginalized people. I hope that more UU folk will use this new deadline and take the survey.

The independent human rights group, MindFreedom International, is a co-sponsor of this survey. All personal data will be kept private. This blog will report anonymous and aggregated survey results soon.

By coincidence, the new extended deadline is on the same date as an infamous holiday, Festivus! This “procrastinator’s deadline” is therefore a Festivus miracle! More info about this actual created celebration, see: https://festivusweb.com/

Click below now and share with others:

Take the Mind Justice Survey Now:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mind-justice-deadline-extended-12-23

You’re Invited to a Free MindFreedom Campaign Action Webinar: 

All who support human rights in mental health are welcome!

Free Zoom Webinar, THIS Sunday, August 15, 2021

For decades, MindFreedom International (MFI) has been one of the strongest independent coalitions for human rights in mental health. Join us whether you’re a past, current, or possible-future MFI member. 

How can you work with others in MFI to effectively win alternatives and human rights through united campaigns? What steps can you take to begin forming an MFI Affiliate in your area? If you are already connected to an independent group, how can you connect with MFI as a Sponsor? 

Date: THIS Sunday, August 15, 2021

You need to register for free as soon as possible. Please click HERE

Zoom will then send you an automatic invite. If you do not see this, check your spam folder and/or search your email for the word zoom. Please note this invite link is unique to you, please do not share it. 

The start of the 15 August 2021 meeting, in several Time Zones:

7 pm ET US
6 pm CT US
5 pm MT US
4 pm PT US
23:00 UTC
8:00 (am), next day 16 August, in Korea & Japan. 

The meeting will be for up to 1.5 hours. MFI Executive Director Ron Bassman will be on this call and he said, “Charles Dickens opened his classic novel A Tale of Two Cities with the line, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ If we are feeling that such a time is now, let’s push to make it the best of times.”

Sarah Smith from the MFI office will also be a presenter and said: “This Webinar is important because telling our stories to one another from our armchairs is not enough. We need to support one another and share our collective wisdom for a greater purpose: to go outside our bubbles and speak our truth to strangers, even if we are afraid.”

Other special guests include:

Wilda White
Celia Brown
Daeryun LIM, MAD Pride Seoul Korea
Jim Gottstein
Ted Chabasinski
Rev. Phillip Schulman

Any questions or problems, just contact David Oaks by email.

Yours in Solidarity,

David W. Oaks, Aciu! Institute revolution@aciu.info