From the Summer 2004 newsletter of the Women’s Community Cancer Project

c/o the Women’s Center, 46 Pleasant Sreet, Cambridge, MA 02139

Cosmetics, Parabens, and Breast Cancer
by Rita Arditti

Early this year the media reported that English researchers identified parabens in samples of breast tumors. Parabens (alkyl esters of
p-hydroxybenzoic acid) are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in thousands of cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceutical
products, and food.

There are six commonly used forms (Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, p-Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, n-Butylparaben and
Benzylparaben) and it is estimated that they are used in at least13,200 cosmetics products.

According to the lead researcher of the recent study, Philippa Darbre, an oncology expert at the university of Reading, in Edinburgh, the chemical form of the parabens found in 18 of the 20 tumors testedindicated that they originated from something applied to the skin, the most likely candidates being deodorants, antiperspirants, creams, or…

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The Vastness of Connection

Bodhi du Jour — Sat, 05 May 2012 05:01:56 +0000

Bereft of knowledge before the heavens of my life, I stand astonished. Oh the great stars. Their rising and their setting. How quiet. As if I did not exist. Am I taking part? Do I discount their pure power? Does it rule the movement of my blood? I will yearn for no closer connections and accustom my heart to its farthest reaches. Better it live with the spine-chilling stars than with the pretense of some protection hovering near.

(Rainer Maria Rilke – “Uncollected Poems”)

Looking for Banksy

Bodhi du Jour — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:01:42 +0000

Graffiti artist, painter, revolutionary, vandal, the name Banksy elicits a variety of attributes. People say he was born in 1975, that he is from Bristol and he moved to London in 2000, that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are big fans, that he has a silver tooth, and his parents believe him to be a painter or an interior decorator.

I came across one of his creations a few years ago and have followed his work ever since because I enjoy the wit, the humor, and even the causticity he employs in order to make his message subtle, yet accessible, simple, yet penetrating.

I do not contest that Banksy is an enigma, one that is also wrapped in a conundrum. But, I don’t really care who he is, or what car he drives and where he buys his groceries. The only matter of concern to me is his art and more importantly, its moral.

Below are a few more of my favorite Banksy works.

Until next time,

Bodhi.

From the Summer 2004 newsletter of the Women’s Community Cancer Project

c/o the Women’s Center, 46 Pleasant Sreet, Cambridge, MA 02139

Cosmetics, Parabens, and Breast Cancer by Rita Arditti

The Vastness of Connection

Looking for Banksy

Cosmetics, Parabens, and Breast Cancer
by Rita Arditti