These notes and references are for the text of the 'Art of Peace' novel chapters.
(Remember to bookmark this page before you start clicking on these... or use tabbed browsing.) (links coming soon..)
*
The photograph by Horst is called ‘Mainbocher Corset’, 1939. (Mainbocher was the designer, and it was photographed in Vogue’s studios in Paris.)
The quote from Audre Lorde is from The Cancer Journals (San Francisco: Spinsters Ink, 1980) page 77.
The Pulitzer Prize winning photograph by Huynh Cong (Nick) Ut i
s of Kim Phuc Phan Thi and others running down a road near Trang Bang after an ARVN napalm attack on villages suspected of harboring NLF fighters in June 1972.Regarding the WITCH actions, see the selection of leaflets and hexes in Robyn Morgan, ed. Sisterhood is Powerful: An Anthology of Writings From the Women's Liberation Movement (NY: Vintage, 1970), 538-540. Also see the press release ‘No More Miss America: August 1968’ in the same publication (521-524) regarding the 1968 protest in Atlantic City and the Freedom Trash Can where bras were trashed.
Prince’s song ‘1999’ was from the album 1999 released in 1982.
The Cairns Midi-burning event was cited in Alexandra Joel, Best Dressed (Sydney: Collins, 1984) p 176.
‘
Last night I dreamed…’ was a series of Maidenform foundation-wear advertisements from 1949-1969. There were over 200 ‘I dreamed’ themes, including two shot by Richard Avendon (the most famous of which is the ‘I dreamed I was Wanted’ poster). The series was judged by Fortune magazine as one of the top five classic ad campaigns of all time. See Tom Reichert, The Erotic History of Advertising (NY: Prometheus Books, 2003) 142.Regarding the chemical legacy of the Vietnam War, see Battle’s Poison Cloud [documentary] Directed and produced by Cecile Trijssenaar, Tambuti Films, 2003.
For Dow’s history of manufacturing chemicals used in war, see for instance: ‘Dow: Pesticide Action Network North America World Bank Accountability Project.’ Report at PANNA: Pesticide Action Network North America website. 2 Mar. 2006
For a history of chemotherapy and critique of its routine use without evidence of effectiveness (as in the case of most solid tumor adult cancers, including breast cancer), see for instance: Samuel Epstein, The Politics of Cancer Revisited (NY: East Ridge Press, 1998); Ralph Moss, Questioning Chemotherapy: A Critique of the Use of Toxic Drugs in the Treatment of Cancer (NY: Equinox Press, 1995); Don Benjamin, ‘The Efficacy of Chemotherapy for Cancer.’ Cancer Information Support Society website. 23 Oct. 2001.
Fenella Souter, ‘Desperate Measures: We’re forever reading about “advances” in cancer drugs, and Big Pharma grows fat on the profits, yet cancer mortality rates have changed little over time. Just what is the truth about conventional treatments like chemotherapy?’ The Good Weekend, Oct. 15, 2005.
David Greenberg’s 1975 articles in the Columbia Journalism Review and the New England Journal of Medicine first used a comparison between the war on cancer and the Vietnam War in terms of the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ claims (see in Moss, Questioning Chemotherapy, 29-30). Moss uses an analogy to the way chemotherapy risks ‘destroying the village in order to save it’ on page 23. Irwin Boss (cited by Moss, page 22) referred to the ‘macho’ nature of the profession of oncology. Sharon Batt (1994/1996, passim) also explores the use of war metaphors in cancer therapy. Also see my article ‘Policing AIDS: Social Control and Sexual Disease’ New Doctor No. 46 (Dec. 1987), for an analysis of the use of war metaphors in infectious diseases epidemiology and the effects of this metaphor on health policy.
Figures for sales of Adriamycin in 1974 and chemotherapy agent sales figures for 1983-7 cited by Batt (1994/1995 as above), 252. The global sales figure for 1997 cited by Kenny Ausubel, 'When Healing Becomes a Crime' Tikkun Magazine, 12 Jun. 2001. 6 Jul. 2005
For information about the ‘revolving door’ between the cancer institutions and the pharmaceutical corporations, see Epstein (1998 and 2000, as above).
Regarding the strategy of ‘Fear and Cheer’ and media reporting of cancer research, see Sharon Batt’s chapter on this in Patient No More (1994/6) Part 3, ‘Scoops’, 268ff.
For specific criticisms of study protocols for chemotherapy, see Ralph Moss (1995). The quote from Moss that begins, ‘It amazes me…’ is from page 9.
The increased death rates from non-cancer causes such as heart disease on overall mortality rates after cancer treatments is raised by Don Benjamin (various articles available at the CISS website, see above.)
German statistician Ulrich Abel’s conclusion that any efficacy of chemotherapy for breast cancer, which is evident mainly in premenopausal women, could be due to its destructive effects on ovarian function is cited by Sharon Batt (1994/1996) 106.
Regarding the allocation of funding for prevention, Epstein stated in 2000 that ‘The NCI [National Cancer Institute] currently allocates less than 3% of its budget to primary prevention, while the ACS [American Cancer Society] allocates less than 0.2%.’ Samuel Epstein, ‘Letter to the Editor’, Journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 284 No. 4 (July 26, 2000).
Regarding the rising incidence of childhood cancers, Bette Hileman states, ‘According to a recent study from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), childhood cancer incidence has risen 1% a year since the early 1970s.’ From ‘Children's Health’ originally published in Chemical & Engineering News, 7 Apr. 2003, 23-26. 11 Nov. 2004
Regarding environmental factors in the development of cancer, see for instance, Epstein, The Politics of Cancer Revisited (1998, as above), and his extract ‘Richard Doll, An Epidemiologist Gone Awry’, from Stop Cancer Before It Starts: How to Win the War On Cancer, Cancer Prevention Coalition Website.17 Feb. 2006
Also see: ‘Examining the Environmental Links to Breast Cancer: Frequently Asked Questions’
The Breast Cancer Fund, 1999. 10 Oct. 2000
Feminist Women’s Health Centre website. 4 Sept. 2000
For example, Halle (above) states that ‘In 1964, the World Health Organization concluded that 80% of cancers were due to human-produced carcinogens; in 1979, the National
Institutes of Health identified environmental factors as the major cause of most cancers.’ While Megan Williams (above) cites a recent study carried out in Hartford, Connecticut that ‘found women with breast cancer to have 50 to 60 percent higher levels of organochlorines, including PCBs, in their breast tissue than women without breast cancer’.
Regarding non-toxic therapies, see for instance, Ralph Moss, Cancer Therapy: The Independent Consumer’s Guide to Non-Toxic Treatment and Prevention. NY: Equinox Press, 1992/1996; Don Benjamin, ‘Evaluating Cancer Therapies and Developing a Cancer Program’, Extracts from a presentation at the Annual Cancer Seminar organised by the Cancer Support Association of WA Inc., Cottesloe, WA, Saturday 3 May 2003. 15 Feb. 2005
Regarding conflict of interest and sponsorship by chemical companies of Breast Cancer Awareness Week, see Sharon Batt’s 1999 article (‘The Make the Chemicals…’ as above).
Petrea King’s book, written with Wendie Batho, is Spirited Women: Journeys with Breast Cancer (Sydney: Random House, 1995).
The quotes from A Cancer Source Book for Nurses, edited by Claudette V. Varricchio (Eight edition, Mass: Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2004) are from page 126.
On whether breast cancer is a medical emergency: see ABC Radio National’s The Health Report and Life Matters ‘Breast cancer special’ broadcast 3 May 1999, with interviews with Dr. John Forbes, Professor of Surgical Oncology, University of Newcastle and Professor Sally Redman, Director, National Breast Cancer Centre and others. Forbes, for instance, commented how the notion of ‘emergency’ in relation to breast cancer is unhelpful and creates anxiety, while Redman said that ‘The guidelines, NH&MRC guidelines suggest that if you wait for a couple of weeks, that won't be a problem, and I think it is really important that women take the time to make a decision that they're happy with.’
Regarding cancer screening and the complex issues surrounding early detection, see ‘Cancer Screening: Benefits and Harms’, a three-part series produced by Dr Alex Barratt, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Sydney for The Health Report and Life Matters, ABC Radio National, broadcast on 22 & 29 Aug. and 5 Sept. 2005. Transcripts (accessed 26 Aug. 2005) are also available at
For an example of the ‘getting better all the time’ mantra, see Susan M. Love with Karen Lindsay, Dr Susan Love’s Breast Book (Original edition, 1990, Mass: Perseus Books, 2nd revised edition, 1995). In her chapter on Radiation therapy (402-415) the only references she cites are two studies, one showing an increased incidence of death from heart disease following radiation therapy, and another showing a higher incidence of other kinds of cancer after five years. However she then says ‘We’ve come a long way since those days’, and proceeds to describe how the treatments have been refined, concluding by the end of the chapter that ‘radiation remains one of our most valuable tools in the treatment of local breast cancer.’ She doesn’t, however, cite any studies or figures to support this statement.
The prominent doctor who made the disparaging comment on Oprah about the mammogram metastudy not being a ‘real study’ and conducted by statisticians (not doctors), was Dr Susan Love.
The retreat Maddie goes on is at the Gawler Foundation. If she was in NSW, she would probably go to one run by Petrea King.
The doctor Maddie sees who makes the comment about the main difference being in the way her patients die, is modelled on Dr Megan Mathews, whose practise is in the Blue Mountains in Sydney. (Personal telephone interviews, 1 Nov. 1999, and 6 Mar. 2006.)
Maddie’s rationale for giving high priority to working on her emotional issues is adapted from Gary Craig’s notion that ‘The cause of ALL negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system.’ See ‘Emotional Freedom Technique’, information and free downloadable manual available from
Deepak Chopra’s comments about cancer as a ‘mistake’ of cells are from The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life (NY: Three Rivers Press, 2004). ‘Why is greed good for us and yet spells destruction at the level of our cells, where greed is the basic mistake made by cancer cells?’ (11) and ‘The choice to live in separation -- a choice no cell ever makes unless it is cancerous…' (25). Also see, for instance, Grace Gawler, Women of Silence: the Emotional Healing of Breast Cancer (Melbourne: Hill of Content publishing, 1994). Gawler writes, ‘Remember cancer is not a foreign invader; it is the body's own cells that have grown out of control so they are not replicating to the body's blueprint’ ( 72).
Martin Luther King Jr.’s comment regarding the use of ‘massive doses of violence’ comes from his speech ‘Beyond Vietnam,’ Address delivered to the Clergy and Laymen Concerned
about Vietnam, Riverside Church, New York City, 4 Apr.1967. 2 Nov. 2005
The man on the radio saying ‘Battle is always an incoherent state’ was Robert Shwartz, in an interview with Michael Toms for New Dimensions, PBS, California, broadcast on ABC Radio National, Feb 2006.
The comparison between chemotherapy and bloodletting was first raised by J. Cairns in his 1985 article in Scientific American, cited by Moss, Questioning Chemotherapy, 47. Cairns noted that studies are conducted comparing different combinations of chemotherapy drugs, or drugs given at different stages of the disease, or in different doses, but rarely ever conducted with controls who are not given any form of chemotherapy – this being similar to what happened with the practice of bloodletting in the 19th century, where no-one in the orthodox medical community ‘suggested that these patients might actually have done better if they had been left alone.’
The direct quotes from Morihei Ueshiba (O Sensei), the founder of Aikido, are taken from the selection of quotes from John Stevens, The Art of Peace that is available at
The description of O Sensei as able to ‘disarm any foe, down any number of attackers, and pin an opponent with a single finger’ comes from the introduction to The Art of Peace, by John Stevens, reproduced at Aikido Information Page (accessed 6 Nov. 2005)
The comment Maddie makes about the amount of muscular strength required being equivalent to picking up a housebrick is from the brochure for Iwama Ryu Aikido Australia, written by Michael Field Sensei.
The definition of Budo comes from Shiro Matsuoka, ‘Dietary Life of “Do”’ Aikido Doshinokai Dojo website (accessed 5 Feb. 2006)
Other sources include Thomas Crum, The Magic of Conflict: Turning a Life of Work into a Work of Art (NY: Touchstone, 1987); Claude St Dennis, The Power of Aikido (NY: Lancer Books, 1965); Ullana Twahn, ‘The Field Aikido Centre promises a solution for Women looking for true Self-Defence’ (accessed 4 Nov. 2005)
Thanks also to Sensei Damian Crowley for an introduction to Aikido in 1997; and to Chris Noller for his comments on the draft of this chapter, and to Scott, Susie, Gillian, Zeb, Dave and Mark from the Ballarat (Grampians) Aikido Dojo for discussion and demonstration.
Thanks to Angelo Druda and Peter Zhang, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioners for discussions about herbs and the use of both herbs and chemotherapy in Chinese hospitals. Also see the comment by Alan Bensoussan, a Chinese doctor who does research at the University of Western Sydney Macarthur in Australia: ‘You must remember these are routine medicines used in very large public hospitals in China and Korea at least. Western medicos would prefer to wait and see until the “active ingredient” has been found, isolated, concentrated and standardized, but I suspect they'll be waiting a long time to find any single pharmaceutical agent that matches the benefit of a whole, albeit complex, Chinese formula. We don't really have good models in pharmacology to explore the interaction of a large number of potentially active substances. Yet in traditional terms these formulas are designed on the basis that, for example, one herb will support the action of another whilst detoxifying a third.’ ‘Alternative Medicine,’ The Why Files, Science Behind the News, 1998, University of Wisconsin, Board of Regents, accessed 6 Mar. 2006
My sincere thanks to the Literature Board of the Australia Council, the Varuna Writers Centre, and the University of Ballarat for various forms of support and encouragment. Also to my PhD supervisor Meg Tasker, and associate supervisor, Fiona Giles.
Finally, thanks to the many people who have discussed these issues with me over the past ten years, or whose writing, stories or friendship have in some way influenced and inspired me.
