DIS-SCENTING OPINION YOU can bring DIS-SCENTING OPINION to your area or buy the video of last year's production. Contact Hannah of Hanarchy West at h@hanarchy.com or 415.550.1902 URL for Hanarchy West is: http://www.hanarchy.com/dis-scentingopinion.html Excellent information below . . . How can I reduce the scents I use that can make others or myself ill? Old news: A Gourmet House Party to Benefit DIS-SCENTING OPINION Gourmet gathering with video, music, raffle & food glorious food! Benefit for groundbreaking theatre on Environmental Illness/ Multiple Chemical Sensitivities! Don't miss Hanarchy West's tasty next event: we're copresenting SnaX! With video artists, music, raffle and mouth-watering food! Coming Saturday, February 12th, 2000! SnaX! The Groundbreaking Collaborative Theater Performance on Queer Community and Ecology By Women with Environmental Illness dir. by Emily Bender, Master's Degree Candidate in Interdisciplinary Arts at San Francisco State University Copresented by Hanarchy West. Join us 7pm, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 12 call for location and more info 415-970-0609 Donation at the door $5-$5,000 FEATURING: Award winning videos by Trevelyn Kristine and Cade Bursell Music with a sense of humor from Stephanie Haffner and Gourmet food by the director herself! RAFFLE WITH FABULOUS PRIZES * a massage by Beth Baron * a fragrance free gift pack * a handmade necklace by Frieda Feen * a safer sex kit * a freshly baked pie by the Director * Please help us make this event accessible by not wearing scented products. More detail below. Thanks! Sadly, we are not wheelchair accessible yet. Here's some basic information about products to use and some scientific information about Environmental Illness and hazardous materials found in everyday products. If you have more detailed questions feel free to call us at 415-970-0609. How can I reduce the scents I use that can make others or myself ill? It's easy. So many products these days come in a "fragrance free" form. If you are not accustomed to going "scent free" it is important to think carefully about all the products you use in your day. You can either not use shampoo, soap, gel/hair spray, perfume/scented oils, skin lotion, shaving cream, etc. etc. or use fragrance free alternatives (read on for a list of suggested products and places to get them) for at least the whole day before attending an event that is "scent free". If you have used scented shampoo dry hair is less problematic than wet freshly washed hair. If you use fragranced laundry detergent do not wear freshly washed clothes, and air out clothes overnight if possible. This is especially important if you use fabric softener which is a particularly dangerous. Also please avoid freshly dry or wet cleaned clothes or smoky clothes, or the scents of paint, incense or other cleaning, art or industrial chemicals. To get safer products, head out to Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco. If you are outside of SF check out your local independently owned health food store or Whole Foods. Some recommended products (make sure the bottle says "fragrance free"): Magick Botanicals shampoo, conditioner and gel, Stonybrook Botanicals shampoo and conditioner, Pure Essentials shampoo and conditioner, Beauty Without Cruelty spray gel, Pure & Basic Deoderant, Eucerin Cream or Lotion, etc. etc. If you are unable to find "fragrance free" at your store, often the hypoallergenic version of a product is scent free. Another reason to go "scent free" is because it is often better for your health. Many common household products shockingly contain harmful chemicals. The Environmental Health Network of California ( http://www.ehnca.org or 415-541-5075) is an excellent resource on the science behind Environmental Illness and a place to contact for information and resources. The following information was compiled by Julia Kendall (at http://ehnca.org/ehn20.htm ): From a 1986 US House of Representatives study: "95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and many other known toxics and sensitizers -- capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions." From a 1991 US Environmental Protection Agency study: Fragranced products that contain toxic chemicals include: cologne, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, fabric softener, hairspray, nail polish remover, laundry bleach, bar soap, air fresheners, after shave, vaseline lotion, nail polish, paint and varnish remover, disinfectant spray, and deoderant. How shocking that they haven't done anything to protect consumers. Symptoms that are directly linked to chemicals often found in common household products include: dizziness nausea incoordination slurred speech drowsiness irritation to mouth, throat, skin, eyes, lungs and GI tract headache vomiting drop [or spike] in blood pressure twitching muscles convulsions impaired vision damage to liver and kidneys dryness of mouth and throat confusion giddiness fatigue irritability [users are mighty irritable; it's not just the fragrance-sensitive with this reaction!] tingling in the limbs damage to immune system asthma dermatitis [including eczema, acne, rashes, hives ... symptoms suffered by users and non-users] Look forward to seeing you at the party! Queer women with sensitivities to chemicals sought for theater project. Contibute to awareness of this emerging and important health issue for women! My name is Emily Bender and I am doing play called Dis-Scenting Opinion, which will be about environment and community issues from the perspective of queer women living with Environmental Illness/Multiple Chemical Sensitvity, or a chronic illness with these characteristics: sensitivity to fragrances and/or chemicals. Other symptoms can include joint pain, fatique, brain fog, headaches, athsma, etc. I am currently seeking cast members for the piece, as well as contributors. I am looking for people who are interested in participating at many different levels, from being interviewed to performing. IT is a collaborative project, and cast members will write and perform it, with the added bonus of video and other media. It's a great opportunity for your voice to be heard. I am especially looking for women of color who might be interested. So if you, or someone you know is affected by sensitvies to chemicals and fragrances, even if you or they don't name it the same way I do, I hope you will be interested in participating. The process will involve 2-3 rehearsals/week if you perform, otherwise participation will depend on your own desired level. We will perform our work in progress at the end of May or early June. After that, the sky's the limit! Please call (phone is the best way to reach me) or email if you are intereseted. 415-970-0609, eiavengers@chickmail.com. http://www.chickclick.com girl sites that don't fake it. http://www.chickmail.com sign up for your free email. http://www.chickshops.com boutique shopping from chickclick.com