#i <3 carcinogens

[fishlung8877]

yayo

+ Random closeups under cut :3c

[mjhartwork]

dumping valley

[deus-ex-mona]

my five surviving braincells when something remotely good happens:

[aeide-thea]

[alcohol cw]

i was trying to think of something ~festive~ to do for my dad's b*rthday so we had french 75s and like. cocktails fun actually, you heard it here last 🥂

[chaseprice]

,

[alithiasigma]

The research suggests that death is inevitable and that botox (botulinum toxin), a substance often used in anti-aging treatments, is bad for the human body. Biology, particularly regarding endocrinology, neurology, and sensory studies, indicate that even if death weren't inevitable, immortality would not be pleasant for any human.

scrunching my face real hard rn

[bam-monsterhospital]

ah there we are. problem.

[anythingbyadriannelenker]

(the horrors are multiplying) and i stay silly :3

[hasellia]

Philosopher: "What is 1 + 2 ?"

Mathematician " 2.5. If one more person says that irrational numbers are valid I'm going to drown someone."

Statistician " 4. When in doubt, add plus one."

Engineer: " 3 is the strongest number, but regulations require to double our numbers for safety. So I'm saying 6."

Physicist " 3.5. I'm the smartest person here & I have no idea why the equation outputs that number. Y'all just to cowardly to admit the same."

Atronomer : "It's probably 2.3, give or take a few .3s."

Biologist: " Do you have any idea how complicated the dynamics of 1 interacting with 2 is? I've got no idea."

Geologist: " I'm guessing 2."

Chemist: " we mixed a bunch stuff together for fun. The carcinogen we made could only have happened if the equation equals 3. So I'm saying 3."

Mathematician: "I'm going to drown you."

[dear-ao3]

bucket of facts here. This is one of my favorite f1 things ever, apologies for how long it ended up being:

In the 1980’s, formula one teams, notably BMW, added toluene to their fuel mixtures. If that word sounds like it’s probably dangerous, that’s because it is — most people know it as rocket fuel. It’s extremely poisonous and carcinogenic, but did have some upsides! For one, it was less volatile [citation needed] than what they had been using, making is slightly less dangerous in the event of a crash (by 1970’s-80’s F1 standards that just means in only turned into a small bomb most of the time). It was also denser and burned faster, so the same amount of toluene could give much more power than the standard F1 fuel.

While the new fuel did allow them to run higher turbo pressures, it did it have a tendency to increase turbo pressure as it was run during the race, and everyone ran turbos at this time. They had to dial back the turbo pressure from what it’s max could’ve been, just to compensate for the power of the fuel — this mitigated the admittedly high likelihood that the engine decided to submit its two weeks notice on two seconds of warning (read: it caught on fire and sometimes kinda maybe sorta just exploded).

Modern f1 fuel has an RON octane rating of 95-102. The toluene aided fuel had an RON octane rating of 120+. For context, your car probably runs on about 87 RON. For those unfamiliar, RON octane ratings measure how much compression fuel can be put under before it sparks, which is how engines work: compress fuel, spark, make power (I can explain that better if you want but short version is that). This incredibly high octane level allowed the engines of the time to be run at a much higher compression, which had a myriad of bonuses to the cars.

Current F1 regulations are 1.6 litre V6 engines that rev to 15,000 RPMs (max allowed) and produce a max of 850 BHP (horsepower) when they’re pushing the edge of their abilities without aid of electric components like H/KERS, which is used to boost the cars to around 1,000 BHP.

Brabham-BMW’s 1983 engine took Nelson Pique to his WDC that year. It was a 1.5 litre inline 4 (so smaller than current) and produced 12,000 RPMs, as the restrictions were a bit tighter there back then. Without electronic aid like today and a smaller engine than your standard Toyota Camry, it easily produced 850 BHP at race trim, the version built to last a whole race. When in qualifying trim, with everything tuned to maximum to get the most out of the car without it blowing up, it ran at 1,250 BHP. Original testing put it at producing over 1,400 BHP, but BMWs testing facilities couldn’t measure past that — the car put out more power than they could even register.

The teams also had a sneaky loophole: the amount of fuel allowed to be held at once in the car (refueling was banned at this time) was effectively limited to how large the gas tank could be. The teams realized that they could literally freeze the fuel and store it at cold temperatures. This compacted the fuel, allowing them to put more fuel into the gas tank — more fuel per fuel, really. This allowed drivers to be more aggressive and push harder more often, not having to worry about running out of fuel.

In case this whole toluene thing seems bad, don’t worry! It’s only used in nail polish, rubber, adhesives, and paints :3

hit me up for more facts if you want

oh my

anon bestie i might in fact be in love with you

[manicplank]

Ways The Noise Has Died

I have a headcanon that The Noise can die and respawn. (He's cursed, but sometimes he takes advantage of it.) These are just some of the ways he's died. He does a lot of stupid shit.

Hit by car: 3

Lung cancer: 2

Throat cancer: 1

Fallen from building/height: 2

Shot by police: 7

Drowned: 1

Execution by electric chair: 1

Eaten by alligators: 2

Smashed by piano: 2

Killed by Peppino: 15

Heart attack: 3

Diabetes: 3

Fire/burns: 5

Explosion: 22

Spontaneous combustion: 4

Eaten by shark: 1

Poisoned: 1

Internal bleeding: 2

Septic shock: 2

Execution by guillotine: 2

Bleeding out: 4

Head trauma: 5

Forgot to breathe: 18

Killed by Toppin Monster: 3

Mauled by bear: 1

Ate something inedible: 6

Forgot to eat (starved): 3

Alcohol poisoning: 6

Dehydration: 3

Eaten by tigers: 1

Strangled by Pizzahead: 2

Stung by bees: 1

Run over by boulder: 1

Struck by lightning: 2

Led poisoning: 2

Ate paint: 3

EDIT from replies:

Killed by Noisette: 1

Radiation exposure: 2

Choke on food: 12

Organ failure: 7

Froze to death: 1

Allergies: 3

Land mine testing: 2

Food poisoning: 28

Jetpack failure: 6

Sucked into black hole: 1

Inhaling carcinogenic gaz: 7

Talking back to his mama: 1

Banished into the shadow realm: 2

Dark magic spell failure: 4

Touching electric plug with a fork: 5

Stunt failure: 35

Edit from replies 2:

Got skewered in a magic trick gone wrong: 11

Got caught in a mousetrap: 6

Rat poison: 25

Burned alive: 4

(Feel free to suggest ways he's died. Silly little bastard is always up to no good.)

Hit by a train: 2

EDIT by replies 3:

Washed out to sea: 4

Battle with Doise: 1

Fallen into volcano: 7

Mocked Pepperman’s art: 3

Sucked into tornado: 3

Kicked by cow: 1

Crushed by his crusher: 4

Ate Fake Peppino’s food: 2

Slipped on banana peel: 18

Rabies: 4

Pissed off Dougie Jones: 1

Shot by alien raygun: 3

Crushed by tree: 1

Buried alive: 3

Shot by Vigilante: 2

Knife juggling: 4

challenged God to smite him: 1

Fallen into bottomless pit: 7

Eaten by piranhas: 3

Bitten by zombie: 1

Air balloon crash: 5

Tried to light his fart on fire (gone wrong): 1

[ms-demeanor]

not be suuuuuuper annoying but the concerns raised about aspartame by the WHO are almost entirely regarding its potential carcinogen status and not seizures. specifically, as a "possible" carcinogen, group 2B, which, while very far removed from confirmed carcinogens, becomes a very real concern because some people consume aspartame in very large quantities on a daily basis, like 12 cans of diet coke a day, no problem.

so yes, there's a great deal of ridiculous charlatan-style behavior surrounding aspartame, but that's not really related to the actual research being done. we can't look to rodent studies as the end-all-be-all, and even human observational studies dimly linking cancer to aspartame must be taken with a huge grain of salt, because, again, observational study, but when it comes to super-long-term-consumption of an ingredient and the potential for cancer, it's not unreasonable to evaluate your personal risk tolerance and decide it's not a bad idea to reduce or eliminate aspartame from your diet

tldr (do people still use this term?): the actual concerns about aspartame aren't about sensitivity or seizures and it cannot be conclusively said to be completely safe, but at the same time it's not a huge deal especially if you don't ingest that much of it regularly

sorry for being so annoying about this shit :( <3

So that report came out a year after I had started doing the research so it obviously didn't come up in my original deep dive and the WHO's findings on aspartame as being possibly carcinogenic are pretty much in line with prior recommended limits on aspartame consumption.

I'm not going to deny that there are some people who consume 12 cans of diet sodas a day, but I do want to point out that people who are consuming 12 cans of diet soda are drinking more than a gallon of soda each day. This is a tiny number of consumers (the vast majority of consumers drink 16oz or less a day of *any* kind of soda, diet or otherwise). At that point you don't just need to worry about the aspartame, you need to worry about what that's doing to your sodium intake as a much more proven risk (12 cans of diet coke a day gives you about half a gram more salt than would otherwise be in your diet), or be concerned about the possible connection between artificial sweeteners and metabolic syndrome.

And I really just cannot emphasize enough that the vast, vast majority of people aren't consuming more than 5 cans of diet soda daily, let alone 10 - aspartame consumption among people who use aspartame is in the 5-13mg/kg range, not in the 40-50mg/kg range except for a few very rare cases.

Humans are bad at risk assessment. People look at the IARC reclassification and look at their own (typically very small) aspartame consumption, and will stop drinking diet drinks (and will often tell other people to stop drinking diet drinks).

Drinking somewhere in the neighborhood of a gallon of diet soda each day is possibly carcinogenic, or at the very least *not provably not cancer-causing* and people have been talking about it and writing thinkpieces about it and the anti-aspartame crew has been insufferable about it since July made.

So what has happened here is that a very reasonable organization has made a very reasonable category change to a chemical that switched it from "known not to cause cancer" to "not known to not cause cancer" and the anti-aspartame crew has continued to list cancer, and neurological problems, and seizures, and a whole host of other things as the results of aspartame consumption.

And, like, I'm not calling these people charlatans for this paper but jesus christ:

Actually maybe I am going to call these people charlatans. This all links back to the "aspartame metabolizes as formaldehyde and poisons you" thing (which a lot of the extremely suspect research on aspartame does).

People are *absolutely* still doing research into the more absurd claims of anti-aspartame activists. This paper was published *this month* (and relies on the self-reported memories of mothers of autistic children to recall how much aspartame they consumed during pregnancy, which is not going to be a *great* set of data to analyze)

But anyway, before I go down that rabbit hole, let's get back to cancer and cancer risk. It is, of course, totally okay for you to look at the designation of aspartame as a 2B substance and decide that you don't want to use aspartame anymore, that you think it's too much of a risk.

You know what's in IARC category 2A, or probably carcinogenic to humans?

Drinking hot tea. Or coffee. Or water. Or cocoa.

Drinking liquid over 65 degrees Celsius/ 149 degrees fahrenheit is biologically plausible as a cause of cell damage that may lead to cancer. There is more evidence of this connection than the connection between aspartame and cancer.

You know what we called 150 degrees when I was working at the coffee shop? Kid hot. Because that's how hot you can make hot cocoa for kids so it is warm enough to be hot cocoa but won't burn their tongues. If you serve most adults coffee or tea at 150 degrees they'll consider it cold (or at least not as hot as a hot drink should be). Starbucks doesn't serve hot coffee at under 165F and if you ask for extra hot it'll be closer to 180.

The IARC report listing hot beverages as category 2A means that it's not unreasonable to evaluate your personal risk tolerance and decide it's not a bad idea to reduce or eliminate liquids over 65C from your diet.

But nobody is doing that.

Basically more research needs to be done on everything and you're not being annoying, the way that human brains work and assess risk and set up phantoms to get scared of even when there are much bigger and realer risks (like consuming any amount of alcohol on a regular basis) that people are perfectly willing to overlook.

It's like being afraid of plane crashes but cheerfully getting in your car for a 20 mile daily commute with no concerns or worries because it's something you do every day.

Brains! They're annoying!

[cherubofthenight]

nurturing my natural self (part 3)

Disclaimer: I made this, like all my other posts, for myself, but if you are reading this, I'm not a doctor, and this is basic researched knowledge. If you realize that you need help, please seek a doctor!

A Clean Slate

Everyone's skin is different, reflecting my unique experiences and heritage. It possesses its own characteristics, needs, and inherent beauty. By recognizing and celebrating these differences, I can tailor my skincare routine to enhance my natural beauty and promote healthy skin. "My Skin is Different: A Canvas for Personal Expression." Just as artists employ various techniques to showcase their unique styles, I can use skincare to express my identity. Caring for my skin is not solely about aesthetics; it’s about honoring and showcasing my true self. The textures, scents, and ingredients blend together harmoniously, creating a symphony of care that celebrates individuality. By viewing my skincare regimen through this artistic lens, I invite creativity into my self-care practices, fostering a deeper connection with my skin as it flourishes into its most radiant self.

Ingredients: There are plenty of ingredients out there that can boost skin health, both natural and chemical. Natural options like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and chamomile are great for hydration and soothing irritation. On the flip side, chemical ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, and salicylic acid can brighten the skin and help with acne. Just keep in mind that “natural” doesn’t always mean “better.” It’s all about finding what works best for you and your skin. What helps Kayla might not do the same for Kiara!

- Niacinamide: Reduces redness, brightens skin, minimizes pores, and strengthens the skin barrier.

- Aloe Vera: Soothes sunburn and hydrates the skin.

- Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrates, plumps fine lines, and improves elasticity.

- Glycerin: Attracts moisture and enhances skin texture.

- Lactic Acid: Gently exfoliates and brightens dull skin.

- Ceramides: Restores the skin barrier and retains moisture.

- Panthenol (Vitamin B5): Hydrates and promotes skin healing.

- Chamomile Extract: Calms inflammation and soothes sensitive skin.

- Green Tea Extract: Contains antioxidants and reduces inflammation.

- Squalane: Provides lightweight hydration and balances oil (the hydrogenated version of squalene, which is found naturally in our bodies and unfortunately oxides quickly, which makes it more stable and gives it a longer shelf life).

- Zinc Oxide: Offers sun protection and soothes irritation, treat itching, skin infections, chapped skin, and skin conditions.

- Retinol: Stimulates collagen, reduces wrinkles, and treats acne.

- Adapalene: Prevents clogged pores and reduces acne lesions.

- Tretinoin (Retin-A): Targets anti-aging, acne, and improves skin tone.

- Vitamin C: Brightens the skin, antioxidant protection, stimulates collagen synthesis, improves skin firmness and reduces wrinkles, reduces inflammation.

- Glycolic Acid: Gently exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells and promoting cell turnover, improves texture, brightens dull skin, unclogs pores and can help reduce acne breakouts.

- Benzoyl Peroxide: helps clear acne by killing acne-causing bacteria, reducing inflammation, and gently exfoliating the skin to prevent clogged pores, making it a highly effective treatment for mild to moderate breakouts. Please note: there's been some concern over trace amounts of benzene (a carcinogen) in some over-the-counter products. However, benzoyl peroxide itself is not inherently linked to benzene contamination. It’s a good idea to choose reputable products to minimize risk. for that reason, i wasn't going to include this in the list but i do feel it necessary to inform anyone who uses these products that may be reading this.

BUTTTT you don't need a ten-step routine to achieve great skin. these are just product ideas for specific targets & remember to always patch test and find what works for you.

Lifestyle Changes: Adjustments in diet, hydration, and stress management that can positively impact skin health.

Professional Treatments: Procedures performed by dermatologists or estheticians, such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or laser treatments.

Over-the-Counter Solutions: Products available without a prescription that target specific skin concerns (e.g., anti-acne creams, moisturizers for dryness).

Holistic Approaches: Methods that focus on the whole body and mind, such as yoga, meditation, and herbal supplements.

Nail care

all about keeping things simple and healthy. Regularly trimming your nails, filing them, and moisturizing them with natural oils like jojoba or almond helps prevent breakage and keeps them looking neat. Keeping them trimmed also prevents snagging, while moisturizing makes them stronger and less prone to splitting. It's an easy way to have strong, healthy nails without relying on harsh products.

Body care

Your body needs just as much love as your face when it comes to skincare. Exfoliating, moisturizing, and protecting it from the sun is key. Like your face, the rest of your skin needs regular cleansing to get rid of dirt and oil, exfoliation to smooth things out, and hydration to stay soft. Don’t forget the SPF on areas like your arms and legs to keep them safe from sun damage, which can lead to premature aging and uneven skin tone. I usually follow up with some perfume/body spray/scented body oil.

During hot days

Apply antiperspirant in the morning, and wipe off existing deodorant before reapplying throughout the day to prevent buildup and ensure better adherence. Carry travel-size wipes or body sprays to freshen up, especially if you can’t shower. Additionally, choose lightweight, loose-fitting, and breathable fabrics like cotton to help wick away sweat and allow for better air circulation.

Feminine Care

Many feminine washes and vaginal deodorants are advertised as must-haves, but most gynecologists say they're not necessary and can actually do more harm than good. These products can throw off your vagina's natural pH balance, leading to issues like irritation, dryness, and even infections. Instead of those products, just stick to a good, sensitive skin, unscented antibacterial soap for cleaning the vulva. That’s all you really need to keep things fresh without messing with your body's natural balance. Additionally, opt for breathable cotton underwear, steer clear of douching, and consult with your gynecologist if you have specific concerns or experience unusual symptoms.

Oral Care

For mouth care, in addition to regular brushing and flossing, there are a few other practices that can help maintain oral hygiene.

- Oil pulling: swishing oil (typically coconut oil) around your mouth for 10-20 minutes. Benefits: Thought to help remove toxins, reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth, and freshen breath. It may also support gum health and reduce plaque buildup. it contains the bacteria pulled from your mouth so rinse mouth and brush teeth after after. Do not swallow.

- Tongue Scraping: a tool used to scrape your tongue to remove bacteria, food particles, and dead cells. helps prevent bad breath and supports overall oral hygiene. It can also enhance your sense of taste. use a tongue scraper (or the edge of a spoon) to gently scrape from the back to the front of your tongue.

- Hydration: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day bc water helps wash away food particles and bacteria in your mouth, and it keeps your mouth hydrated, which prevents dry mouth, a condition that can lead to bad breath and an increased risk of cavities.

- Fluoride Mouthwash: mouth rinse that contains fluoride, which strengthens enamel, helps prevent cavities, and freshens breath. using it after brushing and flossing adds an extra layer of protection against decay.

- Baking Soda: natural mild abrasive that helps whiten teeth, neutralizes acids in the mouth, and removes surface stains. Some people use it as a toothpaste substitute or mix it with their regular toothpaste. mix a small amount of baking soda with water to form a paste and brush with it, or add it to your regular toothpaste.

- Whitening Strips: thin, flexible strips coated with a whitening gel containing peroxide that helps lighten the color of teeth by breaking down stains. to us it, follow the instructions on the package for use. overuse can lead to sensitivity, so use sparingly.

- Dietary Choices: eating a diet low in sugar and acidic foods reduces the risk of cavities and enamel erosion. foods like crunchy vegetables (carrots, celery) help clean your teeth as you chew.

- Regular Dental Visits: see your dentist for cleanings and check-ups at least twice a year. professional cleanings remove tartar and plaque buildup that regular brushing and flossing might miss. dentists can also spot and treat potential issues early, such as cavities or gum disease.

- Probiotics: beneficial bacteria that can support your overall and oral health that may help balance the bacteria in your mouth, supporting gum health and reducing bad breath. consider taking oral probiotics or including fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut in your diet.

Other Essential Tools for a Complete Oral Care Routine:

Soft-Bristled Toothbrush: Gentle on gums while still effective at cleaning.

Electric Toothbrush: More efficient at removing plaque than manual brushing.

Floss: Helps remove plaque and food particles from between teeth.

Water Flosser: Uses a stream of water to clean between teeth and under the gumline—especially great for people with braces or tight spaces.

Ear Care

To care for your ears, gently clean the outer ear with a soft cloth or cotton swab, but avoid inserting anything into the ear canal. Your ears usually self-clean, so routine cleaning isn't necessary unless you notice blockage or discomfort, in which case consult a professional. Protect your hearing by limiting exposure to loud sounds and using ear protection in noisy environments. After swimming or showering, dry your ears thoroughly to prevent infections like swimmer's ear. Avoid invasive practices like ear candling, and if using over-the-counter ear drops, follow instructions carefully. Lastly, go to the doctor if you experience pain, hearing loss, or dizziness, seek medical advice and consider regular hearing assessments to detect any changes early.

Routines

Face : A basic routine includes: cleansing + toning (optional) + moisture + SPF. i do skin masks at night of the beginning and end of every week, not forgetting to give my skin a break at least one day a week. I have oily skin so I start with cleansing to remove dirt and impurities. I follow up with exfoliation to slough off dead skin cells and reveal a brighter complexion if exfoliating is needed. After that, I apply a good moisturizer to hydrate and keep your skin supple. Finally, don't forget sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage. At night, i cleanse my skin with the same cleanser (La Roche Posay Toleriane foaming face wash), I use The Ordinary's salicylic acid/The Ordinary glycolic acid (each at least once a week), then I moisturize with La Roche Posay Toleriane matte facial moisturizer, and finally my La Roche Posay Anthelios melt in milk SPF 60. I plan to add niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to my routine, buy one of those vibrating exfoliators, buy more sheet masks, try more diy masks & find a vitamin c that won't oxidize as quickly as others. These steps work together to keep my skin healthy and radiant.

- Body : I have dry skin. shower with sensitive skin, antibacterial soap, Dove or Simple. Then if i exfoliate that day (exfoliate 2-3 times a week), I use either dry brush before my bath or i use exfoliating gloves with my body wash, which is usually either Dove or Olay. I heard good things about african net cloths so i definitely plan to buy a few of those. Then I rinse and use Palmer's cocoa butter +vitamin e butter, then their vitamin e oil on top. and then my sunscreen. I also wanna try glycerin.

- Feminine : Use a gentle, unscented antibacterial soap to clean the external area (vulva). Avoid harsh soaps and douching. Exfoliation can help remove dead skin cells and prevent bumps. Use a gentle scrub once a week, being careful to avoid the opening and any sensitive areas. After cleansing and exfoliating, apply a gentle moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated. Look for products that are fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin. Avoid irritable ingredients and ALWAYS PATCH TEST.

- Oral : Start your morning routine by flossing to remove debris and plaque from between your teeth, followed by brushing with fluoride toothpaste for two minutes using a soft-bristled or electric toothbrush. Rinse with fluoride mouthwash to protect your enamel and keep your breath fresh. After meals, rinse your mouth with water to clear any leftover food particles. In the evening, consider oil pulling with coconut oil for 10-20 minutes before brushing again with fluoride toothpaste. Use a tongue scraper to reduce bacteria on your tongue, and finish with a fluoride mouthwash to protect your teeth overnight. Weekly, you can use baking soda or whitening strips sparingly to brighten your smile. Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet, while regular dental check-ups are essential to keep your teeth in top shape.

My favourite hygiene youtube videos:

Cosmetic Bag Essentials

Travel-sized hand sanitizer, deodorant, mouthwash, body oils (one for moisture, one for perfume), SPF, antibacterial hand soap, lip balm, lip gloss, extra undies, napkins, compact mirror, sanitary napkins, panty liners, antibacterial baby wipes, bobby pins, hair ties, tweezers, band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and personal medications. It’s the perfect on-the-go size with everything you need!

masterlist

ty to chat gpt for helping me word shit i want to when i'm exhausted af

[ovaruling]

not sorry but if ur a DERMATOLOGIST and ur wearing a full fkn face of carcinogenic makeup to my appointment then im gonna struggle to take any of your product recommendations seriously

if i then ask u “what are the drawbacks to [this controversial medication being suggested for me]?” and u go “it’s very safe, i’ve used it before myself” i’m going to doubt your credibility very much!

and again im not sorry abt that! because you willingly have! 3+ layers!!!! of shit on your face and eyes and mouth! that is seeping into ur body! to do who knows what! yet surely as a derm u know this! and ur trying to sell me on what’s safe! for my autoimmune-disease-riddled body! ok!!!!!!!

[feministdragon]

"If one looks at the strategies, tactics and technology used in countries like India, Bangladesh, China, Singapore under the guise of ‘family planning’, one cannot help but recognize a virtual trend towards gynocide. Not only have Third World women, particularly in India and Bangladesh, unhesitatingly been used as guinea pigs by the multinational pharmaceutical industries to test dangerous contraceptives and methods, like amniocentesis,2 but contraceptives like Depoprovera, which were banned in the USA because of their carcinogenic qualities, have been massively dumped in many Third World countries.3 The government of Bangladesh was forced not only to allow all kinds of scientific experiments to be carried out on its territory, but also to buy huge amounts of contraceptives from the Western pharmaceutical industry (Minkin, 1979). In all this, some of the scientific lieutenants in the international war against population growth not only advocated compulsory measures, but also the open use and strengthening of patriarchal or sexist attitudes. Already in 1968 William McElroy, in a controversy with Kinglsey Davis who advocated compulsion, said:

‘In most societies male babies are more desirable than females and if the male were the first offspring, the motivation for having additional offspring would be reduced’ (McElroy, 1968, quoted in Mass, 1975: 22).

In 1973, the biologist Postgate goes a step further in deliberately advocating sex selection as a method of population control. Vimal Balasubrahmanyan refers to the Male Utopia thus propagated by people like Postgate:

Postgate argues that birth control ‘does not work’ in the countries that ‘need it most’ and ‘alternative methods of population control such as war, disease, legalised infanticide and euthanasia are rejected as they are not selective, acceptable, quickly effective or permanent enough’. He suggest that ‘breeding male is the only solution which meets all the above criteria’. Countless millions of people would leap at the opportunity to breed male (particularly in the third world) and no compulsion or even propaganda would be needed to encourage its use, only evidence of success by example (Balasubrahmanyan, 1982: 1725).

Meanwhile, with the advance of sex-preselection technology, amniocentesis and the ultrasound scanner, the prospect of ‘breeding male’ has become practice, not only in India but, with even more far-reaching consequences, in China. In India, the practice of aborting female foetuses, after sex determination by amniocentesis, became a public issue only after it became known that some clever doctors in Amritsar had made a flourishing business out of Indian parents’ preference for male offspring. They advertised to do both sex-preselection and abortion of female foetuses. After the protests by many women’s groups in India, the practice will, as Vimal Balasubrahmanyan fears, simply continue in a more discreet way, particularly when ultrasound scanning becomes widely available.

During a visit to India in summer 1984 I learned that sex-preselection and the abortion of female foetuses were already practised by many low caste and poor people in the countryside of Maharashtra.

The case of China is even more horrifying since here the whole mighty state and party apparatus is mobilized to implement the one-child policy which constitutes part of the modernization strategy of China after Mao. ‘Breeding male’ may not be a deliberate strategy of the Chinese government, but is, as Elisabeth Croll and other have shown, the inevitable result of the contradictions between furthering small peasants’ private landownership, the continuation of patrilocal marriage and family patterns, and the one-child policy of the state. Peasants who still largely have to depend on their children for old-age security want sons, since the sons inherit the family plot and remain in the village. Daughters are married to some other family and village, as is the case in India.

Daughters, therefore, are not wanted. This situation is aggravated by the policy of the government to reward those who follow the one-child norm: they get more private land, if they are peasants, and they get more room, more school and health facilities, more modern equipment, if they live in the cities.

Thus, those who get most land have least family labour to work on it. This contradiction combined with the compulsory measures of the government, the interplay of incentives and discentives under the total control of the party, and growing neo-patriarchal attitudes and relations put women under pressure from all sides, so much so that female foeticide has risen to alarming dimensions."

This was published in 1986, by the way. And yet it still describes what's happening now to a large degree.

Patriarchy and Capital Accumulation  Maria Mies p.185

[dried-deep-sea]

My sister and I are watching g venom the last dance. And since she can't remember the last one very well she keeps getting carnage name wrong.

Notable mistakes are

Car carn carney

Cardinal (3 times)

Cartridge

Catastrophe

Carcinogen