Official stories

We get fed, day in day out, official stories that tell us a particular story, based on an official version of events. Sometimes, we find out later, the story is untrue. Dietary fats being linked to obesity or dietary cholesterol linked to heart disease risk are two such examples.

It’s probably a matter of time, in our view, before it’s generally recognised that pharmaceutical new-to-nature drugs should not be the predominant intervention in primary care or that the additional contribution to our radiofrequency radiation exposure from wireless devices like smart meters pose unacceptable risks to health. These are both themes we pick up in our two main stories this week.

On the subject of official stories, we’d like to offer our deepest condolences to Liam Scheff’s closest friends and family following Liam’s passing last week, aged not quite 46. Liam was a remarkable beacon in the gloom. A philosopher, maverick, author, journalist, artist, satirist – Liam inspired us to look at life – and the system – in a different way, often through a humorous lens. His book, Official Stories: Counter-Arguments for a Culture in Need (available on Amazon) will remain one of his most outstanding contributions. Liam proclaimed “official stories exist to protect officials”. He’s so right. You may also want to read Liam’s final post on his website at www.liamscheff.com, written two days before he passed on, uploaded by friends who discovered it just after he died. Taking a view on life from someone with his perspective, in the knowledge he was sending his last public missive, is profound to say the least. We miss you, Liam.

In health, naturally – with ongoing, healthy scepticism for official stories…

Rob Verkerk, PhD

Founder, executive & scientific director