Is rebellion our last chance café?

Our two pieces this week relate to the extent to which the people’s will, rights and interests have been trampled on by big business interests which have in turn ‘bought’ the political systems that control us.

I accepted an invitation to speak in the EU’s semblance of what’s left of a democratic system – the European Parliament. There’s no doubt that people, including elected reps like MEPs, are crying out for change. The question is: what can they do in times of crisis when such crises benefit the big corporates? We don’t hold out too much hope for a political or policy-based solution, although we recognise these kinds of solutions may do something as part of a more elaborate strategy. What I valued more, yesterday in the European Parliament, is connecting with others who, like us, are on a mission.

Our second piece concerns the delicate subject of health data. It’s fast becoming one of the most valuable currencies for health researchers – and it’s absolutely critical that people understand who is the custodian of their health data and how they might be used. We hope we provide you with some useful insights that allow you to use your data to your advantage, not someone else’s.

In our news snippets, find out about the new statin on the block, intentionally unhelpful changes to US heart health guidelines, confusion over eggs and heart disease risk, the NHS’s interest in Pukka Herb’s andrographis – and another kick in the teeth for Monsanto by a US jury.