Although most families have been lead to believe that childhood vaccines are mandatory in Canada, they are not, and giving a child a shot requires the parents to provide the doctor or nurse with informed consent. Unfortunately, the majority of parents are saying "yes" to vaccines without actually being informed about the real risks and benefits of either the vaccine in question or the associated disease.

My goal in 2009 is to create an information website for parents that will not preach a position either for or against vaccination, as all current vaccine websites do, rather it will provide easy to understand, accurate and complete statistics so parents actually can feel like they are making the best decision for their child.

Please vote for my project "vaccine awareness - donnabarker" to help me win $1000 to get the website developed and online. Thank you!

Citing a shortage of nursing staff and not wanting to jeopardize patient safety, Banff Mineral Springs Hospital has (temporarily) closed the Obstetrics Program. Because I cannot be there to physically show my support to my close friends and the community, I want to do what I can help reverse this decision and urge the Hospital, Covenant Health, the Alberta provincial government and the Calgary Health Region to re-open the ward and allow small town parents to have personal, calming hospital birthing experiences and support.

By empowering the freedom to speak up and to get action from your voice is a powerful thing.

I'm attending the launch of the BC Friends of Medicare campaign this Thursday, May 17th.

The British Invasion is a rare chance to hear, first-hand, how privatization in the UK has impacted their public health care system. Featuring British Doctor Jacky Davis and BC's own political commentator, Will McMartin.

7:00 pm at the Croatian Cultural Centre, Auditorium One
3250 Commercial Drive, Vancouver.
For more info go to www.bchealthcoalition.ca