LF: So the information that you’re giving suggests that there is a damaged generation, who are now visible and countable, as those who are victims of this breast cancer epidemic. You’re also challenging the conventional wisdom with respect to treatment and screening, or at least screening.

RB: I think women are going to have to make up their own minds. I don’t think they should listen to me anymore that they should do exactly what their doctor tells them, or do what the press is telling them. It’s a very personal decision. And I think if you refuse the mammography, then you also have an obligation to undertake frequent self-examination, to learn how to self-examine, and to do it very faithfully, because, certainly, the breast cancer problems are real.

FW: The late Dr. Rosalie Bertell, mathematician and epidemiologist, researched many issues affecting the health of people on the planet. She was director of The International Medical Commission on Bhopal and organized The International Medical Commission on Chernobyl. After age 70, she published two books for a general readership – No Immediate Danger: Prognosis for a Radioactive Earth and a survey of military uses of geoengineering titled Planet Earth: The Latest Weapon of War. For more information, visit the website of the International Institute of Concern for Public Health, iicph.org. WINGS thanks all our supporters, including your local radio station, Suzette Cullen and Genevieve Vaughan, editor of Women and the Gift Economy. The Wing’s sound logo is from Libana’s album A Circle is Cast. I’m Frieda Werden. This is the Women’s International News Gathering Service.

[Sound up on extro]

SF: I'm Sarah Feldbloom, Shameless Magazine's Web Producer. You've been listening to an episode of the Women's International News Gathering Service, featuring public health researcher Rosalie Bertell. As Bertell alluded to earlier on, there are ways we can fight the spread of cancer - we can make sure to do regular breast-self-examinations, we can initiate conversations with our friends about environmental and social issues that contribute to cancer, we can critically consider social questions like who has access to education and decision-making power, and how is that effecting the health of the communities we belong to? One might find that this is often tied to race and privilege.

On a community based level we can organize to show that we are aware of how inequity negatively affects individuals from all walks of life, including those who are born into wealth, and high social class - in this way we may be able to engage those who are not normally motivated to support social justice. If you’re interested in finding more information and ideas for action you can take one place to visit is thinkbeforeyoupink.org. Another great resource is the documentary Pink Ribbons, Inc. It’s based on a book by the same title, try your local library for that one!

To hear an extended version of this program, and other pieces produced by WINGS, visit www.wings.org, they also have a newsfeed on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/wingsradio. The theme of our current issue is health, and it’s on stands now. Pick it up at a bookstore near you, or subscribe at shamelessmag.com and have it delivered to your door! You can also check it out through the Shameless iphone app. That's all for today. Thanks so much for joining me for another edition of the podcast. Talk to you again soon!