The month of May is dedicated to raising worldwide awareness of environmental illnesses including multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia (FMS).

These are debilitating conditions which affect many millions of people around the globe. Despite commonly rendering sufferers incapable of working, causing the breakdown of families, and putting a substantial burden on welfare systems, they generally receive little in the way of media attention and awareness among the general public, as well as medical staff and policy makers, remains pityful.

Every year during the month of May (and particularly on May 12th - awareness day), advocacy and support groups, along with individual sufferers and their loved ones, stage events to put environmental illnesses in the spotlight. Aims include raising awareness and educating the public about the severity of these conditions and how devastating they can be, not just for the sufferers themselves but also their families. Efforts are also made to bring the needs of environmental illness sufferers to the attention of the medical profession and governments since it is often a huge struggle to obtain the required medical and financial help.

Soon to be published research is set to reveal details of what happens in the brain during meditation and will also provide new insights into the structure and function of  the brain itself, in both health and illness.

Since 2008, neuroscientist Zoran Josipovic has been has been studying the brains of Tibetan Buddhist monks at New York University, where he is a research scientist and adjunct professor. What makes his work so interesting and revealing is that he has been using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner to look at real time changes in the brains of the monks while they are meditating.

The ancient Eastern practice of meditation has become increasingly popular in the West over the past half century as both individual practitioners and scientists have discovered its potential to promote, not only happiness and a sense of spiritual peace and "oneness", but also good physical and mental health. Josipovic's findings, by illuminating previously poorly understood ways in which the brain behaves, could help provide a better understanding of numerous mysterious chronic and degenerative conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FMS), multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), autism,  and Alzheimer's disease. 

A major research and advocacy group known for its work relating to health and the environment has released its findings from an investigation into bottled water.

The public commonly see bottled water as the healthy choice but information gathered by the Washington D.C.-based Environmental Working Group (EWG) suggests many companies do not reveal the sources of their water and how it is treated, while also failing to disclose results of purity testing.

According to Jane Houlihan, Senior Vice President of Research at EWG, "Bottled water companies try hard to hide information you might find troubling."   This undoubtedly puts a question mark over the the assumption that bo ttled water is the healthiest option.

Liga SFC (CFS/ME League, Spain) - As of yesterday, July 26, 2010, Professor Servando Perez, President of Mercuriados Spain (people affected by chronic mercury intoxication), has began a hunger strike.

Prof Perez was diagnosed two years ago as having Chronic Mercury Intoxication and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS). His case went to the highest court in Spain and a judged ruled that Prof Perez had chronic mercury intoxicaton due to dental fillings and that the Spanish public health care system (Social Security) should treat his condition with chelation or refer him to a private clinic to do so and pay the costs. This was an incredible legal precendent.

Needless to say that Professor Perez has not been treated yet and the Social Security has been doing everything possible to make sure that him, as with other MCS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephylitis and Fibromyalgia patients in Spain, do not receive proper medical services from the public health care system.