Why Was this PSA Rated X?
Managing Editor's Note: The next time an AMC theatre hosts an "autism movie" featuring dimmed lights and lowered sound to accommodate the hundreds of autistic children and their families who will attend (not THIS family, we will no longer patronize AMC) I suggest they review the symptoms of mercury poisoning and match them to the behaviors they see in their theatre. You can express your opinion HERE. We suggest you use your full name and state calmly why you think informed medical choice is important for the safety of AMC patrons and their families. Thank you. Kim Stagliano
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Here is the message from the Coalition for SafeMinds:
SafeMinds was notified late yesterday afternoon that AMC Theaters has decided to block the SafeMinds Public Service Announcement (PSA) on influenza vaccines with mercury. The PSA alerts parents and pregnant women of the presence of mercury in most influenza vaccines and the ample availability of mercury-free alternatives. The CDC has declined to give a preference for the mercury-free versions, so it is important that the public is aware of its options. AMC's advertising representative had reviewed and approved the PSA to run in AMC cinemas over the Thanksgiving weekend. A small group of vocal vaccine proponents dismissive of mercury concerns learned of the PSA and bombarded the AMC website, leading to the company's decision to prevent its release. SafeMinds thanks its supporters who viewed the PSA and contributed to its efforts to educate the public to avoid unnecessary mercury exposure. Mercury in all forms is dangerous, especially to the developing fetus and infants, as referenced on the PSA website www.safemindsflu.org. SafeMinds will continue its mission to educate the public on this important healthcare topic.
Share the link (HERE) via e-mail, facebook and twitter.
"To summarize, of the 58 empirical reports on autism and heavy metal toxins, 43 suggest some link may be present, while 13 reports found no link. Even with the tendency for null results not to be reported, it cannot be said there is no evidence for a link between heavy metal toxins [including thimerosal] and autism: although the question may still be open--in sum, the evidence favors a link."
http://www.ane.pl/pdf/7021.pdf
Posted by: Carol | December 11, 2010 at 09:57 AM
“The numerous medical studies concerning the issue of whether thimerosal causes autism, performed by medical scientists worldwide, have come down strongly against the petitioners’ contentions. Considering all of the evidence, I find that the petitioners have failed to demonstrate that thimerosal-containing vaccines can contribute to the causation of autism.”
http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/omnibus-autism-proceeding
Posted by: Evidentiary | December 10, 2010 at 02:52 AM
Timothy Welsh
@BigNoon I am deleting this thread Ryan Noonan AMC Theatres @SafeMinds PSA Bring discussion 2 twitter #AMCBoycott #PMB AMC ignoring families http://getsatisfaction.com/amc_theatres/topics/lost_my_business_for_failing_to_air_the_safeminds_psa/changes Click dispute
Keep being vocal... we will share the message
Posted by: TannersDad Tim Welsh | December 01, 2010 at 07:45 AM
At least one of the AMC complainers was a Pharma-ho who said he was a ped for MN...when he really a vaccine safety reviewer for Elsevier and Kaiser Permente
Complaint posted on AMC web site:
http://getsatisfaction.com/amc_theatres/topics/remove_the_unfounded_anti_vaccine_message_from_your_ads
Person with the same name works as a vaccine safety reviewer for Elsevier and Kaiser-Permente
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/L03.cws_home/vaccinereviewers
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/730036_10
Posted by: Sarah | November 27, 2010 at 10:10 AM
More about Marquee Holdings...
“Marquee Holdings Inc… will be held by the existing shareholders and approximately 40 percent will be held by the former shareholders of Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation. Our significant shareholders include: … affiliates of The Carlyle Group (approximately 15 percent.” http://www.spectrumequity.com/news/pressReleases/2006/release_20060126-3.html
“MEET THE CARLYLE GROUP”
http://www.fahrenheit911.com/library/book/carlyle/index.php
Posted by: Jim Thompson | November 26, 2010 at 05:50 PM
AMC is currently listed on Wiki as owned by "... an investment vehicle controlled by affiliates of J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_Theatres
JPMorgan could help children and pregnant women by asking AMC to air the Safeminds Public Service Announcement. It looks like they should do some public service work.
http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/jp-morgan-chase-gets-another-reward-their-theft
Posted by: Jim Thompson | November 26, 2010 at 03:51 PM
When you post your comment on the AMC website, be sure to follow their advice for getting your comment noticed:
"Get emotional! Describe how this topic makes you feel.
Add some detail. One or two paragraphs works best."
Posted by: Madvocate | November 26, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Michael framson, you got that right about their Aggressive determination in the pursuit of stupidity. Honestly, I wonder what percentage of David Gorski's blogs are about vaccines- it seems to be around 50%ish. I 'm so glad Jake dug up some info on his role with Sanofi-Aventis, the world's largest vaccine maker.. He seems way too interested in quashing any troubling aspects to vaccines.
Posted by: Jen | November 26, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Paste links to the Utube ad on the comments on shows playing?...stating as to why it is being posted as well.
Posted by: Liz W. | November 26, 2010 at 02:17 AM
ozmom,
Don't fall for that "safe" kind of mercury nonsense. Carefully read this paper: Burbacher et al. 2005. Comparison of blood and brain mercury levels in infant monkeys exposed to methylmercury or vaccines containing thimerosal.
Here's a link to the abstract and full citation.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16079072
Posted by: Sue | November 25, 2010 at 11:24 PM
I am constantly in amazement at such determination by enough people who fervently engage in denial of mercury's harm, and their aggressive nature in pursuit of stupidity.
Posted by: michael framson | November 25, 2010 at 11:04 PM
Use all the tools we have to exploit this abuse of our families that paid to have the PSA shown. This is worst tan air quotes by Sharron Angle. TannerDad Tim
Posted by: TannersDad Tim Welsh | November 25, 2010 at 11:00 PM
ozmum:
"Mercury in all of its forms is toxic to the fetus and children."
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/108/1/197
Posted by: JIm Thompson | November 25, 2010 at 06:30 PM
Marco,
That's exactly the point - there is methyl mercury in fish, but ethyl mercury in vaccines.
Let me put it to you this way, would you rather drink a glass of ethanol or methanol? (Here's a hint...one will make you pleasantly buzzed, while the other will kill you)
Posted by: ozmum | November 25, 2010 at 05:45 PM
The WHO will not use any vaccine in that is not licensed in the USA. It is important to them, the Pharmas that control them and the CDC (and the FDA for that matter) to keep THimerosal in the vaccine pipeline cause they simply don't want to retool their infrastructure and get rid of Thimerosal.
Posted by: K Paul Stoller, MD | November 25, 2010 at 03:05 PM
Maybe SafeMinds can take the money they didn't spend and give it to the Arizona 5?
Posted by: GranolaMom | November 25, 2010 at 01:08 PM
I would *LIKE* to say "un-fucking-believable!!" --but that wouldn't be true. Nothing is MORE believable.
Posted by: Jenny Webster | November 25, 2010 at 01:03 PM
There is NO ETHYLMERCURY in a tuna fish sandwich. There is Methylmercury. Very different. And pregnant women avoid fish tat contains about .3MG of Hg/gram. each vaccine(assuming the mercury is evenly distributed to all shot)has the same amount of Hg as 3Oz. of fish.
One ingests a tuna fish sandwich. One injects a vaccine. Why would a doctor tell you to avoid eating a tuna fish sandwich, but tell you it's OK to inject it into your arm?
Since when is it bad to warn people about mercury poisoning? Or is it only bad to warn people about mercury poisoning when it's caused by a vaccine?
Posted by: Marco | November 25, 2010 at 12:20 PM
These comments from those opposing SAFE VACCINES are disturbing. I think AMC has been intimidated by a bunch of uneducated and disturbed individuals. Please leave a sane comment so AMC can see what is going on.
http://getsatisfaction.com/amc_theatres/topics/amc_flip_flops_on_mercury_free_vaccines
Posted by: Teresa -LEAVE A COMMENT FOR AMC | November 25, 2010 at 11:41 AM
This is crappy, but the message is out anyway. People are staying away from flu shots in droves.
The hospital where I work tried to force employees to get the vaccine or wear a mask around patients. The policy was quietly abandoned when they realized how foolish they would look with half the nurses walking around in masks.
Posted by: julie | November 25, 2010 at 08:21 AM
The same people which supply MSG ridden popcorn and candy? The ones who don't care if kids scarf down mercury laiden high fructose corn syrup soda? Plueez, abundanately evident, they don't care about people and their "health". I suggest newspapers and or a commercial on TV. And this time, don't tell us your going to do it, aka sneak attack (yeah, it's that political these days), because all the schills will protest it once they find out.
Posted by: Kathy Blanco | November 25, 2010 at 12:07 AM
I got a phone number: (816) 221-4000
Posted by: Jen | November 25, 2010 at 12:02 AM
Is there a central office fax number? That would be handy. I will go out of my way to go to another theatre instead of AMC.
Posted by: Jen | November 24, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Curious to know if this will effect all theaters now? Are all following suit.?
Posted by: Maurine Meleck | November 24, 2010 at 11:49 PM
I just posted a question so please feel free to add to it, too.
http://getsatisfaction.com/amc_theatres/topics/amc_flip_flops_on_mercury_free_vaccines
AMC flip flops on Mercury-Free Vaccines?
Why was the PSA from SafeMinds for mercury free shots pulled? It was slated to be shown to thousands of people who could learn that there is an alternative to the flu shots that have mercury -- getting a brand that has no mercury.
That just makes sense! Seems like people have chimed in who must have some conflict because safe vaccines are not anti-vaccine! Who are they and why are they trying to stop the message that safe, mercury-free shots are available? AMC will lose many customers if they pull this PSA.
It just doesn't make sense.
Posted by: Teresa Conrick | November 24, 2010 at 11:19 PM
I guess a whole different group of people are going to boycott AMC instead, including me and my family.
I think SafeMinds should sue AMC, because my guess is that it's too late now for SafeMinds to find other theaters for the Thanksgiving week. SafeMinds relied on AMC's agreement to run the ad, and of course stopped looking for other theaters at that point.
I'm willing to contribute to the legal costs if SafeMinds decides to sue AMC.
Posted by: Kristina | November 24, 2010 at 11:04 PM
I don't know how much money was raised but use it to hire an excellent publicist and get some use out of the rejection.
Maybe it's what's playing at the multiplex that's the cause of the problem?
LOVE & OTHER DRUGS
Director: Edward Zwick
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Oliver Platt, Hank Azaria
Synopsis
Maggie is an alluring free spirit who won't let anyone - or anything - tie her down. But she meets her match in Jamie, whose relentless and nearly infallible charm serve him well with the ladies and in the cutthroat world of *pharmaceutical sales*. Maggie and Jamie's evolving relationship takes them both by surprise, as they find themselves under the influence of the ultimate drug: love. Based on Jamie Reidy's memoir **"Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman."**
Posted by: bensmyson | November 24, 2010 at 10:14 PM
These advertisments will have to be more sublte, sneaky, under the radar - like that advertisment on Television that I have seen a few times.
The one that says 1 out of 88 children of miltary familes have autism.
Posted by: Benedetta | November 24, 2010 at 08:12 PM
I so sorry guy! I really could not believe that they would take the money and then run this advertisment. I thought when hell freezes over. We are not in a free society when it comes to vaccines, we never have been.
Posted by: Medicine can be hard on the Liver | November 24, 2010 at 08:09 PM
The "moviegoers" on the AMC website asking for the PSAs to be blocked are unbelievable. Where do these people come from??????
If vaccines are so great and you plan to vaccinate the shit out of your entire family, including your 89 year old grandma and 1 day old baby, what the hell difference does it make to you what SafeMinds says in a PSA before you see the latest Hollywood trash on the big screen?
What a step in the wrong direction. UGH.
Posted by: JessicaF | November 24, 2010 at 08:06 PM
Kim's comment on AMC site: The SafeMinds PSA campaign was a health safety message for Americans, old and young. Few Americans know that the flu shot they take likely contains mercury - and that they have choices for alternative flu vaccinations. Americans deserve to make informed, rational decisions based on knowledge,... not fear. Your teams have children, grandparents - who will get 25 mcg of mercury in their flu shot. We hope you will reconsider your decision and run the Safeminds PSAs. Thank you. Kim Stagliano
http://getsatisfaction.com/amc_theatres
Posted by: Kim Stagliano | November 24, 2010 at 07:52 PM
UnAmerican Multi-Cinema Theaters won't be getting our holiday movie patronage.
Posted by: Adriana | November 24, 2010 at 07:40 PM