Another "Scaresational" in Canwest Media

[Natureboy]

This was in today's Regina Leader Post as I am sure with many other papers across Canada. If it is in your local paper, I encourage you to respond also.

http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderp...4-8a367811ac81

As I am not exactly the best voice to rebutt these stories, and not the best at these types of responses (I would rather smash tables over their heads) I did send a response into my local "letter to editor" This is it below.

James Plummer

jamespl@millenniumtan.com

2624 Victoria Ave E
Regina, SK S4V 6M5



Once again as a few months back the "CanWest News Service" has another "Scaresational" suntanning story in July 21st Regina Leader Post. I had replied before as these stories about suntanning are almost always one sided and take something absolutey natural and turns it into a great catch headline for attracting readers. First, lets look at the headline "The dark side of tanning" perfect, considering recent "Star Wars" movies. Then there is always different studies that are usually paid for by special interests that want results to read a specific way. It's also interesting when a study concludes that UV exposure cause cancer, when the truth is it is inconclusive because there are too many other contributing factors such as enviroment, diet, and genetics to conclude that UV is the main contributing factor. The media doesn't tell you this though. It is interesting that you never read stories about how suntanning help many many people with such problems as SAD (seasonal affects disorder) or Egzima and even preventing Cancer. Why? Who wants to hear a story about something good? Something positive? That won't attract readers. What people have to remember is that you have about 20 times better chance of getting killed in a car accident driving your car to the tanning salon then you do ever developing Melanoma. The fact that there are so many stories out there about the harmful effects of suntanning that many are absolutely afraid of the sun or tanning. The Sun is the most natural resourse that we have. It has been around for about 4 billion years and is the reason we are all here on this planet. So avoiding it altogether is totally unnatural. In fact, in many countries, even Canada, we are seeing a return of rickets do to so many avoiding the sun from an early age and getting natural vitamin D absorbsion. This has astounded many doctors now taking a second look a moderate, smart UV exposure. I emplore people to not be a victim of the media and make educated decisions for themselves. Look at both sides of the story. Tan in moderation, eat right, exercise, feel good. Wear an SPF outside so you don't burn, and visit a tanning salon once and while. It is a process that has been going on since man has walked the earth. Think about it.

James Plummer
Owner:Millennium Tanning Salons
Regina

[uv2021]

Glad you took the time to respond.I heard an add on the radio the other day,for six flags darien lake{ an amusement park in N.Y} one of the tag lines repeated twice was two children screaming "don't forget the suncreen '.Here is an amusement park foregoing the opportunity in their add to say something about their greatest newest ride and to join the sunscare group by emphesizing "sunscreen".It beats saying don't forget your umbrella in case it rains,but why not just have a suncreen booth with a sign saying "forget your sunscreen? brand blah blah blah available here" And promote your newest ride or special price?


Or are they just very smart operators who understand that people LOVE the sun and are implying that when you visit darien lake it is always sunny.Talk about being able to ride both sides of the tracks.


I was also going thru a copy of readers digest.It gets delivered to the salon free,and I started to notice that almost ALL of the ads featured tanned models.These were for the most part all drug co.'s ads.I guess no matter how much fear mongering goes on the drug co.'s ad firms still beleive that tanned looks so much better that they won't allow "white models" in those ads.

Of course all of those "tans" would have been sunless,because evrybody knows no one goes into the carcinogenic sun anymore.

[Natureboy]

Steve, do you have a hard copy of those handouts on your table you could send to me to photocopy to hand out too.?

[Cove]

Just read a big headling in " The Province" newspaper on banning teens from indoor tanning in Victoria. I responded to the email address they had for opinions about the article.Link

[sparky]

you'll have to copy/paste the article, as only registered users can view the whole article

[Natureboy]

The Leader Post called me last night that they are going to publish my letter......

[rustyroket]

That was a terrific letter NatureBoy! i hope they keep their word and publish it. I too prefer the table smashing over people's heads, but that letter is one that should become a sticky here for others to use in future circumstances.

I am not Canadian, and my stores are in Ohio, but my entire family tree is from Toronto. More importantly, this fight is all of ours, accross at least a couple of borders and continents. So I am very interested to see if your letter generates any responses in that newspaper.

There is so much to be done. But if we all join the fight, we hopefully can catch up to the one sided views out there

If you haven't seen it, TFrannsen is working hard to take action as evidenced in a thread titled "skin care doctor faces more medicare fraud charges" in the Salon Discusions forum.

[Cove]

Still trying to find a way to get the article I read on here. My response was publisized, but they hacked it up so bad that they missed some of the key points, only touched on them slightly. The only other response was in opposition, but it was so poorly written that It didn't make much sense.

[Natureboy]

The Regina Leader Post printed it today. Already have had a few calls from clients and such applauding the letter.