Emailing 60 minutes?

[susan400]

Do any of you think that it would be a good idea to email the news magazine show, 60 minutes and ask them if they'd do a segment on Hep C?   I'm just wondering that if a bunch of us sent emails to them and told them that we wanted them to do a segment on it if they would take notice and do one.  We could use the argument that there's this story in the news lately about the accidentally infecting of the people in Las Vegas.  We could remind them about the fact that there are so many people infected with Hep C in the U.S. and that there doesn't seem to be alot of research $$$ spent on it.  We could point out that there have been certain stars in the media who have made public their Hep C infection (by doing this, we're not violating any confidentially of those stars since they have come out into the open and stated that they had this virus).   Are any of you interested in emailing 60 minutes?  You wouldn't have to really be telling them that you wanted to BE on their show or anything, just that you'd like to see a segment done about it.  We need more CORRECT information to be out there to the public.

This is the address that I found out about for emailing them:  ***@****    or if this gets wiped out by medhelp, just type 60m@       then, next to it, put the cbsnews  and then, next to that put the .   and then, the com.   If you know what I mean.  :)  

I'm going to try and write to them.  I hope somebody else decides to write them, too.

Susan400

[fretboard]

In case anyone wanted to email, but hesitated b/c you don't want your email address exposed, sold or whatever I totally understand.  I put up a confidentiality clause on my profile, you can cut and paste it to your email to 60 minutes.  thank you  

[Frank J. Perrotta]

there is also a phone number for 60m = [phone].

will be sending an email and calling.

[fretboard]

It's still World Hep Awareness Week, May 19 thru May 26 and beyond!  That means HepC to me, if it means HepC to you, please call your Congressman/ Senate-Representative or write an email to 60 minutes.  You choose, you can also do both.  It's even a free phone call.  God Bless  

[loosenup]

CNN did a brief stint on HCV Monday, May 12, mainly focusing the the Nevada clinic.  

Contacting 60 Minutes is good and proactive.  I'm forwarding a sample letter that you can call your senator and representative in D.C.  Yesterday was World Awareness Day, but most are carrying it out through the month.  Despite this suggests to call congress yesterday, any time is ok.  We need to be heard, and we need respect.


Flood Congress With Calls and Demand Leadership!



The statistics are staggering:



Hepatitis C is the most common, chronic blood-borne viral infection in the United States


An estimated 5 million Americans (at least 1 in 50) have been infected with the hepatitis C virus.


Hepatitis C is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the U.S. – and chronic liver disease is in the top ten killers for Americans 25 years of age and older


The federal government’s response:



A mere $17 million per year for all viral hepatitis programs


President Bush has proposed a cut in hepatitis funding in next year’s budget


Legislation to mount a comprehensive fight against the disease has stalled


Angry? Want to make a difference?



Make three phone calls on May 19th and demand that Congress take action!



How you can help:



On Monday, May 19th (World Hepatitis Day), call your U.S. House Representative and two U.S. Senators in their Washington , DC office. Ask to speak to the staffperson who handles health care issues. You might speak to this person live or you might get voicemail. Deliver the following message:



“My name is __________ and I live in (your city/state). Today is World Hepatitis Day and I urge Representative/Senator ____________ to take a leadership role in the fight against the hepatitis C epidemic. An estimated 5 million Americans have been infected with the hepatitis C virus, but the federal government has not provided adequate funding or legislation to fight the epidemic. I urge the Representative/Senator to help change this situation by supporting $50 million for viral hepatitis programs in the Fiscal Year 2009 appropriation bill and by cosponsoring the “Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act.”



You can reach your Senators and Representative by calling the Capitol switchboard toll-free at [phone]. If that number is busy, call [phone]. Ask to be connected to your Representative or Senator. If you don’t know who represents you in Congress, go to www.congress.org and enter your zip code in the upper left corner.



*If you are unable to call on May 19th, please call no later than Friday, May 23rd.



If your Representative/Senator is on the following list, he or she has already cosponsored the “Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act.” Please thank them and ask that they work to get other cosponsors.



House cosponsors:



Neil Abercrombie (HI)

Brian Baird (WA)

Shelley Berkley (NV)

Timothy Bishop (NY)

Elijah Cummings (MD)

Keith Ellison (MN)

Bart Gordon (TN)

Raul Grijalva (AZ)

John Lewis (GA)

Jim McDermott (WA)

James McGovern (MA)

Michael McNulty (NY)

Gregory Meeks (NY)

Ed Pastor (AZ)

Donald Payne (NJ)

Jim Ramstad (MN)

Edolphus Towns (NY)

Henry Waxman (CA)

Robert Wexler (FL)

Heather Wilson (NM)



Senate cosponsors:



Joe Biden (DE)

Barbara Boxer (CA)

Maria Cantwell (WA)

Thad Cochran (MS)

Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)

Daniel Inouye (HI)

Tim Johnson (SD)

Ted Kennedy (MA)

Frank Lautenberg (NJ)

Mark Pryor (AR)

Gordon Smith (OR)

Olympia Snowe (ME)

Ron Wyden (OR)

Good luck!
Diana

[Deb_c430]

the controversy? they infected people in a vegas lab! I would say that is pretty controversial, people  who had blood transfusions.

people are dying everyday and the numbers are growing.  Hepatitis the word has always carried a negative stigma,  dirty,  self abusers,   it is time to shake it out,  Let people understand it is  no dirtier than aids, or cancer.  

I don't mean to sound negative here, I usnderstand and appreciate  what you are saying.  That is why we need to let them see what this silent killer is doing!

Deb

[fretboard]

I can't think of a subject more controversial than HepC, the only thing that comes close in my eyes is our soldiers dying in Iraq.  Besides that, with the re-using of needles in Nevada it's already happened.  People injecting others intentionally?  It's already happened, I can't think of anything that hasn't already happened with HepC and we never hear anything about it.  Isn't anybody wondering why?  Hell yeah!  I'm wondering why, that's why I took the time to write a letter!  Sure I balked at writing to a Congressman, cause I know how legislation works and to write the same letter to someone does nothing, this may do nothing.  However, it makes me feel better knowing that during World HepC Week, I emailed a letter to a news agency and I made a difference, or I emailed a letter and it got someones attention, or I emailed a letter and it did nothing, but made me feel better.  Thank you if you write, but if you don't I understand.  In a day and age when it doesn't get any easier than sitting in front of your computer and emailing a letter all I can say is if you choose to ignore this urging, then in this writers eyes, you shouldn't complain.  I'm not talking about anyone specifically, I am just saying that in general.  It reminds me of people bit*hing about something, but they're never willing to bust a grape when it comes to doing something about it.  Hell, you could cut and paste the whole dang thing, how hard is that?  Just use common sense and be a little professional, in the process.    God Bless