a gentle reminder to all:
ACTING UP in a group way would be great. and we should do it -- need to do it!
but in the mean time, until we can organize that, ACTING UP does not have to be a group effort and it is not as hard and difficult as you may think (for those who are not bedridden).
it can be one person with a sign standing in front of your local hospital, gov't office, red cross building or the Wash DC HHS (Health and Human Services) headquarters. it can be one person with a sign at wherever NIH's director, Dr. Collins, is publicly speaking that week.
getting media there would help, of course. but if not, drag a friend and have her shoot it to post on YouTube. then email it to the media.
the below videos are related to my own M.E. and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) activism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME764z_4vEY
(5 min serious video of my one-women protest in front of Health and Human Services and Red Cross Nat'l Headquarters.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t1Xqp1LDxM
(5 min comedic singing bedroom video, with me and my family)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DSzTCYPAvs
(5 min comedic video pressuring the Red Cross to ban ME/CFS blood donations. the resulting campaign, coupled with the actions of other individuals and groups, was a success! within days, the Red Cross came out with a press release stating they were banning folks with ME/CFS from donating blood)
best,
rivka