Up Close and Personal
A brief summary by CTM founder, Phillip Day

ECLUB: Things are moving now with the EU's new constitutional referenda.
PHILLIP DAY: Yes. Spain has voted in. Other poorer nations in the EU will inevitably follow - Ireland for instance.
ECLUB: What relevance does this have to those upset about losing their supplements come August?
PHILLIP DAY: The EU represents the triumph of Big Business welded to Big Government, not unlike America. As discussed last time, we are seeing a global move by the drug industry to control the supplements market to make up for lost market-share. The pharmaceutical lobby was extremely effective in pushing its own interests under the banner of 'harmonisation' in Europe, i.e. the EU could be seen to be doing everyone a favour by rendering the sprawling alternative industry 'safe' by insisting on regulatory procedures, etc.
ECLUB: The same regulatory procedures that allowed such horrors as Vioxx, Bextra, Celebrex and Coproximol.
PHILLIP DAY: You sound angry, Brian.
ECLUB: I'm royally ticked off.
PHILLIP DAY: There are well-meaning organisations attempting to negotiate with the EU on this issue. Why is the EU even entertaining this? Because one of its chief acolytes, Tony Blair, is up for re-election, so Brussels is treading softly-softly to avoid alienating that part of Tony's support which swallows vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. A sizeable part of Europe which takes supplements will also be voting in their national referenda on whether or not to adopt the EU Constitution, so Brussels wants to minimise any election fallout caused by this unpopular measure by seeming to play ball.
ECLUB: You believe the EU has no intention of changing its stance on supplements?
PHILLIP DAY: I believe the EU is wasting people's money in the courts by allowing them to protest a done deal. For those who disagree, we'll find out in August. In fact, the court decision on the Alliance of Natural Health's sterling efforts is due to be known in June.
ECLUB: What is the permanent answer?
PHILLIP DAY: Power to the People. Pull Britain out of the EU. 80% will probably vote No to the Constitution anyway and Brussels knows this. Most fail to understand that the stakes are far higher that just snagging our supplements. Far larger than the ban on hunting. Larger even than the unchecked immigration problem Britain must suffer in silence or be labeled racist. The EU is all about a European view of what Britain should look like, talk like, think like, for the future. It's a Continental Britain. Jacques Chirac's Britain. Unfinished business between Britain and Europe going back centuries.
ECLUB: But they wish Britain to remain the Paymaster General?
PHILLIP DAY: Precisely. While Britannia is disdained by France and some other European countries, the EU does need our cash. And we have lots of it. We are the fourth biggest economy on the planet. We have the largest financial sector in the world. We trade globally, most EU nations do not. Britain is being bled dry to bankroll the poorer nations of the Union, who think all the modernization projects they see springing up around them are a splendid idea. Unfortunately, it's being paid for by the more affluent EU nations through higher taxes.
ECLUB: Germany's ticked off and might balk at the Constitution?
PHILLIP DAY: Germany recently declared 5.1 million unemployed, more than when Hitler seized power in 1933. The euro has simply devastated Germany. Surprisingly, France is also upset. The EU is deeply unpopular with many French who can't see Chirac's Grand Plan and hate what the euro is doing to their livelihoods. My spies in Europe tell me France could yet produce a surprise No vote. I fully expect Germany to shy at the fence, but we'll see. As for Britain, all reading this should carefully consider The Price of Joining the Madhouse before deciding to vote Yes to this or any other nefarious EU Constitution.
ECLUB: Good EClub this week?
PHILLIP DAY: When have I failed you, Brian?
ECLUB: The Christmas bonus?
PHILLIP DAY: The Conservatives under Howard propose screening all immigrants for HIV. Seems like our new book, The Truth About HIV, has come out not a moment too soon. We have articles on the fraudulence and downright dangers of the ELISA, Western Blot and Polymerase Chain Reaction screenings, which pronounce social anathema and a horrid death on their unfortunate victims. I've got a piece on Alzheimer's, the stomach flu, a great piece via Dr Mercola on pet foods, more on the problems drugs are causing with hyperactive kiddies - even a piece on Admiral Lord Nelson's horror as he faces the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar. Let your laughter be mingled with tears and a fierce determination.
ECLUB: I don't do this job for the money.
PHILLIP DAY: Hoist the battle ensign, Brian. There'll be plunder a-plenty.