Dear ockc,
Anyhow, we've decided to make a documentary about coconut oil and dementia to summarise our experience of this with my father, as well as trying to get to the bottom of why it is that no-one wants to research it (or indeed vitamin B12, turmeric or saffron). We filmed the first interview today
I admire you for your stance. I would join you, except that I have other pans on the fire. If you take on the "ignorant majority" (my provocative phrase, which responsible socialogists would term "the comfortable majority') you will need a lot of energy, the support of a core group of people who tend to you, and be prepared to take a lot of stick. I have campaigned for Missing People (and the Irish police and politicians did not want to discuss serial killers - we had at least two); the environment; womens' issues; rural bachelors; government mis-spending (Ireland again); listed buildings..... you name it. 20 years on I had a lot of awards of recognition, some people who agreed and a nasty case of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).
I see a lot of parallels between dementia and other issues that don't get proper attention. It is a disease that mostly attacks the minorities (early onset folk and the elderly). The drugs that are available are massively profitable, Aricept being an example quoted in your link to the Daily Mail article. Coconut oil costs virtually nothing so these money-hungry organisations don't stand to gain. Governments and research funders are VERY UNLIKELY to listen to carers, patients doing well, as they kowtow to medically informed academia, believing their credibility rests in being accepted by 'those in power'.
The saddest thing is, time and time and time again, we see the big orgs get it wrong all the time. Example the EU right now. So many 'experts' at the table dominating every decision, and so little attention to the problems their decisions create for the poor citizen. Same for environment. Same for dementia. Some big canon sets the rules and 98% of the populace don't care enough to think it through, and if they do, and they do take a stance, it is very difficult to convince a deaf administration who duly believe they are "doing their best and following best practice". Over the course of the past 20 years I could show you hundreds of examples of this.
I could go on for ever. However I applaud you being one of the 2% who is pro change. What would we all give for a few open-minded people? The whole planet would change: no more hunger; much less conflict; happier workplaces; fair wages and fair prices; sharing and cooperation.
A final sad point. My area of speciality is moral competence. It is a growing field, thank heavens. The fact is, the average moral age of most of the adult population is age 4 to say, 10. 4 year olds just see their own needs. Some 10 year olds know sharing is necessary if they want to keep their friends. What do adults say? Well, sadly, they don't, they act like 4 year olds or 10 year olds. Two options then: they look out for themselves, OR they look out for the in-group (read their group).
In the research I carried out, the people most likely to score high on moral competence (by moral competence I mean making the rightest decision, amongst several difficult choices, that benefits the greater good and seldom themselves) were.....
a) those who have been pilloried e.g. Gandhi, Mandela,
b) campaigners (example the tiny group who were beaten up by Shell, west of Ireland, they had the highest score in all my research)
c) free thinkers (i.e. the Bob Geldorfs of this world who have enough money/power so they don't have to kowtow)
Those least likely to show moral competence were:
a) politicians (they scored worst of everyone)
b) well-paid employees (they will toe (almost) any line as they have a lot to loose)
c) members of groups (be that religious, NGOs, community and voluntary, sports etc. as their motivation is to be accepted by the 'in-group' [we will have to see how the next Pope fares, poor guy!]
So, ockc, I admire you. It isn't an easy path, but it will certainly move you up in the ranks of the morally competent, as you will face tough decisions, and you will clearly see the tragic face of the morally-bankrupt people who are in power and intend to remain there. Do keep us informed. Good luck. It only takes one person to tip the scales, and most of us carers know we are being terribly, terribly undersold, as are our loved ones. Things could be so much better. People like you are the fore-runners of change.
But bear in mind, the jury on coconut oil is still out as real research hasn't been done. Maybe the wisest route is for people like us here to insist that research is funded? Then we would know.
Please be aware that I am voicing my own opinions and experiences of campaigning and trying to wake up the 'comfortable majority'. This should not be taken as advice, activism or support. It is merely an opinion based on my years as a campaigner. Good for you though!
Here is a nice quote I just found, quite apt for you:
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
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