Alan Carr has created a site and a movement idea called the International Men's Network. The idea is that the network grows by each participant finding two other men to join, and each "cell" of three men writes in protest or support of a particular cause each month. I think it's a neat idea. His web site was pretty hard for me to read, and I've been told he's had problems with some people's browsers but not others, so check it out and if you are having trouble reading it just e-mail Alan at pc006a0002@blueyonder.co.uk and I'm sure he'd be glad to explain.

As posted to the Men's Health America list, "This recent report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that even though occupational death rates are falling, men account for 93% of all occupational deaths." The CDC report updates the information covered by Warren Farrell in his groundbreaking book The Myth of Male Power, where I first learned about this enormous gender disparity.

Douglas Rome, a Scottish poet and professional journalist, sent in an engaging essay about the current happenings of the men's movement in Scotland, and the struggles it is facing. Of the many things one might call Douglas Rome, complacent isn't one of them - his writing style mixes news journalism with confrontational editorial commentary that makes no apologies. Douglas covers the status of several key men's rights issues, including father's legal rights, male suicide, false rape accusations, and more. Click Read More below for the essay.

Anonymous User writes "A former teacher in Canada has been awarded some money after a parent falsely accused him of sexual misconduct. The story can be read here." The teacher received $70,000, after having proved that the parent intended to cause "destruction through a gratuitous, malicious and a vicious attack."

This report on Excite News indicates that British men are now three times as likely as women to take their own lives. In 1971, men were 1.5 times more likely. Researchers for this study claim they have not yet found a cause for the increase in suicide among men, while women's suicide rates have remained relatively stable.

Peter Allemano writes "The Greater New York Chapter of the National Coalition of Free Men is considering undertaking a research project involving issues surrounding divorce in New York State. Initially, information is sought about New York attorney JoAnn Douglas and New York Supreme Court Justice Judith J. Gische. Anyone with knowledge about, or personal experience with, either of these individuals is
kindly requested to contact Joseph R. Sahid, Esq." I've moved Sahid's other contact info into the Read More section, but his e-mail is sahid@att.net.

Although articles like this one on AskMen.com leave a lot to be desired in terms of depth, I do think it brings up a good point. The author points out that society pressures men to be obsessed with what women want--what makes women happy--in a relationship. Why not turn the tables? Here are 10 things that men might want in order to be happy in a relationship.

An Anonymous User sent me an article from the Sydney Morning Herald. It describes how young men surveyed showed a dramatic difference in the satisfaction with their lives, depending on whether they had a girlfriend or not. Furthermore, only 18 percent of fathers feel satisfied with their relationship with their teenage sons. Perhaps the two could be related? It's probable that when men are trained to depend on women for emotional support, that this kind of scenario is bound to happen. You can read the article here.

Igor writes "I was channel surfing late last night (7/11/01), and I stopped on "Politically Incorrect," a show on ABC that tackles abrasive issues with comedy (always a good approach). Last night, the focus was on feminism and its flaws. One of the guests was (hooray!!!) Christina Hoff Sommers. She did an amazing job fending off the most anti-male guest (ironically, a man), a film director whose name escapes me. He reminded me of the way I (and, I suspect, a few of you) used to be, and I pitied him. Bill Maher (the host) and CHS made some great points during the show, and a transcript should be up any time now at the "Politically Incorrect" website."

Not PC sent me this article from the UK Telegraph about a male contraceptive pill. The drug would be a pill which hormonally stops sperm production and would be effective for three years. Testosterone injections would have to be given to maintain normal sex drive, but according to the article, "The results to date show completely reversible blockage of sperm production without major side effects."

A four-man and three-woman Wisconsin high court in this story from Excite News has banned a man from having any more children while he is on probation for not paying $25,000 in child support. The decision was split along gender lines. The three female justices said that the ban denied the man his basic human (and Constitutional) right to father a child. The four male justices said the ban forced the man "to consider responsibility." The female justices and the man's lawyer expressed concern that such action could lead to the trampling of the rights of men who cannot afford child support.

A new issue of the DesertLight Journal is out, with information about Clayton Giles' journey across Candada and the U.S. to protest the way family courts treat children, and a new masculist literature e-mail list, among other things. Check it out at this link, and thanks to Trudy Schuett for her efforts!

Michael Kramer sent me a link to this transcript of an MSNBC Dateline program about baby abandonment and the legislation which is making it legal (for mothers) in many states. Michael wrote an insightful response to the program and his letter can be read by clicking Read More below. As he said to me, "The madness not only continues, it worsens daily, something straight out of Kafka. If you're a male in today's America, you best start running."

Marc Angelucci writes "John Smith sent this article from the LA Times to me. Take a look at the bigotry this columnist expresses about entrapping men: "I wish every Okinawan woman dating an American military man would implant in his brain the thought or fear that she might send him to jail." This author comes from miles away in Cardiff, California. The LA Times will print her bigotry but they refuse to print things from men's activists who live right here in LA. You can write the editor at letters@latimes.com."

Remember, our weekly on-line chat will begin tonight at 9:30 PM Eastern Time. You can join the chat at this page. While we welcome all kinds of discussion in the chat room, tonight's main topic will be the way men are portrayed in the media. We're looking to put together a page on Mensactivism.org that tracks anti-male companies that abuse or defame men in commercials. Readers would then be able to see a list of companies that they might consider boycotting or writing to in protest.