Heather Mills McCartney Unable to Attend White Lies Launch
Heather Mills McCartney has been forced to cancel her attendance at the Press launch of the health charity Viva Health’s scientific report White Lies, which examines the damaging effects that milk and dairy products have on health. She has, however, issued a statement which will be read out at the Press conference, which will go ahead as planned on Wednesday,May 24, 2006 at 11am at Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London SW1H 9NH. Heather will also not be attending the public talk scheduled for the same evening and this will also go ahead in her absence. Speaking through the Viva Health, the health charity of which she is patron, on Monday, May 22, a spokeswoman for Heather said: “In view of recent Press coverage, Heather knows that any public appearance at the moment will almost certainly be misconstrued and presented negatively. Heather fears that there is a great danger that the conference and public talk will be about her and her private life and obscure entirely the important message that the White Lies report needs to communicate. Viva Health and the White Lies campaign has Heather’s full and continuing support and she will be issuing a statement to be read at the conference.”
Speakers at the conference will be Professor Jane Plant CBE, author of books on preventing cancer; Professor T. Colin Campbell, lead researcher of the landmark China Study; Dr Justine Butler, report author, and Juliet Gellatley, friend of Heather and founder and director of the VVF. Ms Gellatley will also be present at the photocall from 12.10pm until 12.25pm on May 24 when she will hand in a copy of the White Lies report to the Department of Health, Richmond House, Whitehall, London SW1. Accompanying the report will be a letter from Heather Mills McCartney calling on the government to end its support for milk, to end school milk subsidies and use the money currently devoted to propping up dairy farming to promoting healthier, plant-based alternatives. Ms Gellatley will be accompanied by a graphic image highlighting one aspect of milk production which will be of great concern to consumers everywhere.
Speaking of Heather’s decision not to attend, Ms Gellatley says: “I understand it fully and wish Heather well at this difficult time. There are other disturbing aspects of dairy which are not covered in this report and as the campaign progresses we will be exposing them. I know that Heather will want to be a part of this important work.”
For further information contact Juliet Gellatley or Tony Wardle on 0117 970 5190; mob 07971 425508. juliet@viva.org.uk tony@viva.org.uk
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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