On 7 August 1982, the British medical journal Lancet published an article the went completely against the scientific position on the relationship between skin cancer and the sun. In the study conducted at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Sydney's Melanoma Clinic, Sydney Hospital, researchers found that the incidence of malignant melanomas was considerably higher in office workers than in individuals who were regularly exposed to sunlight due to lifestyle and occupation.

One of the major researchers, Dr. Helen Shaw, found that people who had the lowest risk of developing skin cancer were those whose main outdoor activity was SUNBATHING! Twice the risk of developing melanomas was found in office workers who had to work indoors all day under fluorescent lights.

Additional research by Dr. Shaw has shown that fluorescent office lights can cause mutations in cultures of animal cells. Dr. Shaw concludes that 'in both Australia and Great Britain, melanoma rates were high among professional and office workers and lower in people working outdoors.'

From the above, it should be obvious that the solution is simply moderation. Mild, sensible exposure to sunlight is not only safe, but desirable. Some of sunlight's life-sustaining properties are that UV light activates the synthesis of vitamin D, which is a prerequisite for the absorption of calcium and other minerals from the diet. UV light lowers blood pressure. UV light increases the efficiency of the heart. UV light reduces serum cholesterol levels. It should also be noted that other types of fats implicated in heart disease (fatty acids, mono, diand and triglycerides) are also reduced by exposure to UV radiation. UV light is an effective treatment for psoriasis.

There are people all over the world who live at high altitudes or at the equator, where levels of ultraviolet light are high, yet they are virtually free of all types of skin cancer. So why is it that Queensland is 'the skin cancer capital of the world'? Because those who make billions of dollars out of promoting fear and selling 'Slip, slap and slop' products are turning us into the wimps of the world. For you children's' sake, encourage them to develop a slow, protective suntan. Remember, moderation is the key.

Now what's all this got to do with spirituality? Well, if you believe a thing to be evil, that thing becomes evil. Your belief creates your reality. That applies to Dr. Shaw's belief about fluorescent lights as well your own beliefs about any physical phenomenon. Collective beliefs rapidly become self-fulfilling prophecies. Contemplate this.