Our Health

I wrote:

Ms. Brochu,
My name is Christina Ancelet.  I go to Roncalli High School in Indianapolis.  This is our last day before Christmas break! For my English class, we are following an op-ed writer and blogging about his or her articles.  I picked you. :)
I just read the article you wrote this morning about the drop-sided cribs.  I was just wondering what your favorite topic to write about is, and in that topic, do you have a favorite article that you have written? Do you have any articles that you could suggest for me to read?  I'm really interested in articles about music, teenagers, kids, and diets.  I liked your article about mothers giving babies diets too.  Any way you could answer these questions would help!
Thank you!
Christina Ancelet

Ms. Brochu responded:

Hi, Christina. I am flattered you are following me all the way from Indianapolis. I'll be happy to help with your project in any way I can.

My favorite topic to write about is animals (which doesn't exactly fit neatly into my online health column).
Here is a column I wrote in February about fox pens, as an example:

 You don't have to be an animal lover to find dogfighting cruel and despicable, or to support laws that outlaw such barbarism - the Michael Vicks of the world aside.
    But what if the animal set up to lose in the blood sport of choice was not another pit bull but a coyote or a fox? And not one running free in the wild, but trapped and trucked in from another state in cramped cages, tossed into a fenced-in enclosure and chased by a pack of dogs, sometimes as many as 300, with all escape routes closed off.
    This is not only happening in 21st century America, it is happening today, in Florida. And it is permitted in some form or fashion by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
    All that may end today, if the commission makes the right call. Because to think that a state agency can design regulations that can somehow turn a brutal death march into a legitimate sport is futility at its finest.
    That's what Florida wildlife officials attempted as far back as 1991, when they permitted as many as 15 so-called fox pens. Of course, 43 pens were in operation, because many were operating illegally, and still are. And rules that try to bring some measure of sanity to the "sport" - like allowing an escape route for the prey, banning any animals from being trapped and brought in from out of state, and requiring documentation of humane treatment - haven't worked, because they are routinely ignored, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
    In 1994, a Texas strain of rabies broke out in a Florida fox pen, and neighbors - hunters included -of various pens over the years have complained about the vicious, cruel nature of a business that sees vulnerable animals ripped to shreds with impunity.
    Is there any wonder that, with the wholesale destruction of the animals used, pen operators would be illegally trucking in new prey to stock their trade? That's what the FWC found out after extensive investigations, culminating in the November arrest of 12 people for illegally possessing foxes and coyotes and in a moratorium on issuing any new pen permits until the commission can decide how to proceed.
    That decision is due at the commission's meeting today, and the only sane, legitimate answer is to recognize this "sport" for its innate cruelty and ban it.
    Nicole Brochu can be reached at nbrochu@sun-sentinel.com, or 561-243-6603.
I've been in journalism now over 20 years, so recalling my favorite story is a bit tough. I'm partial to a few of the celebrity profiles I got to write for our in-house magazine, City & Shore, like the ones on Dan Marino, Andy Roddick and Chrissy Evert. But if I had to name a favorite, it would be the attached article I wrote as a general assignment reporter on the anniversary of the Hurricane of 1928. The people I interviewed and the stories they told still affect me today.

As for turning you on to some stories on teens, music and diet, below are a couple of links to some recent columns I wrote about those topics. You may also want to go to healthkey.com, the Tribune Co.'s health page to keep up with health, fitness and other trends.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-nbcol-family-food-garden-brochu-1220101214,0,1639555.column
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-nbcol-i-dosing-brochu-1123-20101123,0,4232102.column
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-nbcol-loko-fda-ban-brochu-1118-20101118,0,3689416.column
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-nbcol-pushing-cheese-brochu-1109-20101109,0,5623364.column
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/health/fl-nbcol-diet-rewards-brochu-1019-20101019,0,2553517.column

Let me know if there's anything else you need from me. Good luck, and have a great holiday break!

Nicole

My experience went really well.  My writer made me feel like she cares and is completely willing to help.  I learned that Brochu is more interested in animals than health, which is odd because her online column is about health.  Sometimes, it seems, people are forced to write about things that aren't on their top list of priorities.  She gave me a few topics to consider, and even made a link to a few articles i might like.