Some important topics at Narpa '07:

The resurgence of electroshock:  Books are being written about how
electroshock "saves lives" and it is still being used as a forced
 treatment!

Forced ECT survivors Ron Bassman, Leonard Frank, Dorothy Dundas and
 others
shared their stories that could only be described as torture.  ECT has
killed people and the movement must fight against force+/or coercion
 and
trends toward downplaying the dangers.  Memory loss is a given.  Most
 people
report losing a few years of memory completely.  Some much more.  These
survivors also expressed losing their will and all sense of self.

UN Treaty for rights of people with "disabilities." 
The US has not yet ratified this treaty but about 8 other countries
 have.
The treaty is the first one ever to provide a worldwide standard for
 how
persons with "disabilities" are treated.  The main victory in this is
 to
bring worldwide awareness to issues of rights of people with
 "disabilities."
It will also outlaw guardianship.  Unclear how the treaty will be
 enforced,
but still feels like a positive step.

In the trend of law, Susan Stefan gave a talk on her predictions for
 the
future of the movement.  She sees a positive trend in that psych drugs
 and
other "treatments" are becoming widely recognized as having health
 dangers.

This is great for our corner and our case against forced drugging.  The
courts are unlikely to keep someone from being force drugged for their
 own
liberty of mind, but as the drugs get proven dangerous, the courts will
 have
an easier time NOT issuing court orders for people to take them.  Since
 the
system is all about controlling people who are labeled, Susan sees the
 trend
moving towards guardianship and PCAs for persons who cannot be kept in
hospitals for control.  PCAs funded by insurance/the state could help
 people
gain control over their lives, but there are also negative aspects of
guardianship.  It is a step away from forced commitment that at least
 allows
people to live in their own homes and potentially have access to
 community
and knowledge.  But the role of a guardian is still essentially to
 control
someone and drugs are being used to do that.

Ann Rider, Ron Bassman and other great survivors in the movement are
 getting
into colleges to teach classes on the movement.  This is a trend we
 want to
continue!!!  They are teaching about the movement and giving their
 students
true education, having them question the medical model.  They have
 their
students read books by heroes in our movement.

We have an ally in the mental patients liberation alliance in Utica NY.
Call 800-654-7227 for more info!  Their platform is similar to Freedom
Center.