Tellytocracy?
This book is about how television is damaging our lives and what we can do about it. It should be compulsory reading for anyone who values human life and is interested in the future generation and their potential to live a fulfilled life. Remotely controlled offers practical advice on how to make the much needed life changes that will help us bring up our children away from the influence of the remote control.

By the time we are 75, most of us will have spent more than 12 years of our lives staring at a television screen. Dr Sigman, a psychologist and broadcaster has gathered together evidence of the effects of exposure to too much television which shows that it causes slowing of the metabolic rate of the body, stunts development of the children's brains, may permanently hinder the child's educational progress, increases the likelihood of ADHD, is a leading cause of violence related crime and is the cause of major depression.

Detailed references are given for each chapter and there is a comprehensive index.

The book is in two parts - televised and untelevised. The televised section deals with what television is doing to our children's brains, how television is making the world's behaviour the same, how it is affecting our thinking, how it is making us violent and fat, lowering our libido. It is affecting our happiness and mental health and is responsible for ageism and social engineering. He reports on the changes in societies recently introduced to television where they are experiencing crime for the first time and do not have the means to manage it.

The untelevised section discusses the recommended daily allowance for television - none until the age of 3, one hour daily up to the age of 10 and no more that 2 hours a day for adults! Those who are promoting increased availability of TV channels will not like this.

Dr Sigman praises true idleness and little stimulation. Children need to be bored and day dream. They do not need to be constantly overstimulated. They need to use their imagination. Being surrounded by greenery helps to counteract the effects of television watching. He is against front gardens being made into car parks! He makes suggestions for better alternatives to television.

To protect ourselves from the growing trend of televisions in all kinds of public places, cafes, restaurants, and bars, he recommends investing in a tiny remote control which will turn off any television anywhere. It is called TV-B-Gone. He likens TV to tobacco smoke. Why should we be subjected to TV just because others have addiction?

Italy has recently had its first nationwide television viewers strike. Viewers are urged to turn up with their remote controls between Friday and Sunday. In return, the Milan Cultural Association wants to promote live events and is offering discounts at museums, galleries. theatre, bars, restaurants, stately homes and parks.

On your deathbed, how might you wish you had spent the lost 12 years of your life?

As John Adams said 'Man had given no clear indication that he could use wisely the power that already lay at his command; to multiply that power hundreds or thousands of times over by scientific and technological means, without concomitant growth in wisdom, would be to make the world a far more dangerous place than it had been in less enlightened times.'

Dr. Ann Roden practises craniosacral therapy and is interested in Ayurveda.