From June 4-7, the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) held its Annual Council Meeting in Seoul, Korea. International advances for chiropractic reported at the WFC meetings included: In Asia; the completion of fi rst licensing examinations for chiropractors in Thailand. In the Eastern Mediterranean; Dcs from 10 countries attended the WFC leadership meeting and technique seminar co-sponsored by Palmer College and held in Cairo, Egypt, in March, 2008. The WFC Council Meeting for 2010 will now be held in Qatar, or Saudi Arabia, to further support the work of the new national chiropractic associations in that region. In Latin America; new lawsuits against Pts claiming to deliver chiropractic courses and qualifi cations in Brazil – these new lawsuits have been possible only because of international funding support for the Brazilian Chiropractors Association given by the WFC, and its member associations. In Europe; formation of a Polish Chiropractors Association, new laws for chiropractic in Italy, a new chiropractic school at the University of Zurich in Switzerland starting in October, and a European website for the Straighten Up Program. Many European countries are adopting this successful spinal health program, initially developed by Dr. Ron Kirk of Life University and the WFC Public Health Committee. In North America; the establishment of chiropractic research chairs in many major universities across Canada through a visionary program of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, and, in the United States, the continued spread of chiropractic services in Veterans Administration and military health-care facilities throughout the nation. Stretch and Skate is the newest addition to the popular series of public education tools issued by the Canadian Chiropractic Association, in collaboration with the College of Chiropractic Sport Sciences. The brochure features colourful photos of stretch exercises that focus on pre- and post-game stretches for core muscle groups used when playing hockey. With easily understood descriptions and photos of each exercise, Stretch and Skate is a helpful tool in the offi ce, at community centres, with local hockey clubs or when presenting on health matters in your area. Stretch and Skate will be available this summer – well in time for the hockey season! Order your brochures through the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College’s bookstore. Call 416-482-1532 quoting the Stretch and Skate item number L0131. The fi ght for chiropractic in Brazil took an ugly turn on the evening of Thursday, June 26 when the federal police, acting upon a complaint from physiotherapy (PT) leaders, challenged visiting doctors of chiropractic from the Palmer Colleges Clinics Abroad for being engaged illegally in the practice of physiotherapy. The Palmer team was in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, in the south of Brazil, accompanied by members of the Brazilian Chiropractors’ Association (ABQ), and was interrupted as members were giving humanitarian chiropractic services to patients in a public school in a poor local community. “The police say they acted because of persistent calls that day from the president and lawyer for the local branch of the COFFITO (the regulatory body for PT),“ says ABQ President Dr. Juliana Piva of Rio de Janeiro. “The police arrived with media reporters organized by the COFFITO, and that evening there were print and internet stories about the raid.” Protesting, patients were taken from adjusting tables, and then Palmer and Brazilian Dcs and students were escorted to the police station. However, after intervention by ABQ lawyer Antonio Castagna Maia, a full explanation and a visa check showing all was in order, the federal police were satisfi ed and released the group. “We have had many Clinic Abroad trips in recent years as part of Palmer’s partnership with both the ABQ and the School of Chiropractic at Feevale University, but never a problem until now”, reports Palmer Program Leader Lori Curry. The reason for diffi culty now has to do with the fact that, in Brazil, the physiotherapy profession is in the process of an increasingly aggressive campaign to have chiropractic declared a specialty of physiotherapy by law in Brazil. “It is a response to recent litigation against PT leaders promoted by us to protect the independent status of chiropractic,” adds ABQ Past President and Palmer graduate, Dr. Ricardo Fujikawa. “The real battle has now begun.” The drafted chiropractic law promoted by the ABQ has passed all committee hearings, and is awaiting a fi nal vote before the Camara, or legislature. Meanwhile, some PT leaders have been providing and supporting short – 300 hours – technique courses, for Pts, and graduating these Pts with a certifi - cate in chiropractic. The goal is rapid creation of a chiropractic specialty in Brazil. The Brazilian lawyer and consultants retained by the ABQ have persuaded prosecutors at the Ministerio Publico, a government watchdog agency for issues of public interest and safety, to take legal proceedings against the PT leaders, who are promoting the inadequate postgraduate chiropractic courses for Pts, on grounds of misrepresentation and threats to public safety – these proceedings were launched last month.