Peace
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Mysterious Guest Blogger
Well, in twelve hours I will be enroute to Sierra Leone. Fortunately, a very bright individual has agreed to be a guest blogger while I am gone for the next three weeks. I am sure you will enjoy his posts!
Peace
Peace
Friday, September 15, 2006
W.H.O. Rules May Increase DDT Use for Malaria
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The World Health Organization on Friday called on more developing countries, particularly in Africa, to begin spraying the controversial pesticide DDT to fight malaria.
(..)
'It's a big change,'' said biologist Amir Attaran of Canada's University of Ottawa, who has long pushed for the guidelines and described a recent draft. ''There has been a lot of resistance to using insecticides to control malaria, and one insecticide especially. ... That will have to be re-evaluated by a lot of people.''
The U.S. government already has decided to pay for DDT and other indoor insecticide use as part of President Bush's $1.2 billion, five-year initiative to control malaria in Africa.
Kochi has positioned indoor spraying as an important but neglected third weapon -- along with insecticide-treated bed nets and new medications -- in the war on malaria, which infects half a billion people each year and kills more than 1 million, most of them children.
(..)
'It's a big change,'' said biologist Amir Attaran of Canada's University of Ottawa, who has long pushed for the guidelines and described a recent draft. ''There has been a lot of resistance to using insecticides to control malaria, and one insecticide especially. ... That will have to be re-evaluated by a lot of people.''
The U.S. government already has decided to pay for DDT and other indoor insecticide use as part of President Bush's $1.2 billion, five-year initiative to control malaria in Africa.
Kochi has positioned indoor spraying as an important but neglected third weapon -- along with insecticide-treated bed nets and new medications -- in the war on malaria, which infects half a billion people each year and kills more than 1 million, most of them children.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Is my 6 year old daughter a Cartesian dualist?
Recently, my daughter who just started Kindergarten informed me that she had been disciplined for talking when she should have been silent. Her teacher made her go sit silently at her desk. I asked her how she felt. "I felt sad," she replied. "Did you cry?" I asked. She replied, "No. I was only sad in my brain."
Most scientists reject outright the concept of dualism, as it implies that "thinking" can occur outside the brain. But my daughter's statement implied that she "owned" her brain, i.e., that her brain exists within a larger realm of consciousness..."of Isabelle!"...Out of the mouth of babes...?
Most scientists reject outright the concept of dualism, as it implies that "thinking" can occur outside the brain. But my daughter's statement implied that she "owned" her brain, i.e., that her brain exists within a larger realm of consciousness..."of Isabelle!"...Out of the mouth of babes...?
Chi Runners Poised for Softer Landings
As someone who loves to run, but pays for each run with a week of knee pain, this sounds potentially promising...
Morning Edition, September 14, 2006 · Putting one foot in front of the other comes easily. But, with a new focus on technique, many runners are trying to fine-tune their form for softer landings.
Morning Edition, September 14, 2006 · Putting one foot in front of the other comes easily. But, with a new focus on technique, many runners are trying to fine-tune their form for softer landings.
Made in Africa for Now
The ONE Campaign
This Friday, ONE and EDUN will launch a special edition ONE T-shirt, made by local artisans in Lesotho — one of the poorest nations in the world. The workers who produce these shirts can earn enough to provide for their entire family. In part, this factory, along with others just like it, is the result of a historic bi-partisan effort by the United States to help 37 African nations develop their industries and rise out of poverty.
But this amazing accomplishment is now in serious danger. If Congress doesn't extend a critical provision of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in the next few weeks, we will jeopardize tens of thousands of jobs and the future of the entire African clothing industry.
If we act quickly, we have the power to stop this. That's why today we're calling on Congress to renew this provision without delay. To really turn up the heat, we'll publish the name of ONE members who support this extension in a full page ad in Roll Call — the Capitol Hill newspaper that every member of Congress reads.
Please add your name to ONE's full page ad in the Capitol Hill Newspaper, Roll Call.
AGOA is a win-win agreement where American businesses invest in developing African industry. In return, African industry provides American consumers with high-quality low-priced goods. It would be crazy for Congress to let this important provision expire.
Failing to renew it would be disastrous. As the Wall Street Journal put it, "The bottom line is that if the provision on using outside fabric dies, so will Africa's assembly industry, which is a particularly important source of jobs for women."
When it comes down to it, for these workers voices to be heard in American politics, they need your voice. And this is a moment when they simply cannot afford for any of us to remain silent. When you see the ONE T-shirt on Friday, you'll know you did your part to ensure apparel workers in Africa can keep right on working.
Please add your name to ONE's full page ad in the Capitol Hill Newspaper, Roll Call.
Protect the African Clothing Industry
This Friday, ONE and EDUN will launch a special edition ONE T-shirt, made by local artisans in Lesotho — one of the poorest nations in the world. The workers who produce these shirts can earn enough to provide for their entire family. In part, this factory, along with others just like it, is the result of a historic bi-partisan effort by the United States to help 37 African nations develop their industries and rise out of poverty.
But this amazing accomplishment is now in serious danger. If Congress doesn't extend a critical provision of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in the next few weeks, we will jeopardize tens of thousands of jobs and the future of the entire African clothing industry.
If we act quickly, we have the power to stop this. That's why today we're calling on Congress to renew this provision without delay. To really turn up the heat, we'll publish the name of ONE members who support this extension in a full page ad in Roll Call — the Capitol Hill newspaper that every member of Congress reads.
Please add your name to ONE's full page ad in the Capitol Hill Newspaper, Roll Call.
AGOA is a win-win agreement where American businesses invest in developing African industry. In return, African industry provides American consumers with high-quality low-priced goods. It would be crazy for Congress to let this important provision expire.
Failing to renew it would be disastrous. As the Wall Street Journal put it, "The bottom line is that if the provision on using outside fabric dies, so will Africa's assembly industry, which is a particularly important source of jobs for women."
When it comes down to it, for these workers voices to be heard in American politics, they need your voice. And this is a moment when they simply cannot afford for any of us to remain silent. When you see the ONE T-shirt on Friday, you'll know you did your part to ensure apparel workers in Africa can keep right on working.
Please add your name to ONE's full page ad in the Capitol Hill Newspaper, Roll Call.
Protect the African Clothing Industry
Going to be out of commission for a few weeks
I am going to be in Sierra Leone for a few weeks. Where I am staying probably won't have internet access, as there is no electricity or plumbing. Thus, I won't be able to post on this blog I imagine. If anyone wishes to be a guest blogger it would be great!!! Just contact me via email (hdhindsa@yahoo.com). I know that some of my readers are very interesting, enlightened, intellectual..If you would like to give blogging a try without a long-term commitment(it's really quite easy) please feel free to contact me...
Obesity epidemic 'engulfing the entire world'
From Newscientist.com
This insidious, creeping pandemic of obesity is now engulfing the entire world. It's as big a threat as global warming and bird flu." This warning came from Paul Zimmet during his opening address at the 10th International Congress on Obesity in Sydney on Sunday, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Zimmet, an expert on diabetes at Monash University in Australia, said that overweight people now outnumber the undernourished. The World Health Organization's estimates agree: globally, there are one billion overweight adults, and 300 million of them are obese; in contrast, about 800 million do not have enough to eat. Today obesity is a problem mainly in rich countries, but the WHO estimates that by 2010 the developing world will have more than caught up.
This insidious, creeping pandemic of obesity is now engulfing the entire world. It's as big a threat as global warming and bird flu." This warning came from Paul Zimmet during his opening address at the 10th International Congress on Obesity in Sydney on Sunday, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Zimmet, an expert on diabetes at Monash University in Australia, said that overweight people now outnumber the undernourished. The World Health Organization's estimates agree: globally, there are one billion overweight adults, and 300 million of them are obese; in contrast, about 800 million do not have enough to eat. Today obesity is a problem mainly in rich countries, but the WHO estimates that by 2010 the developing world will have more than caught up.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Reborn
We have always been told there is no recovery from persistent vegetative state - doctors can only make a sufferer's last days as painless as possible. But is that really the truth? Across three continents, severely brain-damaged patients are awake and talking after taking ... a sleeping pill. And no one is more baffled than the GP who made the breakthrough.
Steve Boggan witnesses these 'strange and wonderful' rebirths
Steve Boggan witnesses these 'strange and wonderful' rebirths
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Singing the praises of Jeff Beck
Check out this link ( http://thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=168253) to read of guitar fanatics praising the incredible Jeff Beck.
My thread comment is below:
"I first saw Jeff Beck in Reno four year ago, and am still recovering. He totally redefined guitar-playing for me. I still find myself shaking my head in amazement, just at the memory of that night. He is magical, mystical, and mesmerizing. In fact, I found out too late that he was coming to Reno again this September. I was tempted to cancel a trip to Sierra Leone that I have planned in order to see him again. If it wasn't a mission trip which has been months in preparation, I would cancel in a second..."
My thread comment is below:
"I first saw Jeff Beck in Reno four year ago, and am still recovering. He totally redefined guitar-playing for me. I still find myself shaking my head in amazement, just at the memory of that night. He is magical, mystical, and mesmerizing. In fact, I found out too late that he was coming to Reno again this September. I was tempted to cancel a trip to Sierra Leone that I have planned in order to see him again. If it wasn't a mission trip which has been months in preparation, I would cancel in a second..."
Friday, September 08, 2006
Feeling Small
Check out this link for very cool photos of the relative sizes of planets...These pictures came in the mail the other day.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Sudan's Offensive Comes at Key Time
KHARTOUM, Sudan, Sept. 4 -- The Sudanese government has dramatically intensified the war in Darfur in a bid to finish off a tenacious, three-year-old rebellion before a U.N. peacekeeping force can deploy there..
(..)
The new push by government forces and the uncertainty surrounding peacekeeping efforts could produce a fundamental shift in the fighting in Darfur, where violence and disease have left as many as 450,000 people dead and 2 million homeless. Aid workers say that in recent weeks, civilian casualties, rapes and looting have grown more widespread. Tens of thousands of Darfuris have surged into camps, voting with their feet against a peace deal that many there regard as deeply flawed.
(..)
"They might actually be defeated militarily this time," Ted Dagne, an Africa analyst for the Congressional Research Service, said from Washington. "The balance of power is going to shift in favor of the government. . . . What they want is to change the reality on the ground to make irrelevant the deployment of the international force."
(..)
Eric Reeves, a Smith College professor who closely monitors Darfur, said the Sudanese government is working to drain the region of witnesses as it moves into a final battle against the rebels and their civilian supporters.
"No A.U., no humanitarian groups, this is a genocidal black box," said Reeves, speaking from Northampton, Mass. "We're not going to get any observers."
(..)
The new push by government forces and the uncertainty surrounding peacekeeping efforts could produce a fundamental shift in the fighting in Darfur, where violence and disease have left as many as 450,000 people dead and 2 million homeless. Aid workers say that in recent weeks, civilian casualties, rapes and looting have grown more widespread. Tens of thousands of Darfuris have surged into camps, voting with their feet against a peace deal that many there regard as deeply flawed.
(..)
"They might actually be defeated militarily this time," Ted Dagne, an Africa analyst for the Congressional Research Service, said from Washington. "The balance of power is going to shift in favor of the government. . . . What they want is to change the reality on the ground to make irrelevant the deployment of the international force."
(..)
Eric Reeves, a Smith College professor who closely monitors Darfur, said the Sudanese government is working to drain the region of witnesses as it moves into a final battle against the rebels and their civilian supporters.
"No A.U., no humanitarian groups, this is a genocidal black box," said Reeves, speaking from Northampton, Mass. "We're not going to get any observers."
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