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Please remember  your Speaking Final Exam will be on Tuesday  October 18th
NOT Friday October 14th

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Pro
Don Edgar Lily  Jackie  Chao Elly  Ira  Alex

Con
Jasper Jeremy Bella Levi Amy Claire Fang Mike

Each group will have 20 minutes for their appointment.
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When you are not doing your assessment, please work on your final presentation from the class handout.

Use LAB      374      .

The  assessment will be marked on ……

Use the formal language for giving opinions, interrupting, etc…

Pronunciation Sheet 10 words Sheet. Make sure your pronunciation of your key/topic vocabulary is correct. Bring cloning class hand out

Participation (talk more than you listen).

Show that you have good knowledge about the Cloning topic

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con

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pro

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Bella、Con

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Chao : OK~ actually i dont know how to delete it  but my final descion is Pro ~

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Chao : OK~ actually i dont know how to delete it  but my final descion is Pro ~

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Please choose what side you would prefer to be for the Both sides Cloning Discussion. I will look at your choices and decide the final list on Wednesday.

Write your name in one of the category. If you don't care choose both.
Pro

Con

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Jackie and Fang's article

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Reasons Eating Junk Food Is Not Good

Junk food is food that is calorie-dense and nutrient poor. In recent decades, junk food, fast food and convenience food consumption in the United States have increased dramatically, with 25 percent of people now consuming predominantly junk food diets. This trend has occurred concurrently with rising epidemics of numerous chronic diseases and accounts for a long list of reasons why eating junk food is bad.

Obesity

Junk food plays a major role in the obesity epidemic. By the year 2050, the rate of obesity in the U.S. is expected to reach 42 percent, according to researchers at Harvard University. Children who eat fast food as a regular part of their diets consume more fat, carbohydrates and processed sugar and less fiber than those who do not eat fast food regularly. Junk food in these children's diets accounts for 187 extra calories per day, leading to 6 additional pounds of weight gain per year. Obesity increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many other chronic health conditions.

Diabetes

Your insulin levels become elevated when you eat processed sugars, such as those in soft drinks, white flour and other foods devoid of fiber and nutrients necessary to properly metabolize carbohydrates. Eating junk foods throughout the day causes chronically high insulin levels, which eventually prompts your cells to begin to ignore this important hormone, resulting in a condition known as insulin resistance. Ultimately, obesity and Type 2 diabetes may set in. Since the 1980s, Type 2 diabetes, which was minimal in teenagers, has risen to 15 percent.

Depression

Junk food may be connected to depression. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2015 that used data from 70,000 postmenopausal women found that diets high on the glycemic index, including those full of added sugar and refined grains such as junk food, were associated with greater odds of depression. In contrast, diets that had fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lactose, a sugar that comes from milk and other dairy products, had protective effects against developing depression. The researchers concluded that in postmenopausal women, eating diets such as junk food could be a risk factor for depression. The researchers pointed out that further research needs to be done to see if the same results would apply for other groups of people, such as younger women and men.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Processing that removes vitamins, minerals and fiber makes junk foods into the sources of empty calories that nutritionists disparage. Children who eat a lot of junk foods may develop nutritional deficiencies that lead to low energy, mood swings, sleep disturbance and poor academic achievement, among other health conditions, according to the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.

Sodium and Heart Disease

High sodium levels are a defining characteristic of many junk foods and one of the contributing factors to the over consumption of salt that typifies the Western diet and contributes to high blood pressure and heart, liver and kidney diseases, according to Harvard Health Publications. The average American eats five to 10 times more salt than the 2,300 milligrams per day recommended by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Considering the high rates of high blood pressure among Americans, that level should be even lower -- about 1,500 milligrams per day -- for 70 percent of adults. However, the trend since 1988 shows that fewer people with hypertension adhere to a low-sodium diet now than did then.

About the Author

Tracey Roizman, DC is a writer and speaker on natural and preventive health care and a practicing chiropractor. She also holds a B.S. in nutritional biochemistry.

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Junk food is food that is calorie-dense and nutrient poor. In recent decades, junk food, fast food and convenience food consumption in the United States have increased dramatically, with 25 percent of people now consuming predominantly junk food diets.

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Most adolescents like to spend at least part of their free time playing video games. But for some, what starts out as innocent recreation can become an addiction.

Soon, friends, family, school, and even personal hygiene are neglected as nearly every spare moment is spent playing the game.

Game Design

But what makes a game addictive? Are there certain characteristics that make some games more addictive than others? Why are some teens more susceptible than others to this kind of addiction?

Having a hard time getting your child away from the TV or computer? Read Why Won't My Child Stop Playing Video Games? for help on weaning your child from games and the internet.

As with any addiction, video game or "gaming" addiction is usually a multi-faceted issue. For starters, video games are designed to be addictive. Not "addictive" in the clinical sense of the word, but game designers are always looking for ways to make their games more interesting in order to increase the amount of time people spend playing them. This is particularly true for game developers whose business model relies on in-game purchases.

As much as anyone, gaming designers themselves try to answer the question, "What makes a video game addictive?" They want you - once you log in or pick up that controller - to not want to stop playing.

This doesn't mean that game developers harbor the malicious intention of hooking a new generation of young people on video games. But what begins as an immersive escape can, for some, develop from a harmless form of entertainment into a more consuming addiction.

Games that hook players are often designed to be just difficult enough to be truly challenging, while allowing players to achieve small accomplishments that compel them to keep playing. In that respect, the design of video games is similar to the design of gambling casinos, which will allow players to have small "wins" that keep them playing.

Factors That Increase "Addictiveness"

There are several "hooks" that are built into games with the intent of making them "addictive":

The High Score

Whether you've tried out the latest edition of Grand Theft Auto or haven't played a video game since PacMan, the high score or completion percentage is one of the most easily recognizable hooks. Trying to beat the high score (even if the player is trying to beat his own score) can keep a player engrossed for hours.

Beating your Rival

More and more gamers are competing with or against friends and other players from across the world via the internet. There are many permutations of online competitive gaming. Some games involve forming clans to compete against other groups of players while others use the last man standing "battle royale" format, most famously Fortnite. Here the goal may be to rise up the leaderboard or to gain bragging rights over friends.

Beating the Game

This "hook" isn't used in online role-playing games but is found in nearly every gaming system. The desire to beat the game is fed as a player "levels up," or finds the next hidden clue.

Role-Playing

Role-playing games allow players to do more than just play - they get to actually create the characters in the game and embark on an adventure that's somewhat unique to that character. Consequently, there's an emotional attachment to the character, and the story makes it much harder to stop playing.

Discovery

The exploration or discovery tactic is most often used in role-playing games. One of the most popular online games of all time is World of Warcraft, and a good portion of the game is spent exploring imaginary worlds. This thrill of discovery (even of places that don't really exist) can be extremely compelling.

Relationships

Again, this is primarily an online "hook." Online role-playing games allow people to build relationships with other players. For some kids, this online community becomes the place where they're most accepted, which draws them back again and again.

Individuals who suffer from bullying or struggle with face-to-face communication may be particularly vulnerable to withdrawing into an online world that seems less judgemental and anxiety-provoking than their real world.

This is why strategies for overcoming gaming addiction must be sensitive to the wider context of the person's life and circumstances if they are to stand a chance of success. Therapists with experience in treating gaming addiction know all too well that excessive gaming can co-occur with issues like depression, anxiety, and ADHD.

Therefore, it's vital to get to the core of the individual's problems in order to find strategies that work.

Which Games Are Most Addictive?

Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) can be especially addictive because there's no "ending" in a classical sense. Unlike old-fashioned games like Super Mario Brothers, where you win when you save the princess, you can't rescue the princess in an MMORPG.

Indeed, even in online games that produce a clear victor by the end, it need only be a matter of seconds until the player joins the next game. Because each game presents a new challenge and new opponents, boredom is unlikely to set in as quickly as it would if you simply repeated the same scripted levels over and over.

Find out more: The Most Addictive Video Games

Why Are Only Some Gamers Affected?

Another consideration is that some people are more prone to addiction of any kind than others, gaming or otherwise. Kids who are easily bored, have poor relationships with family members, feel like outcasts at school, or tend toward sensation-seeking are more easily drawn into video game addiction because it fills a void and satisfies needs that aren't met elsewhere.

In addition, it's now believed that there may be a reinforcing element to addictive game playing. MRI studies, for instance, have shown that frequent gamers exhibit brain changes associated with increased dopamine release. Dopamine is a mood-regulating hormone associated with feelings of pleasure and similar changes have been observed in gambling addicts.

Though the debate rages on as to whether gaming addiction is a diagnosable disorder, problematic behavioral patterns undeniably exist for some. The combination of highly compelling gaming experiences created by designers and the predisposition some teens have to addictive behavior means this is a real issue that parents, teachers, and friends should be aware of and take action to prevent.

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Most adolescents like to spend at least part of their free time playing video games. But for some, what starts out as innocent recreation can become an addiction. Soon, friends, family, school, and even personal hygiene are neglected as nearly every spare moment is spent playing the game.

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Jim Munson has one of those refugee stories that warm your heart. He belongs to a private group in Ottawa that is sponsoring a Syrian family. Last winter, he was asked to make sure the boys got skates and hockey sticks. So he found them skates and hockey sticks and took them skating on the canal. Their first words in English were, "He shoots, he scores!"

If only it were all that easy.

Canada is held up as a model to the world for our warm welcome to Syrian refugees. People marvel that Canadians are clamouring to sponsor refugee families, sight unseen. In Canada, people complain not that we're taking in too many refugees, but that we're taking in too few, and eager sponsors are still waiting.

We are good people. But it's a bit too soon for self-congratulation. Across Canada, refugees have been turning to food banks because they can't make ends meet. Toronto's Daily Bread Food Bank found that Syrian families have less than $400 a month left after they pay the rent. In Montreal, about 2,000 refugees depend on Moisson Montreal, the country's largest food bank. In Winnipeg, Yasmin Ali, who runs the city's newest food bank, told the CBC, "This is very stressful for them because I guess they didn't expect this."

To be fair, the federal government is in a bind. Its subsidies are pegged to provincial welfare rates. If refugees were to get better treatment than Canadians, Canadians would get cranky.

Canada has a robust network of social-service agencies. But none were prepared for the deluge, and they didn't get more funding to deal with it. In 2014, Canada resettled about 13,500 refugees; this year the number, from all countries, is expected to be more than 50,000. Language training, translators, trauma and mental-health care - all are in short supply. Refugees can't find jobs until they learn English (or French in Quebec), but some language schools have run out of money to meet the demand.

"We need more than love," Mr. Munson, who heads the Senate standing committee on human rights, told me. His committee has been monitoring the refugee program. To say the least, it has a lot of growing pains. In his view, we should be cautious about exporting the Canadian model while we figure out how to address them.

On top of that, the rate of processing new refugees has slowed to a crawl. As hopeful families live in limbo abroad, sponsorship groups are increasingly fed up with an unresponsive immigration bureaucracy.

John Bryan belongs to a Toronto group that has agreed to sponsor a Syrian family currently living in Saudi Arabia. They've formed strong bonds. They've even arranged for one of the children, an engineering student, to go to York University. Now they have been abruptly informed that the family won't be processed for three years or more. Why? Perhaps lack of resources, or perhaps bureaucratic logistics. Whatever the case, he told me, "The government made a commitment and they're not going to keep it."

Privately sponsored refugees do better than government-sponsored ones, in part because they have a better web of support. But for both groups, the money runs out after a year. Then what happens?

The answer depends on employability. And the early signs aren't very good. "Basically I can't refer them to any employer because they don't have basic communication skills," one settlement worker told the Huffington Post. Also, few Syrian refugees are highly educated. (One survey of refugees in Hamilton found that two-thirds of those aged 15 and older had a high-school education or less.) And in some parts of Canada, especially Alberta, the job market is terrible.

"The last thing anybody wants to see is people moving from one government program to a provincial welfare roll," Mr. Munson says. But it's likely that more than a few will.

No one expects the newcomers to be self-sufficient right away. That's not why we took them in. We took them in because we have a moral obligation to ease the suffering of people who have survived an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe. We owe it to them - and to ourselves - to give them the best support we can, and also to be realistic about what we can take on and what we can expect.

It would be foolish to open the doors even wider (as some people think we should) while so many newcomers are struggling to find purchase. It would also be smart of us to remember that integration takes more than a generation, and that not all immigrant groups are equally successful, no matter how much help they get.

The Vietnamese boat people thrived in Canada. How will the Syrians fare? We'll find out in 20 or 30 years. Meantime, we shouldn't underestimate the challenge.

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Syrian refugees: the romance and the reality

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Jim Munson has one of those refugee stories that warm your heart. He belongs to a private group in Ottawa that is sponsoring a Syrian family. Last winter, he was asked to make sure the boys got skates and hockey sticks. So he found them skates and hockey sticks and took them skating on the canal.

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Standard Page - 2011-06-21

Every two seconds, an area of forest the size of a football pitch is lost to logging or destructive practices. Through agriculture and logging, mining and climate change, humans are wiping out irreplaceable forests - and the life that depends on them - at a terrifying pace.

We are losing not only our primeval forests, which regulate our climate and water resources, but also the amazing range of species that call them home. Indigenous peoples are pushed out as companies move in to destroy their ancient homes. It is estimated that almost 1.6 billion people around the world rely on forests to earn a living, and 60 million indigenous people depend on forests for survival.

China's disappearing forests

Only 3.34% of China's forests remain intact. The rest are threatened by plantations: in Hainan and Yunnan, for example, indigenous trees are felled to make way for fast-growing eucalyptus plantations, which are used to make paper pulp.

Unfortunately - though they both contain trees - plantations and ancient forests are not the same in terms of ecology. Ancient forests are crucial to biodiversity and provide habitats for many native species of animals and plants. They also store millennia-worth of carbon, which is released as carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) when the trees are logged.

Global Deforestation

Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan also play a role in driving the destruction of ancient forests in other parts of the world, particularly the Paradise Forests, one of the last remaining rainforests in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

China is now the world's second largest consumer and importer of wood products, according to the United Nations. Because China faces not only limited forest resources but also booming domestic demand, most of its timber for export and domestic use has to be imported. Unfortunately, illegal logging is rampant in the Paradise Forests of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, as well as the Congo. With such high rates of illegal logging and lack of awareness, it is very likely that much of China's imported timber comes from illegal sources.
Learn more about why illegal logging is a problem.
Industrial logging for timber and pulp and paper has devastated much of the world's rainforests. Whole swathes of Indonesian rainforests and peatlands have been turned into paper pulp for toilet paper, tissues, magazines, and copy and print paper.

The global demand for palm oil (widely used in cosmetics and as a vegetable oil in food products), soy, and beef also drives massive rainforest destruction. China is the world's second largest importer of palm oil, surpassed only in 2010 by India. Much of the Amazon has been burned to make way for cattle ranches and soya plantations, while Indonesian rainforests are cleared for palm oil. In this way, irreplaceable rainforests are destroyed to make toothpaste, chocolate and animal feed.

Deforestation and Climate Change

Today, forests face another threat. Deforestation contributes to climate change - accounting for one-fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions. It is Indonesia's terrifying rates of deforestation alone that make this developing country the world's #3 greenhouse-gas emitter, behind China and the US. Indonesia's peatlands store 35 billion tons of carbon - and when they are drained and burned, all of this carbon returns to the atmosphere.

At the same time, climate change itself threatens forests on a terrifying scale.

Rising global temperatures damage and kill trees, and increase drought and forest fires. Dying trees release still more carbon, which further increases our global temperature. This cycle of forest collapse represents a critical feedback loop that could drive warming for centuries, change life cycles on Earth, and usher in a sweeping transformation of human civilisation. The surest way to stop it is to end deforestation.

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Standard Page - 2011-06-21 Every two seconds, an area of forest the size of a football pitch is lost to logging or destructive practices. Through agriculture and logging, mining and climate change, humans are wiping out irreplaceable forests - and the life that depends on them - at a terrifying pace.

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Credit: STILLFX/Shutterstock

A strange paradox is emerging in America: Overall violent-crime rates are down, but active shooter events - in which a person is trying to kill multiple people in a populated area - appear to be on the rise, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics.

Meanwhile, a just-released study finds that although the United States has just about 5 percent of the world's population, the country has 31 percent of the world's mass shooters. The reasons for these numbers are complex, researchers say, but the data suggest that the availability of guns, and perhaps the American obsession with fame, may be to blame.

The United States has more private gun ownership and more desire for fame than any other country in the world, said Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at the University of Alabama and author of the new research, presented Sunday (Aug. 23) at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. [ 5 Milestones in Gun Control History]

The possible association between mass shootings and a desire for fame is particularly eerie, given the nation's latest high-profile killing. Early this morning (Aug. 26), a former employee at a local news station in Virginia allegedly killed a reporter and a cameraman on-air, while filming the shooting with a GoPro camera. He later posted the film to social media. Because there were fewer than four victims, the event does not qualify as a mass shooting, according to most definitions. But the apparent desire to broadcast the crime places the killer in the same company as many notorious mass shooters of the past decade. [ The History of Human Aggression]

"Especially some of the younger ones - they want attention," said Mary Muscari, a forensic nurse at Binghamton University in New York who has studied revenge-driven mass killers. "That's why you see them wanting to have a bigger head count, a bigger body count, to try to outdo the last one or to do something that is going to cause more of a rise."

A person claiming to be the alleged gunman in the Virginia attack sent a 23-page fax to ABC News after the shooting, claiming to be influenced by Seung-Hui Cho, the killer in the Virginia Tech shooting of 2007. "He got NEARLY double the amount that Eric Harris and Dylann [sic] Klebold [the Columbine shooters] got," the writer of the fax added, according to ABC News. The fax also claimed that the shooting was in response to the mass killing at a Charleston church in June.

The paradox of mass shootings

There are no official definitions of a mass shooting, and varying ways of tracking the data - by fatalities, by total victims - can make finding trends in this type of violence difficult. A person who arms himself with enough ammo to take out dozens but who only manages to kill one or two people would not be included in federal statistics that track crimes with four or more victims.

The term "mass shooting" also encompasses a range of crimes with a variety of motivations. A gang drive-by that kills multiple people would count, though the root cause is very different from the kind of rampage killings that occur regularly in schools, churches and theaters around the country.

The FBI attempted to narrow the definition in a 2014 report that focused on "active shooter" situations, defined as shootings in which an individual tried to kill people in a public place, and excluding gang- or drug-related violence. The agency found that 160 active-shooter incidents had occurred between 2000 and 2013, and that the number of events was rising. In the first seven years of the period, the average number of active-shooter incidents per year was 6.4. In the final seven years, the annual average rose to 16.4.

In these 160 shootings, 486 people were killed and 557 were wounded, not including the shooters.

The rise in active-shooter events bucks the general trend toward less violent crime in the United States: Overall violent crime dropped 14.5 percent between 2004 and 2013, according to the FBI.

This disconnect echoes what Lankford found in his latest research. Lankford analyzed mass-shooting events in which four or more people were killed in 171 countries, between 1966 and 2012. He found that the rate of mass shootings did not correlate with the overall homicide rate.

"Being a dangerous country or a so-called peaceful country was not a predictor" of mass shootings, Lankford told Live Science.

The link to guns

What did predict the number of mass shootings, however, was the prevalence of firearm ownership, Lankford found. Countries with higher firearm ownership rates had more public mass shootings. [ Private Gun Ownership in the US (Infographic)]

"That wasn't a shocking finding, but I guess what surprised me was it showed up no matter how many or what type of statistical tests I ran," Lankford said. "It was kind of unshakable."

The link between firearm ownership and mass shootings remained even when the United States was removed from the analysis, Lankford said. For example, Switzerland and Finland, two relatively low-crime countries with high rates of personal gun ownership, had more mass shootings than would otherwise be expected.

Studies within the United States have also found links between gun ownership and gun crime. Research published in July found that states with more gun-owning households had higher rates of firearm assault, robbery, homicide and overall homicide compared with states with fewer gun owners.

Lankford also found that mass shootings in the United States tended to take place at schools, businesses or workplaces, whereas international mass shootings were most common at military installations.

"Looking back, it maybe makes sense, because that's where people have the easiest access to firearms in other countries," he said.

Discussions of firearm access usually lead to arguments about gun-control laws. But there may be another way, said Michael Siegel, a physician at the Boston University School of Public Health who researches gun violence. Like smoking-related diseases, gun deaths are a public health problem, Siegel told Live Science. And like cigarettes, guns could be susceptible to the same sort of cultural change that has banished smokers to outdoor alcoves and sent smoking rates plummeting.

"There may be ways that we can actually intervene and try to change the gun culture itself," Siegel said.

Attitudes toward guns have already shifted, he said. There was a time when guns were thought of primarily as tools for hunting and recreation. Increasingly, however, the conversation has shifted to gun use for defense, to "stand your ground" laws and to the right to carry guns openly in public.

"That's a change in social norms that has occurred," Siegel said. Public health campaigns could seek to push back, encouraging people to think of guns as recreational, not as something meant to be used against one another, he said.

Becoming infamous

Gun ownership can't be the entire story, though, given that overall violent crime is decreasing. There seems to be something that sets mass shootings apart.

One possibility is the American preoccupation with fame. Studies have found that Americans are more interested in fame than people of other nationalities are. A 2007 Pew Research survey of 18- to 25-year-olds found that about half said that getting famous was a top priority for their peers. Television shows increasingly promote fame as a value, research has found, and pop lyrics are becoming more narcissistic. A 2010 review of research studies found that modern college students display less empathy than students of the late 1970s. These studies fit a general pattern of research showing that narcissism is on the rise.

Simultaneously, Lankford said, the line between being famous and infamous is blurring. Scientists looked at the covers of People magazine issues dating from 1974 to 1998, and found that cover stars were increasingly featured for bad behavior - cheating, arrests, crime - rather than good acts (though there was a slight shift toward positivity after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks), according to their 2005 report.

Likewise, reality television and talk shows vault people into the limelight for bad behavior, Lankford said.

"There is a 'fame at any cost' mentality," he said. And many mass killers explicitly cite fame as their motivation: A quick Google search for "wanted to top Columbine" reveals multiple news articles about killers or would-be killers mentioning the 1999 school shooting as their inspiration.

"We know that a lot of public mass shooters, particularly when they're young, have admitted that they really want to be famous, and that killing is how they're going to do it," Lankford said.

Of course, many mass shooters end up killing themselves or being killed by law enforcement before they see the publicity related to their crime. Some are suicidal and want to take others out with them, Muscari said. Others don't care or don't seem to comprehend what death will mean.

"We see, sometimes, with adolescents - they envision themselves committing suicide but actually seeing themselves at their funeral or wake," Muscari said. "They don't connect 'dead' and 'being dead.'"

There also seems to be a copycat effect by mass shooters. In a study published in July, researchers reported that school shootings and mass shootings occur in clusters. On average, each school shooting inspires 0.22 other school shootings, and each mass shooting inspires 0.3 additional mass shootings. (The fractions simply represent that not every mass shooting will lead to another. For every five school shootings, the researchers said, one is inspired by a past school shooting.)

Absent a sudden shift in gun policy, decreasing the notoriety of mass killers may be the best defense. Media reports should focus on the victims and not name the killers, Muscari said.

"Don't give them their fame," she said.

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A strange paradox is emerging in America: Overall violent-crime rates are down, but active shooter events - in which a person is trying to kill multiple people in a populated area - appear to be on the rise, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics.

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presentation article 2  by alex and jasper

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presentation article 2  by alex and jasper

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A new study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found that, not only is air pollution worse than expected, but that it will lead to an increase in deaths that could be as high as nine million a year.
READ MORE: These cities have the worst urban air pollution in the world: WHO
The World Health Organization estimates that in 2012, 3.7 million people died due to outdoor air pollution and the number is set to rise.

The most vulnerable are the elderly. The projections from the OECD sees that number doubling, or perhaps even tripling by 2060, an equivalent of one death every four to five seconds.

"The number of lives cut short by air pollution is already terrible and the potential rise in the next few decades is terrifying," said OECD environment director Simon Upton, presenting the report at the 8th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Batumi, Georgia. "If this is not motivation enough to act, this report shows there will also be a heavy economic cost to not taking action."

"We must prevent these projections from becoming reality."

As well as the human toll it will take, there will also be economic ones, according to the report. The OECD estimates that there will be a worldwide cost of $1.6 trillion annually, the equivalent of the entire Canadian economy. This is due to a reduction in crop yields as well as lower labour productivity.

In OECD member countries - which includes Canada - air pollution deaths fell by four per cent between 2005 and 2010. While that is welcome news, deaths continue in other countries, in some cases, increasing.

In China, for example, where air pollution is a major concern due to coal use and the influx of automobiles, deaths due to air pollution increased by five per cent in the same period. In India, pollution-related deaths jumped by 12 per cent.

Particulate matter is found in the air. It is comprised of dust, dirt, soot, and more. PM 2.5, however, worries scientists the most. It is matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres. This can come from the burning of fossil fuels.
WATCH: Air pollution taking heavy toll

One of the major concerns is pollution caused by vehicles on the road.

The OECD said that, though cars are emitting less pollution, there are more cars on the road. In Beijing tighter emission controls were adopted for vehicles.

"However, the rapid growth in traffic has outpaced the adoption of tighter emission limits," the OECD said in its latest report.
Follow @NebulousNikki
And it's in countries like China and India - as well as Korea and central Asian countries - where we can expect to see the most deaths. An increase in automobiles, congested cities and more power plants to provide citizens with electricity will exacerbate the problem.

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Air pollution could kill 9 million people a year by 2060, OECD warns

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A new study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found that, not only is air pollution worse than expected, but that it will lead to an increase in deaths that could be as high as nine million a year.

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QUESTION: The History of Racism - What is the state of race relations in 21st Century America?

ANSWER:

America has had a long history of racism. Racism has infiltrated every aspect of American society and shows no sign of decreasing. This fact is more easily understood if racism is viewed for what it really is at its core: an institutional ideology. It is a misunderstanding to equate racism with the evil-minded treatment of one individual to another. Racism is more than just personal hatred. No, racism is allowed to subsist because it is fostered and maintained by institutions and government, however unwittingly. Even if individuals within groups or members of a corporate hierarchy determine that the practices of a particular institution are racist, those individuals would be hard pressed to bring about change.

When seeking to understand the state of race relations in 21st Century America, one must gain a clear picture of the nature of racism; it is the belief that one group of people with a particular biological make up is superior to other groups with a differing biological make up. Thus, these groups deemed superior are allowed to gain economic power and social dominance over the other groups considered inferior. This condition is all the more exasperating in America because of the many strides that have been made over the past decades to combat the situation. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott in December 1955, and the student sit-ins in the sixties, to the Selma March in 1965 headed by Martin Luther King and the Voting Rights Act signed by President Johnson in the same year, it had been assumed that relations were moving towards improvement. With every visible stride forward, the country has still lagged behind in genuine racial reconciliation.

In those earlier days in the 20th century, the face of racism was largely black and white. Today, the face of racism has become multi-colored and multicultural. With the high increase of diverse populations entering and maintaining communities all over the country, racism has expanded to include antagonism between peoples of many cultures.

The 21st Century has brought about many attempted changes in society. There is legislation and memoranda against discrimination in its many forms. Affirmative action has been used as an attempt to ensure individuals are given equal opportunity for employment, housing, and other types of advancement. Television shows have changed format and characters to seek political correctness. Nevertheless, society cleverly and subtly maintains its separate views of the races. Ancient barriers, though invisible, still exist owing to the unhappy truth that it is still impossible to legislate the hearts of men. There will always be those who will fight for change while others resist, seeking to maintain the status quo. These are issues of economy, power, and control not easily relinquished. Inasmuch as racism is an institutional ideology, there can still be no improvement unless many individuals work towards it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

- We have all sinned and deserve God's judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring, " Jesus is Lord," you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.

What is your response?

Yes, today I am deciding to follow Jesus

Yes, I am already a follower of Jesus

I still have questions

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QUESTION: The History of Racism - What is the state of race relations in 21st Century America? ANSWER: America has had a long history of racism. Racism has infiltrated every aspect of American society and shows no sign of decreasing.

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You may have realized by now that Korea is a haven for gamers. Games like Starcraft and more recently, League of Legends, have a huge following, and going to a 'PC bang' (think internet cafe, except with rows and rows of computers with the most up-to-date hardware for less than a dollar per hour) to play games has become a national pastime. Professional Gaming, or e-Sports as it's now called, is a multi-million dollar industry in Korea. You can even get a bachelor's degree in e-Sports.

But several members of the government have been claiming that gaming culture has permeated to the point of detriment across the nation. In a debate hosted by the Democratic Party of Korea, government officials, professors, and industry representatives came together on June 18 to discuss the merits of video games.

Entitled "Video Games: Addiction or Art?" the debate focused on whether the impending Game Addiction Law, which would effectively regulate video games in a similar method to drugs and alcohol in legal context, is the most appropriate way to deal with Korea's current enamour with video games.

Many of the arguments presented were resoundingly positive for video games. Jong-Duk Kim of the Game Developers Association asserted that title of the debate itself demonstrates the problem.

"Everyone and everything has the right to freedom of expression and games are no different. They have the right to freedom of expression as a legally published medium, whether art or not. The title of the debate suggests that if video games are considered to be a form of art, they should be protected and punished otherwise."

Chairman of the Gamers Foundation, Goong-Hoon Nam, said cutting off video games would be like "replacing the engine of your car when it stops running, only to find out that it was merely out of fuel."

Among others, parenting was disputed as one of the major root causes and solutions of video game addiction. Kids were turning to games to relieve stress coming from parents pressuring their children to perform academically. Professor Joong-Kwon Jin urged parents to open lines of communication with their children to reduce stress levels.

Much of the negative societal perception of video games had culminated from recent incidents relating to game addiction. Earlier in April, a man addicted to video games let his 2-year old son die of starvation after playing online games in PC bangs and not returning home for several days.

In late 2011, after a published report indicated teenage students were spending more than 2 hours every day after school playing video games, the government passed the Shutdown Law, which prevents adolescents under the age of 16 from playing games from midnight to 6AM.

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South Korea's Game Addiction Law could treat games like drugs and alcohol

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You may have realized by now that Korea is a haven for gamers. Games like Starcraft and more recently, League of Legends, have a huge following, and going to a 'PC bang' (think internet cafe, except with rows and rows of computers with the most up-to-date hardware for less than a dollar per hour) to play games has become a national pastime.

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Presentation Article (Syrian Refugees) -Bella & Elly

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Presentation Article (Syrian Refugees) -Bella & Elly

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thestar.com | The Star | Canada's largest daily

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce Tuesday that an average family of four in Ontario will get about $300 next year, when the cost associated with the federal carbon tax is expected to be around $240 for that family, official says.

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NDTV Food Desk | Updated: August 14, 2017 18:02 IST

The dark side of junk foods is not an unknown fact. Several research studies have shown that fast foods and processed foods have increased childhood obesity, heart disease and diabetes and other chronic diseases. Recently, the Delhi Government demanded a crackdown on junk food that is sold in schools and within 50 meters of them. Not only do they add inches to your waistline, but scientists and researchers have also indicated through various studies that junk food can actually cause serious damage to your brain. The worrying bit is that it's not just years of poor eating, but regular consumption of junk food even for few days can lead to a mental meltdown.

In his book, Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food, Andre F. Smith defines junk food as, "those commercial products, including candy, bakery goods, ice cream, salty snacks, and soft drinks, which have little or no nutritional value but do have plenty of calories, salt, and fats. While not all fast foods are junk foods, most are. Fast foods are ready-to-eat foods served promptly after ordering."

The more junk food you consume, the less likely you are to consume the essential nutrients that your body relies on. You know that junk food can hurt your health, but you may have not known about the effects of junk food on how your brain functions. 1. It can cause memory and learning problems

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2011 showed that healthy people who ate junk food for only 5 days performed poorly on cognitive tests that measured attention, speed, and mood. It concluded that eating junk food for just five days regularly can deteriorate your memory. This probably stems from the fact that a poor or toxic diet can cause certain chemical reactions that lead to inflammation in the hippocampus area of the brain which is associated with memory and special recognition.

Diets that are high in sugar and fat can suppress the activity of a brain peptide called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) that helps with learning and memory formation. Moreover, the brain contains synapses which are responsible for learning and memory. Eating too many calories can interfere with the healthy production and functioning of these synapses.

2. Increases the risk of dementia

This has been one of the scariest discoveries associated with the consumption of junk food. You may know that insulin is produced in the pancreas and helps in the transportation of glucose to fuel the body. Insulin is also produced in the brain where it helps in carrying signals between nerve cells and forming memories. A study conducted at the Brown University shows that too much fatty food and sweets can substantially increase the insulin levels in our body.

Just like in the case of Type 2 Diabetes, with higher levels of insulin, the brain stops responding to this hormone and become resistant to it. This can restrict our ability to think, recall or create memories, thus increasing the risk of dementia. Researcher Suzanne de la Monte, M.D., a professor of pathology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital and the Alpert Medical School of Brown University was the first to uncover this association. Following this discovery, most scientists refer to Alzheimer's as a form of diabetes of the brain.

Also read: (Shocking Secrets About the Junk Food Industry)

3. Lessens its ability to control appetite

Excess consumption of trans fats found in fried and processed foods can send mixed signals to the brain which makes it difficult to process what you have eaten and how hungry are. This is probably why you end up overeating. Healthy brain functions require a daily dose of essential fatty acids like omega-6 and omega-3. Deficiency of these two elements increases the risk of attention deficit disorder, dementia and bipolar disorder and other brain-related problems.

Over consumption of junk food may displace these with trans fats which are harder to digest. A 2011 study shows that trans fats may cause inflammation in hypothalamus, the part of brain that containing neurons to control body weight.

In worst scenarios, the habit of overeating can be similar to drug addiction to an extent that relying on junk foods may activate the pleasure centres of the brain greater than receiving drugs.

(Junk Food May Kill Your Appetite for Healthy Food)

4. It can cause chemical changes that can lead to depression

A lot of studies have shown that eating foods high in sugar and fat actually changes the chemical activity of the brain making it more dependent on such foods. A study conducted at the University of Montreal on mice showed that they suffered with withdrawal symptoms after their regular junk food diet was discontinued. In humans, these withdrawal symptoms can lead to the inability to deal with stress, make you feel depressed and eventually you would turn back to those foods to comfort yourself and handle these feelings. Soon, you may be caught in a vicious cycle even before you know it. Also, by consuming too much fast food you may lose out on essential nutrients like amino acid tryptophan, the lack of which can increase feelings of depression. An imbalance of fatty acids is another reason why people who consume more junk food are at a higher risk of depression.

(7 Most Addictive Foods That Are Unhealthy)

5. It makes you impatient and can cause uncontrollable cravings

Eating a sugary cupcake or doughnut may temporarily spike your blood sugar levels making you feel happy and satisfied but as soon as they return to normal you are left feeling all the more irritable.

Fast food is packed with refined carbohydrates which cause your blood sugar levels to fluctuate rapidly. If your sugar levels dip to a very low level, it can cause anxiety, confusion and fatigue. With high content of sugar and fats, you tend to eat too fast and too much to satisfy your cravings. This can inculcate an impatient behaviour while dealing with other things. Fast foods and processed foods may be laden with artificial flavourings and preservatives like sodium benzoate that tends to increase hyperactivity.

Fast foods are specially designed to be addictive in nature with high levels of salts, sugars and fats that make you crave them. The addictive nature of fast food can make your brain crave them even when you are not hungry.

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NDTV Food Desk | Updated: August 14, 2017 18:02 IST The dark side of junk foods is not an unknown fact. Several research studies have shown that fast foods and processed foods have increased childhood obesity, heart disease and diabetes and other chronic diseases.

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A new forecast by Central 1 Credit Union predicts B.C.'s hot real estate market will remain robust for the next two years, despite fears a tax on foreign buyers is chilling Metro Vancouver sales.

But market overseers say the trend will even out and benefit other parts of B.C.'s housing market in the short term, with B.C. sellers remaining in a strong position.

Senior economist Bryan Yu said the new foreign buyers tax announced by the provincial government in July and rolled out on Aug.2 will temporarily slow sales in Metro Vancouver by about 10 per cent.

He says the 15 per cent levy on homes purchased by non-residents puts downward pressure on a market that was already beginning to slow after a blistering start to the year.

"The foreign buyer tax will result in a temporary but substantial short-term cut in Metro Vancouver sales trend ... the tax puts further downward sales pressure on a market already slowing from spring fever," said Yu

Outcry is growing from Greater Vancouver realtors who blame the new provincial tax for halting new sales and killing deals caught up in the unexpected levy, but Yu said losses will be offset by sales gains in other B.C. locations - such as Vancouver Island and the Okanagan.

The annual median price in Metro Vancouver jumped by nearly 20 per cent in 2016 to $705,000 dollars.

Yu said slower growth is healthier for the market because sky-rocketing Greater Vancouver prices seen during what he described as "spring fever" were unsustainable.

He predicts prices in the region will rise by about four per cent in both 2017 and 2018.

That is slightly lower than the B.C. Real Estate Association forecasts of 5.8 per cent average growth in Greater Vancouver home prices for 2017.

Central 1 Credit Union is a $15-billion-dollar firm that manages lending and acts as a trade association for 42 B.C. and 72 Ontario member credit unions - servicing 300 credit unions across Canada.

Invitations to B.C. Premier Christy Clark to comment on the effect of the new tax were declined, but the Ministry of Finance did offer this statement:

"It's too soon to conclude how the real estate market has responded to the additional tax. ... As time goes on, we will have a better sense of how the market responds to the additional tax and to assess the effect of the tax. The intent is to slow the rate of price growth and cool demand while Metro Vancouver's housing market responds by building new homes to meet local needs."

Predictions from Central 1 forecast:

The new foreign buyer tax will reduce Metro Vancouver area sales by 10 per cent.

The provincial median annual price will rise 12 per cent this year to $480,000.

The median annual price will gain four per cent in 2017, and 3.5 per cent in 2018.

In Metro Vancouver, following a near 20 per cent gain in annual median price this year to $705,000, prices will rise 4 per cent in 2017 and 4.4 per cent in 2018 to $765,000.

Housing sales growth rotates towards Vancouver Island and the Central Okanagan in 2017, before shifting back to Greater Vancouver by 2018.

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Cooling red hot Vancouver real estate market healthier, says economist | CBC News

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A new forecast by Central 1 Credit Union predicts B.C.'s hot real estate market will remain robust for the next two years, despite fears a tax on foreign buyers is chilling Metro Vancouver sales. But market overseers say the trend will even out and benefit other parts of B.C.'s housing market in the short term, with B.C.

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Presentation article: American shooting by Levi and Jeremy

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Presentation article: American shooting by Levi and Jeremy

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In the same period, an average of 517 people were killed annually in terror-related incidents. Removing 2001, when 9/11 occurred, from the calculation produces an annual average of just 31.

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Guns in the US: The statistics behind the violence

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In the same period, an average of 517 people were killed annually in terror-related incidents. Removing 2001, when 9/11 occurred, from the calculation produces an annual average of just 31.

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Deforestation is one of the biggest threats facing our planet. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 31 percent of land on earth is covered by forest. But it's under threat from logging for the timber trade, slashing and burning to free up land for agriculture, mining, encroachment by human habitation, wildfires and climate change.

Around 50,000 square miles of forest are lost each year. That's equivalent to around 48 football fields every minute. The world's biggest forest, the Amazon, has shrunk by about 17 percent over the last 50 years.

The consequences of destroying so much forest so fast are severe and manifold. Forests are biodiversity hotspots. Around two thirds of the world's land species live in forests. Often, we are unaware of what exactly we are wiping out because many of the world's forests still teem with species that have yet to be indentified.

And it's not just animals. An estimated 1.6 billion people rely on forests for basic necessities like food, fresh water, clothing, medicine and shelter. 350 million people live in forests - among them at least 60 million indigenous people. As their home is lost, so too are their cultures, and ways of life that have nurtured their environment for generations.

Deforestation also plays a deadly role in climate change. It accounts for between 15 and 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. And forests are essential to the regulation of water cycles and prevention of soil erosion.

So what can we do? A recent report from WWF points to the palm oil industry as a key driver of deforestation in Indonesia, as well as other countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Greenpeace says companies are "relentlessly converting forests into disposable products that end up in our shopping baskets," and encourages consumers to avoid food, timber and paper products linked to deforestation.

Have something to say? Add your comments below. This comments thread closes automatically after 24 hours.

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Deforestation: choking off the earth's lungs | DW | 19.09.2016

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Deforestation is one of the biggest threats facing our planet. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 31 percent of land on earth is covered by forest. But it's under threat from logging for the timber trade, slashing and burning to free up land for agriculture, mining, encroachment by human habitation, wildfires and climate change.

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Toxic Air Pollution Can Penetrate the Brain: Study

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A toxic particle found in polluted urban areas can infiltrate the brain, potentially contributing to degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's

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Presentation articles PART 2                  Due        Saturday     by 6:00pm

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Presentation articles PART 2                  Due        Saturday     by 6:00pm

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Remember please read each article and be prepared to talk about what you read for one or two minutes

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It was at the Social Cognition Laboratory at York University in Toronto that I was confronted with an uncomfortable truth.

Racism can be deeply embedded in our brains, whether we're aware of it or not.

I was visiting Kerry Kawakami, an expert in the psychology of prejudice, to ask a tough question: Are Canadians racist?

"Racism is still quite prevalent in Canada," said Kawakami.

"Explicit racism and prejudice is decreasing, but if you talk to a lot of minorities - particularly black youth - racism is almost a daily occurrence."

Kawakami backs up that assertion with some hard evidence, collected from a battery of studies in which she examines prejudice. She demonstrated one test for me.

Subjects are shown a series of black faces and white faces on a computer screen. Researchers track the subject's eye movements, to measure what the subject looks at, and for how long.

Not seeing the person

More than a thousand subjects were tested. White subjects tended to look deeply into the eyes of white faces, and were less likely to look into the eyes of black faces. Instead, they were almost three times as likely to focus on the lips or noses of black faces.

"It suggests they're processing them not as individuals, but as members of a group," said Kawakami.

This split-second eye bias can have some important consequences, according to Kawakami. When we don't make eye contact with someone, we're less likely to be able to decode their emotions, and less willing to trust or remember that person.

"Even though it might happen within the first 100th of a second, we know that downstream that can tell us whether you might hire a person, whether you have positive or negative associations with that person and whether you're willing to interact with that person," Kawakami explained.

Kawakami's latest work is consistent with what some psychologists call "aversive racism."

Unlike overt racism - blatant expressions of hatred and discrimination against racial minorities - aversive racism is characterized by more complex and subtle expressions of ambivalence toward members of a minority group.

"People are very careful about what they say about people from other categories. They're really egalitarian, they try to be fair, but when we measure them in more subtle ways, when they're not conscious of their responses and they're not able to control them, then we find that racism is still quite prevalent in North America," said Kawakami.

Public censure

There's little doubt incidents of overt racism are becoming rarer in Canada, acknowledged Kawakami.

Indeed, when racist opinions are expressed publicly, as happened in recent mayoralty campaigns in Winnipeg and Toronto, offenders tend to be roundly criticized and censured.

That's encouraging, and one could argue racial barriers are steadily eroding in Canada.

Look at the fast-growing numbers of mixed-race unions. Over the past few decades, the percentage of mixed-race couples in Canada has nearly doubled, from 2.6 per cent in 1991 to 4.6 per cent in 2011, data from Statistics Canada shows. When it comes to love, Vancouver is Canada's most colour-blind city, with 9.6 per cent of couples being mixed race.

But then, consider this recent poll: 81 per cent of British Columbians of Chinese and South Asian descent report they've experienced some type of discrimination as a result of their ethnicity.

That includes everything from stereotyping and verbal harassment to poor customer service and workplace unfairness.

Racial divisions also appear to be stark in the city of Winnipeg, where a poll last month suggests a deep racial gulf between aboriginal and non-aboriginal citizens. Seventy-five per cent of those surveyed agreed that racial division is a "serious issue" facing the city.

No surprise

The results didn't surprise educator and longtime Winnipeg resident Bernadette Smith.

"Just walk down Main Street. It's probably 80 per cent aboriginal people that are homeless, that are in the hotels, that are unemployed ... that is systemic racism."

Smith is the driving force behind the Drag the Red campaign, a volunteer effort to search for missing women on the Red River.

Drag the Red started after the body of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine was discovered in the river this summer.

Quoting statistics released by the RCMP of nearly 1,200 cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women since 1980, Smith believes racism is at the root of the problem.

"If they were being investigated, then we wouldn't continue to have these women be missing. We do have a problem in this country ... when our people are treated like we're second-class citizens in our own home, then there's a problem."

Racism isn't something most Canadians like to talk about. But we're taking on that conversation tonight on The National, asking the question bluntly: Are we racist?

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Racism still an uncomfortable truth in Canada: Duncan McCue | CBC News

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It was at the Social Cognition Laboratory at York University in Toronto that I was confronted with an uncomfortable truth. Racism can be deeply embedded in our brains, whether we're aware of it or not. I was visiting Kerry Kawakami, an expert in the psychology of prejudice, to ask a tough question: Are Canadians racist?

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At first glance, it seems like most Asian-Americans pretty much have this whole obesity thing under control, by the looks of new national statistics. An estimated 11 percent of adult Americans of Asian descent are considered obese. Compare that to the nation's obesity average as a whole, which stands steady at about 35 percent.

It's the first time obesity estimates for Asian-Americans have been included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a research program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They haven't been included before because people of Asian descent only make up about 5 percent of the population (though by 2042, that is expected to climb to 9 percent).

Why are Asian-Americans so much thinner? The answer may not be obvious, some experts say.

"It looks as if we don't have a problem. But it's a huge problem," says Dr. Karen Kim, a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. "There are huge differences where weight does not adequately reflect the realities of complications from being overweight. For Asians, you do not have to be overweight to get the complications for obesity."

The NHANES uses body mass index, or BMI, to judge whether a person is overweight or obese. BMI is a standard way of calculating body fat using a person's height and weight: A BMI above 25 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. According to this new data, just 10.8 percent of Asians in America are considered obese, a slim percentage when compared with the 33 percent of whites, 42 percent of Hispanics and 48 percent of blacks with a BMI of 30 or higher.

But studies have suggested that BMI is a poor indicator of the consequences of obesity in Asians, many of whom show the health risks that come along with obesity - things like metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease - at a much lower BMI.

"When you've got obesity rates at 30 to 40 to 50 percent in other population groups, it doesn't look like anything," says Marjorie Kagawa Singer, a professor in the school of public health and Asian-American studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

One example: Asian-Americans are at increased risk for diabetes at a BMI of 24, according to the American Diabetes Association. And, Kim says, the risk for cardiovascular disease, another illness normally associated with being overweight or obese, can start in normal-weight Asians who have a BMI of just 19 or 20.

Basically, it's that concept of being "skinny fat": Physiologically, people of Asian descent are either more likely to be "apple-shaped," or their excess fat may be packed between and around the organs. Abdominal, or visceral, fat has been linked to obesity-related health risks like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and inflammatory diseases.

"It's true that you really don't see Asians that are morbidly obese, but you don't have to be morbidly obese to have some of these complications," Kim says.

Instead of relying on BMI, Kim and other health experts say that a more helpful benchmark for measuring obesity -- in any population -- may be to consider waist circumference and fat distribution, both of which are highly correlated with metabolic syndrome.

The other big issue to note: Looking at "Asian-Americans" as a whole is so broad that it's almost meaningless, says Kathy Ko Chin, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. "If it's all clustered together as 'Asian' - then that would really mask rates of obesity for specific populations."

"Asian" here is defined the same way the 2010 U.S. Census defined the term: Americans with descendants from the Far East, Southeast Asia or the Indian subcontinent - that includes Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand and Vietnam.

"That's dozens and dozens of groups, cultures, histories, put together," says Scott Chan, who is the program director for the Asian Pacific Islander Obesity Prevention Alliance, a Los-Angeles based nonprofit which works to improve the health of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in that city.

Filipino adults are 70 percent more likely to be obese than the rest of the Asian-American population - but about one in 10 Vietnamese and Korean adults is underweight, according to a large 2008 report.

"But combined together, it looks like we don't have a problem," Chan says. "It kind of propagates that 'model minority' myth - that Asians are healthier, we're skinny, we're fine."

That stereotype is, in part, what makes getting adequate funding for his program such a constant challenge, Chan says. He adds that despite what he does for a living, he has a hard time convincing his own family that they need to worry about the health risks associated with obesity.

The attitude among many Asian-Americans is, he says, "'I'm skinny, and I'm Asian, I should be fine - I don't have to worry about obesity and diabetes.' We buy into that."

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What's actually behind the low Asian-American obesity rate?

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At first glance, it seems like most Asian-Americans pretty much have this whole obesity thing under control, by the looks of new national statistics. An estimated 11 percent of adult Americans of Asian descent are considered obese. Compare that to the nation's obesity average as a whole, which stands steady at about 35 percent.

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http://www.thanhniennews.com/health/childhood-obesity-on-the-rise-in-vietnam-29386.html

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Overweight and obesity in China: The once lean giant has a weight problem that is increasing rapidly

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As in other countries, China's epidemic of overweight and obesity poses a considerable public health problem, and it is becoming increasingly clear that we need to act now to prevent any further increase. The means by which this may be accomplished remain elusive.

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- breaking the sugar habit

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About two years ago, Park Hyung-jun was told by his doctor that he should stop drinking coke. The 32-year-old used to have three cans of coke a day - one after every meal. "I loved the sensation of carbonation and the sweet taste," he told The Korea Herald.

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New Brunswick Medical Society takes aim at obesity

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With some studies indicating up to 63 per cent of adults, and up to 36 per cent of children in the province, are overweight or obese, head of the New Brunswick Medical Society Anthony Knight says "systemic barriers" work against people in the province who are trying to get fit.

"Some of us have probably seen the advertising for chocolate milk, for example, and how it's a great source of protein and something that kids and adults should be drinking after a workout," said Knight. "You look at the sugar content of a glass of chocolate milk and it's as much as a can of Coke. It sends us in a direction we shouldn't be going."

Some of the strategies used to try and cope with the the problem in recent years have included re-evaluating school cafeteria menus and giving doctors prescription pads on which to prescribe healthy activities. A recent report to the Canadian Senate on obesity suggested a 20 per cent tax on sugary and artificially flavoured drinks.

Here in New Brunswick, Knight said, there are other complicating factors ranging from harsh winters that keep people inside, to a lack of education.

"Whether the lack of bikes lanes in communities, or no sidewalks near schools, which makes it both difficult and unsafe to be active, there are decisions politicians and elected officials can effect," Knight said.

Suggestions sought from overweight people

The New Brunswick Medical Society is looking for suggestions from New Brunswickers - specifically, those personally struggling with obesity - about what influences their food and lifestyle choices, said Knight.

"We've got lots of ideas and one of the big parts of our campaign is that we want to hear from New Brunswickers and share them with government," he said.

The society will compile the suggestions in a report to the provincial government, which is poised to develop a province-wide strategy on healthy weights this fall.

Knight says the idea is to turn around New Brunswick's crisis with obesity within a decade.

Advertising influences health info

Even the most well-intentioned people can find themselves at a loss when it comes to educating themselves on getting fit, said Knight. Food industry pressure has had an undue influence on how even "trusted" publications like the Canada Food Guide are structured, he said.

Further, "advertising targeted at children, food choices that exist in public institutions like schools and hospitals, and access to recreational activities and opportunities [...] all combine to provide a negative influence for individuals that are trying to overcome weight challenges," said Knight.

Knight says that doesn't mean good information and support are impossible to find.

He encourages members of the public to check out the New Brunswick Medical Society's Facebook page for a video, more information on healthy eating, and details on how to "submit ideas and suggestions on what could be done [about obesity in the province], and encourage people to be active, healthy, and make the right food choices."

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Obesity trend continues to trouble New Brunswick doctors | CBC News

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With some studies indicating up to 63 per cent of adults, and up to 36 per cent of children in the province, are overweight or obese, the New Brunswick Medical Society Anthony Knight says "systemic barriers" work against people in the province who are trying to get fit.

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Jackie

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Overweight and obesity in China: The once lean giant has a weight problem that is increasing rapidly

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As in other countries, China's epidemic of overweight and obesity poses a considerable public health problem, and it is becoming increasingly clear that we need to act now to prevent any further increase. The means by which this may be accomplished remain elusive.

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Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans are overweight or obese. Despite the attention of the health profession, the media, and the public, and mass educational campaigns about the benefits of healthier diets and increased physical activity, the prevalence of obesity in the United States has more than doubled over the past four decades. 1 Add the relatively few Americans who practice the habit of regular physical activity to the many who practice the habit of "super-sizing," and it is no revelation why this has occurred.

We have inherited our genetic makeup from our ancestors, hunters and gatherers who ate diets rich in low-fat meats and grains, who had to stalk and capture the entrée for dinner. During times of feast, their bodies were designed to store nutrients as adipose tissue to be used for fuel to survive periods of famine. We are descended from these survivors, and we share this ability to store fat when food is in overabundance. However, famines in the United States are fewer and farther between nowadays, so this added fat is not used up and continues to accumulate through the years. We no longer have to stalk and capture our dinner; we can use the drive-through.

Despite an abundance of evidence of the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight and a physically active lifestyle, we continue to eat larger portion sizes than we need and remain less physically active than we should be. Sedentary adults in the United States eat an average of 500-800 calories more per day than needed to maintain weight. 2 At that rate, they will gain a pound to a pound and a half a week. Food is available everywhere, and people are bombarded with food ads. There are fewer opportunities for exercise, and in many places, no bike paths, sidewalks, or easily accessible stairways. The poor may be especially hard hit; grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods may be poorly stocked with healthy fruits and vegetables, and such neighborhoods may not be safe enough to get out and walk around in. In addition, people from all economic backgrounds often eat for social, cultural, and emotional reasons-not just for hunger.

As health care providers, we don't know how to help our patients lose weight. Fortunately, organizations such as the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO) are mounting increased educational efforts to fight the growing epidemic of obesity in this country, which confers increased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and other serious comorbid conditions.

A jointly sponsored scientific meeting on obesity held in October, 2003, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was evidence of this commitment. Presentations focused on clinical interventions, present and future, population studies, and molecular mechanisms of obesity regulation, aimed at educating health care providers who take care of patients with weight problems.

In a feature article in this issue ( p. 23), I've summarized a few of the exciting topics from this meeting. The amount of knowledge that is rapidly accumulating in the field of weight management will undoubtedly lead to safe and effective interventions to help us more effectively deal with this most pervasive health problem.

What can be done about this problem today? What approach do we take to help our patients now? Low-fat diet? Low-carb diet? What works? It appears that the jury is still out on this question. Longer and larger studies are needed before specific recommendations regarding dietary content can be made with confidence.

It may be that different diets will work in different people. Experts recommend a blend of diets, emphasizing portion control, calorie-counting, self-monitoring, and gradual increases in activity, starting with everyday activities. 3 These simple measures do work if people practice them.

Get away from talking about "diets" or "exercise"; rather, advise patients to "make better food choices" and "increase physical activity." Patients on diets feel deprived and don't stick with them. Encourage patients to choose foods they like to eat within the context of varied, healthy choices; adherence will improve and so will success.

Successful weight loss results from a combination of motivation, physical activity, and caloric restriction. Maintaining weight loss requires a lifelong commitment to balance caloric intake and energy expenditure. I recommend using resources such as those mentioned at the end of my feature article about the NAASO/ADA meeting, as well as in the references, to assist in helping patients help themselves to become thinner and healthier.

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Nearly two-thirds of adult Americans are overweight or obese. Despite the attention of the health profession, the media, and the public, and mass educational campaigns about the benefits of healthier diets and increased physical activity, the prevalence of obesity in the United States has more than doubled over the past four decades.1 Add the relatively few Americans who practice the habit of regular physical activity to the many who practice the habit of "super-sizing," and it is no revelation why this has occurred.

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Did not find about Ukraine, but the culture of eating in Belarus is very similar to my country.

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Volha Charnysh

12 August 2014

Only eight McDonalds restaurants operate in Belarus, and fast food remains a rare treat for most residents.

Obesity, however, is on the rise. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Belarus leads Europe in the share of obese and overweight...

Only eight McDonalds restaurants operate in Belarus, and fast food remains a rare treat for most residents.

Obesity, however, is on the rise. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Belarus leads Europe in the share of obese and overweight women.

Belarusians' diet to a large extent accounts for their expanding waistlines.

Even as Belarusians spend most of their money on food, they eat unhealthy meals due to a combination of the lack of knowledge about nutrition. High food prices contribute to the problem.

Tellingly, Belarus leads the world in per capita potato consumption. As more cheap, fast food restaurants open throughout the country, Belarusians' girths will continue to expand.
Obesity is a Growing Problem
WHO relies on information from body mass index (BMI) tests, defined as a weight-to-height ratio, to measure excessive weight. A BMI of 25 means overweight; a BMI of 30 means obese.

By this measure, nearly 70% of Belarusian women over the age of 15 carry too much weight. Obesity is slightly less prevalent among Belarusian men: "only" 63.7% of men suffer from excess weight, according to WHO.

Alarmingly, Belarus leads all other East and West European states in female obesity. "Only" 49% of Ukrainian and only 44% of Polish women are obese or overweight.

Female obesity rates in the United States are 6% higher than in Belarus.

The problem is not only affecting adults, but also children. Over the last ten years, the share of overweight or obese children and teenagers has grown twofold.

Today, every fourth child suffers from excess weight.
Unhealthy Diet: We are What We Eat?
What accounts for this worrisome trend? One arguably positive consequence of Belarus' isolation has been the scarcity of Western fast food restaurant chains. Furthermore, due to low incomes, most Belarusians do not frequent cafes, bars, and restaurants.

Instead, a homemade unhealthy diet has contributed the prevalence of obesity in Belarus. The diet of a typical Belarusian centres around fatty dairy and meat products. Belarusians also eat large amounts of potatoes and bread.

Belarusians pride themselves when serving the traditional meal of draniki, or pancakes made from grated potatoes, with machanka, a high-calorie sauce made with pork, sausage, sliced onion, sour cream and flour.

In fact, Belarus leads not only in obesity among women, but also in potato consumption. In 2005, Belarusians consumed 181 kg of potatoes per capita.

For comparison, even their closest neighbours eat differently: Ukrainians consume "only" 136 kg per capita, and Poles and Russians - only "131" kg per capita, according to the data provided by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO).

An unhealthy diet affects not only Belarusians' weight, but also their overall health and even their longevity. According to the Ministry of Health of Belarus, Belarusians die from diseases of the digestive organs twice as often as other Europeans.

Alarmingly, Belarusians also lead the continent in other unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking.
Do Thinner Wallets Lead to Fatter Waistlines?
While eating their unhealthy meals, Belarusians spend a substantial part of their income on food. According to the household survey conducted by the Belarusian National Statistics Committee in the first quarter of 2014, food accounts for 41.4% of all expenditures of a typical Belarusian household. Belarusians spend one third of this amount on meat.

A 2013 survey conducted by the Institute of Sociology of National Academy of Sciences in 15 small towns presents a far more worrisome picture.

According to this survey, every fifth household spends 70-90% of its income on food and every third household spends 50-70% of household income on food.

Not surprisingly, the survey also indicates that two thirds of the respondents worry about food prices.

A 2012 RIA rating, compiled by the RIA Novosti rating agency using data provided by the statistics committees of 40 countries in Europe, allows us to see how Belarus stacks up against other European states.

Post-Soviet states all cluster at the very bottom of RIA rating, as their citizens spend the greatest share of their income on food. Wealthy western European states ranked highest because they spend far smaller shares of income on food.

RIA rating suggests that the share of income spent on food is roughly inversely proportional to the level of income. A reverse trend describes the expenditures on alcohol and tobacco. These items tend to be disproportionately cheap in countries with low-income levels.
Fast Food Forward
Growing incomes will not improve Belarusians' health in the short run. Instead, the Belarusian diet may further deteriorate in the coming years as they discover the pleasures of eating out.

Today, about 12,500 catering establishments operate in Belarus. About 2,000 of themare in Minsk. Food service is one of the sectors of the economy that is wide open to private entrepreneurs. In the last decade, domestic private ownership has steadily overtaken state ownership.

Currently, there are about 790 Belarusians per one catering establishment. In the US, there are about 150 people per one catering establishment.

In Europe - 300 people per one catering establishment. In other words, the food service market in Belarus has room to grow. Its growth may also expand Belarusians' waistlines.

In 2012, Belarus had only 43 fast-food restaurants. This will change, however, as a growing number of international fast food companies are seeking entry in the Belarusian market. Among them is the well-known fast-food franchise Kentucky Fried Chicken, or KFC, which has already opened about 250 restaurants in the CIS region.
Russian Embargo and the Belarusian Food Market
Last week, Russia imposed an embargo on food products from the EU and the US, reacting to Western sanctions over its policies in Ukraine.

Moscow banned imports on beef, pork, fruit and vegetable produce, poultry, fish, cheese, milk and dairy products from the European Union, United States, Australia, Canada and Norway.

Belarusian officials seemed to rejoice at the news, vowing to increase exports of Belarusian foodstuffs to Russia and likening this opportunity to 19th century gold-rush in Klondike, Canada.

While Belarusian producers will benefit from the growing demand for Belarusian food in Russia, Belarusian consumers may suffer.

A sharp rise in Belarusian exports will raise the food prices in the internal food market. Since most of Belarusian produce already make their way to Russia, the fastest way to increase exports is by reducing the supply of Belarusian produce at home.

If the food prices rise or incomes fall, no amount of nutrition education will wean Belarusians off their bread-and-potato diet.

Volha Charnysh

Budzma campaign and the Belarusian Language Society launch the second season of a weekly Kraj.BY program which is online-travel throughout Belarus.

Legal Transformation Center Lawtrend has released the latest data of its monitoring on information provided at the official state web sites of Belarus.

Falanster Minsk NGO invites to a meeting to discuss the topic how to improve the city's infrastructure for its residents. A particular attention will be paid to the expanding community of cyclists.
Cultural events
The EESC announces registration to the USB Rally 2014. The Eastern Europe Studies Centre invites Belarusian students to register for the annual United Students of Belarus (USB) Rally that will take place in Lithuania on 1-5 October 2014. USB Rally is an opportunity to meet Belarusian youth studying around the world, to exchange experience and contacts, as well as to join the informal international network of Belarusians residing at home and abroad known today as the USB. This will already be the 8th USB Rally taking place in Lithuania.

Kraj.BY invites for online travels again. From 12 August the Budzma campaign and the Belarusian Language Society launch the second season of a weekly Kraj.BY program. The program offers online-travel into the world of mystery, intrigue and attractions throughout Belarus implemented by creative association PAN-studio. The program host is actor Paval Kharlanchuk.

Exhibition 'Visual Maps of Historical Memory, or the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on Ancient Maps' takes place in the Minsk venue CEKH, from July 24 to 31 August. The organisers - Belarusian Philosophical Space, the Flying University, Publishing House Ekanompres and TSEKH space - are offering a view at ancient maps of Europe and the world to try to see Belarus in different historical contexts and scales, to initiate discussions that may lead to rethink about the "borders" of Belarus.

Art-Environmental exhibition is held on 7-31 August in the Gallery Ў. Weekly lectures and presentations are related to the environment and the arts; a discussion on the relationship of ecology and art highlights the responsibility of art. The final event will be the Eco-Cultural Festival on 31 August. The organisers are AgraEkaKultura non-profit entity, the Minsk Gallery Ў, Ecodom NGO, Green Alliance and the Centre for Environmental Solutions NGO.

Budzma in Hrodna. On 5 August in Grodna, the Budzma cultural campaign organised a Press Club on covering cultural issues in the regional media. That day a talk show 'Belarusiness as a Concept in the Holiday Industry' tried identifying the prospects for promoting Belarusian theme in event business and indicated that archery and throwing spears, picnics in the Empire style, traditional wedding with embroideries are quite feasible to be organised in Belarus.
Discussions
City for people. On 23 August Falanster Minsk NGO invites to a meeting to discuss the topic how to improve the city's infrastructure for its residents. A particular attention will be paid to the expanding community of cyclists. The purpose of the meeting is to consider a bicycle in the city from the point of view of different road users, to assess the needs of bicycles, cars and pedestrians, in order to launch a mutually beneficial dialogue.

Round table on services for disabled. The Republican Confederation of Entrepreneurship invites to take part in the round table ' On the State and Development of Small Business in the Service Sector: a View of Consumers. The Problem of Accessibility for People with Disabilities'. The event took place on 6 August in Minsk, at the Ministry of Trade venue. Among the speakers are representatives of government and non-government organisations.

Belarusian Public Authorities Online. Legal Transformation Center Lawtrend has released the latest data of its monitoring on information provided at the official state web sites of Belarus. The data show that no one of the 98 investigated web sites of Belarus' executive bodies at various levels hasn't got the maximum possible index (100%), reflecting the degree of regulatory compliance with the completeness, relevance and accessibility of information online. The report concludes that active interaction with the citizens and transparency, that is the essence of e-governance, still remain marginal practises.

Monitoring the Accessibility of the World Hockey Championship 2014. The Office for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities releases the final report on monitoring the accessibility of environment, held before the start of the IIHF World Championship in Minsk. The report analysing the information on different facilities - railway stations and airports, sports complexes, hotels, shops and other places of the service sector - indicates the unsatisfactory degree of accessibility. The report includes recommendations that are important to consider while carrying out the large-scale sporting events.
Interaction between State and Civil Society
The Belarusian justice ministry has denied state registration for a new human rights organisation called the Movement for the Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, or Pact (Covenant). The founders of the organisation filed a registration application and the required package of documents on 27 June. Mikhail Pastukhou, a former judge of the Constitutional Court, was elected chairman of the organisation at its founding conference. The activists call the pretexts of denying registration ridiculous; in particular, among the reasons for refusal is that the date of birth of one of the founders was stated as 21 June 1949, whereas the correct date was 26 June 1949.
Other
The International Visegrad Fund is announcing a call for proposals for Extended Standard Grant projects within the Visegrad 4 Eastern Partnership (V4EaP) program. The purpose of the call is to promote democratisation and civil society in the countries of the Eastern Partnership through medium-term projects aimed at providing access to the experience of the Visegrad Group countries in democratic transformation, EU integration, civil society building and regional cooperation. Deadline is 22 September 2014.
Belarus Digest prepared this overview on the basis of materials provided by Pact. This digest attempts to give a richer picture of the recent political and civil society events in Belarus. It often goes beyond the hot stories already available in English-language media.

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Thin Wallets, Fat Bodies: Why Belarus Leads Europe on Female Obesity | BelarusDigest

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Only eight McDonalds restaurants operate in Belarus, and fast food remains a rare treat for most residents. Obesity, however, is on the rise. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Belarus leads Europe in the share of obese and overweight...

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Chao's  key words

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Obesity has rapidly increased in young rural Chinese, a study has warned, because of socioeconomic changes.

Researchers found 17% of boys and 9% of girls under the age of 19 were obese in 2014, up from 1% for each in 1985.

The 29-year study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, involved nearly 28,000 students in Shandong province.

The study used a stricter cut-off of the Body Mass Index (BMI) than the World Health Organization standard.

"It is the worst explosion of childhood and adolescent obesity that I have ever seen," Joep Perk from the European Society of Cardiology told AFP news agency.

The study said China's rapid socioeconomic and nutritional transition had led to an increase in energy intake and a decrease in physical activity.

The traditional Chinese diet had shifted towards a diet "with high fat, high energy density and low dietary fibre".

'Preference for sons'

The data was taken from six government surveys of rural school children in Shandong aged between seven and 18.

The percentage of overweight children has also grown from 0.7% to 16.4% for boys and from 1.5% to nearly 14% for girls, the study said.

On the reason for the higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys, the study says: "The traditional, societal preference for sons, particularly in rural areas, may mean that boys are likely to enjoy more of the family's resources."

The WHO classifies a BMI - the ratio of weight-to-height squared - of 25-29.9 as overweight and from 30 upwards obese.

This study used a lower cut-off of 24-27.9 for overweight and 28 and above for obese.

The researchers recommend that "comprehensive strategies of intervention should include periodic monitoring, education on the pattern of nutrition, physical exercises and healthy dietary behaviour".

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Obesity has rapidly increased in young rural Chinese, a study has warned, because of socioeconomic changes. Researchers found 17% of boys and 9% of girls under the age of 19 were obese in 2014, up from 1% for each in 1985. The 29-year study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, involved nearly 28,000 students in Shandong province.

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Obesity is a growing concern in China- China.org.cn

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Protruding bellies and round people of any age are now a common sight in many Chinese cities. As early as 2002, statistics showed that China had 200 million overweight people, 60 million of whom were obese.

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Looking at data reported during the course of this century, the report revealed that the number of obese Koreans with a body mass index of 30 or above amounted to 4.2% of the population in 2012-up from 2.5% 10 years previously.

Based on this trend, one in 17 South Koreans will be obese by 2025, the report said.

Koreans spent KRW2.7tr ($2.3bn) treating obesity and obesity-related diseases in 2011, accounting for 5.8% of all medical bills that year. In 2007, the spend was just KRW1.9tr. By 2025, health officials predict some KRW7tr will be needed to treat obesity.

Excluding the obese, almost one-third of adult South Koreans were overweight in 2013-an increase of 60% in the past decade.

The NHIS last year formed a task force to combat obesity to stop non-communicable illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

Excessive alcohol intake, job-related stress and physical inactivity are among the main contributors to obesity. On average, South Koreans drink 13.7 shots of liquor per week, making them the heaviest drinkers in the world.

Health ministry warns Taiwanese of high sugar in most popular drinks

Taiwan is the latest country to extol the benefits of sugar-free drinks after officials published research that highlighted massive sugar doses in some of the country's favourite beverages.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare study, a typical serving of a glass of green tea with yakult, a popular mixer, contained the equivalent of 14 sugar cubes-exceeding by almost three times the World Health Organisation's recommended daily sugar intake.

Bubble tea was another drink highlighted by the report as the highest calorie beverage it tested. Researchers found there to be an average of 653 calories and 616.5 grams of sugar per serving.

The study also reported that 89% of junior students and 85% of seniors would drink at least one sugary drink a week-with an average of six servings per junior and eight for seniors. Adults would on average consume seven servings per week.

In new guidelines announced by the Health Promotion Administration, consumers have been advised to read labels carefully, keep track of their sugar and calorie intakes, replace flavoured milk with low-fat alternatives and drink water instead of sweetened beverages.

The health ministry had earlier ordered vendors to begin labelling the sugar content of beverages, with a deadline set for last month.

Japan calls on WTO to investigate Korean post-Fukushima trade barriers

Japan has petitioned the World Trade Organisation to implement a panel to decide on trade barriers implemented by South Korea in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

The barriers include import bans and testing requirements for Japanese food which the country claims show no signs of being eased.

The move follows a complaint lodged with the WTO in May alleging that South Korea was violating a trade agreement, and that Seoul had failed to justify its measures.

" We held two days of bilateral discussions on this on June 24 and 25, but there was no expression from the Korean side of when the restrictions might be lifted ​," Japan's Agriculture Ministry said.

" Since more than 60 days have passed since the complaint was lodged, and there is no sign of when the restrictions might be repealed, we have asked today, in accordance with WTO rules, for the establishment of a panel ​."

South Korea in May expressed regret at Japan's move and said then that the ban on some Japanese seafood was necessary and reflected safety concerns.

Average annual exports of seafood by Japan to South Korea have stood at just US$96m from 2012-14. This is less than half the average of US$213m from 2006-10, according to data from the International Trade Centre.

Other countries, including the United States and Australia, had already lifted or eased Fukushima-related restrictions.

Nissha takes over European labelling leader

Japanese multinational Nissha Printing has taken over AR Metallizing, a leader in the production of metallised paper for labels, from the British investment company HIG Capital.

Bart Devos, chief executive of AR Metallizing, said: "Given its solid position in developing innovative printing technologies, Nissha is the ideal partner of AR Metallizing. This is a sterling opportunity for both companies to capitalise on each other's specific technical and commercial knowledge. With this new shareholder, the stable and promising future of AR Metallizing is secured for the coming years."

AR Metallizing's core market is labelling, with special focus on beer labels. It generates a turnover of €110m through the supply of its products to international customers from three production sites in Belgium, Italy and the United States.

Belgian newspaper De Tijd recently listed it as one of the 50 most innovative companies in Belgium for its recyclable premium packaging.

AR Metallizing is valued at €136 million. The takeover will have no impact on its 284 employees, while Devos and other key executives will stay on.

Nissin ice cream available in soy sauce and curry ramen flavours

Nissin has revealed new ramen flavoured ice cream in mini Cup Noodle containers at the Cup Noodle Museum in Yokohama, Japan.

The ice creams are available in soy sauce and curry flavours, and come with with savoury freeze-dried protein toppings.

The soy sauce ramen flavour comes topped with beef, shrimp, green onions, and egg, while the curry flavour comes with beef, onion, carrot, and potato.

The desserts are only available at the museum, which celebrates Nissin's founder, Momofuku Ando, who invented instant noodles.

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Heavy-drinking Koreans seeing obesity skyrocket

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Looking at data reported during the course of this century, the report revealed that the number of obese Koreans with a body mass index of 30 or above amounted to 4.2% of the population in 2012-up from 2.5% 10 years previously. Based on this trend, one in 17 South Koreans will be obese by 2025, the report said.

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Key words--Mike

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China's getting fatter and it's weighing down the future of its children.

The country is now No. 2 for obesity, with its number of obese residents outstripped only by the U.S. Its obesity rate has skyrocketed over the last three decades, resulting in 46 million obese Chinese adults and 300 million who are overweight, according to a study by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Published in the medical journal The Lancet, the study analyzed weight trends in 188 countries and found that more than 28% of Chinese adult men and 27% of the country's adult women are overweight or obese.

The study defined overweight as having a weight-to-height ratio, or Body Mass Index, that is equal to or greater than 25. Obesity was defined as having a BMI of 30 or greater.

Even the country's armed forces have been getting fatter, with the People's Liberation Army facing challenges as its soldiers have begun to have trouble fitting into traditionally-sized tanks.

Pitted against the U.S., China's still looking skinny, the report said, noting that the U.S. accounts for 13% of the world's obesity, while China and India together represent 15%. There are three times as many obese or overweight men in the U.S. than in China and twice as many obese or overweight women in the U.S., it said. More than half of the world's 671 million obese people live in 10 countries, the study said.

Though obesity is more of an adult phenomenon in China, children and adolescents aren't immune. The study's authors say that China's child obesity is alarming: According to their findings, 23% of Chinese boys under age 20 are overweight or obese, while comparable figure for girls is 14%. Such figures largely surpass those of other high-income countries, including Japan and South Korea.

Childhood obesity has severe health effects, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and various types of cancers, said Marie Ng, the study's lead author and a professor of global health at the University of Washington. The high percentages in China are "especially troubling." Ms. Ng said. "We need to be thinking now about how to turn this trend around."

Health experts say that China's waistline has grown with its economy. Like many developed countries, China has found that bad habits came with greater wealth. For China, lack of exercise and unhealthy diets have helped fuel an onslaught of obesity-linked disease s.

Others also question whether China's one-child policy, which has created a land of little emperors doted on by their parents and grandparents, might have also contributed to the phenomenon.
-- Laurie Burkitt. Follow her on Twitter @lburkitt
_____________________________________

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As Obesity Rises, Chinese Kids Are Almost as Fat as Americans

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China's getting fatter and it's weighing down the future of its children. The country is now No. 2 for obesity, with its number of obese residents outstripped only by the U.S. Its obesity rate has skyrocketed over the last three decades, resulting in 46 million obese Chinese adults and 300 million who are overweight, according to a study by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

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Lily's article about "HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT?"

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Lily's article about "HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT?"

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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/215100.php

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2, epidemic
3, doomsday
4, prophets
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7, abortion
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12, urgent
13, standardized
14, adolescents
15, prevalence
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17,cardiovascular
18, diabetes
19, exceptionally
20, variations

Lily Zhang