Darfur Peace Deal in Doha - Region - World - Ahram Online: "'Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrived in Doha this evening to attend the signing ceremony for a Darfur peace agreement ... between the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement,' Qatar's official QNA told AFP. The signing is due to take place at 1300 GMT on Thursday, but the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the main armed faction of Darfur, will be absent.
At least 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur and 1.8 million forced to flee their homes since the conflict broke out in 2003 between non-Arab rebels and the Arab-dominated Khartoum regime, according to the United Nations. The government puts the death toll at 10,000."
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Friday, July 15, 2011
Special Report: Indians among top Everest conquerors News
Indians among top Everest conquerors News: "While Nepalis retained their dominance on Mt Everest, the survey found that after them, Americans, British and Indians had the highest number of summiteers on Everest. Besides 39 Americans and 27 Britons, 19 climbers from India followed in Hillary and Tenzing’s footsteps.
The record was even better vis-a-vis other Himalayan peaks where India sent the second highest number of summiters – 48 – after the US with 129.
Indian climbers also dominated the list of records. While this spring’s annals were dominated by Nepal’s Apa Sherpa, who summited Mt Everest a record 21 times, the husband and wife duo from Haryana, Vikash and Sushma Kaushik, in their early 30s, became the youngest couple in the world to reach the top of the world.
A 32-year-old housewife from Arunachal Pradesh, Anshu Jamsenpa, became the first Indian to summit Mt Everest twice in one climbing season while Tine Mena, also from the same state, became the first woman from North-East India to become an Everest hero."
The record was even better vis-a-vis other Himalayan peaks where India sent the second highest number of summiters – 48 – after the US with 129.
Indian climbers also dominated the list of records. While this spring’s annals were dominated by Nepal’s Apa Sherpa, who summited Mt Everest a record 21 times, the husband and wife duo from Haryana, Vikash and Sushma Kaushik, in their early 30s, became the youngest couple in the world to reach the top of the world.
A 32-year-old housewife from Arunachal Pradesh, Anshu Jamsenpa, became the first Indian to summit Mt Everest twice in one climbing season while Tine Mena, also from the same state, became the first woman from North-East India to become an Everest hero."
Climate Change Update: Heavy coastal erosion in 2009-2010 winter linked to climate change - San Jose Mercury News
Heavy coastal erosion in 2009-2010 winter linked to climate change - San Jose Mercury News:
The state's beaches were 'eroded to often unprecedented levels,' said Patrick Barnard, a coastal geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who led the research.
'It's the kind of winter we may experience more frequently' as global temperatures rise, he said.
Nowhere along the West Coast was erosion more pronounced than at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. That winter, the Pacific encroached 184 feet inland, 75 percent more than in a typical season.
Waves reaching 30 feet eroded bluffs and triggered the collapse of a section of Highway 1. It reopened with one of its two southbound lanes permanently closed. San Francisco built a 425-foot rock bulwark to protect the road and the wastewater treatment plant behind it."
"The storms that battered the West Coast during the winter of 2009-10 eroded record chunks of shoreline, and more will likely disappear as the changing climate brings more such powerful storm seasons, scientists warn in a new study.
Pacific waves were 20 percent stronger on average than any year since 1997 and higher-than-usual sea levels drove them further inland, tearing away on average one-third more land in California.
Pacific waves were 20 percent stronger on average than any year since 1997 and higher-than-usual sea levels drove them further inland, tearing away on average one-third more land in California.
The state's beaches were 'eroded to often unprecedented levels,' said Patrick Barnard, a coastal geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who led the research.
'It's the kind of winter we may experience more frequently' as global temperatures rise, he said.
Nowhere along the West Coast was erosion more pronounced than at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. That winter, the Pacific encroached 184 feet inland, 75 percent more than in a typical season.
Waves reaching 30 feet eroded bluffs and triggered the collapse of a section of Highway 1. It reopened with one of its two southbound lanes permanently closed. San Francisco built a 425-foot rock bulwark to protect the road and the wastewater treatment plant behind it."
Wellness Tip: Positive attitude key to ageing successfully News
Positive attitude key to ageing successfully News:
During parts of the task when they did not have to pay as much attention, the elderly subjects were significantly more distracted by the happy faces, according to a University Medical Centre statement.
When this occurred, they had increased engagement in the part of the brain that helps control emotions. This stronger signal in the brain was correlated with those who showed the greatest emotional stability.
‘We suggest that motivational goal-shifting in healthy aging leads to a self-regulated engagement in positive emotions even when this is not required by the setting,’ explains Stefanie Brassen, University Medical Centre, Hamburg, Germany, who led the study.
‘The lessons of healthy aging seem to be similar to those of resilience, throughout life,’ noted John H. Krystal, editor of Biological Psychiatry."
"German scientists studied this effect by using neuro imaging to evaluate brain engagement in young and old adults while they performed a specialised cognitive task that included supposedly irrelevant pictures of either neutral, happy, sad or fearful faces.
During parts of the task when they did not have to pay as much attention, the elderly subjects were significantly more distracted by the happy faces, according to a University Medical Centre statement.
When this occurred, they had increased engagement in the part of the brain that helps control emotions. This stronger signal in the brain was correlated with those who showed the greatest emotional stability.
‘We suggest that motivational goal-shifting in healthy aging leads to a self-regulated engagement in positive emotions even when this is not required by the setting,’ explains Stefanie Brassen, University Medical Centre, Hamburg, Germany, who led the study.
‘The lessons of healthy aging seem to be similar to those of resilience, throughout life,’ noted John H. Krystal, editor of Biological Psychiatry."
Wellness Tip: Healthy body 'helps avoid dementia' - UK News - News - WalesOnline
Healthy body 'helps avoid dementia' - UK News - News - WalesOnline: "Scientists in Canada studied 7,239 people aged 65 and older who were free of Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia and the findings published online in the journal Neurology.
Each participant was asked questions about 19 health problems not previously linked to dementia and assessed at five and 10 years.
The problems included arthritis, trouble hearing or seeing, denture fit, chest, skin or bladder complaints, sinus issues, broken bones and feet or ankle conditions.
After 10 years, 2,915 participants had died, 416 had Alzheimer's disease and 191 had other forms of dementia. A total of 883 were free from significant mental decline.
Each health problem increased the risk of developing dementia by 3.2%.
Older adults who were generally healthy at the start of the study had an 18% chance of being affected by dementia after 10 years. But for those who had eight and 12 health problems, respectively, the risk increased to 30% and 40%.
Lead researcher Kenneth Rockwood, of Dailhousi University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, said: 'Our study suggests that rather than just paying attention to already known risk factors for dementia, such as diabetes or heart disease, keeping up with your general health may help reduce the risk for dementia.'"
Each participant was asked questions about 19 health problems not previously linked to dementia and assessed at five and 10 years.
The problems included arthritis, trouble hearing or seeing, denture fit, chest, skin or bladder complaints, sinus issues, broken bones and feet or ankle conditions.
After 10 years, 2,915 participants had died, 416 had Alzheimer's disease and 191 had other forms of dementia. A total of 883 were free from significant mental decline.
Each health problem increased the risk of developing dementia by 3.2%.
Older adults who were generally healthy at the start of the study had an 18% chance of being affected by dementia after 10 years. But for those who had eight and 12 health problems, respectively, the risk increased to 30% and 40%.
Lead researcher Kenneth Rockwood, of Dailhousi University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, said: 'Our study suggests that rather than just paying attention to already known risk factors for dementia, such as diabetes or heart disease, keeping up with your general health may help reduce the risk for dementia.'"
Climate Change Update: CC may test Napa wine industry
Climate change may test Napa wine industry: "A climate change study by Stanford University scientists concluded that premium grape-growing acreage may shrink by as much as 50 percent over the next three decades because of global warming.
The report follows a 2006 climate change study that projected that more than 80 percent of premium wine grape acreage in the country could be unsuitable for some varietals by the end of the 21st century.
Napa Valley grapegrowers and vintners agree that climate change is happening at the global level, but they believe the Napa Valley will continue to produce premium grapes. Recent growing seasons have been particularly cooler than average, they note.
Napa grapegrowers will adapt to climate change and keep making fine wines, Steve Matthiasson of Premiere Viticulture and Matthiasson Wines said this week. He does not anticipate huge changes anytime soon, he said."
The report follows a 2006 climate change study that projected that more than 80 percent of premium wine grape acreage in the country could be unsuitable for some varietals by the end of the 21st century.
Napa Valley grapegrowers and vintners agree that climate change is happening at the global level, but they believe the Napa Valley will continue to produce premium grapes. Recent growing seasons have been particularly cooler than average, they note.
Napa grapegrowers will adapt to climate change and keep making fine wines, Steve Matthiasson of Premiere Viticulture and Matthiasson Wines said this week. He does not anticipate huge changes anytime soon, he said."
Climate Change Update:Apostle Islands Already Feeling Climate Change: Report | Ashland Current
Apostle Islands Already Feeling Climate Change: Report | Ashland Current: "The four parks, in addition to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, included in the report are Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Isle Royale National Park.
Altogether, the parks are already seeing rising temperatures, decreased winter ice, eroding shorelines, spreading disease, and a crowding out of key wildlife and plant life. The report's details about changes already noted to be underway in the five parks include:
Temperatures that have gone up more in the last decade than the global average.
An increase in rain falling in heavy Midwest storms, well above the national average.
Great Lakes winds becoming stronger – Lake Superior winds have increased by 12% since 1985.
Great Lakes water is warming, with Lake Superior's summer water temperatures having risen about 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit from 1979 to 2006.
The Great Lakes are covered by less ice today – ice cover across the surface of the lakes has fallen by 15%.
Since 1975 the ice cover around the Apostle Islands has formed about 12 days later per decade and melted away three days earlier. By the end of the century, ice could last 76 days less around the Apostle Islands."
Altogether, the parks are already seeing rising temperatures, decreased winter ice, eroding shorelines, spreading disease, and a crowding out of key wildlife and plant life. The report's details about changes already noted to be underway in the five parks include:
Temperatures that have gone up more in the last decade than the global average.
An increase in rain falling in heavy Midwest storms, well above the national average.
Great Lakes winds becoming stronger – Lake Superior winds have increased by 12% since 1985.
Great Lakes water is warming, with Lake Superior's summer water temperatures having risen about 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit from 1979 to 2006.
The Great Lakes are covered by less ice today – ice cover across the surface of the lakes has fallen by 15%.
Since 1975 the ice cover around the Apostle Islands has formed about 12 days later per decade and melted away three days earlier. By the end of the century, ice could last 76 days less around the Apostle Islands."
Wellness Tip: Owning a dog: Early care saves pain and cost | SouthCoastToday.com
Owning a dog: Early care saves pain and cost | SouthCoastToday.com: Dr. Tom Burns, owner of Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth. "Regular annual wellness exams are the best way to keep your pet healthy, thus preventing disease and illness before they become difficult — and costly — to treat."
"Burns reveals that the most common wellness issues for Labrador retrievers are muscle or joint disease, hip and elbow dysplasia, ear infections, allergies, dental disease, thyroid problems, glaucoma, certain kinds of cancer and obesity. Diet, weight and exercise are critical factors to maintaining a healthy Labrador retriever.
According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador retriever has been the country's most popular canine breed for more than a decade. The agile sporting breed, known for its loyalty and friendly disposition, can live 12 years or longer.
'Maintaining a Lab's ideal weight and body condition will lower the chance of osteoarthritis by 200 percent and reduce the chance of expensive and painful knee surgery, which could cost as much as $2,000,' he says, noting that an added benefit of ideal body condition is that it will extend the average life expectancy of a Lab by two years.
Burns advises dog owners to 'strongly consider' pet insurance that covers expenses outside of normal wellness care."
According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador retriever has been the country's most popular canine breed for more than a decade. The agile sporting breed, known for its loyalty and friendly disposition, can live 12 years or longer.
'Maintaining a Lab's ideal weight and body condition will lower the chance of osteoarthritis by 200 percent and reduce the chance of expensive and painful knee surgery, which could cost as much as $2,000,' he says, noting that an added benefit of ideal body condition is that it will extend the average life expectancy of a Lab by two years.
Burns advises dog owners to 'strongly consider' pet insurance that covers expenses outside of normal wellness care."
Wellness Update: North America: Green gym: Exercise powers machines | Seattle Times Newspaper
Business & Technology | Green gym: Exercise powers machines | Seattle Times Newspaper: "The company revealed its Green System at an International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association show in March. Throughout the summer, engineers are working out the kinks in the technology. The system is expected to be on the market by the end of the year.
The equipment harnesses power from exercisers using ellipticals or cycles and turns it into usable power. That means, people work out on Green System equipment and the energy they create goes back to an inverter, a box about the size of a stereo receiver. The inverter converts the power into usable energy, sending it back into a power grid.
SportsArt Fitness claims the Green System can generate up to 2,000 watts of power in an hour. So in that hour, exercisers could create enough energy to run a ceiling fan for 30 hours, a laptop for 40 hours, or a VCR/DVD for 133 hours."
The equipment harnesses power from exercisers using ellipticals or cycles and turns it into usable power. That means, people work out on Green System equipment and the energy they create goes back to an inverter, a box about the size of a stereo receiver. The inverter converts the power into usable energy, sending it back into a power grid.
SportsArt Fitness claims the Green System can generate up to 2,000 watts of power in an hour. So in that hour, exercisers could create enough energy to run a ceiling fan for 30 hours, a laptop for 40 hours, or a VCR/DVD for 133 hours."
Wellness Tip: How to Prevent Skin Cancer
The Valley Advocate: Wellness - Wellness: Saving Your Skin: "Suntan lotion offers a very important and easy way of protecting yourself from the sun's harmful rays. However, not all sunscreens are healthy for you or for the environment. When selecting a safe sunscreen, look for a cream-based, non-oxybenzone, non-retinyl palmitate formula. Spray and powder sunscreens emit dangerous chemicals into the air. Studies have been done on the toxicity of oxybenzone in both humans and rats; although they haven't been conclusive, they've evoked some doubt about how healthy for the skin the chemical is in large doses.
Retinyl palmitate (chemical-speak for Vitamin A) in various lab tests has increased hormone secretion and the risk of increased development of tumors and lesions on the skin when applied topically. Also, don't be distracted by sunscreens marketing SPF at 65 and above. The magic in sunscreen is virtually all the same once you reach SPF 50; the higher you go after that, the more unhealthy chemicals there will typically be in the formula. Finally, you want to look for sunscreens marked 'broad-spectrum.' Those protect the skin from both UVB and UVA radiation, which are responsible for sunburns and other types of skin damage."
Retinyl palmitate (chemical-speak for Vitamin A) in various lab tests has increased hormone secretion and the risk of increased development of tumors and lesions on the skin when applied topically. Also, don't be distracted by sunscreens marketing SPF at 65 and above. The magic in sunscreen is virtually all the same once you reach SPF 50; the higher you go after that, the more unhealthy chemicals there will typically be in the formula. Finally, you want to look for sunscreens marked 'broad-spectrum.' Those protect the skin from both UVB and UVA radiation, which are responsible for sunburns and other types of skin damage."
Wellness Update: Africa: Bid to put the brakes on disease in Africa - Business LIVE
Bid to put the brakes on disease in Africa - Business LIVE: "North Star and its partners will roll out a fleet of mobile clinics, known as wellness centres, to provide basic health services, along with HIV prevention, STI treatment, HIV counselling and testing, condom distribution and referrals to community health facilities when required.
'The project will have a multi-country approach aimed at providing border communities and mobile populations in resource-challenged areas with access to STI treatment and HIV prevention in order to put the brakes on the epidemic in the region,' says Paul Matthew, director for North Star Alliance Africa.
Doreen Sanje, technical adviser for SADC, says: 'We are very excited about launching this important initiative that will have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the entire southern African region. The selection of North Star Alliance was determined through a highly competitive process and we look forward to working with their team to deliver significant results.'"
'The project will have a multi-country approach aimed at providing border communities and mobile populations in resource-challenged areas with access to STI treatment and HIV prevention in order to put the brakes on the epidemic in the region,' says Paul Matthew, director for North Star Alliance Africa.
Doreen Sanje, technical adviser for SADC, says: 'We are very excited about launching this important initiative that will have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the entire southern African region. The selection of North Star Alliance was determined through a highly competitive process and we look forward to working with their team to deliver significant results.'"
Wellness in Oceania: Speech : Removal of Tobacco Displays and Tobacco Harm - Rahui Katene | Voxy.co.nz
Speech : Removal of Tobacco Displays and Tobacco Harm - Rahui Katene | Voxy.co.nz: "Future generations of New Zealand, our tamariki and our mokopuna, should be free from exposure to tobacco products.
As doctors we deal every day with the tragic human consequences of smoking related illness. We target our strongest objection, opposition and opprobrium at those who profit from the production, supply and sale of this addictive poison tobacco.
This is a very big move. Today, this House will pass into law a Bill which will remove tobacco retail displays, restrict tobacco trading names, and introduce tighter controls on sale to minors.
We know that relapse to smoking is influenced by the retail displays of tobacco products - the mere sight of tobacco on display becomes a temptation for smokers trying to quit.
During the select committee stage we were also told by the Centre for Tobacco Control Research that experimental smoking among youth is influenced by the retail display of tobacco products.
Basically the ease of access and availability of tobacco encourages initiation and maintenance of smoking.
It can be so simple. We have to denormalise smoking. We have to instil pride in ourselves that we can be smokefree. Because we know, we experience, we grieve from the reality that smoking kills."
As doctors we deal every day with the tragic human consequences of smoking related illness. We target our strongest objection, opposition and opprobrium at those who profit from the production, supply and sale of this addictive poison tobacco.
This is a very big move. Today, this House will pass into law a Bill which will remove tobacco retail displays, restrict tobacco trading names, and introduce tighter controls on sale to minors.
We know that relapse to smoking is influenced by the retail displays of tobacco products - the mere sight of tobacco on display becomes a temptation for smokers trying to quit.
During the select committee stage we were also told by the Centre for Tobacco Control Research that experimental smoking among youth is influenced by the retail display of tobacco products.
Basically the ease of access and availability of tobacco encourages initiation and maintenance of smoking.
It can be so simple. We have to denormalise smoking. We have to instil pride in ourselves that we can be smokefree. Because we know, we experience, we grieve from the reality that smoking kills."
Wellness in Europe: Discover the Ultimate Mind, Body, and Wellness Experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver Day Spa - MarketWatch
Discover the Ultimate Mind, Body, and Wellness Experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver Day Spa - MarketWatch: "Whether you're planning a romantic getaway for two, giving a meaningful gift to a loved one, or are preparing for your wedding day, you can discover the true meaning of rest and relaxation at The Ritz-Carlton, Denver Day Spa.
Our downtown Denver hotel's full-service spa offers a variety of calming therapies -- massages, wraps, manicures, pedicures, facials and more -- all to delight and enliven your senses. Rejuvenating treatments are performed with the finest skin and body care products in a warm, welcoming environment featuring contemporary decor and total sensory stimulation. Slip into a tranquil state-of-mind under the gentle, caring hands of your expert specialist in one of our eight inviting treatment rooms.
For the ultimate in luxury spa experiences, discover The Ritz-Carlton Spa package*. Starting at $319 USD per night and valid through December 31, 2011"
Our downtown Denver hotel's full-service spa offers a variety of calming therapies -- massages, wraps, manicures, pedicures, facials and more -- all to delight and enliven your senses. Rejuvenating treatments are performed with the finest skin and body care products in a warm, welcoming environment featuring contemporary decor and total sensory stimulation. Slip into a tranquil state-of-mind under the gentle, caring hands of your expert specialist in one of our eight inviting treatment rooms.
For the ultimate in luxury spa experiences, discover The Ritz-Carlton Spa package*. Starting at $319 USD per night and valid through December 31, 2011"
Wellness in Asia: Keeping employees healthy makes good business sense
Keeping Employees and Businesses Healthy | Nutrition.Diet News: "More than 40 percent of employees at mid-sized businesses1 report that having a wellness program offered by their employer would or does encourage them to work harder and perform better according to a recent Principal Financial Well-Being IndexSM. To meet the demand, The Principal® introduces a new wellness program designed specifically for mid-sized businesses.
Keeping employees healthy makes good business sense
“We know that with wellness one size doesn’t necessarily fit all, which is why we’ve taken a different approach for midsize businesses,” said Lee Dukes, president of Principal Wellness Company, a subsidiary of the Principal Financial Group®. “Our programs for these businesses contain many of the features available to large companies, but are flexible enough to still meet the specific needs of these businesses at an affordable cost.”"
Keeping employees healthy makes good business sense
“We know that with wellness one size doesn’t necessarily fit all, which is why we’ve taken a different approach for midsize businesses,” said Lee Dukes, president of Principal Wellness Company, a subsidiary of the Principal Financial Group®. “Our programs for these businesses contain many of the features available to large companies, but are flexible enough to still meet the specific needs of these businesses at an affordable cost.”"
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