AFRICA: WELLNESS FOR PEACE: Campaign to Address Obesity: 'Junk Food' - Bad for Your Health, Bad for Your Rights, Warns UN Expert

allAfrica.com: Africa: 'Junk Food' - Bad for Your Health, Bad for Your Rights, Warns UN Expert: "The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Anand Grover, blamed junk food - ultra-processed and ready to eat, but energy-dense and containing "empty calories" devoid of nutritional value -for the global obesity epidemic and urged the international community to deal with the alarming increase in deaths from diet-related diseases.

Presenting his final final report to the UN Human Rights Council, which began its 26th session in Geneva yesterday, the Special Rapporteur warned delegations about disturbing figures, according to which 2.1 billion people worldwide are overweight or obese, and at least 2.8 million die every year because of their weight.

"The culprit is 'junk food,'" Mr. Grover said. "Containing high levels of sugar, salt, trans-fats and saturated fats, this 'junk' has unfortunately replaced healthy foods in our diets."

Primarily responsible for the burgeoning rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases across the world, "junk food is not a simple public health issue or a medical concern, it poses a serious challenge to our lives, our health and our rights," he added."



'via Blog this'

EUROPE: WELLNESS FOR PEACE: Project on Improving SOILLESS CULTIVATION of Fruits and Vegetable Industry for the public

Improving the health of Europe's fruit and veg industry: "This is the goal of the EU-funded RESFOOD project, which began in November 2012 with some EUR 4.3 million in EU funding. Currently at the halfway stage, the project has successfully demonstrated how the sector can cut water consumption by over 40 %, while still maintaining the same fruit quality and yield in soilless cultivation. This particular innovation is now set to be tested during the next harvest season by Spanish researchers and blackberry producers.
This is one example of the kind of innovation that RESFOOD hopes to implement in order to make the European fruit and veg sector more sustainable. Due for completion in October 2015, the project will also encourage the involvement of SMEs as end users of green technologies. For this reason, SMEs have been closely involved throughout the project in the development of new innovations. In the area of the water treatment for example, project partners have cooperated with end-users in order to implement new treatment technologies."



'via Blog this'

WELLNESS NEWS: OHIO: Hundreds gather for African American Wellness Walk | WDTN

Hundreds gather for African American Wellness Walk | WDTN: "DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Hundreds gathered downtown Saturday walking for wellness.

The Annual African American Wellness Walk was held at 9 a.m. at RiverScape Metro Park on East Monument Avenue.

An estimated 4,000 people took part in the walk and the other activities.

This year’s theme was “It’s a Family Affair.”

The walk was free and open to anyone.

Premier Health, CareSource, Dayton Gastroenterology Inc., and Jeff Akers Films were all major sponsors of the event."



'via Blog this'

CARBON CREDIT: China's Chongqing to launch carbon market trading on June 13 | Reuters

READ FULL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE" China's Chongqing to launch carbon market trading on June 13 | Reuters: "The scheme will cap greenhouse gas emissions from 242 firms across all sectors of the economy that have emitted at least 20,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year since 2008.

The government has issued a total of 125 million permits for the year 2013, and has said that while all permits will be handed out for free, the total amount will be reduced by 4.13 percent per year.

Given the late start of the scheme, firms have been given until June 2015 to comply with their targets for 2013 and 2014.

Chongqing, whose economy grew 12.3 percent to $203 billion in 2013, is a major manufacturing hub of vehicles and consumer goods.

Sun Cuihua, a senior climate official at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said earlier this week that the central government aims to begin pilot trading in a national emissions market in 2016 or 2017, making it fully operational in 2020."



'via Blog this'

RENEWABLE ENERGY: New York's Comprehensive Community Solar Package Will Make Solar More Accessible

New York's Comprehensive Community Solar Package Will Make Solar More Accessible: "‘Reforming the Energy Vision’ process aim to empower New Yorkers to take climate action into their own hands and repower our state with clean energy. Shared solar, which gives more consumers access to renewable energy, should be part of New York’s clean energy vision,” said David Gahl, Pace Energy and Climate Center’s Director "



'via Blog this'

UPDATE: Global warming damages corals vital to small islands: UN - Yahoo News

CLICK LINK TO READ ARTICLE: Global warming damages corals vital to small islands: UN - Yahoo News: "The report said that small islands could shift to abundant solar and wind power to help cut fuel import bills, which are often between five and 20 percent of gross domestic product.

"We are doing what we can," said Marshall Islands Environment Minister Tony de Brum, pointing to plans to invest in solar energy. His nation also has the world's largest shark sanctuary as part of efforts to protect nature, he added.

(Editing by Gareth Jones)"



'via Blog this'