Wellness Update; South America: Music to Heal - Merrill Osmond Hosts Benefit for Symphony of Wellness

Merrill Osmond Hosts Benefit for Symphony of Wellness - The Boot: "The lead singer of the Osmonds hopes to hold three or four of these Symphony of Hope events across the country in the coming year. He has already staged several in castles in Europe, which were attended by wellness doctors from all over the world. 'We had over 1,000 people show up,' Merrill reports enthusiastically. 'I've been able to develop a philosophy with music and the spoken word, where you can get past the intellectual side of brain and go into the soul of a person.

'Well City, which is located just outside of Nashville in Brentwood, bases their program on what I've been preaching and teaching for 20 years. This concert will benefit the hearing impaired side of the program, which is so dear to me since I have spent my life with my brothers and my son. Some other year might be a different cause to create awareness for a different organization."

Wellness Update; Australia: Stress is making Australians sick, according to Lifeline poll | News.com.au

Stress is making Australians sick, according to Lifeline poll | News.com.au: "HALF of Australia is so stressed out that it is making us sick, according to an annual poll taken for the past four years.

Lifeline spokesperson Brendan Maher said the problem is growing every year with 93 per cent of 1201 respondents said to be stressed as compared to 90 per cent in 2010.

'This year we can put some of it down to the natural disasters affecting our nation, but much of it will be due to poor stress management,' he said.

Supporting partner Bupa said the poll identified work as the number one stresser and research that they have done have backed this claim.

Bupa Health and Wellness adviser Guy Leech said stress was the major factor affecting the physical and mental health of Australian workers.

'Aussies must take stress management more seriously because stress can have very real and detrimental effects; from an adverse impact on our physical appearance to our ability to sleep, and direct impacts on our internal organs. This is serious stuff,' he said."

Wellness Tip: Healthy Feet: Try Dr. Fish!

THE DAILY STAR :: Culture :: Lifestyle :: Fishy little kisses for Beirutis’ hands and feet: "A half hour session will leave your feet feeling perhaps smoother than they have ever felt, with all dead skin completely removed, but there are also health benefits.

Research is unclear as to whether the fish actually digest the skin or not, as Ralph says, “There is some speculation as to whether they actually eat the skin or not, some people say they are just removing it to look for food underneath, as they would on a rock, for instance.”

But the micro-massage stimulates reflexology points on your feet, increasing circulation, leaving your skin healthy and glowing. And if you have any calluses or corns, the fish will alleviate these conditions.

The fish treatment is followed by a foot massage and the option of a pedicure, and you will genuinely walk out feeling refreshed."

Wellness Update: Africa: Wellness Centres” – to provide basic health services along with HIV prevention

openPR.com - Press release - North Star Alliance - North Star Alliance and SADC mobilise a major cross-border HIV prevention initiative: "North Star Alliance has signed an agreement with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to gear up cross-border HIV prevention activities over the next five years with a grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM).

North Star and its partners will roll out a fleet of mobile clinics – “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, to put the brakes on the epidemic in the region”, says Paul Matthew, Director for North Star Alliance Africa."

Wellness Update: Asia: Thailand, India, and Singapore dominated the region’s medical tourism

Asian Medical Tourism Analysis (2008-2012) by RNCOS in Hospitals & Clinics, Asia, Tourism: "

“Asian Medical Tourism Analysis (2008-2012)”, the Asian medical tourism industry revenue is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 20% during 2010-2013. Asian countries, such as India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have been pouring investments into their healthcare infrastructure to meet the demand for supreme quality-assured medical care through first-class facilities and highly trained medical specialists, including tertiary hospital care.

The Asian medical tourism industry has been growing at a double-digit growth rate for the past few years. Thailand, India, and Singapore dominated the region’s medical tourism industry, with a combined market share of over 89% in 2010. However, our research foresees India to emerge as one of the fastest growing medical tourism industries, accounting for around 38% of the region’s medical tourism industry by 2013. In this regard, we have done an in-depth analysis of key factors driving growth in the country’s medical tourism industry."

Wellness Update: Asia: Singapore: Parkway makes new forays into women's healthcare - Channel NewsAsia

Parkway makes new forays into women's healthcare - Channel NewsAsia: "SINGAPORE: Fresh from a takeover by Malaysia's Khazanah Nasional, healthcare group Parkway Holdings has made new forays. It has launched a new wellness centre that is dedicated solely for women.

The group opened its first LUXE Wellness Centre for Women on Friday at the heart of Singapore's main shopping belt Orchard Road to cater to the affluent female.

The new centre offers health screening, non-acute medical diagnosis and consulting, non-invasive aesthetic treatment and female-only radiology. Special facilities include a medical concierge desk, private plush VIP suites, refreshment area and shower facilities.

It also announced a deal with United Eastern Medical Services to set up a similar centre in Abu Dhabi by January 2012.

Parkway Group CEO Dr Tan See Leng said business got a boost from Khazanah's takeover, with first-half numbers expected to be better on-year."

Climate Change Update: Renewable Energy: RP to make money in carbon-credit trade

RP to make money in carbon-credit trade: "The Philippines will be a key player in the growing carbon-credit market because its rains, topography and its geothermal resources are suited for producing renewable energy, an Australian carbon services company said.

The carbon credit market was born out of the European Union’s limits on carbon emissions. Any company that exceeds the limits has to buy credits from renewable energy companies and companies that reduce carbon emissions, such as landfills designed for that.
These companies earn these credits when they are registered under the United Nations Framework for Climate Change (UNFCC). While limits have not yet been set, some Japanese companies already buy carbon credits voluntarily.

More than 3,000 projects are registered, 32 of which are in the Philippines. The largest is the Ambuklao, Benguet hydro plant controlled by Aboitiz Power at 160,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
First Farmers Holdings Corp.’s bagasse cogeneration plant (120,000) in Negros Oriental and the biogas emission reduction project at Quezon City’s waste disposal facility (116,000) are next. The windpower plant at Bangui Ilocos Norte has 57,000, on the other hand."