Ancient Chinese medicine could fight ageing

Inter Nation Weekly

2. Events and Get-Togethers around the World

Will you be my Valentine?

For everyone who already has a Valentine’s date this year, for everyone who is still waiting for the right one, and for everyone who couldn’t care less about the patron of lovers:

Our LA Community is having a Pre-Valentine mixer on 13 February to get you all in the mood for romance.

There will be roses for the first 20 ladies to arrive, and who knows what else Cupid might have in store…

Love’s colour may be red, but our Athens Community is keeping it white for their next event.

Leave your little black dress in the closet and put on your best whites (shirts, dresses, blouses or trousers) for the occasion!

The InterNations Athens White Night promises to be a magical experience in a newly opened venue with oriental decorations, nargiles and chill-out music to delight your senses.

Our Maputo Ambassadors have organised a Special Beach Event for their Community.

The InterNations Explores Event provides you with the opportunity to see the countryside of Maputo Province by train and spend a day at a beautiful beach in Marracuene District, where you are free to explore the 17 kilometers of beach by yourself or simply lounge in the sun.

Enjoy!

InterNations Weekly

1. What’s on on InterNations

“Thirteen month old baby broke the lookin’ glass”

These lines from the Stevie Wonder song “Superstition” jokingly sum up some of the most common superstitions in Western (and some other) cultures.

Broken mirrors and the number 13 are synonymous for bad luck, while picking a four-leaved clover and hanging a horse-shoe above your door are considered good luck.

If you kill an albatross (the bird, that is, not your fellow InterNations member!), your ship will sink, but a cat on board a ship guarantees a safe journey.

In Turkish and Middle Eastern culture, cutting hair and nails at night is wrong, says one InterNations member.

In some Latin American countries, single women are told to steer clear of the caretaker, because if he passes his broom over their feet, they will never get married.

What are common superstitions in your culture?

And where do they come from?

We are curious to read your comments on this or on any other thread in the InterNations World Forum.

Save a million square kms of ocean

Tuesday, 31 January, 2012 22:55

From: This sender is DomainKeys verified"Stephanie B - Avaaz.org" <avaaz@avaaz.org

Dear Friends,

The Australian government is about to decide whether to create an enormous marine park to ensure the survival of the majestic Coral Sea (and its amazing creatures!).

 Right now, our support could make or break their decision.

Click here to sign the petition   
 
On the table: a one-million-square-kilometre marine park to give these playful but endangered inhabitants a real shot at survival.

The Australian government is receiving public comments now and is on the cusp of creating something truly legendary – but without a jolt of encouragement from people around the world, the Environment Minister could settle for preserving a much tinier area that wouldn’t satisfy any of the core conservation needs for this magnificent patch of ocean.

 
The next parliamentary session starts in a few days – let’s help lawmakers make history in the run-up to the Rio+20 Earth Summit and set the global standard for saving our planet.

Click to send your message to the public consultation, and for every 10 emails once we reach 200,000, we’ll add a fish to a giant, colorful school greeting parliamentarians as they take their seats – then forward to everyone you know:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_coral_sea_2_nm/?vl

  
In 2010, Avaaz members helped create the world’s largest marine reserve around the Chagos islands -- let’s do it again and stand up for the future of our oceans!

With hope, Stephanie, Ian, Antonia, Maria Paz, Emma, Wen-Hua, Ricken, Wissam and the rest of the Avaaz team

More information:

Global Oceans Legacy - Coral Sea (The Pew Environment Group)
http://www.pewenvironment.org/campaigns/global-ocean-legacy-coral-sea/id/85899358183

Valerie Taylor joins battle for the Coral Sea (The Cairns Post)
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/01/23/201901_local-news.html

Does the Coral Sea marine park proposal provide enough protection? (The Conversation)
http://theconversation.edu.au/does-the-coral-sea-marine-park-proposal-provide-enough-protection-4474

Coral Sea Commonwealth marine reserve proposal (Australian Government website)
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/coralsea/consultation/index.html

Impacts of fishery activities (FAO)
http://www.fao.org/fishery/topic/12273/en

Queenslanders support coral sea protection (Pew Press Release)
http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/press-releases/queenslanders-support-visionary-protection-for-our-coral-sea-85899365934

Fuchsia 'Riccartonii'

Radical Recommended

Still flowering in December !!!!!!!

Key info

Plant type

Deciduous shrub

Flower colour

Red

Feature

Flowers

Hardiness

Hardy

Skill level

Beginner

December in my Garden

The success of our first year was limited by the lateness of getting access until May, but I have reported the huge successes from the vegetables and fruits we did grow and the not so successful.

December is a not a dull month but a dormant one in our Kitchen garden.

We have purchased and planted 30 raspberry plants and pruned the 3 from last year, we have purchased and planted 24 strawberry plants in our two Kitchen frames – one metre high 2.2 metres long and 0.45 metres wide and 0.2 metres deep. The three thornless blackberry plants have joined the tressle frame supporting the spreading plum tree and the 3 blackcurrants plants had to be planted at the edge of the flower border in the lawn to give them the room they need.

We have 7 raised beds now, two have cabbages and sprouts that will have to give way in the summer to other plants.

Two are planted, one with  with seeds including onions cauliflower, carrots and leeks in one with peas and broad beans, which are transplanted into the greenhouse and the garden respectively. Radish in between the others rows.

The garlic is up as are the greenhouse radish and lettuce.

 We have scores of bulbs and annuals coming on in pots and the new second hand electric convector heater was switched on for the first time for last night’s heavy frost.

The garden bulbs have had a covering of compost and the two 1000 litre water tanks are full for the first time this year.

In the Greenhouse I have created a three stage shelving and so far so good for light, watering ,drainage and ventilation. The three shelves house the seed and young plant trays.

I am convinced the raised beds will prove more effective this season making ease of weeding and concentrated growing possible.

I have found a fertilizer supplier as the one kg boxes of 7:7:7 pellets one buys at the garden centres is expensive and some claim not very effective.

We have our own wood ash bin and the compost bins are filling up with household waste.

I have bought some debris netting 30 metres by 2 metres.

To cover the raised beds this summer.

The idea is to allow rain to penetrate but not fly and birds.

At present the raised bed seed beds are covered with plastic sheeting bought for £3.48

For 6metres by 2 metres I can cover one 3.6 m raised bed with overlap and still have some left over for other protective uses.

The Rose and I wish our readers the compliments of the season and a productive New Year.

Today its Christmas Cake making and next week I am on the search for some Seville Oranges to make a Bitter Orange Marmalade.

Emigration – A short Story

Radical says- What this story does not tell is the number of Brits who Emigrate but who return within a six month period to claim "Ordinarily Residence" and that goes with it including  Pension increments,health care services,property management

Introduction

Long term international migration estimates have shown a recent increase in the levels of net migration. Whilst the general level of immigration has remained steady, declining emigration has been the main driver in this increase of net migration.

This article summarises the main findings of analysis into the characteristics of emigrants, looking at; what the main patterns of emigration are; who is emigrating; where they are emigrating to and; why they are emigrating.

This summary uses Long Term International Migration (LTIM) estimates and International Passenger Survey (IPS) estimates to provide commentary on emigration from the UK.

 A migrant is defined as someone who changes their country of residence for a period of 12 months or more.
Figure 1: Long-Term International Migration Estimates of Emigration from the UK, 1991 to 2010
 
Source: Office for National Statistics
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• XLS format
(24 Kb)
Figure 2: Long-Term International Migration Estimates of Emigration by British/Non-British from the UK, 2000 to 2010
 
Source: Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(18 Kb)
Figure 3: Emigration by British citizens to the top 5 2010 countries of next residence, 2006 to 2010.
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(32 Kb)
Figure 4: Emigration by non-British citizens to the top 5 2010 countries of next residence, 2006 to 2010
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(25 Kb)
Figure 5: Emigration by British/non-British citizens by Reason for Migration, 2006 to 2010
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(32.5 Kb)
Get all the tables for this publication in the data section of this publication.
1. What are the main patterns seen in emigration from the UK?
Figure 1 shows that the level of emigration appears to have been rising from 1998 to 2008 and recently has been decreasing. Recent emigration levels for all migrants leaving the UK show a sharp decline after reaching a peak in 2008 of 427,000 to 339,000 in 2010. This year to year decrease is similar to that seen between 2006 and 2007, when the number of emigrants dropped from 398,000 to 341,000. Figure 1 shows the level of emigration is now at a similar level as that last observed in 2007 (341,000).
Figure 1: Long-Term International Migration Estimates of Emigration from the UK, 1991 to 2010
 
Source: Office for National Statistics
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• XLS format
(24 Kb)
Notes for 1. What are the main patterns seen in emigration from the UK?
1.   Long-term International Migration (LTIM) is the most comprehensive measure of long-term international migration and relate to those migrants changing their country of residence for 12 months or more.

These estimates are based mainly on data from the International Passenger Survey (IPS), supplemented with data on flows to and from Northern Ireland.

 Other data sources are used to make adjustments for asylum seekers and their dependants not counted by the IPS and for switchers (people who change their intentions and, therefore, their migratory status).

Estimates based only on the IPS allow a more detailed analysis of the characteristics of international migrants. This report includes data from both sources.
Further information on LTIM and the IPS can be found in the Background Notes: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=International+Migration
Figure 2: Long-Term International Migration Estimates of Emigration by British/Non-British from the UK, 2000 to 2010
 
Source: Office for National Statistics
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• XLS format
(18 Kb)
Figure 3: Emigration by British citizens to the top 5 2010 countries of next residence, 2006 to 2010.
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(32 Kb)
Figure 4: Emigration by non-British citizens to the top 5 2010 countries of next residence, 2006 to 2010
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(25 Kb)
Figure 5: Emigration by British/non-British citizens by Reason for Migration, 2006 to 2010
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(32.5 Kb)
Get all the tables for this publication in the data section of this publication.

2. Who is emigrating from the UK?

Long term emigration of both British and Non-British citizens has decreased at a similar rate since 2008 (by 20 per cent). Final LTIM figures show that the peak in emigration in 2008 (427,000), was due in part to an increase in EU citizens returning home to their country of origin.

This was particularly true of Polish citizens returning to Poland.
In 2008, emigration of Non-British citizens was at its highest level recorded.

Almost half (202,000) of all emigrants left the UK for the EU, with twice the number of EU citizen leaving the UK in 2008 (134,000) compared to 2007 (69,000).

Of these 134,000 EU citizens, just over half were from the A8 countries.
Figure 2 shows British emigrants now make up 40 per cent of all migrants leaving the UK for twelve months or more accounting for 136,000 of a total 339,000 emigrants, with EU and Non-EU citizens contributing 30 per cent each (99,000 and 104,000 respectively).

British long term emigration levels have been declining since they reached a peak of 207,000 in 2006.

The number of British migrants leaving the UK in 2010 (136,000) is now at it's lowest for over a decade, since 1998 (126,000), although recent provisional IPS rolling annual migration estimates have indicated this decreasing trend has stabilised over the past couple of quarters.
Figure 2: Long-Term International Migration Estimates of Emigration by British/Non-British from the UK, 2000 to 2010
 
Source: Office for National Statistics
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(18 Kb)
LTIM figures show that the proportion of all long term emigrants of working age leaving the UK has increased over the last 5 years. In 2005, 86 per cent of emigrants were of working age (311,000 of 361,000), whereas in 2010, this had risen to 93 per cent (316,000 of 339,000).

The number of migrants of existing retirement age has decreased over this same time period from 21,000 in 2005 to 6,000 in 2010. The latter directly relating to fewer British citizens retiring abroad.

IPS figures for 2010 show that just over a third of migrants leaving the UK had professional or managerial occupations prior to migration (113,000) and just over half of these emigrants are British citizens (60,000).
Notes for 2. Who is emigrating from the UK?
1.   In May 2004, 8 countries joined the European Union (EU).

These countries were: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These countries are known as the A8 countries.
Figure 3: Emigration by British citizens to the top 5 2010 countries of next residence, 2006 to 2010.
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(32 Kb)
Figure 4: Emigration by non-British citizens to the top 5 2010 countries of next residence, 2006 to 2010
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(25 Kb)
Figure 5: Emigration by British/non-British citizens by Reason for Migration, 2006 to 2010
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(32.5 Kb)
Get all the tables for this publication in the data section of this publication.

3. Where are people emigrating to?

There are a number of differences between the migration destinations of British citizens and Non-British citizens.  
IPS figures show that a third of all British citizens (41,000) leaving the UK for 12 months or more go to Old Commonwealth countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa) and this pattern has remained fairly steady over the last 5 years. In 2010, just a quarter of British citizens (34,000) took advantage of the freedom of movement between European Union state opportunities and moved to these countries, compared to just over 40 per cent in 2005 (74,000).
Figure 3 shows the top 5 destinations of British migrants over the last 5 years. Australia remains the favourite destination.

Spain and France have become less popular destinations over the last two years.

This reflects the declining trends of British emigrants retiring overseas and may also reflect the down turn in the economic climate of the EU.
Figure 3: Emigration by British citizens to the top 5 2010 countries of next residence, 2006 to 2010.
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics
Download chart
• XLS format
(32 Kb)
In 2010, nearly half (46 per cent) of all Non-British long term emigrants migrated to countries within the EU, this reflects the fact that nearly all EU citizens (83,000 of 91,000 based on IPS figures) migrate to EU countries. This EU dominance is reflected in Figure 4 below with Poland remaining the most popular destination for Non-British and more specifically, EU citizens, over this period. It should be noted that a large majority of emigrants going to Poland were Polish citizens (98 per cent).
Figure 4: Emigration by non-British citizens to the top 5 2010 countries of next residence, 2006 to 2010
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics

4. Why are people emigrating from the UK?

Latest final LTIM figures show that for the majority of migrants leaving the UK for 12 months or more, work related reasons were the main reasons stated (189,000 out of 339,000) in 2010.

This does not necessarily mean this is the only reason for migrating but it is the main reason given, for example, migrants may be leaving the UK to join a relative but also aiming to work while they live there.
LTIM figures show emigration from the UK for work related reasons broadly increased between 2004 and 2008 (from 151,000 to 218,000). Since 2008 however, this number has decreased by 13 per cent to 189,000 in 2010.

 For every year over the last decade, emigrants stating ‘definite job’ as their main reason for migration have outnumbered those ‘looking for work’.

Between 2003 and 2006, higher numbers of people left the UK for 12 months or more for non work related reasons (accompany/join, study, other, no reason stated) than for work related reasons, but as Figure 5 shows, since 2006 work related reasons have been the dominant reason given.

The estimated number of migrants leaving the UK for ‘formal study’ has seen its highest figures in the past three years, and reached 29,000 leaving the UK to study in 2010. Formal study is the only main reason stated that has increased over the last calendar year.

Using information from the IPS, British emigrants are most likely to leave the UK for a definite job with an estimated 40 per cent (49,000) of emigrants stating this as their main reason compared with around half this number (22,000) stating their main reason for migrating was to accompany or join friends or family.

Over 60 per cent of all Non-British citizens emigrating from the UK left with either a definite job to go to or to look for work (114,000), compared with just over 50 per cent of British citizens (67,000).

The latest final IPS figures (2010) show that over two thirds of non-British emigrants arrived to live in the UK within the last 5 years. A slightly larger proportion (70 per cent) of Non EU citizens lived in the UK for under 5 years than citizens of the EU (66 per cent).

This could suggest migration for Non EU citizens was more likely to be temporary in nature possibly reflecting the number of migrants coming to the UK for formal study.
Figure 5: Emigration by British/non-British citizens by Reason for Migration, 2006 to 2010
 
Source: International Passenger Survey (IPS) - Office for National Statistics

5. Conclusions

Decreasing emigration between 2008 and 2010, combined with steady immigration levels have resulted in increases in net migration over the same period.

British emigrants now represent 40 per cent of all emigrants and final LTIM data show these annual estimates of the number of British emigrants to be the lowest for over a decade.

Working age migrants leaving the UK for 12 months or more are now a higher proportion of all migrants leaving the UK than they were 5 years ago, with 93 per cent of emigrants being of working age, compared to 86 per cent in 2005.
The most popular destination for British citizens is the Old Commonwealth countries, particularly Australia.

The most popular destination for Non-British citizens is Poland (majority of whom are Polish citizens returning home), with half moving to the countries within the EU. Practically all EU citizens left the UK for EU countries.

More emigrants are now leaving the UK for work related reasons than non work related reasons, however the overall numbers reflect the decrease in the level of emigration from the UK.

A large proportion (two thirds) of all Non-British citizens leaving the UK, stayed less than 5 years of arriving.
Note: The published tables referred to above can be found on the ONS website, see: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-235204
Notes for 5. Conclusions
1. You may use or re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London, TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk">psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk
Get all the tables for this publication in the data section of this publication.

Summary: UK households spent an average of £474 a week in 2010

Emigration - Please release me ,let me go -

Fewer Britons are emigrating because falling incomes and pensions mean hundreds of thousands have abandoned the dream of retirement or a new life abroad.

The recession has also reduced the number of Britons able to take jobs elsewhere in the world.

Emigration fell by more than a fifth in two years after the recession began in 2008.

'Emigration has continued to fall, down over 20 per cent since 2008, meaning that "net inward migration", the Conservatives' chosen target, remains high at 239,000, a 21 per cent increase on 2009.'

A personal view.

The reasons why fewer people are emigrating is given that many have abandoned the dream of leaving Rotten Britain because of falling incomes and pensions but nothing could be further from the truth.

Moving abroad is a complex business and the time has come for the UK Government to see what obstructions it puts in the potential emigrant’s way.

I am mainly referring here to the retired and early retired who collect occupational, private and state pensions, because other countries have rightly closed the door on many immigrant taking their national jobs.

What are the main reasons why “pensioners” don’t emigrate ?

1. Pension increments – refused in so many countries the UK law is absurd if you look at the list of countries where emigrants can and cannot get their pensions transferred to and UK increments honoured. For example in the Philippines you can and Thailand you can’t. Just look at the ridiculous list of countries where reciprocal “arrangements’ with the UK do and do not exist.

2        Health – Leave the UK for a day over six months and a UK citizen loses the right to  remain on a GP list, receive treatment and for free NHS treatment other than emergencies.

What right minded pensioner can afford that? One who paid into the NHS all his life.

3        Money – Taxation and off shore banking, transfer of pensions and capital are fraught with complications for those not based in the UK. This is not always made easy by other countries but if you live abroad why pay full tax on UK pensions. Even reclaiming tax rebate on interest earned in the UK while abroad is complicated and often refused on spurious grounds.

4        British Embassies abroad treat British emigrants as pariahs and I am speaking from experience. I shall say no more unless paid for the information.

5        UK Property – apart from the obvious of not burning ones boats, retaining a property in the UK is a safety net. However getting an Estate Agent to manage it with the duty of care expected is impossible due to current laws against own home letting Landlords and legal obstructions against fair trading standards of Estate Agents.

If the UK Government could address these matters seriously then half the pensioners in Britain would gladly leave to live abroad. And I don’t just mean in Europe.

Emigrants need to feel that there is a safety net which is the simple opportunity to return. The country they want to reside in only has certain obligations to respect.

I do not think these 5  are impossible to overcome.

I believe once a citizen has retired they should be able to live where they wish with all their pension entitlements as those who remain at home. In fact while they are not using UK resources special dispensations should be given.

There are other issues to moving abroad  :-

Moving your stuff

Renting or Buying

Cost of Living

Wills and Inheritance

Other legal issues including safety

Language

Pets

Culture shock

Entertainment

Discrimination against colour, creed and gender

I was able to overcome or at least come to terms with all these other issues but what I could not overcome was the obstructions placed in front of me by the UK Government.

Because of the problems stated I returned to the UK to live after 5 years abroad.

The Radical.

Get in touch if you agree !

Betting on Horses is a Mugs Game

I don’t know why I have a flutter

But many do and some are addicted.

Yesterday I had a bet.

Three horses x 50p  each way doubles  =£3

So far you understand ?

(Normally I do a 50p Each way Trixie

Three horses x 50p each way doubles and 50p each way treble =£4)

There were no rule 4’s and no deductions

Horse 1 came 2^nd at 15/2

Horse 2 came 2^nd at  6/1

Horse 3 came 2^nd at  9/2

You would think I had done quite well ?

Well – I got £4.22p winnings and my £3 back

Or some would say £5.72p and my £1.50 back

Pathetic – Sure- and do you know why.

Because the greedy industry gives only 1/5^th the odds on the 2^nd and 3^rd horse in a race of 8 or more 

So if the horse comes second at 5 to 1 –you get 1-1 or even money.

Which is why I double up horses but that is much more tricky

Best bet is not too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

The Radical

Nature is the 99%, too 
 
The economy is built on the idea of relentless growth,

which is an environmental and health disaster for all but the 1%.

Chip Ward Last Modified: 09 Nov 2011 17:04 
 
An ever-growing economy requires ever-growing supplies of natural resources -

unfortunately, the planet we live on has a finite amount of resources  

What if rising sea levels are yet another measure of inequality?

 What if the degradation of our planet's life-support systems - its atmosphere, oceans and biosphere - goes hand in hand with the accumulation of wealth, power and control by that corrupt and greedy 1 per cent we are hearing about from Zuccotti Park?

What if the assault on America's middle class and the assault on the environment are one and the same?

It's not hard for me to understand how environmental quality and economic inequality came to be joined at the hip.

 In all my years as a grassroots organiser dealing with the tragic impact of degraded environments on public health, it was always the same:

Someone got rich and someone got sick.

In the struggles that I was involved in to curb polluters and safeguard public health, those who wanted curbs, accountability and precautions were always outspent several times over by those who wanted no restrictions on their effluents.

We dug into our own pockets for postage money, they had expense accounts.

We made flyers to slip under the windshield wipers of parked cars, they bought ads on television.

We took time off from jobs to visit legislators, only to discover that they had gone to lunch with fulltime lobbyists.

 
  Naturally, the barons of the chemical and nuclear industries don't live next to the radioactive or toxic-waste dumps that their corporations create; on the other hand, impoverished black and brown people often do live near such ecological sacrifice zones because they can't afford better.

Similarly, the gated communities of the hyper-wealthy are not built next to cesspool rivers or skylines filled with fuming smokestacks, but the slums of the planet are.

Don't think, though, that it's just a matter of property values or scenery. 

It's about health, about whether your kids have lead or dioxins running through their veins.

It's a simple formula, in fact: Wealth disparities become health disparities.

And here's another formula:

 When there's money to be made, both workers and the environment are expendable.

Just as jobs migrate if labour can be had cheaper overseas, I know workers who were tossed aside when they became ill from the foul air or poisonous chemicals they encountered on the job.

The fact is: We won't free ourselves from a dysfunctional and unfair economic order until we begin to see ourselves as communities, not commodities.

That is one clear message from Zuccotti Park.

Polluters routinely walk away from the ground they poison and expect taxpayers to clean up after them.

By "externalising" such costs, profits are increased. Examples of land abuse and abandonment are too legion to list, but most of us can refer to a familiar "superfund site" in our own backyard.

Clearly, Mother Nature is among the disenfranchised, exploited and struggling.

Democracy 101

The 99 per cent pay for wealth disparity with lost jobs, foreclosed homes, weakening pensions and slashed services, but Nature pays, too.

In the world the one-percenters have created, the needs of whole ecosystems are as easy to disregard as, say, the need the young have for debt-free educations and meaningful jobs. 

"If you are a CEO who skims millions of dollars off other people's labour, it's called a 'bonus'."
 

Extreme disparity and deep inequality generate a double standard with profound consequences.

If you are a CEO who skims millions of dollars off other people's labour, it's called a "bonus".

If you are a flood victim who breaks into a sporting goods store to grab a lifejacket, it's called looting.

If you lose your job and fall behind on your mortgage, you get evicted.

If you are a banker-broker who designed flawed mortgages that caused a million people to lose their homes, you get a second-home vacation-mansion near a golf course.

If you drag heavy fishnets across the ocean floor and pulverise an entire ecosystem, ending thousands of years of dynamic evolution and depriving future generations of a healthy ocean, it's called free enterprise.

But if, like Tim DeChristopher, you disrupt an auction of public land to oil and gas companies, it's called a crime and you get two years in jail.  

In campaigns to make polluting corporations accountable, my Utah neighbours and I learned this simple truth:

Decisions about what to allow into the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat are soon enough translated into flesh and blood, bone and nerve and daily experience.

So it's crucial that those decisions, involving environmental quality and public health, are made openly, inclusively and accountably.

That's Democracy 101.

The corporations that shred habitat and contaminate your air and water are anything but democratic.

Stand in line to get your 30 seconds in front of a microphone at a public hearing about the siting of a nuclear power plant, the effluent from a factory farm, or the removal of a mountaintop and you'll get the picture quickly enough:

The corporations that profit from such ecological destruction are distant, arrogant, secretive, and unresponsive.

The one per cent are willing to spend billions impeding democratic initiatives, which is why every so-called environmental issue is also about building a democratic culture.  

 
Degrading the planet's resources is reckless and although the 1% may profit, it will hurt us all 
 

First Kill the EPA, then Social Security

Beyond all the rhetoric about freedom from the new stars of the Republican Party, the strategy is simple enough:

Obstruct and misinform, then blame the resulting dysfunction on "government".

It's a great scam.

 In depth coverage of the global movement
Tell the voters that government doesn't work and then, when elected, prove it.

And first on the list of government outfits they want to sideline or kill is the Environmental Protection Agency, so they can do away with the already flimsy wall of regulation that stands between their toxins and your bloodstream.

Poll after poll shows that citizens understand the need for environmental rules and safeguards.

Mercury is never put into the bloodstreams of nursing mothers by consensus, nor are watersheds fracked until they are flammable by popular demand.

But the free market ideologues of the Republican Party are united in opposition to any rule or standard that impedes the "magic" of the marketplace and unchecked capital.

The same bottom-line quarterly-report fixation on profitability that accepts oil spills as inevitable also accepts unemployment as inevitable.

Tearing apart wildlife habitat to make a profit and doing the same at a workplace are just considered the price of doing business.

Clearcutting a forest and clearcutting a labor force are two sides of the same coin.   

Beware of Growth

Getting the economy growing has been the refrain of the Obama administration and the justification for every bad deal, budget cut and unbalanced compromise it's made.

The desperate effort to grow the economy to solve our economic woes is what keeps Timothy Geithner at the helm of the Treasury and is what stalls the regulation of greenhouse gasses.

It's why we are told we must sacrifice environmental quality for pipelines and why young men and women are sacrificed to protect access to oil, the lubricant for an acquisitive economic engine.

"There's only so much fertile soil or fresh water available, only so many fish in the ocean, only so much CO2 the planet can absorb."
 

The financial empire of the one percenters and the political order it has shaped are predicated on easy and relentless growth.

How, we are asked, will there be enough for everyone if we don't keep growing?

The fundamental contradiction of our time is this:

We have built an all-encompassing economic engine that requires unending growth.

A contraction of even a per cent or two is a crisis, and yet we are embedded in ecosystems that are reaching or have reached their limits.

This isn't complicated:

There's only so much fertile soil or fresh water available, only so many fish in the ocean, only so much CO2 the planet can absorb and remain habitable.

Yes, you can get around this contradiction for a while by exploiting your neighbour's habitat, using technological advances to extend your natural resources and stealing from the future - that is, using up soil, minerals, and water your grandchildren (someday to be part of that same 99 per cent) will need.

But the limits to those familiar and, in the past, largely successful strategies are becoming more evident all the time.

At some point, we'll discover that you can't exist for long beyond the boundaries of the natural world, that (as with every other species) if you overload the carrying capacity of your habitat, you crash.

Warming temperatures, chaotic weather patterns, extreme storms, monster wildfires, epic droughts, Biblical floods, an avalanche of species extinction... that collapse is upon us now.

In the human realm, it translates into hunger and violence, mass migrations and civil strife, failed states and resource wars.

Like so much else these days, the crash, as it happens, will not be suffered in equal measure by all of us.

The one percenters will be atop the hill, while the 99 per cent will be in the flood lands below swimming for their lives, clinging to debris or drowning.

The Great Recession has previewed just how that will work.

An unsustainable economy is inherently unfair and worse is to come.

After all, the car is heading for the cliff's edge, the grandkids are in the backseat, and all we're arguing about is who can best put the pedal to the metal.

Occupy Earth

Give credit where it's due: It's been the genius of the protesters in Zuccotti Park to shift public discourse to whether the distribution of economic burdens and rewards is just and whether the economic system makes us whole or reduces and divides us.

"Nature's... an amazingly diverse community of species... we have yet to fathom how it all fits together."
 

It's hard to imagine how we'll address our converging ecological crises without first addressing the way accumulating wealth and power has captured the political system.

As long as Washington is dominated and intimidated by giant oil companies, Wall Street speculators and corporations that can buy influence and even write the rules that make buying influence possible, there's no meaningful way to deal with our economy's addiction to fossil fuels and its dire consequences.

Nature's 99 per cent is an amazingly diverse community of species.

They feed and share and recycle within a web of relationships so dynamic and complex that we have yet to fathom how it all fits together.

What we have excelled at so far is breaking things down into their parts and then reassembling them; that, after all, is how a barrel of crude oil becomes rocket fuel or a lawn chair.

When it comes to the more chaotic, less linear features of life like climate, ecosystems, immune systems or foetal development, we are only beginning to understand thresholds and feedback loops, the way the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

But we at least know that the parts matter deeply and that, before we even fully understand them, we're losing them at an accelerating rate. Forests are dying, fisheries are going, extinction is on steroids.

Degrading the planet's operating systems to bolster the bottom line is foolish and reckless. It hurts us all. No less important, it's unfair. The 1 per cent profit, while the rest of us cough and cope.

After Occupy Wall Street, isn't it time for Occupy Earth?

Chip Ward co-founded and led Families Against Incinerator Risk and HEAL Utah.

 A TomDispatch regular, he wrote about campaigns to make polluters accountable in Canaries on the Rim:

Living Downwind in the West and about visionary conservationists in Hope's Horizon: Three Visions for Healing the American Land.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.

A version of this article was first published on TomDispatch.
 
 
Source: Al Jazeera

Divorced fathers will not get legal right to access

Radical says- This leaves the gate wide open for the "Women of Fortune" to thrive.

Such women, are in my eyes, are just Common thieves !

The Family Justice Review dashes hopes of groups

such as Fathers 4 Justice

Law Lords dump High Court deputy after assault

Cuts and the sexes

Yougov

by Hannah Thompson and Krista Campbell in Editor's picks and Life
Wed November 2, 12:06 p.m. GMT
 
 Email 70% say men and women equally affected by recession, but one in five says women hardest hit

Both men and women have been equally affected by the recession and government spending cuts, the majority of British people feels, but a significant 19% says that women have been hit harder than men, compared to just 6% who feel men have been hardest hit.

Our poll for the Sunday Times has found that while just under three quarters believe that both sexes have been equally hard hit, an interesting minority viewpoint emerges when considering the perceived positions of men and women specifically.

Of those who feel one of the sexes has been hit harder than the other, there is general agreement that women have suffered more, with women in this minority group almost twice as likely as men to say that women have been hit hardest. 

◦70% of British people think both men and women have been hit hardest by the recession and cuts in government public spending

◦However, 19% say that women have been hit harder than men 6% say that men have
◦

More women than men believe they have been hit harder by the recession, with a quarter (25%) of women saying that they have (compared to 2% of women who think men have)
◦

And 12% of men say that women have been hit the hardest (compared to 10% who think that men have)
◦

26% of Labour voters and 24% of Liberal Democrats say that women have been hit harder than men, compared to just 13% of Conservative voters
‘

The drying up of progress?’

In recent years, the recession and the subsequent cuts in public spending have widely been cited as adversely affecting women in comparison to men, since women are overall more likely to be lower-paid, work part-time or take on less-skilled roles, while relying more heavily on childcare and other public services vulnerable to cuts.

The slow recovery post-recession is said to have affected women more than men, although some argue that men were hit harder when the initial situation broke.

In September this year, the Financial Times reported that the numbers of unemployed men ‘peaked in August 2009 and has since dropped by 6%’, yet unemployment among women has risen by 13% to the highest level in twenty years.

One explanation could be that cuts to the public sector have been severe.

Professor Paul Gregg, from Bristol University, told the Financial Times that ‘the decline in the employment rate during the recession was 2%, so a sector losing [7%] of its employment is a big shock’.

He continued that ‘we might see the drying up of the progress women have been making in securing top well-paid employment’ as similar progress in the private sector is ‘not guaranteed’.

Crime 'bigger killer than war'

Thursday October 27 2011

Everyday crime is a far greater source of armed violence than war, an international study has said.

Authors of the 2011 Global Burden of Armed Violence report said

about 526,000 people die violently every year.

That is more than 1,400 people a day.

The report, released in Geneva, puts the number of people killed in war each year at about 55,000.

That is far less than the estimated 396,000 murdered outside of armed conflict annually.

Another 54,000 die due to unintentional violence, or manslaughter.

The Swiss-funded report said police operations result in 21,000 deaths a year.

There are big regional variations.

Mexico's Chihuahua state has a violent death rate of 129 per 100,000 inhabitants, far above the global average of 7.9 per 100,000

Clocks could go forward by an hour all year

The Radical says :- The clocks go back and so does Econ 7 time. From 01.30am - 08.30am to 12.30am -07.30am.

This affects Electricity costs as most workers use Econ 7 before leaving for work in the summer but in Winter the Econ 7 is switched off earlier. Therefore in the morning users lose an hour of cheaper electric. I have written to my MP on the subject. I suggest you do too.

Britain's clocks could move forward by an hour all year round as the Government considers backing plans for a controversial daylight saving bill.
 
The daylight saving bill would put the clocks forward by an hour all year

Ministers are poised to back the plans, which would put the UK in line with Central European Time, for trial period of three years.

The changes would mean lighter winter evenings, which supporters claim would cut road deaths, boost tourism and reduced energy use.

However there are a number of hurdles to pass before the plans become reality.

The Government said today it will only go ahead with the reforms if they win the backing of political leaders across the UK.

Any ''clear opposition'' would mean the plans were dropped, it said.

on would be plunged into darkness for longer in the mornings.

Critics claim that would increase the dangers for many outdoor workers, particularly farmers, as well as parents and their children on the school run.

Ministers will now table amendments to the Daylight Savings Private Members Bill, proposing consultation with each of the devolved administrations.

The Bill calls for a review of the potential costs and benefits of such a change and would need further legislation before any trial was launched.

Business Minister Edward Davey said: "This is an issue which affects everyone across the country so we cannot rush head first into this.

"As the Prime Minister has made clear, we would need consensus from the devolved administrations if any change were to take place.

"It is only right that we at least look at what the potential economic and social benefits of any change might be."

He added: "Lower road deaths, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and improved health have all been argued over the years as possible benefits.

"If there is strong evidence to support this then we should at least see what the possible benefits are."

The Bill will still need the backing of MPs and peers by April next year to go ahead.

The clocks go back this Sunday at 2am when British Summer Time ends.

Herbal Folklore- The Rose

The Rose has an ancient history,

originally dedicated to Venus the Roman goddess of love,

 it came to be adopted by the Christians as a symbol of the Blessed Virgin.

Earliest Rosaries consisted of a string of pressed petals

 and a single rose was regarded as the emblem of perfection,

with Christian ideals of martyrdom,virginity and divine love.

Local English customs remain. Dreaming of Roses will bring good luck and happiness in love ?

Young girls used it to identify their future husbands.

They picked the rose on Midsummer’s day then packed it away until Christmas

and if worn in Church on Christmas Day their future lover would come and take it from them.

She must no more a- Maying,

Or, by Rosebuds divine

Who’ll be her valentine

Roses had their ceremonial use as was traditional to strew rose petals along the bridle path.

The same flower had its place at funerals for while red roses where placed on the grave of a virgin,

white roses were placed on that of someone who was considered to have led a truly good life.

All roses served as a reminder of the transience of life.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old time is still a flying.

And this same flower that smiles today

Tomorrow will be dying.’

Poems by Robert Herrick

Local compost goes a long way at Co-op

Time for 'piss-a-bed'

October in our Garden

We now have 6 raised beds 3.6metres x 1.2 metres with a depth of 300mm are filled with a mixture of Recycled Soil and Compost. Other areas and the Greenhouse shared 5 tons at a cost of £115 .

We have a ridge pole made of a batten (2x1) at a height of 400mm above the soil supported on three legs and nailed together.

A Poly Plastic sheet 5m x 2m bought at Wilko for £3.98 is draped over the ridge and another batten nailed to hold it down.

The sides and ends are secured with battens nailed to the frame.

I can tell you about it as so far so good.. A real windy storm was survived so we live in hope.

Under this “Cloche” we have planted Broad Beans and Spring Cabbage seeds in one half and peas in the other. Yes peas in October. And they are all up and showing. The plan is to transfer them to the Greenhouse later.

If this plastic tent works we will develop it for the other 5 beds.

We have three strongly built “Grow tables” these are raised flower beds – 2m long x 900 metres high and 400mm wide on legs. Two will be for new strawberry plants yet to arrive and one is in the greenhouse full of Green pepper and chilli pepper plants still producing.

The peas I referred to will be planted under the table and supported by it if they survive.

On the other Greenhouse bed we have planted Lettuce, Radish Onion Cabbage and Cauliflower seed.

This is all experimental and all according to the weather.

I am thinking of a heater for the greenhouse and a small paraffin heater that can be left on for two weeks sounds the best bet. I do have a gas bottle heater but this will be more expense and effort remembering to light it up at night and off in the morning.

Any suggestions ?

Of course I will only turn it on if the temperature falls below Zero.

I have a wooden thermometer strategically placed on the West wall of the house to look at each morning.

(Perhaps I should get a weather station going )

Weeding, pruning and planting continue.

I have a metal dustbin full of wood ash to spread strategically.

The NPK rating is 0-1.2-2

Checking this with the garden bible I see that some plants  like the extra potash and some don’t.

Herb plants do, some fruit bushes do, but potatoes don’t. Raising the PH makes the soil “sweet”

Add some to the compost heap for a quicker composting too.

We have ordered 30 raspberry plants to go with our three autumn plants which gave a modest crop. The difficulty judging the crop was because the bird got there first. The Missus ! She appears in the garden to help and makes a bee line for the raspberry canes.

We have two sites prepared for the canes when they arrive. The tall summer fruiting plants in one long line and a bed for the autumn fruiting ones.

Three blackberry and three blackcurrant plants make up the order from J Parker’s.

We are hoping they will give fruit and pleasure without too much effort.The key is to protect the fruit form the feathered friends, I gather.

We have planted 100 daff bulbs and transplanted the Lilies from their pots to the garden. Fuchsia plants have been separated and moved to the front garden.

The Pampas grass is out in bloom if that is what you call the long stems with a white “brush” waving in the wind. So magnificent are they that my wife is dwarfed by them. A photo has been sent to the family in the Philippines.

The lawn needs one more trim. This is due to the Indian summer and rain we have had. However we still need more rain. Drying winds have wilted the Runner beans though we still have enough for the evening meal.

Soon it will be time to open the bottled and frozen food.

Not really related but mentioned is that I am intending to buy a whole lamb at £5 a kilo cut and bagged. I am also thinking of some beef but I want to find out whether the fore or hind quarter gets more demand at my local butcher and relieve him of the one he has most of left. We must size up the freezer to house the meat too.

Do comment if you have any suggestions.

More in November……

Daffodils

Who could fail to be cheered by the sight of colour in February onwards.

Some grow wild but now is the time to get bulbs in for an early show.

Please don’t pick the wild ones.

 In fact it is considered bad luck if you take them into your home because the number you take in corresponds to the number of chicken eggs that will hatch assuming you keep chickens.

Robert Herrick saw the daffodil as a portent of his own life.

Divination by a Daffodil

When a daffodil I see

Hanging down his head t’wards me

Guess I may what I must be

First I shall decline my head

Secondly I shall be dead

Lastly, safely buried

I think he would have liked daffodils growing around his grave

The Green Thing

 In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soft drink bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But he was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 240 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that was right we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Western Australia.

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.
When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But he's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the tram or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mums into a 24-hour taxi service.
We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.



But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smartass young person

Waiting for death ?

At any stage of life

Suffering social isolation?

An incurable disease ?

No longer of use to yourself or society and wish to die

Would subscribe to Euthanasia

Depressed ?

Hopelessness at societies continued inhumanity to man ?

That life is becoming ever more cheap and unvalued ?

Social Injustice –equals being treated unequally ?

Feeling that you have done all you want to do ?

Convinced that we have a lack of freedom or liberty- believing that

That our lives are conditioned, controlled and over regulated ?

Life Stages

A Wish

I ask not that my bed of death
From bands of greedy heirs be free;
For these besiege the latest breath
Of fortune's favoured sons, not me.I ask not each kind soul to keep
Tearless, when of my death he hears;
Let those who will, if any, weep!
There are worse plagues on earth than tears.I ask but that my death may find
The freedom to my life denied;
Ask but the folly of mankind,
Then, at last, to quit my side.Spare me the whispering, crowded room,
The friends who come, and gape, and go;
The ceremonious air of gloom -
All which makes death a hideous show!Nor bring, to see me cease to live,
Some doctor full of phrase and fame,
To shake his sapient head and give
The ill he cannot cure a name.Nor fetch, to take the accustomed toll
Of the poor sinner bound for death,
His brother doctor of the soul,
To canvass with official breathThe future and its viewless things -
That undiscovered mystery
Which one who feels death's winnowing wings
Must need read clearer, sure, than he!Bring none of these; but let me be,
While all around in silence lies,
Moved to the window near, and see
Once more before my dying eyesBathed in the sacred dew of morn
The wide aerial landscape spread -
The world which was ere I was born,
The world which lasts when I am dead.Which never was the friend of one,
Nor promised love it could not give,
But lit for all its generous sun,
And lived itself, and made us live.There let me gaze, till I become
In soul with what I gaze on wed!
To feel the universe my home;
To have before my mind -insteadOf the sick-room, the mortal strife,
The turmoil for a little breath -
The pure eternal course of life,
Not human combatings with death.Thus feeling, gazing, let me grow
Composed, refreshed, ennobled, clear;
Then willing let my spirit go
To work or wait elsewhere or here!

Matthew Arnold

How to Delete Your Facebook Account

Before signing up think about unsigning?

//
Facebook offers two options for those who want to get rid of their account.

The first one is to deactivate it, and the second one is to permanently delete it.

Next we will clarify the difference between these two procedures and we will see how to perform each one of them.

Deactivating your accountWhen you deactivate your account, your profile and all its associated information are immediately made inaccessible to other Facebook users.

Although this means that you effectively disappear from the service, your information will remain saved by Facebook so that you can reactivate your account whenever you want after 24 hours have passed since the deactivation.

By using this procedure, many users deactivate their account for temporary reasons, and when they return to the service, they recover their “list of friends” and their photos, just as they were before they left.

To deactivate your account you must click on the small triangle at the top right hand corner of the page and then select the option that says “Account Settings.”

Once you have done that, in the left hand menu, click on the Security option, which is the one indicated in the next image:

Then, near the bottom of the screen, click on the “Deactivate your account” link:

To complete the deactivation you will have to choose your reason for leaving from a list of options and then click on the Confirm button.

This will open a pop up box asking for your password: Enter it and click on the Confirm button.

Finally, you will be asked to read a captcha text and enter it. Do so and click on the Submit button.

This will lead you to Facebook's home page, where you will see a message confirming that your account has been deactivated.

Permanently deleting your account Facebook also offers an option for those who want their account deleted with no chance of recovery.

This option is only accessible in this link, which is provided in the Facebook Help Center when you type “delete my account” in its search box.

Once you have opened the page of that link, you must click on the Submit button and then, on a pop up box, you must enter your account password and a captcha text. Once you are done with that, click Okay.

Facebook will ask you to confirm the action, so you will have to click on an Okay button again.

To finish this process you must avoid logging in to your account during the next 14 days. After that period of time, your information will be no longer available, never again.

How to Use Facebook >> Facebook Account and Profile >> How to Delete Your Facebook Account

Abdominal obesity

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abdominal obesity, colloquially known as belly fat or clinically as central obesity, is the accumulation of abdominal fat resulting in an increase in waist size. There is a strong correlation between central obesity and cardiovascular disease.^[1]

Visceral fat, also known as organ fat or intra-abdominal fat, is located inside the peritoneal cavity, packed in between internal organs and torso, as opposed to subcutaneous fat which is found underneath the skin, and intramuscular fat which is found interspersed in skeletal muscle. Visceral fat is composed of several adipose depots including mesenteric, epididymal white adipose tissue (EWAT) and perirenal fat. An excess of visceral fat is known as central obesity, the "pot belly" or "beer belly" effect, in which the abdomen protrudes excessively. This body type is also known as "apple shaped", as opposed to "pear shaped", in which fat is deposited on the hips and buttocks.

Causes

The immediate cause of obesity is net energy imbalance — the organism consumes more usable calories than it expends, wastes, or discards via elimination. The fundamental cause of obesity is not well understood, but is presumably a combination of the organism's genes and environment. There is a growing consensus that, in humans, central obesity is related to the excessive consumption of fructose.^[2][3][4] Other environmental factors, such as maternal smoking, estrogenic compounds in the diet and endocrine disrupting chemicals may be important also.^[5]

Hypercortisolism, such as in Cushing's syndrome also leads to central obesity. Many prescription drugs, such as dexamethasone and other steroids, can also have side effects resulting in central obesity^[6], especially in the presence of elevated insulin levels.

Because fat in the midsection contains the greatest amount of cortisol receptors, fat is created and stored in the midsection, specifically in fat cell deposits deep in the abdomen

Diagnosis

While central obesity can be obvious just by looking at the naked body (see the picture), the severity of central obesity is determined by taking waist and hip measurements. The absolute waist circumference (>102 centimetres (40 in) in men and >88 centimetres (35 in) in women) and the waist-hip ratio (>0.9 for men and >0.85 for women)^[8] are both used as measures of central obesity. A differential diagnosis includes distinguishing central obesity from ascites and intestinal bloating. In the cohort of 15,000 people participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), waist circumference explained obesity-related health risk better than the body mass index (or BMI) when metabolic syndrome was taken as an outcome measure and this difference was statistically significant. In other words, excessive waist circumference appears to be more of a risk factor for metabolic syndrome than BMI.^[9] Another measure of central obesity which has shown superiority to BMI in predicting cardiovascular disease risk is the Index of Central Obesity (waist-to-height ratio - WHtR), where a ratio of >=0.5 (i.e. a waist circumference at least half of the individual's height) is predictive of increased risk.^[10]

An increasing acceptance of the importance of central obesity within the medical profession as an indicator of health risk has led to new developments in obesity diagnosis such as the Body Volume Index, which measures central obesity by measuring a person’s body shape and their weight distribution.

Index of Central Obesity

Index of Central Obesity (ICO) is the ratio of waist circumference and height first proposed by a Parikh et al in 2007^[11][12] as a better substitute to the widely-used waist circumference in defining metabolic syndrome.^[13] The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III suggested cut off of 102 cm and 88 cm for males and females as a marker of central obesity.^[14] The same was used in defining metabolic syndrome.^[15] Misra et al. suggested that these cutoffs are not applicable among Indians and the cutoffs be lowered to 90 cm and 80 cm for males and females.^[16] Various race specific cutoffs were suggested by different groups.^{[citation needed]} The International Diabetes Federation defined central obesity based on these various race and gender specific cutoffs.^{[citation needed]} The other limitation of waist circumference is that it can not be applied in children.^{[dubious – discuss]}

Parikh et al looked at the average heights of various races and suggested that by using ICO various race- and gender-specific cutoffs of waist circumference can be discarded.^[13] An ICO cutoff of more than 0.5 is suggested as a criteria to define central obesity.^{[citation needed]} Parikh et al further tested a modified definition of of metabolic syndrome in which waist circumference was replaced with ICO in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database and found the modified definition to be more specific and sensitive.^[13]

This parameter has been used in the study of metabolic syndrome^[17][18] and cardiovascular disease.^[19]

Body Volume Index

BVI is based upon the principle that excess abdominal weight, measured by part volume as a percentage of total volume, constitutes a greater health risk. Recent validation has concluded that total and regional body volume estimates correlate positively and significantly with biomarkers of cardio-vascular risk and BVI calculations correlate significantly with all biomarkers of cardio-vascular risk.^[20]

Health risks

Excess adipose tissue on a male

Central obesity is associated with a statistically higher risk of heart disease, hypertension, insulin resistance, and Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (see below). Belly fat is a symptom of metabolic syndrome, and is an indicator used in the diagnosis of that disorder.^[21][22][23]

Central obesity can be a feature of lipodystrophies, a group of diseases which is either inherited, or due to secondary causes (often protease inhibitors, a group of medications against AIDS). Central obesity is a symptom of Cushing's syndrome^[24] and is also common in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Central obesity is associated with glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia.

Relationship with diabetes

There are numerous theories as to the exact cause and mechanism in Type 2 Diabetes. Central obesity is known to predispose individuals for insulin resistance. Abdominal fat is especially active hormonally, secreting a group of hormones called adipokines that may possibly impair glucose tolerance.

Insulin resistance is a major feature of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (T2DM), and central obesity is correlated with both insulin resistance and T2DM itself.^[25][26] Increased adiposity (obesity) raises serum resistin levels,^{[27][28][29][30]} which in turn directly correlate to insulin resistance.^{[31][32][33][34]} Studies have also confirmed a direct correlation between resistin levels and T2DM.^{[27][35][36][37]} And it is waistline adipose tissue (central obesity) which seems to be the foremost type of fat deposits contributing to rising levels of serum resistin.^[38][39] Conversely, serum resistin levels have been found to decline with decreased adiposity following medical treatment.^[40]

Relationship with Alzheimer's Disease

A US study reported in May 2010 Annals of Neurology examining over 700 adults found evidence to suggest higher volumes of visceral fat, regardless of overall weight, were associated with smaller brain volumes and increased risk of dementia.^[41][42][43]

Measurement

Silhouettes and waist circumferences representing normal, overweight, and obese

There are various ways of measuring abdominal obesity including:

• Absolute waist circumference (>102 cm in men and >88 cm in women)^[14]
• Waist–hip ratio (the circumference of the waist divided by that of the hips of >0.9 for men and >0.85 for women)^[8]
• Index of Central Obesity^[11]
• Sagittal Abdominal Diameter^[44]

In those with a BMI under 35, intra-abdominal body fat is related to negative health outcomes independent of total body fat.^[45] Intra-abdominal or visceral fat has a particularly strong correlation with cardiovascular disease.^[8]

Sex differences

Female sex hormone causes fat to be stored in the buttocks, thighs, and hips in women. Men are more likely to have fat stored in the belly due to sex hormone differences. When women reach menopause and the estrogen produced by ovaries declines, fat migrates from their buttocks, hips and thighs to their waists;^[46] later fat is stored in the belly.^[47]

Prevention and treatments

Adjunctive therapies which may be prescribed by a physician are orlistat or sibutramine, although the latter has been associated with increased cardiovascular events and strokes and has been withdrawn from the market in the United States,^[48] the UK,^[49] the EU,^[50] Australia,^[51] Canada,^[52] Hong Kong,^[53] Thailand^[54] and Mexico.

In the presence of diabetes mellitus type 2, the physician might instead prescribe metformin and thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone) as anti-diabetic drugs rather than sulfonylurea derivatives. Thiazolidinediones may cause slight weight gain but decrease "pathologic" abdominal fat, and therefore may be prescribed for diabetics with central obesity.^[55]

Weight loss may not be an effective intervention for obesity: as Bacon and Aphramor wrote, "The majority of individuals regain virtually all of the weight that was lost during treatment, regardless of whether they maintain their diet or exercise program"^[56]. The Women's Health Initiative ("the largest and longest randomized, controlled dietary intervention clinical trial"^[56]) found that long-term dietary intervention increased the waist circumference of both the intervention group and the control group, though the increase was smaller for the intervention group.^[57]

Sit-ups myth

There is a common misconception that spot exercise (that is, exercising a specific muscle or location of the body) most effectively burns fat at the desired location, but this is not the case. Spot exercise is beneficial for building specific muscles, but it has little effect, if any, on fat in that area of the body, or on the body's distribution of body fat. The same logic applies to sit-ups and belly fat. Sit-ups, crunches and other abdominal exercises are useful in building the abdominal muscles, but they have little effect, if any, on the adipose tissue located there.^[58]

Slang terms

Excess abdominal fat on a male.

Several colloquial terms used to refer to central obesity, and to people who have it, refer to beer drinking. However, there is little scientific evidence that beer drinkers are more prone to abdominal obesity, despite it being known colloquially as "beer belly", "beer gut", or "beer pot". One of the few studies conducted on the subject did not find that beer drinkers are more prone to abdominal obesity than nondrinkers or drinkers of wine or spirits.^[59][60] Chronic alcoholism can lead to cirrhosis, symptoms of which include gynecomastia (enlarged breasts) and ascites (abdominal fluid). These symptoms can suggest the appearance of central obesity.

"Love handles" and "spare tyre" (or "spare tire") are colloquial terms for deposits of fat around a person's midsection, especially visible on the sides over the abdominal external oblique muscle. Love handles are visible deposits on each side of the abdomen or lower back (that a hypothetical lover might grab to pull the subject into an embrace); a spare tire appears to encircle the abdomen (thus resembling an automobile tire).

"Muffin top" is a term used for a person whose midsection spills over the waistline of his or her trousers in a manner that resembles the top of a muffin spilling over its baking pan.

"Pot belly" is another colloquial term used to describe a person who has an excessive amount of abdominal fat. This is especially pronounced and visible over clothing and may be indicative of other health related problems.

Read out loud the text inside the triangle below. 

More than likely you said, 'A bird in the bush,' and... 
If this IS what YOU said, then you failed to see 
that the word THE is repeated twice! 
Sorry, look again. 
 
 
Next, let's play with some words. 
What do you see? 

In black you can read the word GOOD, in white the word EVIL (inside each black letter is a white letter).  Now, what do you see? 
 
 
 



You may not see it at first, but the white spaces read the word optical, the blue landscape reads the word illusion. Look again! Can you see why this painting is called an optical illusion? 
 
 
 
What do you see here?




This one is quite tricky! 
The word TEACH reflects as LEARN. 
 
 
 
 
Last one. 
What do you see? 

You probably read the word ME in brown, but........ 
when you look through ME you will see YOU! 
Do you need to look again?   
 
 
 


This is really cool. The second one is amazing so please read all the way though. 
                      
ALZHEIMERS' EYE TEST    

Count every 'F ' in the following text: 

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE 
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI 
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH 
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS... 

(SEE BELOW) 

HOW MANY? 
WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke. 
READ IT AGAIN! 
Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down. 

The reasoning behind is further down. 
The brain cannot process 'OF.' 

Incredible or what? Go back and look again!! 
Anyone who counts all 6 'F's' on the first go is a genius.
Three is normal, four is quite rare. 
 
 
 

Look at the spinning woman and if she is turning right your right side of your brain is working. If she is turning left your left side of your brain is working ... 



If she turns both ways for you then you have a 160 or better IQ 
 
 
 
More Brain Stuff...From Cambridge University
Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. 
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty   uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig   to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.   Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! If you can raed tihs psas it on   !!

Future funerals: What a way to go

• 17 August 2011 by Helen Knight
• NEW SCIENTIST

Take the money and run

Women are rejecting marriage in Asia.

The social implications are serious

Aug 20th 2011 | from the print edition

 

TWENTY years ago a debate erupted about whether there were specific “Asian values”.

 Most attention focused on dubious claims by autocrats that democracy was not among them.

But a more intriguing, if less noticed, argument was that traditional family values were stronger in Asia than in America and Europe, and that this partly accounted for Asia’s economic success.

In the words of Lee Kuan Yew, former prime minister of Singapore and a keen advocate of Asian values, the Chinese family encouraged “scholarship and hard work and thrift and deferment of present enjoyment for future gain”.

On the face of it his claim appears persuasive still. In most of Asia, marriage is widespread and illegitimacy almost unknown.

In contrast, half of marriages in some Western countries end in divorce, and half of all children are born outside wedlock.

The recent riots across Britain, whose origins many believe lie in an absence of either parental guidance or filial respect, seem to underline a profound difference between East and West.

Yet marriage is changing fast in East, South-East and South Asia, even though each region has different traditions.

The changes are different from those that took place in the West in the second half of the 20th century.

Divorce, though rising in some countries, remains comparatively rare. What’s happening in Asia is a flight from marriage (see article).

Marriage rates are falling partly because people are postponing getting hitched. Marriage ages have risen all over the world, but the increase is particularly marked in Asia. People there now marry even later than they do in the West.

The mean age of marriage in the richest places—Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong—has risen sharply in the past few decades, to reach 29-30 for women and 31-33 for men.

A lot of Asians are not marrying later.

They are not marrying at all. Almost a third of Japanese women in their early 30s are unmarried; probably half of those will always be.

Over one-fifth of Taiwanese women in their late 30s are single; most will never marry. In some places, rates of non-marriage are especially striking: in Bangkok, 20% of 40-44-year old women are not married; in Tokyo, 21%; among university graduates of that age in Singapore, 27%.

So far, the trend has not affected Asia’s two giants, China and India.

But it is likely to, as the economic factors that have driven it elsewhere in Asia sweep through those two countries as well; and its consequences will be exacerbated by the sex-selective abortion practised for a generation there.

By 2050, there will be 60m more men of marriageable age than women in China and India.

The joy of staying single

Women are retreating from marriage as they go into the workplace.

That’s partly because, for a woman, being both employed and married is tough in Asia.

Women there are the primary caregivers for husbands, children and, often, for ageing parents; and even when in full-time employment, they are expected to continue to play this role.

This is true elsewhere in the world, but the burden that Asian women carry is particularly heavy.

Japanese women, who typically work 40 hours a week in the office, then do, on average, another 30 hours of housework.

Their husbands, on average, do three hours.

And Asian women who give up work to look after children find it hard to return when the offspring are grown.

Not surprisingly, Asian women have an unusually pessimistic view of marriage.

According to a survey carried out this year, many fewer Japanese women felt positive about their marriage than did Japanese men, or American women or men.

At the same time as employment makes marriage tougher for women, it offers them an alternative.

More women are financially independent, so more of them can pursue a single life that may appeal more than the drudgery of a traditional marriage.

More education has also contributed to the decline of marriage, because Asian women with the most education have always been the most reluctant to wed—and there are now many more highly educated women.

No marriage, no babies

The flight from marriage in Asia is thus the result of the greater freedom that women enjoy these days, which is to be celebrated.

But it is also creating social problems.

Compared with the West, Asian countries have invested less in pensions and other forms of social protection, on the assumption that the family will look after ageing or ill relatives.

That can no longer be taken for granted. The decline of marriage is also contributing to the collapse in the birth rate.

Fertility in East Asia has fallen from 5.3 children per woman in the late 1960s to 1.6 now. In countries with the lowest marriage rates, the fertility rate is nearer 1.0.

That is beginning to cause huge demographic problems, as populations age with startling speed. And there are other, less obvious issues.

Marriage socialises men: it is associated with lower levels of testosterone and less criminal behaviour.

Less marriage might mean more crime.

Can marriage be revived in Asia?

Maybe, if expectations of those roles of both sexes change; but shifting traditional attitudes is hard.

Governments cannot legislate away popular prejudices.

They can, though, encourage change.

Relaxing divorce laws might, paradoxically, boost marriage.

Women who now steer clear of wedlock might be more willing to tie the knot if they know it can be untied—not just because they can get out of the marriage if it doesn’t work, but also because their freedom to leave might keep their husbands on their toes.

Family law should give divorced women a more generous share of the couple’s assets.

Governments should also legislate to get employers to offer both maternal and paternal leave, and provide or subsidise child care.

If taking on such expenses helped promote family life, it might reduce the burden on the state of looking after the old.

Asian governments have long taken the view that the superiority of their family life was one of their big advantages over the West.

That confidence is no longer warranted.

They need to wake up to the huge social changes happening in their countries and think about how to cope with the consequences.