BETTER HEALTH E-NEWSLETTER January 2006 News items from around the world about better health as published in December/January at www.globalgoodnews.com the news service of the Global Country of World Peace.
------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. INDIA: Government to build houses and offices according to Vastu 2. USA: Cancer death rate continues to drop 3. SPAIN: Nationwide ban on tobacco in the workplace 4. INDIA: Fertilizer based on India's ancient knowledge gets patent 5. USA: Ten easy ways to boost your wellness include Transcendental Meditation 6. UK: Strong growth seen in Britain's organic food sales 7. EGYPT: Economists welcomed WTO accord on cotton subsidies 8. CANADA: Environment pact members to cut use of pesticides 9. INDIA: Indian President for another green revolution 10. USA: Entrepreneur turns worm waste into profit 11. INDIA: Global Ayurveda conference 12. HONG KONG: Hong Kong stocks up on herbs in case of flu outbreak 13. FRANCE: Anti-GM ruling: Activists' destruction of GM crops was justified 14. WORLD: Organic consumption higher than average in Asia 15. NEPAL: Go organic! 16. INDIA: Ayurveda gets acceptance all over the world: Governor 17. DENMARK: EU approves GMO fine 18. AUSTRALIA: Going organic: The future of farming 19. USA & ITALY: Research: Expectations can help healing 20. JAPAN: 'Miracle fruit' yields sweets for dieters 21. USA: Study: Nursing may prevent moms' diabetes 22. CHINA & INDIA: China keen on tie-up with India in bio-medical research 23. KENYA: Scientists turn to traditional medicinal plants to find new tools for fighting malaria 24. USA: Study: exercise can add 3 years to life 25. UK: Organic market soars to more than £1bn ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. INDIA: Government to build houses and offices according to Vastu http://www.globalgoodnews.com/government-news-a.html? art=11362862852044062 After reviewing research, the Indian government's Housing Development Board has decided that planning for future residential units and government offices in a New Delhi suburb should be according to the tenets of Vastu - the Vedic system of architecture which shows that buildings built according to the ancient principles bring greater peace and harmony to the people living and working in them. 2. USA: Cancer death rate continues to drop http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html? art=11362299941871690 The cancer death rate in the US continues to decline according to the National Cancer Institute. Americans are taking steps to help prevent cancer by improvements in behaviour including reductions in smoking, declines in alcohol and fat consumption, and less sun exposure. The Institute also cited better cancer screening as a reason for the drop. 3. SPAIN: Nationwide ban on tobacco in the workplace http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html? art=11361595591747646 On New Year's day it became illegal in Spain to smoke in office buildings, shopping malls, cultural centres, and on public transportation systems. The new law also extends a ban on cigarette advertising. A government- financed poll released the day after the bill passed said that more than 70 per cent of respondents supported it. 4. INDIA: Fertilizer based on India's ancient knowledge gets patent http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1136197907181265 8 Indian scientists have developed an organic fertilizer based on knowledge in India's indigenous textbook 'Vishwa Vallabh' and received an American patent for the product. The researchers feel that given the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers, organic and environmentally friendly fertilizers should be encouraged. 5. USA: Ten easy ways to boost your wellness include Transcendental Meditation http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html?art=1135710841723388 Advice from health care professionals, backed by research studies, was summarized in ten easy and enjoyable tips for improving your health in 2006. The Detroit News article included in its list of ten healthy tips the practice of the Transcendental Meditation Programme, highlighting some of the scientific research. 6. UK: Strong growth seen in Britain's organic food sales http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1135309306138422 9 Organic products account for approximately one per cent of overall food and drink sales in the UK, according to a recent report. The organic market is 'a big idea whose time has come' Britain's Soil Association director Patrick Holden said in a recent statement. 7. EGYPT: Economists welcomed WTO accord on cotton subsidies http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1135128195781416 Egyptian economists welcomed an agreement by the 149 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to end state export subsidies to cotton farmers in developed countries. According to a final declaration issued at the close of the sixth WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong on Sunday, developed nations will abolish all forms of export subsidies for cotton in 2006. 8. CANADA: Environment pact members to cut use of pesticides http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1134805053152772 1 Signatories of the Montreal Protocol, representatives of 16 developed nations, have agreed on a key global environment pact Friday 'to cut by nearly half the quotas on the use of a pesticide known to destroy the ozone layer'. 9. INDIA: Indian President for another green revolution http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1134987720212908 The Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam says it is time for India to embark on a 'second green revolution'. To that end, he has urged the Indian farmers in Thodupuzha in Kerala's hilly Idukki district, to keep future demand and increasing population in mind, and double the production of cereals by 2020. He said that this could become possible through new technologies and innovations. 10.USA: Entrepreneur turns worm waste into profit http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1134367488192805 TerraCycle markets organic plant fertilizer created by `vermicomposting' -- harvesting worm excrement. This year TerraCycle Plant Food began appearing on shelves on shelves in Wal-Marts across Canada and Home Depots there and in New Jersey. This year the company's founder hopes to expand to Home Depots and Wal-Marts in the US, going up against fertilizing powerhouse Miracle-Gro. (more) 11. INDIA: Global Ayurveda conference http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html?art=1133844346704866 A global summit on Ayurveda, said to be the largest of its kind, will assemble at least 1,000 delegates from Britain, South Korea, Italy, Brazil, and Russia. Scientists, scholars, and researchers from India's top universities and academic institutions will also attend. The summit will cover diseases caused by lifestyle, biotechnology in Ayurveda, and 'rasayana' therapy. Manufacturers of Ayurvedic medicines will also be present to speak and sell products. 12. HONG KONG: Hong Kong stocks up on herbs in case of flu outbreak http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html? art=11342752231987730 Hong Kong's government isn't taking sides on the western drug that is promoted in case of a deadly super-flu outbreak versus traditional medicine. Officials have urged traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to be ready to help prevent the spread of any pandemic. They are also handing out pamphlets that say to drink teas with herbs such as ginger, mulberry leaves, mint, and dried chrysanthemum, which could help build up immunity. 13. FRANCE: Anti-GM ruling: Activists' destruction of GM crops was justified http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1134156773165259 6 Monsanto was hoping for prison terms and damages up to 398,000 euros, but instead it got a chilling message from the French courts. According to the verdict, the 49 environmental activists that uprooted Monsanto GM maize did so with justification. The court found that justification for the uprooting of the GM crops 'resulted from the unbridled distribution of modified genes that constitutes a clear and present danger for the well-being of others, in the sense that it could be the source of contamination and unwanted pollution'. 14. WORLD: Organic consumption higher than average in Asia http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1134154945162708 7 A study conducted among over 21,000 internet users showed some surprising results. The greatest use of organic products takes place, not in North America or Europe, but in China. The People's Republic of China is indeed the leading consumer of organic vegetables, meat, dairy, and carbonated beverages; followed by Thailand, which leads in the consumption of organic fruit juices and packaged food. 15. NEPAL: Go organic! http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1133797447498470 In Nepal, farmers are receiving support to grow their vegetables the organic way. In the town of Baluwatar, an organic market and cafe operating as an outlet for The Organic Village Pvt Ltd (TOV) recently opened. Funding for TOV and the outlet came from a Small Grants Programmes, whose purpose is to encourage farmers to move away from chemical fertilizers in favour of organic farming methods. 16. INDIA: Ayurveda gets acceptance all over the world http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html?art=1133811835599765 Speaking at the fifth national congress on medicinal plants, Governor RL Bhatia spoke about the gaining momentum of popularity in traditional medicinal approaches worldwide and the potential implications for India, a country which has a great wealth of ancient herbal healing wisdom. The Governor noted that herbal preparations that combine many herbs are richer in diverse biological compounds and are safer for human consumption than synthetic medicines. 17. DENMARK: EU approves GMO fine http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1133459152104789 8 The European Union approved a new Danish law that mandates compensation from farmers growing genetically modified (GMO) crops if their crops contaminate neighbouring non-GMO crops. 18. AUSTRALIA: Going organic: The future of farming http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1133325532702073 The Lambert family celebrated with a gala event the award of organic certification to their four-generation farm. Convinced that organic is the future of farming, the Lamberts now grow their produce without the use of insecticides, pesticides, or artificial fertilizers, and are enjoying unprecedented success. 19. USA & ITALY: Research: Expectations can help healing http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html?art=1133234530541065 Research is showing the power of expectations, that they have physical, not just psychological, effects on your health. Now scientists are amassing the first direct evidence that the placebo effect actually is physical, and that expecting benefit can trigger the same neurological pathways of healing as real medication does. 20. JAPAN: 'Miracle fruit' yields sweets for dieters http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html?art=1132723788101619 A Japanese cafe started serving up berries that make sour desserts sweet, offering dieters the chance to indulge in snacks without piling on the calories. The desserts at the Miracle Fruits Cafe in Tokyo contain almost no sugar and are unbearably sour, but come with a berry from the Synsepalum dulcificum plant-also known as miracle fruit-which make the sour desserts sweet to the taste. Found in Western Africa, miracle berries contain the protein miraculin, which stimulates the tongue's taste buds and makes sour food and drinks taste sweet. Though discovered centuries ago, miracle berries have not been widely marketed because they are easily perishable. A Japanese supplier recently developed a way to freeze-dry the fruit, allowing for a stable supply of the berries. 21. USA: Study: Nursing may prevent moms' diabetes http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html?art=1132933627650924 Breast-feeding is thought to protect babies from developing diabetes. Now research suggests it might even help keep their mothers from getting the disease, too. A study found that the longer women nursed, the lower their risks of developing diabetes. 22. CHINA & INDIA: China keen on tie-up with India in bio-medical research http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html? art=113231128777093340 India and China are looking for partnership possibilities in the research, production, and marketing of traditional medicines and herbal formulations. They are also interested in each other's views on health insurance programmes. The collaboration in the area of the countries' traditional medicine systems may extend to 'documentation of medicinal plants, exchange of experts, import and export of raw and finished products, development of database, and formulation of common strategy for international regulations/market authorization of traditional herbal medicinal products'. 23. KENYA: Scientists turn to traditional medicinal plants to find new tools for fighting malaria http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html? art=113199062775924944 African researchers searching for new medicines derived from natural sources have collected and identified plant materials used in traditional medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases, including fevers and drug-resistant malaria. Many of these traditional plants are extremely effective in preventing and fighting malaria, and are competing with the old, chemical-based products. Their research, presented at the Fourth Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Pan-African Malaria Conference, is indicative of a surge of scientific interest in the anti-mosquito properties of indigenous plant life. 24. USA: Study: exercise can add 3 years to life http://www.globalgoodnews.com/health-news-a.html? art=113184324975437591 People who exercise can add three years to their life, and their hearts reap benefits from something as simple as brisk walking a half-hour a day, two studies suggest. Researchers analysed more than four decades of data from the Framingham Heart Study, a long-running health analysis of suburban Boston residents. The researchers grouped 4,121 people into three levels of physical activity: low, medium and high. The volunteers, who had kept track of how long they spent doing various activities each day, received scores based on the estimated oxygen consumed for their activities. Life expectancy at age 50 for the medium activity group was 1.5 years longer than for the low activity group. The high activity group lived 3.5 years longer. 25. UK: Organic market soars to more than £1bn http://www.globalgoodnews.com/environmental-news-a.html? art=1131950511758412 32 New figures show that the organic food market in Great Britain has surged well past £1bn a year, and that the popularity is spreading across every social class. One reason for the market increase is the consumers' concern about the level of pesticides sprayed on conventional food. The Soil Association's figures show that sales of organic food direct from the producer rose by a third. The public is also buying far more organic food from independent shops, where sales have rocketed by 43 per cent. All product areas of organic food are growing including baby food, drinks, fruits, and vegetables. 'This report shows that the popularity of organic food is growing steadily,' says Patrick Holden, the director of the Soil Association, which certifies 75 per cent of organic produce in Britain. 'Increasing numbers of people are eager to buy local, to obtain the freshest organic food possible, and to cut down on environmental pollution.' JAI GURU DEV Maharishi Golden Dome, Woodley Park Skelmersdale, Lancashire Great Britain, WN8 6UQ Tel: Reception: +44 (0)1695 728847 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: Courses: +44 (0)1695 729113 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: Directors: +44 (0)1695 727851 Fax: +44 (0)1695 50306 Website: www.maharishi-european-sidhaland.org.uk Registered Educational Charity No. 270157 ------------------------ Yahoo! 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