| Cutting edge |  My husband recently passed on a lovely little snippet for me to add to a school science magazine that I edit. The figure of $700 billion has been bandied about a lot recently as the amount of the US bailout of banks and financial institutions. The figure is almost unimaginable. So, imagine that you have a job that earns $1 a second, which is $3600 an hour. How long would it take you to earn $700 billion? The answer is more than 2 million years!
A nice, supposedly trivial little puzzle. But far less trivial is the fact that global financial crisis is likely to seriously undermine efforts to reduce poverty in the world. 16 October was World Poverty Day - something that went largely unremarked in most places. But, as an Oxfam representative writing in the Cape Times that day, said, the US government found $700 billion almost overnight to bail out the failing free market financial institutions. This is an almost unimaginably large amount of money. Why can't they find similar amounts of money to eradicate poverty - because this and the amounts that European governments are finding could do so - almost overnight through provision of health care, food and education? The argument is that this is not 'real' money, but simply a reallocation of resources - but that should actually make it easier to spend - particularly in a global and interlinked economy.
Now some 30 000 children die as a result of poverty every day. That is 900 000 a month - do the sums to see the staggering number that this adds up to annually. These children die as a result of malnutrition and illnesses that are largely preventable.
Other numbers that are worth thinking about:
- 1.4 billion people live on less than $1.25 a day.
- One woman dies every minute as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.
- An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV and AIDS.
- The world spends $1.2 trillion on weapons annually but cannot find the $18 billion necessary to help meet existing overseas development assistance commitments.
- For every $1 in aid a developing country receives, over $25 is spent on debt repayment.
You may think that the problems of the world's poor have little to do with you. But all you need to do is look at what mismanagement in the USA and Europe have done to your investments in South Africa and our currency and it should become apparent that the world is an interlinked place. We are none of us immune to the problems of others.
Bridget Farham Editor
https://www.bizcommunity.com
| | Headlines
Chronic diseasesNew research questions the use of aspirin in diabeticsAspirin should not be routinely used to prevent heart attacks in diabetics, according to Scottish research. Inflammation linked to increased risk of illness in obesityObesity and lack of fitness raise the risk of illness by having a negative impact on the body's internal chemistry, research suggests.
Corporate Social ResponsibilityAdvertisement: | M-NET Breast Cancer Luncheon.
Just a table and lunch with us can inspire women everywhere.
JHB 14th OCt, Sandton Convention Centre | CT 17th Oct, CTICC | DBN 22nd Oct, ICC
www.shoza.co.za |
|
Ear, nose & throatA heads-up on headphones and your hearingOften, people use their headphones to block out the noise of an airplane or chatty neighbor, but simply increasing the volume can increase the danger of hearing damage. Many headphones now offer noise isolation or noise cancellation, which audiologists recommend over everyday earphones for protecting hearing.
HIV/AIDSSouthern Africa: Is the pen mightier than the virus?Isn't it time that journalists started taking HIV/AIDS beyond the newsroom and into the bedroom? In many newsrooms the highly politicised topic of HIV/AIDS remains just that - political. Journalists aren't immune to HIV/AIDS; they just don't talk about it.
Hospital GroupsHip arthroscopy: relieving hip pain without fuss - Martina Nicholson AssociatesThere's new hope for sufferers of hip pain with hip arthroscopies - a relatively new and highly specialised procedure.
Infectious diseasesTanzanian government issues RVF alertHealth authorities in Tanzania have urged people to take precautionary measures against Rift Valley Fever (RVF), saying there were signs that the disease might erupt. Nigeria: Malaria kills 401 peopleMalaria has killed 401 people in the last four weeks in northern Nigeria's Katsina state, according to local health officials. A new vaccine could end polio in NigeriaPolio could be wiped out in Nigeria - one of the world's last blackspots of the disease - thanks to an improved vaccine, research suggests. Free treatment still too expensive for Buruli ulcer patientsSocial costs are delaying treatment for Buruli ulcer in Cameroon.
MalariaA cherry-flavoured pill helps to reduce child malariaA cherry-flavoured anti-malarial pill is effective against malaria in children in Tanzania.
Medical ResearchWhite wine as healthy for the heart as redA new study conducted in the US will provide comfort to white wine lovers and give them a good excuse to pour themselves a glass of Sauvignon blanc because it now appears that white wine is just as healthy for the heart as red. Motherhood increases brain powerContrary to popular opinion, becoming a mother makes you sharper. Five things you should know about stem cell researchThis article refers to a poll voters in the US state of Michigan will be taking in a few weeks when voters will have an important decision to make regarding stem cell research in their state, but it is relevant to anyone who is interested in the field. In short... these are the five things you should know about stem cell research.
Medical TechnologySeychelles joins the pan-African e-network projectSeychelles is the second African country, after Senegal, to join the $1 billion pan-African e-network project initiated by the Indian government. GE Security's Integrated Technology deployed at Groote Schuur Hospital - Kendal Hunt CommunicationsGE Security's fire detection technology has made Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town a safer place for doctors and patients alike.
OncologyThickening palms may be linked to underlying malignancyThickening of the facia of the palms may be linked to underlying ovarian cancer.
Pharmaceutical companiesPfizer launch new drug for neuropathic pain - Magna Carta“The worst pain one can possibly imagine”. Travel vaccines - plan in advance - Jenni Newman Public RelationsWith the Christmas season fast approaching, holiday plans are now being made. Vaccinated Hajj pilgrims have more devotion time - Jenni Newman Public RelationsThousands of South Africans are busy preparing to undertake the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Public healthMore hospital cleaners the answer to superbugsThe simple step of bringing in more cleaners to ensure greater hygiene in hospitals could be a key to combating superbugs. UK watchdog counters confectionary giants' claimsMakers of Maltesers and Jaffa Cakes come under fire from UK's advertising watchdog over some claims they make about their products. Primary Health Care: now more than everPrimary health care was put forward thirty years ago as a set of values, principles and approaches aimed at raising the level of health in deprived populations. The WHO 'urges change for ailing health systems'World Health Report says primary health care can "tackle inequities and inefficiencies" Marked increase in the use of herbal medicines by AustraliansAustralian researchers have found that the most popular herbal medicines used by Australians are aloe vera, garlic and green tea. New speaking book on clinical trials launched for low literacy areas - Magda Naude for the World Medical AssociationA new speaking book, designed to explain the rights and responsibilities of people entering into clinical trials, has been launched for use in Africa.
TuberculosisTB vaccine trials kick off amid funding woesClinical trials of a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine recently kicked off in Kenya, meanwhile international TB researchers and activists are worried by funding gaps that may worsen in the global financial crisis.
Women's healthUgandan state bans female circumcisionAn eastern Ugandan community has banned female circumcision. Women need to be aware of changes, breast expert saysEvery day, women face a barrage of headlines about breast cancer. What should they do with all of that information? World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) 2008 - Speak out for your bones! - Total MediaWorld Osteoporosis Day is 20 October. |
| | Upcoming events | Professional Selling Skills AchieveGlobal SA - Cape Town, 20 October Expo of Molecular Diagnostics - Dalian, 22 October ac3 NGO Conference - Pretoria, 23 October | More... Submit an event | | |
Print - Print any item in this newsletter.
Email - Email any item in this newsletter.
Comment - Comment on any item in this newsletter.
| 
| | | |
| |
Business ServicesMOTORING CORPORATE WELLNESS BUSINESS TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT OFFICE EQUIPMENT
|
|
