Healthcare: Not just another business

Health | Ano Lobb | Friday 20th November 2009

A reader comment on a posting about electronic medical records (EMR) suggests that medicine needs to follow other industries into the digital age. This is likely inevitable: Medical record keeping is bound to become more digitized over time. The primary reasons are monetary: It facilitates the generation of bills to send to patients and payers, the jury is still out on whether it increases quali
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Leading News and Opinion

	American Policy: Climate Change Misinformation and Illiteracy Climate Change \| Juan Carlo Pascua \| Wednesday 4th November 2009 It is a growing concern that the world will have to move on without the US in trying to reach a climate change agreement to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol. Many blame US inaction on a regrettable majority of Americans being climate change illiterate. Culpability lies within a range of reasons from big business lobbying against climate change legislation, the current economic fiasco, and a general lack of understanding of climate change for the average American. Even in California conversations regarding climate change are light and uninformed/misinformed when compared to Europe and the rest of the world. Not only is it a problem that there is little understanding and support; there is unfortunately opposition to protect our planet. September 28, 2009, a Bloomberg poll revealed climate change ranked dead last as a concern for US citizens. The Economy overwhelmingly gathered 46% of the vote, health care 23%, federal budget deficit 16%, Iraq and Afghanistan wars 10%, and finally Climate Change 2%. These results coincide with immediate individualistic concerns regarding job security and personal health. Unfortunately, there's more to the lack of American understanding regarding climate change than immediacy. Read More

	Social Values: How Vulnerable to Profit? Social Enterprise \| Marcia Stepanek \| Wednesday 4th November 2009 There's a boom in the creation of social enterprises but there's also a debate raging among the leaders of this new field over whether the most successful new enterprises will be able to sustain all of their original core values of social good -- especially if or when these new organizations link up with or get bought by for-profit firms. Gabriel Brodbar, director of New York University's Reynolds Program in Social Entrepreneurship, cites this concern as one of the more important topics facing the new field of social entrepreneurship. During a break in the recent PopTech conference for social innovation in Camden, Maine, I caught up with Brodbar; here's an edited transcript of that conversation: What do you see as the key trends facing those in the field of social enterprise this fall? Within the socially entrepreneurially-focused organizations out there -- like Ashoka, StartingBloc, NYU Reynolds, Ashoka, Justmeans and others -- I think there's a philosophical debate afoot. The motivation of these organizations has a lot to do with ethical integrity, consistency, and commitment, and it's all good. In all sectors, if you can play around large-scale social change, it's great and if companies don't want to, that's okay too. But a lot of the companies that play in the social enterprise space today were formed because of their desire to realize a specific social change or to realize social impact in a very specific way. Companies like Body Shop, Ben & Jerry's, Tom's Shoes, Stony Field Farms, Honest Tea -- all of these companies have very strong corporate social responsibility [CSR] principles baked into their DNA. There was no b.s. there [when these firms were created]. These principles were all very for-real; there was a tremendous amount of due diligence in the supply chain in terms of their environmental impact and so forth. Honest Tea, for example, did one of the most thorough and honest assessments of its carbon footprint, and they did that because of a genuine commitment to the environment and also a genuine concern for their bottom line. Coca-Cola just took a 40 percent stake in Honest Tea, and I think that within the next six months, Coke could buy a controlling stake in it. This has raised a lot of debate and speculation over whether these new developments will change Honest Tea. And it's not just Honest Tea. There is nothing in place -- no legal entities and no contract that insures that when a social enterprise changes hands that the corporate socially responsible behaviors that are associated with the brand -- the ones that made the company what it is -- are going to continue. There are, I think, some great efforts in play to encourage acquired companies to behave in more socially responsible ways but there is nothing that guarantees these behaviors will continue in the case of partnerships or takeovers by for-profit companies. Should public sentiment shift and suddenly [social enterprises] become less in vogue, what's to insure that these socially responsible behaviors continue beyond the initial relationships? Read More

	Playing God: Are We Trying to Make Developing Countries into Our Own Image? Sustainable Development \| Kendra Pierre-Louis \| Wednesday 4th November 2009 Development is difficult. Solving world hunger, for example, is not simply a question of feeding the hungry. Food aid argues the charitable organization CARE, may actually spur on hunger by destabilizing local food economies and driving local farmers out of business. Teaching the hungry how to more efficiently farm, can actually create new unexpected inefficiencies. The Green Revolution in India, in which farmers in the Indian state of Punjab switched from traditional methods to American-style farming - with chemicals, high-yield seeds and irrigation- was once thought to be a rousing success. However, under scrutiny the shiny label of success has lost some of its sheen: India's Green Revolution has depleted ground water, destroyed soil through salinization, locked farmers into cycles of debt and turned what was once a localized hunger problem into a structural one. It also hasn't actually solved India's hunger problem: 1/4th of the world's hungry call India home. A whopping 230 million people or 18% of India's 1.25 billion population is hungry. It is this model (with the addition of GMO technology) that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a driving force in development, is tenuously throwing its support behind to end hunger in Africa. Read More

	When green choices aren't healthy Health \| Ano Lobb \| Tuesday 3rd November 2009 One of the great things about Justmeans is how it fuses so many interrelated ideas. Whether its climate change, sustainable food, ethical consumption, or social enterprise, it all plays a major role in the health of individuals and populations. But good work can be corrupted, for example eco-labeling occasionally attempts to "green wash" products into seaming more earth and people friendly than they are. And sometimes seemingly responsible choices turn out to be unhealthy ones. A few examples: Solar panels are one ethical solution to growing global demand for electricity. However, an essential silicon compound created during manufacturing leaves a toxic byproduct, silicon tetrachloride. Extremely damaging to human tissue, it can cause burns, kidney failure, and lesions in the liver and heart. Ethical manufacturing practices call for energy-intensive remediation of this toxin, but unfortunately several documented cases in China, currently the world leader in solar panel production, have found where this toxin was dumped in fields, contaminating nearby communities. CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs are popular for their long life and meager electricity consumption. What is rarely mentioned is that they contain mercury. Each CFL contains about a tenth of the amount of mercury found in an old thermometer. That wouldn't be much if you only had one light bulb. But the average house has 20 to 30, meaning a significant amount of mercury. Not only is it likely to up in a landfill, but whenever a bulb breaks, you are exposing yourself and family to a potent neurotoxin. Read More

	Digging out of the Junk Mail Mountain Ethical Consumption \| Caitlin Chock \| Tuesday 3rd November 2009 After going to my mailbox to collect my mail after a few days away, I am always surprised at just how much junk gets crammed into that little box. If it isn't those annoying reminders from magazine companies alerting to me that if I act NOW I can save up to 50% off the newsstand price, its credit cards that I'm instantly approved for, or catalogs I have no idea where they got my address. (No, I am not a 60 year old male with prostate problems, thank you very much.) Buried among that mess are the bank statements, bills, and a few super market circulars. Yes, it seems that the majority of what gets sent through the post now-a-days is junk. Thinking just how much paper and waste is generated from all that mail does not do well to support a greener product consumption. So how can we rid ourselves of the mountains of junk mail? There is a way to unburden yourself from all those unwanted deliveries, but it will take some effort on your part and a bit of persistence, as those advertisers desperately want your business. (Economic times are tough for everyone!) But don't let that dissuade you from doing the right thing. First, before recycling all that paper, (I know you would never just toss it in the trash! :) ) take a moment to Read More

	Running For a Greener Earth Ethical Consumption \| Caitlin Chock \| Tuesday 3rd November 2009 I am an admitted running freak. I am one of those people who whether rain or shine, hail or high-water, world on the verge of Apocalypse or not, is going to get her run in for the day. I just don't feel right without a good shot of those endorphins. Some say I may be addicted, but as far as addictions go I'd choose this over many others, so that's okay with me. That being said, I tend to go through running shoes pretty quickly, as pounding the pavement will inevitably do. I do always feel a little remorse at the passing of my last shoe; the miles we've spent together and the many runs we've shared. Though, I have found a way to ease the loss felt by ending my love affair with one pair and moving onto the other, and it is right in line with the ethical impact I strive to achieve. You see, those worn out soles can be recycled and reused to be build into playgrounds, athletic surfaces, and my personal favorites: tracks! That's right, I can complete the entire circle by literally busting my shoes down by running laps on the track, and then watch as they in turn be transformed into that very same surface, neat, huh? Well, being that I live in Portland, OR, which is also the site of Nike's World Headquarters, I heard about the Reuse-A-Shoe program and thought just how ingenious it is. I can drop off my battered past foot loves and they are then ground down and used to make those surfaces. Read More

	Manage Change while Accomplishing Responsible Careers \| Cynthia Stringer \| Monday 2nd November 2009 Being socially responsible in this day in age involves riding the wave of sufficiency and partnering with change. At times we get into a phase of over creation or manic action in order to attract new work or our next work. By the sheer force of action laced with fear or stress we can mask and even distract ourselves from the real challenge at hand, which is partnership and cooperation with change. When we realize that change is simply an outer reflection of an inner process we are closer to our employment opportunity. As you have heard stated before, the only thing that is constant is change. When we begin to realize that and engage from that perspective in our job search we are more in harmony and cooperation with the actions, leads, and resources that come to our attention. When we don't, we generate ineffectiveness increased resistance and loss of momentum. Let me share with you some specific actions you can take to move from a place of ineffectiveness to results. The first distinction and shift that is necessary for expansion and success is to take a longer view. Most people are much too focused on what is in front of them and loose sight of the big picture. When you look beyond this next letter, a no or rejection, the phone conversation and piece of advise or feedback you are able to take all perspectives in without becoming overly critical or discouraged. Change is meant to bring us closer and closer to our truth and our deep inner resilience. Read More

	How Responsible Are Business Schools? Corporate Social Responsibility \| David Connor \| Monday 2nd November 2009 How much responsibility do business schools have for the recent economic turmoil? Why should we expect organisations to demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility if the lunatics running the asylums are ethically neglected by academia? The historical laser-like focus on traditional shareholder values of profit and growth has been shaken to the foundations by a turbulent financial period in combination with mounting global pressures from climate change, population growth, energy security and increasing consumer scrutiny of both products and companies. Academia's reaction has been staggeringly slow for those supposed to cultivate future corporate knights with the vision and ability to lead. Corporate Social Responsibility and its ethical cousins (sustainability, corporate citizenship, etc.) have been largely driven by pioneering individuals with minimal specific formal education, abundant passion and an understanding of an complimentary approach to management, by creating a personal education path of their own making. There have been far too few formal ethical elements of core management courses never mind focused courses across the agenda. It has been frustrating yet entertaining to witness the gold rush style race by business schools responding to industry criticism and growing demand from both students wanting an improved understanding and businesses requiring more intellectually mature Sustainability and CSR managers. Read More

	Smoking bans: Healthy for non-smokers too. Health \| Ano Lobb \| Sunday 1st November 2009 An expert panel convened earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Institute of Medicine in the US examined the effect of second hand smoke on health, as well as the reduction in risk associated with smoking bans. Their recently published findings underline the necessity of smoking bans not only to save smokers from their own bad habits, but to save the rest of us as well. In fact, 43% of non-smoking children and 37% of non-smoking adults in the US are exposed to someone else's tobacco smoke. The recent review of evidence found a 25-30% increased risk of coronary heart disease among non-smokers regularly exposed to second hand smoke. They also found that the exposure increases the risk of heart attacks by anywhere from 24% in non-smokers exposed 1-7 hours of exposure a week, to 62% for those exposed 22 hours a week or more. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies second hand smoke as carcinogenic in humans, and other evidence suggests a 24% increased risk of lung cancer among chronically exposed non-smokers. That's not surprising considering that the noxious brew contains over 4,000 chemicals including 40 known to cause cancer. While the 11 studies that met the CDC/IOM panel's inclusion criteria were not of highest quality, they were in general agreement: Anywhere from 6 to 47% reduced risk of heart disease among non-smokers associated with smoking bans. Read More

	Sustainable Food for Prince Edward Islanders Sustainable Food \| Justmeans Staff \| Saturday 31st October 2009 Is it so difficult to change the way we all think about food? Wouldn't it be great if the food choices we make are healthy for us and at the same time beneficial for communities and environment? If health experts are to be believed, millions of consumers across the world have started thinking about where and how the food items they consume are being produced. They are getting aware of the potential damage being caused by the rise in demands of exotic, out of season produce. According to a survey, people living on Prince Edwards Island have also joined the sustainable food bandwagon and are willing to pay more for buying seasonal locally produced food. Lorraine MacKinnon, a graduate from the University of Guelph conducted a study on how the P.E.I (Prince Edward Island) farmers were perceived by the islanders and it was concluded that more than 90% of islanders are interested in buying locally grown food in the wake of supporting the rights of local farmers and causing less destruction to the environment. This study also showed that as compared to 53% Canadians supporting the provision of income to farmers, 65% of Prince Edward islanders were in support of providing general financial assistance to the local farmers. The fact that more than 90% residents on this island are ready to shell more for organic food, the hope to make the sustainable food movement popular across the world has also increased. It is a welcoming fact to know that people are becoming concerned about environmental issues, including the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals for farming. Residents on this island feel that it is essential to support sustainable agriculture methods and realize its importance as a major economic driver. Read More

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	American Policy: Climate Change Misinformation and Illiteracy Climate Change \| Juan Carlo Pascua \| Wednesday 4th November 2009 It is a growing concern that the world will have to move on without the US in trying to reach a climate change agreement to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol. Many blame US inaction on a regrettable majority of Americans being climate change illiterate. Culpability lies within a range of reasons from big business lobbying against climate change legislation, the current economic fiasco, and a general lack of understanding of climate change for the average American. Even in California conversations regarding climate change are light and uninformed/misinformed when compared to Europe and the rest of the world. Not only is it a problem that there is little understanding and support; there is unfortunately opposition to protect our planet. September 28, 2009, a Bloomberg poll revealed climate change ranked dead last as a concern for US citizens. The Economy overwhelmingly gathered 46% of the vote, health care 23%, federal budget deficit 16%, Iraq and Afghanistan wars 10%, and finally Climate Change 2%. These results coincide with immediate individualistic concerns regarding job security and personal health. Unfortunately, there's more to the lack of American understanding regarding climate change than immediacy. Read More

	Social Values: How Vulnerable to Profit? Social Enterprise \| Marcia Stepanek \| Wednesday 4th November 2009 There's a boom in the creation of social enterprises but there's also a debate raging among the leaders of this new field over whether the most successful new enterprises will be able to sustain all of their original core values of social good -- especially if or when these new organizations link up with or get bought by for-profit firms. Gabriel Brodbar, director of New York University's Reynolds Program in Social Entrepreneurship, cites this concern as one of the more important topics facing the new field of social entrepreneurship. During a break in the recent PopTech conference for social innovation in Camden, Maine, I caught up with Brodbar; here's an edited transcript of that conversation: What do you see as the key trends facing those in the field of social enterprise this fall? Within the socially entrepreneurially-focused organizations out there -- like Ashoka, StartingBloc, NYU Reynolds, Ashoka, Justmeans and others -- I think there's a philosophical debate afoot. The motivation of these organizations has a lot to do with ethical integrity, consistency, and commitment, and it's all good. In all sectors, if you can play around large-scale social change, it's great and if companies don't want to, that's okay too. But a lot of the companies that play in the social enterprise space today were formed because of their desire to realize a specific social change or to realize social impact in a very specific way. Companies like Body Shop, Ben & Jerry's, Tom's Shoes, Stony Field Farms, Honest Tea -- all of these companies have very strong corporate social responsibility [CSR] principles baked into their DNA. There was no b.s. there [when these firms were created]. These principles were all very for-real; there was a tremendous amount of due diligence in the supply chain in terms of their environmental impact and so forth. Honest Tea, for example, did one of the most thorough and honest assessments of its carbon footprint, and they did that because of a genuine commitment to the environment and also a genuine concern for their bottom line. Coca-Cola just took a 40 percent stake in Honest Tea, and I think that within the next six months, Coke could buy a controlling stake in it. This has raised a lot of debate and speculation over whether these new developments will change Honest Tea. And it's not just Honest Tea. There is nothing in place -- no legal entities and no contract that insures that when a social enterprise changes hands that the corporate socially responsible behaviors that are associated with the brand -- the ones that made the company what it is -- are going to continue. There are, I think, some great efforts in play to encourage acquired companies to behave in more socially responsible ways but there is nothing that guarantees these behaviors will continue in the case of partnerships or takeovers by for-profit companies. Should public sentiment shift and suddenly [social enterprises] become less in vogue, what's to insure that these socially responsible behaviors continue beyond the initial relationships? Read More

	Playing God: Are We Trying to Make Developing Countries into Our Own Image? Sustainable Development \| Kendra Pierre-Louis \| Wednesday 4th November 2009 Development is difficult. Solving world hunger, for example, is not simply a question of feeding the hungry. Food aid argues the charitable organization CARE, may actually spur on hunger by destabilizing local food economies and driving local farmers out of business. Teaching the hungry how to more efficiently farm, can actually create new unexpected inefficiencies. The Green Revolution in India, in which farmers in the Indian state of Punjab switched from traditional methods to American-style farming - with chemicals, high-yield seeds and irrigation- was once thought to be a rousing success. However, under scrutiny the shiny label of success has lost some of its sheen: India's Green Revolution has depleted ground water, destroyed soil through salinization, locked farmers into cycles of debt and turned what was once a localized hunger problem into a structural one. It also hasn't actually solved India's hunger problem: 1/4th of the world's hungry call India home. A whopping 230 million people or 18% of India's 1.25 billion population is hungry. It is this model (with the addition of GMO technology) that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a driving force in development, is tenuously throwing its support behind to end hunger in Africa. Read More

	When green choices aren't healthy Health \| Ano Lobb \| Tuesday 3rd November 2009 One of the great things about Justmeans is how it fuses so many interrelated ideas. Whether its climate change, sustainable food, ethical consumption, or social enterprise, it all plays a major role in the health of individuals and populations. But good work can be corrupted, for example eco-labeling occasionally attempts to "green wash" products into seaming more earth and people friendly than they are. And sometimes seemingly responsible choices turn out to be unhealthy ones. A few examples: Solar panels are one ethical solution to growing global demand for electricity. However, an essential silicon compound created during manufacturing leaves a toxic byproduct, silicon tetrachloride. Extremely damaging to human tissue, it can cause burns, kidney failure, and lesions in the liver and heart. Ethical manufacturing practices call for energy-intensive remediation of this toxin, but unfortunately several documented cases in China, currently the world leader in solar panel production, have found where this toxin was dumped in fields, contaminating nearby communities. CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs are popular for their long life and meager electricity consumption. What is rarely mentioned is that they contain mercury. Each CFL contains about a tenth of the amount of mercury found in an old thermometer. That wouldn't be much if you only had one light bulb. But the average house has 20 to 30, meaning a significant amount of mercury. Not only is it likely to up in a landfill, but whenever a bulb breaks, you are exposing yourself and family to a potent neurotoxin. Read More

	Digging out of the Junk Mail Mountain Ethical Consumption \| Caitlin Chock \| Tuesday 3rd November 2009 After going to my mailbox to collect my mail after a few days away, I am always surprised at just how much junk gets crammed into that little box. If it isn't those annoying reminders from magazine companies alerting to me that if I act NOW I can save up to 50% off the newsstand price, its credit cards that I'm instantly approved for, or catalogs I have no idea where they got my address. (No, I am not a 60 year old male with prostate problems, thank you very much.) Buried among that mess are the bank statements, bills, and a few super market circulars. Yes, it seems that the majority of what gets sent through the post now-a-days is junk. Thinking just how much paper and waste is generated from all that mail does not do well to support a greener product consumption. So how can we rid ourselves of the mountains of junk mail? There is a way to unburden yourself from all those unwanted deliveries, but it will take some effort on your part and a bit of persistence, as those advertisers desperately want your business. (Economic times are tough for everyone!) But don't let that dissuade you from doing the right thing. First, before recycling all that paper, (I know you would never just toss it in the trash! :) ) take a moment to Read More

	Running For a Greener Earth Ethical Consumption \| Caitlin Chock \| Tuesday 3rd November 2009 I am an admitted running freak. I am one of those people who whether rain or shine, hail or high-water, world on the verge of Apocalypse or not, is going to get her run in for the day. I just don't feel right without a good shot of those endorphins. Some say I may be addicted, but as far as addictions go I'd choose this over many others, so that's okay with me. That being said, I tend to go through running shoes pretty quickly, as pounding the pavement will inevitably do. I do always feel a little remorse at the passing of my last shoe; the miles we've spent together and the many runs we've shared. Though, I have found a way to ease the loss felt by ending my love affair with one pair and moving onto the other, and it is right in line with the ethical impact I strive to achieve. You see, those worn out soles can be recycled and reused to be build into playgrounds, athletic surfaces, and my personal favorites: tracks! That's right, I can complete the entire circle by literally busting my shoes down by running laps on the track, and then watch as they in turn be transformed into that very same surface, neat, huh? Well, being that I live in Portland, OR, which is also the site of Nike's World Headquarters, I heard about the Reuse-A-Shoe program and thought just how ingenious it is. I can drop off my battered past foot loves and they are then ground down and used to make those surfaces. Read More

	Manage Change while Accomplishing Responsible Careers \| Cynthia Stringer \| Monday 2nd November 2009 Being socially responsible in this day in age involves riding the wave of sufficiency and partnering with change. At times we get into a phase of over creation or manic action in order to attract new work or our next work. By the sheer force of action laced with fear or stress we can mask and even distract ourselves from the real challenge at hand, which is partnership and cooperation with change. When we realize that change is simply an outer reflection of an inner process we are closer to our employment opportunity. As you have heard stated before, the only thing that is constant is change. When we begin to realize that and engage from that perspective in our job search we are more in harmony and cooperation with the actions, leads, and resources that come to our attention. When we don't, we generate ineffectiveness increased resistance and loss of momentum. Let me share with you some specific actions you can take to move from a place of ineffectiveness to results. The first distinction and shift that is necessary for expansion and success is to take a longer view. Most people are much too focused on what is in front of them and loose sight of the big picture. When you look beyond this next letter, a no or rejection, the phone conversation and piece of advise or feedback you are able to take all perspectives in without becoming overly critical or discouraged. Change is meant to bring us closer and closer to our truth and our deep inner resilience. Read More

	How Responsible Are Business Schools? Corporate Social Responsibility \| David Connor \| Monday 2nd November 2009 How much responsibility do business schools have for the recent economic turmoil? Why should we expect organisations to demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility if the lunatics running the asylums are ethically neglected by academia? The historical laser-like focus on traditional shareholder values of profit and growth has been shaken to the foundations by a turbulent financial period in combination with mounting global pressures from climate change, population growth, energy security and increasing consumer scrutiny of both products and companies. Academia's reaction has been staggeringly slow for those supposed to cultivate future corporate knights with the vision and ability to lead. Corporate Social Responsibility and its ethical cousins (sustainability, corporate citizenship, etc.) have been largely driven by pioneering individuals with minimal specific formal education, abundant passion and an understanding of an complimentary approach to management, by creating a personal education path of their own making. There have been far too few formal ethical elements of core management courses never mind focused courses across the agenda. It has been frustrating yet entertaining to witness the gold rush style race by business schools responding to industry criticism and growing demand from both students wanting an improved understanding and businesses requiring more intellectually mature Sustainability and CSR managers. Read More

	Smoking bans: Healthy for non-smokers too. Health \| Ano Lobb \| Sunday 1st November 2009 An expert panel convened earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Institute of Medicine in the US examined the effect of second hand smoke on health, as well as the reduction in risk associated with smoking bans. Their recently published findings underline the necessity of smoking bans not only to save smokers from their own bad habits, but to save the rest of us as well. In fact, 43% of non-smoking children and 37% of non-smoking adults in the US are exposed to someone else's tobacco smoke. The recent review of evidence found a 25-30% increased risk of coronary heart disease among non-smokers regularly exposed to second hand smoke. They also found that the exposure increases the risk of heart attacks by anywhere from 24% in non-smokers exposed 1-7 hours of exposure a week, to 62% for those exposed 22 hours a week or more. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies second hand smoke as carcinogenic in humans, and other evidence suggests a 24% increased risk of lung cancer among chronically exposed non-smokers. That's not surprising considering that the noxious brew contains over 4,000 chemicals including 40 known to cause cancer. While the 11 studies that met the CDC/IOM panel's inclusion criteria were not of highest quality, they were in general agreement: Anywhere from 6 to 47% reduced risk of heart disease among non-smokers associated with smoking bans. Read More

	Sustainable Food for Prince Edward Islanders Sustainable Food \| Justmeans Staff \| Saturday 31st October 2009 Is it so difficult to change the way we all think about food? Wouldn't it be great if the food choices we make are healthy for us and at the same time beneficial for communities and environment? If health experts are to be believed, millions of consumers across the world have started thinking about where and how the food items they consume are being produced. They are getting aware of the potential damage being caused by the rise in demands of exotic, out of season produce. According to a survey, people living on Prince Edwards Island have also joined the sustainable food bandwagon and are willing to pay more for buying seasonal locally produced food. Lorraine MacKinnon, a graduate from the University of Guelph conducted a study on how the P.E.I (Prince Edward Island) farmers were perceived by the islanders and it was concluded that more than 90% of islanders are interested in buying locally grown food in the wake of supporting the rights of local farmers and causing less destruction to the environment. This study also showed that as compared to 53% Canadians supporting the provision of income to farmers, 65% of Prince Edward islanders were in support of providing general financial assistance to the local farmers. The fact that more than 90% residents on this island are ready to shell more for organic food, the hope to make the sustainable food movement popular across the world has also increased. It is a welcoming fact to know that people are becoming concerned about environmental issues, including the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals for farming. Residents on this island feel that it is essential to support sustainable agriculture methods and realize its importance as a major economic driver. Read More