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The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Human Development Crisis
Milorad Kovacevic
Chief of statistics at Human Development Report Office
The Human Development Report Office (HDRO) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recently published a statistical analysis of the preparedness of the countries for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and has pointed out the most vulnerable population groups.
The analysis referred to above is not an epidemiological one, it is not even an analysis of the public health situation in the world; it is an analysis of the level of preparedness of societies (or countries) to respond to a crisis of this type and intensity. It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is more than a global public health threat; it is a systemic crisis of human development, which reflects our disrupted interaction with nature and its ecosystems, the insupportable inequalities among people and unsustainable economic activities.
This analysis confirms that there is a need for an adequate human development policy, both in the short and in the long term, which should include measures for reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience to shocks and crises, and points to the need for a continual development of capacities for resolving crises. Such measures are of vital importance for enabling individuals and society to protect themselves from these shocks and to recover from them fast.
The original analysis contains two data dashboards which present selected indicators that enable a quick visual estimate of the preparedness of the given country to respond to a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, and they also provide an analysis of particularly vulnerable population groups.
The countries with a high level of human development, that is, those whose citizens have a longer life expectancy, a higher quality and level of average education, a higher living standard, the states with a lower level of inequality, a better social care system, free from poverty and with a diverse economy, with a quality state administration, with advanced state and social institutions, are generally better positioned to respond to shocks and are capable of recovering from crises faster.
The public health crisis
We can quite rightly say that no state in the world was sufficiently prepared to deal with a pandemic caused by a new and unknown virus of this level of intensity, even though it is possible to observe differences in the level of development of health care systems through an analysis of the existing hospital capacities and the number of experts specialised for providing medical help and treating the sick.
Our analysis of the level of preparedness of a health care system took into consideration only four indicators – the number of doctors, the number of nurses and the number of hospital beds per 10,000 people, as well as the percentage of the gross domestic product (BDP) allocated for health care.
There exist great differences when one compares these indicators in developed and developing countries. For example, countries in the very high human development category have, on average, 30 doctors, 81 nurses and 55 hospital beds per 10,000 people, whereas the least developed countries have 2.5 doctors, 6 nurses and 7 hospital beds per 10,000 inhabitants. Unfortunately, these are the least developed countries in the world, mostly located in Africa below the Sahara. In these countries other contagious diseases also claim millions of lives each year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, in the year 2016 over 3 million deaths were ascribed to respiratory infections, 1.4 million deaths to infection-related diarrhoea, 1.3 million people died of tuberculosis, one million people died of AIDS and around half a million people died of malaria. In these countries, the focus is on eradicating poverty and hunger, on improving the standard of living, on clean drinking water, on safe sanitary equipment and, certainly, on adequate medical treatment by means of vaccines and medicines. But the socio-economic aspect of these illnesses must not be neglected, for it is often more important than the medical one.
Differences in the values of these indicators also exist between developed European countries. The diagram below provides the minimum and maximum values of these indicators in the European Union (including Great Britain).
Source: The United Nations Development Programme (2020), http://hdr.undp.org
Differences also exist in our immediate surroundings, among the countries of the Western Balkans. Serbia has more doctors and hospital beds compared to the neighbouring countries, a negligibly lower percentage of health care expenditure than Bosnia and Herzegovina, but in terms of the number of nurses, it is considerably behind Croatia.
It is often observed that the spread of the coronavirus epidemic has hit hardest the countries with developed health care systems such as Great Britain, Italy, Belgium. However, the spread of the coronavirus, in terms of the number of people contaminated over a given period of time, is least dependent on the level of development of the given country's health care system. The spread of the virus depends on a multitude of factors that are not necessarily related to health care – population density, dependence on public transportation, the period of time required for travelling to work, public gatherings, to name but a few. The level of success of measures undertaken for the purpose of suppressing the spread of the virus – personal hygiene (washing one's hands), social distancing, quarantine, depend on the dimensions of human development referred to above – the level of education, equality, the standard of living of the population, solidarity, cohesion, Internet access and, to a large degree, on the quality of state and social institutions and the level of citizens' trust in them.
The capacity of the given health care system becomes an important factor when it comes to the treatment of those infected – whether all those who suspect that they have been infected or are manifesting the symptoms can count on being subjected to an adequate diagnostic test and provided with medical attention, treatment and care.
The majority of countries plan their health care capacities on the basis of the estimated average needs. For example, hospital capacities are rarely engaged at a level exceeding 70 per cent. Epidemics are an exception to this general rule. On account of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have had to open new hospitals, often enough of an improvised nature, in order to be able to organise the treatment and care of the infected. That is why it was important to slow down the spread of the epidemic and to postpone the arrival of its shock wave.
The coronavirus has surprised the world due to its contagiousness, and in most countries it took time to make an adequate assessment of the magnitude of the problem. A part of this is certainly the provision of personal protection means such as masks or medical gloves, a sufficient number of medical devices such as respirators and special ventilators. How well a country is supplied with those depends on the flexibility of its industry and commerce rather than on the state of development of its health care system. The political leadership and the structure of decision-making also play a part in this crisis. That part is what defines the quality of the state administration and institutions.
The importance of the communications technology
The broad implementation of isolation and social distancing have led to a situation in which many had to rely on Internet access from home in order to continue working or attending school, and also to maintain communication with others. The digital divide has become more important that ever before, for several billion people in the world over still lack access to reliable broadband internet from home. Internet access has become a basic need. Uneven broadband internet access and the digital divide are also indicators of inequality in a society.
We must not neglect the role and importance of mobile phones for maintaining connections at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic in an interlinked world: contact with family and friends, contact with medical professionals – telehealth, medical consultations. Also, some forms of business can be conducted over the phone, ordering or offering and selling goods. But perhaps the most important thing of all is that mobile phones enable people to receive information on the virus, its local spread, infected personal contacts. A good example of this is the use of mobile phones to successfully suppress the spread of the coronavirus in South Korea.
The table below shows the number of mobile phones and broadband internet connections per 100 people in UN development regions in 2018.
Source: The United Nations Development Programme (2020), http://hdr.undp.org Note: It is possible to have several phones registered to one and the same person – private, business, lost, uncancelled.
Increased risk groups
Even though everyone is potentially affected by this pandemic in one way or another, some individuals and groups are more vulnerable than others, sustain much greater damage and take a lot more time to recover. The original analysis shows the percentage of the population subject to multidimensional poverty, without any social protection, as well as the degree of dependence of national economies on remittances from abroad, official subventions for development and tourism.
Our estimate is that there are around 1.3 billion people in the world living in poverty, deprived of many aspects of life that the majority of people have reason to value and take for granted, such as the possibility for school-age children to attend school, to be sufficiently well fed not to lag in physical and mental development, to have access to clean drinking water, safe sanitary equipment, not to use solid fuel for cooking or heating, to have electricity, etc. An additional 900 million people are on the verge of becoming poor if they are exposed to a health, economic or climate shock or crisis. This means that more than a quarter of mankind lives in multidimensional poverty or is on the verge of becoming poor. The population segment living in multidimensional poverty is faced with a greater risk from the pandemic and from the economic crisis that occurs as its consequence.
Our data show that more than 40 percent of the world population have no social protection – no health care, no unemployment benefits, no unpaid maternity leave, no paid sickness leave, no paid annual holidays, no old age retirement.
Globalisation has brought new possibilities and increased efficiency, but we are witnessing how, on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions occurring in one place within the framework of an economy can cause grave local problems in other places. The effects of such events can be harmful for people who, for instance, greatly depend on tourism, such as island countries, on remittances from abroad or on receiving official financial assistance for the purpose of development.
The table below shows that the economies of Western Balkans countries are dependent on the forms of revenues coming from abroad referred to above.
A return to normalcy?
To paraphrase a street graffiti from Hong Kong: "There is no return to 'normal', for 'normal' was the problem in the first place."
The pandemic is a systemic crisis of human development that influences the economic and social aspects of development in ways that were impossible to predict. However, the fact that we are all exposed to danger should unite us, and through compassion, solidarity and creativity we should come out of this stronger, more resilient and humane. It is difficult to envisage how the world economies and life will change, but it is time for changes. Starting from extreme inequalities, insupportable exploitation of nature and degradation of the soil, water and air, to climate change that is increasingly intense – which are changing ecosystems and bringing tropical conditions to regions that were subtropical until recently. The warmer, more humid and changeable weather conditions are dependable signs of climate change that facilitates the spread of diseases to which we are not immune. There is still hope that, by resolving the current crisis, we shall begin to resolve the long-postponed problem of climate change and extreme inequality.
The blog was originally published as an op-ed in Novi magazin, issue 472.
Goal 10 Reduced inequalities


There's an apparent irony in calling this site "Meet Chris Wilcox," given that the only audience I can expect is the one made up of people who already know me from somewhere and are curious enough to take a look. In the beginning, that's who I can reach. The site might spread beyond the first degree, to people who actually are encountering my name here first of all, but that's nothing I can predict.
To start, I have to assume that the people reading this know me from somewhere.
Or think they do, anyway.
The reality is that I can be an especially challenging person to know. Not inclined to chit-chat, I still live largely by my childhood mantra of "Cut the small talk." If people are congregating here, there's a good chance I'm headed somewhere quieter. So the first challenge is tracking me down, cornering me, getting me involved in conversation.
The second challenge is that, even if you manage all that, there's a good chance you still haven't met me. There isn't much self-disclosure in a first, second, or third conversation with me, and there won't be any at all if I feel uneasy. In the presence of most people, I feel uneasy – anxious, on display – much of the time.
So even standing face to face, there's bound to be a wall between us. That's one wall at minimum: Maybe you bring your own wall, built of different feelings and different strategies for hiding in plain sight.
This is in no way an ideal state of affairs, and a personal website is in no way a definitive solution. But it is one way to share what's on my side of the wall, to slip past some of my defenses and show more than is possible by other means. It's all the stuff that would take forever to extract from me in the course of everyday conversation, made real and comprehensible (to you and me) by the act of writing it down.
I fear this makes it sound like you're in for lots of tiresome soul-searching. More than that, I have in mind posting funny, poignant things I wouldn't think to tell you unless the exact right mood struck. Or news about stuff I'm working on but would be too embarrassed to go around jabbering about in one-on-one encounters with different people. If I can broadcast that stuff once for those who care to know, that will suit me infinitely better than trying to repeat myself all the time.
If you'd like to be kept in the loop, enter your email address in the subscription box at top left. You'll get an email whenever new stuff is posted. The plan is to only post awesome stuff, on a two-or-so-times-per-month basis.


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Changes Coming For LPSS Magnet Academies
Derek Albert
LPSS SIgn KPEL Photo
The Lafayette Parish School System has announced upcoming changes to the Magnet Academies programs (formerly Schools of Choice) within the district.
Last Tuesday, the Magnet Academies lottery was held with more than 1,800 students being enrolled in the academies.
LPSS Chief Academic Officer Annette Samec said in a press release, there are long waiting lists at the Environmental Academy at L. Leo Judice in Scott and the Arts and Technology Academy at J. Wallace James. Other than those two programs there are still openings available in all of the other programs. Because there are so many openings, the district central office reopened the lottery process today (Tuesday, Feb. 27). Seats are being assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis.
It's important to note that parents should choose to apply for the respective programs--not the school site--when entering the lottery process.
The Magnet Academies Program will be seeing a lot of changes for the upcoming school year. Below is a list of school site changes that parents and students can expect to see across the district.
The district's French Immersion program will expand to Pre-K and Kindergarten in at Westside Elementary in Scott. The school is reopening for the 2018-2019 school year after a reconstruction process due to heavy damage sustained at the facility during the August 2016 flood.
A Two-Way Spanish Immersion program at Charles Burke Elementary is included in the 2018-19 Magnet Academies Lottery.
Carencro Middle School will open its Informatics Academy. There are seat available to 6th Grade students in the new academy.
The Business Academy at Judice Middle School w ill delay its opening until the 2019-20 school year.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Health Academy at Northside High will not continue past the current school year. Students meeting academic and disciplinary requirements will be offered seats at the Lafayette High Health Academy.
Parents who have any questions about the Magnet Acadenies are urged to visit www.lafayettechoice.com or call (337) 521-7160.
Source: Changes Coming For LPSS Magnet Academies

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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BUGIS SELF-GUIDED TRAIL
This specially curated trail by Mercure Singapore Bugis lets you experience the must-see sights in this heritage enclave. Stroll through Singapore's arts and cultural district, Bugis-Bras Basah, weaving past a myriad of historical and cultural sites, trendy shopping malls and hip eateries.
Sri Krishnan Temple, 152 Waterloo Street
Start your trail at Waterloo Street, a true showcase of Singapore's multicultural society and religious harmony where you will find a Chinese temple and a Hindu temple co-exist beside. At 148 years old at the time of this article, this is one of the oldest Hindu temples. The classical South Indian Hindu temple stands impressive with colourfully painted statues greeting devotees at the main entrance. Spot deities with detailed carvings adorned with precious stones from India.
Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, 178 Waterloo Street
Situated right beside is the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho temple, one of Singapore's oldest and most visited Buddhist temples. This temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy, believed to bring good luck to worshippers. It was left undamaged during World War 2 while surrounding buildings were destroyed. Do not miss the statue of the Laughing Buddha, an iconic symbol of good luck at Waterloo Street. Stroke the Buddha's tummy for good luck and happiness. On the eve of Chinese New Year, join an overnight queue with thousands of devotees to enter the temple for an auspicious start to the New Year.
Rainbow Ice Cream Sandwich, mobile carts along Waterloo Street
Beat the heat! This is where you'd want to make a pit-stop for a uniquely Singaporean treat. At only $1, choose from a variety of flavours and eat your ice-cream sandwiched between a wafer or rainbow bread.
Albert Hawker Centre, 27 Queen Street
When lunch beckons: Stop by the ever-popular Albert Hawker Centre and be spoilt for choice with a diverse range of Singaporean staples. Affordable prices will make sure that you eat till your tummies are filled. Spot the snaking queues and you know the best stalls to check out. Some popular dishes include yong dou fu (chunky tofu pieces filled with prawn, pork and fish paste), lor mee (braised noodles), soya bean curd (smooth jelly) and Teochew fish soup.
Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Road
After lunch, get artsy with contemporary artworks at the Singapore Art Museum. This beautiful 19th century architectural exterior of a restored mission school will leave you in awe, before stepping into a world of contemporary art exhibits.
Bugis Street, 3 New Bugis Street
Come here for your shopping spree without breaking the bank. Popular with tourists and locals alike, Bugis Street was an attractive destination among British and American soldiers and sailors for its night life and street hawkers from the 1950s to 1980s. It is now a shopper's heaven where you can find trendy clothes and quirky souvenirs!Sin Tat Toys, 163 Rocher RoadBlast to the past at this nostalgic toy store selling childhood toys and games of all sorts that Singaporeans grew up with. Try the colourful chapteh (feathered shuttlecock), five stones and card games while navigating through rows of quirky looking trinkets.
Sultan Mosque, 3 Muscat Street
As we enter into the evening, make your way towards Kampong Glam, a Malay-Muslim enclave. Here you will find a treasure trove of trendy exotic restaurants, indie boutiques, traditional shop houses selling colourful textiles, and unique arts and crafts. Head over to Sultan Mosque, one of Singapore's most important places of worship for Muslims. Originally built for the first sultan of Singapore in 1824, the impressive building will have you looking closely at the gold coloured domes. Each dome base is decorated with glass bottles donated by poor Muslims who wanted to contribute in their own little way during construction of the mosque.
Haji Lane, Arab Street
One of the narrowest lanes in Singapore, Haji Lane is an artsy gem loved by hipster crowds. In the day, explore colourful rows of heritage Peranakan-style pre-war shop houses, charming cafes, fashion boutiques and add to your Instagram portfolio with the colourful graffiti wall murals. As night falls, it is the perfect place to unwind at a trendy bar with live music featuring indie local artists.


text:
The Plow Woman er en amerikansk stumfilm fra 1917 af Charles Swickard.

Medvirkende
 Mary MacLaren som Mary MacTavish
 Harry De More som Andy MacTavish
 Marie Hazelton som Ruth MacTavish
 Lee Shumway som Løytnant Jack Fraser
 Kingsley Benedict som Fraser

Referencer

Eksterne henvisninger

Stumfilm fra USA
Amerikanske film fra 1917

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Notes on U.S.-Venezuela Relations under Trump6 min read
Timothy M. Gill
Nov 30, 2016 | Analysis
Although U.S.-Venezuelan relations did not find their way onto the debate stage in the US presidential elections, we can think about how Trump might approach Venezuela based on his foreign policy statements. These statements have fluctuated between, on the one hand, challenging particular governments and aggressively targeting foreign threats, and, on the other hand, an "America First" policy wherein the U.S. would scale back its international commitments and focus on domestic issues.
Candidate Trump expressed criticism of the Venezuelan government on the campaign trail. Specifically, he stated that the next president "must stand in solidarity with all people oppressed in our hemisphere, and I will stand with the oppressed people of Venezuela yearning to be free." He has also asserted that while "Venezuela is a beautiful, vibrant, and resource-rich country … [it] has been run into the ground by socialists."
Trump has more clearly articulated his views on U.S.-Cuban relations, which might provide us with some indication of where U.S.-Venezuelan relations might be headed. He has generally promised to roll back normalization, more specifically stating that he will reverse the Obama administration's executive orders "unless the Castro Regime meets our demands. Those demands will include religious and political freedom for the Cuban people."
We might, then, expect Trump to take a harsher position on Venezuela than the Obama administration. While the latter indeed sanctioned several Venezuelan state officials and issued an executive order that labeled the country an "unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy" of the U.S., it has also sought to normalize relations between the two countries. On several recent occasions, high-ranking U.S. diplomats, including Secretary of State John Kerry and Under Secretary of State Tom Shannon, have met with President Maduro.
In addition to measures taken by the Obama administration, some have argued that it is quite likely that Trump will impose additional sanctions on a greater number of Venezuelan state elites. David Smilde has asserted that "populist leaders like Donald Trump usually find it helpful to create a foreign threat as the villain in their conspiracy theories" and that with "a weak and discredited government, Venezuela would be a very likely object of Donald Trump's attention." Luis Salamanca has also argued that we "can expect increased sanctions … [and] more international pressure in general" from the U.S. on Venezuela.
Some have also suggested that a Trump administration might wield additional tools of influence in Venezuela. Daniel Barker Flores, for instance, has pointed out that Trump has promised to place U.S. security interests above all else, and suggests we not underestimate his nationalism.
President Obama recently spoke in Peru with several of his Latin American counterparts at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. During a question-and-answer session, he said he does not "anticipate major changes in policy from the new administration." Obama also voiced a thinly veiled criticism of Venezuela, observing that "you're seeing some countries that are going backward rather than forwards … You can maintain order for a while with repressive nondemocratic governance, but it will rot from within. Over time, those governments fail and those economies fail."
Much of the Trump administration's policy towards Venezuela may hinge on his choice for Secretary of State. Although it is not yet clear who Trump will pick, several names have surfaced as potential choices, including former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Massachusetts Governor and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Indeed, all three individuals have openly criticized the Venezuelan government. In 2006, for instance, Ambassador Bolton strongly, and successfully, urged UN members to block Venezuela from attaining a UN Security Council seat. And, despite working for a law firm that lobbied on behalf of Citgo – the U.S.-based subsidiary of the Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA, former Mayor Giuliani has also criticized Venezuela. Romney, for his part, has openly deemed Venezuela a national security threat to the U.S.; stated, as early as 2007, that former President Chávez possessed dictatorial ambitions; and, in 2012, referred to Chávez as "a buffoon" that the U.S. should challenge, in part, through free trade agreements with regional partners.
In contrast with these hints of an escalating conflict though, Trump has also advocated for an "America First" policy that would prioritize domestic issues, such as trade and immigration control. In doing so, Trump has criticized the U.S. for acting as "the world's policeman" and a "big stupid bully … systematically ripped off by everybody." Keeping with this view, Trump has emphasized working with some current U.S. foes under his new administration.
Trump has indicated, for example, that he wants to repair and strengthen relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who currently has a tenuous relationship with the U.S. In addition, Trump has even expressed respect for the Russian strongman. Thomas Wright, for instance, has pointed out how Trump, in fact, possesses "a long-standing admiration for authoritarian strongmen" and repressive policies. These have included, for example, the Chinese government's crackdown on Tiananmen Square protestors and policies under Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Russia, of course, remains a key Venezuelan ally beyond the Latin American region. The two countries greatly increased trade under former President Chávez, who purchased large amounts of military vehicles and weapons from the Russian government, and even conducted military exercises alongside the Russian navy. As the Obama administration leaves office, Maduro indeed may try to leverage its relationship with Russia to improve relations between the U.S. and Venezuela.
While President Maduro has, on several occasions, referred to President-Elect Trump in less than flattering terms, the Venezuelan government quickly congratulated Trump on his victory, and Maduro asked Secretary of State John Kerry to pass on his personal congratulations during a phone call between Maduro and Kerry. During a recent televised broadcast, President Maduro further stated that he hopes that under the government of "Donald Trump, Venezuela will have better relations … and overcome … grave errors committed by George W. Bush which were sadly deepened by Obama."
What is clear is that President Maduro strongly desires positive relations with the U.S. Despite the small favorability boosts that he has received from lambasting the U.S. Empire in the wake of renewed sanctions and airing out critical remarks from U.S. state elites, Maduro seems to believe that working relations with the U.S. will provide him with some sort of international legitimacy amid the political-economic crisis facing the country.
To be sure, Trump appears more concerned with China, Mexico, Russia, and the Middle East. However, as the crisis intensifies in Venezuela, there can be no doubt that Venezuela will come to his attention sooner than later. Given Trump's own rhetoric on the campaign trail and his disposition towards Cuba, most seem to believe that Trump will approach Venezuela in a more aggressive manner than the Obama administration. However, as he has changed his tone on several issues throughout the course of the campaign and has encouraged working relations between the U.S. and Russia, Trump's approach is difficult to predict.
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NextUnhappy Christmas: Venezuelans Face the Holiday Season
World Politics Review: Guaido's Democratic Push Faces an Uncertain Future in Venezuela
Latin America Advisor Q&A: Will a Failed Plot in Venezuela Strengthen Maduro?
WBEZ Interview: Analyzing Venezuela's Upheaval
Time for Statesmanship II


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Home Health + Beauty New Study Shows Why Depression in Black Women Is Often Overlooked by...
New Study Shows Why Depression in Black Women Is Often Overlooked by Their Doctors
A December 2022 paper published in Nursing Research revealed that Black women are less likely to report classic symptoms of depression, such as sadness or hopelessness. Instead they're noting trouble sleeping, self-criticism, irritability, and an inability to experience pleasure.
Exposure to racism and other stressors increase the risk for depression in Black folks and other people of color. But for Black women — who are impacted by racism, sexism, and other forms oppression — depressive symptoms appear differently than in other groups and may go overlooked by doctors. A December 2022 paper published in Nursing Research revealed that Black women are less likely to report classic symptoms of depression, such as sadness or hopelessness. Instead they note trouble sleeping, self-criticism, irritability, and an inability to experience pleasure. This discovery — made by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and Columbia University School of Nursing — could mean Black women aren't getting the mental health care they need.
Depression is a serious mental illness that can impact how a person feels, thinks, or behaves. It can also lead to emotional and physical problems that make it difficult to function at work or at home.
Here's why depression in Black women might be overlooked by doctors
Changes in Appetite or Sleep
The illness is diagnosed by providers, based on symptoms reported by patients during an evaluation. Some other symptoms that are considered common include low mood, loss of interest in activities, and changes in appetite or sleep. While there are "common" symptoms, the reality is that depression appears uniquely for everyone.
With over 1,500 possible combinations of symptoms that meet the criteria for a depressive disorder, it's not unusual for it to be undertreated. But with most research on symptom variation having been conducted on white people, it makes it even more likely that depression will be missed among Black women and other people of color.
The Black Woman Data
Black women are particularly at risk for major depressive disorder — or clinical depression — due to often bearing societal burdens like poverty, single parenthood, and racial and gender discrimination.
The researchers examined data from 227 Black women who were screened for depression as part of the Intergenerational Impact of Psychological and Genetic Factors on Blood Pressure (InterGen) study — an undertaking that sought to understand the genetics, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to high blood pressure in Black mothers and children.
While the study results could be considered groundbreaking due to the lack of representation of Black women in previous research, the researchers caution against generalizing their findings as applicable to all Black women.
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When our pets come to our hospital to visit, we are passionate about making sure their stay is comfortable and as stress-free while we provide them extraordinary care. Our goal for our clients and patients is simple, we take care of our clients' pets the same way we take care of our own. We are dedicated to becoming your partner in your pet's health care, and we are driven to take exceptional care of our patients.


According to statistics, colon cancer each year kills about 40,000 people. Therefore, this type of cancer is a major concern for most people, although it is worth noting that it is colon cancer that in many cases has a favorable prognosis for the patient if the disease was detected at the initial stage of development and the treatment was started on time.
The first thing to note in the case of colon cancer is that there are no methods that could prevent the development of this disease with an absolute guarantee. Unfortunately, we do not have the opportunity to provide for all potentially harmful factors for our health and to protect ourselves from them. It is obvious that a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition will be of great benefit to our health.
Today we would like to talk about other recommendations that reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. These tips are simple enough, and each of us has the opportunity to implement them.
Well, you already wanted to test them in practice? For your health and peace of mind it is worth a try!
How much fiber goes into your body every day with food? After all, sometimes because of haste, we are forced to snack on the go and have supper by the fact that the first will fall under the arm. We buy semi-finished products and frozen foods, choose food with a high content of fats harmful to our health, salt, refined flour, which make digestion difficult.
Because of this, our liver gradually becomes filled with toxins, and the intestine ceases to cope with its basic functions. It is necessary to take a more responsible attitude to one's diet. It is very important that our body receives a sufficient amount of fiber: every day a person needs 25-35 g of this substance.
As you know, there are various fatty acids that are useful for our body. They can be found in olive oil, as well as in blue fish, for example, salmon. These products are indispensable elements of Mediterranean cuisine , which is considered to be the most useful in the world.
But there are other fats. Such fats are found in red meat, sugar, industrial baking and other products that we are familiar with. These fats are real enemies of our body, which provoke the development of many serious diseases, including cancer of the large intestine. Therefore, these products should be avoided.
Also it is worth remembering that when we eat a lot of fatty foods, for their digestion our body releases more bile acids. This causes irreparable harm to the health of the large intestine. Such products are really dangerous.
Have you ever tried to start a day with a tablespoon of olive oil with a couple drops of lemon juice? It is also very useful to drink on an empty stomach a glass of warm water with the addition of lemon juice. This will clear the body and get a good "dose" of antioxidants.
The most important thing is to approach this issue seriously, with a strong desire to make changes in our diet, increasing the number of antioxidantsconsumed . These substances strengthen our immunity, and also help to fight free radicals that provoke the development of cancer.
As a result of various studies, experts concluded that folic acid plays a very important role in the prevention of colon cancer.
Another name for folic acid is vitamin B9. This substance strengthens the cells of the digestive system, normalizes their functions. Therefore, we can safely say that folic acid strengthens the health of all organs of the digestive system, from the stomach to the large intestine.
Therefore, if you think that your body lacks this substance, try to find suitable food supplements. To do this, you need to seek advice from a medical specialist, he will tell you on what means it is better to stop your choice. Such supplements can always be found in pharmacies and convenience stores.
According to scientists and nutritionists, the likelihood of developing colon cancer is significantly reduced, if our body gets enough vitamin D . When we are faced with a deficiency of this vitamin, the risk of developing various diseases, including cancer of the large intestine , increases .
Sun rays. If possible, pamper yourself with a warm sun. Try to avoid sunlight from 12 to 15 hours, when they are more aggressive.
Milk, enriched with vitamin D, which you can meet on the shelves of some supermarkets.


Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Philippines military to occupy and fortify islands in the South China Sea, which the Southeast Asian republic lays claim to, in order to make a "strong point" amid its territorial dispute with China.
"It looks like everyone is making a grab for the islands there. So we better live on those that are still unoccupied. What's ours now, we claim it and make a strong point from there," Duterte told journalists at a press briefing that followed his visit to a military base located in the Philippine western Palawan province, Reuters reports.
"We tried to be friends with everybody but we have to maintain our jurisdiction now, at least the areas under our control," he added, as cited by AP. The president ordered the occupation of between nine and ten islands and shoals of the disputed Spratly archipelago located in the South China Sea, the largest of which is the Pagasa Island also known as Thitu.
"There are about nine or 10 islands there, we have to fortify," President Duterte said. "I must build bunkers there or houses and provisions for habitation."
The Philippine Defense Ministry has confirmed the information about the occupation plans. "The president wants facilities built such as barracks for the men, water [desalination] and sewage disposal systems, power generators (conventional and renewable), lighthouses, and shelters for fishermen," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, as cited by AP.
In the meantime, Duterte also said that he might visit the Pagasa Island on the Philippine Independence Day in June. "In the coming Independence Day, I may go to Pagasa Island to raise the flag there," he said during the press briefing.
The Philippines marks its 119th year of independence from more than three centuries of Spanish rule on June 12. The move could potentially provoke an angry reaction in Beijing, as the Pagasa Island is close to the Subi Reef, one of the numerous man-made islands that China built across the Spratly chain.
In late March, Duterte also said that he would invoke an international arbitration ruling issued by The Hague Tribunal in June 2016, which rejected China's claim that it has historic rights to most of the South China Sea.
However, the Philippines also worked to mend relations with China over the South China Sea territorial dispute after Duterte took office in June 2016. His latest move comes as the two sides are preparing to hold bilateral consultations on the disputes, with China offering to host the initial meeting in May.
In mid-March, Duterte already ordered his military to declare ownership of an area in the South China Sea but stressed that they should do it in a "friendly" way. At that time, he also said that the Philippines cannot match China's military might and has only diplomatic options in this dispute.
China has already built runways, aircraft hangars, radar sites and hardened surface-to-air missile shelters on its artificially created islands in the region, according to the photos analyzed by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
In response, China has called Washington's involvement in the dispute the "greatest" threat to the region. At the same time, Duterte repeatedly accused the US of not doing enough to ease tensions in the South China Sea and recently asked the US ambassador to the Philippines why Washington had not sent warships to stop China from building its artificial islands.