Urgent appeal by UN food agency for funds

March 25, 2008

WFP says rations will be cut unless donor nations give $700m by end of April
LONDON - THE UN agency charged with relieving world hunger has launched an 'extraordinary emergency appeal' for at least US$500 million (S$700 million), it was reported yesterday.

A letter sent to donor countries by the World Food Programme (WFP) at the weekend said the money was required by the end of April, otherwise it would have to reduce food rations because of rapidly increasing commodity prices, the Financial Times (FT) reported.
'We urge your government to be as generous as possible in helping us to close this gap - which stood at US$500 million on Feb 25 and has been growing daily,' WFP executive director Josette Sheeran wrote in the letter obtained by the FT.
She added that if sufficient money was not received by May 1, the WFP may have to cut 'the rations for those who rely on the world to stand by them during times of abject need'.
The letter also quoted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, who said: 'This is the new face of hunger, increasingly affecting communities that had previously been protected.'

Food prices have been spiralling higher globally because of rising population, strong demand from developing countries, the use of certain foods in biofuels to combat climate change and the increasing frequency of floods and droughts as a result of climate change.

The FT, citing unnamed officials, said the WFP's funding gap was now between US$600 million and US$700 million.
The WFP provided nearly 88 million people in 78 countries with food aid in 2006.

Echoing the concerns of the UN experts, the head of Nestle, the world's biggest food and beverage company, warned in Zurich on Sunday that the growing use of crops such as wheat and corn to make biofuels is putting world food supplies in peril.

'If, as predicted, we look to use biofuels to satisfy 20 per cent of the growing demand for oil products, there will be nothing left to eat,' chairman and chief executive Peter Brabeck-Letmathe said.

While the competition is driving up the price of maize, soya and wheat, land for cultivation is becoming rare and water sources are also under threat, he said.

UN food expert Jean Ziegler had made an appeal at the UN General Assembly that a five-year moratorium be imposed on all initiatives to develop biofuels in order to avert what he said might be 'horrible' food shortages.

But diplomats from countries pursuing such fuels, such as Brazil and Colombia, disputed his forecast.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

This article shows you another example of international cooperation. Remember we learn about strategies to alleviate uneven development in the world? World Food Programme (WFP) is an international organisation under United Nations, focusing on fighting hunger in the world. With rising food prices due to the many factors mentioned above, WFP is appealing for more funds especially from the DCs to help support the LDCs. With rising fuel prices, many LDCs also tend to use plant crops as fuel which are also food for the people. This is another reason why there is increasing shortage of food. As you study more and more, you'll realise that the topics on development and food are deep and complex and therefore very interesting.

Earthlings

In response to 4N2's request, I'm putting a link to the documentary called "Earthlings".
Today we were talking of the changing preference of food in DCs and LDCs during ASLP, and I don't know how we went into the topic on vegetarian diet. I told the class about this documentary and they were very interested, so here is the synopsis:
"Earthlings is a documentary about factory farming and mankind's dependence on animals for food, clothing, entertainment and use in experimentation.
With an in-depth study into pet stores, puppy mills and animal shelters, as well as factory farms, the leather and fur trades, sports and entertainment industries, and finally the medical and scientific profession, Earthlings uses hidden cameras and footage to chronicle the day-to-day practices of some of the largest industries in the world which rely on animals for profit."

For pupils who cannot take violence, watch this with caution because some of the images can be disturbing.

For those who want to find out why eating meat is a threat to the environment, you can read more from here.

Case targets obesity and unhealthy fast food

17 March 2008

It wants fast food chains to help kids by putting healthy options on menus
SINGAPORE'S consumer watchdog has joined an international effort to stop kids from digging into junk food, a push that comes as people here get fatter.
The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) said it will start meeting fast food restaurants this week to urge them to promote healthy eating among children by offering more healthy options.
The drive is part of a worldwide effort by non-profit group Consumers International, which includes consumer groups in more than 115 countries and has representatives in the United Nations and World Health Organisation.
The group wants a ban on the use of cartoon characters, celebrity tie-ins and free gifts aimed at luring children to eat junk food.
Instead of calling outright for a ban on fast-food advertising, Case wants to engage the popular chains on adding healthier choices to menus.
'The first will be McDonald's restaurants,' said Mr Seah Seng Choon, executive director of Case. 'We will be meeting its representatives this week.'

The nudge from Case comes as Singaporean waistlines bulge: 6.9 per cent of adults were obese in 2004, up from 5.1 per cent in 1992. Similarly, 3.6 per cent of children were found to be obese last year, up from 2.8 per cent in 1994, according to Health Promotion Board statistics.
Obesity could become an epidemic, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told reporters yesterday.
The problem here is not as serious as in the United States and Europe, but he added: 'In 10 to 15 years, it can become a big problem very fast so we have to watch out.'
He was at Walk with Case, a World Consumer Rights Day event that attracted more than 5,000 people.
Health officials here are planning campaigns to raise awareness about obesity, its side effects, and healthy food choices.
Topping the list of unhealthy fare are high-fat, high-salt and high-sugar items such as french fries, deep-fried foods, soft drinks and candy bars.
Over-indulging can lead to obesity, a major cause of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Worldwide, about 22 million children under the age of five are estimated to be obese or overweight.
McDonald's told The Straits Times that aside from its hamburgers and french fries, it already offers customers veggies and low-fat foods.
Ms Linda Ming, its senior communications manager, said its Happy Meal choices include options like apple and corn and aside from fizzy drinks, it also sells apple juice with no sugar added, low-fat yoghurt, and low-fat, high-calcium milk.
In all efforts to beat obesity, a constant message is: Moderation is key.
Mr Khaw shared how he practises restraint with that lard-laden Singapore favourite, char kway teow.
'I eat char kway teow too - at most three to four times a year,' he said. 'But if you eat it five to 10 times a month, then I think there would be trouble.'
He also said healthy eating must start with education, especially at home.
'If the parents love to eat junk food, then the children will follow suit. Awareness must begin at home,' he said.
juditht@sph.com.sg

Singapore is an affluent society. Therefore health problems such as obesity, heart diseases, diabetes (Rich man's illnesses) are common because we've too much good food. The lack of nutrient intake has nothing to do with not having enough but rather poor choices of food. Our children are eating all kinds of junk food such as fast food, potato chips, ice-creams etc. Are you one of them? What do you usually eat? Are the food healthy for you? Hey, do a poll and find out what most of you eat?

PowerPoint Slides Uploaded

Dear CCSS pupils,

I've finally uploaded some of the PowerPoint slides onto the E-learning portal. The files are in pdf format, so you need to have pdf reader to access the slides. Do let me know what other slides I need to upload. I suggest you read from the PowerPoint slides and not print them out because the PowerPoint slides are not notes, they are just guides to learning the topic and concepts. If you really need to print out, please print in the format of 6 to a page. Save papers please.

Core-Periphery theory in cartoons

Source A
Source B

These are two cartoons about uneven development in the world. What do you think the cartoonists are trying to say? Can you see the core and periphery theory in the cartoons? Do write in the "comments" to let me know your views. Don't forget to put down your names so that I know who you are.

Women still poorly paid, says new study

WORKING FOR HER MONEY: A Ugandan woman coils recycled paper at a weekly meeting of the Ushindi Women's Initiative in Kampala, Uganda. Today is International Women's Day, marking an ongoing battle to ensure equal rights for half the globe's population on issues such as work, voting and abortion. -- PHOTO: AFP

Global labour body finds women likely to be in poor jobs and UN calls for better funding.

GENEVA - WOMEN are in the workplace like never before but they are still more vulnerable than men to unemployment and low-paid jobs, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said yesterday, ahead of International Women's Day today.
The report comes even as the United Nations drew attention to violence against women and called for nations to spend more on their pressing needs, besides jobs and health care.
'Investing in women helps us fight all the challenges of our time - from poverty, hunger and illiteracy to environmental degradation and disease, including HIV/AIDS,' UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said during a meeting of a UN commission on gender equality and advancement of women on Thursday.
UN officials have also been urging nations to mark Women's Day with renewed efforts to end rape, forced prostitution and other violence against women.
Ms Joanne Sandler, acting director of the UN Development Fund for Women, has called on member nations to seize the chance 'to break new ground in the struggle for women's rights'.
Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon also lent her star power by pitching a fund-raising drive by US cosmetics giant Avon for the purpose.
But, violence is not the only problem facing women. The ILO report said women are more likely to be stuck in low productivity jobs which are poorly paid and precarious even after being fairly educated.
'More women have access to education and are entering the labour market later,' said economist Dorothea Schmidt, one of the report's authors. The report points out that female labour activity reached 52.5 per cent against 78.8 per cent for men last year, but female labour is not enough to pull communities out of poverty.
Women in sub-Saharan Africa have the highest labour activity rate worldwide at 62.6 per cent but poverty remains widespread, the report found. 'This shows a severe dysfunction of the labour market in the region,' the ILO said.
On the positive side, a report released at the UN said that the number of women serving in parliaments around the world crept up to a new record this year.
'It is progress, but if you ask me it is very slow progress,' said Mr Anders Johansson, the Secretary-General of Inter-Parliamentary Union.
'If you try to look beyond, down the road to see when do we reach gender equality in parliament, it is still very, very far off into the distant future, unfortunately.'
ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

One of the millennium goals is to achieve gender equality. Women in many countries especially the LDCs are still a largely disadvantaged group. I think girls in Singapore are really blessed. We're given equal opportunity to education as well as jobs. Though in some situations, there is still discrimination, it doesn't really matter. Girls, no fear, speak up for your rights and independence.

How are you spending your 1 week break?

We're all so glad with this one week break, right? Let's take this time to rest well and take stock of what we've been doing for term I. Last weekend, I totally just slacked and did nothing. Meet up with some friends, read some books, surf the net, chatted with my friends in HK and SH. Absolutely no work and I think I deserve it.

After the weekend is work again because I've to set papers, attend meetings, plan programme for next term and also do make-up lessons for Sec 3.

How are you spending your 1 week break? Well, do have lots of fun but also do not neglect your studies, especially the Sec 4s. It's a good time to consolidate your learning. File your notes and assignments, make notes, read a book, go exercise, catch up with friends etc. Get fully recharged for another busy term ahead. OK, adios!