You can change your story

In many ways, we are what we believe ourselves to be. There is a lot of truth in the notion that "we are the stories we tell ourselves." Sometimes the story — that inner dialog — is not always a positive one. For many of us, the story is in fact a limiting one, a story of "playing it safe" or of accepting "mediocrity" out of fear of something even worse: unemployment for example. For others the story is even less inspiring, a story of self-doubt, insecurity, and low expectations. But we need not be married to our stories. Our past need not dictate our present or our future. Now, the point is not that we all should drop what we're doing and row across the oceans of the world. I look at Roz's example as more of a metaphor for the rest of us. Some people you know — maybe even you — are having thoughts similar to this: "I feel like there is a purpose in this life — I do not know what it is, but I'm pretty sure it's not ________ (current job, school, etc.)! If so, maybe Roz's story can inspire you to make a change, to create a new life rather than waiting for it to come to you.

by Garr Reynolds.

This is so inspiring! Change your inner dialogue and you can change your future. She confirms what I believe, every effort counts in saving the earth.

Saving Tekong's coastal greenery

NParks' pilot project to stem erosion of mangroves by waves from passing vessels
By Grace Chua

May 12, 2010

THE north-east coast of Pulau Tekong is being swept away by the sea, and taking a stretch of pristine mangroves with it.

To stem the erosion, the National Parks Board (NParks) is planting more mangroves in a pilot project on the military island off Singapore's east coast. And if it succeeds, the same methods could be used in other threatened coastal areas here.

The 92ha, 3km-long stretch of mangrove swamp is home to rare birds and mangrove trees. But strong waves from passing vessels have scooped out chunks of the coast to form horizontal berms (see graphic) held in place only by the mangrove roots. In 2006, NParks found that a number of trees had fallen along a 1.65km stretch of coastline. Another 1,300 were in danger of toppling.

It began collecting data on the site, and in February last year started work on modelling the area's wave movements and investigating the soil.

With development consultants Surbana, NParks designed a set-up of mud-filled bags, rocks, mangrove seedlings and poles to not only replace lost mangroves but also stop repeat erosion. NParks also plans to plant certain hardier species of mangroves farther out to sea to stymie the waves.

In their assessment, environmental consultants DHI assured that the project would not cause the coastline to creep outwards towards international boundaries, and there would be no cross-border physical or ecological impact. The site is just 760m from the Singapore-Malaysia boundary.

Construction is expected to begin in the middle of this year and take about 12 months. The same methods may one day be applied to other eroded areas like Sungei Buloh near Kranji.

'We hope this will be a good test-bedding site, though conditions might be different at different areas. But this is a good model for areas that have mangroves and are eroded,' said NParks' National Biodiversity Centre deputy director Lena Chan.

Even though the Tekong mangrove area is off-limits to the public, it remains an important part of Singapore's natural heritage and a source of genetic diversity, reminded Dr Chan.

National Institute of Education plant biochemist and mangrove expert Jean Yong said it was important to plant multiple tree species on such engineered structures to boost biodiversity.

The public can view the project's environmental impact assessment report till next month - by appointment with NParks - when a tender for the project will be put up.

caiwj@sph.com.sg

Lets Make Our World The Most Beautiful Home

Somehow I just like this song very much!

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Adult mortality rate worldwide 'has worsened'

Progress in helping people live longer being undone by Aids, smoking and obesity: Study

The study on adult mortality rates shows a widening gap between countries with the highest and lowest rates. -- ST FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON: Aids, smoking and obesity are reversing any progress made in helping people live longer around the world, with mortality rates worsening over the past 20 years in 37 countries, new research has found.

According to the study published yesterday in The Lancet medical journal, a survey from 1970 to this year found that there was a widening gap between countries with the highest and lowest premature death rates in adults aged 15 to 60.

Dr Christopher Murray of the University of Washington in Seattle and his colleagues wrote: 'Every year, more than 7.7 million children die before their fifth birthday; however, over three times that number of adults - nearly 24 million - die under the age of 60 years.'

The findings are in contrast to the trends in child and maternal mortality, where rates are mostly dropping worldwide. Health officials have long thought that if child deaths were decreasing and health systems were improving, adult deaths would similarly decline.

'Worldwide, the 1990s reversal of the trend in adult mortality is probably a result of the HIV pandemic and the sharp rise in adult mortality in countries of the former Soviet Union,' the researchers wrote.

'The prevention of premature adult death is just as important for global health policy as the improvement of child survival.'

The study found that men in Iceland and women in Cyprus have the lowest risk of dying worldwide.

The United States, where 60 per cent of adults are overweight or obese, slipped in overall rankings, from 34th in the world in female mortality and 41st in male mortality in 1990, to 49th for women and 45th for men this year - behind Chile, Tunisia and Albania. But mortality rates improved spectacularly in South Korea. They fell by 50 per cent over the same period.

Dr Murray and his colleagues used a complex formula to calculate the probability that someone aged 15 will die before reaching 60 years. They believe their method paints a more accurate picture than methods used by the United Nations, and can be used to compare countries with populations of different ages. They found that in the 40 years since 1970, adult mortality risk fell by 34 per cent among women and 19 per cent in men globally.

The researchers said: 'One of the most striking patterns is the rapid decline in adult female mortality in South Asia. In 1970 this was the region with the highest risk of female mortality and by this year, (the risk of dying before age 60) had fallen by 56 per cent.'

But some places had notable reversals in rank, including the former Soviet Union. Russia has fallen from 43rd place for female mortality in 1970 to 121st.

'Research shows that across countries, inequality in adult mortality has grown to the point where adult men in Swaziland - the country with the worst mortality rate - now have a probability of premature death that is nine times the mortality rate of the best country, Cyprus,' Dr Murray's team wrote.

Dr Murray said he wanted to study adult mortality globally because so much emphasis goes into helping very young children survive.

REUTERS, ASSOCIATED PRESS