There’s something about St. Albert’s Connie Stacey, founder, owner and “mad scientist” at Growing Greener … her buoyancy, enthusiasm and intelligence.
The 42- year-old mother of two young’uns lights up a room with her presence.
Born in Newfoundland, raised in Fort McMurray, Connie has invented, developed and is now selling the Grengine™™ 1000 Ultra-Lite, the world’s first battery-powered, light-weight, no-noise, no-fumes portable generator … that will last for days without a recharge.
When re-charging is needed, it can be done back at an electrical outlet or via a solar panel.
Other battery-powered generators are on the market, but most are powered by one big, heavy rechargeable battery with limited hours of operation.
Growing Greener’s secret is a patent-pending battery pack design, a novel method of stacking and interlocking light lithium-ion battery packs under the Grengine™ 1000.
The stacked battery packs work as one, giving the Grengine™ enough power capacity (1200 watts) to handle the electricity load of a small RV for a weekend, to jump-start a car battery, to run a refrigerator and a freezer for days in the event of a power outage.
Industrially, the Grengine™ 1000 could be used by tradespeople to quietly charge small-tool battery packs at work sites without power outlets.
Three years ago, Connie’s kids were rudely woken up in their stroller by the racket (and pollution) from a gas/diesel fueled portable generator. The former IT project manager started thinking about cleaner, greener alternatives.
To publicize a crowd-funding Indiegogo campaign, the Grengine™ 1000 was introduced to the public this past week.
Stacey has done the near-impossible. In those three years, with a very small team, she developed a revolutionary technology solution, designed and built prototypes, started manufacturing and has a marketing campaign appealing to both environmental modernists and no-nonsense building trades.
Much of this comes from Stacey’s power of persuasion: People believe in her – her vision, her leadership and her ability to rally others to her cause. Through family, friends and personal savings, about $700,000 has been invested so far into Grengine™ generator development.
The just-launched crowd-funding campaign - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/Grengine™-an-evolution-in-portable-power#/ - is a way of Growing Greener’s first round of “angel” funding without giving up ownership to institutional or individual investors.
Stacey needs to raise another $1 million to move the Grengine™ 1000 into mass production and to start producing the Grengine™ 4000 - pumping out four times the wattage of the 1000 and competing head-to-head with industrial diesel generators.
It’s tough to find flaws with this revolutionary product, but it is moving into what is known as the “valley of death” – the period where millions are needed to bring a new product to market, with no guarantee of success.
Competition: Battery-powered generators now on sale, like Goal Zero’s Yeti, are heavier than the Grengine™ with less battery life.
Durability: Grengine™ technology gives its battery packs a very long life - six to seven years if used continually, 10 years if intermittent.
The Grengine™ has a slightly higher upfront cost, but is cheaper to run.
Marketing and presentation: The Grengine™ is sleek and attractive. A realistic North American sales and marketing plan is underway.
All going well - and with any startup company, so much can go wrong – Connie foresees the Grengine™ and its future models being generator industry leaders, with a line of other products – lawnmowers, water pumps – using the same stackable battery packs. In the Third World, the Grengine™ can provide solar-powered electricity without wires.
What’s in it for Edmonton, if Growing Greener becomes an established, successful company?
A new, high-tech company with 100 to 200 knowledge-based employees would be headquartered here, with as much local manufacturing as is economically feasible.
(For cost reasons, current production is being done in China.)
“A silent, pollution-free, powerful, light-weight, reliable generator, using long-lasting stacked batteries that can be re-charged from the grid or by solar panels,” says Stacey with a grin.
“What is there not to like?”
tap here to see other videos from our team.


Question 1. Who determines if there is a Human Pandemic? Would USDA notify state agencies when pandemic procedures can be instituted or would it be left to each state agency to determine when to implement procedures?
Question 2. What processes can be delayed if WIC staff or clients are seriously impacted?
CERTIFICATION AND ISSUANCE OF FOOD INSTRUMENTS
Question 1. Can a state agency request approval to issue WIC food instruments for 6 months to participants in order to decrease the number of participants coming in to WIC clinics in a pandemic flu situation?
Question 2. Can a state agency temporarily reduce the frequency with which participants are required to be at the clinic?
Question 3. What accommodations are available to WIC participants to use their food instruments if they or a family member are under voluntary quarantine?
Question 1: Are masks and respirators an allowable WIC expense?
Question 2: Can WIC funds be used to purchase the H1N1 vaccine?
Question 3: Can WIC pay for other costs related to the H1N1 vaccine effort?
Question 4: Can WIC staff be used to administer the H1N1 vaccine?
Question 5: If a state agency is using a time study to show activities, how is the time spent on the H1N1 activities reported?


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Cancers of the kidney account for less than 4% of all new cancer cases found in a single year in the United States. Still, about 15 out of every 100,000 men and women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with kidney or renal pelvis cancer in a single year. That is more than 63,000 people in 2015 alone. Fortunately, more than 72% of those diagnosed will still survive 5 years later.
Kidney and renal pelvis cancer occurs almost twice as frequently in men than in women, and is more predominant in African Americans and American Indian/Alaska Natives than in Hispanics or Caucasians. It is most frequently diagnosed in adults ages 55-64 years.
The most common type of kidney cancer in adults is renal cell carcinoma, which forms in the lining of small tubes in the kidney that filter blood and remove waste. Kidney cancer that forms in the kidney center where urine collects is known as transitional cell cancer of the renal pelvis. Wilms tumor is a specific type of renal cancer that occurs in young children.
Kidney cancer in early stages does not cause pain. It may be found when a patient has an x-ray or ultrasound for a separate symptom, such as blood in the urine; pain, pressure, or a lump in the side or back; anemia; high blood pressure; fatigue, recurrent fever with no obvious sign of infection; or in men, rapid vein enlargement clustering (varicocele) around a testicle.
Kidney cancer is relatively rare, so routine screening is not advised. However, people at increased risk for developing kidney cancer, such as those with a family history of the disease, may be advised to undergo imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scan to search for any signs of early stage kidney cancer. Blood and urine tests may help suggest kidney cancer, but a biopsy, or removal of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist, is required to confirm a diagnosis.
Imaging tests that can help measure the size and location of kidney tumors include standard x-rays, x-rays with a dye medium that highlights the renal area, or intravenous pyelogram (IVP)s, bone scans, CT scans, and contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. For renal pelvic cancer, cystoscopy or nephro-ureteroscopy may be helpful in removing cell samples or very small tumors.
Surgery to remove tumors may be the only treatment required for kidney cancer. A partial nephrectomy removes a tumor from the kidney but preserves kidney function. Radical nephrectomy removes the entire kidney and surrounding tissue. If nearby lymph nodes are also removed, the procedure is a radical nephrectomy with lymph node dissection. If cancer has spread to an adrenal gland, an adrenalectomy (removal of the adrenal gland and parts of the related blood vessels) is also performed. In some cases, robotic-assisted surgery or laparoscopic surgery (making several small incisions through the abdomen) may result in reduced post-operative pain and shorter healing times.
Radiofrequency ablation procedures insert a needle with an electrical current directly into a kidney tumor to destroy cancer cells. During cryosurgery, a physician uses CT or ultrasound for guidance to insert a metal probe through a small incision to freeze cancer cells.
Radiation therapy is rarely used as a first-line treatment for kidney cancer because of the potential damage that can occur to healthy kidney tissue. It is more likely to be explored if surgery is not an option, or to relieve symptoms of kidney cancer that has spread to bone or brain tissue. External beam radiation may cause skin irritation, fatigue, and diarrhea. Internal radiation therapy using implanted radioactive seeds may also cause bleeding, infection, or risk of injury to nearby healthy tissue.
Chemotherapy for kidney cancer may be given on a specific schedule orally or through the bloodstream. Newer drugs, such as a combination of fluorouracil, gemcitabine, and capecitabine, may temporarily shrink tumors, but kidney cancer is often resistant to chemotherapy. Wilms tumor and transitional cell carcinoma are more likely to respond to chemotherapy than other types of kidney cancer. Side effects during treatment may include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, risk of infection, hair loss, loss of appetite, and diarrhea.
Immunotherapy, or biologic therapy, boosts the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer and has been shown effective in treating some kidney cancers. Interleukin-2 is a special hormone called a cytokine, which is produced by white blood cells and helps destroy cancer cells. It is sometimes used to treat advanced kidney cancer, but can only be administered in high doses by experts in a clinical setting because of its potential for serious side effects. Alpha-interferon is another type of immunotherapy used to treat kidney cancer that has spread, or metastasized. Immunotherapy may be combined with chemotherapy.
Targeted therapy identifies specific genes, proteins, or tissue environments that promote cancer growth and survival, and blocks those targets to inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells. Drugs that stop or slow cancer growth by “starving” the tumor by stopping angiogenesis, the creation of new blood vessels, are called anti-angiogenesis therapies. Clear cell kidney cancer has been associated with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are anti-angiogenesis drugs that help block the VEGF protein, which promotes development of new blood vessels. Other anti-angiogenesis drugs have shown promise for metastatic renal carcinoma and other types of kidney cancers.
Clinical trials are currently exploring immunotherapy approaches using cancer vaccines to boost the immune system as well as checkpoint inhibitors that use antibodies to stimulate molecules found on the surface of immune cells that are programmed to destroy cancer cells. Other ongoing studies are looking at better ways to diagnose and treat kidney cancers at every stage.
A 2015 study in theJournal of the American Medical Association Oncologyshowed that measuring protein levels in urine samples may help doctors identify the disease before it has spread. The kidney cancer-specific biomarkers aquaporin-1 and perlipin-2 combined were more than 95% accurate in detecting early-stage kidney cancers in a study of 720 patients at a St. Louis hospital. The patients required abdominal CT scans but were not suspected of having kidney cancer.
Find support, news, research, and more at the Kidney Cancer Association, an international charity created to eradicate death and suffering from renal cancers.

domain: medical


We R Winning
Doing what you love inspires. A simple statement that stands true in every walk of life. We R Winning is a film produced by Todd Blubaugh in conjunction with TwinLine motorcycles which screened earlier this year at The One Motorcycle Show in Portland Oregon. Through a series of interviews we are introduced…
Doing what you love inspires. A simple statement that stands true in every walk of life. We R Winning is a film produced by Todd Blubaugh in conjunction with TwinLine motorcycles which screened earlier this year at The One Motorcycle Show in Portland Oregon. Through a series of interviews we are introduced to a group of guys who took a chance by following a dream to do what they love and thankfully all succeeding in doing so…and what makes the stories so good is that they all make a living from building motorcycles. The film is packed with loads of great footage and good people who want to share their passion with the hope that perhaps they will inspire others to follow their own dreams.
Check out the trailers and hopefully you get a chance to view the entire film soon.
“Taking risks is important. Without risk life drags on into amindless web of routines where the vitality of hope is slowly sucked from our memory. It’s not long before we are deceived into settling for less of a life than what is actually achievable. I’m always grateful to hear a tale of ordinary people freeing themselves from these illusions. We should all make an effort to have a story like this someday. We R Winning is proud to present an inspiring film about a group of friends overcoming the uncertainties that keeps people from doing what they love.”
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During this week’s edition of Sunday Screening, we feature new motorcycle videos from the US, Japan and France. First up is a custom Honda CB750 by first time builder Brent Bekker with…Continue Reading
Workhorse Speedshop attempts a land speed record on the frozen surface of the world’s deepest lake and we join the Fuel Motorcycles crew on their El Gringo adventure. Here’s another pair of…Continue Reading


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🇯🇵 Sept. 27, 2019
Asia Sept. 27, 2019
Dragon Quest 1, 2, 3 Collection
A collection of the first 3 dragon quest games planned for release on the Nintendo Switch. No western release was announced but Square Enix Asia listed an English option for the game.

domain: entertainment


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And I Am Telling You
I have never been someone to deny my feminine side, and I can appreciate a power ballad as much as the next person. I love a Torch Song too, though I don’t often go for songs from musicals. There are some exceptions though, and this is most definitely one of them. In 1981, ‘Dreamgirls’ opened on Broadway to generally positive reviews. It eventually received world-wide recognition, and was made into a film of the same name in 2006. The stellar cast of the film included Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, and the talented newcomer, Jennifer Hudson. The theatrical production is still touring to this day; a testament to how good it is.
The story is a thinly-disguised biopic of The Supremes, with Beyonce in the ‘role’ of Diana Ross, and Jennifer Hudson playing a character similar to Mary Wilson. The largely black cast of both stage and screen adaptations give their all, with the result that even the film feels like a stage show. The music covers many styles, and is all quite good. However, one song literally steals the show. Realising that her lover is deserting her for her best friend, Effie (Jennifer Hudson in the film) pleads with him not to go, in the form of this spine-tingling song. Covered by almost every female singer I could name (and by many men too), the definitive version is performed by Jennifer Holliday, from the Broadway production. However, the clip of this is not great, so I am offering the Jennifer Hudson version, from the 2006 film. For anyone who has ever had a broken heart. Tissues at the ready.


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Seaweeds of the Northwest Atlantic by NH Agricultural Experiment Station researcher Arthur Mathieson, professor of marine plant biology at UNH, and Clinton Dawes, university research professor emeritus at the University of South Florida, documents more than 500 types of seaweed and represents more than 40 years of research on Northwest Atlantic seaweeds.
A project that took seven years, the...
Our brothers and sisters shape who we are and how we relate to others. Corinna Jenkins Tucker, a professor in UNH's Human Development and Family Studies Department, aims to understand the role of conflict in these powerful, lasting relationships.
Long-time New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station researcher Dr. Stacia Sower, professor emeritus of molecular and biochemical neuroendocrinology, recently gave the prestigious Bargmann-Scharrer Lecture at the quadrennial meeting of the International Congress of Comparative Endocrinology.
Considered the pinnacle lecture of the discipline of comparative endocrinology, the Bargmann-Scharrer...
New UNH research inspired by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens will help scientists measure, and thus predict the movement of, tiny particles such as ash from volcanic eruptions.
“Tiny volcanic ash particles enter the atmosphere and can be transported long distances causing all kinds of problems, from becoming an aviation hazard to affecting respiratory health for both humans and animals,”...
At the UNH Woodman Horticultural Research Farm, a facility of the NH Agricultural Experiment Station, a team of researchers led by geneticist Tom Davis are investigating the potential use of a wild, weedy, locally adapted Chenopodium species as a breeding partner with quinoa in an effort to "re-domesticate" quinoa into a form suitable for crop production under Northern New England’s growing...

domain: news


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Willie Nelson announced the lineup for his annual 4th of July Picnic, Friday. And there’s a twist. He’ll be performing on the pitch of a near brand new soccer stadium.
Nelson is keeping his picnic somewhat close to his home in the Texas Hill Country. He’ll be performing at Q2 Stadium in north Austin. That’s the newish home of MLS franchise Austin F.C. Matthew McConaughey is a part-owner of the club. And he welcomed the news that Nelson and friends will be the stars of the venue’s first-ever concert.
“There’s no one better to kick off our first-ever concert than with the one and only living legend, and a local to Austinites, Willie Nelson,” McConaughey said.
Nelson will be joined by a ton of his singing friends who happen to be country music stars. The official Willie Nelson Instagram account posted about the 4th of July details:
“We’re excited to announce Willie Nelson’s Annual 4th of July Picnic & Fireworks is coming to Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX! Come join Willie Nelson & Family, Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, Brothers Osborne, Midland, Charley Crockett, Allison Russell, Micah Nelson, Steve Earle and Asleep at the Wheel.”
Willie Nelson Has Missed His 4th of July Picnic Crowd
Willie Nelson offered a simple message about his 4th of July picnic.
“I’m so happy to be bringing back my annual 4th of July Picnic for the first time in two years,” Nelson said in a statement. “Come on down. We missed you.”
Q2 Stadium, which opened last summer, seats 20,738 for soccer. It’ll likely seat up to 25,000 for the Willie Nelson 4th of July picnic. The soccer stadium staff likely will begin changing the configuration several days before the event. The grass will be covered. Nelson and the other acts will perform in the south end of the stadium, underneath the scoreboard.
Willie Nelson hosted his first 4th of July picnic in 1973 at a ranch in Dripping Springs, which is to the southwest of Austin. He’s kept most of the picnics at locations around Texas, although he has held them outside the Lone Star State.
The last in-person picnic was in 2019. And the last five were held on the grounds of the massive Circuit of the Americas race track in southeast Austin. That’s the site of the U.S. Grand Prix Formula One, as well as a spring event for NASCAR.


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Sustainable Development Goals, Sports and Physical Activity: The Localization of Health-Related Sustainable Development Goals Through Sports in China: A Narrative Review
Authors Dai J, Menhas R
Received 23 April 2020
Accepted for publication 28 July 2020
Published 3 September 2020 Volume 2020:13 Pages 1419—1430
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Professor Marco Carotenuto
Jianhui Dai,1 Rashid Menhas2
1School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Research Center of Sport Social Sciences, School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
Correspondence: Rashid Menhas
Research Center of Sport Social Sciences, School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China
Abstract: Sport has been recognized as an essential tool for the implementation of the SDGs by The Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. The Chinese government has launched a Healthy China 2030 plan in response to the health-related SDGs. The Chinese government has introduced different kinds of measures under Healthy China 2030 plan to achieve health-related SDGs through sport and physical activity. The Healthy China program is compatible with SDGs regarding health, sport, and physical activity. After introducing the program with sustainable built environment intervention for sport and physical activity, the elderly population of China is participating in sport and physical activity to improve the national fitness level and prevent NCDs. Sport is playing a vital role in preventing NCDs in the shape of increasing physical activity among the Chinese people. Sports and physical activity play a crucial role in the implementation of health-related SDGs and further help in the achievement of “Healthy China” 2030 goal. China’s localization policies for the realization of SDGs have a global impact through glocalization in the BRI participant’s countries and supporting them to make their public health system secure and promoting global health governance.
Keywords: Healthy China, built environment, NCDs, elderly population, glocalization
In this paper, we analyze how physical activity and sports are helpful in achieving a healthy society under the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The SDGs introduced by the UN in 2015 and replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The SDGs are a multidimensional strategy that focuses on socioeconomic and environmental development in a coordinated way. The goals of the SDGs are universally applicable and further provide the basis for global health development.1 The UN introduced a new set of goals in September 2015 for the guidance of global health development.2 Health promotion is the component of all the SDGs in contrast to the MDGs. The UN acknowledged Sport as a vital promoter and facilitator of SDGs. The agenda 2030 for sustainable development and SDGs summit of the UN was indicated sport as an essential contributor in every SDG.3 Physical activity and sport are significantly crucial for the improvement of health and wellbeing to achieve the MDGs. Physical activity and sports can help prevent and treat any world’s leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Regular physical activity outcome shows that people who participate in the sport and physical activity have social, physical, and mental wellbeing benefits.4
The Sustainable Development Plan 2030 is acknowledged sport as “an important and cost-effective enabler” for the achievement of SDGs globally. Sport provides a “peaceful and soft way” for vital developmental actions such as sustainable environment development, education, and health promotions as mentioned in the Figure 1.
Figure 1 Sports contribution in vital development actions.
The post-2015 development agenda on sport for development shows that SDGs provide several opportunities to sport for development such as;
- The sport could establish skills and toolkits that play a substantial role in independent and healthy living and contribute to earnings-generating practices and economic participation (SDG1).
- Sport may encourage poverty eradication and raise funds and foster alliances for that aim (SDG 1).5
- Sport may stimulate global food production, food protection, a balanced diet, and organic farming. Sporting enterprises should set a precedent by purchasing food from liable suppliers and mitigating the effects of food waste (SDG 2).
- Curriculum programs focused on sports will seek to transform behavior for a sustainable society (SDG 2).6
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 would obviously assist with investment in policies to promote walking, biking, sports, outdoor recreation, and play. The physical activities policy interventions have multiplicative healthcare and socioeconomic benefits. They would lead directly to SDG3 (wellness and good health), and also other goals, including SDG2, for example (ending malnutrition in all aspects of health); SDG4 (education for quality); SDG5 (equality between men and women); SDG8 (decent job and economic development); SDG9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure); SDG10 (reduced inequality).
Sports and Physical Activity for Global Health and Sustainable Development
Multidimensional new approaches for health promotion have been developed and ended the past few spans. These novel methods must base upon multilevel integrated interventions. Through enabling healthy environments through community involvement, reorientation of health services and public policies are the main emphasis to promote health and well-being.3,7 Figure 2 shows the SDGs which are linked with health promotion, sports, and physical activity;
Figure 2 Health, sport, and physical activity-related SDGs.
At present, a comprehensive strategy to promote health is the establishment of healthy settings with various social and health interventions.8 The initiative of healthy cities has attracted much attention to health promotion through built environment intervention. The Shanghai Consensus on safe communities was embraced by the 9th Global Health Promotion Conference of 2016, demonstrating the close connection between smart urban growth and wellbeing.9 The observations made under the healthy cities intervention in Colombia and Chile reported that healthy cities are significantly contributing to health promotion under the SDGs.10 Health infrastructure, which includes built environment interventions for physical activity and sports, are also playing an essential role in the reduction of physical inactivity and the global burden of disease. Sedentary death syndrome is a significant cause of worldwide premature millions of death every year, which is the result of physical inactivity.11 The major actual of death is poor nutrition and physical inactivity.12
Most of the incurable diseases are regulated by evidence-based medicine and converted into disorders throughout the lifespan, as in typical cases of diabetes and renal terminal insufficiency. Acute bacterial infections, which dominate morbidity in the old days, were usually treated successfully within a few weeks. In comparison to these, chronic diseases brought long-term strain to both the patients and the community. Malignant diseases present especially daunting medical conditions with their diverse treatment approaches. Cancer leaves a patient’s lasting footprint in terms of low survival rates, reduced quality of life, and ability to function.13 According to the SDGs, there are three pillars to promote good health; good governance, health literacy, and healthy cities. Knowledge, attitude, and beliefs play a vital role in the management of NCDs under health literacy. According to SDG 4, education and an effective education system that includes health literacy critical for a healthy society. In the context of health literacy, a study on dementia literacy reported that community health education programs play a significant role in enhancing people’s awareness of different diseases.14
The Relevance of SDGs with Sport, Physical Activity and Universal Health
The Inter-Agency and SDG Indicators Group announced a total of 232 monitoring indicators to monitor and evaluate progress by the Member States, and 50 indicators related to health. Several initiatives to track global progress in health-related SDGs have been initiated, including the SDGs’ monitoring of health.15,16 Global urbanization and advanced technology trends, as well as related social, lifestyle and cultural change, have led to significant declines in physical activity, contributing mainly to a health system crisis and increasing the role of sports and sporting activities in delivering critical health benefits of physical activity.17,18 The Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–30 of WHO and the Kazan Action Plan 2017 of UNESCO is introduced as a global framework for sport, physical activity, and physical education under the umbrella of SDGs. A defined, interdependent, multidisciplinary approach is needed to achieve the set of objectives and targets.19 NCDs are the result of physical inactivity, which is associated with further disabilities and contributes to disease burden. The aim of SDG 3 (target 4) is specifically designed for the prevention and treatment of NCDs, which further significantly promote mental health and wellbeing. Physical activity is a universally accepted, scientifically-perceived, and economical intervention that has been demonstrated to reverse and prevent many NCDs and encourage the full range of people’s health and wellbeing.
Goal 3: Ensure a Healthy Life and Foster Equality for All Ages
Sports are playing an essential rule in numerous aspects of sustainable development like sustainable tourism development through sports, promoting peace, sustainable health development through the sustainable built environment. Sport played an essential role in enhancing eight MDGs recognized in the various UN General Assembly resolutions. The resolution with the title “Transforming our world: Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, implemented in 2015. Sports promote health and wellbeing without any gender, age, or ethnic differences.20 Policymakers should introduce such actions to the population for physical activity, which will help reduce non-communicable diseases (Target 3.4) through built infrastructure that improves physical fitness level. Built infrastructure should have unbiased access to cycling and walking to reduce road accidents, particularly for those involved in cycling and pedestrians (Target 3.6). Furthermore, promote active travel mood and discourage automobile travel to improve air quality (Target 3.9).20,21 Sporting activities can help to convey health information, and sporting ventures can attract individuals who have not received traditional health education. In the treatment and rehabilitation of communicable and non-communicable diseases, exercise, physical activity, and sport have long been utilized. Individual physical activity is a healthy means of disease prevention and a cost-effective method for nations to promote health along through communities.
Goal 4: Ensure Equal and Affordable Schooling for All and Promote Lifelong Learning
According to the WHO, the ratio of inactive people is rising in high-income countries (32% in 2001 to 37% in 2016) while it is stable in low-income countries at 16%. It is found that men are more active than women in the East and South-East Asia.22 Young people and children get health benefits through physical activity. A comprehensive education system combined sport and physical activities with the school curriculum for healthy learning. Participation of students in athletics and physical events to practice socio-professional ideals like function as a squad, teamwork, fair play, empathy, conformity with laws, and discipline (Target 4.1, Target 4.2). For children who are unable to attend school sport offers lifelong learning and alternative training. Students are exposed to the core values of sports such as cooperation, and tolerance when participating in the sportive and physical activities alongside the school. These prerequisites are essential to future participation in group and professional activities and foster social cohesion in communities and societies.
Goal 5: Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girl
Women and girls can be empowered through sport and physical activity, which further improves their psycho-social and health conditions. Policy decisions would be consistent with gender equality, enabling physical exercise for women and girls at reasonable costs across life. In this context, a particular focus should be on disadvantaged and marginalized communities to end the discrimination in physical activity and sports (Target 5.1).21 Stereotype and social expectations generally associated with women are often at stake in female participation in sport. By emphasizing their strengths and abilities, the sport will help women and girls show their talents and accomplishments for society. In turn, improves women’s self-confidence and self-esteem. Sport also offers social experiences and bonding opportunities, which can raise knowledge of gender roles among male colleagues and provide both individuals and groups with social and psychological benefits. Furthermore, the involvement of women and girls in sports initiatives would tackle sexual and reproductive health, sexual harassment, and women’s leadership.
Goal 10: Reduce Inequality
Acts for legislation maximize the physical activity and sports potential through various programs which include mega sports events to empower irrespective of individual traits and to promote inclusion which further helps in the promotion of socioeconomic and political integration (Target 10.2) and equal access (Target 10.3).21 International law is based on the right to equality and no racial discrimination. Sport can be used as a platform for promoting equality to reduce inequality. The creation of sport-related policies and programs that aim to reduce existing disparities can lead to equal opportunities within and through sport. The prevalence and optimistic attitudes towards sport make it a useful tool for resolving inequities in hard-to-reach areas and communities. It can also counter racism and bigotry by also supporting empathy and pro-social behavior.
Goal 11: Making Communities Inclusive, Healthy, Productive, and Resilient
There are several ways in which sports and physical activity contribute to a healthier community. Physical activity and sports, combined with other factors such as the built environment for sports and physical activity, promote a healthy lifestyle. A healthy urban system and ecosystem have a significant effect on fitness and physical activity participation. City projects will have equal exposure to robust and accessible walking leisure facilities and contribute to active travel, bicycling, and green spaces, making it possible for everybody in a particular environment (Target 11.2) and resilient urbanization (Target 11.3). Sustainable transport systems and urbanization reduce the eco-friendly influence of municipalities (Target 11.6) and further lead to universal access to public and green places (Target 11.7).21 The SDG is also referred to as “urban SDG” because it covers different aspects of urban infrastructure. The built environment includes a green setting for sports and physical activity, playing a dynamic role in active, healthier, wealthier, and safer cities. Sports programs would contribute to ‘sustainable and resilient planning of and management of human settlements and the capacity to engage, integrate, and sustain. Sporting activities can also function as a tool for sustainable city growth, including enhanced road networks and public transport, thus contributing to road safety.
Goal 13: Climatic Change
To promote good health through sport and physical activity, which further reduces the burden of NCDs are linked with climatic factors such as temperature. Sport and physical activity behavior strongly influenced by climatic factors. Climate change mitigation (Target 13.1) combined educational and environmental interventions to support physical activity in the form of land, public transport, walking, and cycling. Policy actions improve awareness through education, institutional and human capacity regarding mitigation and adaptation to climate change (Target 13.2).21 The UN strongly supports the role of sport in sustainable development, and this context UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been developed a plan “Climate Action Sports” to empower and encourage all sports organizations to have a decisive part to play in meeting global climate change goals. Sports organizations play a vital role in the climatic change by building green infrastructure, promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. In terms of energy conservation as well as water resource management, mobility, food production, carbon impact reduction, and sporting activities, the Sports world will contribute to a worldwide consensus about climate change and provide a forum for proposing sustainable solutions to climate change.
Goal 15: Land for Life
Policies regarding natural environment ensure adequate access to, and utilization for sport, physical activity, and recreation. Sufficient access and use of natural resources can be contributed to environmental sustainability, conservation, land restoration, and biodiversity (Target 15.1). Environmental sustainability further will assist to the inland freshwater ecosystem (Target 15.5).21 Sporting is highly dependent on the accessibility of natural resources and healthy ecosystems in daily life. The sporting world would help raise an understanding of the need to protect life on land and underwater. The natural climate is constantly improving through introducing green road interventions for physical activity to improve people’s health. Energy use and carbon dioxide emissions declined from the previous year, respectively, by 3.1% and 4% in 2018. The Chinese government has also progressed comprehensively in regulating environmental pollution and introduced the most strict water resources management program.
Goal 16: Fair and Sustainable, Healthy Communities
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognized the contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objective.
Policy actions ensure that sports nurture positive social values among different age group people, nationality, and political beliefs, which further contribute to the reduction of conflicts (Target 16.1), bribery, and corruption (Target 16.5) through promoting non-discriminatory social values and laws. All the above discussed SDGs in relevance to sport, physical activity, and global health are also declared in the Bangkok Declaration. These are the sustained and cost-efficient ways to promote good health through sports and physical activity interventions.
The integration of SDG and interdependence are crucial for the successful implementation and advancement of collective and individual SDG. SDG integration means to view every SDG within the linkage of other SDGs, not in isolation. Interdependence refers to an individual SDG’s reliance on directly and indirectly related SDGs to meet targets. Progress in one SDG ripples to progress in related SDGs that can be leveraged throughout the SDG ecosystem for all‐encompassing advancement across all SDGs. For advancing health (SDG 3), the supporting infrastructure (environment) and adequate economic growth are necessary. A brief overview of specific environmental, economic, and health factors illustrates SDGs’ integration and interdependence. Health and economic environments are impacted by ecological disasters and events. Extreme droughts (environment), which are causing (economically) rising (economic) inflation of food and also increasing the incidence of infections (health) water shortages and impurity, can lead the latter to rapid famine and worsen poverty.
Moreover, the priority set-up and relocation (economic) of the public funds for helping displaced persons and for restore of resources at the cost of health (health) and welfare is driven by cyclones (environment) and flash floods (environment). All the above-described SDGs are integrated and interdependent to achieve the desired targets of health through sports and physical activity. Sports are playing a vital role in achieving a healthier and economically stable society by providing opportunities for income-generating, building infrastructure (environment) for promoting a healthy lifestyle, and eradicating poverty through fundraising for the deprived communities of the world.
Nearly all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been met by China, including significant poverty reduction, increased access to elementary and secondary education, and improved environmental sustainability and equality between the sexes. Economic growth, higher public health investment, the creation of health legislation and regulations, the implementation of state-supported health insurance systems for enhancing population coverage, and multi-sector coordination and collaboration at both national and international levels are essential motivators in achieving MDGs within China.23 According to the reports of the Foreign Ministry of China, several SDGs have been achieved as “early harvest” over the past four years. Further, the Chinese government is focusing more on the promotion of physical activity through sports to achieve the SDGs. WHO Global NCD Action Plan (2013–2020) seeks to raise the amount of physical activity and physical inactivity by around 10%. Increasing sedentary behavior and lifestyles are associated with rapid urbanization and modernization in China. The level of physical activity has been dropped at an alarming rate between 1991 and 2006.24 The aging population is a global phenomenon that has socioeconomic consequences related to health. China is also facing the problem of the aging population with NCDs. The Chinese government has implemented several plans to make Chinese society healthier in the context of the environment and public health. The Built Environment is promoting physical activity among the aging population of China and sports among the young generation. The trend of using parks among rapidly growing the aging Chinese people has been increased due to building Environment initiatives of the Chinese government, which is a positive indicator of the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Chinese government policies are shown in Figure 3 related to health and SDGs.
Figure 3 Chinese government initiatives in response to SDGs and WHO global action plan on physical activity.
A system-based approach, combining strategic “upstream” policy action to improve socio-cultural, cost-effective, and environmental aspects that support physical activity with “downstream” strategies, requires active effort at a national level to overcome current trends and to reduce disparities in physical activities. The absence of effective policy intervention is the main impediment achieving the SDGs health-related targets. The success of China in achieving the MDGs, respectively 2000 and 2015, made the world optimistic that between 2016 and 2030, it would be incredibly successful and reach the SDG objectives. China uses “health in all policies” as a priority action plan to under the SDGs to improve the public health facilities.
Chinese Government Initiative for Localization of Health-Related SDGs Through Sports
After the victory of Communist in 1949, the transformation of the Chinese culture and sports happened. Chairman Mao Zedong wrote in 1917 that the most important is physical education than moral and intellectual education. In 1951 “Radio gymnastic” was introduced to enhance the physical fitness of the Chinese nation.25 In different era’s Chinese government introduced various programs for the national fitness of Chinese society through promoting sports culture and physical activity. The Chinese government introduced multiple measures to increase the physical activity level for the promotion of good health under SDGs, based on the four strategic objectives (create active societies, active environments, create active people, create dynamic systems) of WHO Global Action Plan of Physical Activity 2018–30. The central facilitator or “building block” is necessary to establish the conditions needed for SDGs to be localization. These include developing, implement, and monitoring integrated approaches to SDGs. China is doing well in the localization of health-related SDGs through sports and physical activity. The names of the measures are given below;
- The 13th Five-year plan for Sports Development
- Healthy China 2030 (Health Infrastructure and Built Environment for Physical Activity Promotion)
- National Fitness Program (NFP) 2016–2020
- Measures for the Improvement of People’s Fitness and Health by the Chinese State Council 2019
The 13th Sports Development Five-Year Plan
According to this plan, the sustainable development of sports in China for the achievement of national rejuvenation is the key strategy. The Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 and the Beijing Winter Paralympics are also going held during this period. The ruling Party of China and the Chinese State Council are preparing for this mega event in mainland China.26 The development of the domestic sports industry, about 5 trillion Yuan by 2025, is the critical strategy. The plan not only focused on the development of the sports industry, sports training, fitness exercise, intermediary services of sports and sports products manufacturing, but also the unified development between sports and related industries. There should also be taken measures to encourage the incorporation among sports, sports culture, creative industry, and healthcare industry. Furthermore, the development of media for sports, sports exhibitions, and sports advertising is also included in the five-year development of the 13th sport. The 13th sports development five-year plan is contributing in the achievement of several SDGs such as SDG3 (healthy lifestyle through developing sports training and fitness exercise), SDG8 (economic development through investment in the sports industry and providing job opportunities to the public), SDG9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure through introducing new talents) and SDG11 (healthy built environment).
Healthy China 2030—A Response to Health-Related SDGs
The SDGs are aimed at affecting all levels of society, reaching all sectors, embracing equity, inclusion, and universality. SDG 3 aims to achieve better health outcomes by reducing mortality, epidemic ending, and universal health coverage for accessible, affordable, reliable, and fair health care. SDG 3 seeks to improve health outcomes.27 The Chinese government’s central plan is the development of “Healthy China” by improving the health of the Chinese people. The Chinese government approved the ‘Healthy China 2030ʹ plan to achieve UN sustainable development goals (SGDs) and to participate in Global Health Governance, as mention in Figure 4.
Figure 4 Global health governance.
Universal health coverage (UHC) is one of the targets of SDG3, which is linked with economic, environmental, and health nexus. According to Figure 3, China is sharing his experience and policies at the global level in sports, physical activity, and SDGs implementation frameworks to promote global health governance. China introduced the most significant reforms in the health system to extend health facilities beyond the urban cities to improve people’s lives in health paradigms. The health reforms under the Healthy China 2030 plan are according to the SDGs, which is helping to achieve the targets of Healthy China and SDGs. After introducing the reforms, now nearly 100% of the Chinese population has health insurance. China is facing the NCDs problem, which is linked with the aging population. The most important aspect of ‘Healthy China 2030ʹ is to promote a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness with the focus on prevention from NCDs rather than treatment. A national smoke-free law is also another significant step towards “Healthy China,” which is proving helpful in the prevention of NCDs.27 China has made tremendous progress in reducing maternal mortality at a national level and has achieved MDG 5 by rising by 75% from 1990 to 2015, the maternal mortality ratio.
Glocalization of Healthy China Policies and China’s Contribution to Global Health
- Within the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese efforts are growing to improve public health in its partner countries.28 China is helping other developing countries in public health affairs. Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in multiple sectors of health, China is encouraging collaboration with other countries (SDG 17), including health crises, prevention, and control of infectious diseases, women’s, and children’s safety, welfare programs and policies growth and capacity-building. China-Australia-Papua New Guinea triangular malaria prevention and control partnership initiative initiated in 2016. Belt and Road Initiative is highly compatible with the Agenda of 2030 SDGs, and China is promoting multidimensional sustainable development in least developed countries with the collaboration of different international health related agencies as mentioned in the Figure 5.
Figure 5 Glocalization of Chinese Health Policies through BRI.
Chinese government signed an MOU with WHO in 2017 to construct a “Health Silk Road” for improving the public health sectors in BRI participants countries under the SDG 17. A result-oriented series of measures unveiled in May 2017 on Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to support the global implementation of the SGDs 2030 Agenda to promote the sustainable development in countries along the BRI route. The BRI project also offers a shared forum to enhance the capacity to manage regional crises in public health by sharing outbreak knowledge, exchanging protective and integrative approaches, and educating healthcare professionals. “Health Silk Road” along the “Digital Silk Road” is a new emerging concept, and it can play a vital role in sharing healthcare knowledge globally, which further promotes global health governance.
National Fitness Program (NFP) 2016–2020
Another important risk factor for poor health and chronic disease prevention and management is addressing physical inactivity, which requires primary and public health care and legislation.29 The 2016 Lancets Physical Activity Series argued that physical activity objectives must reflect and be in line with social, environmental, and sustainable development goals.30 In this paradigm, the Chinese state council introduced a national fitness strategy in June 2016 to improve the physical fitness of the whole nation and then further also improve the health level by 2020. According to this plan, it is expected that a significant increase will be held in the number of people participating in the physical exercise by 2020. The program also supports to promote and utilize the Winter sports to prepare for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. The reasons for China’s new fitness plan at a glance are given below in figures why the Chines government introduced this program. In China, childhood obesity is increasing due to physical inactivity. A study reveals that obesity among the Chinese children (age 7 to 18 years) from 1985 to 2014 has been increased from 0.03% to 17.2% among boys and 0.12% to 9.11% in girls. About 28.3% of China’s population has an obesity problem.31 It is the first reason to implement the NFP to curb the obesity prevalence in Chinese society. The policy focuses on adolescents to promote engagement in school physical education and athletics. The 2nd objective of the NFP was to increase the sports industry and fitness industry revenue. After the implementation of the program, indoor fitness apparel sales and fitness center revenue have been raised. After the execution of NFP, it is expected that sports consumption will reach about 1.5 trillion Yuan. According to the general administration of sport (GAS), national fitness plans also focus on China’s rural areas. It aims to equip the villages with sports facilities, including two table tennis tables and standard size basketball ground to promote fitness nationwide. Approximately 570,000 villages throughout the country have connections to the services as mentioned earlier, and only 50,000 remain, which is not yet covered under the NFP.32
Key Goals of the Plan
- By 2020, 700 million people will exercise at least once a week, and the number of people who regularly participate in physical exercise will reach 435 million
- Spread health knowledge, advocate fitness, promote the new concept of physical and mental health
- Encourage fitness nationwide by providing a variety of sports and workout activities
- Build local fitness facilities and small to medium size stadiums
- Expand international sports participation with programs, personnel, and equipment
- Focus on teenagers and promote youth sports activities through strengthening physical education, sports programs and administrative accountability at school
- Increase engagement in football (Soccer) in Winter sports
Measures for the Improvement of People’s Fitness and Health by the Chinese State Council 2019
A subsequent action plan was released by the Chinese State Council after three years of the announcement of Healthy China 2030 under the title of ’improvement of people’s fitness and health by the Chinese State Council 2019ʹ. The target of the policy is to meet 15 goals between 2020 and 2030.28 Some of the main priorities are listed below;
- To decrease the effects of second-hand smoking on health
- To reduce obesity
- To increase physical activity level across the country
- To prevent non-communicable and chronic diseases
- To prohibit unhealthy dietary behavior
The Chines government has introduced the measures mentioned above to achieve the goal of Healthy China 2030. The main agenda of all these measures is to increase the physical activity level and sports participation of the Chinese nation to fight against NCDs and achieve health-related SDGs targets.
Sports-Environment, Health, and SDGs
In developed countries, increasing sedentary lifestyle prevalence are a significant challenge. The sedentary lifestyle is the leading factor in the incidence of NCDs. The one recommended solution from avoiding the NCDs is to participate in sports and physical activity.33 The problem of physical inactivity is experiencing from the last 15 years. The Chinese government introduced a national fitness plan (NFP) to improve the Chinese people’s health by participating in sports and physical activity, aligned to the health, physical activity, and sport-related SDGs. According to the national fitness plan (NFP), sports are a vital part of promoting healthy living in Chinese society and prevent NCDs. An industrial revolution of sport has been started in China under which the Chinese government is introducing several effective measures to achieve the goal of “Healthy China” by constructing the environment for sports and physical activity. The NCDs are the primary threat of life in China, according to the WHO. Sports play a vital role in the prevention of NCDs in the shape of increasing physical activity among the Chinese people. Besides, Chinese leaders said, “Sports play an essential role in promoting a healthy lifestyle and in building China’s soft power in line with SDG 17 (Strengthening adopting and revitalizing the Sustainable Development Global Partnership). The optimistic aim of the National Fitness Plan (NFP) is to increase the involvement of athletics, boost nutrition, and create awareness of safe living.34
China’s Progress Towards Healthy China Under SDGs
China unveiled China’s National Strategy for the adoption of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in September 2016. The Government of China has launched at national and international levels the 13th Five-Year Plan for Socio-Economic Growth to successfully pursue the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. The vision of China’s national plan is “innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.” The Chinese government has implemented the Agenda of 2030 SDGs in every sector, and several targets (SDGs) have been achieved as early harvest.35 Healthy China-related progress under SDGs is outlined below;
- China is making substantial strides to attain SDGs for health, and maternal mortality has dropped to 19.9 per 100,000. In comparison, the child mortality rate was lowered to 7.5 and 10.2 per 1000, respectively. It will be of sufficient assistance in achieving the correct SDG goal. The Chinese government has launched a “Healthy China” program to tackle severe illnesses.36 The targets for MMR, U5MR, and NMR had already been met for the SDG of 2030 by China, which had a high institutional distribution rate and almost a universal coverage of the vaccine in 2016. However, the achievement index of the family planning needs does not meet the modern contraception methods, which is expected to reach 76.6 by 2030 because of the unmet needs of single mating women.22 In recent decades, children’s undernutrition has significantly improved, while overweight and obesity in China have emerged as a new threat to public health. The stunting rate decreased from 16.3% to 8.1% for children aged 6 and under and wasting decreased from 2.6% to 2.0% for the years 2002 to 2013. However, from 6.5% to 8.4% from 2002 to 2013, overweight rates increased.37
- The NCDs become the leading life hazard for Chinese citizens. The Chinese government concentrates most on eradicating NCDs by strengthening the mental and physical wellbeing of the population by promoting physical exercise and sports events. In the health field, an early assessment, early detection, and first care centers have been set up by the Chinese government for chronic diseases. Health administration incorporated obesity and diabetes in public health programs to provide rural and metropolitan people with free care. “Good life for everyone” has been placed into action in line with health-related SDGs under the subject “three reductions and threefold health” to encourage health awareness and a safe lifestyle to enhance Chinese people’s fitness.36 China’s coverage of maternal, neonatal, and child health care, infectious diseases and NCDs has improved significantly while the treatment and control rate for hypertension and diabetic disease remains small. China has produced tremendous results. China may still face significant challenges when controlling NCDs by reaching the SDG 3 target for NCDs (ie, by 2020 to reduce almost one-third the number of premature deaths from NCDs).22 Premature mortality by men with NCDs has not been expected to substantially decrease by 2030 due mainly to ongoing risk factors such as smoking, alcohol, and insufficient physical activity. There is no evidence that China would also soon reduce it is overweight and obesity rates.
- In addition to providing funding, China faces many barriers to widening its access to health services. In its 12th five-year plan, the Chinese Government substantially increased its health spending. The average annual increase in government health spending over the 2011–2016 period has been 17.3% significantly higher than the rate of economic growth.38 The Healthy China 2030 Agenda, the 13th Five Year Public Health Policy, the 13th Five Year Strategy for Promoting the Promotion of Fair Access to Essential Public Health Facilities, and demographic and family planning regulation all covered sexual health. The Decision on the adoption and improvement of the two-child national policy and the administration of family planning services was released to guarantee access to reliable family planning services.
- The Healthy China 2030 Plan ensures that smoking is banned in public areas, and road traffic incidents have been regulated by the framework of “lane safety accountabilities.” The climate, water contamination, and cigarettes have been successfully regulated for life and safety. Throughout the 60 towns, an extensive surveillance program was established to track the impact of air emissions on human health. In 18 cities, a smoke-free health law was introduced.36 The prevalence of smoking and the use of alcohol for Chinese men and women are around 19 times and six times higher. The idea of an “ecological community” became enshrined in law and created the nation’s consensus that “succinct waters and green mountains are valuable.” The Chinese government is promoting low-carbon industries, such as renewable energy technologies and low-carbon cities with better mass transit and power generation, in tackling climate change. Energy intensity and carbon dioxide emissions dropped by 3.1% and 4.0% in 2018 over the previous year.
United Nations General Assembly adopted a global development framework in September 2015, named Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Agenda 2030 is acknowledged sport as an essential tool to implement the SDGs. The 13th socioeconomic development five-year plan has been introduced by the Chinese government, which is compatible with SDGs. The biggest life threat to Chinese people is NCDs due to physical inactivity. The Chinese government is focusing more on the promotion of physical activity through sports to achieve the SDGs regarding health. The Chinese state council introduced a national fitness strategy in June 2016 to improve the whole nation’s physical fitness and then further improve the health level by 2020. Sport is a vital tool to promote healthy living and physical activity in Chinese society. China is developing a “Soft Power” by supporting the sports and physical activity under The Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, further strengthening the global partnership of China in global matters. A program “Healthy Living for all” has been implemented with the theme of “three reductions and threefold health” under the health-related SDGs to achieve the target of Healthy China 2030. China is making tremendous progress towards the goal of Healthy China in multidimensional. To meet challenges and achieve health-related SDGs, China must take more coordinated steps. In those areas where the SDG targets (in maternal and child health and nutrition) have already been achieved in China, the government should summarize the experiences and best practices be distributed to other low- and middle-income nations which, through cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, develop their national strategies for advancing the SDG in health. Moreover, the Chinese government should make more investment in public transport, renewable energy, and public sports facilities to achieve health-related SDGs more comprehensively.
Current article is a part of “Study on the Government Cultivation of Spontaneous Sports Organizations in China”. Funded by The National Social Science Fund of China (16BTY033, 2016.8-2021.12, PI: DaiJianhui).
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
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domain: sociology


text:
Georgian Press: Romania is one of Georgia's 'best friends'Publish date: 01-04-2010
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Teodor Baconschi paid an official visit to Georgia on March 30. After laying a wreath at the memorial to the soldiers who died for the unity of Georgia, Baconschi held a meeting with Grigol Vashadze, his Georgian counterpart, at which they discussed a variety of issues concerning the political, economic and humanitarian cooperation between the countries, The Messanger daily reports.
"We had a really interesting conversation about economic projects we may launch together. We have a huge trade turnover with Romania. Our countries are divided only by the Black Sea, but we still have to seek an efficient way to cooperate in order to strengthen our economic relations," Vashadze said after the meeting.
"I feel very much at home in Tbilisi because Tbilisi is part of Europe. Your country has been successful in establishing ongoing reforms, which will be positively reflected in relations with European structures. Romania has a strong interest in your country in a variety of areas. Issues like trade, investment and energy security are the most important. We are now just waiting to see the results of Mikheil Saakashvili, the President of Georgia's, visit to Bucharest, where he will meet Traian Basescu, President of Romania. The close relation between the two Presidents is very important for both countries. Romania is among those 'best friends' who are always promoting Georgia's integration into the EU and NATO," Baconschi said, stressing that the Government of Georgia has been carrying out a well-balanced foreign policy, which is so important for the country.
Teodor Baconschi expressed his country's support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial unity and stressed that Romania fully supports Georgia in its attempts to establish all the reforms aimed at simplifying the visa regime with the European Union. The two sides agreed to establish a Department of Romanian Language and Literature at Tbilisi State University and a Department of Georgian Language and Literature in Romania as a sign of their partnership.
Political analyst Ramaz Sakvarelidze told The Messenger that such business visits have become seldom in Georgia lately. "There is a particular distance being shown towards us by Western Europe, especially since the August war, while Eastern European delegations have become more frequent visitors to our country. All this demonstrates that the political phenomenon of war is more familiar to Eastern Europeans and Georgia's so-called anti-Russian policy even strengthens their interest in our country," Sakvarelidze told us.
"It is really difficult to make any predictions about developing the economic environment with the support of Romania as there have even been some difficulties in launching the existing projects. Making investments is not an issue which should be discussed in political terms, as these should be prompted by the relevant economic background. Romania has also faced an economic crisis in 2008 so that country has a lot of internal problems which are still to be dealt with," economic analyst Gia Khukhashvili told us, adding that the meeting of the two Foreign Ministers may produce some results but he couldn't make any predictions about the chances of the two countries being able to launch particular projects together.
- Insurance market stagnated in 2013 while GDP chare dropped to 1.3%
- The Romanian Leasing Market as of December 31, 2013
- Millennium Bank reports best results since its launch, helped by stronger banking income and cost cuts
- BCR cheapens First Home loans and lowers interest loans for loans in lei
- Millennium Bank's new Salary account clients receive up to 600 lei bonus and their utility bills' payment
- GarantiBank and Seamless introduce SEQR in Romania: the newest mobile payment solution
- Bancpost telecom services, now provided exclusively by Romtelecom and COSMOTE Romania
- Millennium Bank cards offer discounts in Domo stores
- BCR Supervisory Board reshuffles Management Board
- NBR decide to lower the monetary policy rate to 4.25 percent per annum
- Common appointments in Romtelecom and COSMOTE Romania
- Up to 5.5% annual interest rate for Millennium Bank's promotional three-month lei deposit
- Eurozone in recovery mode but gap between North and South still widening
- UniCredit Tiriac Bank and RBS Romania announce the successful completion of the retail clients' migration
- Millennium Bank grants First House loans in lei

domain: politics


text:
Malik A. Hussain
Senior Technical Officer
NSW Food Authority
Malik Altaf Hussain is a food microbiologist at the Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University New Zealand. He is also an associate director at the Centre for Food Research and Innovation (CFRI). He holds a doctorate in Food Microbiology and Biotechnology from the University of Melbourne Australia and a master in Food Technology from University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan with distinction. Dr. Hussain is leading food microbiology research group at Lincoln University. He is involved in a variety of industry led projects on the development of functional foods (probiotics), food safety and security and microbial proteomics. As associate director of Lincoln’s Centre for Food Research and Innovation, his efforts are focused to expand international linkages and developing research programs at the centre. He is a committee member of IJFST2015 conference being held at Lincoln University. Recently he was awarded OECD Fellowship 2014 to work on a collaborative research project with Dr. Qi Wang - Guelph Food Research Centre, Canada.
His Research interests include : Microbial biotechnology,probiotics,food borne pathogens,food safety and security,and microbial stress responses using advanced techniques such as proteomics,metabolics and genomics.

domain: food


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Howdy crafters - I have been making a mini album for my niece since she was 1. She has just turned 3 so I'm here to share my latest album for her. I purchased the precut cardboard letters "EMMA" from a craft fair. I used Echo Park Princess papers to decorate. Hope this inpires you to make something beautiful today. Until next time, HAPPY CRAFTING!
Howdy crafters - today I'm sharing a FREE through May 24, 2018 PEACHY A2 CARD from my MY SCRAP CHICK .I embossed the front with Stampin'Up! "Layered Leaves" embossing folder and stamped "It's A beautiful Day" sentiment. This card is super easy and you can make it your own by choosing your own sentiment. Hope you will give this a try. Until next time - Happy Crafting!
Howdy crafters - Sharing a card using Stampin'Up! "Springtime Impressions" thinlits dies. The sentiment came from "Abstract Impressions" stamp set. I die cut the flowers then sponged them with Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Granny Apple. Until next time - Happy Crafting!
Howdy Crafters - Sharing butterfly card using "Springtime Impressions" thinlits from Stampin'Up. Background colors are made of Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie and Highland Heather. The sentiment "There's So much To Love About You" came from "Abstract Impressions" stamp set. Thanks for stopping by - Until next time - HAPPY CRAFTING
Howdy crafters - today is my hubby birthday! Can't believe we have been married for almost 32 years. Sharing a special card that I made for him.
Howdy Crafters - School will be out in a few weeks here in Texas. If you are looking for a simple, yet super cute teacher's thank you card - I have you covered. This Green Apple Frame Card is an SVG file from My Scrap Chick . It is so cute and so simple to put together. I stamped the center of the apple "YOU ARE THE BEST" using "Friendly Wishes" sentiment from Stampin'Up! I'm sure any other sentiments such as "Thank You" would be cute too. I also added a green bow for extra cuteness. I hope this inspires you to make something beautiful today. Be sure to share your creations with us on our FB page My Scrap Chick Maker's Group
Howdy crafters - tomorrow is my hubby birthday. My son asked if I could make him a card to give to his dad. I used the new Stampin'Up! Lined Alphabet and dies that will be available for purchase on June 1, 2018. The colors I used are: Night of Navy, Granny Apple Green, Balmy Blue and Merry Merlot. Love these new colors!!! Thanks for stopping by - Until next time - HAPPY CRAFTING!

domain: hobby


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Gather supplies. The base tag is made from chipboard and measures 8" x 4".
Prepare all surfaces. The paint and ink require time to dry.
Gyspy Soul Laser Cuts: Tags in a Box Extra Tag Set, Butterfly of Gears, Wrought Iron Set, Gears Shape Set, Chickenwire 6x6 panel, Honeycomb and Bees - Medium (only a bee is used)
Paint chickenwire chipboard with a thin coat of off-white acrylic paint.
Allow the paint to dry and then dab the chickenwire piece with Vintage Photo distress stain.
Cover a chipboard bee with gold pigment ink. Allow to dry.
Mix Salty Ocean distress paint with black chalkboard paint. Lightly coat the surface of a chipboard and gears butterfly. Work quickly and do NOT allow the paint to dry.
While the paint is still wet, sprinkle the chipboard with various embossing powders and enamels. Heat set.
Cover chipboard gears and wrought iron shapes with watermark or embossing ink. Cover the pieces with various embossing enamels and powders. Heat set.
Use various pigment inks to ink the edges of a chipboard tag (8" x 4"). Allow the ink to dry. Cut decorative paper to 7 7/8" x 3 7/8" and round the four corners. (Graphic 45 Natures Sketchbook)
Attach the paper to the tag. Cut out a section of the chickenwire and glue to the tag. Cut the wrought iron element apart and glue the longer piece to the left side of the tag.
Glue the remaining section of the wrought iron element to the bottom of the tag. Attach the butterfly as shown.
Glue a gear and the bee to the top of the tag. Add a decorative paper element to the left side of the tag, as shown.
Add gears as desired. Begin to glue flowers, using various shades of blue to match the paper and embossing powders.
Add metal embellishments such as the clock key. Also add found items such as the light bulb and resistors shown.
Please visit the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Blog: http://gslcuts.blogspot.com/2017/03/altered-butterfly-tag.html
Visit my blog here: http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/2017/03/altered-butterfly-tag.html
- Chipboard elements from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts
- Paint and ink
- Embossing powders and enamels
- Decorative paper

domain: artistic


Selected Homme Black
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MADE WITH RECYCLED POLYESTER This product is made with recycled polyester. Recycled polyester saves natural resources and reduces the amount of waste.
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52% Recycled Polyester, 31% Wool, 14% Viscose, 3% Elastane
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For more information, visit Return & Exchange.
Returns cost 1.99 CHF and will be deducted from your refund.


text:
According to the World Food Summit Plan of Action of Rome, 1996, "Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life."
A study of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) found that food security is compromised not so much by lack of food availability as by inadequate access to foods and dietary patterns that adversely impact on nutritional status. Many countries are experiencing a shift in nutrition patterns that has resulted in increasing rates of obesity, which in turn has contributed to an increase in nutrition-related Chronic Non-communicable Diseases including diabetes and hypertension, according to the CARICOM regional food, nutrition and security policy of 2010.
CARICOM’s food security may not be compromised by lack of food availability, there are issues related to the declining trend of food production, and increasing trends in favour of imports.
Our country is totally dependent on food imports.
Rising food prices during 2007-2008 and the economic crisis of 2008-2009 have affected all countries, increasing unemployment, reducing income opportunities, tourist arrivals and remittances and decreasing purchasing power with very serious impacts on the poor.
Sint Maarten and others in the Caribbean Basin live with the daily reality that small populations and land masses along with distances from other Caribbean countries and trading partners and insufficient strategic planning reduce the possibilities of exploiting economies of scale.
According to the study, these factors result in higher prices for imported inputs and higher costs of export products, as smaller purchasing and sales volumes increase product, transaction and transportation costs.
Back in July it was announced by Project Coordinator for Sustainable Agriculture Development Roseann Rumnit, that approximately 120 million Euros is available for the development of farming projects on the North side of the island. These funds have been available since 2002.
The European Union (EU) and French State made funds available 10-years ago in the form of a grant under the Re-development of Agriculture, Tradition, Culture, and Agro-tourism Programme. The funds will be provided indirectly to landowners individually on a case-by-case study of applications.
A number of meetings have been organized between land owners and the Prefet of St. Martin. These landowners can be considered as "Smallholder Agriculture."
The world population today stands at over seven (7) billion and counting. By 2025, 13-years from now, it will climb to eight (8) billion, nine (9) billion in 2043, and this will require a 10 per cent increase in water for agricultural use.
The Governments of both sides of the island should come together to discuss a strategic alliance in the area of food security. Business organizations should also be involved in this process from both sides of the island.
The current situation in world food markets, characterized in sharp increases in maize, wheat, and soybean prices, has raised fears of a repeat of the 2007-2008 world food crises. Three United Nations (UN) agencies, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the World Food Programme, agree that urgent action is needed to make sure that current price shocks do not turn into a catastrophe hurting tens of millions over the coming months.
The two main interconnected problems identified that must be tackled is the immediate issue of some high food prices, which can impact heavily on food import-dependent countries and on the poorest people; and the long-term issue of how we produce, trade and consume food in an age of increasing population, demand and climate change.
Sustainable smallholder agriculture is seen as the way to go for the future where smallholder farmers are able to contribute to raising food availability by 70 per cent by 2050, which is what will be required to feed a growing, more urbanized population.
That is why a strategic partnership between the North and South sides of the island, is very much valid, since it would tackle two very important insular as well as global issues, food security and climate change, especially looking at the long-term future of St. Martin/Sint Maarten.


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The Gaelle were designed to take you from day to night with their 3,5cm kitten heel.Soft leather, a feminine small bow and a round tip for an unapologetic 90’s look.
How to wear it?
Will be perfect with straight or flare jeans like Concorde or worn with a printed skirt or wrap dress… Our Studio can’t get enough.
Soft leather mules with 3.5cm kitten heel, bow detail on the front.Fits true to size.100% lamb leather.Made in Italy.
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domain: design


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Trip Start Jun 09, 2005
105Trip End Jun 08, 2006
HCMC, formely called Saigon is not the capital of Vietnam but with 8 million inhabitants and around 3 million motorcycles it is the largest city. The moto taxi drivers are used to tourists and despite seeing a driver at every corner we need to walk 1 km closer to our destination in sweltering 31C heat to negotiate a price lower than 1USD.
We hope to stay in one of Madame Cuc's guesthouses which have been recommended to us by some fellow travellers
In perfect English the receptionist tells us that there are no rooms available in her hotel, but efficiently says that there are rooms in another siter hotel. John asks to have a look at the rooms and I turn around just in time to see him disappear on the back of another moto. He returns 10 minutes later reporting that the expensive rooms are nice and the cheap rooms are windowless. There are however only expensive 14USD rooms available tonight which is beyond our usual budget. The receptionist is ever so helpful recommending that we should try a 14 USD room tonight and then move to a cheaper room when they become available tomorrow. The rooms include free breakfast, dinner and fruit drinks. We hesitate to take up this attractive offer and as John suggests that before making a final decision he will quickly have a look down the street at the plethora of other hotels, the lady's attitude suddenly turns sour as she begins organising her nik naks on the counter. I wait with the bags and watch the ladys smile re-emerging from behind her desk as she sees some fresh backpackers arriving. She immediately trys to sell them the room which she had offered to us on a special discount.
It takes John 5 minutes to find a family run guesthouse just around the corner down a narrow residential alleyway for half the price of Madame Cucs. Their are only 2 rooms available in Bebe's, a family run guesthouse. The average income for many farmers is around 60 USD per month (this rises to 200 USD for employees working for an international company) so it is hardly suprising to find that many houses in HCMC have now been converted to guesthouses charging around 7 USD. Bebe's family cram their living room, kitchen and bedroom on the ground floor which is still a little mystery to me as there are no beds or sofas to be seen. We walk past them and up a steep winding staircase to the 1st floor which has an immaculate bedroom and bathroom all to ourselves. The friendly husband, his back covered in massage cupping marks comes to check that everything is ok in our room and makes us feel at home by presenting a dragon fruit to us.
We jump on some motos which take us to the war remnants museum where we spend the rest of the afternoon. The museum is a mishmash of mainly photographs and war artillary. The emphasis seems to be on the human suffering of the war. There is little fact, or information on the historical or politcal events. It's hot and stuffy as the Westerners squeeze around the microscopic English caption under each photo and a party of around 100 Vietnamese school children scribble away in their notebooks
The war, although not forgotten, is over now, but in the evening as Vietnam wins 2-1 against Malaysia in the SEA football semi-final, swarms of motos, bicycles and pedestrians fill the street cheering and waving the bright flags bearing a single yellow star. Here we sense a strong national pride and perhaps the kind of emotion that must have been felt when the North Vietnamese were victorious over the Imperialists.
Everyone looks tired in the morning. We hear that most of the city was celebrating until 4am in the morning. I wish that I had joined in the fun as I wake with another pounding head after another perturbed night of sleeping and insatiable thirst following an excessive dose of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in my Vietnamese dinner. The waiter had specifically written on our order 'no MSG' but I figure that this delicious tasting seasoning must be tainted in all the seasonings in this country. I wonder how I am going to survive another 3 weeks and I make a mental note to try some western food and pizza in the evening
HCMC is full of tour opeartors running 1 to 3 day trips to the Mekong Delta for very reasonable prices which is probably why we did not meet any independent travellers in this region. We take advantage of a cheap one day tour in the local area. It costs only 4 USD per head to have an air conditioned coach with a guide to visit the Cu Chi tunnels and we decide to splash out with an extra dollar each to have a combined visit to the Cao Dai temple.
Our coach leaves at 8.15am. Unlike the locals buses which have passengers hanging from the roof, our 60 seater coach is empty bar the 12 customers on board. They are mostly strange looking middle aged Europeans (like us?) although we also meet an Australian tagging on a day's holiday onto his business trip and an Irish guy who is also travelling for a year. Our guide is a young Vietnamese guy. He speaks good English, is enthusiastic, informative, humorous and genuinly seems to worry about us throughout the day. John snoozes in his reclining chair, sniffing and sneezing with the first signs of another tropical cold and comments on how much he is enjoying a relaxing day on a group tour with nothing to worry about and no choices to make.
The Cao Dai religion was founded in 1926 and has about 2 million followers in Vietnam
The main temple looks similar to a Western church from the outside except for a few extras. Here the bell towers contain drums, the statues of saints are of Buddhas, there are chinese paintings and in the centre is a huge all-seeing eye. We remove our shoes and walk around the interior. There are cool Portugese ceramic tiles on the floor, 2 pulpits and 28 columns with dragons swirling around from their base to the ceiling. It is bright and airy inside as there are many large open style windows, each contain another watchful eyeball surrounded by ceramic lotus flowers. The eyes follow us as we walk around and at the front of the building there is a large globe sitting on an alter which has another piercing all-seeing eye positioned in its centre.
There is a sudden burst of activity as it is time for one of the four masses of the day
After the stop at the Cao Dai which John calls the highlight of his day, we head onto the Cu Chi Tunnels. This complex of narrow underground tunnels was once home to many Viet Cong (communist sympathising guerilla fighters) and with its close proximity to Saigon, this area was once a prime target for the American Army
Our group enters the presentation room. There is a short propaganda film about several heros from the war, mainly young girls that were apt at handling guns. The people of the Cu Chi area were very ingenious in their attack. Bar AK47 rifles, which were sent from Russia, these farmers had very little else and would either constuct their own barbarious traps consisting of long nails protruding from massive balls dropped from the treetops, hidden trap doors leading to sharpened bamboo sticks tipped with poison, or homemade land mines which were dangerously assembled by dismantling unexploded American bombs.
Outside we take a short walk along a wooded footpath, zig zagging past the other tour groups. We are shown hidden trap door entrance points to the tunnels which our guide tells us the VC would hide or attack from. The ventilation holes for the tunnels were constructed using hollow bamboo sticks -these were later eaten by termites which very cleverly disguised the man made holes as they became surrounded by termite mounds. The smoke from the cooking areas was engineered to dissipate through a series of smoke diffuser caverns so that they could not be detected. The scent of the enemy was cleverly hidden from hunter dogs by placing American boots or their used toilet paper nearby.
We come to a shooting range which I think is a little odd for a tour of the Cu Chi tunnels. I am horrified as I see young men, buying AK47 bullets at 18,000 dong a shot (1.2 USD). They stand, sweating and looking full of testesterone as they fire deafeningly at dummy people at the end of a field
As we continue walking along our loop, hearing the sound of bullets echoing in the woods, I wonder what it must have been like being an American army soldier. I have seen the usual films which depict macho soldiers wading through the jungle but as I watch the Westerners in our group looking sticky and smelly, finding the heat and humidity almost unbearable, I realise that fighting in unfamiliar terrain with the fear of imminent attack and the knowledge that there is a hidden network of over 240km of underground tunnels containing the enemy must have been a fearful experience.
The final part of the tour is a brief experience within a 100m stretch of tunnel. Our guide makes several repeats informing us that there are three possible exit points along the tunnel, that the tunnels are one way and under no circumstances should we turn around. We should not enter if we have any heart problems, fear of dark, fear of enclosed spaces. He adds that we are not obliged to go into the tunnels and that he will not be entering himself.
I had read that the tunnels have been widened to allow fat westerners through. My mind casts back to the lava tubes on the Big Island, Hawaii where the tunnels had been enlarged so much that it was possible to drive a vehicle through them
Back outside the air feels no more fresher than down below. We climb on board our a/c bus and relax on the 60km drive back to HCMC passing through gaudy new housing developments which contain wacky brightly coloured houses. Motocylces branding the Vietnamese flag are everywhere as tonight Vietnam plays Thailand in the final of the SEA cup.
This entry is called S-S-S-S-Saigon because John likes Paul Hartcastle's 1985 number 1 hit which highlighted that the average age of the American combat soldier in the Vietnam War was N-N-N-N-Nineteen.

domain: travel


text: |Drujba hotel is situated at the center of the resort, 100 m away from the beach. There are some restaurants near the hotel that offer national and european cuisine. The hotel is a 7-storey building with 3 lifts, completely renovated in 1998. There are lobby bar, currency exchange and safe at the reception as an additional service. Additionally, you can find 2 tennis courts near the hotel, mini golf field, and outdoor swimming pool near malibu hotel.