11 Mar 2010 03:26 Africa/Lagos
Nigeria / Red Cross assisting victims of Jos violence
ABUJA, March 10, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- In the wake of last Sunday's violent attacks south of Jos, in northern Nigeria, the Nigerian Red Cross Society is distributing food and water to about 5,000 displaced people (IDPs) who have taken refuge in various police stations in the area and to some 300 detainees.
An additional 3,000 people have fled from Jos to camps in the neighbouring state of Bauchi, where some 3,800 people displaced by violent clashes that occurred in January were already sheltered. Nigerian Red Cross volunteers are currently registering the newly displaced in Bauchi and assessing their situation in coordination with the National Emergency Management Agency.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is working alongside the Nigerian Red Cross to evaluate further needs of those harmed by the clashes. So far, some 50 individuals have been reported missing. A Red Cross team is collecting their names and photographs with the aim of finding them and reuniting them with their families.
The violent attacks that occurred in five villages 30 kilometres south of Jos in Plateau state left hundreds of people dead and forced thousands more to flee their homes, according to government estimates. Nigerian Red Cross volunteers evacuated 28 injured persons to Jos University Teaching Hospital and gave first aid to 137 wounded detainees at the city's police headquarters.
The ICRC has been working closely with the Nigerian Red Cross for several years and supporting its efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies of all kinds, including situations of violence.
Source: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Government is Responsible for the Jos Crisis and other Crises in Nigeria
The Government is Responsible for the Jos Crisis and other Crises in Nigeria
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
I have been reading many childish and foolish posts and comments by tribalists and religious bigots on the Jos crisis and other crises plaguing Nigeria.
The reality is, the Nigerian government has failed woefully to protect precious lives and properties in the country.
If we have a good government, there will be security for all the citizens no matter your location, creed, or class.
If the security agencies in Plateau state were active, the perpetrators of the massacres would not have been able to do so.
Solution?
Sack the incompetent government before it is too late.
Nigeria will not survive another civil or uncivil war.
Related:
Nigeria: A Sick Nation with a Sick President
More news reports and features on Nigeria and the rest of the world by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
I have been reading many childish and foolish posts and comments by tribalists and religious bigots on the Jos crisis and other crises plaguing Nigeria.
The reality is, the Nigerian government has failed woefully to protect precious lives and properties in the country.
If we have a good government, there will be security for all the citizens no matter your location, creed, or class.
If the security agencies in Plateau state were active, the perpetrators of the massacres would not have been able to do so.
Solution?
Sack the incompetent government before it is too late.
Nigeria will not survive another civil or uncivil war.
Related:
Nigeria: A Sick Nation with a Sick President
More news reports and features on Nigeria and the rest of the world by Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima.
More Than Half of Workers Admit to Checking Their Smart Phones While Driving
How many times do you do this while driving?
10 Mar 2010 13:00 Africa/Lagos
More Than Half of Workers Admit to Checking Their Smart Phones While Driving, Finds New CareerBuilder Survey
-- One-in-Five Workers Report They Check Their Device Every Time it Vibrates or Beeps --
CHICAGO, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- While smart phones have made it easier for workers to stay connected to the office, they may not be a good idea for every commute. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, more than one-half (54 percent) of workers who have a smart phone or similar device said they check it when driving a vehicle. Comparing industries, sales workers (66 percent) used their smart phones while driving more than any other group surveyed, followed by 59 percent of professional and business services workers and 50 percent of health care workers. The survey was conducted among more than 5,200 workers between November 5 and November 23, 2009.
Some workers admit they may be risking safety on the road to check their phones because they feel pressured to do so. Twenty-one percent of workers say they check their mobile device every time it vibrates or beeps and 18 percent report they are required by their company to be accessible beyond office hours via mobile device. Also, 14 percent of workers said they feel obligated to constantly stay in touch with work because of the current tough economy.
In addition to driving, workers with smart phones said they are checking in with the office on their smart phones from virtually anywhere and everywhere, including:
-- During a meal - 62 percent
-- On vacation - 60 percent
-- While in the bathroom - 57 percent
-- Lying in bed at night - 50 percent
-- At a movie, play, musical, etc... - 25 percent
-- On a date - 18 percent
-- Working out at the gym - 17 percent
-- At a child's event of function - 17 percent
-- At church - 11 percent
"It is challenging for workers to maintain a good work/life balance when they are constantly connected to the office, so turning their devices off is important for their health and safety," said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. "The lines between work and life can be very blurry these days - 17 percent of workers said they feel like their work day never ends because of technology connecting them to the office. To reduce burnout and avoid potentially risky behavior, workers should allot technology-free time when away from work."
Haefner offers the following advice on how to disconnect from the e-leash:
-- Turn off your smart phone when driving: Not only is it illegal in many
states, but using your mobile device while driving is dangerous to you
and others on the road. If it's necessary to leave your smart phone on
and a conference call or other urgent matter comes up, pull over to
safely handle the situation.
-- Set priorities for outside of work: Twenty-three percent of workers
who are required to be accessible beyond office hours report that
being too connected to their jobs via technology has caused issues or
arguments with their friends and family. Discuss the e-leash with your
loved ones so that they are aware that sometimes you may need to be
connected to work.
-- Have a backup plan in place: If you anticipate being needed outside of
the office, plan to have an out-of-office message or voicemail up, or
leave contact information for others familiar with your area of the
business. That way, any emergency can be handled appropriately if you
can't get to it.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive© on behalf of CareerBuilder.com among 5,231 U.S. employees (employed full-time; not self-employed; non-government) ages 18 and over between November 5 and November 23, 2009 (percentages for some questions are based on a subset of U.S. employees, based on their responses to certain questions). With a pure probability sample of 5,231 one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 1.35 percentage points, respectively. Sampling error for data from sub-samples is higher and varies.
About CareerBuilder®
CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract their most important asset - their people. Its online career site, CareerBuilder.com®, is the largest in the United States with more than 23 million unique visitors, 1 million jobs and 32 million resumes. CareerBuilder works with the world's top employers, providing resources for everything from employment branding and data analysis. More than 9,000 websites, including 140 newspapers and broadband portals such as MSN and AOL, feature CareerBuilder's proprietary job search technology on their career sites. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI) , Tribune Company, The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) , CareerBuilder and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, Europe, Canada and Asia. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.
Media Contact:
CareerBuilder
Allison Nawoj
773-527-2437
allison.nawoj@careerbuilder.com
http://www.twitter.com/CareerBuilderPR
Source: CareerBuilder
CONTACT: Allison Nawoj of CareerBuilder, +1-773-527-2437,
allison.nawoj@careerbuilder.com
Web Site: CareerBuilder
Nobel Prize-Winning Economist George Akerlof and Rachel Kranton Offer An Engaging Look At How Identity Matters in Economic Decisions
10 Mar 2010 13:30 Africa/Lagos
Nobel Prize-Winning Economist George Akerlof and Rachel Kranton Offer An Engaging Look At How Identity Matters in Economic Decisions in Their New Book IDENTITY ECONOMICS
PRINCETON, N.J., March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 1995, economist Rachel Kranton wrote future Nobel Prize-winner George Akerlof a letter insisting that his most recent paper was wrong. Identity, she argued, was the missing element that would help to explain why people--facing the same economic circumstances--would make different choices. This was the beginning of a fourteen-year collaboration--and of IDENTITY ECONOMICS.
People often make the choices that will define their lives--where to live, how many children to have, etc.--based on financial drawbacks and incentives. IDENTITY ECONOMICS: How Our Identities Shape Our Work, Wages, and Well-Being explores how our identities are shaped by our economic decisions and behavior. With this book, Akerlof & Kranton hope to take a giant step further on the path of behavioral economics. IDENTITY ECONOMICS is a new way to understand people's decisions--at work, at school, and at home. With it, we can better appreciate why incentives like stock options work or don't; why some schools succeed and others don't; why some cities and towns don't invest in their futures--and much, much more.
Fresh off his bestselling 2009 book Animal Spirits (new paperback edition out in March 2010), with Yale's Robert Shiller, Akerlof and co-author Kranton, push the limits of behavioral economics. IDENTITY ECONOMICS bridges a critical gap in the social sciences. It brings identity and norms to economics. People's notions of what is proper, and what is forbidden, and for whom, are fundamental to how hard they work, and how they learn, spend, and save. Thus people's identity--their conception of who they are, and of who they choose to be--may be the most important factor affecting their economic lives. And the limits placed by society on people's identity can also be crucial determinants of their economic well-being.
"In the regular economic discourse of markets and taxes, we often forget about the forces that truly make a large difference in our lives. In IDENTITY ECONOMICS we sit on an economic porch with Rachel Kranton and George Akerlof, observing what we care about most--our identity."
-- Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
"This intriguing book shows how much can be learned when you add the tools of economics to the other intellectual resources now available for thinking about the power of identity. George Akerlof and Rachel Kranton report the results of technical modeling without immersing the reader in the technicalities. The result is an accessible work of commendable clarity."
-- Kwame Anthony Appiah, author of The Ethics of Identity
"In IDENTITY ECONOMICS, George Akerlof and Rachel Kranton team up to bring people and their passions into economic analysis. Moving away from conventional accounts, they propose a bold paradigm to explain why and how identity and social norms shape economic decision making. With verve and insight, the book transforms standard economic understandings of organizations, schools, gender segregation, and racial discrimination. This new enlightened economics opens up a bright future for serious collaboration between economists and sociologists."
-- Viviana A. Zelizer, author of The Purchase of Intimacy
About the Authors:
George A. Akerlof is the Koshland Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics. He is the coauthor, with Robert Shiller, of Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism. Rachel E. Kranton is Professor of Economics at Duke University.
IDENTITY ECONOMICS
How Our Identities Shape Our Work, Wages, and Well-Being
George A. Akerlof and Rachel E. Kranton
Cloth $24.95 -- Pounds Sterling 16.95 | ISBN: 978-0-691-14648-5
200 pp. | 6 x 9 | 2 halftones
Publication Date: March 3, 2010
In North America:
Contact: Andrew DeSio
Phone: (609) 258-5165
Fax: (609) 258-1335
andrew_desio@press.princeton.edu
Source: Princeton University Press
CONTACT: Andrew DeSio of Princeton University Press, +1-609-258-5165,
andrew_desio@press.princeton.edu
Web Site: Princeton University Press
Nobel Prize-Winning Economist George Akerlof and Rachel Kranton Offer An Engaging Look At How Identity Matters in Economic Decisions in Their New Book IDENTITY ECONOMICS
PRINCETON, N.J., March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In 1995, economist Rachel Kranton wrote future Nobel Prize-winner George Akerlof a letter insisting that his most recent paper was wrong. Identity, she argued, was the missing element that would help to explain why people--facing the same economic circumstances--would make different choices. This was the beginning of a fourteen-year collaboration--and of IDENTITY ECONOMICS.
People often make the choices that will define their lives--where to live, how many children to have, etc.--based on financial drawbacks and incentives. IDENTITY ECONOMICS: How Our Identities Shape Our Work, Wages, and Well-Being explores how our identities are shaped by our economic decisions and behavior. With this book, Akerlof & Kranton hope to take a giant step further on the path of behavioral economics. IDENTITY ECONOMICS is a new way to understand people's decisions--at work, at school, and at home. With it, we can better appreciate why incentives like stock options work or don't; why some schools succeed and others don't; why some cities and towns don't invest in their futures--and much, much more.
Fresh off his bestselling 2009 book Animal Spirits (new paperback edition out in March 2010), with Yale's Robert Shiller, Akerlof and co-author Kranton, push the limits of behavioral economics. IDENTITY ECONOMICS bridges a critical gap in the social sciences. It brings identity and norms to economics. People's notions of what is proper, and what is forbidden, and for whom, are fundamental to how hard they work, and how they learn, spend, and save. Thus people's identity--their conception of who they are, and of who they choose to be--may be the most important factor affecting their economic lives. And the limits placed by society on people's identity can also be crucial determinants of their economic well-being.
"In the regular economic discourse of markets and taxes, we often forget about the forces that truly make a large difference in our lives. In IDENTITY ECONOMICS we sit on an economic porch with Rachel Kranton and George Akerlof, observing what we care about most--our identity."
-- Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
"This intriguing book shows how much can be learned when you add the tools of economics to the other intellectual resources now available for thinking about the power of identity. George Akerlof and Rachel Kranton report the results of technical modeling without immersing the reader in the technicalities. The result is an accessible work of commendable clarity."
-- Kwame Anthony Appiah, author of The Ethics of Identity
"In IDENTITY ECONOMICS, George Akerlof and Rachel Kranton team up to bring people and their passions into economic analysis. Moving away from conventional accounts, they propose a bold paradigm to explain why and how identity and social norms shape economic decision making. With verve and insight, the book transforms standard economic understandings of organizations, schools, gender segregation, and racial discrimination. This new enlightened economics opens up a bright future for serious collaboration between economists and sociologists."
-- Viviana A. Zelizer, author of The Purchase of Intimacy
About the Authors:
George A. Akerlof is the Koshland Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics. He is the coauthor, with Robert Shiller, of Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism. Rachel E. Kranton is Professor of Economics at Duke University.
IDENTITY ECONOMICS
How Our Identities Shape Our Work, Wages, and Well-Being
George A. Akerlof and Rachel E. Kranton
Cloth $24.95 -- Pounds Sterling 16.95 | ISBN: 978-0-691-14648-5
200 pp. | 6 x 9 | 2 halftones
Publication Date: March 3, 2010
In North America:
Contact: Andrew DeSio
Phone: (609) 258-5165
Fax: (609) 258-1335
andrew_desio@press.princeton.edu
Source: Princeton University Press
CONTACT: Andrew DeSio of Princeton University Press, +1-609-258-5165,
andrew_desio@press.princeton.edu
Web Site: Princeton University Press
'Social Media Strategies for Your Business Brand - A Marketing and Technology Primer' Half Day Denver Workshop by iDiaz Marketing
The application of social media strategies is no longer news in the advanced countries, but it is still underdeveloped in most of the developing countries like Nigeria. Many of the leading companies in Nigeria simply join the popular social networking sites, but are yet to explore the business opportunities. I got the franchise to launch Nigeria Startup Weekend (Africa) and created the Re-Branding Nigeria Clubs Facebook for the mobilization and sensitization of millions of Nigerians on using social media strategies for the nation building of a New Nigeria. The following news release would be of immense benefit to companies in Nigeria. I hope they will send their representatives to the workshop in Denver and play catch-up with those from the developed world.
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
The Publisher/Editor
Nigerians Report
10 Mar 2010 13:30 Africa/Lagos
'Social Media Strategies for Your Business Brand - A Marketing and Technology Primer' Half Day Denver Workshop by iDiaz Marketing
DENVER, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Denver Social Media Expert and professional speaker Lisa Diaz of iDiaz Marketing and Denver Technology Security Executive Hector Diaz, are co-presenting, "Social Media Strategies for Your Business Brand" an information-packed half day workshop providing strategies, tactics, and technology knowledge immediately useable to market smarter online with Social Media.
The workshop is from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, April 7th, 2010 at the Denver Athletic Club. Admission is $295 per person. Group rates are available.
This 4 hour power session is ideal for business leaders, sales, customer service, business development, and marketing managers responsible for customer acquisition or business growth through marketing channels and seek answers to these questions:
-- Which social media tools can grow business?
-- Will a Facebook fan page or LinkedIn profile bring new customers?
-- Is Twitter a good use of time?
-- What happens to personal information when creating a social media
profile?
-- What kind of information is safe to send in an email?
Attendees will learn how to develop a social media marketing plan that drives success to meet your business goals. Blogs, microsites, video, online ads, and email are tools. Using the right tools for business based on smart strategies lays the foundation for success.
About iDiaz Marketing and Hector Diaz
iDiaz Marketing is a marketing consulting company dedicated to helping businesses strategically integrate new marketing technologies like social media, email marketing and search marketing into their current marketing mix. Lisa Diaz, Principal Consultant at iDiaz Marketing, has over 20 years of experience in marketing communications and 13 years in eMarketing. Diaz is certified by both the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization and Online Marketing Institute.
"Lisa is one of the most knowledgeable speakers on the subject of social media and Internet marketing. Her presentations are clever, funny and jam-packed with information." -- Caroline Schomp, V.P., CableNetWorkz
Hector Diaz is a Denver executive with a diverse background in Information Technology, Product Marketing and Service Management. His extensive experience includes managing international data centers for Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies. He is an authority in computer security.
For more workshop information or to register, visit www.iDiaz.org/Workshop, or contact Lisa Diaz at 303.710.1453, or lisa@idiaz.org. Attendance is limited to 30 people to maximize the learning experience.
Source: iDiaz Marketing
CONTACT: Lisa Diaz of iDiaz Marketing, +1-303-710-1453, or
lisa@idiaz.org
Web Site: http://www.idiaz.org/
http://www.idiaz.org/Workshop
~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
The Publisher/Editor
Nigerians Report
10 Mar 2010 13:30 Africa/Lagos
'Social Media Strategies for Your Business Brand - A Marketing and Technology Primer' Half Day Denver Workshop by iDiaz Marketing
DENVER, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Denver Social Media Expert and professional speaker Lisa Diaz of iDiaz Marketing and Denver Technology Security Executive Hector Diaz, are co-presenting, "Social Media Strategies for Your Business Brand" an information-packed half day workshop providing strategies, tactics, and technology knowledge immediately useable to market smarter online with Social Media.
The workshop is from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, April 7th, 2010 at the Denver Athletic Club. Admission is $295 per person. Group rates are available.
This 4 hour power session is ideal for business leaders, sales, customer service, business development, and marketing managers responsible for customer acquisition or business growth through marketing channels and seek answers to these questions:
-- Which social media tools can grow business?
-- Will a Facebook fan page or LinkedIn profile bring new customers?
-- Is Twitter a good use of time?
-- What happens to personal information when creating a social media
profile?
-- What kind of information is safe to send in an email?
Attendees will learn how to develop a social media marketing plan that drives success to meet your business goals. Blogs, microsites, video, online ads, and email are tools. Using the right tools for business based on smart strategies lays the foundation for success.
About iDiaz Marketing and Hector Diaz
iDiaz Marketing is a marketing consulting company dedicated to helping businesses strategically integrate new marketing technologies like social media, email marketing and search marketing into their current marketing mix. Lisa Diaz, Principal Consultant at iDiaz Marketing, has over 20 years of experience in marketing communications and 13 years in eMarketing. Diaz is certified by both the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization and Online Marketing Institute.
"Lisa is one of the most knowledgeable speakers on the subject of social media and Internet marketing. Her presentations are clever, funny and jam-packed with information." -- Caroline Schomp, V.P., CableNetWorkz
Hector Diaz is a Denver executive with a diverse background in Information Technology, Product Marketing and Service Management. His extensive experience includes managing international data centers for Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies. He is an authority in computer security.
For more workshop information or to register, visit www.iDiaz.org/Workshop, or contact Lisa Diaz at 303.710.1453, or lisa@idiaz.org. Attendance is limited to 30 people to maximize the learning experience.
Source: iDiaz Marketing
CONTACT: Lisa Diaz of iDiaz Marketing, +1-303-710-1453, or
lisa@idiaz.org
Web Site: http://www.idiaz.org/
http://www.idiaz.org/Workshop
Nurse Practitioners to Patients: Can We Talk?
10 Mar 2010 13:05 Africa/Lagos
Nurse Practitioners to Patients: Can We Talk?
New Survey Shows NPs Want to Educate Patients About Dietary Supplement Usage
WASHINGTON, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Eighty-five percent of nurse practitioners agree that one of the roles of healthcare professionals is to provide their patients with information about dietary supplements, according to new research from the "Life...supplemented" 2009 Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study.
"Supplements can be overlooked, but they shouldn't be," says Barbara Dehn, RN, MS, NP with Women's Physicians in Mountain View, Calif. and advisor to the "Life...supplemented" program. "Nurse practitioners are very interested in integrative healthcare options, looking at the overall wellness picture, and figuring out how we focus on health maintenance and preventive approaches. I recommend my patients start with the basics: eat right, incorporate vitamins and other supplements, and exercise regularly."
Nurse Dehn is not alone. According to the study, nurse practitioners are personally incorporating the three pillars of health into their own lives: 84 percent said they try to eat a balanced diet, 95 percent take dietary supplements, and 64 percent exercise regularly.
Ninety-six percent of nurse practitioners recommend supplements, and their reasons are varied--most often for bone health (63 percent recommend for this reason), overall health and wellness (47 percent) and to fill nutrition gaps (44 percent).
Not only are they recommending supplements to their patients, but they're talking about them. Eighty-one percent of nurse practitioners personally inquire about which supplements patients are taking (and only three percent state that no one in the practice inquires about supplements). When asked who brings up the subject of supplements most often, 55 percent of nurse practitioners say they personally ask, with 28 percent crediting nurse practitioners and patients equally, and only 17 percent crediting solely the patient.
Eighty-three percent of nurse practitioners say their patients are generally comfortable telling them about their supplement usage, but a smaller percentage (70 percent) feel their patients are generally honest and forthcoming about their use of dietary supplements.
"That dynamic has to change," says Nurse Barb, of the latter statistic. "I hope that patients know how open we are to hearing about their supplement use, especially if they're on medications. This is so we can ensure they're aware of potential interactions with their drugs, but equally as important, so we can help address any nutrient depletions caused by medications. At the same time, nurse practitioners, doctors, and all healthcare professionals have to do a better job being open to listening to patients when it comes to supplements. These are mainstream products, and it's our job to help our patients figure out which supplements best meet their individual needs."
So which supplements are nurse practitioners taking? Some examples include: multivitamins (79 percent) and calcium (63 percent); specialty supplements, such as Omega 3/fish oil (48 percent) and glucosamine/chondroitin (18 percent): and herbals/botanicals, such as green tea (23 percent); and fiber (17 percent).
"Patients should feel free to initiate the conversation about living a healthy lifestyle. Taking a proactive stance towards personal wellness is the best way to ensure optimal health for the future," says Nurse Dehn.
Consumers can take that first proactive step by filling out "My Wellness Scorecard," an online, free interactive tool that, once completed, provides an initial personalized wellness assessment with realistic steps to take toward better health. Individuals can take their results to a nurse practitioner or other healthcare professional, who can help develop a wellness regimen that works for them.
Methodology: Results from the 2009 "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study went public in December 2009 and comprise three separate surveys - (300) nurse practitioners, (300) pharmacists and (300) registered dietitians. Margins of sampling error at a 95 percent confidence level are +/- 5.7 percentage points for each of the groups of healthcare professionals surveyed. A nominal honorarium was given to each healthcare professional for completing the survey. Ipsos Public Affairs conducted the survey online. The first "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study of physicians, OB/GYNs and nurses was conducted online in November 2007. The second study of cardiologists, orthopaedic specialists and dermatologists was conducted online in September 2008.
About the "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study: The study is part of the "Life...supplemented" consumer wellness campaign, which is dedicated to driving awareness about the mainstream use of dietary supplements as an integral part of a proactive personal wellness regimen that combines a healthy diet, supplements and exercise. The study evaluates the personal attitudes and use of dietary supplements by healthcare professionals and whether their attitudes toward supplements affect their clinical behavior and recommendations to patients. The "Life...supplemented" campaign is managed by the CRN Foundation, an educational affiliate of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the leading trade association for the dietary supplement industry. For more information: www.lifesupplemented.org.
Source: Life...supplemented
CONTACT: CRN, Erin Hlasney, +1-202-204-7684, ehlasney@crnusa.org; or
CRT/tanaka, Kelly Bucher Sakalas, +1-757-640-1982 x28,
ksakalas@crt-tanaka.com
Web Site: http://www.lifesupplemented.org/
Nurse Practitioners to Patients: Can We Talk?
New Survey Shows NPs Want to Educate Patients About Dietary Supplement Usage
WASHINGTON, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Eighty-five percent of nurse practitioners agree that one of the roles of healthcare professionals is to provide their patients with information about dietary supplements, according to new research from the "Life...supplemented" 2009 Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study.
"Supplements can be overlooked, but they shouldn't be," says Barbara Dehn, RN, MS, NP with Women's Physicians in Mountain View, Calif. and advisor to the "Life...supplemented" program. "Nurse practitioners are very interested in integrative healthcare options, looking at the overall wellness picture, and figuring out how we focus on health maintenance and preventive approaches. I recommend my patients start with the basics: eat right, incorporate vitamins and other supplements, and exercise regularly."
Nurse Dehn is not alone. According to the study, nurse practitioners are personally incorporating the three pillars of health into their own lives: 84 percent said they try to eat a balanced diet, 95 percent take dietary supplements, and 64 percent exercise regularly.
Ninety-six percent of nurse practitioners recommend supplements, and their reasons are varied--most often for bone health (63 percent recommend for this reason), overall health and wellness (47 percent) and to fill nutrition gaps (44 percent).
Not only are they recommending supplements to their patients, but they're talking about them. Eighty-one percent of nurse practitioners personally inquire about which supplements patients are taking (and only three percent state that no one in the practice inquires about supplements). When asked who brings up the subject of supplements most often, 55 percent of nurse practitioners say they personally ask, with 28 percent crediting nurse practitioners and patients equally, and only 17 percent crediting solely the patient.
Eighty-three percent of nurse practitioners say their patients are generally comfortable telling them about their supplement usage, but a smaller percentage (70 percent) feel their patients are generally honest and forthcoming about their use of dietary supplements.
"That dynamic has to change," says Nurse Barb, of the latter statistic. "I hope that patients know how open we are to hearing about their supplement use, especially if they're on medications. This is so we can ensure they're aware of potential interactions with their drugs, but equally as important, so we can help address any nutrient depletions caused by medications. At the same time, nurse practitioners, doctors, and all healthcare professionals have to do a better job being open to listening to patients when it comes to supplements. These are mainstream products, and it's our job to help our patients figure out which supplements best meet their individual needs."
So which supplements are nurse practitioners taking? Some examples include: multivitamins (79 percent) and calcium (63 percent); specialty supplements, such as Omega 3/fish oil (48 percent) and glucosamine/chondroitin (18 percent): and herbals/botanicals, such as green tea (23 percent); and fiber (17 percent).
"Patients should feel free to initiate the conversation about living a healthy lifestyle. Taking a proactive stance towards personal wellness is the best way to ensure optimal health for the future," says Nurse Dehn.
Consumers can take that first proactive step by filling out "My Wellness Scorecard," an online, free interactive tool that, once completed, provides an initial personalized wellness assessment with realistic steps to take toward better health. Individuals can take their results to a nurse practitioner or other healthcare professional, who can help develop a wellness regimen that works for them.
Methodology: Results from the 2009 "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study went public in December 2009 and comprise three separate surveys - (300) nurse practitioners, (300) pharmacists and (300) registered dietitians. Margins of sampling error at a 95 percent confidence level are +/- 5.7 percentage points for each of the groups of healthcare professionals surveyed. A nominal honorarium was given to each healthcare professional for completing the survey. Ipsos Public Affairs conducted the survey online. The first "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study of physicians, OB/GYNs and nurses was conducted online in November 2007. The second study of cardiologists, orthopaedic specialists and dermatologists was conducted online in September 2008.
About the "Life...supplemented" HCP Impact Study: The study is part of the "Life...supplemented" consumer wellness campaign, which is dedicated to driving awareness about the mainstream use of dietary supplements as an integral part of a proactive personal wellness regimen that combines a healthy diet, supplements and exercise. The study evaluates the personal attitudes and use of dietary supplements by healthcare professionals and whether their attitudes toward supplements affect their clinical behavior and recommendations to patients. The "Life...supplemented" campaign is managed by the CRN Foundation, an educational affiliate of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, the leading trade association for the dietary supplement industry. For more information: www.lifesupplemented.org.
Source: Life...supplemented
CONTACT: CRN, Erin Hlasney, +1-202-204-7684, ehlasney@crnusa.org; or
CRT/tanaka, Kelly Bucher Sakalas, +1-757-640-1982 x28,
ksakalas@crt-tanaka.com
Web Site: http://www.lifesupplemented.org/
World Vision: Pakistan Attack 'Brutal and Senseless'
10 Mar 2010 09:10 Africa/Lagos
World Vision: Pakistan Attack 'Brutal and Senseless'
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- World Vision today is mourning the brutal and senseless deaths of five members our staff in the Mansehra District of Pakistan after an unprovoked attack by gunmen.
The international humanitarian organization is seeking to confirm reports that gunmen first set off bombs or grenades, then opened fire on the office, located 65 kilometers north of the capital, Islamabad.
In addition to those killed, seven employees are hospitalized with injuries and one staff member is missing.
No threatening letters were received prior to the attack.
World Vision's relief and development work in Pakistan is conducted by local citizens.
All of World Vision's operations in the country have been suspended indefinitely.
Those who kill humanitarian workers must be reminded that they are not only killing their own country's residents, but also people seeking to improve the lives of victims of poverty and injustice.
Since 1992, World Vision has primarily focused on relief interventions in Pakistan. The work expanded in 2001, when the agency began collaborating with other aid groups in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Punjab Province with emergency relief assistance and community development initiatives. After the devastating October 2005 earthquake, World Vision expanded it operations in Pakistan.
Source: World Vision
CONTACT: Dean R. Owen of World Vision, +1-253-815-2103, +1-253-906-8645
cell, dowen@worldvision.org
World Vision: Pakistan Attack 'Brutal and Senseless'
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- World Vision today is mourning the brutal and senseless deaths of five members our staff in the Mansehra District of Pakistan after an unprovoked attack by gunmen.
The international humanitarian organization is seeking to confirm reports that gunmen first set off bombs or grenades, then opened fire on the office, located 65 kilometers north of the capital, Islamabad.
In addition to those killed, seven employees are hospitalized with injuries and one staff member is missing.
No threatening letters were received prior to the attack.
World Vision's relief and development work in Pakistan is conducted by local citizens.
All of World Vision's operations in the country have been suspended indefinitely.
Those who kill humanitarian workers must be reminded that they are not only killing their own country's residents, but also people seeking to improve the lives of victims of poverty and injustice.
Since 1992, World Vision has primarily focused on relief interventions in Pakistan. The work expanded in 2001, when the agency began collaborating with other aid groups in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Punjab Province with emergency relief assistance and community development initiatives. After the devastating October 2005 earthquake, World Vision expanded it operations in Pakistan.
Source: World Vision
CONTACT: Dean R. Owen of World Vision, +1-253-815-2103, +1-253-906-8645
cell, dowen@worldvision.org
UN Human rights Chief says New Approach needed to halt Cycle of Violence in Nigeria
9 Mar 2010 18:39 Africa/Lagos
UN human rights chief says new approach needed to halt cycle of violence in Nigeria
GENEVA, March 9, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Tuesday that she was appalled by the latest massacre of hundreds of villagers in the region around Jos in northern Nigeria, and urged the national and local authorities to make a concerted effort to tackle the complex underlying causes of the tension and violence in the region.
The High Commissioner extended her deepest sympathy to the families of the dead and to the wounded from both this weekend's attacks, which some reports suggest may have killed as many as 500 people in three mainly Christian Berom villages, and the earlier attacks in January which also resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people in the Jos region, mostly from the predominantly Muslim Hausa Fulana people.
“In both cases, women and children and elderly people were among those who were viciously slaughtered,” Pillay said. “After the January killings, the villages should have been properly protected.”
The High Commissioner noted the efforts of the authorities to put in place a comprehensive security strategy. “Better security is clearly vital,” she said, “but it would be a mistake to paint this purely as sectarian or ethnic violence, and to treat it solely as a security issue. What is most needed is a concerted effort to tackle the underlying causes of the repeated outbreaks of ethnic and religious violence which Nigeria has witnessed in recent years, namely discrimination, poverty and disputes over land. The Government needs to address these issues head-on.”
Pillay also noted allegations that local politicians may have exploited socio-economic, ethnic and religious divisions. “This is an aspect that needs be scrutinized, and if necessary acted upon, if further bouts of violence are to be deterred,” she said.
The High Commissioner stressed that it was essential that the forces of law and order in the Jos region act in a visibly even-handed fashion, and that justice is seen to be done by all sides.
“The job facing the security forces and the judiciary is extremely sensitive,” she said. “It is important to avoid stimulating new resentments, while at the same time ensuring that those responsible for these atrocious acts do not escape justice. This is the third round of deadly violence in the Jos region in three years, leading to a total number of deaths that may exceed 1,000. Clearly, previous efforts to tackle the underlying causes have been inadequate, and in the meantime the wounds have festered and grown deeper.”
Source: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
9 Mar 2010
18:47
Platts Survey: OPEC Pumps 29.31 Million Barrels of Oil Per Day in February
18:39
UN human rights chief says new approach needed to halt cycle of violence in Nigeria
17:12
German Federal Minister Westerwelle voices concern about violence in central Nigeria
12:56
Remarks With Gabonese President Ali Bongo After Their Meeting
UN human rights chief says new approach needed to halt cycle of violence in Nigeria
GENEVA, March 9, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Tuesday that she was appalled by the latest massacre of hundreds of villagers in the region around Jos in northern Nigeria, and urged the national and local authorities to make a concerted effort to tackle the complex underlying causes of the tension and violence in the region.
The High Commissioner extended her deepest sympathy to the families of the dead and to the wounded from both this weekend's attacks, which some reports suggest may have killed as many as 500 people in three mainly Christian Berom villages, and the earlier attacks in January which also resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people in the Jos region, mostly from the predominantly Muslim Hausa Fulana people.
“In both cases, women and children and elderly people were among those who were viciously slaughtered,” Pillay said. “After the January killings, the villages should have been properly protected.”
The High Commissioner noted the efforts of the authorities to put in place a comprehensive security strategy. “Better security is clearly vital,” she said, “but it would be a mistake to paint this purely as sectarian or ethnic violence, and to treat it solely as a security issue. What is most needed is a concerted effort to tackle the underlying causes of the repeated outbreaks of ethnic and religious violence which Nigeria has witnessed in recent years, namely discrimination, poverty and disputes over land. The Government needs to address these issues head-on.”
Pillay also noted allegations that local politicians may have exploited socio-economic, ethnic and religious divisions. “This is an aspect that needs be scrutinized, and if necessary acted upon, if further bouts of violence are to be deterred,” she said.
The High Commissioner stressed that it was essential that the forces of law and order in the Jos region act in a visibly even-handed fashion, and that justice is seen to be done by all sides.
“The job facing the security forces and the judiciary is extremely sensitive,” she said. “It is important to avoid stimulating new resentments, while at the same time ensuring that those responsible for these atrocious acts do not escape justice. This is the third round of deadly violence in the Jos region in three years, leading to a total number of deaths that may exceed 1,000. Clearly, previous efforts to tackle the underlying causes have been inadequate, and in the meantime the wounds have festered and grown deeper.”
Source: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
9 Mar 2010
18:47
Platts Survey: OPEC Pumps 29.31 Million Barrels of Oil Per Day in February
18:39
UN human rights chief says new approach needed to halt cycle of violence in Nigeria
17:12
German Federal Minister Westerwelle voices concern about violence in central Nigeria
12:56
Remarks With Gabonese President Ali Bongo After Their Meeting
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Popular African Filmmaker Mahama Johnson Traore Dies in Paris
Director Mahama Johnson Traoré © Monique Phoba, 2009..
One of Africa’s foremost filmmakers, Mahama Johnson Traore of Senegal died Monday morning in Paris after a protracted illness. He was 68 years old.
Johnson Traore was one of the founders of the Pan-African Cinema Festival (FESPACO) held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He was also the Secretary-General of the Pan-African Federation of Film-makers in the 1970s.
He was trained in France and shot his first film, “Diankha-bi” (The Maiden, in Wolof) in 1968.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
N.B:
You can read the report on the 82nd Academy Awards on Supple magazine and view the video coverage full screen.
Lady Gaga's Epic New Video for 'Telephone' Featuring Beyonce to Make Its Worldwide Debut Exclusively on E! News Thursday, March 11 at 11:30PM
Lady Gaga's Epic New Video for 'Telephone' Featuring Beyonce to Make Its Worldwide Debut Exclusively on E! News Thursday, March 11 at 11:30pm. (PRNewsFoto/Interscope Records) LOS ANGELES, CA UNITED STATES
9 Mar 2010 14:00 Africa/Lagos
Lady Gaga's Epic New Video for 'Telephone' Featuring Beyonce to Make Its Worldwide Debut Exclusively on E! News Thursday, March 11 at 11:30PM
ONLINE PREMIERE AT VEVO.COM AND LADYGAGA.COM Lady Gaga Also Set To Talk With E! News' Ryan Seacrest for an Exclusive One-on-One Interview After 'Telephone' Hits E!'s Air
LOS ANGELES, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- From the moment Lady Gaga's "Telephone" danced through the radio airwaves, her millions of monsters worldwide have been eagerly and anxiously waiting for the music video debut of the hit single. The wait is finally over Thursday, March 11 when E! News exclusively premieres the epic video, which features pop superstar Beyonce, during the show's 11:30 PM broadcast. "Telephone" is the second single from Lady Gaga's platinum album The Fame Monster (Streamline/Konlive/Cherrytree/Interscope).
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100309/LA67280-a)
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100309/LA67280-b)
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100309/LA67280-c)
The video will also make its online debut at midnight that evening on VEVO.com and LadyGaga.com so fans can view it again right away. VEVO will also offer the ability to watch the video with lyrics. After the video premieres on E! News, Ryan Seacrest will conduct an exclusive interview with this enchanting artist to dissect the inspiration behind "Telephone" and learn how she has been able to out-do herself yet again.
"What I like about it is it's a real true pop event," Lady Gaga said about the "Telephone" video in a February interview with KIIS-FM and E!'s Ryan Seacrest. "When I was younger I was always excited when there was a big giant event happening in pop music and that's what I wanted this to be."
Gritty, erotic and wildly fierce, this nine-minute, visually stunning, cinematic masterpiece features the inimitable Beyonce and is helmed by famed music video director Jonas Akerlund. Rich with Gaga's unique dance stylings, iconic costume design and unworldly hair and make-up, this is far from your typical music video.
Since breaking out onto the music scene in 2008 with her Grammy Award-winning debut album, The Fame, Lady Gaga has consistently shocked and inspired. The Fame spawned four No. 1 singles "Just Dance," "Poker Face," "LoveGame," and "Paparazzi," making her the first artist in Billboard history to accomplish that feat on a debut album.
Released on November 23, 2009, The Fame Monster is the follow-up to The Fame, and already has produced a fifth No. 1 single for Gaga with "Bad Romance." Combined, The Fame and The Fame Monster have sold 10 million albums worldwide, while Lady Gaga's five singles have sold more than 17 million copies total. The video for "Bad Romance" has racked up more than 140 million online views.
Lady Gaga has said that the video for "Telephone" picks up where "Paparazzi" left off but will surpass its predecessor. In the new video, Gaga's on-screen chemistry with Beyonce transforms the song from a popular dance floor gem to a raw and explosive piece of art to be reckoned with. It is the second time the two entertainers have collaborated for a visual adventure, first on Beyonce's "Video Phone" and now on Lady Gaga's "Telephone."
Beyonce, who enjoyed a string of #1 hits on the dance charts in 2009, including "Diva," "Halo," "Sweet Dreams," which became her eleventh #1 single, and the Song of the Year at the 2010 Grammys, "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)," was thrilled to re-team up with Lady Gaga. "It was fun to work with Gaga again. This video was a unique opportunity to do something we think will surprise our fans in a creative, edgy way not always seen."
E!'s rich history of providing its audience with the latest breaking news in entertainment and pop culture makes it the perfect forum for this incredible, jaw-dropping premiere.
About Comcast Entertainment Group
Based in Los Angeles, Comcast Entertainment Group operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment, and E! Online; The Style Network, the destination for women 18-49 with a passion for the best in relatable, inspiring and transformational lifestyle programming; and G4, offering the last word on gaming, technology, animation, interactivity and "geek culture" for the male 18-34 demo. E! is currently available to 97 million cable and satellite subscribers in the U.S. and the E! Everywhere initiative underscores the company's dedication to making E! content available on all new media platforms any time and anywhere from online to broadband video to wireless to radio to VOD. The Style Network currently counts 64 million cable and satellite subscribers and Mystyle.com
About Interscope Geffen A&M
Combining the legacies of three of the most influential record labels in modern music history, Interscope Geffen A&M Records embarked on a new tradition of musical achievement with its unification on January 1, 1999. Headed by Chairman Jimmy Iovine, Interscope Geffen A&M is a major force in global music, developing chart-topping artists across a wide range of musical genres including rock, rap, pop and alternative. Interscope Geffen A&M Records is part of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company.
About VEVO
VEVO is the leading innovative online premium music and entertainment service for consumers, advertisers and content owners that blends the very best in musical content with cutting-edge video technology and a thriving user community powered by YouTube. The content is made available across the VEVO Network, which includes VEVO.com (the service's marquee destination site), on YouTube through a VEVO-branded channel, and through a VEVO-branded embedded player. The service also serves as a syndication platform for additional internet destination sites, expanding the reach of the VEVO Network across the worldwide web.
VEVO was created in partnership by Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and the Abu Dhabi Media Company. It is operated independently by a dedicated management team with offices in Los Angeles and New York. The VEVO Network features the most extensive catalog of premium music content found anywhere on the web thanks to deals with such leading music companies as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music, ABKCO, Big Machine Records, CBS Interactive Music Group, Concord Music Group, Hollywood Records, Lyric Street Records, Razor & Tie Entertainment, Walt Disney Records, Wind-up Records, Caroline Distribution, Fontana Distribution, INgrooves, IODA, RED and The Orchard, among many others. Explore VEVO at www.vevo.com
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100309/LA67280-c
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100309/LA67280-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100309/LA67280-b
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN9,10,11
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Interscope Records
CONTACT: Dennis Dennehy of Interscope Records, +1-310-865-7934,
d.dennehy@umusic.com, or Jennifer L. Press of VEVO, +1-212-331-2226,
jennifer.press@vevo.com, or Dave Tomberlin, davetomberlin@gmail.com, for Lady
Gaga, or Kira Wagner, +1-323-954-2516, kwagner@comcastnets.com, for E!
Web Site: http://www.interscope.com/
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