Skin ‘sees’ UV light, starts producing pigment In a new study, biologists report that melanocyte skin cells detect ultraviolet light using a photosensitive receptor previously thought to exist only in the eye. This eye-like ability of skin to sense light triggers the production of melanin within hours, more quickly than previously thought, in an apparent […]

Artists take on the Arctic Aboard an ice-class expedition sailing vessel, media artist Ed Osborn spent 18 days exploring and recording the sights and sounds of the high Arctic. He and 19 other artists, including filmmakers, photographers, and writers, had the opportunity to pursue personal projects and explore collaborations. Sounds of silence A Zodiac took […]

President Obama at the G20 Today, President Obama is in France for a meeting of the G20 — a gathering of 20 nations that represent the world’s most important industrialized economies. In addition to working sessions with the full assembly of leaders, the President also held bilateral talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German […]

Announcement: 25th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development ”We, heads of State and Government, … are committed to making  the right to development a reality for everyone and to freeing  the entire human race from want.” UN Millennium Declaration … Development is a human right. Everyone is “entitled to participate in, contribute […]

UN Declaration on the Right to Development Development is a human right!   The groundbreaking document, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 December 1986, first proclaimed this inalienable right, declaring that everyone is ”entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental […]

What’s New in Healthy, Green Schools at the U.S. Department of Education “In September, I opened the pilot year of the Green Ribbon Schools award to recognize the highest performing green and healthy schools in the nation. High standards of nutrition, fitness, and outdoor time for both students and staff are among the qualifying criteria for the award. The award […]

Rural Mauritanians set to benefit from nearly $18 million in UN loans and grants 3 November 2011 The United Nations agency helping the rural poor announced today it is awarding almost $18 million in loans and grants to Mauritania to boost the incomes and living conditions of thousands of people in the arid country. IFAD […]

FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) The FAO Food Price Index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. It consists of the average of five commodity group price indices (representing 55 quotations), weighted with the average export shares of each of the groups for 2002-2004. In February, […]

FAO Food Price Index down in October Improved supply, global economic uncertainty cited 3 November 2011, Rome – The FAO Food price index dropped to an 11-month low in October, declining 4 percent, or nine points, to 216 points from September. Nonetheless prices still remain generally higher than last year and very volatile, FAO said. Rice […]

Global food prices drop to 11-month low in October, UN agency reports 3 November 2011 Food prices dropped to an 11-month low in October, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today, while adding that they are still higher than last year and very volatile. FAO’s Food Price Index averaged 216 points last […]