International Day for the Abolition of Slavery – 2 December “To eradicate contemporary forms of slavery, we need new strategies and measures that can unite all actors. While Governments bear the primary responsibility, the private sector has an integral role to play. Earlier this year, the Human Rights Council endorsed the Guiding Principles on Business and Human […]

France: UN expert calls for coordinated approach to protect children Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Najat Maalla M’jid 2 December 2011 – An independent United Nations human rights expert has encouraged the Government of France to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach to protect all children who are […]

UN official underlines link between food security and climate change Playing a ball game at the IFAD booth at the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa 2 December 2011 – Ensuring global food security while striving to save the Planet from damage are the greatest challenges of this century, a senior United Nations […]

UN and partners launch initiative to ensure sustainable rice production 2 December 2011 Rice harvest in Timor-Leste The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has teamed up with partners in an initiative to ensure that rice, one of the world’s major food crops, is produced in ways that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible, while boosting […]

Ban urges inclusion of persons with disabilities into society Disabled workers at a chalk factory in Ghana’s capital, Accra Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for governments, civil society and the global community to work alongside persons with disabilities, saying their participation is essential to achieve inclusive and sustainable development worldwide. In his message marking the International Day for […]

Examining how your friends influence your health As you consider what resolutions to adopt in the New Year, you might consider inviting a friend, or group of friends, with a similar fitness level and body type to share the experience. New research shows you might be more successful in attaining your goal. In the study published in Science (subscription […]

Statement from HHS Secretary Sebelius on International Day of Persons with Disabilities Saturday, December 3, 2011 is the 19th Annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day to highlight efforts to improve the conditions of persons with disabilities. Across the globe, 15 percent of the world’s population is living with a disability and about a quarter […]

Video offers an anesthesiologist’s view of the heart … … Thanks to an entry over at Boing Boing, I’ve just finished watching this great video offering an anesthesiologist’s view of the heart. It was produced by The Guardian as part of its video series about heart health and cardiovascular medicine. The video centers on Bruce Martin, who talks about how he anesthetizes […]

Presidential Proclamation — International Day of Persons with Disabilities ————- Presidential Proclamation — International Day of Persons with Disabilities December 02, 2011 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we recommit to ensuring people living with disabilities enjoy full equality and unhindered participation in […]

A medical student calls for increased nutrition education for doctors In a post on KevinMD today, a medical student shares his concerns that nutrition education in U.S. medical schools is lacking and that many physicians don’t have the knowledge to effectively counsel patients about obesity and related health conditions. He writes: We may study biochemistry and what […]