Yesturday was the 20th annual National Anti-McDonalds Day. Every year on October 16th people all over the World come together in peaceful protest against this corporate junk food giant to raise awareness about subjects such as McDonalds damaging the environment, exploiting workers, cruelty towards animals and for targeting youth in their ad campaigns. The date of protest was started by the London branch of Greenpeace in 1985 and was chosen because October 16th is also the United Nations World Food Day.
You can visit the official anti McDonalds site here for more information on the company and can also download a version of their “whats wrong with McDonalds” leaflet to learn more about why there is controversy behind the Mc Giant.
Category: Body & Mind
Weed Helps You Think
Marijuana doesn’t only get you high, it may also help to re-grow brain cells. A Canadian researcher has proposed this.
“In mammals, new nerve cells are constantly being produced in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is associated with learning, memory, anxiety and depression. Other recreational drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and cocaine, have been shown to suppress this new growth. Xia Zhang of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, and colleagues decided to see what effects a synthetic cannabinoid called HU210 had on rats’ brains”
An increase in HU210 results in more nerve cell growth. Maybe this shows that smart societies are the ones that allow recreational enjoyment of marijuana.
Healthy Eating is Better than Junk
In a small town in Ontario, Canada a small, but healthy war is raging. A healthy food cafeteria in a school is trying to out-do a junk-food cafe in the same school.
It appears to have met with some sucess.
Thanks, Ben Powers!
Asian Countries Agree on Flu
Agricultural Ministers in South East Asia have agreed on a plan to wipe out avain flu.
“The three-year plan includes provisions for a disease surveillance and alert system, vaccinations, improving diagnostic capability and the establishment of disease-free zones.”
*Artist Highlight*
Omran Suleman Bebo is a young artist from northern Iraq. His paintings reflect his local Yezidi culture (a little known religious sect highly oppressed by Saddam Husseins regime) and many of the transitions and challenges faced by Iraqis today.
As an art teacher, and previous fine arts student himself, he sees the importance of facilitating communication through creativity and encourages his students to express themselves through the medium of art.
You can view more of his original works here.