Category: Freedom

Irish Smoking Ban Helps Lungs

In Ireland they implemented a smoking ban in March 2004 and researchers have noted a marked increase in air quality as a result. The research reports that an all out smoking ban in the workplace is wonderfully successful in reducing exposure to harmful particles, and, or course carcinogens. This Irish study supports previous research.

The workers were all given lung function tests before the ban came in and a year later….The bar-workers said they were exposed to around 40 hours per week before the ban came in, falling to 25 minutes afterwards – a 99% decrease in exposure.

And lung function tests improved dramatically in non-smoking barmen post-ban.

Have A Heart! And Possibly Two Kidneys…….

I’ve recently been thinking about getting that organ donor sticker thingie added to my health card. Especially since I just read an article that spoke a bit about the subject. Did you know that when you die your old body could save up to seven lives??? Also, many people are afraid that if they are an organ or tissue donor that this means that they will be treated less fairly at the hospital because they are seen more as potential donors than as patients deserving the best care. Not true! The doctors that care for us and the organ donor guys are usually two separate teams of people. So no doc in their right mind is going to let you die because they want your heart and possibly both kidneys. You will also not end up in a crazy scientists lab experiment and become some crazy frankenstein of organs. Although that could also be kinda cool.

Perhaps the idea sounds a tad morbid, but if my own passing could in turn save others lives then I think thats a pretty cool thing. With this form I vow to give up my guts for a good cause. I can even choose which ones I don’t feel like giving away. Although at that point at can’t see myself being too picky.

Urban Wi-Fi

I think it may be good news that some urban centres worldwide are developing wi-fi but time will tell. I have a sense of hope though. Comment on this item and let everyone know what you think about this issue.  I wonder if there’s any way that the Tragedy of The Commons can be applied – perhaps not.  Perhaps this is an example of such a notion being transcended by the Info Age?

“The common good is back in fashion. Across North America, from San Francisco to Fredericton, more than 200 crusading cities are building municipal Wi-Fi networks. Boosting business, providing Web access for poorer citizens, creating communal communications infrastructures: different cities have different missions driving their Wi-Fi projects.”

A Patently Good Idea

Over at Slashdot there is an interesting discussion about a not for profits wanting comapnies to give them access to the companies unused patents. Even state governments (in the USA) support this.

I think this is a great idea because having patents just sitting around stifles the economy and creative development; all the patent holders get out of this is a lack of competition.

Countless patents — including the one used to start up Kotecha’s company, Yokit — sit unused when companies decide not to develop them into products. Now, not-for-profit groups and state governments are asking companies to donate dormant patents so they can be passed to local entrepreneurs who try to build businesses out of them.

Consumers Should Consume Fair Trade Consumables

In the UK, people are being urged to buy more fair trade products to make the world better. Things are going well so far when looking at the numbers. As always there is room for improvement.

According to the latest data meanwhile, sales of Fairtrade tea increased by 50 percent in Britain last year, while coffee and banana sales each grew by 39 percent.

The variety of Fairtrade products surged also, with more than 2,500 retail and catering products now available from over 260 companies across Britain.

The amount of raw material used to make Fairtrade products rose by more than 60 percent in 2006 from the year before.

Thanks, Evan!