It Starts Here!
October 31, 2010
Note to members:
An updated members list is attached! If you want to, do continue to send in short sentences of yourself for us to get to know you better!
News:
- A Low Income Energy Network (LIEN) regional workshop will be held in Kingston on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (lunch will be provided), at 1200 Princess Street, Sisters of Providence Motherhouse. LIEN is focusing on building the capacity of groups of people to become "experts" on low-income energy issues in their communities. Register at www.lowincomeenergy.ca. (From Elaine P.)
- Health system Sustainability: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/10/27/cma-prebudget-2011.html - Federal government decision making tends to occur very slowly...so the Canadian medical association is making recommendations now for changes to our national healthcare policy in 2014, when the Canada health accord expires. These recommendations involve, like most sustainability recommendations, an increase in the efficiency of money use. We'll be watching this with great interest in the years ahead! (From Yan Y.)
Solutions:
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"Kryptonite" super-glue for open-heart surgery and orthopedics - made from renewable, biodegradable castor seeds! :) Among it's myriad of benefits is the fact that it reduces recovery time, and thus frees up hospital resources, especially bed space. For more info - http://www.canadianmedicinenews.com/2010/10/kryptonite-to-rescue.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CanadianMedicine+%28Canadian+Medicine%29 (from Yan Y)
- Eco-friendly Fonts: Who knew that the type of font you choose to print with can be better or worse in terms of resource consumption and environmental impact? http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/07/22/measuring-type-offers-insight-into-eco-friendly-fonts (From: member who wishes to be mysteriously anonymous...
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Emma T's Halloween Health Hullabaloo:
- Strapped for resources? Newfoundland and Labrador urologists face severe physician shortage. http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/10/08/nl-ns-urologists-108.html Urologists in Nova Scotia has agreed to help, but how long can this continue? Physician pooling seems like a solution to physician shortage, but in the long-term, it seems like we can no nothing but hire more physicians.
- Mistake in the ER led to devastating results. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/10/06/nl-cyclosporine-suit-106.html?ref=rss&loomia_si=t0:a16:g2:r1:c0.0499904:b38166348...malfunctioning of the monitoring equipment led to over-administration of a drug, which led to the development of severe and irreversible neural complications in the patient. Is the hospital be liable?
- DNR orders, when should doctors/patients discuss them? This article highlights the need for doctors to talk about DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders early, when patients are still competent, to relieve some of the stress upon hospitalization for patients. Doing so will also save much resources and money for our healthcare system, as end-of-life care is very costly indeed... http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/10/26/do-not-resuscitate-family-doctors.html
Your Weekly LAWWLLLLL(s) (From Yan Y.):
- LOL: http://www.theonion.com/articles/hurriphoonado-cuts-swath-of-destruction-across-eas,2629/
- LOL^2: http://www.theonion.com/articles/study-finds-sexism-rampant-in-nature,130/?utm_source=related
Debates:
- How defunct is our democratic political system? (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/opinion/27friedman.html?_r=1&ref=thomaslfriedman)......This article, by Pulitzer-prize winning columnist Thomas Friedman, talks about the defunct political system in the United States in the face of upcoming November mid-term elections. While the specific issues apply mostly to the US, the theme can also be applied to Canada: are we moving towards a political system where we debate how other candidates suck, rather than the real issues? Where we vote based on our gut instincts and irrational fears, instead of pragmatic and evidence-based policy-proposals? (from Yan Y.)
- How do you get climate skeptics to go green? It's all about appealing to what they value most - money, jobs/economy, and spiritual values....This interesting article from the NY times has more about how deeply conservative Kansas is going green - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/science/earth/19fossil.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=beyond_fossil_fuels (from Yan Y.)
It Starts with You!
- Green Meat: You really want to "go green"? Try growing your month's meat in your room/office. Check out this New York Times story. (from Yan Y.)
ABOUT "IT STARTS HERE":
- ISH is a member-based information resource about all things "sustainability", started in March of 2010. Our members consist of high school and university students, including IB candidates/alumni, Queen's Major Admission Award Scholars, Loran Scholars, and Canada's Top 20 Under 20 alumni.
- Members (those receiving the ISH - yes you are a member!) send in whatever materials they find (links to interesting facts, news about their organizations, etc) during the course of the week, and an editor compiles the material and sends out the ISH newsletter every sunday.
- As the ISH relies on member inputs, your contribution is greatly needed and always appreciated!
- You're a member if you care - about the world, about sustainability issues, and about what you can do to make things better. We hope you find the information in this newsletter interesting, informative, and inspiring. Remember: change starts here. Change starts with you.