Overseas Airports May Screen For H1N1 Symptoms

WCBSTV.com
Washington (CBS)

With the holiday season just a few weeks away, there are fears that the swine flu will pick up right along with air travel. Now, officials in other countries may screen those traveling internationally from the United States as a precaution.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration say, however, that such screenings are not taking place at travel hubs within America.

A warning from Flu.gov tells travelers:

"Due to the outbreak of H1N1 (Swine) flu occurring in the United States and many other countries, airport staff in some countries may check the health of arriving passengers. Travelers from the United States arriving in other countries may be checked for fever and other symptoms of H1N1 (Swine) flu, and their travel may be delayed."

The site says that when you travel internationally from the United States, officials in other countries may ask you to:

-Pass through a scanning device that checks your temperature. (The device may look like an airport metal detector, a camera, or a handheld device.)
-Have your temperature taken with an oral or ear thermometer
-Fill out a sheet of questions about your health
-Review information about the symptoms of H1N1 (Swine) flu
-Give your address, phone number, and other contact information
-Be quarantined for a period of time if a passenger on your flight is found to have symptoms of H1N1 (Swine) flu
-Contact health authorities in the country you are visiting to let them know if you become ill

In addition, the site says "If you have a fever or respiratory symptoms or are suspected to have H1N1 (Swine) flu based on screening, you may be asked to:

-Be isolated from other people until you are well
-Have a medical examination
-Take a rapid flu test (which consists of a nasal swab sample)
-Be hospitalized and given medical treatment, if you test positive for H1N1 (Swine) flu

"It feels a little bit overboard," Stanford, Conn. resident Derek Ferguson said. "I'm all for it, I really am," Mount Vernon resident Rosa Raspaldo said. "Because – guaranteed – if people are coughing on the plane, all of those germs will be spread around."

But the H1N1 virus isn't just a danger in the skies. Buses and trains can also be a breeding ground for germs. Millions of riders climb aboard every day, and that has many taking precautions."

I keep antiseptic in my purse and I use it all the time," said New York City resident Rose Donato.

Donato is a daily commuter, and says she isn't relying on others to take responsibility for her health.

"We're in Grand Central – I'm sure there are people that are sick and are walking around, and are spraying their germs all over the place," Donato said.

New York, along with other transportation agencies around the country, is posting signs reminding customers to keep their sneezes and coughs to themselves. It's common sense advice that doctors echo.

"Get vaccinated, wash your hands frequently, and you've really done the most that almost anybody can do to protect against influenza," Dr. Michael Phillips, of New York University's Langone Medical Center, said.

The first doses of swine flu vaccine arrived earlier this week, but new polls show that many people don't plan to get it. Flu shot or not, experts say that healthy habits will help make sure that, when you travel, germs don't take the trip with you.

If you have questions about the swine flu, check out our online resource guide here, including what you need for a swine flu survival kit. You can also check out information on screenings for travelers here.

Exercise can extend life even in 'oldest old'

By LINDSEY TANNER
AP Medical Writer - Chicago

Even in the "oldest old," a little physical activity goes a long way, extending life by at least a few years for people in their mid- to late 80s, Israeli researchers found. The three-year survival rate was about three times higher for active 85-year-olds compared with those who were inactive. Getting less than four hours of exercise weekly was considered inactive; more than that was active.

The results "clearly support the continued encouragement of physical activity, even among the oldest old. Indeed, it seems that it is never too late to start," the researchers wrote in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine, which published the study. They noted that exercise reaped benefits even for previously sedentary 85-year-olds; their three-year survival rate was double that of inactive 85-year-olds. Oldsters didn't have to be super-athletes to live longer; walking at least four hours weekly counted, even if it was just in 15-minute strolls a few times daily.

"As little as four hours a week was as beneficial as more vigorous or prolonged activity," said study author Dr. Jeremy Jacobs, a geriatric specialist at Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem. Active octogenarians also reported less depression and loneliness and a greater ability to perform daily tasks. Similar benefits have been shown in people in their 60s and 70s, but there has been little research about exercise benefits in people in their 80s.

The study involved 1,861 Jerusalem residents who were 70 years old in 1990. Participants filled out questionnaires about their health and activity levels through 2008. At age 85, 64 percent were physically active, a relatively high percentage that reflects the Israeli lifestyle, Jacobs said. But he said similar benefits from exercise likely would be seen among the very old in other countries. There were 512 deaths. Slightly fewer than 7 percent of the active 85-year-olds died by age 88, versus about 24 percent of those who were inactive.

Jacobs said the researchers took into account factors that also affect survival, including participants' overall health and whether they smoked, and still found that activity levels were strongly related to longevity.

Dr. James Webster, a professor of geriatric medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said the study can't completely rule out that participants who were able to exercise were already healthier than the others, and thus likely to live longer.
Still, Webster said the link between octogenarian exercise and longevity appears valid. He was not involved in the study.

Laura Thorp, a researcher at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center, said very old patients who want to increase their activity should do so under a doctor's supervision. Still, Thorp said, "Even those who are not exercisers or athletes can start and still see substantial benefits."

Most babies born this century will live to 100

By Maria Cheng
AP Medical Writer
London

Most babies born in rich countries this century will eventually make it to their 100th birthday, Danish experts say since in the 20th century, people in developed countries are living about three decades longer than in the past. Surprisingly, the trend shows little sign of slowing down.

In an article published Friday in the medical journal Lancet, the researchers write that the process of aging may be "modifiable."

James Vaupel of the Max Planck Institute in Germany and colleagues in Denmark examined studies published globally in 2004-2005 on numerous issues related to aging. They found life expectancy is increasing steadily in most countries, even beyond the limits of what scientists first thought possible. In Japan, for instance, which has the world's longest life expectancy, more than half of the country's 80-year-old women are expected to live to 90.

"Improvements in health care are leading to ever slowing rates of aging, challenging the idea that there is a fixed ceiling to human longevity," said David Gems, an aging expert at University College London. Gems was not connected to the research, and is studying drugs that can lengthen the life span of mice, which may one day have applications for people.

"Laboratory studies of mice, including our own, demonstrate that if you slow aging even just a little, it has a strong protective effect," he said. "A pill that slowed aging could provide protection against the whole gamut of aging-related diseases."

While illnesses affecting the elderly like heart disease, cancer and diabetes are rising, advances in medical treatment are also making it possible for them to remain active for longer. The obesity epidemic, however, may complicate matters. Extra weight makes people more susceptible to diseases and may increase their risk of dying.

In the U.S., data from 1982 to 2000 showed a major drop in illness and disability among the elderly, though that has now begun to reverse, probably linked to the rise in obesity.
The graying population will slowly radically transform society, and retirement ages may soon be pushed back, said Richard Suzman, an aging expert at the U.S. National Institute on Aging.

"We are within five to 10 years of a watershed event where there will be more people on earth over 65 than there under five," he said. "Those extra years need to be financed somehow and we need to start thinking about it now."
See also: Half of babies born in rich world will live to 100

Approaching Epidemic: Brain Damage from Mobile Phone Radiation

Dr. Mercola
mercola.com

A collaborative team of international EMF activists has released a report detailing eleven design flaws of the 13-country, Telecom-funded Interphone study.

The exposé discusses research on cell phones and brain tumors, concluding that:

• There is a risk of brain tumors from cell phone use


• Telecom funded studies underestimate the risk of brain tumors


• Children have larger risks than adults for brain tumors

The Interphone study, begun in 1999, was intended to determine the risks of brain tumors, but its full publication has been held up for years. Components of this study published to date reveal what the authors call a ‘systemic-skew’, greatly underestimating brain tumor risk.

The design flaws include categorizing subjects who used portable phones (which emit the same microwave radiation as cell phones,) as ‘unexposed’; exclusion of many types of brain tumors; exclusion of people who had died, or were too ill to be interviewed as a consequence of their brain tumor; and exclusion of children and young adults, who are more vulnerable.

Ronald B. Herberman, MD, Director Emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute has stated,

“Based on substantial evidence, especially from industry-independent studies that long term exposure to radiofrequency radiation may lead to increased risk for brain tumors, I issued a precautionary advisory last year to faculty and staff of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

Since then, my particular concern about exposure of children to radiofrequency has been supported by a report from Dr. Lennart Hardell. Some of my scientific colleagues have expressed skepticism about the reported biological effects, especially DNA0A damage by radiofequency radiation, because of the absence of a demonstrated underlying molecular mechanism.

However, based on the precautionary principle, I believe it is more prudent to take seriously the reports by multiple investigators that radiofrequency can damage DNA and increase the risk for brain tumors, and for industry-independent agencies to provide needed funding for detailed research to ascertain the molecular basis for such effects.”

Lloyd Morgan, lead author and member of the Bioelectromagnetics Society says,

“Exposure to cell phone radiation is the largest human health experiment ever undertaken, without informed consent, and has some 4 billion participants enrolled.

Science has shown increased risk of brain tumors from use of cell phones, as well as increased risk of eye cancer, salivary gland tumors, testicular cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia. The public must be informed.”

The Mobile Aimed at Four-year-olds

By Laura Clark
Daily Mail Online

United Kingdom

A mobile phone designed for children as young as four is to be sold in Britain. The brightly coloured Firefly handset has just five buttons - including two which call Mum and Dad directly. Details of the phone, which looks like a toy, came as it emerged that more than half of under-tens now own a mobile.

There were warnings yesterday that the trend for such gadgets was 'eroding childhood' and concerns have been raised over the effect of phone radiation on children's health. More than 7,000 of the £85 Firefly handsets have already been sold in Ireland. The Dublin-based firm behind the invention is now planning a UK launch towards the end of the year.

But Margaret Morrissey, of the lobby group Parents Outloud, said: 'We are continually eroding childhood and making children miniature adults. 'The excuse will be that it is for the sake of safety, but in fact it's for the sake of the mobile phone company's bank balance.'

The warning came as figures from MobileYouth, a research consultancy which tracks technology use by youngsters, found that 52 per cent of UK children aged five to nine have a mobile. Among ten to 14-year-olds, usage is running at almost 85 per cent.

Aine Lynch, chief executive of Ireland's National Parents Council, said: 'Targeting a phone at a four-year-old causes us concern. It gives rise to questions as to where parental responsibility is going. 'Why would kids need to be contacted by mobile phone? Why are they not in the care of their parents, teachers or supervisors?'

Official Government advice to parents remains that they should avoid giving mobiles to under-16s as a precaution.


See: On sale soon: The mobile aimed at four-year-olds

EPA moves to regulate smokestack greenhouse gases

By Dina Cappiello

Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON

Proposed regulations would require power plants, factories and refineries to reduce greenhouse gases by installing the best available technology and improving energy efficiency whenever a facility is significantly changed or built.

The Environmental Protection Agency proposal announced Wednesday applies to any industrial plant that emits at least 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year. These large sources are responsible for 70 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions - mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels - that are released in the U.S., the EPA said.

"By using the power and authority of the Clean Air Act, we can begin reducing emissions from the nation's largest greenhouse gas-emitting facilities without placing an undue burden on the businesses that make up the vast majority of our economy," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said. "We know the corner coffee shop is no place to look for meaningful carbon reductions."

Earlier this year, the Obama administration announced it would start developing the first-ever greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks. Those regulations, which would take effect in 2010, compel the EPA to control greenhouse gases from large smokestacks as well, the agency said.

Industry groups immediately questioned the agency's argument. They charged that the EPA was skirting the law, since the Clean Air Act typically covers any facility releasing more than 250 tons a year of a recognized pollutant. That threshold would require more facilities to fall under the new regulations.

Jackson, speaking at a news conference at a climate change summit being hosted by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said the rule was legally defensible. "The EPA would not propose a rule that we didn't believe ... made good legal sense," she said. The EPA's announcement came hours after Senate Democrats unveiled legislation that would set limits on the amount of greenhouse gases from large industrial sources.

The Senate bill, unlike the House-passed version, preserves the EPA's authority to regulate under the Clean Air Act. Environmentalists said Wednesday the two efforts go hand-in-hand. "You can't have one without the other if we're going to be successful in moving America to clean energy," said Emily Figdor, director of the global warming program at Environment America, an advocacy group.

See full article EPA Greenhouse Gases

See also: Environmental Protection Agency

Heart group: Cut WAY back, on extra sugar

By JAMIE STENGLE
Associated Press Writer
DALLAS

A spoonful of sugar? Americans are swallowing 22 teaspoons of sugar each day, and it's time to cut way back, the American Heart Association says. Most of that added sugar comes from soft drinks and candy — a whopping 355 calories and the equivalent of guzzling two cans of soda and eating a chocolate bar.

By comparison, most women should be getting no more than 6 teaspoons a day, or 100 calories, of added sugar — the sweeteners and syrups that are added to foods during processing, preparation or at the table. For most men, the recommended limit is 9 teaspoons, or 150 calories, the heart group says. The guidelines do not apply to naturally occurring sugars like those found in fruit, vegetables or dairy products.

Rachel K. Johnson, lead author of the statement published online Monday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, said "Take a good hard look at your diet. Figure out where the sources of added sugars are and think about how to cut back on that."

She said about 8 ounces of fruit-flavored yogurt has about 6 teaspoons of added sugar; 8 ounces of low-fat chocolate milk has about 4 teaspoons; a cup of frosted whole grain cereal has about 3 teaspoons. The biggest culprits for the glut of sugar are soft drinks by far, followed by candy, cakes, cookies and pies. With about 8 teaspoons of added sugar, a regular 12-ounce soft drink will put most women over the recommended daily limit.

Sandon said that parents can help lower that sugar intake by getting soda out of the house, looking at how much sugar is in their kids' cereal and substituting snacks like cookies with popcorn. "We know for sure that if you are consuming excessive amounts of added sugar, you will add calories, which leads to weight gain, or you will displace other essential nutrients," she said.

On average, most women need about 1,800 calories a day and most men need about 2,200, Johnson said. If someone drinks their daily calorie needs in soft drinks, they will be maintaining their weight, but won't be getting any nutrients, she said.

See: Heart group: Cut back - way back- on extra sugar, Carbohydrates and Sugars and American Heart Association recommends reduced intake of added sugars

Dozens dead as quake, tsunami hit Samoas

A powerful Pacific Ocean earthquake spawned towering tsunami waves
Associated Press

A powerful Pacific Ocean earthquake spawned towering tsunami waves that swept ashore on Samoa and American Samoa early Tuesday, flattening villages, killing dozens of people and leaving several workers missing at devastated National Park Service facilities.

Cars and people were swept out to sea by the fast-churning water as survivors fled to high ground, where they remained huddled hours later. Signs of devastation were everywhere, with a giant boat getting washed ashore and coming to rest on the edge of a highway and floodwaters swallowing up cars and homes.

The quake, with a magnitude between 8.0 and 8.3, struck around dawn about 20 miles below the ocean floor, 120 miles (190 kilometers) from American Samoa, a U.S. territory that is home to 65,000 people.

See: New tsunami alert sparks panic in Samoa

Ghana's Budding Jewish Community Celebrates High Holidays

The Sefwi tribe in western Ghana will fast on Yom Kippur
By Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

Monday was Yom Kippur - the holiest day of the year for Jews. The holiday will be marked in Jewish communities around the world, including Western Ghana.

A small group of people from the Sefwi tribe in western Ghana converted to Judaism in the 1970's. While many Sefwi people observed some Jewish laws for centuries - including refraining from work on Saturdays - this group declared themselves ancestors of ancient Israelites and starting calling themselves Jews.

Every year during the high holidays Jews visit a river and throw in bits of bread and cookies, to symbolize getting rid of their sins. Thirteen-year-old Joshua Armah belongs to the Jewish community in Sefwi Wiawso about seven hours from the Ghanaian capital Accra.

"I was thinking that even, the fishes would not get the biscuit to eat," he said. "I was thinking that maybe the biscuit would just mix with the water. But when the fishes are in the water they just see that the biscuit is coming and immediately it gets into the water and they too will come and take it off."

The holidays mark the beginning of a new year for Jews. Like many other members of the religion, the Ghanaian Jews will fast on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. It is a 25-hour fast from food and water that starts Sunday night. Armah says he's figured out how to get through the hard day.

"The best thing for you to do is to go and sleep, and you'll not feel very hungry," he said.

But the Ghanaian Jewish community did not always celebrate these festivals. Until the early 1990's they only observed the weekly Sabbath and the spring holiday of Passover. They first learned about the other Jewish holidays from foreigners who came to visit their community.

"Christians, they celebrate Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, Pentecostal Day, and many occasions," said Joshua Armah's older brother, Patrick, who is also an active member of the community.

"But at first when they saw us celebrating only Passover and they were saying, 'Oh, this is not a good type of religion for you to belong.' So when we got to know about Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, maybe lighting the candles and the Feast of Esther, which is Purim, and the fasting day, we were really happy," he said.

Despite its small size, the community is strong in its convictions. And they have received a lot of attention from outside Ghana. Members work with a group in the United States called Kulanu, which seeks to support Jewish communities around the world. The leaders of the community expect to incorporate new holidays into their routine as time goes on. They are looking forward to celebrating even more Jewish holidays this New Year.

Israel Clocks Go Back 1 Hour on Sept 27th

Village of Peace Residents in Dimona
...remember to reset your clocks!!!
KNN Staff

Dimona, Israel

In order to gain one additional hour of daylight during the winter, the annual cycle of 'Daylight Savings Time' was created by governments of men.

Israel's Standard time zone's Daylight Savings time which commenced in spring will end Yom Rishone (Sunday) morning. That is during Mohtsai Shabbaht (Saturday) night of the 26th night / the morning of the 27th of September 2009 at 2am. Instead of time advancing to 02:00:00, the time will move back one hour from 01:59:59, then to 01:00:00.

Most people have grown accustomed used to DST beginning or ending on a Yom Rishone (the first day, Sunday). However ironic, it will commence at 2am on the Yom Sheshe (the sixth day, Friday) March 26 in the spring of 2010.

In order not to under-sleep (since you'll gain an hour), it is recommended that you set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Mohtsai Shabbaht (Saturday night).


"And he shall think to change times and laws" - Dan.7:25

Brother Dahveed is Trailblazing in Ghana

KNN Staff
Dimona, Israel

Brother Dahveed Nelson, in this month of September 2009, is winding up his training for the 3rd Annual Accra International Marathon. This will be the fourth time he has covered the 26.2 mile distance, having done St. Croix (USVI), Tiberias (Israel), and St Louis (Missouri, USA).

Brother Dahveed happens to be a founding member of the now legendary African-American poetry ensemble, known as The Last Poets. He is also a minister and an ambassador of healthy longevity.

He is training almost daily, working towards the September 27th, race which takes off from PramPram, extending to Tema, on to Accra, and ending up in Labadi Beach.

His efforts in the event this year is on behalf of Divinity Inc. This NGO is dedicated to an improvement in our society through ecologically sound projects, such as tree planting and the regreening of the environment. His participation is part of a World Tour aimed at encouraging people to adopt Active, Healthy, Holistic, Sustainable lifestyles.

Anyone wishing to support this effort may do so, by making contributions to Divinity Inc. NGO, which sponsors a variety programs towards this end.

Contact: Dahveed 39@Hotmail.com.

Contributions: Divinity Inc.
11634 W Florissant
St. Louis, Mo. 63033

More teens addicted to prescription drugs

Local detox center sees jump in patients
By Misti Crane
THE Columbus Dispatch

OxyContin ruled Jennifer's days. She crushed and snorted the painkiller when she woke up, before she left for high school, during school, at home at night, before bed.

Sometimes she had to pay -- 80-milligram pills can go for $50 or more -- but usually her boyfriend or someone else at her suburban school got it for her. Pretty much everyone she hung out with smoked pot and drank, and many took pills.

She started with marijuana at 13, dabbled in alcohol but didn't like it all that much, and then started taking Vicodin. When the prescription painkiller stopped doing anything for her, she tried another narcotic, Percocet, but wasn't impressed.

An unprecedented number of young people are showing up there hooked on prescription medications and heroin, which they sometimes turn to as a cheaper alternative. They come predominantly from rural and suburban schools, and most live in middle-class or wealthy homes.

Last year, the number of adolescents who went through detox at Children's Hospital hit 50, double the number the year before, said Dr. Peter Rogers, who specializes in addiction medicine. Of those, 27 were girls and 23 were boys. All were white.

See: The Columbus Dispatch : More teens addicted to prescription drugs

KNN Offers Wholesale Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup can be sweet for your health and pocket

by Ahtur Keymah
KNN-Cleveland

Maple syrup is one of the many wonders of the world. It is an excellent source of manganese and a good source of zinc. Maple syrup can also be sweet for your health as it is an excellent source of manganese and zinc.

The trace mineral manganese is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses. For example, the key oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase, which disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria (the energy production factories within our cells), requires manganese. One ounce of maple syrup supplies 22.0% of the daily value for this very important trace mineral.

Maple syrup is also a good sweetener to use if you are trying to protect the health of your heart. The zinc supplied by maple syrup, in addition to acting as an antioxidant, has other functions that can decrease the progression of arteriosclerosis. Zinc is needed for the proper function of endothelial cells and helps to prevent the endothelial damage caused by oxidized LDL cholesterol and other oxidized fats. Additionally, studies have found that in adults deficient in manganese, the other trace mineral amply supplied in maple syrup, the level of HDL (the "good" cholesterol) is decreased.

Zinc and manganese are important allies in the immune system. Many types of immune cells appear to depend upon zinc for optimal function. Particularly in children, researchers have studied the effects of zinc deficiency (and zinc supplementation) on their immune response and their number of white blood cells.

Maple syrup may help to support reproductive health and provides special benefits for men. Zinc is concentrated more highly in the prostate than in any other human tissue, and low levels of zinc in this gland relate to a higher risk for prostate cancer. In fact, zinc is a mineral used therapeutically by healthcare practitioners to help reduce prostate size. Manganese may also play a role in supporting men's health since, as a catalyst in the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, it also participates in the production of sex hormones, thus helping to maintain reproductive health.

Now featuring Ohio-grown maple sugar, we can ship anywhere in the world!!!!!

For more info and to place your orders for maple syrup and granulated maple sugar, contact Ahtur Keymah today at keymah777@aol.com.

Sugarless & Live Food Weeks are Back!

KNN-Village of Peace
Dimona, Israel

In our continuous pursuit of Perfect Health, Everlasting Life, and Eternal Harmony with the Holy Creations of Yah (God), the African Hebrew Israelite Community has instituted Sugarless Week and Live Foods Consumption Week four (4) times a year. The adoption of the cycle of these two consecutive weeks was established, in part, to heighten health awareness regarding the consumption of sweets and live foods for ourselves and our families. Sugarless Week proceeds Live Week and generally commences around the change of seasons.

These two consecutive health consciousness weeks are regulated by Ministry of Divine Health as a preventive measure for the Community, as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The Community is touted as the "Healthy Hebrews", and in order to maintain its status as a virtually sickness and dis-ease-free community, the Community's members are made consciously aware of its dietary habits by taking assessment of its total sugar intake as well as living or "live" foods consumption during these quarterly weeks.

During Sugarless Week, brown sugar (white sugar is not used by the Community), honey and other sweeteners which have not been approved by the Ministry of Divine Health for use during this week are discontinued for eight (8) consecutive days. Instead, other plant-based natural sweeteners such as maple syrup (American and Canadian brands), date syrup, the naturally green-colored 100% natural herbal Stevia leaf powder (Stevia Rebaudiana, not the liquid and not the white powder) are used in moderation as suitable "sugar" substitutions. Although these natural sugar substitutes are used during Sugarless Week, it is not recommended to cook or bake with them, as heating some of these substances converts them into forms of sugar.

Sugarless week occurs approximately at the debut of each spring, summer, fall and winter season, and is followed up by Live Foods Week, which, in conjunction with an internal cleansing program of herbal laxatives, colonic irrigation or other purgative programs, assists in purifying the body's internal organs, ridding them of unwanted waste and toxic matter. Additionally, as "living foods" enhance and stimulate the body's natural defense systems, they also helps to flush out the old, putrefying foods which are lodged in the intestinal tract and prepare the body for the intake of the incoming season's harvest of fruits and vegetables.

Live foods consumed during this week also aid the body to adapt to the variations in weather for the in-coming season. For example, winter's harvest of citrus fruits help strengthen the immune system to fight colds and flu just as summer's harvest of honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelons and early fall's grape season help stave off dehydration and other heat-related conditions. During Live Foods Consumption Week consumption of a balanced live foods diet consisting of an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables is promoted and achieved.

In order to facilitate this vital dietary transition as a healthful, manageable, and enjoyable week for all, fresh tofu dishes (with no additional cooking required), bean curds, bean threads, sea vegetables, nut butters, dehydrated fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, unrefined, unprocessed natural grains and foods which can be prepared via soaking in water and/or sprouted, as well as unleavened breads, pita bread, flatbread (mahtsah), crackers, soya or other vegan nut and bean "milks" and "butters" which can be used in preparing veggie mayonnaises, salad dressings, 'cheeses', sandwich spreads, etcetera, have been permitted for moderate consumption during this transitional phase.

Sugarless Week commenced at the setting of the sun on Yom Sheshe (Friday evening), September 4, 2009, and will end at sunset on Motsai Shabbaht (Saturday evening) September 12, 2009 with the commencing of Live Foods Week.

Live Foods Week will commence on Mohtsai Shabbat (at sunset on Saturday evening) September 12, 2009, and will end at sunset on Yom Khamishee* (Thursday evening) September 17, 2009.

*Please note that in preparation for the Hebraic High Holy Day Shabbatone Zekrone Thruahk (The Memorial Blowing of the Trumpet), which will begin at the setting of the sun on Yom Sheshe (Friday evening), September 18, 2009, 'Live Foods Week' will end one day earlier than normal.

Please remember that in the preparation of Live Food, presentation is as important as taste.

Please be mindful to avoid using products which contain sugar, honey, cooked and other highly processed, refined ingredients during the respective weeks.

Most importantly, be creative and ENJOY!

For more information, please contact the Ministry of Divine Health at divine.healers@yahoo.com.

Swine flu sends more blacks, Hispanics to hospital

The Chicago findings are believed to be the first published study to the ethnic breakdown of swine flu's impact
By Mike Stobbe
Associated Press

Swine flu was four times more likely to send blacks and Hispanics to the hospital than whites, according to a study in Chicago that offers one of the first looks at how the virus has affected different racial groups.

The report echoes some unpublished information from Boston that found three out of four Bostonians hospitalized from swine flu were black or Hispanic.

The cause for the difference is probably not genetic, health officials said. More likely, it's because blacks and Hispanics suffer disproportionately from asthma, diabetes and other health problems that make people more vulnerable to the flu.

It's not clear if a racial or ethnic difference will hold up when more complete national data is available, one federal health official said. The findings are based on fairly small numbers of cases from the early days of the pandemic.

"We don't have anything definitive to say one group is more affected than another," said Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Chicago findings, released Thursday, are believed to be the first published study to detail a racial or ethnic breakdown of swine flu's impact.

Researchers looked at more than 1,500 lab-confirmed swine flu cases reported to the Chicago Department of Public Health from late April through late July.

Blacks with swine flu were hospitalized at a rate of 9 per 100,000, and Hispanics at a rate of 8 per 100,000. For whites, the rate was 2 per 100,000, the study found.

See: Swine flu sends more blacks, Hispanics to hospital

Swine flu could infect half of U.S., panel estimates

The virus could cause symptoms in 60 million to 120 million people
By Rob Stein
The Washington Post

Swine flu could infect half the U.S. population this fall and winter, hospitalizing up to 1.8 million people and causing as many as 90,000 deaths - more than double the number that occur in an average flu season, according to an estimate from a presidential panel.

The virus could cause symptoms in 60 million to 120 million people, more than half of whom might seek medical attention, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology estimated. The numbers were given in an 86-page report to the White House assessing the government's response to the first influenza pandemic in 41 years.

Although most cases probably would be mild, up to 300,000 people could require intensive care, which could tie up ICU beds in some parts of the country at the peak of the outbreak, the council said.

"This is going to be fairly serious," said Harold Varmus of New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, who co-chairs the 21-member council. "It's going to stress every aspect of our health system."

The estimates, released Monday, were the first specific numbers by experts on the possible impact of the pandemic in the United States.

The "plausible scenario" is based on previous pandemics, especially the 1957-58 Asian flu, and how the swine flu behaved in the United States this spring and during the Southern Hemisphere's winter over the past few months, said Mark Lipsitch of the Harvard School of Public Health. He helped prepare the estimate.

"They are not a prediction, but they are a possibility," he said, noting the estimates are based on assumptions, including that the virus will not mutate into a more dangerous form or infect more older people.

See: Swine flu could infect half of US, panel estimates

The Divine Universal Sisterhood, Embarking New Territory

New Host and New Speakers Take Center Stage at Conference
by Ahkote Hitzhirealah Baht Israel

KNN-Tallahassee, Florida

The Divine Universal Sisterhood of the southern region had an extraordinary weekend at the 2009 Sisterhood Conference at St. George Island, Florida (August 14-16, 2009). Inspired by this year’s Unity Day theme,

"Servant/Leader =

Total Performance =

A Decade for Our Youth",

the Sisterhood embarked upon three days of illustrating, encouraging and praising the Servant/ Leader in total performance, while demonstrating that this is truly the "Decade of the Youth."

Hosted by the Tallahassee Extension for the first time, the annual conference was a memorable experience. The Sisterhood lodged in luxurious beach front property, while being pampered with massages, Aqua Chi services, free Chiropractic screenings and professional photography on the beach – Yah Khai! (Yah Lives!)

The Conference featured a Wisdom Hut discussion on the Sabbath day (Saturday). It featured many of the Chosen First Fruit (CFF), who proved to be worthy counterparts to their more experienced speakers. They offered a refreshing look at the Servant/Leader concept and much insight on how to take the 'Decade of the Youth' to new heights. The Wisdom Hut speakers and their topics were as follows:

Ahkote Emoonah - "The Historic Prophetic Dynamics of the Servant/Leader"
Panel: Ahkote Biroreet, Ahkote Batiyah, Ahkote D’Ganyah, Ahkote Oshreet, Ahkote Harameeyah - "Analyzing the Servant Leader Concept from the Perspective of Health"
Aturah Daniella - "The Importance of Being My Sister’s Keeper"
Ahkote Prahkeet - "Comprehending and Continuing the Works of Our Fathers, from the Perspective of the CFF"

The Highlight of the Conference was the Sunrise Shabbaht prayer on the beach. Adorned in beautiful white garments, the Sisterhood opened with meditation and Yah-inspired affirmations. Only the sweet sound of the ocean could be heard. Then, in unison they recited the Marriage of the Lamb Scroll of the Vows, and lifted up prayer to the Most High. It was a moment where the Sisters could go deep into introspection, as well as be at peace with nature and the Creator. It was truly a remarkable event.

During an exquisite evening banquet, Elevated Crown Sister Aturah Yafah acknowledged the recent elevations among the Sisterhood, including the elevations of newly Crowned Sister Aturah Daniella; Women of Valor Ahkote Emoonah, Ahkote Khazeekah and Ahkote Sheveevyah; and Sisters on the Move Ahkote Neetskiyah and Ahkote Prahkeet.

About 40 Sisters participated in the Conference including those from Atlanta, California, Ghana and Israel. The young and vibrant Tallahassee Extension did an exceptional job with this year’s Sisterhood Conference.

All Praises to Yah!

Creating Righteous Fun

by Naomi E. Shmuel
KNN-Village of Peace
Dimona, Israel

A fun-filled summer is a child’s dream come true. Many dreams are being fulfilled in the African Hebrew Israelite’s Village of Peace in Dimona, Israel, as the children enjoy special activities sponsored by some industrious, caring young adults in the community.

Tseyon Ben Israel and Sharsheyah Baht Israel are now in their second summer sponsoring fun-filled evenings for the children in their community. Every evening they sponsor “Kol Ha Kifar”, a music broadcast of positive sounds, for the children to play by. This creates an uplifting and relaxing mood for children and adults alike. The week is filled with activities such as outdoor movies (pictured), fun and games, skating parties, dance contests and more. The summer program opens and closes with special youth entertainment performances.

The program was conceived in 2008 when, as Tseyon recalls, “We were sitting in the gazebo at the King’s Court, (a social area in the village) watching the children, and they seemed a little bored. So, we decided to provide games and activities to help them have fun.” Tseyon and Sharsheyah initially used their own personal money to fund the program and have continued to do so this year.

This summer, the program was also blessed to receive a generous donation from the Peace of Paradise amutah, a non-profit organization that raises money for children’s educational needs. Aturah Adivah, the head facilitator of the amutah (NGO), expressed joy in giving the donation. “It’s great to see the interest and efforts of youth helping other youth; and because our purpose is to develop and enhance the minds and lifestyles of the youth, we really felt it was worthwhile to donate to this program.”

Tseyon and Sharsheyah’s kind efforts also became contagious this summer, attracting two more young adults to join them in administrating the program. Youths Boaz Ben Israel and Emeyah Baht Israel are active doing whatever is needed. Emeyah also deejays the “Kol Ha Kifar” (the voice of the village), and Boaz treats the children to periodic “free ice cream” nights at his franchise ice cream stand in the community’s small eatery, the 'meeznone'.

The program has been well received and appreciated by children and adults. “The activities are very nice and entertaining for the children and the adults even enjoy the environment and watching the children play. It is so thoughtful of them to create and give the children fun activities to do”, says one mother, Shevnah, whose 9 year old son, has enjoyed the summer activities. Baht Keebah, age 13, says, “I think the activities are really nice. My favorite is the outdoor movies!”

The efforts of these young adults to implement fun activities are a reflection of the communal spirit of The African Hebrew Israelite Community, and express a sincere desire to pass on the legacy of Kingdom Fun to the younger generation. “We always had fun when we were young”, says Tseyon, “but children these days are always in front of the TV or computer, and we just want to encourage a fun, social life for the children”.

Food crisis could force wartime rations and vegetarian diet on Britons

British people may face wartime rations
Valerie Elliott
Times Online

The British people face wartime rations and a vegetarian diet in the event of a world food shortage, a new official assessment on the UK’s food security suggests today.

Even though the nation is 73 per cent self-sufficient in food production, higher than during the 1950s, the food chain is at risk from global influences such as a worldwide increase in population, climate change bringing extreme weather patterns, higher oil prices and more crops being grown for bio-fuel instead of food.

Supplies in future may also be disrupted by animal disease outbreaks, disruption of power supplies, trade disputes and interruptions for shipping and at ports.

The UK however has one of the highest cereal production capabilities in the world with seven tonnes grown per hectare, compared a world average of 3.3 tonnes per hectare.

U.S. Posts $180.68 Billion Deficit for July

Year-to-date federal-government spending totaled $3.01 trillion
By Jeff Bater
Wall Street Jounal

The federal government spent more than it pocketed a 10th straight month during July, nearing a record last set in 1992 for a string of deficits.

Burdened by Wall Street bailout costs and shriveled corporate profits, the government was $180.68 billion in the red during July, the Treasury Department said Wednesday in its monthly budget statement. July 2008's federal budget deficit was $102.77 billion.

The deficit record for any month is $193.86 billion, in February this year.

For the first 10 months of fiscal 2009, the deficit widened to $1.267 trillion, more than triple the $388.62 billion for the first 10 months of fiscal 2008.

Fiscal years start Oct. 1. The White House has predicted the deficit will total $1.841 trillion this fiscal year. The biggest deficit for any fiscal year on record is $454.8 billion, rung up in fiscal 2008.

Wall Street was on target predicting the July 2009 deficit. A survey of economists by Dow Jones Newswires forecast $180 billion.

The string of 10 monthly deficits isn't a record. There have been 11 in a row three times, the last time being May 1991 through March 1992.

July 2009 federal government spending totaled $332.18 billion, compared with $263.26 billion in July 2008.

Year-to-date federal-government spending totaled $3.01 trillion, compared with $2.48 trillion in the first 10 months of fiscal 2008.

Gross spending on the Troubled Asset Relief Program totaled $169.13 billion year to date. TARP was created late last year to rescue Wall Street and stem a financial sector meltdown.

Spending for benefits to the nation's jobless totaled $80.24 billion. Since the recession began in December 2007, 6.7 million jobs have been lost.

Federal government interest payments on the national debt year-to-date were $167.71 billion. Defense spending ran at $552.22 billion. Veterans benefits were $82.84 billion. Social Security totaled $568.54 billion.

The Treasury report said it bought $7.22 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities during July; year to date, purchases totaled $153.25 billion.

July federal government receipts totaled $151.5 billion, down from $160.49 billion a year earlier.

Year-to-date federal government revenue totaled $1.74 trillion, compared with $2.09 trillion for the first 10 months of fiscal 2008. Individual income-tax receipts totaled $750.38 billion, compared with $943.89 billion. Corporate taxes totaled $104.48 billion, compared with $246.8 billion.

The Treasury said it plans to release budget data for August on Sept. 11.