THE EFFECTS OF CONSUMERISM ON THE ENVIRONMENT

At present , the rate of consumption is increasing at an alarming rate , that is, today people often
wish to increase their buying and spending power and buy more products so theycan keep up with others .
Because of this huge , continuosly increasing consumer demand, the planet itself has been out of balance for many
years , and this imbanlance is now showingitself in form of climate change . Climate change and its
resulting effect will continue toworsen and is the the first sign of what is expected to become an
environmental disaster around the year 2025 (Mia , 2007). There are two main effects
of consumerism on theenvironment namely: Environmental degradation and pollution.To begin with,
environmental degradation is one of the impacts of consumerim on theenvironment. High leves of consumption
and production require larger imputs of energy andgenerate larger quantities of waste by products
( Orecchia, 2007). Moreover , this excessivedemand for consumer products has created most of
the current environmental imbalances andthese imbalances have already caused
ecological disaster in different places all over the world(Mia , 2008). Futhermore , our consumption of
food can also effect the environment becauseof the amount of land needed to produce food and the
water required to farm livestock andcrops. With the ever continuing increase in environmental
demage there will come a timewhere this will reach a point of no return , whereby the planet will no longer
be able tosupport its own functioning (Mia, 2008 ). In short, environmental imbanlances result fromhigh leves
consumption . Our attention should be focused on the demand
for naturalresources generated by unsustainable consumption and take this problem seriously.The second effect
of consumerism on the environment , perhaps more important thanthe first one , is pollution. With the rapid
growth in production of goods and materialism inmost major nation, what will happen to what remains of the
invironment and its ecological functioning? ( Mia ,2008). Increased extration and exploitation of
natural resourcesaccumulation of waste and concentration of pollutants can demage the
environment and , onthe long run, limit economic activity. Moreover, consumption can also
determineenvironmental dumping as far as developed countries shift their heaviest polluting
industriesto less developed countries . In other words , developed countries consume
pollutionintenseve goods produced elsewhere by developing countries (Orecchia, 2007).
Plastic bagsare good example of how consumerism can effect our environment . Plastic bags effect
our environment because when they are thrown out they can get washed into our water ways
.when they reach the rivers and oceans , animals can get caught up in the plastic bag andsuffocate.
The buying and selling of fuels is also a mojor issue because the machines it goesinto turns it into a poisonous gas (
carbon monoxide) which is omitted into the worldsatmosphere. Fothermore, with this huge consumer
demand , today, we have more and morevehicles which runon motor oil and this oil pollutes our
environment . In fact, used motor oilis our largest source of oil pollution and over 20 milliongallons of oil end up in
our water every single year ( Stroup, 2009). Pollution is a serious problem today due to the a
hugeconsumer demand .In conclusion , environmental degradation and pollution are the two main
effects of consumerism on the environment .Our high rate of consum ption and the rapid
growth in production of goods and materialism result in environmental devastation . It is importantthat the
planets worseing environmental crisis is taken seriously and action is taken to makeadequate
changes and special attention should be paid to the demand for natural resourcesgenerated by
unsustainable consumption and making the required lifestyle change to reducethe global pollution.

REFERENCES
y
Haan , M (2007) .
New concepts for business and humanity
. USA: Faronah L.Bojos
y
Haan , M (2008) .
T
he effects of consumrerism
.www.miadenhaan.com
y
Orecchia ,C (2007) .
C
onsumerism and environment : does consumptionbehaviour affect environmental quality?
Glasgow UK: University of Rome,Tor Vergata and ISAE
y
Stroup , D (2009).
M
otor oil

Polluting our Environment

.www.articlesbase.com

Singapore's unique Chinese

culture
Columnist Toh Lam Huat identifies three key factors in the development of Singapores Chinese
culture.
PUBLISHED
FEB 7, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT
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It is shaped by shared heritage of Chinese culture, immigrant culture and

national culture, says curator of recent exhibition
Leong Weng Kam
Senior Writer

When Chinese Singaporeans and their families gather tonight for reunion dinners
on Chinese New Year's Eve, many will do the traditional "prosperity toss" of
yusheng - seafood, sliced vegetables and citrus peel, with condiments. They will
lick their lips at the goodies to come, such as pineapple tarts and bak kwa.
It is to honour the tradition of observing Chinese New Year, passed down from
ancestors who migrated from China.
Except, in the eyes of some mainland Chinese living in Singapore, aspects of this
may not be exactly the traditional way to celebrate the key event in the Chinese
calendar.
Singapore's distinctly multiracial gatherings of relatives, neighbours and friends
are different, for a start. And then there is the food: yusheng was invented in
Singapore only a few decades ago, as were pineapple tarts, which are also served
at festivals of other cultures here, such as for Hari Raya and Deepavali.
In China, especially in the northern part of the country, eating steamed
dumplings is a must to celebrate the Chinese New Year, or chun jie as they prefer
to call it.
A newcomer to Singapore familiar with China might be surprised at our
Republic's additions to the traditional rituals which now form an essential part of

the festive season here. This is especially so considering that Chinese are the
majority race in Singapore, with three in four citizens being of Chinese descent.

And it raises the question: What is this thing that has become Singapore Chinese
culture?
This is timely to ask, not only because it is Chinese New Year, but also as
Singapore will soon have two multimillion-dollar Chinese cultural centres. One is
the $44 million China Cultural Centre (CCC) in Queen Street, built by the
Chinese government. It was opened by Chinese President Xi Jinping and
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong just three months ago.The other is the
$110 million Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), funded 90 per cent by
the Singapore Government and which is opening in Shenton Way by the end of
the year.
NEW CHINESE IMMIGRANTS
They provide the new energy to enrich the cultural scenes... and
serve as a link to connect with other Chinese outside Singapore.
Their role in the development of the unique Singapore Chinese
culture is thus complex.
PROFESSOR EDDIE KUO, director of the UniSIM Centre for Chinese Studies.

Both buildings are 11 storeys high and promote aspects of Chinese culture, but a
look at what this might be throws up questions about what it means to be a
Singaporean of Chinese descent.
Chinese Singaporeans already have plenty of opportunities to embrace their
roots. There is Chinese as one of the official languages, for a start. Then there are
the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Chinese Opera Institute and Chinese Heritage
Centre, among others.
And now, with the new cultural centres, there are two more.
Many have asked if the two centres are promoting the same thing.
"Of course not," said SCCC chief executive Choo Thiam Siew, 65, when
questioned by The Straits Times when the China centre was opened.
"There is no duplication because we will be promoting our uniquely Singapore
Chinese culture while theirs will be all about those from the mainland," he added.

SHOWCASING CULTURE
The SCCC may not be open yet, but its board has already held the centre's first
main event: a multimedia exhibition titled Blooms Of Vitality, Colours Of Life, at
the Singapore Conference Hall.
Aiming to show the uniqueness of Singapore Chinese culture, it featured more
than 300 photographs and illustrations. There were also two video shows tracing
the evolution of Chinese culture here during the three-week-long event, which
ended just a week ago.
TIMELY TO DEFINE IDENTITY
If the young do not have a good idea of who they are, and
understand their own cultural background and differences from the
other Chinese communities elsewhere, they may end up very
confused.
DR ZHOU ZHAOCHENG, Lianhe Zaobao's assistant vice-president (new
growth), on fostering a stronger sense of identity, especially among the
young.

Mr Choo, who was president of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts before his SCCC
post, says the board decided it should define what made Singapore Chinese
culture and showcase this even before its opening. "That is because it will
determine the scope of activities we will have in future," he explains.
Indeed, the experiences the Chinese community in Singapore has gone through
are unique, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean had said at the 20thanniversary celebrations of Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) Chinese
Heritage Centre last November.
From an extension of China during the early colonial times, the community was a
minority community pledging loyalty to an independent, multiracial Malaysia.
"After Independence, the Chinese community in Singapore became the majority
community in a multiracial Singapore, determined to build our own nation as one
united Singapore, and take our future in our own hands," DPM Teo added.
"These experiences have shaped the Chinese community along with all
communities that make up Singapore. They form a key part of why we are who we
are as Singaporeans, and our identity."
The man who curated the SCCC's multimedia show, board member and Lianhe
Zaobao columnist Toh Lam Huat, 63, identifies three sources from which the

characteristics of the unique features of Singapore Chinese culture have

developed.
One is the shared common heritage of Chinese culture - such as its core value of
harmony, the language, surnames and hierarchical structure and their
relationships in Chinese families.
BUILDING ONE UNITED SINGAPORE
These experiences have shaped the Chinese community along with
all communities that make up Singapore. They form a key part of
why we are who we are as Singaporeans, and our identity.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TEO CHEE HEAN, stressing the unique experiences
the Chinese community in Singapore has gone through.

Then there is the influence of immigrant culture here, when Chinese from the
southern provinces started to move over here in big numbers in the 19th century,
initially to find work.
Mr Toh's third aspect is national culture, which came about after Independence
and included the National Pledge, multiracialism, national service and the
bilingual education policy.
The influences of these three components are manifested as unique features of
Singapore Chinese in the values they hold, the language and dialects they speak,
the food they eat, the leisure activities, including sports like wushu, and pursuits
in the arts they take part in which may be different from the Chinese elsewhere,
including those in mainland China.
These include the Hungry Ghost Festival as it is celebrated here, the strong
presence of Chinese clan associations, Singlish and dialect surnames and names,
and Chinese hawker fare such as bak kut teh, lor mee, satay mee hoon and
Peranakan cuisine.
WHY HIGHLIGHT UNIQUENESS?
But why is there a need to define or highlight the unique features of Singapore
Chinese culture as distinct from other Chinese cultures, or cultures from other
places?
One reason could be a matter of national identity. The recent influx of Chinese
immigrants may have put pressure on Singaporeans to define what Singapore
Chinese culture is, in comparison to those from mainland China.

This is because some aspects of their culture may be deemed less compatible and
yet the new Chinese immigrants will invariably still make an input in the cultural
development of Singapore in the long run, says Professor Eddie Kuo, director of
the UniSIM Centre for Chinese Studies.
"In a sense, they provide the new energy to enrich the cultural scenes in
Singapore and serve as a link to connect with other Chinese outside Singapore.
Their role in the development of the unique Singapore Chinese culture is thus
complex," says Prof Kuo, 75, who is also emeritus professor at NTU.
He also feels there is a sense of urgency in Singapore to establish a culture and
identity that Chinese Singaporeans can call their own.
He notes that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has on many occasions over the
past four years talked about the uniqueness of Singapore Chinese culture.
For example, during a local television forum in Mandarin in 2012, he was quoted
as saying: "Over the decades, the Chinese community in Singapore has developed
its unique set of social mores and milieu, and built a good rapport with the
minority communities. The Chinese here are, therefore, different from the
Chinese in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan."
Meanwhile, Dr Zhou Zhaocheng, 43, Lianhe Zaobao's assistant vice-president
(new growth) who is also adjunct assistant professor at NTU, says it is timely to
define what Singapore Chinese culture is all about after 50 years of nationbuilding. He believes doing so would help foster a stronger sense of identity
among Chinese Singaporeans, especially the young.
The need to do so is even more necessary now in the Internet age when Chinese
culture in all forms, including literature, movies, music and songs and other
entertainment material, is freely available.
"If the young do not have a good idea of who they are, and understand their own
cultural background and differences from the other Chinese communities
elsewhere, they may end up very confused," he says.
On the other hand, if they understand their own culture well, they will become
more confident as Chinese Singaporeans.
Sharing the same view is the director of the Confucius Institute at NTU, Dr Neo
Peng Fu, 54, who says that though his institute was set up by NTU and China's
Education Ministry to promote the greater Chinese traditions in language,
literature, philosophy and history, he is still committed to promoting Singapore's unique Chinese culture.

"Culture is alive and evolving all the time and it must be related to where you
live," he explains.
He points to his institute's Nanyang Literature Award, set up to promote local
Chinese literary writing and honour good writers here, as supporting this
evolution.
Lianhe Zaobao's Dr Zhou notes: "What is common and shared between Chinese
Singaporeans and Chinese in, say, the mainland, is probably still Chinese culture
and what is different will be uniquely Singapore's."
What is really important, says Prof Kuo of UniSIM, is both to recognise the
continuity from a common shared Chinese heritage, and to stress our migrant
ancestors' innovative and creative process of adapting to a new and sometimes
adverse environment.
He also says defining Singapore Chinese culture is not as simple as it seems
because "what we claim may not be exclusively Singapore's but may be shared by
other Chinese communities in the region, like (in) Malaysia".
Also, he feels that the evolution of culture is ongoing, and explains: "There is
often a state of fluidity when we try to pin down features of Singapore culture.
There will continue to be changes and transformation over time."
But even as culture evolves over time, many see a need to educate a younger
generation about it and pass down certain values, such as the importance of
mutual support and acknowledging the contributions of earlier generations.
Among them is SCCC's chief executive, Mr Choo.
With the success of the exhibition on Singapore Chinese culture at the Singapore
Conference Hall, he is planning a tour of the show in schools.
"It is important for the young to know the unique features of Chinese culture and
the practices here," he says.

Importance Of Education In Our Life

Written on February 1, 2015by My Essay Point in Education30 Comments

Education is an essential human virtue, a necessity of society, basis of good life and
sign of freedom. Education is important for integration of separate entities. This
article talks about the Importance of education in our life.

If you are in your academic career, then you might be hearing the words like Education is
Must, There is no Life without Education etc., right? So, why all such words come from people
around you? What is the importance of education in our life? Forget about it for a while! First, do
you know what education really is? Those who dont, here is definition of education by
Dictionary.com.
The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, esp. at a school or university: a new
system of public education.
Well, the education is not limited to schools or colleges only, nor it is limited to age. The things
happening in the practical life also educate us. Anyways, coming to the question in hand, read
out the importance of education in our life below.
Also read: Importance of technology in education

Education Makes Better Citizens

Man is nothing but an animal. It is the education that teaches him many things, teaches the
manners, rules and regulations of life etc. All these things result in converting man from an
animal to well-mannered citizen.

Brings Confidence
Nothing in the life can be achieved if we dont have belief on ourselves. Education is what brings
self-confidence in us. We get the confidence of doing the things on our own. Our self-confidence
then helps us in passing all the difficulties that come on way to our aim. Education also makes us
better in communication with others.

Ensures a Bright Future

An educated person lives a happy life always. He/she has a bright future that on one can pull
from them. Education wakes the hidden talent and skills of any person. This hidden talent and
skills give us employment and a completely secure future. It is the education that helps us in
achieving new heights in our life.

Spreads Awareness

An educated person tries to understand each and every thing on its own rather than blindly
following anyone else. This results in spreading awareness everywhere. An educated person does
not only reject the misconceptions him/herself, but also explains the real logic behind any
happening, to others. Thus education clears out the darkness with the intense light of knowledge.

Educated Persons Help in Progress of Country

People of any particular country can live happily only if the country has all the resources, or
simply say, country is rich in every aspect. Educated persons know pretty well that what is wrong
and what is right. They do not need to follow the words of third person. Educated persons are well
aware from their countrys rules and laws. They know pretty well about their duties and
fundamental rights. They know the value of paying taxes, and thus pay their taxes on time. All
these qualities of educated persons help them play a vital role in the progress of their country.
So, this was the list of some benefits of education in our life. If there is no education, then there is
no life. All those of you who are reading in good schools and colleges are indeed very lucky. You
all have the golden chance to own the ornament-like study, and to get yourself counted in the list
of educated people.

Read more: http://myessaypoint.com/importance-of-education-in-our-life#ixzz4AhjmlhIB

Environmental issue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Water pollution is an environmental issue that affects many water bodies. This photograph shows foam on theNew River as
it enters the United States from Mexico.

Environmental issues are harmful effects of human activity on the biophysical

environment. Environmentalism, a social andenvironmental movement, addresses environmental
issues through advocacy, education and activism.
The carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere has already exceeded
400 parts per million (NOAA) (with total "long-term" GHG exceeding 455 parts per million).
(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report) This level is considered a tipping point. "The
amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is already above the threshold that can potentially
cause dangerous climate change. We are already at risk of many areas of pollution...It's not next
year or next decade, it's now." Report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA):[1]
"Climate disasters are on the rise. Around 70 percent of disasters are now climate related up from
around 50 percent from two decades ago.
These disasters take a heavier human toll and come with a higher price tag. In the last decade, 2.4
billion people were affected by climate related disasters, compared to 1.7 billion in the previous
decade. The cost of responding to disasters has risen tenfold between 1992 and 2008. Destructive
sudden heavy rains, intense tropical storms, repeated flooding anddroughts are likely to increase, as
will the vulnerability of local communities in the absence of strong concerted action." (OCHA)
"Climate change is not just a distant future threat. It is the main driver behind rising humanitarian
needs and we are seeing its impact. The number of people affected and the damages inflicted by
extreme weather has been unprecedented."
Environment destruction caused by humans is a global problem, and this is a problem that is on
going every day. By year 2050, the global human population is expected to grow by 2 billion people,
thereby reaching a level of 9.6 billion people (Living Blue Planet 24). [2] The human effects on Earth
can be seen in many different ways. A main one is the temperature rise, and according to the report
Our Changing Climate, the global warming that has been going on for the past 50 years is primarily
due to human activities (Walsh, et al. 20). Since 1895, the U.S. average temperature has increased
from 1.3 F to 1.9 F, with most of the increase taken place since around year 1970 (Walsh, et al.
20).[3]

Types[edit]
Main articles: List of environmental issues and List of environmental disasters
Major current environmental issues may include climate change, pollution, environmental
degradation, and resource depletion etc. The conservation movement lobbies for protection
of endangered species and protection of any ecologically valuable natural areas, genetically
modified foods and global warming.

Scientific grounding[edit]
The level of understanding of Earth has increased markedly in recent times
through science especially with the application of the scientific method. Environmental science is
now a multi-disciplinary academic study taught and researched at many universities. This is used as
a basis for addressing environmental issues.
Large amounts of data have been gathered and these are collated into reports, of which a common
type is the State of the Environment publications. A recent major report was the Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment, with input from 1200 scientists and released in 2005, which showed the
high level of impact that humans are having on ecosystem services.

Organizations[edit]
Main article: Environmental organization
Environmental issues are addressed at a regional, national or international level by government
organizations.
The largest international agency, set up in 1972, is the United Nations Environment Programme.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature brings together 83 states, 108 government
agencies, 766 Non-governmental organizations and 81 international organizations and about 10,000
experts and scientists from countries around the world.[4]International non-governmental
organizations include Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and World Wide Fund for Nature.
Governments enact environmental policy and enforce environmental law and this is done to differing
degrees around the world.

Solutions[edit]
Sustainability is the key to prevent or reduce the effect of environmental issues. There is now clear
scientific evidence that humanity is living unsustainably, and that an unprecedented collective effort
is needed to return human use of natural resources to within sustainable limits. [5][6] For humans to live
sustainably, the Earth's resources must be used at a rate at which they can be replenished.
Concerns for the environment have prompted the formation of Green parties, political parties that
seek to address environmental issues. Initially these were formed in Australia, New Zealand and
Germany but are now present in many other countries.

Film and television[edit]

There are an increasing number of films being produced on environmental issues, especially
on climate change and global warming. Al Gore's 2006 film An Inconvenient Truthgained commercial
success and a high media profile.

The Health Benefits of Water

Did you know that your body weight is
approximately 60 percent water? Your body
uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues
to help regulate its temperature and maintain
other bodily functions. Because your body
loses water through breathing, sweating,
and digestion, it's important to rehydrate by
drinking fluids and eating foods that
contain water. The amount of water you need
depends on a variety of factors, including the
climate you live in, how physically active you
are, and whether you're experiencing an
illness or have any other health problems.
Water Protects Your Tissues, Spinal
Cord, and Joints
Water does more than just quench your
thirst and regulate your body's
temperature; it also keeps the tissues in
your body moist. You know how it feels
when your eyes, nose, or mouth gets
dry? Keeping your body hydrated helps
it retain optimum levels of moisture in
these sensitive areas, as well as in the
blood, bones, and the brain. In addition,
water helps protect the spinal cord, and
it acts as a lubricant and cushion for
your joints.
Water Helps Your Body Remove Waste

Adequate water intake enables your

body to excrete waste through
perspiration, urination, and defecation.
The kidneys and liver use it to help flush
out waste, as do your intestines. can
also keep you from getting constipated
by softening your stools and Water
helping move the food you've eaten
through your intestinal tract. However, it
should be noted that there is no
evidence to prove that increasing your
fluid intake will cure constipation.
Water Aids in Digestion
Digestion starts with saliva, the basis of
which is water. Digestion relies on
enzymes that are found in saliva to help
break down food and liquid and to
dissolve minerals and other nutrients.
Proper digestion makes minerals and
nutrients more accessible to the body.
Water is also necessary to help you
digest soluble fiber. With the help of
water, this fiber dissolves easily and
benefits your bowel health by making
well-formed, soft stools that are easy to
pass.
Water Prevents You From Becoming
Dehydrated
Your body loses fluids when you engage
in vigorous exercise, sweat in high heat,
or come down with a fever or contract an
illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea.
If you're losing fluids for any of these

reasons, it's important to increase your

fluid intake so that you can restore your
body's natural hydration levels. Your
doctor may also recommend that you
drink more fluids to help treat other
health conditions, like bladder infections
and urinary tract stones. If you're
pregnant or nursing, you may want to
consult with your physician about your
fluid intake because your body will be
using more fluids than usual, especially
if you're breastfeeding.
How Much Water Do You Need?
There's no hard and fast rule, and many
individuals meet their daily hydration
needs by simply drinking water when
they're thirsty, according to a report on
nutrient recommendations from the
Institute of Medicine of the National
Academies. In fact, most people who are
in good physical health get enough fluids
by drinking water and other beverages
when they're thirsty, and also by drinking
a beverage with each of their meals,
according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. If you're not
sure about your hydration level, look at
your urine. If it's clear, you're in good
shape. If it's dark, you're probably
dehydrated.

Why are unhealthy people so reluctant to change

their lifestyles?

It takes more than a wake-up call, even a life-threatening one, to get

smokers, diabetics and obese people to give up their unhealthful ways.
May 23, 2011|By Valerie Ulene, Special to the Los Angeles Times
Nobody's perfect. We all have bad habits we just can't seem to shake. Cigarettes have a hold on some
people; others can't say no to alcohol, sweets or a life on the couch in front of the television.
As much as we may want to make more healthful choices, change is difficult. Even the awareness that
our behaviors can harm us often isn't enough to make us mend our ways.
Amazingly, people who have already suffered heart trouble, diabetes or other lifestyle-related
illnesses people who intimately know the consequences of their behaviors often have an
especially hard time turning things around. It seems it takes more than a wake-up call, even a lifethreatening one, to get people to give up their unhealthful ways.
At least 40% of smokers who survive a heart attack are still puffing away a year later.
And you might think that an overweight person would slim down after a heart attack. But often, not
so. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis followed a group of more than 1,200
overweight men and women for a year following a heart attack. Their study, published in the
American Heart Journal in 2007, found that individuals lost an average of just 0.2% of their body
weight. For a 220-pound man, that would translate to less than 1 pound of weight loss.
If a heart attack isn't enough to get a person's attention, what about cancer? You can probably guess
by now. In a 2008 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Canadian investigators examined the
lifestyles of more than 9,000 cancer survivors and found that only a few had made the switch to a
healthful lifestyle. Although most had given up smoking, fewer than 20% were consuming five
servings of fruits and vegetables a day and less than half were engaging in regular physical activity.
Only 1 out of every 20 survivors was following all three principles of healthful living.
After a serious illness, lifestyle changes often have the potential to dramatically improve a person's
overall health and quality of life. In fact, lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and physical activity
strongly influence how rapidly many diseases will progress.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston examined the effect of smoking cessation
on the risk of dying after a heart attack. Their work, published last year in the Journal of the
American College of Cardiology, found that smoking significantly decreases life expectancy after a
heart attack and that smokers' prospects improve dramatically if they give up the habit. Individuals
who quit after their first heart attack were 37% less likely to die of another attack compared with
those who continued to smoke.
Other studies have found that heart attack patients who go through exercise-based rehabilitation
reduce their risk of dying by about 30%.
The power of lifestyle changes isn't unique to heart trouble. Quitting smoking improves the outcome
of diseases such as diabetes and emphysema, while weight loss improves asthma, sleep apnea and
many other conditions. The benefits of physical activity extend well beyond the heart too. Exercise
can be helpful in combating depression and controlling high blood pressure. There's also some
evidence that it has a protective effect against some types of cancer. Several studies have

demonstrated that women with breast cancer who participate in regular physical activity reduce their
risk of breast cancer deaths by 50% or more compared with those who remain physically inactive.
But not all patients get this message, partly because doctors often fail to provide sufficient counseling
and guidance. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked more than 1,600
cancer survivors if their physicians had discussed lifestyle issues with them following their diagnosis.
Only 30% had received guidance about diet, just 1 in 4 had been given exercise recommendations
and less than half had been asked about their smoking habits.
Even patients who know they should adopt more healthful habits and are determined to do so have
trouble, however. "A lot of people don't change because they don't know how to change," says Janice
Prochaska, president of Pro-Change Behavior Systems, a behavior change firm. Getting people to
alter their habits is extraordinarily difficult, and, for most people, it isn't something that happens
overnight, she says.
Change is hard, but it's not impossible. People first have to recognize that the benefits of changing
their lifestyle will outweigh the investment of time and energy (not to mention the hassle) it's going
to take to make it happen.
After that, there's a period of preparation most people go through. Rather than jumping straight into
action, they begin by making small adjustments in their lifestyle. Someone committed to increase his
or her activity level, for example, may go for a few short walks; someone attempting to lose weight
might start to scale back on desserts.

Is this new hot Jupiter facing an early death?

Posted by Jade Boyd-Rice June 10th, 2016

A search for the galaxys youngest planets has turned up one unlike any othera newborn hot
Jupiter whose outer layers are being torn away by the star it orbits every 11 hours.
A handful of known planets are in similarly small orbits, but because this star is only 2 million
years old this is one of the most extreme examples, says Christopher Johns-Krull, an
astronomer at Rice University.

We dont yet have absolute proof this is a planet because we dont yet have a firm measure of
the planets mass, but our observations go a long way toward verifying this really is a planet,
says Johns-Krull. He is the lead author of a new study in the Astrophysical Journal that makes a
case for a tightly orbiting gas giant around the star PTFO8-8695 in the constellation Orion.
Stars disk suggests big planets can form fast
We compared our evidence against every other scenario we could imagine, and the weight of
the evidence suggests this is one of the youngest planets yet observed.
The suspected planet orbits a star about 1,100 light years from Earth and is at most twice the
mass of Jupiter.
We dont know the ultimate fate of this planet, Johns-Krull says. It likely formed farther away
from the star and has migrated in to a point where its being destroyed. We know there are
close-orbiting planets around middle-aged stars that are presumably in stable orbits. What we
dont know is how quickly this young planet is going to lose its mass and whether it will lose too
much to survive.
Astronomers have discovered more than 3,300 exoplanets, but almost all of them orbit middleaged stars like the sun. On May 26, Johns-Krull and colleagues announced the discovery of CI
Tau b, the first exoplanet found to orbit a star so young that it still retains a disk of circumstellar
gas.
Finding such young planets is challenging because there are relatively few candidate stars that
are young enough and bright enough to view in sufficient detail with existing telescopes. The
search is further complicated by the fact that young stars are often active, with visual outbursts
and dimmings, strong magnetic fields and enormous starspots that can make it appear that
planets exist where they do not.
Is the planet real?
PTFO8-8695 b was identified as a candidate planet in 2012 by the Palomar Transit Factorys
Orion survey. The planets orbit sometimes causes it to pass between its star and our line of
sight from Earth, therefore astronomers can use a technique known as the transit method to
determine both the presence and approximate radius of the planet based on how much the star
dims when the planet transits, or passes in front of the star.

In 2012, there was no solid evidence for planets around 2 million-year-old stars, says Lisa
Prato, an astronomer at the Lowell Observatory. Light curves and variations of this star
presented an intriguing technique to confirm or refute such a planet.
The other thing that was very intriguing about it was that the orbital period was only 11 hours.
That meant we wouldnt have to come back night after night after night, year after year after
year. We could potentially see something happen in one night. So thats what we did. We just
sat on the star for a whole night.
A spectroscopic analysis of the light coming from the star revealed excess emission in the Halpha spectral line, a type of light emitted from highly energized hydrogen atoms. The team
found that the H-alpha light is emitted in two components, one that matches the very small
motion of the star and another than seems to orbit it.
This young Jupiter is 100 light years away
We saw one component of the hydrogen emission start on one side of the stars emission and
then move over to the other side, Prato says. When a planet transits a star, you can determine
the orbital period of the planet and how fast it is moving toward you or away from you as it
orbits. So, we said, If the planet is real, what is the velocity of the planet relative to the star?
And it turned out that the velocity of the planet was exactly where this extra bit of H-alpha
emission was moving back and forth.
Transit observations revealed that the planet is only about 3 to 4 percent the size of the star, but
the H-alpha emission from the planet appears to be almost as bright as the emission coming
from the star, Johns-Krull says.
Theres no way something confined to the planets surface could produce that effect. The gas
has to be filling a much larger region where the gravity of the planet is no longer strong enough
to hold on to it. The stars gravity takes over, and eventually the gas will fall onto the star.
Other researchers from Rice and from California Institute of Technology, the University of Texas
at Austin, NASA, and Spains National Institute of Aerospace Technology are coauthors of the
work that was funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Childhood bullying may lead to social, health issues in

adulthood
Being bullied as a child may have long-lasting repercussions that can follow into adulthood.
A new study published in Psychological Science on Aug. 19 shows that being bullied as a youth
was linked to more struggles to hold a regular job, more health problems and poor social
relationships when the victim became an adult.
"We cannot continue to dismiss bullying as a harmless, almost inevitable, part of growing up,"
Dieter Wolke, a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Warwick in the
U.K., said in a press release. "We need to change this mindset and acknowledge this as a serious
problem for both the individual and the country as a whole; the effects are long-lasting and
significant."
About 20 percent of U.S. students in grades 9 through 12 were bullied at some pointin 2011,
according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey.
For the new study, researchers looked at 1,420 children between the ages of nine to 16, and
followed up with them when they were 24 through 26 years old. Each participant was surveyed
four to six times during the study.
Researchers were particularly interested in the impact on victims, bullies and people who were
in both categories, which they called "bully-victims."
All three groups were twice as likely to have problems with maintaining employment and
actively saving money when they grew up compared to those who weren't involved in bullying.
They were also all more likely to have financial problems as adults.
In addition, the subjects had problems forming adult social relationships, meaning it was hard
for them to have long-term friendships or good relationships with their parents. This was the
same whether or not the person was married.
But when all factors were considered, just being a bully was shown to have very little impact on
adult problems. Kids who bullied were more likely to have childhood psychiatric problems and
difficulties with their family, which may have accounted for their problems later in life.
The people who may have been worst off were the bully-victims. They had the greatest chance of
developing health problems as an adult: They were more than six times more likely to have a

serious illness, smoke regularly or develop a psychiatric disorder compared to those who did not
bully anyone at all.
"In the case of bully-victims, it shows how bullying can spread when left untreated," Wolke
added. "Some interventions are already available in schools but new tools are needed to help
health professionals to identify, monitor, and deal with the ill-effects of bullying. The challenge
we face now is committing the time and resources to these interventions to try and put an end to
bullying."
Previous studies had linked being bullied to increased risk of adult psychiatric problems. Teens
bullied by their peers are 2.5 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who haven't
been recently bullied, an October 2012 study in the Archives of Pediatric Medicine showed.
Emma-Jane Cross, founder of the anti-bullying charity BeatBullying, added that the study shows
that bullying can affect society and the economy.
"The findings demonstrate for the first time just how far-reaching and damaging the
consequences of bullying can be," she told the BBC.
It's more than just monetary and social consequences at risk. Psychologist Guy Winch
told TIME that emotional trauma might be as harmful as physical injuries. One particular study
using brain image scans showed that people who have been rejected have the same areas of the
brain activated as those who are experiencing physical pain, he said.
"The intensity of the emotional pain bullying elicits, and the fact that other people
underestimate how much hurt they feel makes being bullied an incredibly traumatic experience
that can leave significant emotional scars," says Winch, who wrote "Emotional First Aid:
Practical Strategies for Treating Failure, Rejection, Guilt, and Other Everyday Psychological
Injuries," explained.
The bullies don't have to be the child's classmates. A June study in Pediatrics showed that
people who were bullied by their siblings may have more adult metal health problems like
depression and anxiety than those who had been bullied by their peers.
Winch said that targeting certain issues that affect bullied victims may be able to help prevent
any further damage. Areas of focus should include building up their self-esteem, helping them
heal from the emotional pain, helping them manage their anger and aggression and aiding them
in understanding that they are wanted and belong.
"Some people are more resilient and tend to do some of these healing and curative things
naturally. They might seek out their close friends and get emotional support from them, and by
doing so remind themselves that they're accepted and appreciated," Winch said.

Sport

Sport (UK) or sports (US) are all forms of usually competitive physical
activity or games which,[1] through casual or organised participation, aim to use,
maintain or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants,
and in some cases, entertainment for spectators.[2] Usually the contest or game is
between two sides, each attempting to exceed the other. Some sports allow a tie game;
others provide tie-breaking methods, to ensure one winner and one loser. A number of
such two-sided contests may be arranged in a tournament producing a champion.
Many sports leagues make an annual champion by arranging games in a regular sports
season, followed in some cases by playoffs. Hundreds of sports exist, from those
between single contestants, through to those with hundreds of simultaneous
participants, either in teams or competing as individuals. In certain sports such
as racing, many contestants may compete, each against all with one winner.
Sport is generally recognised as activities which are based in physical athleticism or
physical dexterity, with the largest major competitions such as the Olympic
Games admitting only sports meeting this definition,[3] and other organisations such as
theCouncil of Europe using definitions precluding activities without a physical element
from classification as sports.[2] However, a number of competitive, but non-physical,
activities claim recognition as mind sports. The International Olympic Committee
(through ARISF) recognises both chess and bridge as bona fide sports, and SportAccord,
the international sports federation association, recognises five non-physical sports:
Bridge, Chess, Draughts, Go, Xiangqi,[4][5] and limits the number of mind games which
can be admitted as sports.[1]
Sports are usually governed by a set of rules or customs, which serve to ensure fair
competition, and allow consistent adjudication of the winner. Winning can be
determined by physical events such as scoring goals or crossing a line first. It can also
be determined by judges who are scoring elements of the sporting performance,
including objective or subjective measures such as technical performance or artistic
impression.
Records of performance are often kept, and for popular sports, this information may be
widely announced or reported in sport news. Sport is also a major source of
entertainment for non-participants, with spectator sport drawing large crowds to sport
venues, and reaching wider audiences through broadcasting. Sports betting is in some
cases severely regulated, and in some cases is central to the sport.
According to A.T. Kearney, a consultancy, the global sporting industry is worth up to
$620 billion as of 2013.[6] The world's most accessible and practised sport is running,
while association football is its most popular spectator sport.[7][8]

The Genting Highlands Malaysia Tourism

Introduction
Genting Highlands Malaysia is a city known as the Fun City Above the Cloud, as it is quite
similar to Las Vegas which isnt actually all that close. The primary draw is that, Genting is one
of the hotspot in Malaysia where you can gamble legally. Whereas, there is also a theme park to
keep the kids amused. The atmosphere located at that area is cooler than the steamy lowlands.
Theme Park

The cool air makes it an exhilarating experience to enjoy many outdoor rides. Whether taking
leisure drives in the Antique car or experiencing the adrenaline pumping Space Shot, its a
wonderful and magical adventure of fun and excitement for the family.
Casino
The casino at Genting offers a host of exciting international-level games, among the most
popular games like for an example, Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack, and Caribbean Stud Poker.
Jackpot machines are one of the tourist attractions too. International class shows and live
entertainment provide the accompanying glamour.
Hotels
Genting Highlands resort has approximately six hotels which is, First World Hotel, Genting
Hotel, Highlands Hotel, Theme Park Hotel, Resort Hotel, Maxims Hotel and Awana Genting
Highlands Golf & Country Resort at the mid-hill which is total up offering up to approximately
10,000 hotel rooms. The prices for these hotels are approximately affordable where First World
Hotel is one of the cheapest among all.
History
The story of Genting, is that most Malaysians will recognize it as synonymous with the rise of its
namesake Hill Resort and Genting Highlands Resort. Many may not have truly appreciated the
mammoth task involved in its construction and the vast resources and reserves mobilized to
ensure what that has proven today to be an unprecedented successful in resort development.
In the beginning stages, the idea of a hill resort was brought up upon by late Tan Sri Lim Goh
Tong amidst the crisp air of Cameron Highlands in 1964. Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong was then
working on a hydro-electric power project at the popular hill resort, which is patronized mostly by
the British colonials seeking cool refuges from the tropical heat, when he foresaw a prosperous
Malaysia of the future desiring a cool mountain holiday resort within the reach of all Malaysians,
this is when the idea was brought up.
Besides that, on 18 Aug 1965, a technical and construction team began the task that would take
four years to complete the access road which is from Genting Sempah towards the peak of
Gunung Ulu Kali. By ensuring the sound and prompt construction of the hotel-resort, Tan Sri Lim
Goh Tong has to spend all of his time, capital and resources, including the reserves of his family
company, Kien Huat Bhd towards the making of his so called "dream resort".
Furthermore, since after the opening of their first hotel in 1971, Genting Highlands Resort has
continued to grow from strength-to-strength. Whereas, the development of that area has
continued to this present day to enhance Genting Highlands Resort as one of the premier
holiday destination in the Malaysia/Asia while ensuring that the natural beauty of the rain forest
is taken care of.
In 1997, Genting Highlands Resort further boosted its facility attraction by building a
transportation service called "Genting Skyway cable car system" that provides a 3.38 km
transport towards the hilltop. Genting Skyway is also recognized as the "World's Fastest Mono
Cable Car System" in 2002 with a maximum speed of 21.6 km per hour and the "Longest Cable
Car in Malaysia and towards SEA".http://www.genting.com/images/history4a.jpg

Their mission is to be committed to innovation and the adoption of new technology to achieve
competitive advantage and to pursue personnel policies which is recognize and rewarding
employees which has great performance and contributions and also provide proper training,
development and opportunities for career advancement
Business
Genting Highlands Resort
Genting Resort is one of Southeast Asia's major holiday destinations in Asia and a holiday
desired destination in Malaysia, attracting visitors from all over Malaysia, Singapore and all over
the world, mainly the Asia-Pacific region.
Hotels
The six hotels at the Resort itself Maxims, Genting Hotel, Theme Park Hotel, First World
Hotel, Highlands Hotel and Resort Hotel with approximately total of about 10,000 hotel rooms,
an overall occupancy rate of 68% in 2003. Also, It particularly attracts tourist from all over
countries like Singapore, China, Indonesia and Taiwan.
Conventions
Genting international convention centre is a place specially for Incentives, Meeting, Conventions
and Exhibitions at the resort itself. Approximatey over total of 2,208 functions were held at the
convention centre during the year of 2003.
Shopping and Food & Beverage (F&B)
Shopping and F&B like First World Plaza is a special-cooling shopping paradise in Malaysia, it
comes with an offer for visitors to have an experience of dining, shopping and entertainment.
First World Plaza has exactly 49 F&B outlets, 87 retail shops and kiosks, 21 rides and
attractions and 6 leisure and entertainment outlets under one area. A range of merchandise and
products are sold at many branded retail outlets, such as Camel Active, B.U.M Equipment,
Dockers, Apex Pharmacy, Levi's, Nike, Addidas and many more.
Genting Theme Park
The main satisfaction comes from Genting Theme Park itself, which comprises exactly 51 rides
and attractions up to 600 video games simulators at the Resort's Outdoor and Indoor Theme
Parks and at the First World Plaza, continues to live up to its theme of giving endless and
excitement fun time at the peak of Genting Malaysia.
Awana Hotels & Resorts
Awana Genting Highlands Golf & Country Resort is a refreshing getaway from the troubles,
stress, work and much more of the city. This 5-star resort has 17 well-equipped function rooms
with spacious foyers, 437 wel-appointed guestrooms and an 18-hole award winning
championship golf course.
e-Commerce & IT Development
eGENTING is the e-commerce and IT division of Genting Malaysia Berhad. It operates
Malaysia's online call centre operations in the region, hospitality website and the only regional
loyalty program to create an integrated, global reservation system where customers can access
and purchase rooms, limousines, show tickets, services and F&B.

S Strengths
Genting Malaysia Has a strong brand name in the local market and good reputation among
customers.
Great location which is located in a hill-top where people can enjoy cooler weather and the
breathtaking views which is wonderful. It is easy to be accessed by either car or bus about an
hour drive from KL. It is also accessible by the world's fastest and SEAs longest cable car
called "Genting Skyway" which is 3.38km long
Genting Group provides a wide range of facilities and services including hospitality and leisure
business and its activities cover seaside resorts, hotels, gaming, theme parks and entertainment
for the total comfort of all customers/guests.
W Weakness
High maintenance and cost of repairs of broken stuffs/leakage
Lack of financial resources.
Lack of information provided regarding the rooms rates and details in their official website.
The Customer related processes are not efficient enough
Lack of adequate customer communication channels
O Opportunities
Improving their current system and offering more features and services is good chance for
Genting Hotels Group to increase sales and attract more customers locally and globally.
Use of Internet, social networks and blogs to attract new customers and maintain the loyalty of
the excising once.
Alliances with travel agencies are good opportunities for Genting Highlands to attract more
guests globally.
Growth of Internet users in Malaysia which brings opportunities for new market strategies
T-Threat
Increasing the number of hackers and unauthorized accessed through internet and some
Customers still afraid of transact money through internet, they do not trust online payment
because of credit card fraud.
Frequently changes of the technology which makes it hard for a big chain of hotels to stay up to
date.
The economic is slowing down and all exterior changes.
Increased the number of competitors due an expanding in the gaming market in the same
region. For instance, Macau and Singapore.
The highly competitive challenges in the hotels industry and the increasing the number of
stronger competitors as well as the price war and the lower costs provided by competitors.