8 Simple Spiritual Activities for Self-Care That You Can Start Today

Taking care of your wellbeing means that you pay equal attention to your mind, body, and soul. Self-care activities help us find the time for our mental, emotional, and general health. Sometimes we need to focus on those activities that bring us closer to the inner self and nourish our soul. These activities can help us take care of our spiritual side and invite joy and happiness to our life.

Keep a gratitude journal

We are so focused on the negative these days that we fail to acknowledge the positivity that surrounds us. The fact that we are present and here today is something we should be grateful for. Keeping a gratitude journal can be your way of expressing your emotions and remind yourself of many positive things. Note down the list of things you are grateful for every day. Make sure you add at least one more thing each day.

By focusing on the positive and showing gratitude, you can also manifest positive things and invite good things to your life. The gratitude journal will be useful for days when you feel blue or sad. If you need a pick me up, go through your list and be reminded of things that you're thankful for.

Curb your social media addiction

When we focus on things that exist in the virtual world, we fail to acknowledge the beauty of the present. Focusing on shares, likes, and notifications constantly distracting us can be overwhelming. If you can't leave your home without a phone or you panic when you realize that you left your phone at home, it's time to curb your addiction. Incorporate no phone hours in your day to improve your focus and productivity.

For example, check your phone every two hours for five minutes. Incorporate tech-free days as well so that you can be present in the moment and attentive to real-time connections and encounters. Weekends are great for this because you can leave your phone at home and, indeed, limit your tech time. Check your phone once in the morning and once in the evening and break free from this addiction.

Remove negative energy from your space

When you fail to take care of your living area, you allow negative energy to set in and stay there. Clutter can create emotional stress and also disrupt the flow of energy throughout your home. Clear the unnecessary clutter and do a deep clean of your space. Then, cleanse the area with the sacred art of smudging.

remove negative energy

To do this right, you'll need some sage and matches to light them up. Do this after you declutter and clean your entire space. Open all windows so that the air and energy can flow freely and smudge your space and your body as well.

Create a meditation nook

Meditation is one of the best ways to reduce stress, banish negative thoughts, become centered, and tune in with your spirituality. Meditation can calm the racing mind and racing heart and even inspire you to pursue your passions. If you want to make meditation a part of your regular everyday routine, start by creating a meditation space within your home. Once you do this, you'll love to use it as your sanctuary and oasis of calm.

relax mind

Make sure to position your meditation corner next to a window. You can soak up the morning sun while you meditate, or pull down the roman blinds when you need peace. You can meditate on your own or listen to a guided meditation. Either way, try to do it for 10, 20, or 30 minutes every day to feel calmer and centered and in touch with your inner self.

Listen to an uplifting podcast or audiobook

Listening to podcasts or audiobooks is a high activity that can easily accompany your other daily activities. You can listen to it while you prepare your meals, commute, iron, or take a walk. You don't have to make time for it in your day, and you need to combine it with your typical activity. There are many uplifting podcasts you can listen to and improve your mood and learn something new.

When it comes to audiobooks, you can choose some hype personal development audiobooks and also listen to them. It is a great way to change your negative thoughts pattern by shifting your focus on a story. This way, you'll improve your knowledge as well and learn how to develop better routines, change your mindset, and improve your mood.

Spend time outside

Whenever we feel like we need to get away, we step out and take a walk. This is because spending time outside, under the sun, and in the fresh air can heal your mind, soul, and stimulate your senses. You can take regular walks or take up cycling so you'll get to spend more time outside, reinvigorate your spirit and improve your mood. Cycling will improve your health, mood, and be the reason more to spend time outside.

outside relax time

You can also use a lightweight e-bike for your daily commute to and from work. When you cycle to work in the morning, you’ll be more energized and ultimately more productive at work. But when you cycle home from work, you can use this activity as a stress relief. Either way, you’ll benefit from it a lot and also get to spend more time outside.

Read daily

You can listen to inspiring material, and you can read it as well. Daily practice of reading can be another tool against stress. You can also make it a part of your wind-down routine so you'll clear your mind before going to sleep. Motivational material can change the way you perceive life, your habits, and methods. If you're one of those people who pay a lot of attention to personal development, there are many books you can read to become inspired to change.

read daily

Reading is viewed as a mental exercise and a way to improve our knowledge and vocabulary. Find a topic that inspires you and commit to reading at least one hour a day. You can read during your lunch break at work when you want to calm your mind and before bed.

Have a relaxing bath

Taking a relaxing bath when you feel overwhelmed and stressed can be an excellent way to get in touch with your thoughts and your spirituality. It is also a unique way to treat yourself once in a while. First of all, create the right setting for your spiritual awakening. Run yourself a hot bath and add some Himalayan salt if you want to cleanse your aura and remove all the negativity.

relaxing bath

You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to diffuse some beautiful scents. Spend at least thirty minutes soaking in this salt bath and air dry after it. You can also repeat the same routine by adding baking soda instead of Himalayan salt. Remember to relax your body and remove negative thoughts from your mind while your body enjoys the power of spiritual cleansing.

Create your daily spiritual routine

Make your daily spiritual routine you can incorporate into your self-care hour or evening wind-down routine. First, find a quiet place in your home. It can be your meditation nook or another comfortable area. Brew some herbal tea like ginger, chamomile, rooibos, or another herbal blend that promotes relaxation and is rich in antioxidants. Then burn some incense to stimulate relaxation further. If you want to improve your wellbeing, combine the spiritual routine of tea drinking with the soothing smell of perfume. Sandalwood, jasmine, lavender, pine, chamomile, lemongrass, and others can be the right choice depending on your current mood. After you had some tea, you can finish this spiritual routine by meditating for half an hour. Set aside some time for this routine, and you will observe the benefits of it quickly.

Create to express your emotions

One more way to tap into your spirituality is to engage in a creative project. Let your creativity flow freely, and you'll be inspired, happier, and encourage a sense of play. You can draw, paint with watercolors, doodle, or even use adult coloring books. Creativity is limitless, and we should find the time to let it flow freely to boost our spirit. Find inspiration around you and unleash your creativity to feed your soul.

Take up yoga

The yoga practice is crucial to awaken the spirit because it creates the proper state of mind and body. Yoga is known to relieve stress, ease your mind, and connect you to your emotions and awaken your soul. People feel calmer and happier after a yoga class, so you should find the type that suits your lifestyle.

These eight simple steps will help you create room for spiritual activities that will improve your life. They also fall into the self-care category so you'll feel better and become mindful of your daily activities.

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“Ripartiamo” ONLUS

The Ripartiamo ONLUS Association intends to pursue exclusively social and cultural solidarity purposes within the territory of the Lazio Region, nationally and internationally;
Promote cultural and social initiatives;

The mission is to organize events, shows, cultural events that can represent opportunities for enrichment for the whole community, collaborate in activities aimed at socio-cultural development, develop dialogue and comparison between all citizens around the values of friendship and solidarity, creating opportunities for dialogue and discussion with particular attention to young people and their needs.


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Our software engineers designed and implemented several cross-platform frameworks and implemented know-hows for our clients.
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Cross-platform solution core iterative redesign and refactoring was implemented to ensure stable and constant releases during the set period of time followed by implementation of know-how for the client.

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COVID-19 and the need for domestic industries

The COVID-19 crisis is a worldwide shock for our societies, for sanitary concerns of course but also for our economies, social interactions, cultural lives, and daily routine in general. Even though the peak of the pandemic has already been reached in many countries, the virus is still circulating out there in a very deadly way and mankind will have to learn how to live with, amid the fear of a possible second wave of the epidemic. Hopefully, a few months by now, a vaccine will be available and will put an end to the catastrophe; but even if that happens, and it is very hypothetical, the consequences provoked by the coronavirus will still be felt for many years. The predicted economic crisis quickly started to take shape:  stock markets are unstable, the unemployment rate is at its highest, and many of the people belonging to the  underprivileged social classes, who lack an Internet connection and are not able to respect the lockdown regulations because of their life conditions, suffer greatly from the economic burden imposed on their shoulders while the better-off spread messages about the importance of staying home from their luxurious penthouses, explaining that “we are now all equal” when the pandemic highlights inequalities.  But the epidemic also represents an opportunity to learn; because during the past few months, the limits of globalization were thrown to the face of the world, and cracks appeared in the perfect world of the liberal universe of wild and anarchical global competition. In light of the recent developments, we can now understand how fragile our system is and start to rethink globalization. One of the most important issues for the Western nations is the need to recreate again powerful domestic industries, at least in vital sectors; an idea that has been disregarded by the proponents of a global market

To fully grasp the situation, it is important to define first the term  “globalization”; a concept widely used during debates and discussion but that few understand. Pr Manfred Steger, professor at the University of Hawaii and one of the most influential scholars in global studies, defines it as the following:

“Globalisation refers to a multi-dimensional set of social processes that create, multiply, stretch and intensify worldwide social interdependencies and exchanges while at the same time fostering in people a growing awareness of deepening connections between the local and the distant.”

Steger, M. (2003), Globalization: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

In simple words, we can consider economic globalization as a form of economic integration on a global scale with one huge unregulated market, international free competition, low tariffs, and barriers and the cancellation of any economic borders when it comes to the production and circulation of goods and services. Since the end of the Second World war, many steps have been taken by Western leaders to make such a world possible (for example the creation of institutions like the GATT, the World Bank, or the International Monetary Fund). Those strategies were highly successful back then with a period of providential economic growth and prosperity for the Western world. Later on, neo-liberal policies pushed by Ronald  Reagan and Margaret Thatcher brought globalization even further by undermining the last existing barriers and regulations on trade. At the end of the century, the fall of the Soviet Union and the communist block altogether combined with the liberalization of China’s economy made people believe that a global liberalized economy was the only way. Some scholars such as Francis Fukuyama even called it “the end of history” as this ideal was the end-goal for mankind.

Nevertheless, Globalization only partially succeeded as a project. Indeed, on economic terms, it came very close to the creation of a single and unregulated market (except when we talk about the movement of labor) but it failed to unite the world politically. The task was almost impossible as nation-states, willing to give up on macro-economic independence, would never accept to abandon their prime role on the diplomatic stage, only to be replaced by Multi-National Corporations. International institutions are all based on intergovernmental structures where national political interests prevail: the United Nations General Assembly and its non-binding resolutions somewhat appear like an empty shell, the World Trade Organization only deals with economic issues while International courts rely on the goodwill of their member-states to respect international law.

Even the Security Council, who holds a real decision-making power, is driven by a handful of countries with nuclear capabilities. During the era of globalization, no attempt to implement a level of international political rules to control trade has been taken with the notable exception of the European Union. The issue is that without such institutions, the economic market is skewed and now resembles a jungle. “Homo homini lupus”, “Man is a wolf to man” is the leading “virtue” of international trade. If every country plays the game by its own rules, then control becomes impossible.  The perspective of cheaper labor and higher productivity gave an incentive for firms to relocate in poorer countries without any kind of social protection for workers; and as a consequence underaged children work in disastrous conditions for too many hours a day to produce a smartphone while the lower classes from the West suffer from great unemployment.  Social justice and the welfare state have been sacrificed on the altar of the sacrosanct economic growth. Moreover, the environment has been the first to greatly suffer from the transportation of goods without any possibility to internationally regulate pollution.

All these problems exist for many years, but the globalists chose not to see them or to conveniently sweep them behind the rugs while making speeches about progress and diversity.

Do not get me wrong though. I am not an anti-globalist, and I deeply believe that Globalization has brought countless positive changes and developments to the world. Among others, it helped to decrease extreme poverty and famine in a striking way or open new possibilities for entrepreneurs to make a change in the world.  However, it would be a mistake to rest on our achievements: it is time to assess the issues created by our worldwide economy and deal with them. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst in many fields and made clear the major cracks in our system.  The absence of an international political order means that domestic industries are highly needed for every nation to remain independent in vital sectors such as health and agriculture.

In that respect, the French example is interesting to analyze. France is one of the most powerful economies in the world, an influential power on the international stage and one of the most developed European countries. However, it highly suffered from the pandemic for very surprising reasons. One of them was the shortage of masks that legitimately angered the population. At first, it is very unlikely to think that such a well-off country is not able to produce enough masks for a quite limited population. Le Monde, a famous French newspaper, revealed that over the years the successive governments decided not to renew the expensive reserves of masks and to rely on the international trade capacities in the case of a pandemic with a production-based in China and partnerships agreements. The strategy failed as, in times of crisis, nation-states tend to look after the safety and the health of their citizens or to pursue their national interests. As a result, the masks never came and French doctors were forced to tinker their own equipment themselves. France even had to receive help from countries like Morocco with massive importations to face the health crisis.

Regarding health, the United States is not better off; according to the Department of Commerce, 80% of the antibiotics used in the country are imported from China.  These situations may look bizarre and even upside-down, but it is only the logical consequence of the policies of globalized liberalization with the relocation of vital industries to foreign nations.

No wonder why the countries who handled the best the pandemic were the ones who kept their industrial power and capabilities like Germany or Israel (whose self-reliance for food and health is a matter of national security since its independence).

Various world leaders, considered as liberals, even announced the need to bring back industries to ensure economic  independence in the most important categories of the economy. Such moves sound just reasonable but it represents a major backlash for globalists as the Western World would go back to some kind of protectionism.

Globalization is a dream. A beautiful dream. But as long as nations would not find a way to create an effective political system to regulate international trade, domestic industries are still a high necessity for every country. And it is not only an economic issue when people’s lives are at stake.

About the Author
David was born and raised in Metz, France. where he served as the equipment manager of the Jewish security organization. After moving to Israel in 2016, David studied and worked in Kibbutz Sha'alvim. At the IDC Herzliya, where he has a merit scholarship and is on the Dean’s List, David participated in the Honors' program Argov Fellowship for Leadership and Diplomacy and ISCA program - Israeli Students Combating Antisemitism led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. David worked at the European Parliament in Brussels in the fields of Conflict Resolution and Civil Liberties. He is also a competitive long-distance runner, regional handball champion and staff member of a large web-writing community.
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Corruption in Libya

For decades, Libya has endured countless accounts of corruption committed by the government, the militia and major oil corporations. The corruption in Libya derives from what political scientists call a “resource curse,” a term used to describe a nation that tends to have less economic growth and a weaker democracy due to its abundance of natural resources. Oil production has made the nation susceptible to corruption, leading the country into a civil war due to persistent violence and political unrest. Here are ten facts about corruption in Libya.

10 Facts about Corruption in Libya

  1. In 2018, Libya ranked as 170 least corrupt out of 175 countries, according to the Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International. In the same year, Libya also scored a low 17 out of 100 in the Corruption Perception Index. The corruption primarily derives from the government, the public sector and private businesses.
  3. Eighty percent of Libya’s GDP and 99 percent of government revenue comes from oil production. In 2018, foreign exports of oil in Libya brought in revenues totaling $24.5 billion. The central bank in Tripoli controls these funds and is responsible for disbursing them throughout the country, but at the time there were no laws in Libya that demand the transparency of the bank to disclose the use of state funds with their constituents.
  4. Libya has anti-corruption laws; however, lax enforcement permits widespread corruption practices such as embezzlement and bribery among the public procurement sector. According to Libya’s Criminal Code, the Law on Economic Crimes and the Law on Abuse of Position or Occupation, “the abuse by a public official of his or her position or functions to obtain a benefit for himself or herself or for others” is established as an offense. Despite anti-corruption laws, the weakness of Libya’s institutional framework has given leeway to Libyan officials to misappropriate funds. Head of Organisation for Development of Administrative Centres (ODAC) Ali Ibrahim Dabaiba misappropriated nearly $7 billion in national assets and laundered them into personal bank accounts abroad. These funds were designated to go toward Libya’s public infrastructure, but Dabaiba instead put the money toward his interests, such as purchasing luxury hotels in Scotland.
  5. Corruption in Libya remains rampant even after the revolution and the assassination of Gaddafi in 2011. After the first civil war, violence and political instability persisted throughout Libya, and government ministers and the military have conflicted control of the country. General Khalifa Haftar is the leader of the militant offensive, and he promises to combat Islamist militias. However, through mobilizing the military to fight armed groups throughout the country and seize control of major cities, violence became even more prevalent and a second civil war was initiated in 2014. Haftar’s group, the Libyan National Army (LNA), has attacked several sites in the city of Tripoli. His military force has killed a total of 443 people, injuring more than 2,000, and displacing nearly 60,000 civilians in pursuit of gaining control over the territory.
  6. Corruption in law enforcement is also prevalent in Libya. Several reports show police officers engaging in malpractice including bribery, embezzlement, nepotism and extortion. According to a survey conducted by the Departments of Research and Studies of Organization for Transparency Libya, respondents ranked the police highest in spreading corruption. Some cases of police corruption that researchers discovered include police officers stopping drivers, seizing their drivers’ licenses and extorting drivers in exchange for their licenses.
  7. Activists and media workers across the nation of Libya are being silenced. In 2017, 11 out of 18 political, civil, and human rights activists and personalities, polled by the Human Rights Watch in Tripoli and Zawiyah, claimed to have been threatened by state militia, government, and armed groups, three have been attacked or harassed, and nine claims to fear for their lives after receiving threats. In 2016, the Libyan Center for Freedom of the Press (LCFP) reported that 107 media workers were attacked by armed groups including two journalists who were killed.
  8. Transparency International is one of the major organizations combating corruption in Libya. They aim to stop corruption in governments, businesses, and civil societies through the “creation of international anti-corruption conventions and the prosecution of corrupt leaders and seizures of their illicitly gained riches.” They have pushed legislation that has made bribing foreign officials illegal by enforcing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention, which requires members to outlaw bribery of officials. For instance, In 2017, an investigation in France on Société Générale bank was opened because of its payment of $58.5 million to a Panama-registered company as part of a scheme to secure its business in Libya. A settlement was reached, and Société Générale committed to pay a total of €500 million to close this procedure.
  9. Civil Initiatives Libya (CIL) is a project that aims to empower and support civil society organizations (CSO). CIL is funded by the European Union and implemented by ACTED in 15 different municipalities in Libya. This initiative is imperative to solving corruption because CSOs are able to promote civic engagement and local governance, which can increase the fairness of the Libyan government. CIL centers provide facilities, technical assistance and funding to over 700 CSOs across Libya. In 2012, over 1,400 NGO representatives benefited from CIL’s facilities and training services. The project also involves hosting CSO events, workshops and training that revolves around women and youth empowerment. CIL has expanded the capacity of many CSOs and has made them strong and politically visible enough to be able to lobby the government and acquire funding from the national budget.
  10. Global Witness is a nonprofit that works to protect human rights by exposing corruption in nations that have an abundance of natural resources, including Libya. Their work involves holding hard-hitting investigations on corruption scandals in pursuit of holding corrupt leaders accountable. Their strategies include secret filming, satellite imagery and drone footage, data analysis of companies, and using anonymous sources. Through their resources, Global Witness is able to release detailed investigations on corruption all over the world and advocate for those who are victims of corruption by launching campaigns that bring awareness to global injustices. In 2002, Global Witness, Transparency International and many other NGOs co-launched the Publish What You Pay campaign, which mandates oil, gas and mining companies around the world to disclose their net taxes, fees, royalties and other payments. This campaign led to the creation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Since its launch, the EITI has put $2.4 trillion of oil, gas and mining revenues in the public domain.

These 10 facts about corruption in Libya illustrate the prevalence of abuse and fraudulence in Libya. However, even though corruption still permeates Libya’s institutions, efforts from around the world continue to prevent any further corruption by holding public officials accountable for their crimes.

If support from nonprofits, civil societies and advocates persists, Libya may be able to mobilize their local governments to sustain a better democracy and resist violent and corrupt regimes.

– Louise Macaraniag
Photo: Dhaka Tribune

10 facts about corruption in brazil
As the largest nation in South America with a population of over 200 million, Brazil’s importance on the global stage is clear; however, corruption charges and convictions have riddled the country’s reputation. In 2014, one of the worst economic recessions in Brazil’s history hit it and left it in a state of political and economic instability along with ongoing corruption investigations. It is just beginning to recover. These 10 facts about corruption in Brazil serve to better understand one of the world’s most influential, and most corrupt, global players.

10 Facts About Corruption in Brazil

  1. Major corruption scandals have entangled Brazil’s last three presidents: Former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received a conviction in July 2017 on charges of receiving over $1 million in kickbacks which he put towards renovating his beachfront apartment, with additional charges of money laundering. Brazil impeached his successor, Dilma Rousseff, in 2016, for mismanaging the federal budget in order to hide the extent of the country’s deficit. Brazil arrested her successor, Michel Temer, in March 2019 (only three months after leaving office) on charges of funneling an estimated $470 million into a criminal organization he spearheaded.
  2. Many recent corruption charges have emerged from Lavo Jato, also known as Operation Car Wash: Conceived in 2014, this operation’s original focus was on exposing a car wash money laundering scheme. Results from the investigation indicted hundreds of government officials and business elites spanning 12 countries in one of the largest corruption scandals in Latin American history. By October 2018, Lavo Jato had resulted in over 200 arrests made on the basis of corruption, abuse of the international financial system, drug trafficking and money laundering. The arrest of former president Michel Temer is a direct result of Operation Car Wash.
  3. The working class felt the consequences of Operation Car Wash: Almost half of state-owned oil-giant Petrobras’s employees received lay off after Operation Car Wash exposed the extent of bribes taken by Petrobras in exchange for giving government contracts to Odebrecht, a construction company. The more than 100,000 laid-off employees, not directly involved in the corruption efforts, had to find new work during one of the largest economic downturns in Brazil’s history as a result of Petrobras’s corrupt actions. Executives from both companies face prison time (a U.S. court has even fined Odebrecht $2.6 billion for it to pay to U.S., Brazilian, and Swiss authorities).
  4. Brazil’s domestic corruption affects many countries: Operation Weak Flesh, an investigation launched by Brazilian officials announced in March 2017, has exposed Brazilian companies JBS and BFR, the world’s largest beef and poultry exporters, to public scrutiny, bringing Brazilian corruption further into the global spotlight. JBS and BFR bribed quality inspectors to approve the exportation of spoiled meat which they exported around the world, including to the U.S. The U.S. has since banned JBS and BFR products. Authorities have arrested the Batista brothers, heads of JBS, for insider trading and lying to authorities. They also charged JBS $3.16 billion in fines for bribes totaling $600 million spread across nearly 2,000 officials.
  5. Economists indicate that political instability caused by corruption contributed to Brazil’s recession: Consumer confidence drops in conjunction with political crises, resulting in GDP losses. For example, the value of Brazil’s currency dropped eight percent after a recording implicating Michel Temer in a bribery scheme released in May 2017. The election of current president Bolsonaro has been described as one of the most politically polarizing and violent elections in Brazil’s history. Bolsonaro himself was a victim of such political violence; he suffered a stabbing during a campaign rally in September 2018. Continued political instability and violence will breed further economic havoc, according to economic experts.
  6. Corruption places Brazil’s indigenous community at risk, as well: Current president Jair Bolsonaro’s agenda involves the loosening of current deforestation regulations that may result in denial of indigenous peoples’ land claims. Experts agree Bolsonaro’s election was in response to public frustration with government corruption. Threats of illegal deforestation to indigenous reserves have increased since Bolsonaro’s election, causing indigenous groups and NGOs to mobilize around the issue. Bolsonaro has plans to drastically cut funding for Brazil’s two agencies responsible for defending the Amazon from intruders; in response, a group of indigenous people has created the Forest Guardians, an unsanctioned patrol group set on defending indigenous lands from criminal intruders Bolsonaro’s campaign promise to limit regulations on deforestation and public land mining may embolden.
  7. The “Brazil Cost” was a common term to describe the price of bribery in Brazilian business: While Operation Car Wash has exposed many high-ranking political and business elite, the systemic extent of Brazil’s corruption crisis goes far beyond the elite; the “Brazil Cost” applies almost universally across businesses. Some companies even had the “Brazil Cost”, an estimate on the amount of money they would need to spend on bribes, built into their business models and compliance systems.
  8. There is hope, though: The results of the Poverty Action Lab’s study outline successful methods for corruption reduction: prior audits of Brazilian municipalities reduce future corruption, local reporting on corruption reduces corrupt activities in surrounding areas and corruption can be limited by increasing the perceived legal costs. While Brazil has yet to implement them on a large scale, these findings could help curb the corruption problem plaguing Brazil from the municipal level to the country’s highest-ranking officials.
  9. Brazil has already implemented real anti-corruption measures in an attempt to halt further corruption: Transparency International implemented a package consisting of 70 anti-corruption measures for the 2018 election. Alongside these measures, the Clean Tab policy, originally created by Brazilian officials in 2010 (but increasingly relied on since Operation Car Wash’s findings) have categorized politicians according to whether or not they have been involved in corruption scandals. Brazil denied entry to hundreds of candidates in the 2018 election due to prior instances of corruption (although many of these candidates appealed the decision and ran despite their “Dirty Tab” status).
  10. Anti-corruption laws are making headway: An anti-corruption law passed in August 2013 now holds people who give out bribes equally responsible to those public officials on the receiving end. Although Brazil proposed the law in 2010 and passed it in 2013, the country did not enforce it until a wave of anti-corruption protests in 2015, evidence of the difficulties in changing an aspect of a political culture that is so institutionalized. Prior to the passage of this law, Brazil did not recognize a corporate liability for bribery. The law also punishes corporations rather than individuals, meaning firing one employee does not rid the company of responsibility. As a result, corporations are spending more on compliance than ever before. From 2014 to the end of 2017, 183 cases occurred against corporations under this law, resulting in millions of dollars worth of fines. Experts are calling this new age of transparency and regulation the age of compliance.

Above are 10 facts about corruption in Brazil, but the problem and potential solutions are much more vast. While these 10 facts about corruption in Brazil paint a picture of the extent of the problem, one cannot overstate corruption’s tangible impact on the lives of everyday Brazilians. With each new election comes renewed fears of corrupt activities; nevertheless, innovative preventative and corrective initiatives are flowing freely, and a corruption-free future for Brazil is more likely than ever.

– Erin Jenkins
Photo: Flickr

10 facts about living conditions in equatorial guinea

10 Facts about Living Conditions in Equatorial Guinea

Owen Zinkweg
Photo: Flickr

Journalism in Developing Countries
Various studies show that free press and independent journalism in developing countries is crucial to promoting progress. But, this feat is often difficult to achieve.

The Pros and Cons of Independent Journalism

One of the benefits of pluralistic and independent media is increased transparency, which allows citizens to hold their governments accountable. According to UNESCO, it is only “when journalists are free to monitor, investigate and criticize a society’s policies and actions can good governance take hold.”

Credible information also promotes discussions about issues that are critical to a country’s development. Allowing people to access and contribute to credible and independent media can even lead to economic, social and political empowerment. In order to reduce poverty, it is important to provide poor and marginalized people with reliable information as well as platforms where they can voice their stories and struggles.

However, journalism in developing countries poses additional challenges. Reporters face threats and harassment from corrupt governments, militias or local gangs. In addition, they often have low salaries and have to work for politicized media outlets.

This lack of freedom prevents journalists in developing countries from objectively criticizing policies and vocalizing the needs of the marginalized communities. Both of these are necessary to empower citizens and hold governments accountable.

The Current Issues in Journalism in Developing Countries

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), around 80 percent of major media outlets are owned by or affiliated with politicians. These politicians use the media as their own source of political propaganda. The salaries of journalists are directly linked to the content of their articles, so the political owners get to dictate what is reported.

Furthermore, journalists in the DRC often face physical harm if they criticize the government or local militias. Those that do report on the rampant human rights abuses and corruption are in danger of being arrested, beaten or killed.

Unfortunately, the danger journalists face when reporting the astounding information is not uncommon. Earlier this year, a conflict between the Nicaraguan government and protesters led to censorship and intimidation. Journalists who critiqued the government faced online and physical threats. The police, military and some government supporters have stolen equipment and footage, shut down media websites and have even physically attacked and killed some journalists.

One journalist, Josué Garay, shared how two men broke into his house, threatened and beat him and stole his phone, wallet and personal documents. He and some colleagues had been threatened at gunpoint a month earlier while reporting on the protests. Other journalists have had similar experiences. An unknown government supporter even burnt down a radio station.

Journalists Are Finding Innovative Solutions

The 2018 World Press Freedom Index cites an overall decrease in the free press and increased hostility and censorship of journalists across the globe. North Africa and the Middle East were ranked as the worst regions for journalists. This was partly due to the wars in Yemen, Iraq and Syria, but other countries, such as Egypt, are also incredibly dangerous for independent media.

But determined journalists are finding innovative solutions to the pressing problems of the free press. In Liberia, journalist Alfred Sirleaf understands the importance of access to information.

Misinformation, Sirleaf claims, contributed to the Liberian Civil War. The country used to suffer from a repressive regime, as Sirleaf describes: “It was difficult in the past … because of what you publish, people come after you.”  Many Liberians cannot afford radios and newspapers, so for several years now, Sirleaf has been reporting the daily news on a big blackboard in the center of Monrovia.

By providing free and independent information, Sirleaf’s “newspaper,” The Daily Talk, promotes dialogue and can help prevent future conflicts. In 2014, the blackboard spread credible information and prevention strategies about Ebola.

Bringing Independent Journalism to All

The thirst for independent journalism in developing countries is growing. Around the world, journalists continue to hold their governments accountable and tell the stories of marginalized people despite the high risks and low salary. Because of this high demand for good reporting, media outlets from wealthy countries are holding workshops and trainings for their counterparts in developing countries. The journalists receive training in basic reporting skills as well as more specialized areas.

For example, by teaching journalists how to report on business and economic issues, these journalists are able to provide more analysis and skepticism to their work. Previously, the stories were taken directly from the statements of politicians.

The Global Press Institute is another exemplary training program. It aims to boost the type of journalism that tells of everyday “stories of entrepreneurship, human rights and education,” according to Forbes. The program has found the best way to do this is through women, who play a more stable and long-lasting role in their communities.

Based in 26 countries, the training program has no language or education prerequisites. Many enrolled women have not even finished the seventh grade. But in the past, after graduating from the program in about six months, all the women were hired as journalists. Through this program, The Global Press highlights the voices of communities that are often ignored, empowers local women and continues to forward the important mission of independent journalism in developing countries.

– Liesl Hostetter
Photo: Flickr

How the Revolution of Dignity Began

What Allies Are Doing to Help

Continuing Progress in Ukraine

– Jonathon Ayers
Photo: Flickr

impact of the Magnitsky Act on the Russian economy
Much has been written about the Magnitsky Act, especially considering that it is a longstanding source of resentment among prominent Russians. However, remarkably little research has been done about the impact of the Magnitsky Act on the Russian economy.

What the Magnitsky Act Does

In 2014, the United States passed the Magnitsky Act, which was an effort to punish Russia for alleged human rights violations surrounding the death of a whistleblower who tried to alert the public to the alleged corruption that had been taking place in Russia for the previous several years. The intent was to sanction the individuals responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, without impacting the majority of Russian citizens who had nothing to do with it.

The Magnitsky Act is notable because it attempts to punish solely the Russians responsible for Magnitsky’s death, rather than Russia as a whole. Rather than blanket import/export bans, the Magnitsky Act freezes the assets of the Russians implicated in the death of Sergei Magnitsky, the victim for whom the legislation is named. Additionally, it bans these individuals from obtaining visas to enter the United States.

The Magnitsky Act has been followed by the Global Magnitsky Act, which applies these punishments to any citizen of any country who is suspected of aiding the activity of the Russians in question. Additionally, other countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, have passed their own versions of this legislation.

Impact of the Magnitsky Act on the Russian Economy

Although the intent of the Magnitsky Act was to have minimal impact on the Russian economy or the lives of average Russian citizens, it is fair to assume that there has been some effect. Russia retaliated in 2014 by banning all food imports from Europe and the United States for a period of one year. This is in addition to banning all adoptions of Russian children by American citizens, which has become a major point of contention in recent years.

After the passage of the original legislation, its authors stressed that the impact of the Magnitsky Act on the Russian economy was meant to be positive. The reasoning was that the Magnitsky Act would discourage the corruption and theft that supposedly limit Russia’s economic growth prospects. However, there is little evidence to prove that this has been uniformly the case.

Moving Forward with the Magnitsky Act

As an upper-middle income country, Russia’s standard of living and other metrics of assessing the average Russian’s state of economic affairs continue to lag behind the advanced industrial economies of the world. However, it is not possible to decisively say how much of this is due to the corruption that the Magnitsky Act and its supporters allege. More research should be done into the impact of the Magnitsky Act on the Russian economy, as it is difficult to say whether the authors of this legislation were right to craft it the way they did.

Because of this lack of decisive data, it is difficult to evaluate the impact of the Magnitsky Act on the Russian economy. There is no question that the Act plays an important normative role in signaling that the United States will exact consequences on violators of human rights, but whether it has the positive economic effects that its authors claimed it would is still not possible to assess. It seems likely that targeted sanctions like these could be a valuable tool to respond to potential human rights violations going forward, but they must be used with caution until a clear understanding of their broader impact is reached.

– Michaela Downey

Photo: Flickr

How Improving Governance Helps Growth in Developing Countries

Problems Surrounding Corrupt Government

What Steps Can be Taken Towards Improving Governance?

Citizen-Based Elections

Public Policy and Building Democracy

– Rebecca Lee
Photo: Flickr

The causes of poverty in Africa cannot be narrowed down to one single source. As a developing country, Africa has a lengthy history of external, internal and man-made forces at work to bring about the circumstances this continent suffers from today.

In sub-Saharan Africa, almost 220 million people, half the population, live in poverty. Worsened by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, cultural conflict and ethnic cleansing, Africa faces many challenges that directly correlate with its impoverished status.

Poor Governance

Poor governance, one of the major causes of poverty in Africa, involves various malpractices by the state and its workers. This malpractice has led many African leaders to push away the needs of the people. Having created the “personal rule paradigm,” where they treat their offices as a form of property and personal gain, these leaders openly appoint underqualified personnel in key positions at state-owned institutions and government departments. This type of governance affects the poorest people and leaves them vulnerable, as they are denied basic necessities such as healthcare, food and shelter.

Corruption has been and still is a major issue in the development of and fight against poverty in Africa, specifically sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). SSA is considered to be among the most corrupt places in the world. According to a survey conducted by World Anti-Corruption, corruption in Africa is “due to the fact that many people in Africa believe that family relations are more important than country identity. Therefore, those in power use bias and bribery for the gain of their relatives at the expense of their country.”

Corruption costs SSA roughly $150 billion a year in lost revenue. While some countries in Africa, such as Ghana, Tanzania and Rwanda, have made some progress in the fight against corruption, there are still many lagging very far behind. A lack of effort to solve this issue only worsens the causes of poverty in Africa today.

Poor Education

Lack of education is also a serious issue that contributes to the causes of poverty in Africa. This absence is especially felt in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the highest rates of educational exclusion. Over one-fifth of children between the ages of about six and 11 are out of school, followed by one-third of youth between the ages of about 12 and 14. Almost 60 percent of youth between the ages of about 15 and 17 are not in school.

Education for girls has become a major focus of support groups like UNICEF, UNESCO and the UIS. With poor access to school, lack of sanitary facilities and social norms like female genital mutilation and child marriage, the right to women’s education is even less of a priority in impoverished communities.

However, education, especially girls’ education, has been proven to be one of the most cost-effective strategies for promoting economic growth. According to UNICEF, “studies have shown that educated mothers tend to have healthier, better-nourished babies and that their own children are more likely to attend school; thus helping break the vicious cycle of poverty.”

Poor healthcare is a major cause of poverty in Africa because the poor cannot afford to purchase what is needed for good health, including sufficient quantities of quality food and healthcare itself. With a lack of education on preventing infectious diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS, as well as the costs of consultations, tests and medicine, people living in poverty are at a severe disadvantage that only perpetuates the poverty cycle.

With a strong fight against many forces still ahead of this nation, Africa must weed out the corruption and poor government, and promote strong education and efficient healthcare for all, in order to take a big leap forward in its development as a continent.

– Kailey Brennan

Photo: Flickr

current global issues

Among all the good in the world, and all the progress being made in global issues, there is still much more to be done. Given the overwhelming disasters that nations, including the U.S., have been or still are going through, it is important to be aware of the most pressing global issues.

Top 10 Current Global Issues

  1. Climate Change
    The global temperatures are rising, and are estimated to increase from 2.6 degrees Celsius to 4.8 degrees Celsius by 2100. This would cause more severe weather, crises with food and resources and the spread of diseases. The reduction of greenhouse emissions and the spreading of education on the importance of going green can help make a big difference. Lobbying governments and discussing policies to reduce carbon emissions and encouraging reforestation is an effective way of making progress with climate change.
  2. Pollution
    Pollution is one of the most difficult global issues to combat, as the umbrella term refers to ocean litter, pesticides and fertilizers, air, light and noise pollution. Clean water is essential for humans and animals, but more than one billion people don’t have access to clean water due to pollution from toxic substances, sewage or industrial waste. It is of the utmost importance that people all over the world begin working to minimize the various types of pollution, in order to better the health of the planet and all those living on it.
  3. Violence
    Violence can be found in the social, cultural and economic aspects of the world. Whether it is conflict that has broken out in a city, hatred targeted at a certain group of people or sexual harassment occurring on the street, violence is a preventable problem that has been an issue for longer than necessary. With continued work on behalf of the governments of all nations, as well as the individual citizens, the issue can be addressed and reduced.
  4. Security and Well Being
    The U.N. is a perfect example of preventing the lack of security and well being that is a serious global issue. Through its efforts with regional organizations and representatives that are skilled in security, the U.N. is working toward increasing the well being of people throughout the world.
  5. Lack of Education
    More than 72 million children throughout the globe that are of the age to be in primary education are not enrolled in school. This can be attributed to inequality and marginalization as well as poverty. Fortunately, there are many organizations that work directly with the issue of education in providing the proper tools and resources to aid schools.
  6. Unemployment
    Without the necessary education and skills for employment, many people, particularly 15- to 24-year olds, struggle to find jobs and create a proper living for themselves and their families. This leads to a lack of necessary resources, such as enough food, clothing, transportation and proper living conditions. Fortunately, there are organizations throughout the world teaching people in need the skills for jobs and interviewing, helping to lift people from the vicious cycle of poverty.
  7. Government Corruption
    Corruption is a major cause of poverty considering how it affects the poor the most, eroding political and economic development, democracy and more. Corruption can be detrimental to the safety and well being of citizens living within the corrupted vicinity, and can cause an increase in violence and physical threats without as much regulation in the government.
  8. Malnourishment & Hunger
    Currently there are 795 million people who do not have enough to eat. Long-term success to ending world hunger starts with ending poverty. With fighting poverty through proper training for employment, education and the teaching of cooking and gardening skills, people who are suffering will be more likely to get jobs, earn enough money to buy food and even learn how to make their own food to save money.
  9. Substance Abuse
    The United Nations reports that, by the beginning of the 21st century, an estimated 185 million people over the age of 15 were consuming drugs globally. The drugs most commonly used are marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, amphetamine stimulants, opiates and volatile solvents. Different classes of people, both poor and rich, partake in substance abuse, and it is a persistent issue throughout the world. Petitions and projects are in progress to end the global issue of substance abuse.
  10. Terrorism
    Terrorism is an issue throughout the world that causes fear and insecurity, violence and death. Across the globe, terrorists attack innocent people, often without warning. This makes civilians feel defenseless in their everyday lives. Making national security a higher priority is key in combating terrorism, as well as promoting justice in wrongdoings to illustrate the enforcement of the law and the serious punishments for terror crimes.

With so many current global issues that require immediate attention, it is easy to get discouraged. However, the amount of progress that organizations have made in combating these problems is admirable, and the world will continue to improve in the years to come. By staying active in current events, and standing up for the health and safety of all humans, everyone is able to make a difference in changing the fate of our world.

– Chloe Turner

Photo: Flickr

SDGs 2030: Will The Governments Of Developing Countries Deliver?Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs in developing countries have been viewed as ambitious. However, more efforts have been invested in the continuous realization of these development goals by international communities, nonprofit organizations, civil societies and, of course, domestic governments.

SDGs and Developing Countries

According to reports, to achieve one of the SDG targets, the “sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” will cost $27 billion per year by 2030 and the infrastructure will cost up to $290 billion. Is this too ambiguous for the national governments in the developing world? Or a pitiable reason to hide from actualizing these goals nationally.

Developing countries have been a major focus of the SDGs. With the idea that ‘no one will be left behind’, the U.N. and its partners have contributed immensely in solving a long list of issues faced by the developing world. Funds have been deposited and used for different projects. Expertise in creating sustainable solutions and commitments are being made to secure a better future.

SDG Index

The SDG performance by countries is determined by the SDG Index and Dashboard on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 represents the lowest level of performance and 100 is the highest level of performance. Countries like Sweden (84.5), Denmark (83.9), Norway (82.3) and Finland (81) rank high in achieving their SDGs.

Countries such as the Central African Republic (26.1), Liberia (30.5) and Niger (31.4) are not doing as well as the aforementioned countries. Evidently, these countries are some of the poorest in the world. A poor economy can be one of the causes for weak results.

Politics and SDGs in Developing Countries

One of the reasons slowing down the SDGs in developing countries is that development projects are usually abandoned by their governments. This normally happens in rival socio-political settings.

In Africa, most projects funded and managed by previous administrations are eventually stopped or replaced by the ruling administrations due to different political views, political parties or general lack of interest.

Some farmers in Nigeria have criticized the replacement of the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme by the former president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration with the current president Muhammadu Buhari’s Agricultural Implements and Mechanisation Services (AIMS).

“There is always a policy somersault. This government will bring this one and when another person comes, they will bring another one whether it is good or not.”, said Daniel Okafor, Vice President of Root and Tubers of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

The farmers are upset with their government as it continues to create new programs without improving the old ones. More often, the development policies and programs are often aligned with the vision of developmental goals but may lack seriousness due to the ulterior motives.

In developing countries, parties struggle to own power and when they eventually do gain power, eliminating the projects of the previous administration becomes the primary goal.

The lack of bipartisanship in the polity environment brews enough hatred; shutting down any programs related to the opposition party no matter how promising they are.

Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the U.N. noted that bipartisanship can promote peace, unity and growth. Political parties should stand for a common goal regardless of their political views and hustle for power. Ideas can be shared and implemented with the help of the other parties.

Bipartisanship will ease congressional processes in changing, debating and making laws that can benefit the realization of SDGs.

Corruption and SDGs in Developing Countries

Corruption can also cause a lot of setbacks. Africa loses $50 billion every year due to corruption. The Sustainable Development Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, covers commitments to fight corruption and encourage transparency.

Corruption impedes national development, hinders economic growth, slows or shutdown developmental programs on education, labor, healthcare, water and sanitation and leads to more poverty.

Recently, the U.K. suspended funding to Zambia after a report that $4.3 million intended for the poor population had gone missing. 17 million people in Zambia, or half of its population, live below $1.90 a day. It is important to find out how much of the monetary aid is really getting lost to corruption and the best method to curb it.

Criminalization of corruption can serve as a major tool in curbing corruption. Ruling parties must not protect corrupt public servants, especially in Africa where previous corrupt officers collude with the ruling parties in order to be shielded from scrutiny and court cases.

Governments must encourage transparency and promote access to national financial data and budget spending.

SDGs and Subnational Conflicts

Another factor that may impede the success of SDGs in developing countries is tribal or subnational conflicts which are still rampant in Africa and Asia.

While Asia experiences economic growth in the midst of subnational conflicts, Africa’s economy has always been affected by violent conflicts due to terrorist groups, tribal wars and minorities unrest.

Poverty will decrease when inequalities between different groups reduce as also when there are inclusive growth and participation of minorities in resource control. Combating unemployment will also lessen the high rate of conflicts in developing countries.

Domestic policies in the areas of trade, human development, agriculture, economy and climate change can reduce poverty and hunger, improve health systems, create resilient methods toward climate shocks and breed peace in societies.

It is for the central, state and local governments to take up these responsibilities to achieve the SDGs in developing countries. Civil Societies and private sectors should also see this as an opportunity to make the world a better place.

It is possible for developing countries to achieve at least 80 percent of their SDGs: it all depends on good governance and passion for humanity.

Photo: Flickr


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Coming soon to a theater near you

Picture credit to

Mia Jacobs, reporter

It is the start of a new year which can mean many things: New Year’s resolutions, fresh changes, different trends, interesting memes, and new movies. Many films for the year have been announced to the public and are building  suspense through their trailers that tease people, tempting them to purchase movie tickets when they are available.

“Last year was a good year for movies. Most of the ones I saw were good, and I hope this year will meet up with last years expectations,” Kasey Hinkle, sophomore, said.

After his role as the superhero, Iron Man, many did not expect to see Robert Downey, Jr., starring in new movies any time soon. However, the new “Dolittle” movie trailer left many people surprised. In his new film, Downey plays Dr. Dolittle, a veterinarian who can communicate with animals. The movie consists of a new adventure with Dolittle and his animal friends searching for a cure to save the queen from a mysterious illness.

“It will be hard to imagine him [Robert Downey Jr.] in a different role without thinking about Iron Man, ” Isaiah Huff, sophomore said.

Another highly anticipated movie is “Sonic.” Since the trailer’s appearance last year, the movie has gone through numerous revisions due to the overwhelming amount of negative comments that came after its release. The character was revamped, and the new and improved Sonic appeared in newly edited trailers beginning in November.  By redesigning Sonic to make him more cartoon-like, producers hope the new look will appeal to moviegoers.

“I do not really watch many movies like “Sonic,” but I am sure many kids will enjoy it, “Zoey Goins, freshman, said.

To continue their theme of live-action remakes, Disney is adding another to its growing collection. “Mulan” follows the story of a maiden who disguises herself as a boy to serve in her elderly father’s place when he is called to war to save China.

“There doesn’t always have to be a live action version of a movie; don’t try and fix what’s not broken,” Anothony Berberi, junior, said.

Scooby and the gang are headed back to the big screen in a new movie called “Scoob!,” something that many have been waiting to see  since they watched the Scooby-Doo TV shows growing up. The movie explains how Shaggy and Scooby became friends and their adventure of meeting the rest of the gang. For their new mystery, Freddie, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby have to stop the process of someone unleashing the ghost dog, Cerberus, on the rest of the world which would cause a dog apocalypse.

“I am very excited for the new movie “Scoob!“ especially since I watched all the movies and TV shows when I was a kid. It looks very cute, and I cannot wait to see the movie,“ Jazz Sturdivant, sophomore, said.

These are not the only upcoming movie options for the New Year, so keep watching if none of these sound like a reason to head to the cinema.


J&K Govt arranges return of 125 stranded students from Delhi in AC buses

Jammu: On the directions of Lieutenant Governor, Mr G C Murmu and Advisor to LG, Baseer Khan, the government today arranged free transportation of 125 stranded students, including visually impaired and physically challenged from New Delhi back to Jammu and Kashmir.
For the purpose, the government had arranged five AC buses to ensure the return of the stranded students after observing all necessary preventive protocols.
The passage of stranded Jammu and Kashmir residents from various parts of the country, in the wake of lockdown due to spread of global pandemic of corona virus, is high on the agenda of the administration and so far a large number of stranded people have been ferried by various modes of transport including railways. In addition, after the intervention of the Lt Governor, the Centre has also arranged airlifting of students from Bangladesh and Pakistan besides pilgrims from Iran. More such initiatives are underway to facilitate the movement of the stranded people to their home destinations.
In the process of movement of stranded people, the necessary guidelines laid by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are strictly been adhered to by the Jammu and Kashmir government.


blood pressure

Blood pressure function may decrease the risk of kidney malfunction and cardiovascular death, yet the optimal blood pressure target range remains undefined. A study found that intensive lowering of blood pressure in chronic kidney disease (CKD) does not improve overall renal kidney outcomes although nonblack patients and those with proteinuria might see some benefit.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a gradual and progressive failure of the kidneys. CKD could result from diabetes or high blood pressure (BP). The prevalence of CKD in the global population ranges from 8% to 16%, with a majority of patients being non-diabetic. Blood pressure control in non-diabetic CKD patients has been shown to reduce the risk of kidney malfunction and cardiovascular death. However, the optimal blood pressure range that could provide renal protection remains undefined.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine compared intensive BP control and standard BP control strategies to determine major renal outcomes in non-diabetic CKD patients. The study conducted a systematic literature review of publications up to March 24, 2016, from 4 database sources. Publications of randomized clinical trials comparing intensive BP versus standard BP strategies in non-diabetic adult CKD patients were identified. The included studies had to be full-length peer-reviewed publications with at least 1 of the following outcomes: changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), doubling serum creatinine levels, 50% reduction in GFR, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or death. To ensure the data quality, 2 investigators independently determined the relevant information from all the included studies and publication bias was controlled for.

The study identified 9 trials with a median follow-up of 3.3 years and a total of 8,127 patients. Of the 9 studies, 6 included mostly whites, 2 mostly blacks, and 1 mostly Asians. The study found that, compared with the standard BP target, intensive BP lowering did not show a significant difference in the annual rate of GFR, doubling of serum creatinine, 50% reduction in GFR, ESRD, or death. There was no significant difference in overall renal outcome between intensive BP lowering versus standard BP lowering. The study also found that when subject data was categorized according to race, intensive BP control resulted in a faster yearly rate of decline of GFR and a faster decline in GFR overall in blacks as compared with nonblacks. Yearly change in GFR and ESRD could be associated with different levels of proteinuria. However, the intensive BP control was not significantly different among individuals with different severities of proteinuria. Intensive BP control was found to slow the rate of decline in GFR in individuals with proteinuria higher than 1g/d and lower the risk of ESRD among individuals with proteinuria levels at 0.5 g/d.The findings of the study remain limited as it did not directly involve patients. Moreover, differences in characteristics of patient population and differences in trial design could confound these results.

Overall, the study concluded that intensive lowering of BP does not provide additional renal protection when compared to standard BP. However, nonblack, non-diabetic CKD patients and those with severe proteinuria may benefit from such intensive BP lowering strategies.

Written By: Joan Zape, PhD(c)

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Youth gangs are not Cznada new phenomenon in Canada. Theoretical and empirical research and evaluation efforts continue with the goal of better understanding and responding to this issue. Advances have been made in defining the nature of youth gangs and their activities, the Teen Windsor ladyboy for joining, and the risk and protective factors that influence involvement in a gang lifestyle.

While a precise Shibui spa sisters Kitchener of youth gang involvement and prevalence of their activities in Canada is not currently available, in the last number of years strides have been made in understanding affiliation among several key populations, namely Aboriginal youth, immigrant youth and young women. Greater insight into specific risk factors, pathways to involvement and desistance, and guidance for prevention and intervention efforts can assist in the future development of solutions to address youth gang involvement and gang-related activities in Canada.

Public Safety Canada continues to support effective youth gang prevention and intervention strategies that are known to work based on empirical evidence and lessons learned from past implementation and evaluation experiences.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Public Safety Canada. Correspondence concerning this report should be addressed to:. Email: PS. SP canada.

The first recorded work on gangs in Canada was a study of juveniles in street gangs in Toronto by Kenneth H. Rogers in Since that time, many research and evaluation studies have been added to this growing field.

In the s, gangs and their activities were given renewed attention when media organizations and many police departments began to increasingly attribute street shootings in many cities to youth gangs Ezeonu, Over the past 25 years, this has led to increased efforts by researchers, evaluators and policymakers to better understand the issue and to develop solutions to address youth gang involvement and gang-related activities in Canada.

Public Safety Canada is committed to developing and disseminating knowledge to address the issue Taiji massage Norfolk County youth gangs in Canada.

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To implement effective prevention and intervention strategies, we must start by understanding the nature and scope of the problem. This research report provides an overview of advances that have been made in defining youth gangs and their activities, motivations for joining, and risk and protective Canaea that influence involvement in a gang lifestyle. Further, in the last gangaters of years strides have been made in understanding gang involvement among several key populations, namely Aboriginal youth, immigrant youth and young women.

This publication also highlights information on specific risk factors, pathways to involvement and desistance, and guidance on prevention and intervention efforts for these groups.

Youth Gangs in Canada: A Review of Current Topics and Issues

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All fields required. ❶Girls, gangs, and getting out: Gender differences and similarities in leaving the gang. Kerig Eds. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 28 4 Female gang affiliation: Knowledge and perceptions of at-risk girls. The current literature tells us little about this type of relationship. There is no one reason why young women join gangs and not all individuals join for the same reasons.

Women can play a variety of roles within the criminal enterprise and their involvement depends to a large extent on whether or not they were born and raised in a mafia family Siebert : Giordano, P. Another recurring theme is that the earlier family-based crime prevention starts in life, the better the results. O'Brien, K.|Trends gangssters Organized Crime. Many of these women find themselves uncontrollably drawn to men who Mia massage Niagara Falls made a career in crime.

Once grown up, these boys will in turn attract female contemporaries who exist at the margins of society.

This article attempts Cnada explain how this vicious circle can be broken. In recent years, a number of biographies Black women Etobicoke been published of women who shared the lives of men involved in organized crime Carpenter ; Dubro ; Durante ; Edmonds ; Giovino and Brozek ; Milito.

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What most of these stories have in common is Candaa the central characters are attracted to men who can Canadq them a better life than they.

Without gangster they are women who grew up in less than fortunate circumstances. They arre come from large Giselle escort Calgary with parents who had to struggle to make ends meet, and for most of them the future seemed to have little in store.

During her relationship with Siegel, Virginia Hill became a superstar whose glamorous lifestyle served as a model for many young women. The girlfriends, mistresses and wives of men involved in organized crime have more in common than just their humble origins: they were all women who Why are girls attracted to gangsters in Canada life in the 24 hour massage parlour White Rock lane, with its fancy cars, trendy restaurants, dazzling jewellery and pricey designer Kristen stewart and Vernon lautner dating. But apart from the financial benefits that came with these relationships there were other reasons why these women were attracted to men who had made a career in the underworld.

In Whhy book about her life at the side of several well-known mafiosi, Georgia Durante described the sensation she felt gangstees she was standing next to a man who could inspire terror in other people.]However, the psychological processes related to female gang membership has, to date, Shemale Canada Vernon.

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and that this may attract youth who seek status to join a gang (Knox, ). . Scale in Canadian high school populations: Implications for counselling. A gang may be attractive vangsters those facing difficult social and economic . on gangs in Canada in general, a specific focus on females and their.

New reports say organised criminals helped push Vancouver's real Canada is attractive because the country's justice system has made it.