Brotherly bond

Ethan is practising to become a DJ and hopes to put the bullying behind him Fourteen-year-old Ethan has a tough time helping care for his younger brother and his mother who have a form of dwarfism called skeletal dysplasia.

"The best thing about being smaller than everyone else is that you can fit down the back of the sofa, and it's handy for when you're playing hide and seek and things, because you can hide where everyone else can't," said 10-year-old Aidan.

Ethan's little brother Aidan has a genetic condition which means his bones did not develop properly, affecting his height and movement. He inherited it from his mother, Michelle, and it means Aidan often has to use a wheelchair.

Michelle said: "It affects all our joints and it's a curvature of the spine, which Aidan has had corrected, and also all the long bones are curved as well."

Aidan and Ethan, who are from Cambridge, have a unique relationship.

While their father Lee, who is a support worker for adults with disabilities, is at work, Ethan helps get Aidan dressed and takes him to school, as well as help his mother cook dinner and with housework.

The power of music

Charlotte now composes her own music

A teenage girl sits in a dimly-lit room wearing sunglasses playing the prelude to Bach's cello suite. A clip of this performance can be found on the internet.

There is nothing remarkable about this until you learn that she is playing every crotchet and quaver using only the slightest movements of her head and thumbs.

At the age of 11, Charlotte White suffered a blow to the head which caused her to lose all movement in her body.

She spent five years in and out of hospital and eventually went into a period of rehabilitation, regaining movement in her head and then gradually her fingers.

'Patronising' therapies

But she became very withdrawn: "All I was expected to do was get physically stronger, which wasn't happening, so that was quite depressing. I only saw people who were meant to make my life better but it never seemed to happen."

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteMusic inspired me in the belief that I could achieve anything”

End QuoteCharlotte WhiteStudent At 16, Charlotte began attending St Rose's School in Stroud and initially did not respond well to some of the activities on offer.

She said: "Music therapy is somebody sitting in front of you banging a drum or playing a guitar, and you're meant to tell them all your worries about life. It's incredibly patronising and very boring."

Then she was introduced to the Bristol-based Drake Music project, an organisation that uses technology to help people with disabilities participate in music.

There she starting working with Doug Bott and learned how to use very small head movements to break a magnetic beam, which triggers the notes.

Using thumb switches, she learned to control the configuration of notes available, much like a guitarist changes chord shapes.

Bott said Charlotte stood out from the beginning: "She was someone who was interested in classical music, which not many of the young people I was working with at the time were, somebody who was interested in working on her own and in her own way."

Eventually Charlotte took part in a concert at school.

She practised extremely hard beforehand.

"I wanted to achieve at it because it made people see me as a person, rather than as a disabled person they made presumptions about."

Striving for recognition

When Drake Music recorded her performing a Bach cello suite and posted it on the internet, it generated a lot of interest across the musical community, challenging the assumptions about what was possible using assistive technology.

Stressed out

England all-rounder Michael Yardy said he wanted to be honest about his reason for going home early. When Michael Yardy flew home from the Cricket World Cup this week suffering from depression, he joined a long list of elite sportsmen who have made the difficult decision to seek help for a mental illness.

England batsman Marcus Trescothick left the Ashes tour to Australia in 2006 with what was described at the time as a "stress-related illness". Later he wrote a book about his battle against depression.

In an interview with BBC Sport programme Inside Sport in 2009, he recalled how he thought about harming himself to prove he had a problem.

"I considered hurting myself just to show people how much pain I was in," he said.

"If you've got a broken leg you've got a cast on your leg, people can see you've got a problem but when you've got mental problems there is nothing evident to people to show you need help."

Boxer Frank Bruno, Celtic football manager Neil Lennon and All Blacks rugby union star John Kirwan have also talked openly about their depression.

Admitting there is a problem is something sports people find extremely hard, not least because they are conditioned to be both physically and mentally tough.

Yet Yardy, the Sussex captain, found the strength to say: "I felt that it was the only sensible option for me and I wanted to be honest about the reason behind that decision."

If one in five people are affected by depression at some point in their lives, then it is not surprising that sports stars are prone to it too.

Ian Maynard, professor of sport psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, says the fact that sportsmen are not naturally emotional does not help.

"They don't wear their heart on their sleeve because that can cause problems in competition, so they tend to be more buttoned-up and get a mentally tough exterior."

Far from family

While some sportsmen are able to separate the day job from everything else and continue to perform at a high level, some cannot, and that is when the problems start.

Cricketers are well-known for the long international tours they have to endure - this latest one has lasted for more than five months and included long stays in Australia, India and Sri Lanka.

Continue reading the main story“Start Quote It doesn't help if commentators are dismissive about it.”

End QuoteDr Victor ThompsonClincial sports psychologist The pressures of playing international cricket in an unsettling environment far from family and friends for almost half a year must take its toll.

"If your performance isn't great on or off the pitch, or socially, it makes it even more difficult to hold things together," says clinical sports psychologist Dr Victor Thompson.

He maintains that professional sportsmen are no more prone to depression than anyone else, but he acknowledges that the stresses and strains of performing under constant media scrutiny are great.

When they become depressed it is not just that they are "not coping".

Dr Thompson explains: "To be clinically depressed there have to be symptoms and these have to cause clinical difficulty in the way you lead your life."

"As a sports person it's doing their job, focusing and performing that is affected."

'Washing machine effect'

Following Yardy's admission, former England captain Michael Vaughan was quick to say that depression is not a sign of weakness, but a physical illness.

"There's a lot of pressure playing in a World Cup but if you've got these issues you're never going to get the best out of yourself.

"I bet there are players in other sports who are struggling with depression and aren't being as upfront as some cricketers."

The "washing machine effect", as Professor Maynard calls it, of feeling lonely and isolated away from home with nothing to interrupt the vicious cycle, should be treated with appropriate counselling.

Counselling is the all-important first step. It helps confidence to return and gives a sports star someone to talk to about how they are feeling.

But experts say there are no hard-and-fast rules on how to treat a sportsman with depression.

In Dr Thompson's experience, the counsellor must carefully judge how to gain his patient's trust before trying to offer support.

"Working with a depressed athlete is like working with someone who feels a bit hopeless and negative about everything. You have to be careful and delicate with them."

What works for one sportsman will not work for another. Each depression is different.

During the earlier stages of the England cricket team's tour, the players would have had access to a sports psychologist who was part of their team.

But it is thought he was not present to counsel Yardy, because he too had returned home after months away from his family.

The reaction of friends and family once home is vitally important in starting the recovery process, says Dr Thompson.

"And it doesn't help if commentators are dismissive about it," he adds.

Tics that tickle

Jessica's tics started when she was six and became more serious in her 20s

She was filmed recently by a stranger on the train as she let out a string of expletives. On another occasion, the 30-year-old youth worker was left helpless and tearful after staff refused to let her through the ticket barriers when her pass would not work. Again she was swearing.

But Jessica cannot help it. She is one of more than 300,000 people in the UK with Tourette's Syndrome.

She was diagnosed in 2006 and is one of the 10% of people with the condition who involuntarily use offensive language.

Her outburts - or tics as they are called - also commonly include the word "biscuit", but they can also take the form of complex phrases or sounds.

Since the age of six, Jessica has had tics. They started as little noises, before getting more serious in her 20s.

She remembers her behaviour at school being obsessive and impulsive. Yet the school did not understand that she needed additional support.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteI have said so many funny, strange things and I want to celebrate them.”

End QuoteJessica Thom Now Tourette's dominates her life through a mixture of involuntary movements, words and noises but she is determined it should not stop her doing anything she would otherwise want to do.

There are practical ways Jessica can limit the impact of the tics on her life.

She explains: "I don't use knives, I avoid carrying delicate objects and I try to go to the same sort of places where people know me."

She wears gloves to stop her biting herself and uses cups with lids to stop drinks being spilled when her movements become uncontrollable.

When she does go to the cinema or the theatre, she tries to sit near the back so that she can get out quickly if she starts squealing or swearing.

Despite her tics, Jessica is determined not to be stigmatised by the condition.

"My best friend describes it as a crazy word-generating machine," Jessica says.

Cancer fight

Dominique Moore: fought Hodgkin's lymphoma

Last summer, I was filming scenes for the children's TV series Hotel Trubble, whilst battling an incessant, burning itching all over my head and body.

When it first started a year earlier, I thought the itching was eczema - I'd had it before - but it wouldn't go away, it only got worse.

Unknown to me and my colleagues, I had Hodgkin's lymphoma - but it would be months before I was diagnosed.

At work filming, the itching was a real problem.

I would scratch my head so much that my wig would fall off and the sound of the scratching would be picked up by the microphones.

On one occasion, it got so bad that I burst into tears on set, but the cameras were still rolling. I cried silently until the director said "cut" - then I ran off set, the pain was unbearable.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteAfter consultations with four separate doctors and numerous tests, I still was not getting an answer.”

End QuoteDominique Moore The weird thing was, I had no visible scarring on my skin - so it was hard for my friends and colleagues to understand the pain I felt.

It felt like burning, like my skin was breaking all over my body. Friends staying over at my house told me I used to scratch so loudly at night, the sound would keep them awake.

No answers

But no-one could figure out what was wrong. After consultations with four separate doctors and numerous tests, I still was not getting an answer.

When a food allergy was suggested, the cooks at work started making separate meals for me.

The film set was hot - maybe it was some kind of heat rash? Or perhaps it was a reaction to the materials used in the wigs and costumes, or even the detergents used to clean them?

Then I saw a fifth doctor, who booked me in to see a dermatologist at the hospital. At the same time I noticed a lump on my neck and told them about it. I was referred to a haemotologist and next to a surgeon.

The surgeon said the lump would have to be removed straight away. That was a big change for me: I had quickly gone from trying to get rid of eczema to needing my first ever operation.

Two weeks later they told me I had Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system.

Continue reading the main storyLymphoma Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system which carries white blood cells around the body Lymphoma is the third most common cancer in childhood There are two kinds - Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common in children while adolescents are more prone to Hodgkin's lymphoma Source: BBC Health I wasn't prepared for that: I was 24 years old and didn't think cancer was something you get so young.

But I didn't think I'd die. I thought: "So what happens next?"

My family kept me strong through the months of treatment that followed.

I also had a "buddy" throughout my time in hospital - a woman who had gone through the same condition.

This was a huge comfort, someone who understood exactly what I was going through.

After months of chemotherapy, the itching eventually stopped. I was also amazed that my hair was still my own - I thought I would lose it all and had planned to do some crazy designs with my head - but I got lucky.

Early this year I had a PET scan which found that I no longer had the cancer cells in my body.

I couldn't believe it. I kept on asking the doctor over and over again. I still need to keep going back for check-ups, but I feel like I've been given a new life.

Dominique Moore was speaking to CBBC's Newsround.

Healthy business

Major food producers 'can influence diet' Continue reading the main story Scrubbing Up Stigmatising Charlie Sheen 'Too many hospitals' Bring in 20mph limit 'urgently' Genital warts action call The government's decision to involve major food producers of goods ranging from fruit juice and cereal to crisps and chocolate, in public health planning has come under fire from health campaigners.

But in this week's Scrubbing Up column, Richard Evans, head of PepsiCo in the UK argues it's better for them to be "at the table".

Getting the food industry involved in improving public health has attracted criticism.

But it's important for companies like ours to be part of the solution instead of being written off as the cause of the problem.

At face value, it might look counter-intuitive to ask food companies to help devise solutions for obesity but at the end of the day we have resources and expertise that can make a profound difference.

Our industry has the know-how to help improve people's diets; improving the formulation of products will change the salt, fat, sugar and fibre intakes of hundreds of thousands of people. And that is what we are doing.

Like government, non-governmental organisations, the public and our industry peers, we are acutely aware of current public health issues.

We believe there is shared responsibility to take positive action that will instigate change and that this is not only the right thing to do but also the commercially savvy thing to do.

Nudging

Healthier products and better nutritional information are in demand.

The appetite of consumers is changing, so we've reorganised our priorities to move with them.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteOur industry has the know-how to help improve people's diets ”

End QuoteRichard Evans We've already stepped up to lead the way on making existing products healthier as well as introducing new healthier ones.

Whilst there's still much to be done, we've gone much further than we've been 'required' to for a number of years.

We're not alone in making change happen. I regularly meet industry peers who are doing the same.

Of course, it would be naive not to recognise how difficult it is to change consumer behaviour.

Whilst we cannot force consumers to buy products they don't like, we can help provide the expertise to help "nudge" consumers to make healthier choices.

It is precisely the leading brands like PepsiCo that have the reach, resources and marketing capabilities to influence the diets of hundreds of thousands of people in the UK.

The government has chosen to recognise this and harness industry knowledge by introducing the responsibility deal.

Pariahs?

So what's the alternative?

Food companies could be made pariahs and kept outside despite the fact we collectively feed millions of British consumers every day.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteWe don't have to be there. It is voluntary. ”

End QuoteRichard Evans How about we are brought inside so that our influence over people's diets can be used positively to promote healthier eating?

I think the government, by including food companies in its responsibility deal, has made the right choice.

There is certainly no free-hand to write policy as has been claimed - that was never the intention.

We've simply been recognised as a key group of stakeholders with the ability to help change consumer behaviour for good which now means we sit at the table and pursue a common objective - better public health.

We don't have to be there. It is voluntary.

But it does bring with it an obligation to make what are often difficult changes that can have profound commercial consequences.

We want to be there, not to subvert public health goals, but to strengthen efforts to achieve them as we all struggle to balance the 'energy in, energy out' challenge of modern life.

Scientists say it's healthy to be nutty about walnuts

Eating raw walnuts gives the full benefits of antioxidants Walnuts are the healthiest of all the nuts and should be eaten more as part of a healthy diet, US scientists say.

Scientists from Pennsylvania told the American Chemical Society that walnuts contain the highest level of antioxidants compared to other nuts.

Antioxidants are known to help protect the body against disease.

The scientists said that all nuts have good nutritional qualities but walnuts are healthier than peanuts, almonds, pecans and pistachios.

Dr Joe Vinson, from the University of Scranton, analysed the antioxidant levels of nine different types of nuts and discovered that a handful of walnuts contained twice as many antioxidants as a handful of any other commonly eaten nut.

He found that these antioxidants were higher in quality and potency than in any other nut.

Antioxidants are good because they stop the chain reactions that damage cells in the body when oxidation occurs.

Roasted nuts

The antioxidants found in walnuts were also two to 15 times as powerful as vitamin E, which is known to protect the body against damaging natural chemicals involved in causing disease, the study says.

Nuts are known to be healthy and nutritious, containing high-quality protein, lots of vitamins and minerals as well as dietary fibre. They are also dairy and gluten-free.

Previous research has shown that regular consumption of small amounts of nuts can reduce the risk of heart disease, some types of cancer, type two diabetes and other health problems.

Dr Vinson said there was another advantage in choosing walnuts as a source of antioxidants: "The heat from roasting nuts generally reduces the quality of the antioxidants.

"People usually eat walnuts raw or unroasted, and get the full effectiveness of those antioxidants."

Can getting enough sleep help you lose weight?

Is shedding weight harder while stressed or missing sleep?

People getting too little or too much sleep were less likely to lose weight in a six month study of 472 obese people.

Their report in the International Journal of Obesity showed that lower stress levels also predicted greater weight loss.

A UK sleep expert said people need to "eat less, move more and sleep well".

Approximately a quarter of adults in the UK are thought to be clinically obese, which means they have a Body Mass Index greater than 30.

Nearly 500 obese patients were recruited for the first part of a clinical trial by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in the US.

For six months they had to eat 500 fewer calories per day, exercise most days and attend group sessions.

Weight loss

The authors report that "sleep time predicted success in the weight loss programme".

People with lower stress levels at the start also lost more weight.

The researchers added: "These results suggest that early evaluation of sleep and stress levels in long-term weight management studies could potentially identify which participants might benefit from additional counselling."

Dr Neil Stanley, from the British Sleep Society, said the sleep community had been aware of this for a while, but was glad that obesity experts were taking notice.

"We've always had the eat less move more mantra. But there is a growing body of evidence that we also need to sleep well", he said.

"It's also true that if you're stressed, then you're less likely to behave, you'll sit at home feeling sorry for yourself, probably eating a chocolate bar."

Dr David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, said: "It's a great idea to find predictors of who will respond to therapy, if this is a genuine one."

Drugs 'can prevent breast cancer'

Breast density could be a risk factor of breast cancer Women at high risk of developing breast cancer should be given preventative drugs, according to an international panel of cancer experts.

Writing in the Lancet Oncology, they said drugs such as tamoxifen could reduce the chances of developing breast cancer.

Such a policy would be similar to prescribing statins to patients at risk of heart disease, they suggest.

However, tamoxifen has been linked with womb cancer, blood clots and stroke.

In the UK, 46,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

Two drugs, tamoxifen and raloxifene, have been approved in the US for the prevention of breast cancer. However, they are not available as a preventative measure in the UK.

Professor Jack Cuzick, who chaired the panel and is an epidemiologist at Queen Mary, University of London, told the BBC: "The two drugs should be approved in the UK. The evidence for them is overwhelming."

He estimates that for every 1000 women given tamoxifen there would be 20 fewer breast cancers, but there would also be three more womb cancers and six more cases of deep vein thrombosis.

To balance the risks, the panel agreed that women who had a greater than 4% chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years should be offered preventative therapy.

Predicting risk

In heart disease, there are well-known risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol, which can inform treatment.

The challenge for any preventative breast cancer treatment would be identifying similar "markers" of risk.

The panel suggests breast density. They say patients with more than 75% "dense breast tissue" had at least four times the risk of developing breast cancer than patients with mainly non-dense tissue.

Professor Cuzick said: "Increased breast density is one of the leading risk factors for breast cancer and early trial results suggest that where tamoxifen is shown to decrease density, the risk of cancer decreases.

"If this is confirmed in long-term studies, breast density could become a powerful way to identify high-risk women who could benefit from preventive treatments."

He suggests the risk of getting breast cancer should be determined during cancer screening.

Dr Lesley Walker, from Cancer Research UK, said: "Our scientists were behind some of the first trials showing the long term benefits of tamoxifen for preventing breast cancer in women with a greater than average risk of the disease.

"Being able to accurately predict breast cancer risk and who will respond to preventative drugs like these is a crucial step in ensuring women get the most suitable treatment."

Meg McArthur, senior policy officer at Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: "It is vital that we find effective ways to prevent breast cancer, especially in women with a high risk. However, as preventative therapy may have negative side effects it would not be appropriate for everyone.

"We welcome studies investigating the best treatments to be used for breast cancer prevention. It's also crucial to identify those at high-risk who would benefit the most from this form of therapy."

Trial of lung cancer drug begins

The trial is one of the first being carried out at the new cancer research centre New cancer research centre opens Scientists in Oxford have started trialling a new drug to treat people with lung cancer.

Patients who are no longer responding to chemotherapy are being given the treatment which stops the growth of cancerous cells.

It is one of the first trials at the new Oxford Cancer Research Centre.

Dr Denis Talbot, trial chief investigator, said: "We hope that it may increase rates of survival for lung cancer patients."

Part of the pre-clinical work for the development of the drug was carried out at Oxford University by a Cancer Research UK-led team.

It showed that the drug was effective in lung cancer cells.

Dr Talbot said it was "greatly encouraging" that the drug could be further developed.

"Survival from this disease still remains low," he added.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteSomeone has to do the research as we wouldn't get anywhere if no-one volunteered”

End QuoteJean ScurlockPatient "One reason is that the majority, 65-75 per cent, of lung cancer patients are diagnosed when the cancer has already become aggressive, which makes it more difficult to treat successfully.

"There's an urgent need to develop new medicines which may provide additional options for these patients."

'Important trial'

Jean Scurlock, 66, of Didcot, is one of the first patients in the UK taking part in the treatment.

First diagnosed on her birthday in October 2010, Mrs Scurlock had four cycles of chemotherapy which she did not respond well to.

"Someone has to do the research as we wouldn't get anywhere if no-one volunteered," she said.

"When I was accepted onto the trial, it immediately made me feel more positive as it felt that I was able to help."

Dr Lesley Walker, of Cancer Research UK, said: "We have made progress in recent years to discover new ways to tackle lung cancer and this important trial brings further opportunities for this hard to treat disease."

Fewer than 10% of lung cancer patients survive the disease beyond five years after diagnosis.

Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for about 85% of all lung cancer cases.

About 30,000 people are diagnosed with this form of the disease each year in the UK.

Many mothers 'given risky advice'

Mothers reported contradictory advice on whether to wake a sleeping baby .

Two in five of 4,000 mothers surveyed said a relative had given advice they felt could harm their baby's health.

Examples included exposing a baby to hot tarmac fumes to "strengthen its lungs", and "under ones don't need sun cream because they can't get sunburnt".

Mothers-in-law topped the list of people who had given poor advice.

More than three-quarters of mothers who responded to the survey - posted on the Netmums website - said they sought parenting advice from relatives.

But the responses were often contradictory. For example, 51% of the mothers had been told to wake a baby regularly to enforce routine, while 44% had also been told never to wake a sleeping baby.

When respondents were asked who had given them confusing, contradictory or incorrect parenting advice, mothers-in-law topped the list (39%), followed by mums (35%) and then strangers (30%).

One in five said they felt worried or guilty when going against a rule or piece of advice they had been given.

Ice pops and worms

Some pieces of advice which Netmums said could be damaging to a child's health were reported by several of the mothers surveyed.

These included 30% of mothers who said they had been told to put whiskey on a dummy to relieve teething pain, 22% who were told their children should be eating solids from three months old, as well as 25 people who had been told that breathing in the fumes from hot tarmac is good for a baby's lungs.

Netmums also said it was potentially harmful that 54% of mothers were told they should instinctively be able to interpret their baby's cries, and that 74% had been told that they would "just know what to do" once they had given birth.

A significant proportion of those surveyed had also been given other inaccurate information - such as that a baby will get a cold if taken outside (24%), or should not be taken outside if it is foggy (6%).

Netmums described other pieces of advice or misinformation reported in the survey as "outlandish":

"Children under the age of one do not need sun cream, as they do not get sunburnt" "Crushed beetles and iron fillings are good for a baby's teeth" "Too many ice pops will give children worms" "Keep the baby off their feet for at least the first 12 months or they will get bow legs and weak bones" "Don't tickle a baby's feet as it will make them stammer"

Siobhan Freegard, co-founder of the Netmums website, said: "Mums really are being bombarded with advice from every direction.

"Despite this, however, the findings also showed that many mothers feel that parenting shouldn't be about following strict rules - they do what feels right for each individual child and ignore well-meant advice," she said.

Grandparents Plus, a charity which supports the role of grandparents in family life, said grandparents were often a "great asset" in supporting young families.

"Parenting wisdom clearly does change over the years and even now it depends on which expert you speak to - so it's not surprising some grandparents will come up with things that seem inappropriate and out-of-date," said policy and research manager Sarah Wellard.

"Mums are targeted with information all the time, but grandparents are often overlooked so they do not always get these up-to-date messages," she said.

The National Childbirth Trust, a charity supporting parents, said it recognised the valuable source of support that other family members can offer, but encouraged parents to check that information is up-to-date, and to contact a health visitor or GP if they are worried about a child's health.

Dr Katherine Rake of the Family and Parenting Institute said: "It is very saddening to see that so many UK mothers feel put down and experience feelings of guilt. We need to work with parents to ensure they receive the advice they need. But we must also ensure they are not bombarded."

Third of high blood pressure fake

Having blood pressure checked by a doctor can make the reading spuriously high A third of hard-to-treat high blood pressure may actually be 'fake' and instead a patient's nervous response to being seen by a doctor, say experts.

They made the discovery when they continuously monitored the blood pressure of nearly 700,000 people as they went about their normal lives.

Some 37% of 8,295 patients thought to have stubborn or resistant hypertension actually had "white coat" hypertension.

The experts call for mandatory 24-hour checks, Hypertension journal reports.

The NHS advisory body NICE has recently proposed that patients suspected of having high blood pressure will get another check at home because of fears that nerves from being at a GP surgery may be leading to too many people being diagnosed.

It says so-called white coat hypertension affects a quarter of all people.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuotePatients benefit by knowing whether their blood pressure is normal during daily activities or still needs the reinforcement of dietary and drug measures”

End QuoteThe study authors But the latest research suggests that the phenomenon may be more common and is leading some people to have aggressive medical treatment that they may not actually need.

Resistant hypertension occurs when a patient's blood pressure remains above treatment goals, despite using three different types of drugs at the same time.

It was these patients that the researchers focused on.

They asked the patients to wear a portable "ambulatory" monitoring device that takes blood pressure readings every 20 minutes day and night.

This revealed only 63% had true resistant hypertension. These tended to be patients who either smoked or had diabetes or a heart condition.

Study leader Dr Alejandro de la Sierra, from the University of Barcelona in Spain, said: "Physicians should be encouraged to use ambulatory monitoring to confirm resistant hypertension in their patients as it would ensure the most effective treatment options are used.

"Patients benefit by knowing whether their blood pressure is normal during daily activities or still needs the reinforcement of dietary and drug measures."

Ellen Mason, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said the findings suggest that medication can work for more people than realised.

"Visiting the doctor seemed to make some people falsely appear resistant to the effects of these drugs so the study was helpful in trying to identify which people seemed to be truly resistant and therefore more at risk of organ damage.

"It also adds weight to new draft guidelines to include a home blood pressure test for hypertensive patients here in the UK."

But she said: "More worryingly though, nearly half of us who do have high blood pressure in the UK are not being treated for it.

"While the increasing use of home blood pressure monitoring is helpful for some, it will not target those who are unaware of the silent condition because it may have been many years since they had their blood pressure taken or because they simply think they are not at risk."

Death rates 'higher' in youth

The new report says mortality rates are now higher for teenagers than for children

The study in The Lancet looked at data from 50 countries - rich, middle-income and poor - over 50 years.

It found that while mortality had fallen overall, rates were now relatively higher in teenagers and young adults, than in young children.

Violence, suicide and road accidents are being blamed.

Disease down

The new study shows death rates among young people have fallen dramatically over the last 50 years across the globe.

Mortality in children aged one to nine has fallen by between 80% and 93%, thanks largely to fewer deaths from infectious disease.

Continue reading the main story“The teenage years were the healthiest time of our life. It's no longer true”

Dr Russell VinerUniversity College London Death rates have not been dropping as fast among teenagers and young adults.

In young men aged 15-24, mortality has dropped between 41% and 48%, again largely because of success in combating disease.

But 'injury', be it violence, suicide or road accidents, has emerged as the biggest killer of young men in all regions, and the biggest killer of young women in rich and eastern European countries.

Violent deaths are on the rise in both young men and women in real terms.

This means that although mortality has fallen overall, it is now higher among teenagers and young adults than in children.

Young men aged 15-24 are now two to three times more likely to die prematurely than young boys aged one to four, the researchers claim.

"Modern life is much more toxic for teenagers and young people," says Dr Russell Viner of University College London, who led the study. "We've had rises in road traffic accidents, rises in violence, rises in suicide which we don't see in young children.

"The teenage years were the healthiest time of our life. It's no longer true."

Urban young

This might not be the complete picture. The study doesn't take into account the poorest countries from sub-Saharan Africa, because the data was not available, say the researchers.

There are also regional variations. There was a peak in suicide rates observed during the post-communist countries in the late 1990s, for instance, while suicide rates have started to fall in rich countries in recent years.

But Dr Viner says trends first seen in the West are now being seen in developing countries, as the move to cities brings benefits and risks to the urban young.

"It seems that economic development, the move to cities, increasing urbanisation and social dislocation are actually quite toxic for our young people in terms of mortality," he says.

Co-author Dr Michael Resnick, of the University of Minnesota, told the BBC: "What is clear is that the greatest threats to young peoples' health, outside of living in extreme poverty and in 'hot zones' of infectious disease and war, stem from the behaviours in which young people engage, and the contexts in which they find themselves."

He said governments had to focus "on violent neighbourhoods, extreme impoverishment and lack of access to fundamental resources and services, and the hopelessness that comes from utter lack of prospects and opportunity".

Heart problem 'largely avoidable'

Taking regular exercise can improve your health outlook

If individuals were to maintain a healthy weight and normal blood pressure and abstain from tobacco 57% of cases of atrial fibrillation (AF) could be averted, the US experts say.

The study in Circulation journal is based on nearly 15,000 patients.

AF is a major cause of stroke.

Yet many people are unaware that they have this heart condition because often it causes very few symptoms.

Experts believe up to 500,000 people in the UK have AF.

The condition can be treated with medication to slow the irregular heartbeat and blood-thinning drugs to reduce stroke risk, but the latest research shows how much illness could be avoided by simple lifestyle measures.

Dr Alvaro Alonso, who led the research at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, said: "We now know that a significant proportion of all cases of atrial fibrillation can be avoided.

"Ideally, if individuals were able to maintain a normal blood pressure and healthy body weight and didn't smoke, not only would it reduce their risks for other forms of cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease and stroke, but it also would significantly impact the risk of developing atrial fibrillation in later life."

Only 5% of the people in the study had a lifestyle that would be deemed healthy enough to cut their risk of AF.

Over a period of 17 years, 1,520 episodes of AF were noted among the participants, and 57% of these episodes were linked to clear risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes or smoking.

The findings suggest over 860 of the events might have been avoided by "clean living".

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, said: "This study shows not only can you identify people with AF and treat them to reduce their risk of stroke, AF can also be prevented in the first place with simple messages about lifestyle changes."

He said the difficulty was helping people to make healthy choices when their environment and society often encouraged unhealthy options.

NHS 'biased against private care'

Patients can opt for NHS care at private hospitals which do it at NHS cost

The BBC has learnt that many English trusts are introducing steps that make it harder for patients to opt to have NHS care done by private hospitals.

Health firms said it was a sign of bias, while ministers said there was no justification for the restrictions.

The behaviour of nearly half of local NHS management bodies is now being looked at by a government inquiry.

NHS patients needing non-emergency operations, such as hip and knee replacements, are already able to be treated by private hospitals that have agreements in place to carry out the care at NHS cost.

At the moment, only 3.5% of operations are done this way, but under the government's shake-up of the health service the number is set to increase.

Curb competition

However, in recent months managers working for primary care trusts have started trying to impose restrictions that channel patients away from private hospitals.

These include reductions in the range of treatments that private hospitals can offer NHS patients, caps on the number of people they can treat and promising NHS hospitals set numbers of patients.

Another tactic is to introduce minimum waiting times, which has the effect of slowing the flow of patients and cancels out one of the key benefits of being seen by the private sector - quicker treatment.

The issue is being looked into by the Co-operation and Competition Panel on behalf of the Department of Health. Its interim findings suggested as many as 70 of the 151 PCTs are employing such tactics.

Continue reading the main storyNHS tactics Block contracts - PCTs promise NHS hospitals a certain number of patients, leaving the private sector only what is left over Minimum waiting times - Insisting patients wait a certain length of time before treatment. Health firms say this is about lowering the bar so that they cannot use the pulling power of quicker care Activity caps - Limits on the number of patients that can be referred on to private hospitals Fewer options - Reducing the range of treatments the private sector can offer to NHS patients They refused to give the BBC the details of the complaints, but a source close to the inquiry said trusts seemed to be motivated by a desire to protect their local hospitals in the tight financial situation - in some cases specialist regional NHS centres outside trust areas were being hit by the restrictions - and a desire to curb competition in the health service.

Circle is one of the health firms that has complained. It has highlighted the behaviour of two PCTs - Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset, which cover the areas surrounding its Bath hospital.

Documents seen by the BBC show that the PCTs have proposed introducing a range of restrictions, including cutting the number of areas of treatment Circle - and any other private sector provider - can offer to NHS patients from 11 to five. Part of the reasoning is that it is needed to protect the local NHS hospitals.

The PCTs refused to comment about the plans, which were to be introduced in April but have now been postponed while the government inquiry is carried out.

Ali Parsa, head of Circle, said there needed to be a "change in mindset" in the NHS. "There is too much focus on who is delivering the care. It is quality that matters."

Second hospital reports CJD risk

Both scares relate to hospital surgery and potentially contaminated instruments

In both cases the fatal brain-wasting disease could have been picked up during surgery.

At Queen's Hospital in Romford in Essex, 21 brain surgery patients have received letters.

A further 38 patients in Wales were told on Saturday they had been put at risk.

Self employed builder, Paul Davey who attended the hospital in Romford said: "Worry just runs away with you doesn't it, the what ifs, there's no treatment, no cures, so if it comes - that's it.

Intensive care equipment lacking

Patients on intensive care are particularly vulnerable to breathing problems and often need assistance

According to the Royal College of Anaesthetists, using a capnograph may avoid over 70% of breathing-related deaths on UK intensive care wards.

A capnograph can detect problems as soon as they occur and immediately alert staff to intervene.

It is already used almost universally in operating theatres.

It works by detecting carbon dioxide in exhaled breath to confirm that the patient is breathing sufficiently.

But only a quarter of intensive care units in the UK use the device, according to this latest report.

Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteWe recommend that a capnograph is used for all patients receiving help with breathing on ICU”

End QuoteReport author Dr Tim Cook Report author Dr Tim Cook, who is a consultant anaesthetist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, said: "The single most important change that would save lives is the use of a simple breathing monitor, which would have identified or prevented most of the events that were reported.

"We recommend that a capnograph is used for all patients receiving help with breathing on ICU.

"Greater use of this device will save lives."

He said the introduction of capnography to more ICUs would require "modest cost" and some training of nurses and those doctors who are not familiar with its use.

Patients at highest risk of breathing complications are those with other health problems, such as obesity.

The report found obese patients had double the risk of airway problems when they needed a general anaesthetic compared with non-obese patients.

It monitored all airway complications recorded between 2008 and 2009 in operating theatres, intensive care units and hospital emergency departments throughout the UK.

Of 184 reports of complications, 38 resulted in a death. Sixteen of these deaths occurred while under general anaesthetic in the operating theatre, 18 occurred on intensive care units and four in emergency departments.

Maine Town Passes Local Food and Community Self-Governance Ordinance Becomes First in US to Declare Food Sovereignty

By John Reinhardt
The town of Sedgwick, Maine, population 1,012 (according to the 2000 census), has become the first town in the United States to pass a Food Sovereignty ordinance.  In doing so, the town declared their right to produce and sell local foods of their choosing, without the oversight of State or federal regulation. 

What does this mean?  In the debate over raw milk, for example, the law opens the gate for consumer and producer to enter a purchasing agreement without interference from state or federal health regulators.  According to the Mayo Clinic, a 1987 FDA regulation required that all milk be pasteurized to kill pathogens such as salmonella and E. coli.  The Sedgwick ordinance declares that:

Producers or processors of local foods in the Town of Sedgwick are exempt from licensure and inspection provided that the transaction is only between the producer or processor and a patron when the food is sold for home consumption. This includes any producer or processor who sells his or her products at farmers' markets or roadside stands; sells his or her products through farm-based sales directly to a patron; or delivers his or her products directly to patrons.


In short, the ordinance allows buyer and seller to enter their own agreement which overrides the regulation of government when dealing with transactions involving local foods.

Germany Set to Abandon Nuclear Power for Good

By Juergen Baetz
BERLIN - Germany is determined to show the world how abandoning nuclear energy can be done.

The world's fourth-largest economy stands alone among leading industrialized nations in its decision to stop using nuclear energy because of its inherent risks. It is betting billions on expanding the use of renewable energy to meet power demands instead.

The transition was supposed to happen slowly over the next 25 years, but is now being accelerated in the wake of Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant disaster, which Chancellor Angela Merkel has called a "catastrophe of apocalyptic dimensions."

Berlin's decision to take seven of its 17 reactors offline for three months for new safety checks has provided a glimpse into how Germany might wean itself from getting nearly a quarter of its power from atomic energy to none.

And experts say Germany's phase-out provides a good map that countries such as the United States, which use a similar amount of nuclear power, could follow. The German model would not work, however, in countries like France, which relies on nuclear energy for more than 70 percent of its power and has no intention of shifting.

"If we had the winds of Texas or the sun of California, the task here would be even easier," said Felix Matthes of Germany's renowned Institute for Applied Ecology. "Given the great potential in the U.S., it would be feasible there in the long run too, even though it would necessitate huge infrastructure investments."

ADHD: It's The Food, Stupid

By Kristin Wartman
Over five million children ages four to 17 have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the United States and close to 3 million of those children take medication for their symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control. But a new study reported in The Lancet last month found that with a restricted diet alone, many children experienced a significant reduction in symptoms. The study's lead author, Dr. Lidy Pelsser of the ADHD Research Centre in the Netherlands, said in an interview with NPR, "The teachers thought it was so strange that the diet would change the behavior of the child as thoroughly as they saw it. It was a miracle, the teachers said."

Dr. Pessler's study is the first to conclusively say that diet is implicated in ADHD. In the NPR interview, Dr. Pessler did not mince words, "Food is the main cause of ADHD," she said adding, "After the diet, they were just normal children with normal behavior. They were no longer more easily distracted, they were no more forgetful, there were no more temper-tantrums." The study found that in 64 percent of children with ADHD, the symptoms were caused by food. "It's a hypersensitivity reaction to food," Pessler said.

What Would the World Look Like If We Relied on Industrial Agriculture to Feed Everyone?

By Ari LeVaux
The world's population will probably hit 9 billion by 2050. That's about the only thing agreed upon by partisans in a long-waged debate over how best to feed all those bellies. 

On March 8, Dr. Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, released a report arguing that the use of small-scale, diverse farming methods, which he calls "agroecology," can double agricultural production in poverty-stricken areas, increase the economic prospects of the inhabitants, and improve their local environment. 

This argument refutes a common dismissal of sustainable agriculture: that it could never feed the world. That's the contention of those who believe in agriculture methods that involve the intensive use of energy, water, machinery, and chemicals to grow cash crop monocultures. I recently discussed these competing paradigms with De Schutter, in the context of what it might look like if industrial agriculture were, in fact, to feed the world. 

"I'm surprised at the simplistic diagnosis that appears to be dominant in public discourse," De Schutter said. "The official mantra is we need a 70 percent increase in agricultural production to feed the world. But this completely oversimplifies the debate. It only pays attention at the supply side of the equation, when we must also work on demand -- for instance the overconsumption of meat in industrialized countries. By 2050, if the current curves continue, 50 percent of global cereal production will go either to feeding cattle or to the irresponsible push towards biofuels production and consumption through fiscal stimuli and subsidies." 

Big Ag Wants To Make It a Crime to Expose Animal Abuse at Factory Farms

By Wayne Pacelle
What do Florida and Iowa have in common when it comes to animal agriculture? They've both been hot spots, past and present, for the movement to combat some of the worst abuses in industrial agribusiness. And now the factory farming industry is fighting back in both states-and their latest methods represent their biggest overreach yet.

In Florida, the Humane Society of the United States and other groups pushed for the adoption of the first statewide law in the country to restrict the extreme confinement of animals on factory farms. In 2002, voters there passed Amendment 10, to phase out the caging of breeding sows in gestation crates. In Iowa, HSUS and other animal welfare groups have conducted a series of undercover investigations (see the video) to expose cruelty in the nation's biggest factory farming state.

Now, these two states have something else in common. They are trying to make it a crime to photograph or videotape farm animals. They don't want to criminalize animal cruelty, but they do want to make criminals of people trying to document abuse and to put an end to the cruelty. Lawmakers have introduced bills in both states to establish criminal penalties for going undercover at agricultural facilities and simply taking pictures.

The Rainbow of Food Dyes in Our Grocery Aisles Has a Dark Side

By David W. Schab and Michael F. Jacobson
Today's supermarket is a fun house of hues. Its aisles feature riotously colored processed foods perfectly engineered to appeal to the part of your brain that says "yum": Technicolor Starburst candy. Polychromatic Froot Loops. A rainbow of flavored juices.

Those hyper-saturated colors have come to seem normal, even natural, like the come-ons of tropical fruits. But they are increasingly produced through the magic of artificial food dyes, applied not just to candies and snack foods but to such seemingly all-natural products as pickles, salad dressing and some oranges.

Artificial dyes aren't just making your Yoplait Light Red Raspberry yogurt blush and your Kraft Macaroni and Cheese glow in the dark. They are causing behavioral problems and disrupting children's attention, according to a growing number of scientific studies. On Wednesday, following the lead of European regulators, a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee will begin a review of research on the behavioral effects of artificial dyes. In a significant turn from the agency's previous denials that dyes have any influence on children's behavior, an FDA staff report released last week concluded that synthetic food colorings do affect some children.

GE Food Policy Protest at White House and in 33 Cities Across the US

By Eddie Gehman Kohan

Beyond the fence line of the North Lawn of the White House on Saturday afternoon, a group of worried citizens gathered for the Rally For the Right to Know. A call for action against genetically modified/genetically engineered food, the event was organized by the Organic Consumers Association, as part of its Millions Against Monsanto campaign.

The protesters--including kids--carried placards decrying GE foods, as well as a big red banner that read GMO's.

Americans Stage Protest over Genetically Modified Foods

By Marjan Asi
The movement for labeling genetically modified foods is growing as was illustrated in protests held in at least 20 cities throughout the US this past Saturday. Here in Washington, protesters gathered outside the White House to vocalize their demand for the right to know if the foods they purchase are genetically modified.

 Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs as they are often known, are food products that have been altered at the genetic level. Scientists say GMOs are necessary, because the increased food production that comes with it is needed for the rising human population. And even though no large-scale study has shown any negative effects of GMOs on people, many are still concerned about possible long-term adverse health affects.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, genetically modified foods are considered safe and therefore not requiring labeling. They are extensively researched and regulated, and in 1992 the FDA decided that GMOs were no different from conventional foods. But according to these protesters, a growing body of evidence shows that this is not the case.

One corporation that has fought hard to keep GMO labels from being placed on food products is Monsanto. A very powerful agricultural biotechnology corporation, Monsanto patents and sells genetically modified seeds. According to its website, "Individuals who make a personal decision not to consume food containing GM ingredients can easily avoid such products. In the U.S., they can purchase products that are certified as organic under the National Organic Program. They can also buy products which companies have voluntarily labeled as not containing GM ingredients." 

Radiation Detected in Massachusetts Rainwater as Fukushima Crisis Worsens

By Mike Adams
The Fukushima crisis continues to worsen by the day, with nuclear experts around the world finally realizing and admitting we've all been lied to. "I think maybe the situation is much more serious than we were led to believe," said Najmedin Meshkati of the University of Southern California, in a Reuters report (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011...). That same article revealed that recent radiation readings at Fukushima show "contamination 100,000 times normal in water at reactor No. 2 and 1,850 times normal in the nearby sea."

Massachusetts rainwater has also been found to be contaminated with low levels of radiation from Fukushima, indicating just how widespread the radioactive fallout has become. It's not just the West Coast of North America that's vulnerable, in other words: even the East Coast could receive dangerous levels of fallout if Fukushima suffers a larger release of radioactive material into the air.

Rolling blackouts are now continuing throughout Japan due to the drop in power production from Fukushima diminishing Japan's electricity generating capacity (http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/20..). The only reason Japan isn't experiencing widespread power blackouts right now is because so many factories were damaged or swept away from the tsunami itself. Once a serious rebuilding effort gets underway, Japan is going to find itself critically short of electrical power.

 

GM Soy Making its Way into the UK Food Chain Through Animal Feed

By Jonathan Benson
Labeling laws throughout the European Union (EU) require that all food containing genetically-modified (GM) ingredients be properly labeled. But a new report from The Telegraph explains that many big-name food brands in the UK that sell meat, dairy, and other animal products are sourcing from animals fed GMOs, but selling the final product without a proper GMO label.

The problem of GMOs sneaking in the back door through animal feed is not limited to the EU, as many other countries that require mandatory GMO labeling are experiencing similar scenarios. A recent NaturalNews report highlighted GMO contamination problems with Fonterra, a New Zealand-based cooperative that is the world's largest exporter of dairy products, as well (http://www.naturalnews.com/031776_d...).

Some experts insist that animals fed GM feed do not end up producing GM-contaminated meat and dairy. But others say that GM traits are, indeed, passed on through animal feed into the animal itself, contaminating milk and meat with GM materials. They also say that the growing prevalence of GM feed -- particularly GM soy -- is destroying rainforests, introducing extreme amounts of new pesticides into the environment, and damaging animal and human health.

Rally at Nashville Farmers' Market Calls for Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods

By Jenny Upchurch
"What's GMO stand for?" a driver yelled at Flo Oakes and her group outside the Nashville Farmers' Market on Saturday morning.

"Genetically modified organisms," they hollered back.

A few dozen people held banners and shouted slogans here as part of a nationwide rally demanding action to help consumers identify from where food comes.

Genetically modified organisms have had changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. The changes make them resistant to viruses and chemicals. Typical plants and products include soybeans, corn and canola and cotton seed oil.

"I'm not a biologist, not a scientist,"Oakes said. "I feel like we're being guinea pigs. We have never put genes together like this and then put them in the environment without proper scrutiny and testing."

Activists want genetically modified foods labeled and they want limits on how closely such plants can be grown to organic agriculture to prevent cross-contamination. They also want more research on the safety of genetically modified organisms.

Protesters in Salem, Oregon Denounce Influence of Monsanto Corporation

By Christopher Parker


Opponents of genetically modified organisms rallied Saturday before the Oregon State Capitol in Salem to discuss Monsanto's control over national agricultural business, its influence on politics through lobbying and the proliferation of GMOs in farming practices.

The "Rally for the Right to Know" was held in conjunction with rallies in other state capitols and Washington, D.C., as part of the Organic Consumers Association's "Millions Against Monsanto" campaign.

Event organizer Sabrina Siegel, a Eugene resident, became involved with "Millions Against Monsanto" after learning about the possible health effects of GMOs.

"As a mother I became very nervous and disturbed about the whole thing," Siegel said. "I just became worried as a parent to help all children, not just my children. It motivated me to teach people about the issue."

Rally participants spoke of the importance of supporting legislation to require food producers to list what ingredients are genetically modified.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved GMOs for consumption, but controversy remains because of Monsanto's close political ties with government regulating agencies. One current issue is the Obama administration's appointment of Michael Taylor, a former Monsanto lawyer who served as the corporation's vice president of public policy.

Taking Aim at the Pentagon Budget

By Robert Dreyfuss

For the first time since the end of the cold war, there's a real possibility that the post-9/11 fever that sent US military spending shooting upward will break and that the Pentagon's budget will fall sharply. But it won't be easy.

On the surface, it might not seem as if cuts are in the offing. After thirteen consecutive years of growth, between 1998 and 2011, spending on the military has reached an all-time high, and for 2012 Defense Secretary Robert Gates is asking Congress to authorize yet another increase.

Risks Over Recycling Sewage into Biosolids are Still Not Resolved

By Christopher Dunagan
Class B biosolids applied to Bremerton's forest are relatively dry. Before application, at least 99 percent of the pathogens have been removed. After 30 days, no measurable pathogens remain. Still, public access remains closed to this area.

When the city of Bremerton started applying processed sewage sludge to its forestland west of Gorst, the trees began to grow dramatically faster.

One can see the result 20 years later in tree rings when the Douglas firs are cut down: skinny rings before the application, fat rings ever since.

Some people consider biosolids - produced from sewage sludge - to be a prime fertilizer, rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and organic material.

Others raise questions about an array of low-level compounds found in the material, from toxic industrial chemicals to pharmaceutical drugs to personal health care products.

Interview with Renowned Scientist David Suzuki on the Future of the Planet

By Joseph Roberts

Joseph Roberts: How did it all begin?

David Suzuki: We started when the Worldwatch Institute said it's the turnaround decade. We thought we were only going to be here for 10 years. So we said every dollar we raise we're going to spend because we don't have time. Who would've imagined that 20 years later we'd still be here and that conditions would be worse.

JR: And it hasn't turned around.

DS: No. We've had five years now of the most anti-environmental government we've ever had. We have a leader who claims the economy is his highest priority, proroguing parliament to focus on the economy and yet a leading economist like Sir Nicholas Stern says if we don't deal with climate change it's going to destroy the global economy. Our prime minister has never, ever, said this is an important issue affecting Canada and we've got to do something.

JR: My concern now is the way global economics is actually speeding up the destruction. With the UN declaring 2011 the International Year of the Forest and we have less than a third of the forest left on this planet, what is to be done?