TREES COOL THE AIR
Trees reduce temperature and help absorb heat. Why is it cooler around trees? How do trees cool the air so effectively? Here’s a pictorial explanation.
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Lai Cheng
8 THAI SKINCARE COSMETICS CONTAMINATED WITH MERCURY
Malaysian women are advised to avoid skin whitening products. A Philippines watchdog group has found 8 Thai skincare sets sold online to be contaminated with high concentrations of mercury – up to 44,540 parts per million (ppm), way above the legal limit of 1 ppm (see EcoWaste Coalition’s press release below). Mercury in skin-lightening creams may cause kidney damage, skin rashes, skin...
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WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE THINK about NEW ZEALAND’S SMOKE-FREE GENERATION POLICY
Having spent decades refining tobacco products to enhance their addictiveness, tobacco companies appear to believe that protecting young people from addiction would deprive them of personal autonomy. In New Zealand, which now has a smoke-free generation policy, youths aged 17-18 interviewed rejected the negative view of freedom tobacco companies propose, which presents regulation as limiting or...
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WHY PROCESSED FOOD IS NOT REAL FOOD
Processed food is food that's changed in any way from its natural state. Chemically processed foods often only contain refined ingredients and artificial substances, with little nutritional value. They tend to have added chemical flavoring agents, colours, and sweeteners. These ultra-processed foods are sometimes called “cosmetic” foods, as compared with whole foods. Some examples of...
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Resolve chicken eggs shortage immediately
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urged the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) to resolve the supply shortage of chicken eggs immediately. “Most of the grocers and public markets claimed that it has been difficult for them to get the supply since two weeks ago, thus, creating concern on the supply shortage in the future. Chicken eggs are the cheapest source...
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WHY WE SHOULD FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
OUR PLANET IS BURNING because of climate change. Heatwaves have increased in frequency, intensity and duration across the world. The world is already 1.2°C warmer than pre-industrial times and every fraction of a degree counts. With 2°C of global warming we will have more intense droughts and more devastating floods, more wildfires and more storms (UNEP). “Our fragile planet is hanging by a...
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CITIES AREN’T BUILT FOR KIDS
Can you walk with your children – without gripping their hands and anxiously eyeing traffic – and feel comfortable and relaxed? If you can’t, then something isn’t right with the design. With so many busy roads and highways around, parents today have massively restricted children’s freedom to protect their kids’ safety. Good child-friendly urban planning and design shape cities so...
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Scientists Urge FDA to Ban Cancer-Causing Dye Used in Hundreds of Candies and Foods
"If the data were strong enough to ban Red 3 in cosmetics and external drugs 30 years ago, they’re surely strong enough to ban it today in foods, oral drugs, and dietary supplements." ~ Dr Peter Lurie, CSPI President
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Natural Foods Better than Processed Junk
Eat foods as close to their natural state as possible. Whole and natural foods are rich in nutrients and contain fewer additives than heavily processed foods (eg: chips, candy, sodas, snacks, bread, burgers, pizzas and other fast foods). Processed foods are also high in preservatives, artificial ingredients and added sugars and fats which are bad for health.
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RED CABBAGE: A HEALTHY FOOD
Cabbage is full of antioxidants and Vitamin C and can protect against colds and flu, and Alzheimer’s disease; help proper nervous function; and can strengthen your immune system. Red cabbage, also known as purple cabbage, is better. It contains 36 different varieties of anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids that have been linked to cancer protection. Anthocyanins have been shown to suppress the...
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