Business and management:
•”Green collar” jobs are seen as having a huge impact on the American economy over the next 20 years.
•According to Statistics NZ, the property and business services industries now have the highest employment figures, surpassing the manufacturing industry as the biggest employer for the first time.
Health and wellbeing:
• A UK study for the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation called “It’s Time” shows that women’s fitness in the UK is in “crisis”, with 80% of women doing too little exercise, girls being encouraged to be thin rather than fit, negative experiences of sport in school & low body confidence putting women off exercise, and social pressures portraying sport as unfeminine.
•There is a worrying trend in Australia of increasing numbers of children under 5 years of age being diagnosed with food allergies. Some academics are not sure that excluding foods from either the mother or child’s diet is of any help, and other research is starting to look at the value of “good bacteria” in reducing allergy problems.
•A snapshot report of the Workplace Health and Safety Strategy to 2015 has been released, indicating that good progress is being made and research into occupational health is ongoing.
•Professor Lucilla Poston of Kings College, London presents a public lecture tonight at the University of Auckland, called “Eating for two ” in which she talks about how a mother’s diet in pregnancy is a determinant of the immediate and life long health of her child, and our public health policies should begin with attention to the earliest stages of life. (A new Public Health Bill was introduced in the NZ Parliament last week.)
•Average suicide rates in NZ between 2003-2005 have dropped about 19% from a peak rate in 1996-1998, according to a recent report from the Ministry of Health.
Environment and sustainability:
•While Heather Mills is backing a pro-vegan campaign against global warming, saying that no one should eat meat or dairy products if they call themselves environmentalists, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Britain is concerned that campaigns like the one on “food miles” could risk destroying communities in Africa that are dependent on the trade in food.
Government, local and central:
• The Core Cities Summit for 2007 was held this month in Nottingham – the UK core cities form the economic and urban cores of wider surrounding territories, and are the economic drivers of their regions.
•A Justices of the Peace Best Practice Manual has been released, spelling out the standards expected of JPs.
•The 5th International Conference of Information Commissioners is taking place in Wellington this week and the conference will be attended by information commissioners and ombudsmen from all over the world. The conference also marks the 25th anniversary of NZ’s official information legislation, which is seen as leading edge by some countries, due to the availability in NZ of cabinet papers and public submissions on websites.
People, culture and diversity:
•In the UK, the government has set up an action plan to combat violent extremism called “Preventing Violent Extremism - Winning hearts and minds”. As part of the action plan, the Dept for Communities & Local Government has committed to the development of forums that would provide a focus for specific groups whose voices aren’t always heard, such as the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group. They will meet as an independent informal group advising on issues to empower Muslim women and increase their participation in civic, economic and social life.
Science, technology & transport:
•Radio New Zealand International has won the prestigious International Radio Station of the Year Award at the Association for International Broadcasting ( AIB ) Media Excellence Awards announced in London last week, including the Most Innovative Partnership category.
•InternetNZ has responded to Telecom's draft operational separation plan with a submission that shows serious deficiencies in Telecom’s proposals.
From the LOGIS desk.
Monday, 26 November 2007
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