Richest Countries in Africa
Rank Country GDP - per capita
1 Equatorial Guinea $ 50,200
2 Mauritius $ 13,500
3 South Africa $ 13,000
4 Libya $ 12,700
5 Botswana $ 11,400
6 Tunisia $ 8,600
7 Seychelles $ 7,800
8 Algeria $ 7,700
9 Namibia $ 7,400
10 Gabon $ 7,200
............................
Richest Countries in Asia
Rank Country GDP - per capita
1 Japan $ 33,100
2 Singapore $ 30,900
3 Brunei $ 25,600
4 Korea, South $ 24,200
5 Malaysia $ 12,700
6 Kazakhstan $ 9,100
7 Thailand $ 9,100
8 Turkey $ 8,900
9 Turkmenistan $ 8,900
10 China $ 7,600
33 East Timor $ 800
..............................
Richest Countries in the Caribbean
Rank Country GDP - per capita
1 Bahamas, The $ 21,300
2 Trinidad and Tobago $ 19,700
3 Barbados $ 18,200
4 Antigua and Barbuda $ 10,900
5 Saint Kitts and Nevis $ 8,200
6 Dominican Republic $ 8,000
7 Saint Lucia $ 4,800
8 Jamaica $ 4,600
9 Cuba $ 3,900
10 Grenada $ 3,900
..............................
Richest Countries in Europe
Rank Country GDP - per capita
1 Luxembourg $ 68,800
2 Norway $ 47,800
3 Ireland $ 43,600
4 Andorra $ 38,800
5 Iceland $ 38,100
6 Denmark $ 37,000
7 Austria $ 35,500
8 San Marino $ 34,100
9 Switzerland $ 33,600
10 Finland $ 32,800
...............................
This is the richest man in Africa
On the ninth floor of the Dangote Group headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria's most successful businessman has a panoramic view of the sprawling urban mass, which makes up Nigeria's commercial capital.
His visitor, Mr Otedola has made a fortune from trading fuel and petroleum products in Nigeria, but Mr Dangote is in another league.
His business empire spans the economy. He dominates the markets for sugar, cement, rice, pasta, textiles and salt, and he is big in transport, oil and gas.
"I think I have to be rated by Forbes magazine first before I can be [called] the richest man in Africa," says Mr Dangote modestly. "But, you know, I'm comfortable."
New investments
Mr Dangote has come along way from his early days of trading commodities in his home town of Kano in the north.
We have had a generational change in business and this is now going to happen in government
Aliko Dangote, Dangote Group
He recently turned 50 and has listed two of his 13 companies on the Nigerian stock market. His stake in those two alone is worth more than $4bn (£2bn).
In politics, as in business, he is also a powerful player. He is not ashamed to be financially supporting President Olusegun Obasanjo's ruling People's Democratic Party and he is confident that its candidate Umaru Musa Yar'Adua will become Nigeria's next president.
"I am close to people in government because I am one of the big businessmen in Nigeria," he explains. "If we don't have the right people there then [all the] money I have is useless. If the country turns into another Zimbabwe, for example, then I will become a poor person."
For now, Mr Dangote is confident about the future and he lists some of the $9bn of investments in Nigeria he is currently planning, including the world's biggest sugar refinery, a 300,000 barrels a day oil refinery and a massive 5,000 megawatt power project।
See Related: http://www.aneki.com/middle_east_richest.html
Thursday, October 18, 2007
WAEC withholds Ogun public schools’ results
The West African Examinations Council has withheld the results of the May/June 2007 Senior School Certificate Examination of public schools in Ogun State.
Investigations on Tuesday by our correspondent in Abeokuta, the state capital, showed that all efforts by the candidates to access their results on the internet were fruitless.
Findings revealed the results were being withheld because of the failure of the state government to fully pay the students’ examination fees.
The examination body had released the results in other parts of the country about three weeks ago. While in Ogun State, the results have been released to private schools.
The Controller of WAEC in the state, Mrs. Anike Alli, confirmed that the results of public schools in the state had not been released.
Urging parents and students to be patient, Alli said the results would be released as soon as the fees were fully paid.
She said, “The council and government are talking. The government has promised that before the end of this week, they will pay in full. Thereafter the result will be made available and parents and students will be happy.”
The Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Mr. Wale Adedayo, attributed the delay in paying the fees to technical hitches.
He said, “I can assure you that it is not only the SSCE fees of students that have been paid. Tai Solarin University graduates that were sent back from the National Youth Service Corps scheme have been recalled.
“The first instalment of the SSCE fees was paid some time back. The second one has equally been paid.
“If you go to the WAEC office as I’m talking to you, it will be confirmed that it has been paid.
“There were some technical hitches here and there in the last one week and the fees were not credited into their account (WAEC).” If you go through the system of how money is being paid, you will discover that the money has left our treasury about a week ago.”
Sources at the WAEC office said the council had been warning officials of the state against default.
The sources said that WAEC allowed the students to sit for the examination despite the failure of the government to fully pay the fees.
They added, “The fees should have been fully paid at the point of registration, but the council was magnanimous enough to allow the students to write the exam. Even after the release of the result the fees had not been paid.”
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Can You Trust The Information You Find Online?
The internet is currently estimated to consist of around 100 billion pages, with articles and information on absolutely any subject you care to mention. Advanced search technology such as that used by Google and Ask make it easy to find a site or article covering a topic you wish to research, whether it's historical data, medical information, recipes or even just fun stuff like jokes. But can you trust what you read online, and how far should you use the internet as a research tool?
One of the strengths of the internet is that it gives a voice to anyone with access, and through forums and other kinds of site anyone can make their opinion heard. This democratic aspect is also unfortunately one of the web's drawbacks as well, as there are few things to stop anyone publishing information which is inaccurate, outdated, or even flat out deceptive.
For this reason, it's best to take much of what you read online with a pinch of salt. Opinionated people can make a lot of noise, but it's not always those that shout loudest who are the most correct.
Even well respected sites such as Wikipedia need to be treated with a little caution when researching a topic. Owing to the fact that virtually anyone can edit or add a topic, the information found on it isn't necessarily well researched or corroborated, although many fine entries do exist. Wikipedia relies on collaboration to weed out inaccuracy, and while in some categories this works well, in the fiercely commercial areas the provision of accurate information is not necessarily the writer's primary motive for contributing to the site. Conversely, in topics with extreme minority interest, the collaborative aspect can fall apart: there aren't enough readers of a topic to pull it into shape and check the facts.
Add to this the fact that there are millions of commercial sites out there which, while maybe offering good information on their business category, are almost inevitably going to show some sort of bias towards their own company or services rather than being truly impartial.
So, back to the original question: can you trust what you read? So far the answer would appear to be no, but that's not the case. So long as you research a subject properly and read a range of views on a range of sites, you can probably come to a good understanding of a subject with few or no errors or inaccuracies. You just need to remember that publishing a web page doesn't always entail the same level of rigorous fact checking and comprehensive research as traditional journalism aspires to, and the fact that something can be read online doesn't always mean it's true.
About the author: Andrea writes for http://www.informationwarehouse.co.uk/ 08036012806
One of the strengths of the internet is that it gives a voice to anyone with access, and through forums and other kinds of site anyone can make their opinion heard. This democratic aspect is also unfortunately one of the web's drawbacks as well, as there are few things to stop anyone publishing information which is inaccurate, outdated, or even flat out deceptive.
For this reason, it's best to take much of what you read online with a pinch of salt. Opinionated people can make a lot of noise, but it's not always those that shout loudest who are the most correct.
Even well respected sites such as Wikipedia need to be treated with a little caution when researching a topic. Owing to the fact that virtually anyone can edit or add a topic, the information found on it isn't necessarily well researched or corroborated, although many fine entries do exist. Wikipedia relies on collaboration to weed out inaccuracy, and while in some categories this works well, in the fiercely commercial areas the provision of accurate information is not necessarily the writer's primary motive for contributing to the site. Conversely, in topics with extreme minority interest, the collaborative aspect can fall apart: there aren't enough readers of a topic to pull it into shape and check the facts.
Add to this the fact that there are millions of commercial sites out there which, while maybe offering good information on their business category, are almost inevitably going to show some sort of bias towards their own company or services rather than being truly impartial.
So, back to the original question: can you trust what you read? So far the answer would appear to be no, but that's not the case. So long as you research a subject properly and read a range of views on a range of sites, you can probably come to a good understanding of a subject with few or no errors or inaccuracies. You just need to remember that publishing a web page doesn't always entail the same level of rigorous fact checking and comprehensive research as traditional journalism aspires to, and the fact that something can be read online doesn't always mean it's true.
About the author: Andrea writes for http://www.informationwarehouse.co.uk/ 08036012806
The Benefits Of Using Tanning Lotion
probably know a little bit about tanning. You know that you need to either get some sun or get into a tanning booth if you want to get a good tan. And you also know that there are some health risks associated with tanning so you’re aware that you have to take some basic common sense precautions when tanning. But do you know about the importance of using tanning lotion when you are tanning? Many people who know about basic tanning stuff aren’t aware that tanning lotion is crucial for good tanning practices.
There are a number of different benefits to using tanning lotion instead of just tanning on your own without lotion. Some of these benefits include:
• Instant gratification. Okay, well it’s not quite instant but one of the major benefits of tanning with a lotion is that it speeds up the process of tanning so that you can get the look that you want without having to invest so much time in getting it. This is great for people who have an upcoming event that they want to be tan for, as well as for people who are just generally too busy to spend a lot of time on tanning.
• Moisturizing effects. Tanning lotion is a lotion and therefore it gives your skin some of the moisture that it needs which improves the all-over appearance and health of your skin.
• Reduced risk of sun damage. Tanning lotion protects your skin from the harmful effects of tanning. This means that you have a lower risk of cancer and decreased aging effects when you tan using a tanning lotion. Most people consider this the best of all of the benefits of tanning lotion.
• Regular use of tanning lotion can assist you in enhancing the tone of your natural tan. This means that when you wear tanning lotion during the day as you go about your normal outdoor activities, you’re improving your tan.
• That great "glow" that you want to get from a tan is much easier to come by when you use tanning lotion.
• Your tanning process continues after you leave the tanning booth. Tanning lotion has the benefit of helping to make your tan keep working on development even when you’re not in the rays anymore. Tan extender lotions are best for this.
Now that you know about the many benefits of using tanning lotion, you should also know that there is a right way and a not-so-right way to use tanning lotion. First of all, there are different kinds of tanning lotion and you need to be using the right kind for your skin tone and tanning practices to get the most benefit from your lotion. And secondly, you need to use tanning lotion along with the right kinds of tanning habits – such as the right amount of time in the tanning booth – to get the full benefits of the tanning lotion. Working with a professional at your local tanning salon, someone who knows the benefits of tanning lotion, is the best way to maximize your results."
About The Author:
Baxter Owens is the developer of http://TanTans.com, an ultra premium Tanning Lotion website & vendor. http://TanTans.com offers premium tanning lotion at discount, wholesale prices. Visit http://TanTans.com today for all of your indoor tanning & skin care needs!
There are a number of different benefits to using tanning lotion instead of just tanning on your own without lotion. Some of these benefits include:
• Instant gratification. Okay, well it’s not quite instant but one of the major benefits of tanning with a lotion is that it speeds up the process of tanning so that you can get the look that you want without having to invest so much time in getting it. This is great for people who have an upcoming event that they want to be tan for, as well as for people who are just generally too busy to spend a lot of time on tanning.
• Moisturizing effects. Tanning lotion is a lotion and therefore it gives your skin some of the moisture that it needs which improves the all-over appearance and health of your skin.
• Reduced risk of sun damage. Tanning lotion protects your skin from the harmful effects of tanning. This means that you have a lower risk of cancer and decreased aging effects when you tan using a tanning lotion. Most people consider this the best of all of the benefits of tanning lotion.
• Regular use of tanning lotion can assist you in enhancing the tone of your natural tan. This means that when you wear tanning lotion during the day as you go about your normal outdoor activities, you’re improving your tan.
• That great "glow" that you want to get from a tan is much easier to come by when you use tanning lotion.
• Your tanning process continues after you leave the tanning booth. Tanning lotion has the benefit of helping to make your tan keep working on development even when you’re not in the rays anymore. Tan extender lotions are best for this.
Now that you know about the many benefits of using tanning lotion, you should also know that there is a right way and a not-so-right way to use tanning lotion. First of all, there are different kinds of tanning lotion and you need to be using the right kind for your skin tone and tanning practices to get the most benefit from your lotion. And secondly, you need to use tanning lotion along with the right kinds of tanning habits – such as the right amount of time in the tanning booth – to get the full benefits of the tanning lotion. Working with a professional at your local tanning salon, someone who knows the benefits of tanning lotion, is the best way to maximize your results."
About The Author:
Baxter Owens is the developer of http://TanTans.com, an ultra premium Tanning Lotion website & vendor. http://TanTans.com offers premium tanning lotion at discount, wholesale prices. Visit http://TanTans.com today for all of your indoor tanning & skin care needs!
Friday, August 31, 2007
car
Altea XL.
Space for more than just the family
If it’s a spacious yet exhilarating family car you’re after, then the SEAT Altea XL has got your name written all over it.
As can be the case with large practical family cars, style is sacrificed for extra space, but that’s not the case with the Altea XL. With the honeycomb front grill and the signature dynamic line, the Altea XL oozes the distinctive, sleek SEAT design, but cleverly offers a vast amount of space at the same time. Making it ideal for families who enjoy setting off for adventures at the weekend.
Big on style, big on space
With a colossal 3m3 cabin, plus a rather impressive 635 litre boot capacity, the Altea XL really does live up to its name. With adjustable rear seats the Altea XL can adapt to fit in with your family and indeed whatever you’re fitting into your car.
And if it’s performance you’re after under the bonnet, the Altea XL won’t disappoint. With up to 170PS with the 2.0 litre TDI, and a meaty 258lb ft of torque, it’s fair to say that this car not only looks great and has ample space, but it also really shifts too. Combine this with the agile handling thanks to its engaging chassis, the Altea XL truly is a rewarding drive.
Safety first
But it doesn’t end there. The SEAT Altea XL is one of the safest cars on the market. With 6 airbags fitted as standard, three point pre-tensioned seatbelts, reinforced pillars and rear ISOFIX points enabling two child seats to be anchored directly to the chassis; it’s no wonder the Altea XL, like the Altea, has a maximum 5 stars by the Euro NCAP rating.
The Altea XL is an integral part of the Altea family, being the bigger brother of the Altea. Both models offer pace and exhilaration, the XL is just that extra bit bigger, so all you have to decide is which one is best suited for you and your family. But the Altea family is soon to get even bigger. SEAT are launching their first all road, four-wheel drive car. The SEAT Altea freetrack 4. It’s due to be released this October, and it’s sure to be the daddy, so keep an eye out for this later in the year.
And if all that wasn’t enough, for a limited time only, the Altea XL comes with an integrated TomTom GO 710 for just £250, so you can get to where you’re going, without getting lost, in style.
Discover more about the Altea XL today or indeed any of the cars in the SEAT range, by visiting www.seat.co.uk
Standard Spec
Air conditioning
ISOFIX
16” alloy wheels*
Selective door opening (SAFE)
MP3 compatible CD player with AUX IN
Agile Chassis
Electric windows
Flexible boot cover
Cruise control
Front and rear fog lights
Remote central locking
Multi link rear suspension
Folding tables on front seat backrest
Body coloured bumpers with integrated moulding
ABS and TCS
Tinted windows
Rear parking sensors*
Storage boxes in central console with two-level storage facilities
Rain and light sensor*
Honeycomb front grille
8 speakers*
Outside temperature gauge
Leather gear knob and steering wheel*
Immobiliser
*Stylance only
Optional
Metallic paint
Electric sunroof
17” alloy wheels*
iPod connection
Sports pack *
USB connection
Winter pack
Bi-xenon headlights with AFS*
Leather pack*
ESP and EBA with tyre pressure monitoring
Technical
Engines ranging from 1.6 102PS to 2.0 TDI DPF 170PS
Power - up to 170 PS @ 4200 rpm
Torque - up to 350 Nm / 258 lb.ft @ 1800 rpm
Max Speed - up to 131 mph
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
EVANGELISM IN PENTECOSTALISM
By Bassey Edet
Nigeria.
Introduction
Evangelism is simply, taking the Good News of Christ to the lost Sinner, it means reaching the unreached with the gospel of Christ. This is the heartbeat of God. This was the very reason Jesus came into the world. The central message of the bible is getting Sinners Saved, and setting the captives free from the bondage of Satan and Sin.
This not an optional mission, a negotiable venture but a direct command from our master "Go ye into the world and preach---" (Matt 28:19). It is a task for all believers that attracts external rewards.
Christians whom God saved and whose hearts God has touched with the burden of lost souls most be ready to sacrifices their time, money effort, convenience and prestige.
Understanding the Task of Evangelism.
v Evangelism is the heartbeat of God - Ezekiel 33:11,18:23,3:18, 11Peter 3:9.
v It was the mission of Jesus Christ - Matt 1:18, John 3:16.
v It was the mission of the disciples- Lk. 10:1-11
v It is a command from Jesus Christ - His last statement to his disciples and those yet unborn-Matt. 28:19, Lk9: 1-2, Act1: 8.
v The early church practiced it - Act 2:37.
v It is the work of wise men - Prov.11: 30
v It carries external reward -11 Tim. 4:7
v It is the believers responsibility- Ezekiel 33:1-6, Prov. 24:11-12 it is the purpose of our existence.
v External existence of man’s soul - Mk. 9:43-48, Lk. 16:19-13, Matt. 10:28 lives beyond physical life.
v The battle for soul’s possession - Lk 11:21-33, Eph 6:11-12. Either for God or Satan.
v The shortness of time - Jn 9:4, 5:14-16, 11 Cor. 6:1
Requirement for Effective Soul Winning
(1) Assurance of one’s own Salvation: one can effectively speaks of what he knows, experience and is convicted personally. Jn 3:11, 11Cor 3:12
(2) Personal conviction that men are lost without Christ: All religion does not lead man back to God. There on salvation in any other name-
(a) The unsaved is dead, needing regeneration, reconnected to life- source. Eph 2:1, 4:18,Jn 3:36,1Jn 5:1. Physical death-separation of spirit from body, Spiritual death-separation of a Sinner from God.
(b) The unsaved man is lost, needing salvation: man needs to be delivered from the power of inherent sinful nature. Rm. 7:18-24, Lk.19:10, IICor. 4:3.
(c) The unsaved man is slave-needing redemption: Man was sold to Devil by Adam, but Jesus paid the reason price to buy us back. Jn.8: 34, Rm. 6:20, Lk.4: 18, Mk.10: 45, Gal. 3:13.
(d) The unsaved man is blind spiritually needing illumination: Their understanding is darkened to spiritual realities His spiritual eyes must be enlightened. Eph. 4:18, 11Cor. 4:4-6, Jn8: 12, 9:5, Eph. 5:8, 4:18.
(e) The unsaved man is a rebel, needing reconciliation: He is rebellion, antagonistic and hostile to his creator in his attitudes: Rm. 5:10, 8:7-8, Cor 1: 21.
(f) The unsaved is a criminal, needing Justification: man is a sinner by nature. Sin is the breaking of the law and a crime against God and His mural government. Ps 51:5, Rm. 8:5-9, 3:10-19,23. Gal. 2:16. Man needs to be acquitted and discharged form the prison of sin.
(g) The unsaved Dirty, Smelling, needing Sanctification. The odor of sin stings in the nose of God. Man needs to be cleansed and washed thoroughly from sin. Ps. 51:17, Isa.1: 18.
(h) The unsaved man is a debtor, needing pardon. God loaned man a life for which he will give account. No good works, religious exercises and resolutions, self -righteousness can pay this debts. Jesus paid it by His precious blood. Isa.43: 24, 44:22, Act3: 19. The next requirement for effective Evangelism is
(3) A right relationship with Jesus Christ: one cannot carryout instructions of somebody he dose not love. Since is done out of love you must be daily connected to him in a cordial fellowship and relationship. Jn14: 15, 15:10, Rm.5: 5, Gal2:20, 11Tim4:4-8.
(4) A good knowledge of God’s word: Since the word of God produces conviction of sin and reveals the way of salvation, it must be studies, researched and quoted with skillfulness.11Tim2: 15, 3:14-15, Act 2:37.
(5) Courage and Boldness: There is a natural timidity about each one of us. God knows your personality and disposition. The Holy Spirit in you makes you bold and courageous.
(6) Holy Spirit guidance: This enable you know how to approach a particular person, the right word to use and the best way to do it. He directs you to the ripe soul in the right time. John4: 9, 29.
(7) A sound prayer life: a praying Christian, is a winning Christian. It helps you arrest the demons and evil influences manipulating their lives. Prayer is the fuel that keeps your desire, enthusiasm and zeal burning for more souls.
Hindrances to Effective Evangelism.
(1) Fear and intimidation of Men: Many Christians are silenced from carrying out this task for fear of reproach and ridicule of Men. The way they treated Jesus with despised, rejected and antagonistic, has not charged. You must fight inferiority complex and face every opposition courageously, Prov.29: 25, Jn.15: 18-21, Matt.5: 11-12,Acts
(2) Prayerlessness: To neglect prayer is to lose Sensitiveness to the leading of the spirit. Good prayer time prepares you for effective service. Jesus sometimes prayed throughout the night.Isa.11: 2-3,Lk.18: 1,6:12. Matt. 9:37-38, Josh.6: 17-18.
(3) Keeping Secret Sin (s): Every secret sin or harmful habit defiles your conscience, beclouds your spiritual faculties, weakens your spiritual sensitiveness and leading, and robs you of the sweet fellowship and communion with the Holy Spirit.
(4) Ignorance of God’s Word: you need to have a good knowledge of what God says about sin, sinner’s heaven, hell and salvation etc. you need to support your testimony with God’s word. Isa.50: 4-5, 11Tim.2: 15, Isa.1: 8.
(5) Lack of Compassion for Sinners: Some Christians are selfish and careless over the condition of men’s souls outside Christ. Many spend time over their business and private lift. Genuine compassion makes you go extra miles for a single soul. Mk.6: 34, Matt.14: 14,Lk.17: 13.
(6) Spiritual Insensitiveness: Many will men’s or misuse the opportunity’s to invites Christ, when they are not sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
General Principles and Approaches for Effective Evangelism.
The task of soul winning is to study the best method(s) to reach the intellect, arrest stir the emotions and bring the will to surrender to Christ. Many have attempted to do a good thing using the wrong method. No good method is best for everyone.
(1) Tactfully introduce a conversation.
(2) Skillfully use God’s word to probe deep and expose situations
(3) Explain God’s love for him and make plain his condition.
(4) Introduce Christ and urge him to accept Him.
(5) Get him to confess Christ and pray with him.
(6) Invites him to a weekly fellowship before Sunday service.
(7) Promise a re-visit, which you must keep.
Part- Two.
(1) Do not be untidy or Overdressed in appearance
(2) Do not monopolies the conversation
(3) Don’t deal with the opposite sex alone except where necessary.
(4) Avoid unnecessary Biblical arguments
(5) Do not be discouraged by apparent failure, and rejection.
(6) Be patient and never lose your temper.
(7) Use your language you are familiar with and is understood by the other person.
(8) Do not use too many scriptures or misquote them
(9) Use your personal experiences with Christ to illustrate facts.
(10) Do not be afraid to say, "I don’t know" to biblical questions you cannot answer.
(11) Do not be unduly familiar, but do not withhold a smile where necessary.
(12) Do not choose a person who is too much your senior.
(13) Be careful of backslidden Christians
May the Holy Spirit guide you in this rewarding venture, God bless you.
For more information on this see:
baspet4xst@yahoo.com
+234 8022173958
Baspet
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Chinese product scares prompt US fears
| By Laura Smith-Spark BBC News, Washington |
More products are being imported to the US from China than ever before - but a series of scares has left some wondering whether they are safe.
From pet food to toothpaste, tyres to jewellery and seafood to toys, questions have been raised over the reliability of Chinese-made goods.
While there have been no human casualties to date in the US, the risks presented by unsafe goods are clear.
The deaths of some 51 people in Panama have been blamed on cough syrup tainted with Chinese-made diethylene glycol, commonly used in antifreeze. The same chemical has been found in toothpastes from China sold in the US and Canada.
Earlier this year, more than 100 brands of cat and dog food were pulled from the shelves in the US after pets died from eating food contaminated with the chemical melamine, traced back to wheat gluten from China.
With Chinese imports totalling $288bn last year - nearly triple the figure of five years ago - is enough being done to protect consumers?
'Time needed'
The execution for corruption on Tuesday of the former head of China's State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, suggests Beijing is keen to show it is taking the problem seriously.
| | CHINESE PRODUCT SCARES Pet food - tainted with chemical melamine Toothpaste - tainted with chemical diethylene glycol and bacteria Farmed fish - traces of banned drugs and pesticides found Tyres - fault may cause blow-outs Toys - contain lead or pose choking hazard Children's jewellery - contains lead Ceramic heaters - pose fire safety risk |
But part of the problem is that the speed of China's expansion into the global export market has not been matched by the growth of a countrywide regulatory infrastructure.
The Chinese authorities say they are making efforts to improve supervision of safety standards, but that it will take time for them to catch up with the West.
American officials whose job it is to ensure the safety of imported products acknowledge there are problems - but say they are doing all they can to identify suspect goods.
For example, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently imposed a nationwide hold on the import of five types of farmed fish and seafood from China.
Some shipments were found to have traces of antibiotics and disinfectants that are banned in US fish production. Other inspections uncovered fish products described as "filthy" or tainted with salmonella and pesticides.
The US imports about a fifth of its seafood from China.
'Out of nowhere'
Another danger comes when contaminants which would not normally be tested for end up in the food chain - such as melamine, a chemical used in plastic products which caused kidney failure in pets.
David Acheson, the FDA's assistant commissioner for food safety, said: "The bottom line message is to focus the testing on areas where we have identified problems. We cannot even begin to test on everything.
"There are certain things we can predict are going to be a problem because we've seen it before, other countries have had the problem... but sometimes things come out of nowhere, completely unexpected. The melamine was an example of that."
Meanwhile the FDA has to juggle the need to avoid inaccurate advice or over-reaction with the desire to warn people of a potential risk as quickly as possible.
"I would always like us to react faster. We react as quickly as we can on the information we have," Mr Acheson said.
The FDA does not have the resources to send lots of inspectors into China, Mr Acheson added, so is working with the Chinese authorities to address the issues.
'Very scary'
Of course, China is not the only country to experience food safety problems.
US-grown spinach last year caused an E.coli outbreak that left one woman dead and some 200 others unwell. The FDA has previously halted imports of Mexican cantaloupes because of salmonella.
The difference, however, seems to be the frequency with which Chinese products are being pulled up.
Dietician Ruth Frechman, a California-based member of the American Dieticians' Association, says the recent run of scares has heightened people's anxieties.
While no clients have yet asked her for advice on avoiding Chinese products, she says, one has started making her own dog food following the pet food alert.
The chief problem is that food labels do not identify where all the ingredients have come from - and even restaurants and wholesalers may not know, Ms Frechman said.
"It's very scary for consumers and really as a consumer you have no idea that the product is even coming from China... so there's really not a lot the consumer can do," she said.
Toxic lead
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which monitors the safety of imported non-food goods, says it has seen increased concern among consumers.
Its officials are seeking to co-operate with their Chinese counterparts, with CPSC inspectors travelling to factories in Beijing, Shanghai and big manufacturing regions.
"The first step for us is to educate all of those people who we are working with on US safety standards. Many of those standards have saved lives," CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson said.
"Our goal is to see as much progress as we can - and what that might mean here for us in the US is fewer recalls of Chinese-made products."
Overall, at least 60% of recalls issued by the agency since last October have involved goods from China.
In the first week of July alone, they included hammock stands, children's toys and metal jewellery, all of which were potentially dangerous.
One of the biggest recalls, in June, involved some 1.5m Thomas and Friends toy trains containing lead paint, which can be toxic to young children if swallowed.
Mr Wolfson urges consumers, particularly worried parents, to subscribe to the CPSC's free e-mail alerts for the latest advice.
Success story
A lesson may lie in the approach taken by the fireworks industry, which has focused on education and stringent product testing within China.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, standards for Chinese-made fireworks were so low that as many as 75% failed US safety tests.
Story from BBC NEWS:To tackle the problem, US importers were encouraged to pay for a testing operation set up in China - the American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) - to monitor production straight from the assembly line.
At least three-quarters of US fireworks importers are signed up to the scheme and the lab has about 50 technicians in China.
Since 1994, injury rates among US consumers have dropped by more than two-thirds and sales of fireworks have increased greatly. About 99% of the fireworks used in the US come from China.
John Rogers, executive director of the AFSL, said: "It's had a very positive impact for the American public, for the government that regulates fireworks and obviously for the companies."
He admits that initially Chinese factories "weren't happy" about the AFSL's checks but, as Chinese-language guidelines were produced to help them meet US requirements, attitudes changed.
"What the manufacturers understand is that safer, better quality fireworks translates into bigger sales, so now they like what we do," he said.
"I think that every industry that imports products from China could very well benefit from this kind of a programme."
Of course, the majority of goods imported from China are perfectly safe - but until standards improve across the board, US consumers must rely on officials to sift out potential hazards before they cause harm.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6275758.stm
Thursday, June 28, 2007
What is cancer?
The human body is made up of hundreds of different types of cell, all of which behave differently.
Story from BBC NEWS:A cell in the kidney, although it contains the same genetic information as a brain cell, performs a completely separate role.
Cancer happens when a tiny part of the cell's mechanism goes wrong.
What is a cancer cell?
And just as there are hundreds of types of cell, there are hundreds of types of cancer, few of which can be treated in the same way.
Every cell's life is mapped out in advance by coded instructions, called genes, held in its nucleus.
These tell it how to behave, when to reproduce by dividing - and when to die.
When the instructions relating to cell multiplication and dying are wrong, the cell may start dividing uncontrollably, and not die when it should.
In addition, the cancer may not follow the usual instructions that keep cells spaced out properly. �3C/p>
Every time the cell divides, the "bad" instruction is reproduced, so the out-of-control multiplication carries on.
As these cells can be multiplying more rapidly than healthy cells, the cancer cells can form a growing lump in the body called a tumour or a lesion.
As this gets larger, it can even grow its own vessels to keep it supplied with blood.
A benign, or non-cancerous tumour shares this uncontrolled growth, but will not generally invade neighbouring tissues and damage them.
Tumours which do this are "malignant", or "cancerous".
The type of cell in which the cancer starts will generally determine the speed at which it grows, and its resistance to treatment, although there are many variations.
Cancers harm health in a number of ways. The very size of the tumour can interfere with nearby organs, or ducts which carry important chemicals, causing pain or other symptoms.
For example, a tumour on the pancreas can grow to block the bile duct, leading to the patient developing obstructive jaundice.
And a brain tumour can push on important parts of the brain, causing blackouts, fits and other problems.
Even benign tumours can cause these problems if located in the wrong place.
When a cancer invade nearby tissues, they can cause bleeding from damaged blood vessels, and stop the organ which they are invading from working properly.
What happens if it spreads?
As a tumour grows, cells can break off and start growing on adjacent tissues and organs.
For example, if a bowel cancer has spread through the wall of the bowel itself, it can start growing on the bladder.
Cells can also enter the bloodstream and travel to distant organs, such as the lungs or brain.
The technical term for this is "metastasis".
When new tumours form on distant organs, they behave like the original tumour - so a bowel cancer cell growing in the lung will not be lung cancer.
Once other organs are involved, then any symptoms of the cancer can get worse.
However, it may be some time before a growing cancer in certain parts of the body produces symptoms that the patient can notice.
Once a cancer has started to spread beyond its original site, then the chances of a cure often begin to fall, as it becomes more difficult to treat.
How is it treated?
There are three principal ways of treating cancer.
The first is surgery, normally an operation to remove the cancerous growth, and, depending on its type, nearby tissues and organs.
A cancer patient may first undergo a minor operation called a biopsy to take a small sample of the cancer for analysis.
The surgeon will try to remove as much of the cancer as possible, but sometimes extra treatment will be needed.
This could either take the form of radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or a combination of treatments.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/medical_notes/3243569.stm
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. In the UK, it is the second most-frequently occurring cancer, accounting for 1 in 7 new cases.
Nine in ten of these can be squarely blamed on the pernicious effects of tobacco smoking - and unfortunately the majority of cases cannot be cured.
The risk of lung cancer increases with age. It is less common in people under 40.
| | We haven't made a big impact on cure rates yet, but I do believe that that is simply a question of time Professor Gordon McVie, Cancer Research UK |
Recently, there has been a decrease in the incidence in men, but lung cancer is now rising in women in many countries - this is directly related to changing smoking habits.
Story from BBC NEWS:Professor Gordon McVie, from Cancer Research UK, is an expert in lung cancer, and says that despite the current poor survival rates, optimism is higher�than ever among researchers.
He said: "I've have been working to research lung cancer treatment for the last 30 years, and there has never been a more optimistic time.
"We haven't made a big impact on cure rates yet, but I do believe that that is simply a question of time."
He said that women in Scotland and the north of England were now more likely to die of lung cancer than breast cancer.
Symptoms
The key symptom of lung cancer is a persistent cough that gradually gets worse.
Other symptoms include:
- shortness of breath
- drop in ability to exercise
- persistent chest pain
- persistent cough or coughing up blood
- loss of appetite, weight loss and general fatigue
At present there is no effective screening test for lung cancer.
If you are worried that you have lung cancer, your doctor may order a chest X-ray, which allows doctors to look out for shadowy areas on the lungs.
Sometimes a more detailed series of x-rays, called a CT scan, is ordered.
In many cases, this will be followed by a bronchoscopy or mediastinoscopy, which means that a thin flexible telescope is put down the airways of your lungs, after which a biopsy of any suspicious area is performed.
Causes
Most lung cancer cases are caused by smoking cigarettes.
Even passive smoking can cause a problem, and the longer period over which the patient smokes, the higher the risks.
Breathing in other carcinogens in the workplace, for example asbestos, can also trigger cancer.
Some people seem to be genetically pre-disposed to developing lung cancer, and medical checks in smokers may in future look for these key genes to work out how likely lung cancer is.
Treatments
Treatment depends on the type of lung cancer and the state or extent of the disease.
There are two types of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The names simply describe the type of cell found in the tumours.
In NSCLC, the tumour is often located in the outside part of the lung, away from the centre, and if it has not spread, it may be possible to remove it by surgery.
However, overall less than a fifth of all NSCLC patients are suitable for surgery.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy will also be considered in many cases.
Unfortunately, NSCLC is hard to cure, and in many cases, the treatment given will be to prolong life as far as possible - and relieve symptoms.
SCLC is different from NSCLC. In particular, it has a tendency to spread to distant parts of the body at a relatively early stage.
As a result, small-cell lung cancers are generally less likely to be cured by surgery.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/medical_notes/3243673.stm
Cervical and Uterine Cancers
Completely different types of cancer affect different areas of the womb, or uterus.
The best known, perhaps as a result of a nationwide screening programme, is cervical cancer, which affects the cervix, or neck, of the womb.
Many women, thanks to early detection, find they have abnormal cell changes in their wombs which cannot be classed as fully cancerous.
These "pre-cancerous changes" are far easier to treat, and the number of women presenting with the symptoms of cervical cancer has fallen over recent years.
However, more common is uterine cancer, in its more usual form also called endometrial cancer - which affects the lining of the womb that grows, is shed, and regrows as part of a woman's monthly cycle.
| | Anybody who is sexually active should be having regular smears, Professor Hilary Thomas, Royal Surrey County Hospital | �
Professor Hilary Thomas, from the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, said that the key to successfully treating both cervical and uterine cancer was early detection.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/medical_notes/3244379.stm
She said: "Anybody who is sexually active should be having regular smears, and if they have a history of abnormal smears, they may need to go for more frequent smears.
"Cancer of the uterus, or the womb, is actually cancer of the body of the womb, which has a different kind of tissue in it from the neck of the womb.
"This is a disease which tends to affect elderly patients who have passed the menopause.
"Usually they will be advised to have a hysterectomy."
Another, far less common cancer of the womb is uterine sarcoma, which affects the powerful muscles of the womb.
This is far more similar to other cancers which affect muscles than to either uterine or cervical cancer.
Symptoms
Many cervical cancers are detected by the national screening programme.
Samples of cells from different areas around the womb neck are taken and looked at under a microscope for signs of abnormality.
If a smear is abnormal, the woman may be asked to take a repeat smear, or, particularly if there has been more than one abnormal smear, be sent to a specialist for further checks.
Once cancer is established however, the most common symptom is abnormal (ie non-menstrual) bleeding. This is a sign that the cancer has spread to surrounding tissue.
Menstrual bleeding may be heavier and last longer.
Abnormal bleeding, particularly after the menopause, can also be a sign of uterine cancer.
Women with certain symptoms should always consult a doctor. They are:
- any sort of unusual vaginal discharge
- pain in the pelvic area
- painful or difficult urination
Once there is a suspicion of problems, there are various techniques used by doctors to try and locate the cause.
The first is a pelvic examination, which can be carried out by a family doctor, who will check the vagina, womb, ovaries, bladder and rectum for unusual lumps or changes.
Doctors may carry out another smear test, or Pap test, to gather cells to check for cervical cancer.
A technique called colposcopy, which uses a probe to look in more detail at the cervix, is sometimes used.
The extent of any cancer discovered may be confirmed by taking a deeper slice of tissue in a biopsy.
However, if uterine cancer is suspected, either a "pipelle biopsy", in which a thin tube is used to take a small sample of tissue, or a dilation and curettage (D and C) may be undertaken. The latter, involves scraping tissue from the lining of the womb for examination.
Causes
Scientists have identified a virus which they believe may have some role in the development of cervical cancer.
The human papillomavirus (HPV), is found in most women who have developed cervical cancer.
However, most women who have the virus never go on to develop cervical cancer.
Smoking, as in so many other cancers, appears to increase the risk.
And women with HIV, the virus which causes Aids and weakens the immune system appear to be more prone.
The risk factors for uterine cancer are slightly more clearly understood.
In particular, those taking oestrogen-only hormone replacement therapies to alleviate menopausal symptoms are at higher risk. Most HRT formulations include other hormones such as progestin which appear to reduce that risk.
Overweight or obese women are thought to have more natural oestrogen in their bodies - another reason why they are more vulnerable.
Women who suffer from a condition known as benign endometrial hyperplasia, in which the lining of the womb is naturally thicker, also are more likely to develop endometrial cancer.
Treatments
If caught at their earliest pre-cancerous stage, abnormal cervical cells can be dealt with simply, using either freezing or heat to scour the cells from the cervix.
The action of the deep biopsy, called a cone biopsy, can remove a cervical cancer if it has not spread.
Depending on the spread of the disease, and the age of the woman, a number of options are available, including surgery to remove abnormal tissue or the entire womb, including the cervix.
If there is evidence of spread, then the ovaries and nearby lymph nodes are sometimes removed as well.
If the cancer has spread beyond the wall of the womb, then radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be required to try to clear the disease.
In the case of uterine cancer, it is far more likely that a hysterectomy will have to be carried out, and the ovaries may also be taken out.
If it has not spread beyond the endometrium, then surgery will probably be enough, although other treatments may follow if there is evidence of spread.
It may be possible for the woman to take HRT following the operation, although this is only likely if the cancer has been caught early.
Breast Cancer
One in every nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in her life - more than 41,000 cases are diagnosed each year.
It has become the most common cancer in the UK, and is the leading cause of death for women aged 34 to 54.
More rarely, men can also develop this cancer.
Despite recent improvements in the mortality rates, due to better treatments and earlier detection, the UK still has one of the highest mortality rates in the world.
But research is beginning to reap dividends in new ways of understanding how breast cancer cells work.
| | We are going, I think, to be looking at improved results over the next 20 or 30 years Professor Charles Coombes, Cancer Research UK � |
Professor Charles Coombes, who is director of Cancer Research UK's research laboratory at Imperial College London, says there is cause for optimism.
Story from BBC NEWS:"The more we understand about how these cells behave, the more likely we are to understand what happens with breast cancer.
"That revolution is ongoing. We are going, I think, to be looking at improved results over the next 20 or 30 years."
Symptoms
The most common way that a potential problem is detected is when physical changes are noticed in the breasts.
Regular breast screening may also highlight changes in the breast.
The key is for the woman to know what "normal" is - then changes can be noticed.
Examples of the kind of things to look out for include:
- a change in outline, shape or size of the breast
- puckering or dimpling of the skin
- any lump or thickening in the breast or armpit
- any flaking skin or discharge from the nipple
- unusual pain or discomfort
Many lumps will be picked up with mammograms - x-rays of the breast taken every few years as part of the NHS national screening programme.
If a lump is found, techniques used to investigate it include ultrasound and "fine needle aspiration", which will show whether the area is a solid lump or is a cyst.
A biopsy may also be carried out, so that a sample of the lump can be examined in a laboratory.
Causes
The precise reasons why a woman develops breast cancer are still unknown, but are thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
Scientists have identified two genes which are more likely to be defective in a breast cancer patient than someone without breast cancer.
These genes are also blamed for some other cancers.
However, even the two mutated genes are thought only to be responsible for approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases.
Hormones seem to have an important role in breast cancer. Research has shown a link between levels of the female sex hormone, oestrogen, and the risk of developing breast cancer.
Women who take certain types of hormone replacement therapy are at higher risk of breast cancer.
Women who have their first child later in life also appear to be at higher risk of developing breast cancer.
Treatments
If cancer is confirmed, then there are variety of treatments available, depending on the size of type of the tumour, and whether doctors believe it has or could have spread.
Most women with breast cancer do not need to have a breast removed.
The bigger the tumour relative to the size of the breast, the more likely that mastectomy will be recommended.
In a procedure known as a "lumpectomy", just the cancerous lump is removed.
After both kinds of operation, radiotherapy may be given to reduce the chance that the cancer will return.
If the tumour is very large, treatment may be given to reduce the size of the tumour before the operation takes place.
In most cases, the surgeon also removes lymph nodes under the arms to find out if the cancer cells have spread into the lymphatic system.
This is a network of vessels which link different parts of the body - if the cancer has reached the lymph nodes, it is more likely to have spread to other parts of the body.
The breast cancer cells may be tested to see if they are sensitive to the sex hormone oestrogen, and are more likely to grow if the hormone is present.
If this is the case, the woman may be given a drug which blocks the action of the hormone, restricting the cancer growth.
However, as some forms of this drug produce menopausal symptoms, younger women whose breast cancer is more likely to have spread could be offered a combination of surgery and chemotherapy instead.
Following breast surgery, or even breast removal, reconstructive surgery is possible to restore the appearance of the breast.
This could even be carried out at the same time as mastectomy.
Techniques have improved in recent years, and surgeons are able to more closely mimic the appearance of the other breast, giving a normal appearance in clothes.
Some of the techniques employed include the use of implants, fat from other parts of the body, such as the tummy, or even a back muscle which is bent round to form the new breast.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/medical_notes/3244315.stm
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