As of January 2010, Indonesia planned to raise money for protecting its remaining 400 Sumatran tigers by renting some already in captivity. These tigers would rent for $107,100 a pair - with any cubs produced being government property. The renters would have to be Indonesian; allow quarterly visits by a team of vets, animal welfare officers and ministry staff; and provide cages at least 16 x 19 x 32 feet. However, because the government allows the tigers' natural habitat to be destroyed by concessions to logging companies, renting a tiger seems to lack … "the eye of the tiger".
On January 27, 2010 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had its own bad idea. PETA wanted Punxsutawney Phil replaced by a robotic groundhog. According to PETA, it's unfair to keep Phil in captivity, subjecting him to bright lights and huge crowds every February 2nd - Groundhog Day - the day he predicts 6 more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow. According to the President of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Phil is well cared for, lives in a climate-controlled environment and is inspected annually by the state's Department of Agriculture. Perhaps PETA was just "groundhogging" publicity.
Then there's TV's very public "The Biggest Loser". In 2010 it received criticism from nutritionists and physicians. First, obesity has serious health risks - heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. Second, beginning strenuous exercise suddenly can cause problems with hydration, electrolyte balance and cardiac function; but contestants exercise 5-6 hours daily. Third, a 1-2 pound weight loss weekly is considered safe, but the strenuous exercise plus strict diets result in double-digit weight loss. Losing weight too quickly can cause gallstones, mineral deficiencies, loss of muscle tissue and reduced bone density. This makes The Biggest Loser an unhealthy "weighting game".
Writing of unhealthy, a 2010 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found 1 in 5 prescriptions weren't filled. Of the prescriptions given to approximately 75,000 insured, Massachusetts patients during one year, 22% weren't filled. With first-time prescriptions the rate was higher - 28%. These unfilled prescriptions included ones for chronic conditions with serious consequences. Between 28% and 31% of new prescriptions for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol weren't filled. However, the prescription least filled - 55% - was for pain medication. Obviously, pain doesn't motivate people to act in a "painstaking" manner.
On January 27, 2010 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had its own bad idea. PETA wanted Punxsutawney Phil replaced by a robotic groundhog. According to PETA, it's unfair to keep Phil in captivity, subjecting him to bright lights and huge crowds every February 2nd - Groundhog Day - the day he predicts 6 more weeks of winter if he sees his shadow. According to the President of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Phil is well cared for, lives in a climate-controlled environment and is inspected annually by the state's Department of Agriculture. Perhaps PETA was just "groundhogging" publicity.
Then there's TV's very public "The Biggest Loser". In 2010 it received criticism from nutritionists and physicians. First, obesity has serious health risks - heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. Second, beginning strenuous exercise suddenly can cause problems with hydration, electrolyte balance and cardiac function; but contestants exercise 5-6 hours daily. Third, a 1-2 pound weight loss weekly is considered safe, but the strenuous exercise plus strict diets result in double-digit weight loss. Losing weight too quickly can cause gallstones, mineral deficiencies, loss of muscle tissue and reduced bone density. This makes The Biggest Loser an unhealthy "weighting game".
Writing of unhealthy, a 2010 study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found 1 in 5 prescriptions weren't filled. Of the prescriptions given to approximately 75,000 insured, Massachusetts patients during one year, 22% weren't filled. With first-time prescriptions the rate was higher - 28%. These unfilled prescriptions included ones for chronic conditions with serious consequences. Between 28% and 31% of new prescriptions for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol weren't filled. However, the prescription least filled - 55% - was for pain medication. Obviously, pain doesn't motivate people to act in a "painstaking" manner.
It's useless if the government will allow those logging companies to destroy the natural habitat of the tigers. The Government must be strict about that..
Posted by: ask a doctor | Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 09:58 AM
It can be so hard getting our own government to listen to us. How even more frustrating it must be to try to influence a third world government.
Posted by: Knight | Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 10:47 AM