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Cancer cluster among Sydney Harbour Bridge workers triggers investigation

There are reports of a cancer cluster among Sydney Harbour Bridge workers with at least eight known cases that unions believe are linked to the use of lead paint. The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) will investigate the matter. Of the eight workers five have already died and all of them had been involved in painting and maintaining the bridge for more than 10 years, the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) said. This included scraping off lead paint, initially with little protective equipment.

14 Oct 2010

Anti-vaccination group loses charitable status

An anti-vaccination group that has been in the news for all the wrong reasons recently has been stripped of its charitable status after the state government found its fund raising appeals had not been conducted in good faith. The Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) came into news when in July it was ordered to publish a disclaimer on its website stating the group was anti-vaccination and its material should not be read as medical advice.

14 Oct 2010

Abortion verdict out: more debates ensue

In a much talked about Queensland abortion trial, the not guilty verdicts may change legal implications for women who procure their own abortion, according to a medical ethicist.

14 Oct 2010

Five tips to sustain couple relationship

In honor of Emotional Wellness Month this October, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) has released a podcast to help couples keep the flame alive.

14 Oct 2010

Media examines challenges of delivery, strategic impact, branding of U.S. aid to Pakistan

PBS' NewsHour reports on the difficulty of getting U.S. aid to Pakistani flood victims and the branding of USAID assistance.

14 Oct 2010

World Food Prize symposium to give out award; focus on issues facing smallholder farmers

Global agriculture officials and as many as 60 farmers from around the world this week at the annual World Food Prize symposium in Des Moines, Iowa will focus on the challenges facing small farmers, the Associated Press reports.

14 Oct 2010

Toronto Argonauts and The Salvation Army partner to serve community dinner

On Saturday, October 16, 2010, the Toronto Argonauts will partner once again with The Salvation Army to serve a community dinner for more than 600 at The Salvation Army Toronto Harbour Light Ministries, 160 Jarvis Street, Toronto at 12:00 noon.

13 Oct 2010

Dr. Nabarro to deliver keynote address at Third McGill Conference on Global Food Security

Dr. David Nabarro, Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations and co-ordinator of the Secretary-General's High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis, will deliver the keynote address at the opening evening of the Third McGill Conference on Global Food Security on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m., at Centre Mont-Royal, 2200 Mansfield St. in Montreal.

13 Oct 2010

Academy calls for research plan to minimize environmental impact of Marcellus Shale gas drilling

The Academy of Natural Sciences is calling for a comprehensive research plan that would result in guidelines and an assessment tool for regulators and managers in order to minimize the environmental impact of Marcellus Shale gas drilling.

13 Oct 2010

Asian Development Bank conference addresses water, sanitation concerns

Water shortages that could reduce food production and worsen economic conditions in Asia are worsening, Arjun Thapan, an infrastructure advisor with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said on Tuesday at the ADB's Water: Crisis and Choices conference in Manila, Philippines, Agence France-Presse reports.

13 Oct 2010

Nutrition for the aged

Experts believe nutrition in the aged needs to be a priority. They say that it should be ensured that the aged get access to good, nutritious food during the winter months.

12 Oct 2010

Trapped Chilean miners might be changed forever: Psychologists

The Chilean miners who have been trapped for more than two months may emerge with psychological problems say experts as the rescue approached. Rescue teams were set to start hoisting up the first of 33 miners, trapped down around 700 metres, to the surface around midnight on Tuesday (1400 AEDT Wednesday), Mines Minister Laurence Golborne said.

12 Oct 2010

Dr. Phil helps lose weight with meals from BistroMD

In its all-new season, Dr. Phil is tackling more challenges, and helping more guests achieve their personal dreams of losing weight with meals from BistroMD. On the show airing Tuesday, October 12th, the Dr. Phil housewives are opening up, getting real, and taking the first big steps towards living healthier and happier lives.

12 Oct 2010

Committee on World Food Security meeting begins in Rome

A high-level meeting of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Committee on World Food Security aimed at addressing food insecurity, price rises and the purchase of large amounts of agricultural land in developing countries started in Rome on Monday, Agence France-Presse/Capital FM reports.

12 Oct 2010

Canada, U.S., International Finance Corporation agree to contribute $100M for private-sector agricultural program

An agreement to contribute $100 million for a private-sector program to increase agricultural output in poor countries was announced by Canada, the U.S. and the [World Bank's] International Finance Corp [IFC] on Friday, Reuters reports

12 Oct 2010

Non-GMO Day to raise awareness on genetically modified organisms in food supply

On Sunday, Oct. 10, Whole Foods Market and retailers across the country will celebrate Non-GMO Day to raise consumer awareness about the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food supply. Driven by the nonprofit Non-GMO Project, this Sunday's events are designed to send a wakeup call to consumers across the country.

8 Oct 2010

Kaiser Permanente employees calls for new election

One year and seven months ago, an absolute majority of 43,500 Kaiser Permanente employees in California presented petitions to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), asking for a vote to leave the incumbent union SEIU and form their own union, the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). When ballots were counted today, 11,364 were for NUHW, and 18,290 were for SEIU and workers are calling for a new election

8 Oct 2010

Experts explore issues in production and consumption of meat and dairy products

Join the authors of The Meat Crisis for an event that explores the issues surrounding the global growth in the production and consumption of meat and dairy animals and products.

8 Oct 2010

U.S. to provide $120M for Haitian rebuilding, rubble removal; Haiti Commission approves 18 projects worth $777M

The U.S. on Wednesday announced that it will contribute $120 million to the Haiti Recovery Fund, the New York Times reports. Cheryl Mills, chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, announced the funding during the third meeting of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC).

8 Oct 2010

New standards for bomb suits

When a bomb technician inspects a potential explosive device, the bulky protective suit might be the only defense he or she has. Bomb suit manufacturers run tests on their protective suits to ensure they can withstand an explosion, but there currently is no single set of requirements that the suits must meet before they can be sold.

8 Oct 2010