TresSugar

Work-Sex Balance: Putting Japan in the Mood to Procreate

CitizenSugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:30:13 -0800

With one of the world's lowest birth rates, it's not the first time the Japanese government has tried to get in bed with the people. In the '90s, a government-organized dating program failed to produce results - and, yes, by results I mean babies. But now it's turning to the already-married business class, hoping they'll have more children if employers ensure they're home in time for sex.

A new survey shows that the average couple in Japan has sex 45 times per year. That's less than half the global average of 103 times. Why so low? To find out, read more.

Citing lack of energy, more than one third of couples under 50 did not have sex in the previous month. With health experts warning that people are too tired for sex, the government is now trying to persuade employers to give workers more time "at home." That's certainly a euphemism!

Though some companies have already made an independent effort to minimize time in the office, the labor ministry is writing a bill that would exempt employees with children under three from overtime and limit their work days to six hours. While I'm sure more sex leads to more pregnancies (problem solved!), I doubt it would increase the number of planned ones.

Having time for sex and having time for kids are two major, and completely different, problems. Is it really a smart way to grow a population? Or should they do whatever it takes?

Source

Andorrans Live Longer: Is It the Peace, Cheese and Wine?

LibertySugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:00:22 -0700

Andorra is a small country that sits between France and Spain. For more than 700 years, Andorrans lived under a co-principality ruled by French and Spanish leaders, but today, it has its own democracy and prospers through tourism. So what's so special about the area besides its picturesque mountains and unique history?

Andorrans' average life expectancy is 83.5, which is the highest in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of the current population of 83,000 works in the tourist-related industry or in a bank - an estimated 11.6 million tourists visit annually, presumably attracted by Andorra's landscapes, duty-free status and by Summer and Winter resorts.

A journalist for the BBC recently took a trip to the region to explore how daily life might factor into the country's healthy lifespan. To check out a list of things he discovered, read more.

Andorrans stay active - Andorra has seven parishes and seven state-of-the-art public leisure centers (there are many more private ones). Free transport is provided there from the town center every 15 minutes during the day.
They have a quality public health system - Andorrans have what the WHO ranks as the third-best public health system in the world to maintain them.
They have a healthy, Mediterranean diet - A head chef from just outside the capital La Vella claims customers want "healthy food and they can tell what is healthy."
Stress of crime? What crime? - There are almost non-existent crime levels in Andorra. Minister and government spokesman, Juli Minoves says there is a single prison with about 50 inmates. (Interesting note: The country has no army! Defense is the responsibility of France and Spain.)
Andorrans are not afraid to indulge - Cigarettes are apparently smoked everywhere, by the old and young. Wine is appreciated even in the hospital canteen.

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HIV Is the Top Killer of Women Worldwide

TresSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:00 -0800

According to the World Health Organization, HIV is the number one killer of women age 15-49. Heart disease kills older women, especially in rich countries, but of the 30.8 million HIV-positive adults in 2007, 15.5 million were women.

A staggering 26.1 percent of the population in Swaziland are infected with HIV - and half of women age 25-29 there are HIV positive.

Women are especially vulnerable to HIV, WHO says, because of biology and gender inequality. WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan said, "It's time to pay girls and women back, to make sure that they get the care and support they need to enjoy a fundamental human right at every moment of their lives, that is their right to health."

Government Gymboree? Populations Spurred On by the State

CitizenSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:00:27 -0700

Feeling lonely, Europe? Two European nations are tackling the problem of declining populations very differently. In France, they now have the second highest birth rate in Europe (after Ireland) and some argue that tempting government subsidies may have helped. France offers generous maternity and paternity packages allowing a mother of a third kiddie to take a year off of work, with pay. Not to mention the perks of subsidized first class rail travel, holiday vouchers and financial help with childcare should you wish to turn down free state care facilities. It is estimated that the government supported baby boom has secured France’s population until 2050. To see what's happening in Spain, and even more creative Singapore, read more.

In Spain, where the government is not interested in funding their birth rate (spending 0.7% on family subsidies – the lowest in Europe) they are turning to another form of population growth: immigration. In 2005, the socialist government introduced an amnesty for illegal immigrants so long as they could prove their participation in the national workforce for two years. Some 700,000 migrants were immediately made Spanish citizens, which both bolstered their population and helped create one of the continent's most flourishing economies.

Maybe France and Spain should take a fun lesson from Singapore. Their government sponsors a class taught at the college level called “Love Relations for Life: A Journey of Romance, Love and Sexuality.” The aim is to get smart citizens to meet, mate, and multiply - giving the population a state-sponsored semi-educational match.com-style boost.

Which method of population enhancement do you prefer? Is the world hurting for more people? Do governments need to pad their enrollments like this?

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Two Child Policy: Environmentalist Seeks Population Limits

CitizenSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:47:39 -0800

Jonathon Porritt, an environmental adviser for the UK, maintains that contraception and abortion must be at the core of anti-global-warming policies. In a report to be published next month, the UK's Sustainable Development Commission, headed by Porritt, recommends that the government limit population growth with better family planning programs.

People cannot reduce their total environmental impact without reducing the number of children they have, according to Porritt. He says:

Many organizations think it is not part of their business. My mission with the Friends of the Earth and the Greenpeaces of this world is to say: "You are betraying the interests of your members by refusing to address population issues and you are doing it for the wrong reasons because you think it is too controversial."

I can only imagine what he would have to say to the Duggars or the California mother of six who just had octuplets. Government involvement in reproduction might seem extreme - do you think Porritt is throwing the baby out with the environmentally-unfriendly bath water, or is he just being realistic about sustainability?

Courtesy of TLC

Tent City, USA - Homeless Populations on the Rise

CitizenSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:15:20 -0700

You can think of them as recession refugee camps, but they're called "tent cities" and their populations keep increasing as more Americans lose jobs and homes.

The chronically homeless have illegally lived in encampments before. But with a boom in people seeking out shelter, cities like Sacramento, CA, are thinking about legalizing the communities and providing services. Does that sound like a reasonable safety net to you?

To watch a recent segment on tent cities from Oprah and see more photos, read more.

View 10 Photos ›

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Italy Cracks Down on Immigrants, Roma Population

LibertySugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:00:28 -0700

Italian authorities arrested hundreds of alleged illegal immigrants yesterday, in a crackdown that included a raid on a Roma (Gypsies) housing camp. Earlier this week, many Roma living in Naples fled the city, after their homes were set on fire by residents. Immigration authorities target the Roma population, a group that carries the perception of criminality.

The Roma people, Europe's largest minority, are often stateless - meaning they are without citizenship documents from any country. Their ancestors migrated from modern day India at the beginning of the second millennium. They have their own language and distinct cultural traditions. You may know them as the people who suspiciously linger around Europe's tourist attractions. Since their migration, those who have not successfully assimilated have been the victims of enslavement, forced sterilization, genocide, discrimination, and overall marginalization.

Fortunately, increased attention given to the Roma population by international organizations has decreased human rights violations. Of course, more can be done.

Do you think the arrests in Italy are an appropriate law enforcement response, or are the authorities giving into a hostile and prejudice majority? Do immigration solutions become more complicated when there is nowhere to send undocumented residents?

Source

Front Page: Michelle and Jill Have a Night at the Ball Game

TresSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:51 -0700

Michelle Obama and Jill Biden attended game one of the World Series last night, watching the Phillies beat the New York Yankees. - Huffington Post
The US economy grew for the first time in year last quarter, with GDP expanding at an annual rate of 3.5 percent. - New York Times
There's growing speculation that Michael Jackson's This Is It could win an Oscar. - AP
Friends of the girl who was gang raped outside her school's homecoming dance are blasting school officials over lack of safety. - CNN
Kenya will hold a census of its gay population with hopes that the information will boost HIV prevention. Homosexuality is a crime in Kenya, punishable by 14 years in jail. - BBC News

Top Official: Burqa Not Part of France's "National Identity"

TresSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Cheese. Wine. Baguettes. These are all seemingly welcomed signifiers of French identity. Burqas? Not so welcome.

France has been debating a ban on the head-to-toe garment for some time now. Most recently, the country's immigration minister Eric Besson said yesterday that burqas should not be worn on French streets because they are not part of the country's "national identity."

Besson wants the government to reaffirm national pride by having a "great debate" about what it means to be French. With more than five million Muslims living in France (the largest Muslim population in Western Europe), doesn't French identity include Muslim traditions? It sounds like Besson, who was born in Morocco, disagrees. Based on his previous statements, being French means speaking better French if you're an immigrant and having more opportunities to sing the national anthem if you're a kid in school.

Do you think the French government has a right to dictate dress codes under the guise of "maintaining tradition," or should it be more accepting of minority and immigrant group influences? Would you worry if US officials organized a meeting to decide what it means to be American?

Front Page: Jaycee Dugard Opens Up About Life After Rescue

TresSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:00:16 -0700

Kidnap survivor Jaycee Dugard says she is "so happy to be back with her family" after being held from them for 18 years. - People
Wall Street is on track to award record pay this year. The country's top financial workers will make about $140 billion. - Wall Street Journal
The UN has warned that global hunger is worsening, as a sixth of the word's population is undernourished. - BBC News
Michael Jackson's children reportedly will star in a reality show airing in December. - US Weekly
From jail, Roman Polanski is finishing his latest film, The Ghost, starring Pierce Brosnan. – The Times of London