THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT ALCOHOL

here are some of the ways alcohol can affect your health

High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke

According to the Department of Health, men who regularly drink more than eight units of alcohol a day are four times more likely to develop high blood pressure. Women who drink six units a day double their risk of high blood pressure.

Cancer

Alcohol is second only to smoking as a risk factor for mouth, throat and neck cancers. As alcohol helps the mouth to absorb smoke, people who smoke and drink alcohol to excess are 30 times more likely to develop mouth cancer.

Drinking too much alcohol also increases the risk of colon and liver cancer, and breast cancer in women. Liver cirrhosis, which can be caused by regularly drinking too much, increases the risk of liver cancer.

Liver disease

Regularly drinking over the limit can cause a buildup of fatty deposits in the liver, known as fatty liver disease. At this stage, cutting back or stopping drinking altogether can save this vital organ.

But continuing to drink at this level can lead to the liver to becoming inflamed, causing hepatitis, and in some cases, even liver failure and death. Through time, a buildup of scar tissue in the liver or fibrosis may result and finally, liver cirrhosis, which is irreversible.

Pancreatitis

Gallstones and heavy drinking are the two most common causes of acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Around a quarter of cases are thought to be caused by regularly drinking too much. Some people appear to be more susceptible to the condition which can also be extremely painful. Heavy drinking is the most common cause of chronic pancreatitis, where long term inflammation causes permanent damage.

Alcohol poisoning

In general, the human body can only metabolise one unit of alcohol per hour. So drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short time can cause a rapid rise in the blood alcohol concentration. This may continue even when drinking has stopped, as the alcohol in your stomach continues to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Your blood alcohol concentration can rise to levels which can kill, known as alcohol poisoning. This can also happen when you have stopped drinking, fallen asleep or passed out.

Weight gain

Gram for gram, alcohol is second only to fat as a source of calories. Each UK unit of alcohol contains eight grams of alcohol and seven calories. They are also known as "empty calories," because they are of no nutritional benefit whatsoever.

Sleep problems

Although it's true that alcohol will help you fall asleep faster, it interferes with the normal sleep cycle, causing you to wake up during the night and feel unrefreshed in the morning.

source:http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/How-alcohol-can-affect-your-health.htm

GAY RIGHTS--TO BE A CONDITIONALITY FOR AID

Personally, I believe most of homo in Africa are forced into it after being raped by their school mates, inmates, close relatives etc. Many gays in Tanzania confess finding themself in that situation after being raped, and they normally advise parents to take care of their sons before they end up facing the same fate. On the contrary, in Western countries, it seems people enter into homo relations willingly. This is what Mr. Cameroon need to know before he go on tarnishing his image by advocating issues that are considere shameful in Africa. Basing on this reality, what is needed in Africa is extra efforts to end all forms of homo relations because they are associated with human right abuse and not promoting them as Mr. Camerron wants.

David Cameron Threatens To Cut U.K. Aid Over Gay Rights
Britain has threatened countries that ban homosexuality with losing aid payments unless they reform, David Cameron has said. The prime minister said he had raised the issue with leaders of some of the states involved when he attended the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Australia.

Britain was "putting the pressure on", he said. But it was not a problem that would be solved by the time Commonwealth leaders are next due to meet, in Sri Lanka in 2013.

Ending bans on homosexuality was one of the recommendations of a highly critical internal report on the future relevance of the Commonwealth, written by experts from across the member nations.

"We are not just talking about it. We are also saying that British aid should have more strings attached," Cameron said on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show in an interview recorded at the summit in Perth.

More info on: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/30/ban-homosexuality-lose-aid-

THE ORIGINS OF WOMEN'S OPPRESSION

The supporters of female oppression always hide behind the veils of religion, biological traits and even culture. They persistently cling on these weak justifications and discourage any thinking that brings alternative views--indeed the reality that is supported by objective and justifiable evidence. I will proceed with my mission to fight against this unfair arrangement that regards women as second class citizens. The following marxists arguments further cements my/our position in this course:

The origins of women's oppression

Written by Rob Sewell Wednesday, 05 September 2001

While middle class feminists regard the oppression of women as an inherent biological trait of men, Marxism explains that the root of women's oppression lies not in biology, but in social conditions. Marxism sees the liberation of working class women as a part of the struggle for the liberation of the working class as a whole. While feminists set women against men, the socialist movement attempts to forge solidarity between male and female workers in a common struggle against capitalist exploitation.

Well ye know
What woman is, for none of woman born
Can choose but drain the bitter dregs of woe
Which ever to the oppressed from the oppressors flow.

SHELLEY

The oppression of women has been a key question for Marxism. After all, women constitute half the human race, and have faced discrimination and degradation in many areas of life. The oppression of women in the third world has reached abominable levels. It is accompanied by child prostitution, bonded-labour and slavery. It is capitalism in the raw. Recently, an Iranian Islamic court found a woman guilty of adultery. For this heinous crime, she was sentenced to death by stoning. Here, in its most cruel and brutal form, is reflected the worse features of class society. In the 'civilised' west, working class women are treated as second-class citizens, many of who are forced into the menial jobs on poor wages. Despite equal pay legislation, employers still continue to discriminate against women in terms of pay and conditions.Read more on: http://www.marxist.com/origins-womens-oppression.htm

For more information on women oppression: http://www.google.co.kr/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjH0_zzuMe5GveheiVXeKYQcbmT3rJjdDC0dMReg2Lum4Hh3J-JmGLyhLRnLGm4Q6oogpYy0cmJAncbBCt-gd2os5b-EaTW3_UsgdepsYU5_gZR6kWaaWE4TGulhAUvB2nNAgrOrhWm-k/s400/women_oppressed.jpg&imgrefurl=http://womenrightsinpakistan.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default%3Falt%3Drss&usg=___6RkiW7JAaYIe8b4Qc5O_bglG3k=&h=250&w=193&sz=10&hl=ko&start=4&zoom=1&tbnid=4t017sJ6vBqoUM:&tbnh=111&tbnw=86&ei=qziuTu3aMcnhmAXd86TaDg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwomen%2Boppression%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dko%26newwindow%3D1%26sa%3DN%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1

Russia infected by fake medicines trade - Europe - Al Jazeera English

Russia infected by fake medicines trade - Europe - Al Jazeera English

DISGUSTING STORY BEHIND GADDAFI'S ARMY OF FEMALE BODYGUARDS

Shame!shame!shame!!! on Gadaffi if this story is true!!!!!

Gaddafi’s female bodyguards say they were raped, abused by the Libyan leader

Five women who were part of Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s elite team of female bodyguards say they were raped and abused by the former Libyan leader.

The Sunday Times of Malta reports that the former bodyguards said Gaddafi and his sons raped and abused them and then discarded the women once the men became “bored” with them.

Gaddafi kept a cadre of about 30 women, known as his Amazonian guard, close by his side since the early 1970s. At times, the women took bullets for Gaddafi — one woman died and two were injured when the Libyan leader was attacked in 1998.

The strongman asked his female bodyguards not only for their protection but also for oaths of virginity, and that they be dressed in camouflage, nail polish, coiffed hair, and heavy mascara.

One woman told the Sunday Malta Times she was blackmailed into joining the unit after the regime told her that her brother had been smuggling drugs into Libya and she would go to jail unless she agreed to join the brigade.

“A pattern emerged in the stories,” the Times reports. “The women would be first raped by the dictator and then passed on, like used objects, to one of his sons and eventually to high-ranking officials for more abuse before eventually being let go.”

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/gaddafis-female-bodyguards-say-they-were-raped-abused-by-the-libyan-leader/2011/08/29/gIQA8TOKnJ_blog.html

WOMEN IN SAUDI ARABIA FINALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS

Women in Saudi Arabia to vote and run in elections

Women in Saudi Arabia are to be given the right to vote and run in future municipal elections, King Abdullah has announced. He said they would also have the right to be appointed to the consultative Shura Council.

The move was welcomed by activists who have called for greater rights for women in the kingdom, which enforces a strict version of Sunni Islamic law.

The changes will occur after municipal polls on Thursday, the king said.

King Abdullah announced the move in a speech at the opening of the new term of the Shura Council - the formal body advising the king, whose members are all appointed."Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia, we have decided, after deliberation with our senior clerics and others... to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from next term," he said."Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote."

The BBC's world affairs correspondent Emily Buchanan says it is an extraordinary development for women in Saudi Arabia, who are not allowed to drive, or to leave the country unaccompanied.

She says there has been a big debate about the role of women in the kingdom and, although not everyone will welcome the decision, such a reform will ease some of the tension that has been growing over the issue.

In May more than 60 intellectuals called for a boycott of Thursday's ballot saying "municipal councils lack the authority to effectively carry out their role".

Municipal elections are the only public polls in Saudi Arabia.The next municipal elections are due in four years' time.

source BBC NEWS source: 25 september, 2011

more news on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15052030

SOJOURNER TRUTH

The story of Sojouner Truth helps in justifying the urgent need for burrying the male patriarchy system which assumes that men have rights to dominate women in all aspects of lives. This misleading assumption goes further to assume that men deserve a lion's share in everything within our societies. I first came across Sojouner Truth during my undergraduate course. The courage with which she managed to challenge the world provides ample lessons for all generations until when this unfair system will be burried.

Sojourner Truth (originally named Isabella Baumfree), was born a slave in Ulster County, New York State, in about 1797. At the age of nine she was auctioned off to an Englishman named John Nealey. Over the next few years she was owned by a fisherman in Kingston and then by John Dumont, a plantation owner from New York County. Between 1810 and 1827 she had five children with a fellow slave. She was dismayed when one of her sons was sold to a plantation owner in Alabama.
After New York State abolished slavery in 1827, Quaker friends helped her win back her son through the courts. She moved to New York City and obtained worked as a servant. She became friends with Elijah Pierson, a religious missionary, and eventually moved into his home.
In 1843 Isabella took the name Sojourner Truth. With the help of a white friend, Olive Gilbert, she published her book, The Narrative of Sojourner Truth. In an introduction to the book, William Lloyd Garrison wrote that he believed it would "stimulate renewed efforts to liberate all those still in slavery in America".
Over the next few years Truth toured the country making speeches on slavery. After meeting Lucretia Mott, she also spoke at meetings in favour of woman's suffrage. When a white man told her that her speeches were no more important than a fleabite, she replied, "Maybe not, but the Lord willing, I'll keep you scratching."
At the beginning of the American Civil War, she helped recruit black men to help the war effort. In 1864 she moved to Washington where she organised a campaign against the policy of not allowing blacks to sit with whites on trains. As a result of this, she was received in the White House by President Abraham Lincoln. Sojourner Truth died at Battle Creek, Michigan, on 26th November, 1883.

Courtesy of: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAStruth.htm