Fast food and childhood obesity

Recently the childhood obesity has taken a embodiment of endemic in the United States. Rate of childhood obesity has increased by 5 fold from 1970s to the current time. Consumption of food rich in calories and fats are the main culprits for this increasing trend in the childhood obesity. A extensive part of this increase calorie intake by issue comes from consumption of fast food.

In 1970s fast food constituted peerless 2 percent of the daily meal of a child and by mid 1990s this has increased to 10 of the daily meal of our children. Today one tenth of our children aged between 2 and 5 years and 15 % of children between ages 6 and 19 are overweight.

A recent study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture looked at the food intake data of children in the United States. These researchers analyzed data from 6, 212 school children with ages ranging from 4 to 19 years. The study found that children who ate fast food consumed significantly higher number of calories compared to those children who did not consume fast food. They found that those children who ate fast food had significantly higher consumption of fat, saturated fat, and carbohydrates. Also those children who consumed fast food added more sugar to their meals, drank more of sweetened beverages and ate less milk, fiber and vegetables.

This study has shown that consumption of fast food on a regular basis does not provide the necessary nutrients and had more fat, and calories. Lack of essential nutrients may have a negative effect on the children especially at the growing years. Consumption of excessive calories, unless balanced by physical activity would lead to increased body fat and obesity. Increasing trend towards consumption of fast food is a major contributor to childhood overweight and obesity.

Parents and teachers of children should make every effort to make our children realize the dangers of fast food. They should be briefed about the negative health implications of fast food consumption. The parents should value nutrition and make healthy diet a family priority thus passing the good message to children.

In 1970s children spent much time in outdoor activities. In our modern lives children do not get as much physical activity they should be getting. Our children spend more time on the computers, television and video games. Our children and youth do not eat healthy meals and do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. Greater emphasis on good nutrition, avoidance of fast food and increased physical activity are the corner stones of a healthy childhood. Every parent and teacher should contribute toward the goal of bringing up our children healthy.

Farmland Investments in Africa - Can They Be Both Profitable and Sustainable

As global stock markets delay wildly, individual investors, private equity funds and other mammoth institutions are increasingly looking to alternative investments to store account and stability to their portfolios.

Addicted the rapid scuttle - up in agricultural produce and food prices recently, farmland investments are becoming an increasingly attractive asset class. For both institutional and individual investors with long time horizons, agricultural land is an ideal method for diversifying beyond a portfolio of in truth stocks and bonds, whilst also providing a steady flash of good velvet income and offering estimable upside potential for chief gains due to the upping agricultural " super path " as coined by noted farmland and merchandise tycoon Jim Rogers.

In the UK for copy, over the last ten years, agricultural land has important roughly 13 per cent per year in the according to Investment Property Databank ( IPD ). The US and other Western countries have empitic companion farmland investment returns. Farmland prices have wherefore skyrocketed, drawing near as high as 17, 300 ( approximately $30, 000 ) per hectare in the northwest of England to take right one exemplar.

As a repercussion, investors are increasingly turning their interest in agricultural land investing to areas of the world where farmland prices are starting from a much lower base, thereby providing much greater upside potential. One area where this has been particularly prevalent is Africa, where hedge funds and other large institutions have been making large agricultural farmland investments. Hedge funds and private equity funds alone have purchased 148 million acres of farmland in just the last three years. Just to take one example, the UK ' s well known Guardian newspaper just outlined how major a full 5pc of African agricultural land had been purchased or leased by outside investors, and that more than 200m hectares ( 495m acres ) of land - roughly eight times the size of the UK - were sold or leased between 2000 and 2010.

Given the long history of colonial exploitation in Africa, there has been increasing resistance to what is perceived by many western Non - Governmental Organisations as well as Africans as a " foreign land grab. " Whilst some of these feelings may be based on old stereotypes rather than current conditions, there is no question that some abuses have occurred. Just to take one example, farmlandgrab. org just published an article arguing that a US firm was running roughshod over the local population in Cameroon with one of its agriculture investment.

It is undoubtedly true that frequently large institutional investors make deals directly with the central governments of African countries. Given the amount of corruption and generally poor governance that still exists in Africa, the investment capital frequently disappear into the pockets of corrupt local officials whilst local farmers are forcibly removed from their homes and lands.

By the same token, it is far from true that all foreign investments in African farmland are predatory and exploitive. Global consultancy McKinsey recently produced a report on the future of Africa which noted that the continent had over 25 per cent of the globe ' s arable land yet produced only ten per cent of agricultural output. McKinsey argued that up to $50bn / year of African agricultural farmland investment would be needed to bring the sector up to global standards and allow African agriculture to maximize its potential output.

One reason to consider outside investments in African farmland is that the amount arable land globally has been decreasing. As farmland continues to be lost to urbanization, transportation networks and real estate development, the world must try to feed more people on less farmland. Africa, however, holds approximately 60 % of the world ' s remaining uncultivated land that is suitable for farming, so looking at food security from a broader perspective, Africa has a an opportunity to feed both itself and the world in the coming decades.

Given the need for investment in African agriculture, there is no reason that foreign farmland investments on the continent cannot be structured as a win - win for both private investors and the host country populations. With the right guidelines and intentions, foreign investment in African farmland can be both ethical and profitable. The major issue is whether a set of basic principles for " win - win " farmland investment in Africa can be developed. Just as an example, we believe that the following principles can be used to evaluate the fairness of foreign farmland investment in Africa:

1. The investment was directed at completely unused land, and none of the local population has been removed from any of the land since it was not in use as a food source;

2. The farmland investment was negotiated directly with local villagers and tribal chiefs, so there was no chance for corruption at senior government levels;

3. Farmland investments in developing countries should not simply be premised on food security concerns by the foreign investors, who may want to simply ship the entire crop production back to their home countries;

4. The workforce should as much as possible be local hires who should be paid a fair wage well above the minimum for that country; and

5. Finally, foreign investors in African farmland should also have at least some kind of community re - investment programme in the host country.

Whilst these principles will not solve every concern of local African NGOs, they are at least a starting point for considering examining whether a farmland investment is structured as a win - win for both the investor and the local population, or if the investor is behaving in an inherently exploitative manner. One other interesting factor is that when farmland investment projects are structured such that retail investors can participate, we have seen that these types of individual investors demand that any project they are involved with be both ethical and profitable.

Foreign Direct Investments In Turkey

Legal Framework for FDI in Turkey

Able - business foreign investment policies have been introduced as part of the liberalization of the Turkish economy. The foreign investment legislation provides a more secure environment for foreign finance by providing support from several bilateral and multilateral agreements and organizations, granting foreign cash the twin rights and obligations as local finance, and guaranteeing the transfer of profits, fees and royalties and the repatriation of money.

The foreign direct investment Law No. 4875, which has been in tension since June 17, 2003, emphasizes the key elements of the liberal investment environment in Turkey, and represents a " legal guide " to international investors about their rights and obligations. Since all companies established in Turkey within the framework of the Turkish Petition Code are considered Turkish companies, all duties and responsibilities are the same, regardless of the nature of the finance structure of the company..

Law No. 4875 provides:

sweep to form by eliminating all former FDI - related screening, trial, share transfer and minimum central requirements;

reassurance of existing guarantees in one transparent and stable document;

upgrading to accepted international standards for definitions of " foreign capitalist " and " foreign direct investment "; and

a policy shift from ex - ante control to a promotion and facilitation approach with scant ex - post vigil.

Turkey has been a party to several international organizations and bilateral and multilateral agreements, which ready a more secure investment environment for foreign investors, resembling as:

Turkey is a slab of OECD, WTO,

IMF, World Bank and organizations of the World Bank, including Worry International Guaranty Agency ( " MIGA " ).

Agreements to protect and promote investment have been signed with 77 countries, and 62 of these near agreements are currently in stimulus.

Agreements to avoid double taxation are currently in effect with 61 countries.

Turkey has been a party to OECD Codes of Chief Movements and Invisible Transactions and the assemblage on the International Nerve center for Settlement of Disputes.

Turkey has been a party to investment - related agreements on WTO platforms double as TRIMs ( Trade Related Investment Measures ) and TRIPs ( Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights ).

In 1999, the Grand National Assembly passed a Constitutional amendment permitting national and international arrangement of certain business disputes involving ok agreements for public services. In 2000, the related implementation laws allowing international judgment in contracts involving Turkey and foreign investors were pleasurable by the Parliament.

In addition, regulated markets for electricity and natural gas were introduced to address the shortcomings of the current centralized model. The telecommunications sector has also undergone changes, transforming the formerly monopolistic structure to a regulated and competitive sector. The High Council of Telecommunications was established in 2000 as a supervisory body for the telecommunication industry. The last step towards a full liberalization of the sector began on January 1, 2004 following the termination of the power of Turk Telekom on vocalization telephony services and telecommunication infrastructure, Following full liberalization, the Telecommunication Authority just so the first licenses for territorial data transmission.,

FDI Statistics

According to the balance of payment statistics published by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, the capital ( inflow ) of US $ 1. 752 million in 2003 has increased by 55, 9 % in 2004 and reached to US $ 2. 837 million. In 2000, 2001 and 2002 total direct foreign capital ( inflow ) are US $ 982 million, US $ 3. 352 million and US $ 1. 137 million respectively.

In line with the recovery of the main economic indicators and efforts to improve investment environment, FDI inflows continued to rise in 2005. Net FDI inflows into Turkey totaled $ 9. 667 million in 2005, implying more than three fold increase compared to 2004.

As of 2005, there are 11. 685 companies with foreign capital in Turkey. Out of these, 9. 684 are of new company and branch establishment and 2. 001 are of foreign capital participations into existing companies.

Investments in the services sector accounted for 91 % of total foreign direct investment for 2005, while manufacturing accounted for 8, 5 % of such total.

In the year of 2005, 209 incentive certificates were issued for investments to be carried out by companies with foreign capital, and the estimated total value of these investments within these certificates amount to US$ 3, 49 million, of which 51 % will be undertaken by foreign shareholders.

In terms of accumulated foreign capital commitment up to today; the leading investors are Germany, USA, the Netherlands, Greece, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium and Russian Federation.

Within the manufacturing industries, the leading sectors are;

Automotive and transportation equipment

Food, beverage and tobacco industries

Chemical and petroleum products

Electrical machinery and electronics Within services sector, the leading sectors are;

Banking

Trade & retail chain stores

Telecommunications

Tourism

Policy Reforms to Increase the FDI Inflows to Turkey

Strengthening private sector activity in the Turkish economy is an integral part of the Government ' s overall macroeconomic stabilization program. The aim of the program is to achieve a sustainable growth level with a vibrant private sector and a smaller but more effective public sector. Key structural reforms in major markets such as agriculture, pensions, banking, telecommunications and energy and accelerated privatisation program have been adopted, which will pave the way for a more dynamic private sector.

Despite its competitive advantages and diverse market opportunities, FDI inflows have not lived up to the potential of an economy of that size. Recognizing the importance of this issue, the Government placed efforts for improving the investment environment at the top of the political agenda.

The Government of Turkey has therefore initiated a comprehensive reform program in December 2001, to streamline all investment - related procedures and to attract more private direct domestic and foreign investment and besides legal allowance preformed in 2003, providing real people and corporate assets of foreign origin to acquire property in Turkey, was overturned by the Turkish Court in 2005.. The Government has established a Co - ordination Board for Improving the Investment Environment ( YO - IKK ). The Board assigned specialized technical committees to work on developing concrete proposals and strategies in order to overcome all main obstacles. Productive collaboration between the public and the private sector is the key in this process. To ensure that policy reforms truly reflect and address private sector concerns, intensive and direct involvement of companies and investors in this process is critical. Each technical committee therefore consists of private sector and government agencies ' representatives. The Board ' s mandate is to make specific recommendations to the Council of Ministers who will take the required political decisions to remove the obstacles impeding the improvement of the investment climate.

General Incentive Regime

The principal purpose of incentives is to eliminate inter - regional imbalances, facilitate a larger capital contribution by the public and support activities that have a positive effect on employment. Furthermore, inflow of foreign currency and advanced technology and improvement of international competitiveness are also aimed without breaching international obligations.

Incentives for investments to be realized in the priority and least developed regions simply aim to increase employment in these regions through tax exemptions and other financial incentives.

Major Incentive Instruments

Exemption from customs duties and fund levies: This incentive measure ensures that the imported machinery and equipment for investment purposes are exempted from customs duties and fund levies. Such machinery and equipment must be included in the imported machinery and equipment list to be approved by General Directorate of Foreign Investment ( GDFI ). Raw materials and intermediate goods cannot be imported under this provision.

Value Added Tax ( VAT ) exemption: The VAT, payable for both imported and locally purchased machinery and equipment, is exempted under this incentive measure. Such machinery and equipment must be included in the import machinery list and approved by GDFI. The locally purchased machinery and equipment should be included in the locally procured machinery list and approved by the GDFI.

Credit Allocation from the Budget: Credits can be allocated from the budget to the following investments: Research and Development ( R&D ) investments, Technopark Establishment, Investments in Technoparks, Investments for Environmental Protection, Priority Technological Investments which are determined by the Supreme Council of Science and Technology or Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey ( TUBI - TAK ). ln addition to the above investments to be moved to provinces specified for regional development and investments to be moved to priority regions and other organized zones from developed regions and manufacturing, agro - industry and mining investments to be realized in the priority regions in compliance with the legislation on State Subsidies for Investments.

Turkey has three types of regions with regard to implementation of incentive regime

Developed regions - the Provincial boundaries of Istanbul and Kocaeli, and the municipality boundaries of Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Adana and Antalya.

Priority Turkish regions - 50 provinces determined by the Council of Ministers; Adyaman, Aksaray, Amasya, Ardahan, Artvin, Batman, Bartn, Bayburt, Bingl, Bitlis, anakkale ( only the provinces of Bozcaada and Gkeada ) orum, Erzincan, Erzurum, Giresun, Hakkari, Karabk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kilis, Malatya, Mardin, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Samsun, Siirt, Sinop, Sivas, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Van, Yozgat and Zonguldak.

Normal regions - the remaining provinces.

Eligibility criteria for the incentives

The minimum amount of fixed investment must be YTL 400. 000 for developed regions and normal regions, YTL 200. 000 for priority regions.

Incentives for the Least Developed Regions

According to the Law for the Encouragement of Investments and Employment, No. 5084, dated February 6, 2004, and Law on Amendments of the Law No. 5084, No. 5350, dated May 12, 2005 additional incentives are granted to the investors that invest in the following provinces, which have per capita income equal to or less than $ 1, 500 or the provinces with a minus index value on the socio - economic development ranking: Sinop, Giresun, Amasya, Malatya, Sivas, Tokat, Afyon, Erzincan, Osmaniye, Dzce, Siirt, Ordu, Erzurum, Batman, Bayburt, Mardin, Aksaray, Adyaman, Kars, Van, Yozgat, Ardahan, Hakkari, Bingl, Bitlis, Artvin, orum, Karaman, Kastamonu, Rize, Tunceli, Kilis, Ktahya, Trabzon.

Additional incentives granted in the aforementioned provinces are as follows:

Incentive on witholding of income tax,

Insurance premium incentive for employers,

Energy support,

Free land allocation.

Five Fabulous, Unique Tattoo Ideas For Ladies!

Okay Ladies, listen up! Tattoos have come heavy back into vogue in modern times, and now they have become the new compulsory adornment to take with you on life ' s colorful & exotic journey. Rock tars, celebrities, actors - uniform your local doctor seems to have attracted the lust of having their own unique tattoo design to enhance their personality and add a all introductory element to how they present themselves to the world around them.

Maybe you have been toying with the idea of receiving your first tattoo, or possibly you are thinking of a new tattoo to add to your existing body art. But where to start? There seems to be no limit to the unit & mishmash of tattoo designs to choose from! Owing to tattoos are continuing, it is critically important that you think carefully about your new tattoo, and ensure it not only sends the right message to the people you meet, but also is in tune the with unique woman that you are.

To that end, here is a brief list of five fanastic unique tattoo ideas that women around the world seem to absolutely adore! They are presented in no particular order, and are designed to be deliberately off - beat ( who wants a boring star or cross tattoo design, anyway! )

1. Angelfish Tattoos - simply stunning, the angelfish is one of the most beautiful creatures on the planet. There seems to be no end to the variety of scintillating colors and shapes of these amazing creatures. A beautiful angelfish on your ankle, or swimming daintily on your shoulder, will be a source of wonder to your friends!

2. Phoenix Tattoos - these magical, mythical birds have been immortalized in ancient texts and featured in modern novels and hit movies. These tattoos represent re - birth, and are a perfect tattoo idea for those who have emerged from the ashes of troubled times or shattered relationships. Ink one on your shoulder or upper arm and let the world know that you are back, baby!

3. Hummingbird Tattoos - a truly unique tattoo ( and one of the rarer tattoo designs ), these tiny & ridiculously gorgeous birds are a source of wonder in the real world, and their impact as a tattoo will be no less than that! These tattoo ideas represent agility and speed, and the ' hum ' of their wings gives them an orginal ' busy ' quality. Girls who choose this tattoo are always flitting from place to place, staying awhile... and then zipping off again... uncatchable, cheeky... gorgeous!

4. Dragonfly Tattoos - again, one of the rarer tattoo designs, dragonfly tattoos are a ' step up ' from the far more commonly - inscribed butterfly tattoos. Dragonflies represent freedom & agility, with their will - o - the - wisp ability to buzz into view, stay for a while, and then seemingly disappear. They are also the hunters of the insect world, and this is a great message for those girls out there who may be ' on the prowl '!

5. Dove Tattoos - these tattoo designs are a very common first tattoo for women. These beautiful birds are the universal symbol of freedom. Ladies who have managed to endure a troubled period in their lives may find this tattoo idea very appealing! Because of their tendancy to mate for life in the wild, they are a great tattoo design for people who wish to signify their affection for one another.

Remember, if you are thinking of getting your first tattoo there are four very important words to keep in mind - Think Before You Ink! Consider carefully the type of person that you are and the message that you want your tattoo to send to your wider public audience. Start small, then slowly build your portfolio of unique tattoos to represent those ideas or people which have the greatest of importance to you!

Before you know it, a newer and far more colorful ' you ' will be proudly strutting the world stage!

Food Insecurity Remains Long Term Problem

With the global population expected to increase almost a inquiring within the next 40 years, many international scientists and agricultural policymakers are worried about the lasting power of farmers to produce enough food to feed 9 billion potential mouths. Week Western agricultural policies have relied on farm loans to revitalize major agricultural reforms, some United Nations officials presume true that international food policies need to notice substantial changes in order to prevent global famine and political unrest.

The threat of global famine is omnipresent in many countries. Despite the expansion of access to farm loans and farm credit by several Western nations, many international farmers still have trouble feeding their families. Even with access to government subsidies, technological backwardness and poor climate often hinders agricultural production. Agricultural loans and farm credit alone, it seems, cannot solve global food problems. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, over 950 million people worldwide are hungry. The ramifications of hunger can be widespread. From 2007 - 2008, the world experienced over 60 food riots. Farm loans and agricultural production overseas helped ease hunger in certain counties, but food insecurity remains a major problem. In 2010 - 11, for example, food riots in Tunisia sparked a revolution that toppled the Tunisian government and spread across much of the Arab World.

According to the FAO, agricultural loans and expanded access to credit may not be enough to guarantee international food security. While the world has enough natural resources to feed its growing population, protecting fragile ecosystems may make or break efforts to fight hunger. In California, for example, rapid expansion of agricultural projects, partly spurred by easy access to farm loans, has drained aquifers and may lead to long - term production problems. Keeping this problem in mind, the UN has encouraged Western nations to protect the environment as a way to protect agriculture. To this end, UN officials have argued that farm loans designed to encourage sustainable agricultural production are key to combating global hunger. UN officials have urged major world powers like the United States to encourage the development of sustainable farming, hoping that techniques pioneered in developed nations could be exported to the Third World.

Farm loans and farm policy designed to protect fragile ecosystems have also been trumpeted as a necessary mode of agricultural reform. Faced with a rapidly changing climate, many farmers across the world have seen their production dwindle in the face of drought and severe weather. Agriculture loans and farm subsidies that encourage conservation and stimulate scientific exploration and development may help limit the damage caused by these climatological changes. Without these reforms, experts warn, the world may face a Malthusian disaster over the next several decades.

Fifa 09 Cheats

FIFA Soccer 09 is daily the touching diversion ever to replicate the experience of being in an actual soccer field. Learning from the pitfalls of last year ' s spiel, the series is back with a lot of improvements on its arsenal and is set to change the way we ' ll swivel at football gaming from here on out.

The pre - development process for FIFA 09 involved crowd feedbacks from fans, soccer professionals and critics to come up with an idea on how to approach this game. Indeed, these efforts enabled them to come up with what is bound to be the best football offering after all in gaming history.

In terms of gameplay ornamentation, FIFA 2009 is certainly not obscured. Minor or leading tweaks alike, the amusement has managed to fix whatever bugs or discrepancies there were from previous games to create a more holistic approach to gaming.

Gameplay - wise, FIFA Soccer 09 now strikes a balance of speed and physicality. If you might notice, there is certainly more physical action as the range of motion expanded in this game. Speaking of action, it is undeniable with so much hustle amongst players and jostling for position in FIFA 09. The increased level of action in the game contributes to a higher level of excitement and, yes, competition, which is what the sport is all about.

Other minor elements that greatly impact the gameplay in FIFA 2009 is the new physics of the ball and the more advanced collision system. But these newly improved gameplay elements will produce a more realistic effect as players crash into one another, or as the ball hits either the goal post or when hit by the players themselves.

To give you better control of how you want to enjoy this game, FIFA Soccer 09 is now filled with more customizable features and controls. Indeed, you can now change camera settings or attributes to make sure you get the best view of all on - court action in FIFA 09.

Other customizable features for FIFA 2009 include the new custom tactics feature that enable you to devise your own plays. Then, you could also customize the characters according to their physical features and ability.

We ' re not done yet as FIFA Soccer 09 has got some several new additions for the game that enables players to explore their football experience. Some of the most exciting additions include the Be A Pro Seasons mode, the Adidas Live Season, and the 10 - on - 10 football.

All these new features for FIFA 09 expands your horizon to enjoying this game so you can compete with friends or fellow gamers to battle it out in the virtual soccer field. Meanwhile, the Be A Pro Season mode offers you a chance to focus on an individual player as you work on progressing their performance in the game. There ' s certainly bound to be a lot to look forward to with FIFA 2009.

Farm Management Software - Built Tough for Agriculture

Better farming operations and increasing productivity levels depend upon better agribusiness decisions being false on a daily basis. As in all other industries, these decisions are being supported by technical software which collates, processes and analyses important business information; providing business data when and where it is required to make fully informed decisions. Primary producers have recognised the importance of incorporating the latest in information technology in the farming environment; assisting owners, managers and trio to achieve gains in productivity, quality and profitability. Farm management software has enabled those provoked with the albatross of managing agricultural operations the requisite tools to drive the business forward.

Farm management software solves problems, expressed as a set of tasks, which aids in the act of improving the economic viability of the farming operation. Technology which is driving portable and mobile technology is enabling the information to be accessed at a time and place when it is needed most in the farming environment. Laptops, personal digital assistants ( PDA ' s ) and Smartphones are easily portable and can be taken with the farmer and used in the fields far away from the farmstead or office.

As well as offering the same functionality of popular small business and accounting software, farm management software has unique properties and additional programs built into the software to take into account the nuances and idiosyncrasies of farm management and business control. Some of these additional functions include paddock diaries, feed budgeting and stock diaries.

A map of your existing farm can be incorporated into a Paddock Diary to create a production management tool that records farm events on the spot. Ascertaining when and where significant gains and losses are experienced geographically provides vital information pertaining to the inputs invested in the farm. Simple accounting is not enough for the modern farming business; owners and managers require a tool whereby they can analyse various situations to determine the best mix for increasing productivity.

Feed budgeting tools, also incorporating your farm map enable a farmer to manage the current feed supply, as well as plan the feed requirements for the upcoming season; through the use of current and projected reporting tools in the farm management software.

Stock diaries record vital information about the stock on the farm, based on mobs, groups and even individual animals. This information is vital for compliance, and monitoring and analyzing animal performance to ensure you are getting the best return on investment.