The aim of World Food Day, proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the FAO of the United Nations, is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The Day marks the date of the founding of the FAO in 1945.
Learn more:
To learn more about what kind of medical services Americans use, check out the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), which collects information on families and individuals, their medical providers, and employers across the United States. MEPS collects data on the specific health services that Americans use, how frequently they use them, the cost of these services, and how they are paid for, as well as data on the cost, scope, and breadth of health insurance held by and available to U.S. workers.
MEPS is part of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released Growing Smarter, Living Healthier: A Guide to Smart Growth and Active Aging, a new guidebook to help older adults access information about the importance of environmentally friendly community design and how to become involved in decisions about what is termed as “smart growth.”
Smart growth covers a range of development and conservation strategies that help protect our natural environment and make our communities more attractive, economically stronger and more socially diverse.
More info:
The amount spent on cigarette advertising and promotion by the five largest cigarette companies in the United States declined from $13.11 billion in 2005 to $12.49 billion in 2006, according to a report released this month by the Federal Trade Commission.
More info:
The 2010 edition of the yellow book, CDC Health Information for International Travel, has just been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Yellow Book is published every two years as a reference for those who advise international travelers about health risks.
The CDC website also features an extensive section on travelers’ health.
This month the National Center for Health Statistics has published two reports on the health of children and of older adults.
America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2009 is a compendium of indicators illustrating both the promises and the difficulties confronting young people in the United States. The report presents 40 key indicators on important aspects of children’s lives.
The opportunities for older adults to live longer, healthier lives should continue to increase, according to Health Characteristics of Adults Aged 55 Years and Older: United States, 2004-2007. However, variations in health were noted within the four age groups, with the most consistent and striking results found for poverty status and health insurance coverage.
Food security in 70 developing countries is projected to deteriorate over the next decade, according to the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. ERS researchers estimate and project the number of food insecure people from 2008 through 2018 in their Food Security Assessment 2008-09. Food-insecure people are defined as those consuming less than the nutritional target of 2,100 calories per day per person.
Published by the Economic Research Service, the 36-page report Emerging Issues in the U.S. Organic Industry examines recent economic research on the adoption of organic farming systems, organic production costs and returns, and market conditions to gain a better understanding of the organic supply squeeze and other emerging issues in this rapidly changing industry.
A new science report that represents a consensus of 13 agencies and is focused on potential climate change impacts on the United States has been launched by the White House. Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States is the most comprehensive report to date on the possible impacts of climate change for everyone across America.
Read more:
Outbreaks of a new strain of influenza virus that began in north-central Mexico March 22 and have spread to the United States, Canada and Spain so far have prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the event a public health emergency of international concern. Mexican authorities have reported up to 1,600 influenza cases and more than 100 influenza deaths.
For the latest information on U.S. State Department Travel alerts
For information on traveling to Australia (Australian Government Website)
