web.mac
May 7, 2008
What if no one were fat?
May 1, 2008
I read this article posted on MSN and wanted to know what you thought about it:
What if no one were fat?
Imagine a lean and healthy America: The savings on medical, fuel, food and other costs would be enough to give every U.S. household more than $4,000.
In the United States today, 66% of adults are overweight. Almost 33% of adults are obese, and 4.7% are morbidly obese, or more than 100 pounds overweight. But . . .
What if nobody in America were fat?
We’d save billions of dollars in gas. Airlines would double their profits. A dearth of diabetes and other diseases would save billions of dollars more — and put thousands of doctors on the street. McDonald’s would sell not Big Macs but little steamed chicken snacks — or watch its profits melt away. Productivity would rise, potentially creating tens of thousands more jobs or higher wages all around.
Add up the savings up on health, food, clothing and efficiencies, and you could buy a professional home gym for every U.S. household — or hand each $4,270 in cash.
$487 billion in gas, sweat and stretch pants
Yes, it sounds a little wild, but the implications of a leaner, meaner country add up to a weighty $487 billion. That’s almost 3.5% of gross domestic product, no small sum.
To read the full article, click here
Peace Agreement
April 2, 2008
Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 21, 2008
U.S. Urges Signing of Final Peace Agreement for Northern Uganda
The U.S. fully supports and welcomes the recent rapid progress in the Juba Peace Process. We urge the parties to sign the Final Peace Agreement on or before March 28 to demonstrate their commitment to peace and to send a strong signal of that commitment to both the international community and northern Ugandans.
We appreciate the mediation efforts of the Government of Southern Sudan and the facilitation role played by African and other international observers during the Juba Peace Process. These efforts have created the best opportunity to date to end peacefully the 22-year conflict between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army that has seriously harmed civilian populations and destabilized the region.
As an observing party, we intend to participate fully in the proposed Oversight Forum, which would be formed to assist with implementation of the agreements. We will continue collaboration with the Government of Uganda to provide development support for northern Uganda and demobilization, disarmament, and resettlement assistance for ex-combatants.
