InDenialHealth.com

I can’t believe that we are at the end of 07 already!

It’s the time when many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Not surprisingly, losing weight, getting into shape and quitting smoking are top of the list for most.

I try and focus on lifestyle or work-life balance goals when I make resolutions. Last year I wanted to try and spend more time on my hobbies, mainly photography. I’m pleased to say that I managed to create time at least one day a week to do this.
Just getting outdoors and finding subjects to photograph not only helped to get me out walking but also improved my mental health, not to mention I took some pretty great shots.

This New Year I want to try and focus more on my career. Actually, I would dearly love to quit my job and focus all my energy on developing an online business but so do thousands of others so I may need to put this in the *dream* list ;)

My other big desire for 08 is to improve my core strength and continue with my hobby. They probably don’t sound like huge goals for the year but I don’t really believe in setting anything that is going to be hard to achieve.

Failure sucks so why make yourself go through all that guilt and self loathing. No, small goals balanced with a few fun or self-indulgent ones are perfect in my opinion ;)

On behalf of the iHealth team, we want to wish everyone a very happy and safe New Year.

Don’t drink too much, don’t drive while drinking and hide the keys from your friends if they want to drive themselves home while drunk.

Happy New Year everyone and thanks for taking time to drop by Interactive Health in 07!

Today, Australia lost one of our greats.

Bernie Banton was everything that is good about our country.

When he was diagnosed with asbestos-related disease, aggressive peritoneal mesothelioma while working for Jamie Hardie Industries, rather than do nothing while James Hardie was not held accountable, he fought.

Bernie started working for James Hardie in 1968 after his brother, Ted got him a job. While working at the site, Bernie was involved in the production of various asbestos products including fibro (asbestos sheeting), pipes, telecommunication pits and other products.

In 1974, Bernie left his job while 137 other workers continued on. As of 2004, approximately 127 had died from asbestos exposure including his brother Ted. And now sadly Bernie is another statistic.

It took many years of work often sitting opposite an aggressive and large contingent of suited James Hardie lawyers determined not to pay out one cent to the many victims that have and will continue to be diagnosed because of their dreadful products.

Finally, James Hardie, under immense public and political pressure, gave in and paid compensation to Bernie and also established a $4 Billion compensation fund for those who will be diagnosed in the future.

Bernie is a hero to many of us in Australia. While he suffered from a disease slowly killing him, he continued to fight for others. He is a true battler, the kind of Australian we hold dear in our country.

Rest in Peace Bernie.

Bernie Banton was 61 years old.

I very rarely write about topics not relating to health, technology or fitness but I could not let this one go by without posting.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has identified more than 16,000 species threatened with extinction in the 2007 Red List of threatened species.

Included in this list are gorillas, orangutans as well as plants and coral which are sliding closer to extinction.

Critically endangered is deemed as an extreme high risk of extinction or possibly extinct.

Some of the animals to make this new list include the western lowland gorilla which has moved from the Endangered to the Critically Endangered category.

Numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20-25 years.

Listed as some of the reason for this include forest clearance which has allowed hunters access to previously inaccessible areas. Ebola virus has followed, wiping out one-third of the total gorilla population in protected areas, and up to 95% in some regions.

The report is really quite depressing when you consider that many of the reasons given are human related whether it be due to clearing for plantations or hunting.

A sense of urgency or panic, not sure what the feeling is just sweeps over me when I read or see things like this. I wonder what I can do sitting at home in Australia. There must be something? Is sending money to various groups going to help?

I also wonder why our leaders aren’t doing more. Don’t they care? Are they so self absorbed with their own political agendas that issues like forest clearing, animals sliding into extinction and other enviornmental concerns don’t even register in their minds and hearts.

I live in a country where we absolutely adore whales, yet, we stand by while Japanese whalers harpoon and kill whales around our waters supposedly for research. Apparently we have to be diplomatic about it but while we try not to upset other countries leaders, we allow animal numbers to decline and stand-by while cruelty or sheer neglect of their needs goes on.

We are the caretakes of this planet, I’m not sure that’s such a great thing but that’s the deal. We have a responsibility to protect this planet and all the animals that inhabit it.

So I just wonder what we can do to help to persuade Governments to do more.

Our friends over at Mark’s Daily Apple have written a thought provoking post that I think is well worth reading and commenting on.

Please take the time to click here and have a read: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/water-2/

Are you suffering from Teenage Affluenza? This is a great satirical video that reminds us we lead such lucky lives. Isn’t it time you give back? To do something real?

Try: www.40hourfamine.com (Australia) www.30hourfamine.org(USA)
or…
Become a world Stirrer (no matter where you live) @ www.stir.org.au and receive free monthly StirMails.

I read about this new diet drug earlier in the week and could not believe that it was flying off the shelves given the extremely unpleasant side effects.

The Alli Web site (www.myalli.com) warns: “You may feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Until you have a sense of any treatment effects, it’s probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work.”

But still, people are still purchasing it.

I was going to write a post on how I feel but this article from Kimberly Garrison over at Philly.com sums up my thoughts perfectly so please go and read it, especially if you are considering buying this product. Apart from going into more detail about the side effects, information on what you can expect in weight loss is also provided. Go to Philly.com now