Archive for health

The Dangers of Gambling

24 Nov, 2008  No Comment

I received this via email. Every Muslim organization should set up a program against gambling and use current research and statistics to stop these dangerous behaviors.

“They question thee about strong drink and games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but the sin of them is greater than their usefulness. And they ask thee what they ought to spend. Say: That which is superfluous. Thus God maketh plain to you (His) revelations that haply ye may reflect.” (Quran 2:219)
In Texas the poorest citizens, who together earn only 2% of the state’s total income, buy 10% of lottery tickets.
2/3 of the hard-core gamblers in detention admitted stealing specifically to finance their gambling.
There are 5.5 million “pathological” and “problem” gamblers in this country today and an additional 15 million who are considered to be at risk.
 Some 2.5 million Americans will gamble online this year, putting an estimated $5.5 billion in the pockets of online casinos.
 65% of pathological gamblers commit crimes to support their gambling habit.
The FBI estimates that in excess of $2.5 Billion is wagered on the NCAA Tournament each year. In 2003, the gross revenues from gambling were $72.9 billion — more money than Americans spend on movie tickets, theme parks, spectator sports and videogames combined!

Anti-Gambling Groups

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Current- Two Dollars a Day

24 Nov, 2008  No Comment

Current TV aired a short clip of living on less than $2 a day, which is what 2.8 Billion people live on. If you cannot see the video above, go directly to the page

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Bangladesh on the Brink

20 Nov, 2007  No Comment

Current TV did a special:
Bangladesh on the Brink

Did you know that it’s so crowded, it would be like if half of Americans were all living in a country the size of Iowa? Also, global warming is hurting Bangladesh more than America at the moment.

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Protecting Hospitals in Iraq

19 Nov, 2007  No Comment

Alive in Baghdad has a video report:
Field Report - Protecting Hospitals in Iraq

It genuinely bothers me that people would be sick-minded enough to attack hospitals, which has happened in the past in Kirkuk and Mosul. (That doesn’t let the US soldiers off the hook for deliberately attacking an Iraqi hospital in Fallujah either.)

As an EMT, pharmacy worker, and aspiring doctor, few things upset me more than those who deliberately target healthcare workers; doctors, nurses, ambulance personnel etc. Every so often, I’d look at the Palestinian Red Crescent website and see reports of attacks against PRCS members by Israeli soldiers; drivers and patients shot, delays at checkpoints killing patients, and mistreatment of workers (the website used to have photos). It’s just cruel. There have also been attacks on Israeli ambulances (which is just as reprehensible), but I can’t find nearly as many incidents.

If you want to read and hear more about the brave doctors and the risks they take worldwide, visit Doctors Without Borders

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Bacon leads to cancer?

3 Nov, 2007  No Comment

The World Cancer Research Fund did a 5-year survey involving 200 scientists. They had many findings and healthy eating recommendations, but this jumped out at me: Bacon and other processed hams raise the risk of cancer by 10% and alcohol raises the risk of six - and possibly seven - different cancers, including mouth, throat and breast cancers.

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