Daily Archives: March 6, 2022

Acupuncture will no longer be covered by insurance if Ontario passes this controversial law – blogTO

Posted: March 6, 2022 at 9:37 pm

A recently-tabled legislative change that would effectively allow anyone in Ontario to perform traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or acupuncture without an official licence has prompted a flurry of worry, questions and objections aimed at the Ford government.

It all started on Monday, when the province announced a proposed piece of legislation called the Working for Workers Act, 2022 (aka Bill 88).

The omnibus bill includes amendments that would, among other things, force employers to disclose any electronic surveillance of employees, raise the minimum wage for gig workers (such as delivery people and rideshare drivers) to $15, and require some at-risk workplaces to keep nalaxone kits on site.

It also contains a change that the Ministry of Labour said in a press release would "reduce barriers in the provision of traditional Chinese medicine while ensuring consumer protection in the delivery of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture services."

Per language on the proposed bill itself, the passing of this legislation would mean repealing the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act of 2006.

"Legislation regulating the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) received Royal Assent on December 20, 2006 and specific sections of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006 are now law in Ontario," reads a description of that act on the Ministry of Health's website.

"Traditional Chinese medicine is a holistic system of health care that originated in China several thousand years ago. Therapies include acupuncture, herbal therapy, tuina massage, and therapeutic exercise. TCM views the body as a whole and addresses how illness manifests itself in a patient and assesses and treats the whole patient, not just the specific disorder."

As a result of the act passed in 2006, the province created a "new, self-financing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario" with the mandate of "ensuring that the profession is regulated in the interest of the public."

That governing body (established in 2013) is currently one of 26 regulatory colleges in Ontario that oversee some 400,000 healthcare professionals across 29 distinct professions, including chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, nurses, physicians, massage therapists and registered psychotherapists.

Bill 88, if passed, would essentially knock TCM practitioners and acupuncturists down a peg in terms of how they're regulated, putting them on the same level as Personal Support Workers as opposed to physiotherapists, midwives, audiologists and everything else they're listed with here.

Critics are worried that deregulating traditional Chinese medicine could endanger patients by allowing unqualified people to enter the field and practise.

Some say that repealing the act is simply disrespectful, and that the move takes credence away from a type of healthcare service that many Canadians rely upon.

Of specific concern to patients is the fact that, should the TCM college be killed, treatments it used to regulate (like acupuncture) would no longer be covered by most insurance plans.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke to these concerns during a press conference in York Region on Thursday after being asked why his government wants to deregulate TCM, and also what concerns he might have about "opening [the profession] up for anyone to place a needle in someone's body."

Ford responded with his classic "we inherited a broken system" line, but then explained that his government's motivations were in fact driven (at least partially) by language requirements on licensing exams, which can only be taken in English.

"It really prevented anyone speaking Mandarin or Cantonese from really writing the exam and that... so we're trying to fix the problem we inherited," said Ford, noting that his government had heard from members of the TCM community all across Ontario and that he has "a strong relationship with the Chinese community."

Minster of Health Christine Elliott then took the podium and elaborated, backing up Ford's claim they wanted to help qualified, non-English speaking traditional Chinese medicine practitioners work in Ontario.

"What we're proposing to do is to transition the regulation from the College of Traditional Chinese Medical Practitioners to the health and supportive care providers authority of Ontario, and this is the same authority that regulates personal support workers as well, so we have confidence that they will do an effective job.

Acupuncture, said Elliott, would "continue to be monitored and regulated by the local public health agencies," whatever that means.

Ford's political opponents are all slamming the move, saying that it undermines the legitimacy of TCM and that is removes important protections for the public.

"This was a direct attack on the Asian community, and especially the Chinese community," said Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca in a statement about the move on Thursday.

"The failure of Doug Ford and his Conservatives to consult with these regulated professionals and their patients was disrespectful and wrong."

But this isn't simply about politics patients, too, are reacting strongly to news of the change, and they're urging Ford's government to reconsider regulating TCM and acupuncture.

"This decision is terrible for not only practitioners, but for the general public. Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that not only involves onset practice, but also knowledge of anatomy and rationale behind every practice," reads a change.org petition signed by nearly 30,000 people as of Friday afternoon.

"Traditional Chinese Medicine deserves higher regulation, more funding for research, because it has equal efficacy and safety as physiotherapy, chiropractic and naturopath, under good regulation."

The college itself is playing things cool, posting a statement on its website to share nothing but information about the proposed changes.

"The College was advised on February 28, 2022 that the Government of Ontario would be taking steps to wind down the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario," it reads.

"The Government anticipates that it will take approximately 18 months for the wind up. The expectation is that acupuncture will be returned to the public domain and that TCM practitioners and acupuncturists could choose to voluntarily seek to be registered under the Health and Supportive Care Provides Oversight Authority."

The college says it will continueto regulate its members until operations wind down.

"The College will continue to investigate members and accept complaints from the public. The statutory powers and responsibilities of the College will continue to ensure that members are regulated appropriately," reads the statement.

"The College will provide continuing updates once it receives further information and guidance from the government."

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The synergistic power of mushrooms and cannabinoids article – New Hope Network

Posted: at 9:37 pm

What did Otzi, the 4,000 year-old iceman mummy, keep in his medicine pouch? Mushrooms. Humans have been harnessing their healing power for at least that long. Our fungi-fueled modern medical arsenal includes penicillin and other powerful medications. Todays wellness focused consumers can experience the health-promoting powers of traditional adaptogenic mushrooms combined with strategically selected hemp-derived cannabinoids. Two new formulas from Balanced Health Botanicals Synergy Collection leverage the benefit-maximizing effect of taking these ingredients together.

Products in the Synergy Collection are designed to enhance the hemp constituent entourage effect, the process in which all hemp plant elements like cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds work together toward greater wellness benefits. Formulating targeted functional ingredients like mushrooms with specific cannabinoids further boosts the synergy: in these supplements, the benefit value of the botanicals working together is beyond the sum of the parts. Plus, consumers experience the economic benefits of not having to buy and combine multiple supplements. Even before inflation began walloping wallets, combination herbs grew by 117.3% in 2020, reaching $195 million in sales, according to Nutrition Business Journal research.

CBDistillerys Functional Synergy Mushroom Capsules meet two top consumer needs. The Focus blend is created to boost energy and promote brain function with a 1:1 CBD to CBG ratio plus lions mane and cordyceps mushrooms. The Unwind Blend includes a 3:1 CBD to CBN ratio, plus sleep-promoting reishi and chaga mushrooms.

Brain health supplements broke the $1 billion mark in 2020, the third straight year of steady growth, according to NBJ. Researchers predict many more consumers will be seeking natural ways to regain focus as they try to shake of the pandemic brain fog. NBJ foresees growth hitting 9.8% in 2023 and 10% in 2024.

The sleep health market grew by $294 million in 2020, not just passing the $1 billion mark but sprinting by it, waving. It was the fastest-growing condition category outside cold/flu/immunity. NBJ estimates the gain will be more modest in 2021 once tallied, but only in relation to that 2020 number. By 2024, they expect the market to be more than twice the size it was in 2018.

Mushroom supplement sales were already growing at 24.8% in 2019, one of the fastest growing herbs and botanicals, before the pandemic shined the immunity spotlight on the ingredient, according to Nutrition Business Journals Herbs and Botanicals Report 2021. The pandemic shot the mushroom supplement market from $57 million to $91 million in one year60.2% growth. NBJ researchers estimates 2021 sales will grow past $100 million.

On both pizzas and poison control lists, mushrooms remain familiar and exotic. Talk of decriminalizing psychotropic, magic mushrooms is also creating a buzz. Educating consumers about the power of adaptogenic mushrooms is going to be essential to move fungus further into the mainstream, according to NBJ. Retailers can start by cluing consumers in on the leading varieties:

Named for flowing tendrils and known as the smart mushroom, these mushrooms have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. A potent anti-inflammatory, research suggests this mushroom enhances cognitive function by supporting the production and growth of brain cells. (1) Evidence also suggests mood-boosting and memory-enhancing benefits. (2)

Used for spirituality and traditional Chinese medicine for more than 5000 years, science is just now beginning to explain the many healthy functions of this mushroom. Some researchers believe the key lies in the mushrooms bioactive polysaccharides which have been shown to help boost the production of specific antioxidants. (3) Several studies suggest this adaptogenic mushroom benefits immune system function, cardiovascular health, inflammation, and premature aging. In alternative medicine, Cordyceps is often recommended for boosting energy, enhancing stamina and endurance and stabilizing sleep patterns.

Taoist monks have used this mushroom through the ages to dispel negative energy. Research revealed they produce a complex selection of organic compounds, including sterols, triterpenes, alkaloids, and various polysaccharides, a combination of active plant elements that could aid relaxation. Current studies also reveal potent antioxidant properties that could help protect vulnerable cells from free-radical damage. (4)

Resembling burnt charcoal on the outside and orange on the inside, this parasitic mushroom grows on birch trees in Siberia, Canada and Alaska and has long been a key ingredient in Russian folk remedies. Researchers believe its stress-relieving power comes from its balance-restoring, adaptogenic properties: the mushroom can restore energy as needed but can also promote relaxation. Soldiers turned to it as a coffee substitute during World Wars I and II when coffee ran out. Several sources also suggest chaga can help calm anxiety symptoms. (5,6)

Learn more about the synergetic power of hemp-derived cannabinoids and functional mushrooms and CBDistillerysnew Functional Synergy Mushroom Capsules and visit Balanced Health Botanical in Anaheim at Expo West 2022, Booth #4648 Hall D!

(footnotes via CBDistillery blog)

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Wellness is not women’s friend. It’s a distraction from what really ails us – Womens Agenda

Posted: at 9:36 pm

Wellness, with its self-help rhetoric, absolves the government of responsibility to provide transformative and effectual action that ensures women are safe, delivered justice, and treated with respect and dignity, writes Kate Seers and Rachel Hogg, from Charles Sturt University, in this article republished from The Conversation.

Wellness is mainly marketed to women. Were encouraged to eat clean, take personal responsibility for our well-being, happiness and life. These are the hallmarks of a strong, independent woman in 2022.

But on the eve of International Womens Day, lets look closer at this neoliberal feminist notion of wellness and personal responsibility the idea womens health and well-being depends on our individual choices.

We argue wellness is not concerned with actual well-being, whatever wellness guru and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow suggests, or influencers say on Instagram.

Wellness is an industry. Its also a seductive distraction from whats really impacting womens lives. It glosses over the structural issues undermining womens well-being. These issues cannot be fixed by drinking a turmeric latte or #livingyourbestlife.

Wellness is an unregulated US$4.4 trillion global industry due to reach almost $7 trillion by 2025. It promotes self-help, self-care, fitness, nutrition and spiritual practice. It encourages good choices, intentions and actions.

Wellness is alluring because it feels empowering. Women are left with a sense of control over their lives. It is particularly alluring in times of great uncertainty and limited personal control. These might be during a relationship break up, when facing financial instability, workplace discrimination or a global pandemic.

But wellness is not all it seems.

Wellness implies women are flawed and need to be fixed. It demands women resolve their psychological distress, improve their lives and bounce back from adversity, regardless of personal circumstances.

Self-responsibility, self-empowerment and self-optimisation underpin how women are expected to think and behave.

As such, wellness patronises women and micro-manages their daily schedules with journaling, skin care routines, 30-day challenges, meditations, burning candles, yoga and lemon water.

Wellness encourages women to improve their appearance through diet and exercise, manage their surroundings, performance at work and their capacity to juggle the elusive work-life balance as well as their emotional responses to these pressures. They do this with support from costly life coaches, psychotherapists and self-help guides.

Wellness demands women focus on their body, with ones body a measure of their commitment to the task of wellness. Yet this ignores how much these choices and actions cost.

Newsreader and journalist Tracey Spicer says she has spent more than A$100,000 over the past 35 years for her hair to look acceptable at work.

Wellness keeps women focused on their appearance and keeps them spending.

Its also ableist, racist, sexist, ageist and classist. Its aimed at an ideal of young women, thin, white, middle-class and able-bodied.

Wellness assumes women have equal access to time, energy and money to meet these ideals. If you dont, youre just not trying hard enough.

Wellness also implores women to be adaptable and positive.

If an individuals #positivevibes and wellness are seen as morally good, then it becomes morally necessary for women to engage in behaviours framed as investments or self-care.

For those who do not achieve self-optimisation (hint: most of us) this is a personal, shameful failing.

When women believe they are to blame for their circumstances, it hides structural and cultural inequities. Rather than questioning the culture that marginalises women and produces feelings of doubt and inadequacy, wellness provides solutions in the form of superficial empowerment, confidence and resilience.

Women dont need wellness. They are unsafe.

Women are more likely to be murdered by a current or former intimate partner, with reports of the pandemic increasing the risk and severity of domestic violence.

Women are more likely to be employed in unstable casualised labour, and experience economic hardship and poverty. Women are also bearing the brunt of the economic fallout from COVID. Women are more likely to be juggling a career with unpaid domestic duties and more likely to be homeless as they near retirement age.

In their book Confidence Culture UK scholars Shani Orgad and Rosalind Gill argue hashtags such as #loveyourbody and #believeinyourself imply psychological blocks, rather than entrenched social injustices, are what hold women back.

Wellness, with its self-help rhetoric, absolves the government of responsibility to provide transformative and effectual action that ensures women are safe, delivered justice, and treated with respect and dignity.

Structural inequity was not created by an individual, and it will not be solved by an individual.

So this International Womens Day, try to resist the neoliberal requirement to take personal responsibility for your wellness. Lobby governments to address structural inequities instead.

Follow your anger, not your bliss, call out injustices when you can. And in the words of sexual assault survivor and advocate Grace Tame, make some noise.

Kate Seers, PhD Candidate, Charles Sturt University and Rachel Hogg, Lecturer in Psychology, Charles Sturt University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Body Empowerment Project is a health-centered approach to self-care | Penn Today – Penn Today

Posted: at 9:36 pm

What started as a student club focused on eating disorder awareness has led to a new nonprofit founded by two Penn 2021 graduates, the Body Empowerment Project, which is helping hundreds of teenagers in Philadelphia public schools.

Christina Miranda and Amanda Moreno have expanded the Be Body Positive Philly program from two high schools last spring to seven in the fall and then to eight high schools and a middle school this spring semester. They have recruited and trained 22 current Penn students as volunteer facilitators to lead the one-hour, weekly after-school workshops that teach a health-centered approach to self-care.

Preliminary data from their accompanying independent research study, in partnership with Penn and the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), shows a statistically significant increase in body appreciation and a decrease in eating disorder symptoms by the high school students who have completed the 10-week program.

Its just such an emotional experience to be able to build something from scratch, see it be so impactful and see so many people join our volunteer base to share the same mission, says Moreno. Its been really incredible.

Be Body Positive Philly is one of three projects chosen for the 2021 Presidents Engagement Prize. Awarded annually, the Prizes empower Penn students to design and undertake post-graduation projects that make a positive and lasting difference in the world. Each project receives $100,000, as well as a $50,000 living stipend for each team member.

Christina and Amanda took their Presidents Engagement Prize and ran with it, growing their Body Empowerment Project in thrilling and inspiring ways throughout the past year, says Interim President Wendell Pritchett. The positive impact their initiative is having on so many Philadelphia students is enormously important, and I believe, because of their commitment, it will surely be long-lasting.

Be Body Positive Philly has just been selected for another award, earning first place in the 2022 Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Awards community behavioral health category for innovative service models leading to emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

Miranda and Moreno say they are encouraged by the research results and the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the program, with 97% of the 128 students in the fall saying they would recommend it to a friend.

We were happy to see with the fall data that our program has worked similarly across all the different schools and demographics and populations that we work with, says Miranda. Depending on where a student is when they enter the program, they take away something unique to them and their situation. So that has been really cool to see.

Their program is also on campus, Be Body Positive Penn, a series of eight weekly workshops free of charge to Penn students. One is specifically for student athletes in partnership with Penn Athletics.

Both pre-med neuroscience majors and chemistry minors in the College of Arts and Sciences, Miranda and Moreno met during their first week on campus freshman year, living in the Quad and taking many of the same classes. They say they are passionate about the project in part because of their own personal histories.

Moreno immigrated to the United States with her family from Cuba when she was 7 years old. I had an accent. People were constantly commenting on my appearance; I was too thin, says Moreno, who is from Miami. All of these messages that you receive really do affect the way that you grow personally and professionally.

Miranda, who is from Milford, New Jersey, says she struggled with anorexia in middle and high school. This would have been life-changing for me. If I had a program in high school, I think it wouldve prevented my eating disorder. So really this is so personal to me to be able to help other high school students, she says.

I have always been really passionate about eating disorder advocacy and now I just cant even imagine not continuing doing this specific work for the rest of my life. Christina Miranda, co-founder of the Body Empowerment Project

Miranda is a co-founder of the Penn student chapter of Project HEAL, Help to Eat Accept and Live, and was president for two years. Moreno also served in several key leadership roles. The club sponsors eating disorder awareness efforts, educational workshops, and body-positivity campaigns on campus.

They say the pandemic was the catalyst for them to expand their work to reach high school students, as eating disorders spiked among teens during quarantine. Their research led them to The Body Positives research-validated curriculum. The pair completed facilitator trainings and worked with the team to create a virtual format for a pilot program.

The pilot proposal went through three extensive reviews: one each by the Penn and CHOP institutional review boards, and another by the School District of Philadelphia. Miranda and Moreno then led the Be Body Positive Philly workshops virtually with 18 high school students in two schools last spring, Kensington Health Sciences Academy and Paul Robeson High School.

Caroline Watts, a psychologist and director of school and community engagement at Penns Graduate School of Education, was their mentor for the Prize, and is now a programming advisor on the Board of Directors. Watts is also a principal investigator on the research study, along with C. Alix Timko, a psychologist in CHOPs Eating Disorder Assessment and Treatment Program.

They are so impressive. And theyre incredible at what they can do and what they can learn. And what theyre able to put into action just continues to grow, Watts says. The project is at a very exciting time. They are engaged, they are optimistic, and they are strategic.

With the Prize funding in hand and working out of their Center City apartment, the pair first focused on incorporating into a nonprofit, with pro bono help from a lawyer and an accountant, successfully becoming a charitable tax-exempt organization. Moreno built a website and Miranda set up social media channels.

And they worked to identify schools for expansion, which ended up being easier than they expected. The school districts medical director, Barbara Klock, asked them to conduct a professional development training for 300 public school nurses, discussing eating disorders and body image issues and how to address those concerns.

We knew that this program was needed and that it was a problem in Philadelphia schools, but we were shocked to see how many nurses reached out to us asking us to bring the program to their school, including many middle and elementary schools, Miranda says. So, suddenly, we had a waitlist of schools. It made us feel like we wanted to expand this program as soon as possible.

As official partners with the school district, they were able to work with the Districts Office of Strategic Partnerships to choose and expand into new schools, teaching in person, in the fall: William L. Sayre High School, West Philadelphia High School, Girard Academic Music Program, Kensington High School, and Mastery Charter-Shoemaker Campus.

Although the neighborhoods and school populations vary, nearly 90% of the students self-identified with a minority group, and two-thirds are enrolled in the national free and reduced-price lunch program.

This semester they added the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and the first middle school, also at Mastery Charter-Shoemaker. They plan to introduce their program in elementary schools this year, ultimately reaching students across all primary and secondary education levels.

The other challenge was to recruit current Penn students as facilitators to teach the workshops. The pair brought on a diversity, equity, and inclusion chair, fellow Penn 2021 graduate Jennie Vyas, and reached out to various cultural and affinity groups on campus.

We wanted to have facilitators who really mirror the population of students that we work with, Moreno says. Our facilitators are diverse in many ways, and come from very distinct backgrounds and lived experiences, including eating disorders.

The facilitators completed 30 hours of training on the curriculum as well as on diversity-equity-inclusion issues, trauma-informed practice, and information about the Philadelphia schools and neighborhoods.

Our volunteers are near-peer mentors because we are really close in age to the high school students so they can relate to us but we are also still a little bit further along in life, so they want to learn from us and hear what we have to say, Miranda says.

Penn sophomore Ashley Acevedo, a neuroscience major and Hispanic studies minor from Philadelphia, is a pre-med student interested in adolescent medicine and eating disorder assessment and treatment in part because she struggled with her body image as a teen.

I thought it was a good way for me to step aside from the science and the medicine and go back to why this may be happening. This program helps me learn how I can best speak to young people to maybe prevent this, says Acevedo. I feel like its a problem that a lot of people have with self-image, especially now with social media.

Sophomore Randy Bach, from San Diego, learned about the opportunity through Project HEAL. My facilitators and I all agree that we wish we had something like this in high school, voices advocating for weight neutrality and self-empowerment, he says.

Its just such an emotional experience to be able to build something from scratch, see it be so impactful and see so many people join our volunteer base to share the same mission. Amanda Moreno, co-founder of the Body Empowerment Project

Bach is executive director of the student-run Penn Apptit magazine, an emergency medical technician, and a Penn Medicine research assistant. Im extremely interested in the significance of eating behavior and its role on consumption as a neuroscience major and possible nutrition minor, says Bach, who also plans a career in medicine. Be Body Positive Philly helps me bridge my studies between both mental and physical health and how food is a big part of both.

Miranda and Moreno recruited and trained additional facilitators over winter break, so there are enough to place three at each school, ensuring two will be in each classroom while also allowing Penn students flexibility in their schedules.

The other important effort was recruiting high school students to participate. Miranda and Moreno went to all of the designated schools in the fall to explain the program, speaking in classes and hanging out with students in the cafeteria at lunchtime.

A challenge they didnt anticipate was getting parental consent forms signed to allow the students to participate, necessary for their research. To ensure parents understood the program, they created videos to go along with the forms for the spring enrollment, with Miranda speaking in English and Moreno in Spanish.

Penn student facilitators took part in spring recruitment. When I went back to Shoemaker to recruit for the new semester, every student from the previous group that I saw ran up and hugged me, says Penn junior Amanda Nance, a psychology major and nutrition minor from San Diego.

In the fall, 128 students in seven high schools were enrolled, and this spring, 150 are enrolled in the eight high schools, including nearly 20 in the middle school. Workshop groups range from 12 to 30 students, and facilitators break classes into smaller clusters for activities.

The workshops include a Brave Space Agreement, Moreno says, where we encourage our students to come out of their comfort zone, explore topics that they havent discussed before, and also challenge any preconceived notions. Students learn about building confidence, advocating for themselves, and managing social media, along with specific lessons on intuitive eating, joyful movement, and health-at-every-size.

A lot of these lessons are very personal, so people can bring out their own perspectives and their own stories and their own backgrounds, says Acevedo.

Each semester starts and ends with the students completing a survey to track changes in eating disorder symptoms and body appreciation. It also allows us to follow up and check in with students we are concerned about, working closely with the eating disorder treatment team at CHOP, Miranda says. We have a student safety plan in place, in connection with the school nurses and counselors.

Testimonials by the students speak of the value of the conversations and connections.

The part of this group that made the biggest impact on me is how more confident I feel talking about my body issues and how Im not alone, one West Philadelphia High School student shared.

The Penn facilitators also say the experience has been important to them. I feel like as much as the students may be learning, Im learning so much myself, too. And within this program, Im also helping my own body image and self-love, Acevedo says.

Ensuring their nonprofit is self-sustaining in the future, they are working with a financial advisor, actively applying for grants, and had their first fundraiser in December, raising $17,000, surpassing their goal. Primary costs are the training fee for each facilitator, transportation expenses for Penn facilitators to go to the schools for in-person workshops, and meals for each workshop group, as many of the students face food insecurity.

Body Empowerment Project also offers fee-based professional trainings for individuals, corporations, and nurses and educators. They will eventually offer a fee-based program to private schools to offset the costs of keeping the program free for public schools. They even have merch, sweatshirts with the slogan all bodies are good bodies.

Theyre now learning about the business of running a nonprofit, and how to balance the business side of this work with the mission side, and it is a really interesting point of growth for them, Watts says. Theyre really looking at how theyre going to be able to leave the project in a stable financial state so that they can move into a different kind of role as they enter medical school in the fall and have someone else handle the day-to-day operations.

Miranda and Moreno say they are even more committed to Body Empowerment Project, given their own experiences in the past year, and evidence of the programs impact, and plan to stay involved long-term even as they plan to go to medical school.

Moreno says she now is considering pursuing a masters in public health as well as a medical degree. A lot of the work that we do is public-health oriented; its about addressing a very common health inequity that we see in our community. I think that being an active player in improving access to preventative care has shifted what I want to do with my career, Moreno says. Not only do I want to be a physician, but I want make sure that I focus on minority health moving forward. This work has really inspired that.

Miranda says she has always been really passionate about eating disorder advocacy and now I just cant even imagine not continuing doing this specific work for the rest of my life ... Its just so important to us, the success of this project.

Homepage image: Moreno (left) and Miranda say they are committed long-term to the Body Empowerment Project, even as they plan to enter medical school in the fall.

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Matthew Cossolotto, Former NATO Speechwriter and Author of The Joy of Public Speaking, Will Conduct Two PodiumPower! Workshops the Week of March 7 -…

Posted: at 9:36 pm

10% of Book Sales This Year Will Be Donated to Humanitarian Relief Efforts in Ukraine

On 9 March 2022, Cossolotto will lead a virtual workshop highlighting ideas from in his recently released book The Joy of Public Speaking. Participants will be Eastern European-based staff members of a global development firm dedicated to building positive change in transitioning societies. On 10 March, Cossolotto will conduct an in-person Lunch and Learn workshop at Splash Zone in Oberlin, Ohio.

Matthew Cossolotto is an author, guest speaker, executive speechwriter, and speech coach. His senior-level leadership communications career spans the corridors of power on both sides of the Atlantic from NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, to the Speakers Office in the U.S. House of Representatives. A former aide to Congressman Leon Panetta, Cossolotto has coached and penned speeches for senior executives at a wide range of organizations, including UCLA, GTE, Pepsi-Cola International, and other Fortune 100 corporations.

In The Joy of Public Speaking: Find Your Voice and Reach Your Peak Potential, Cossolotto distills many years of high-profile speechwriting and speech coaching experience into a comprehensive, how-to guide to help experienced, novice, and terrified speakers alike. Cossolottos breakthrough book and entertaining seminars are packed with powerful mindset shifts, profound insights, and practical tips that can help you advance your career, enhance your leadership skills, boost your self-confidence, and make a difference in the world.

Ten Percent of Book Sales Will Support Humanitarian Relief in UkraineCossolotto dedicated The Joy of Public Speaking to his former colleagues at NATO, the 30-member transatlantic alliance that was founded in 1949.

With that dedication in mind, commented Cossolotto, and in view of recent tragic events, I have been wondering what I and my readers, students and clients can do to help the people of Ukraine during the current crisis. I have decided to donate 10 percent of my book sales this year to humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.

What Participants Will Learn in Cossolottos PodiumPower! WorkshopsOpinion surveys confirm that most people rank public speaking as one of their top fears, along with spiders, snakes, and death itself. Cossolottos inspiring new book and workshops embrace a simple, commonsense proposition: People who learn to enjoy public speaking tend to be better at it than those hobbled by anxiety, trepidation, or outright terror.

Workshop participants will learn about these and other powerful concepts to propel them on their journey to joy:

Cossolottos Triad Empowerment System (TES): Reach Your Peak PotentialThe Joy of Public Speaking is the first book in Cossolottos personal empowerment trilogy. Two more books are coming soon. One highlights the seven essential habits of SUCCESS and another promotes the power of promises with a foreword by Jack Canfield, co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. These books and related coaching/speaking programs feature a unique combination of three power tools: Habits, Speaking and Promises. Cossolotto refers to this as the Triad Empowerment System (TES). TES supports Cossolottos long-term mission: To help millions of people around the world achieve their dreams, keep their promises, and reach their peak potentialon and off the podium.

The Joy of Public Speaking is available on Amazon books.

Follow the full story here: https://przen.com/pr/33446743

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Corporate responsibility to women empowerment: an essential part of doing business | Ctech – CTech

Posted: at 9:36 pm

I got to grow up in Greece, in a nurturing and empowering environment that has always conveyed that desire and skills will take you wherever you want to go. On the one hand, as the leader of social and corporate responsibility of a global group, there is no doubt that the issue of women's empowerment and concern for their rights and the egalitarian conception towards them, are at the core of my daily pursuits and that of the company.

I believe that this duality is shared by quote a few senior-level women, who have developed thanks to their skills and their investment, while witnessing the struggle of many women around the world, to overcome obstacles, prejudices and limitations imposed on them by the environment, consciously or unconsciously, and make the most out of their abilities and aspirations.

And this, in my opinion, is where the role of companies, whose issues of corporate social responsibility are at the core of their work, comes into the picture in the most significant way. Many companies in the world today understand that corporate responsibility is not a secondary part of doing business, but an essential and integral part of it, and therefore it must be incorporated into the strategy and day-to-day conduct.

Accordingly, a company cannot hold a true concept of corporate responsibility without the issues of promoting women, empowering, and nurturing them, being inherently and deeply integrated within its conduct, consciously and while setting a living and lasting personal example. The most significant place where companies can act in for women is within themselves: making sure that they create and promote a nurturing and encouraging environment that helps women climb over barriers and examines them only based on their skills and abilities.

There is no doubt that the energy industry in general, and gas production in particular, is characterized by a prominent male dominance. It is a tough industry, rich in capital and risk, with significant geopolitical interfaces, factors that are probably traditionally perceived as more "masculine". At the same time, in Energean, women now make a considerable % of the company's human capital - both at the employee level and at the management level, and the numbers are only growing from year to year. The many women I talk to and meet with during my work, inside and outside the company, are proud to be part of an industry that has a far-reaching impact on every field in which we live, and feel equal in a company based on values of transparency and commitment to the world we live in.

In my view, organizations and corporations in which the gender issue has been fully implemented and are operating in countries and regions where women have long been perceived as equals when it comes to value and opportunities, should focus their efforts in developing the next step in female empowerment: developing and investing in elements such as commitment, ambition, passion and enthusiasm. These are the levers that will take successful, opinionated, and talented women from wherever they are in their careers, to the next level. As the Greek poet C.P. Cavafy wrote in the poem Ithaka: Laistrygonians, Cyclops, wild Poseidonyou wont encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you

And above all we need to emphasize that this is not a favor that we do for women. It is not only the moral and right way, but also the economic and profitable one. Corporates who adopt this way get a diversity of voices and ideas around management tables and as a direct outcome a better growth and productivity. This is in the best interest of the organization and for us all as a society.

Ilia Rigas is Head of CSR at Energean

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Catalyzing a New Generation of Learners Through ICT – Ericsson

Posted: at 9:36 pm

The future of Knowledge economy lies in investing in the upskilling of the youth and young children in schools. However, it is the case across the world that students are still in need of the skills and competencies necessary to succeed in a knowledge economy, despite being enrolled in formal education.[1] Quality education prepares young people for economic and personal empowerment that positively impacts national economies. Yet, large numbers of learners are failing to have access to skills they need to transition to work and realize opportunities in the information age.

Data from International Labor Organization shows that more than one in five (22.4%) young people aged 1524 were neither in employment, education, or training in 2020. What is more, two out of every three of these (67.5%) are young women, who outnumber men two to one. [2] Sustainable Development Goal 4 aims to address this by ensuring an inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.[3]

Ericssons Connect To Learn program is our global education initiative and partnership with like-minded organizations Supporting Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) 4 aims to ensure inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all. Connect to Learn supports this ambition by using technology to give those most in need access to quality education.[4] We believe improving educational opportunities is also vital for achieving other sustainable development goals, such as gender equality.

Girls in particular have a much greater chance of improving their quality of life through education, with a World Bank study showing that every year in secondary school correlates with an 18 percent increase in a girls future earning power.[5]

In Oman, we are deploying the Digital skills program as part of Connect To Learn initiative at the Center of Excellence for Advanced Telecommunications technology and IoT (CoE) to inspire the youth into exploring, learning, and choosing careers in STEM. Similarly, providing initiatives that aims to upskill curriculum developers and ICT educators alike, removing traditional barriers of time and space, in addition to enabling schools to cross national and international boundaries.

With this ambition, Ericsson has partnered with number of public, private, and nonprofit organizations working together in support of a quality education and digital inclusion for all. Omans Ministry of Finance, in partnership with Ericsson, has established the Center of Excellence for Advanced Telecommunications technology and IoT (CoE) to provide students, researchers, and startups with access to latest 5G and IoT technologies.[6] As part of the CoE, school students aged 11 to 16 years, will have access to a variety of hands-on learning modules in its Digital Labs benefitting 1,700 students by end of 2023. The program will provide students with the opportunity for practical training by experienced facilitators and help them discover the fun of programming and learn basic digital skills in robotics, electronics, AI, creative coding, and game development. Exposing children to basic ICT concepts can influence career choices for some and convey a basic understanding to many.

Furthermore, in cooperation with the New York Academy of Sciences and in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation we have launched the Junior Academy Program[7] in 2021. The program will give 100 Omani youth between the ages of 13 and 17 the opportunity to receive mentoring and participate in the Internet of Things challenge for virtual innovation. Our target is to give the opportunity to 200 students by 2023 to develop scientific research and innovation skills required to find solutions and build prototypes solving real life problems using IoT. Worth mentioning that since its announcement the program received great local interest from students and parents alike.

Ericsson is also offering new learning experiences by partnering with specialized online learning platforms and enabling access to quality online courses to ICT learners and educators. By the year 2023, 2700 learners will have access to the learning platform. In addition to Ericssons own educational portal Ericsson Educate that aims to upskill senior year university students specializing in technical qualifications.[8]

Education is at the very core of economic development and a key to a bright future. ICT is increasingly at the center of the education process offering new and creative ways to combine classroom experience, home learning, global outreach, and connectivity to the burgeoning world of online learning.

[1] https://www.oecd.org/education/2030/E2030%20Position%20Paper%20(05.04.2018).pdf

[2] https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_737648.pdf

[3] https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4

[4] https://www.ericsson.com/en/about-us/sustainability-and-corporate-responsibility/digital-inclusion/access-to-education

[5] https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2016/04/13/world-bank-group-to-invest-25-billion-in-education-projects-benefiting-adolescent-girls

[6] https://www.ericsson.com/en/press-releases/5/2020/omans-ministry-of-finance-signs-agreement-to-establish-a-center-of-excellence-for-advanced-telecommunications-technology-and-iot-with-ericsson

[7] https://www.nyas.org/programs/global-stem-alliance/the-junior-academy/

[8] https://educate.ericsson.net/

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One in five women started investing for the first time amid covid: Survey – Mint

Posted: at 9:36 pm

Independence in financial decision-making has led to a sense of personal empowerment in women, with 44% saying they prioritised creating a financial plan, 40% saying they committed to saving more, and 23% increasing their investments. One in five women (22%) started to invest for the first time amid the pandemic.

These are the findings of an annual survey by digital wealth manager Scripbox on womens investing habits and financial goals. The survey highlights a growing trend of women taking greater control of their money, accelerated by the economic impact of the pandemic.

Scripbox digitally surveyed over 750 women across India through February 2022, on womens communities on social media, including Gurgaon Moms and Mumbai Moms.

Women are proactively seeking to educate themselves on money matters, reveals the survey. Nearly 30% of women share that they had sought to educate themselves on personal finance during the pandemic. 30% of them rely on digital investment platforms for information on financial planning and investing, 20% depend on friends and family and 15% refer to articles on personal finance.

Around 70% of women (60% in 2021) have said that they are either independently managing their own money (32%) or are actively involved in financial decision-making with their spouse (38%). Compared to last years survey, there is an 11% uptick in the number of women who are independently managing their expenses today. Prudence has been the order of the day, with only less than 10% of women resorting to revenge shopping.

Despite these strides taken with investing their money, women continue to be cautious with their savings. Mutual funds is the most preferred investment instrument among 22% of women surveyed, followed by shares and gold. 34% of women prefer to put their money in a mix of traditional investment options like fixed deposits, recurring deposits, PPF and savings accounts.

The survey highlights a progressive reduction in gender role gaps and increased independence in women with wealth management. With an increase in awareness and interest in financial planning and wealth creation, we are witnessing a positive shift in investment preferences, goals, behaviours and mindsets. Women are motivated to save and invest and take control of their financial journey now more than ever. As a digital wealth manager, our aim is to help investors make these informed decisions that allow them to achieve their life goals," said Atul Shinghal, Founder and CEO at Scripbox.

Long-term life goals continue to be a priority. Saving for retirement (20%) and for childrens education (20%) emerged as the most important financial goals for women across India. While women under 35 years wish to make more money as their next financial goal, women over 35 years have said that they would prefer to create an emergency fund.

The simple truth is that being in control of your own money, means youre in control of your own life. Investing, just like any other skill, needs to be developed. Its encouraging to see women bring their natural predisposition to action to this important area of their life. Only positive things can come from this change!" said Neela Kaushik, Founder and CEO, GurgaonMoms & a Community Specialist & Columnist.

Taking money matters into their own hands helps create a virtuous cycle of benefits. 70% of women have said that it gave them a greater sense of confidence and independence, and helped improve their overall well-being.

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Geoffrey Weli-Wosu and Mohammed Ibrahim Jega appointed as BSV Ambassadors for West and East Africa – CoinGeek

Posted: at 9:36 pm

The BSV blockchains Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business with the BSV blockchain, today announces that it has appointed two new BSV Ambassadors as part of its global ambassador programme. Mohammed Ibrahim Jega and Geoffrey Weli-Wosu have both been appointed as BSV Ambassadors for West and East Africa.

BSV Ambassadors are experienced professionals from the BSV ecosystem who work to raise awareness and improve understanding of the BSV blockchain and its corresponding digital currency, as well as the power of the BSV data network protocol to enable a massively scaled data and payments network distributed around the world. With todays additions, there are now 29 BSV Ambassadors representing 30 different countries and territories.

Geoffrey Weli-Wosu and Mohammed Ibrahim Jega collaborate on several technology ventures across Africa. They are Co-Founders of Domineum Blockchain Solutions (where Weli-Wosu also serves as CEO), which provides blockchain-as-a-service solutions built on the BSV blockchain for government and enterprise use. Domineum will be deploying blockchain solutions for government departments across Africa and through collaboration with Baze University, Domineum will be providing Credentials Verification Management on BSV Blockchain in Nigeria.

The pair also work together at VoguePay, where Weli-Wosu is Co-founder and Chief Marketing Executive and Jega is a Director and Chief Business Development Executive; VoguePay is an online payment processing company serving Africa. In addition, Weli-Wosu serves as a director on the boards of several prominent financial and technology-related companies, and Jega, a serial tech entrepreneur, start-up mentor and blockchain advocate, Is the Founder of Startup Arewa, an ecosystem that stimulates tech entrepreneurship and fosters economic growth in Nigeria. Together, Jega and Weli-Wosu each offer decades of high-level experience in business, technology and start-up management, making them an invaluable component of the BSV blockchain ecosystem.

Speaking on todays announcement, Founding President of BSV blockchains association, Jimmy Nguyen commented:

Both Jega and Weli-Wosu are truly passionate about the BSV blockchain and its ability to provide a platform to enable digital transformation for countries and personal empowerment for individuals from every socio-economic background. They have generously contributed their time and expertise to growing the adoption and knowledge of the BSV blockchain across Africa and around the world. In their roles as BSV Ambassadors for West and East Africa, Jega and Weli-Wosu will advocate for adoption of the BSV blockchain on the African continent and grow awareness and education of the technology throughout the region.

Commenting on his appointment as BSV ambassador for West and East Africa, Mohammed Ibrahim Jega said:

The BSV blockchain has the potential to empower businesses, governments, developers and consumers across West and East Africa through its unbounded scaling and fast, cheap microtransaction capabilities. In this new role as BSV ambassador for West and East Africa, I hope to raise awareness of the role BSV blockchain can play in the digital transformation of this region, and to grow education of the technology among the many developers and young talent on the African continent.

Speaking on his appointment as BSV ambassador for West and East Africa, Geoffrey Weli-Wosu said:

I am passionate about the potential for the BSV blockchain to empower people and businesses on the African continent through its creation of an accessible and scalable network for micropayments and data applications. In my new role as BSV Ambassador for West and East Africa, I will work to improve awareness of the BSV blockchain in the region and act as a touchpoint to facilitate further adoption and education that will lead to more businesses and individuals building on the BSV blockchain.

Media Contact

[emailprotected]

About the BSV Blockchain

BSV is the ideal blockchain for enterprise and government projects. With unbounded on-chain scaling, theBSV blockchainmeets the needs of large-scale technology applications: high transaction volumes, fast speed, predictable low fees, micropayment capabilities, and greater data capacity. Its powerful technical capabilities enable smart contracts, tokenization, IoT device management, computation and more. As a public ledger, BSV also enables transparency, auditability and more honesty for governments, citizens and enterprises. Applications on BSV now span a wide array of industry sectors media & entertainment, social media, online games, Metaverse/AR/VR, digital advertising, data integrity, ID management, government services, supply chain, accounting, RegTech, distributed network intelligence, Internet of Things, and financial services. BSV also supports an environment-friendly and regulation-compliant blockchain ecosystem that enterprises and governments want.

New to Bitcoin? Check out CoinGeeksBitcoin for Beginnerssection, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about Bitcoinas originally envisioned by Satoshi Nakamotoand blockchain.

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What the Recent Targeted Legislative LGBTQ Backlash Means – News @ Northeastern – Northeastern University

Posted: at 9:35 pm

A host of new legislative measures designed to discriminate against LGBTQ people has been introduced in states across the U.S., a dark trend that, oddly enough, still may signal hope, says K.J. Rawson, associate professor of English and womens, gender, and sexuality studies at Northeastern.

As any oppressed group gains visibility and increased rights, its fairly predictable that that group will then become targeted, says Rawson, who studies rhetoric of queer and transgender archival collections. In some ways, we might see this as part of the path to more human rights, but the cost is to the more vulnerable members of the community.

K.J. Rawson is an associate professor of English and womens, gender and sexuality studies in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Indeed, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told state health agencies last week that medical treatments provided to transgender adolescents, widely considered to be the standard of care in medicine, should be classified as child abuse under existing state law. He called upon licensed professionals and members of the general public to report the parents of transgender minors to state authorities if it appears the minors are receiving gender-affirming medical care.

Some officials have already tried to begin those investigations. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services opened an investigation into one of its own employees who has a transgender teenager, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and the firm Baker Botts, filed a lawsuit in Travis County on behalf of another anonymous family on Tuesday as well, asking the court to block enforcement of Abbotts order. A judge on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the state from performing a child-abuse investigation of a family seeking gender-affirming care for their transgender child.

And in Florida, members of the state House of Representatives passed HB 1557, also known as the Dont Say Gay bill. The measure would limit when and how teachers and school staff can discuss gender and sexual orientation in the classroom.

Neither measure has passed so far, and the Texas measure faces gaping questions over howor whetherits even enforceable, says Libby Adler,

Libby Adler, professor of law and womens, gender, and sexuality studies at Northeastern. Courtesy photo

professor of law and womens, gender, and sexuality studies at Northeastern.

It is not clear that the governor has the authority to unilaterally declare a

medical protocol to be abuse, she says.

Still, Abbott and those who support the measure could start causing a lot of trouble for parents trying to do the right thing for their kids, Adler says.

Adler and Rawson both emphasize that the proposed measures target queer and transgender children and teenagerssome of the most vulnerable people in the broader LGBTQ community.

That is where we see the challenge and the cost of progress, the burden of those costs are not equally shared by all, Rawson says, adding however, that the cost of progress need not be so high.

If you imagine the long arc of queer and trans human rights, you can see this intentional backlash as a sign that were gaining momentum and traction, Rawson says, but its a mistake to think thats inevitable. Doing so only solidifies the belief that to make progress we have to make sacrifices.

For media inquiries, please contact media@northeastern.edu.

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