Help The Middle ClassNews and Information For The Heart Of America
Potentially Harmful Chemicals In Household Goods Kept Secret Under Law (The Washington Post)
Of the 84,000 chemicals in commercial use in the United States — from flame retardants in furniture to household cleaners — nearly 20 percent are secret, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, their names and physical properties guarded from consumers and virtually all public officials under a little-known federal provision.
The policy was designed 33 years [...]
Artificial Sweetners: Are They Any Good For You?
The Internet is flooded with rumors that artificial sweeteners are dangerous to your health. Is there any truth to these rumors? Should you worry?
A short introduction to intense sweetness:
Sweet tasting foods are rare in nature. Fruits and vegetables have some sweetness to them, but they’re also packed with lots of fiber, water, micronutrients and phytochemicals, [...]
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Opinion: Local Governments Can Lead Fight Against Climate Change (Huffington Post)
Leaders from around the world gather, in a quest for a global pact to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and tackle the single greatest challenge of our time.
I am joining them, to discuss the urgency of their efforts, the economic opportunities we can seize, and the tremendous role of subnational governments in climate-change mitigation.
Some pundits have described [...]
Few Changes For Millions In Health Bill (The New York Times/MSNBC)
Now that the Senate has caught up with the House by passing a sweeping health care bill, lawmakers are on the verge of extending coverage to the tens of millions of Americans who have no health insurance.
But what about the roughly 160 million workers and their dependents who already have health insurance through an employer? [...]
Medical Charts: The Senate vs. The House on Health Care Reform (Yahoo!)
Early Christmas Eve morning, Senators are due to vote aye or nay on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as their vision of how to reform health care in America.
The House wrangled its version last month. While President Obama says the two proposals are 95% “identical,” that 5% difference has spurred some [...]
Copenhagen Wrap Up: Enviromentalists Denounced Obama Brokered Deal As A “Sham” (The Observer)
The agreement brokered by Barack Obama has faced international criticism from all sides, but most participants are already back home trying to portray it as a national political victory.
The last time Barack Obama took a chance on Copenhagen it ended in abject humiliation.
The president hopped on a flight to the Danish capital to join a [...]
Climate Deal Announced, But Falls Short of Expectations (New York Times)
Leaders here concluded a climate change deal on Friday that the Obama administration called “meaningful” but that falls short of even the modest expectations for the summit meeting here.
The agreement still needs to be approved by the 193 nations gathered here.
The accord addresses many of the issues that leaders came here to settle — and [...]
Obama Gets ‘Hot’ At Climate Talks – No Real Victory (AP/Yahoo!)
A clearly frustrated President Barack Obama displayed impatience Friday with world leaders’ failure to reach a new climate accord, urging them to accept a less-than-perfect pact while offering no new U.S. concessions.
Obama said the United States has acted boldly by vowing to reduce heat-trapping gasses and help other nations pay for similar efforts.
But he indirectly [...]
9 Power Foods That Boost Immunity (Prevention)
Foods that Fight Illness
It takes more than an apple a day to keep the doctor away. It turns out that eating some pretty surprising nutrients will help keep your immune system on guard.
You can ensure your body and immunity run smoothly by rounding out your plate with plenty of colorful servings of fruits and veggies, [...]
Climate Talks Falter As U.S. Backs $100 Billion Climate Fund (Reuters)
Danish hosts re-launched U.N. climate talks on Thursday after the United States backed a $100 billion global fund to support poor countries and world leaders gathered for a final effort to reach a deal.
Ministers urged action as Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen dropped plans to present his own proposed draft texts which had stalled [...]
