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Daily Archives: October 15, 2013

Report – Air pollution still harming health across Europe

“Around 90 % of city dwellers in the European Union (EU) are exposed to one of the most damaging air pollutants at levels deemed harmful to health by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This result comes from the latest assessment of air quality in Europe, published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report, Air quality in Europe – 2013 report, is an EEA contribution to the European Commission’s review of air quality policy and the EU Year of Air. Vehicles, industry, agriculture and homes are contributing to air pollution in Europe. Despite falling emission levels and reductions of some air pollutant concentrations in recent decades, the report demonstrates that Europe’s air pollution problem is far from solved. Two specific pollutants, particulate matter and ground-level ozone, continue to be a source breathing problems, cardiovascular disease and shortened lives. New scientific findings show that human health can be harmed by lower concentrations of air pollution than previously thought.”

London’s Poverty Profile 2013

London’s Poverty Profile – The Trust for London and the New Policy Institute – Hannah Aldridge, Sabrina Bushe, Peter Kenway, Tom MacInnes and Adam Tinson. “London’s Poverty Profile looks at the extent and depth of poverty and inequality in London. It is an independent report that presents evidence from official government data sources. The scope… Continue Reading

Congressional Notification for Authorized Public Disclosure of Intelligence Information

Steven Aftergood/Secrecy News: “A new Department of Defense directive requires the Pentagon to notify Congress whenever a DoD official discloses classified intelligence to a reporter on an authorized basis, or declassifies the information specifically for release to the press. The new directive on “Congressional Notification for Authorized Public Disclosure of Intelligence Information” applies to all… Continue Reading

WaPo – NSA challenged by data overcollection from e-mail address books, buddy lists

Barton Gellman, Ashkan Soltani, Julie Tate: “The National Security Agency is harvesting hundreds of millions of contact lists from personal e-mail and instant messaging accounts around the world, many of them belonging to Americans, according to senior intelligence officials and top-secret documents provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The collection program, which has not… Continue Reading

The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program

“The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) provides a set of guiding principles for exercise programs, as well as a common approach to exercise program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning. Exercises are a key component of national preparedness —they provide elected and appointed officials and stakeholders from across the whole… Continue Reading

Gallup – In U.S., Online Education Rated Best for Value and Options

Viewed as weakest in terms of trusted grading and acceptance by employers by Lydia Saad, Brandon Busteed, and Mitchell Ogisi “Still something of a novelty, online education is seen relatively positively by Americans for giving students a wide range of curricula options and for providing good value for the money. However, Americans tend to think… Continue Reading

WHO – Research for universal health coverage 2013

“Universal health coverage ensures everyone has access to the health services they need without suffering financial hardship as a result. In December 2012, a UN resolution was passed encouraging governments to move towards providing universal access to affordable and quality health care services. As countries move towards it, common challenges are emerging — challenges to… Continue Reading

TRAC – Fewer Immigration Removal Filings Based on Criminal Activity

“Of all filings in the Immigration Courts seeking to deport noncitizens during fiscal year 2013, only one in seven (14.4 percent) have been based on alleged criminal activity. This proportion is roughly half what it was twenty years ago, when 28.5 percent — more than a quarter — of removal filings were based on criminal… Continue Reading

Myths, Presumptions, and Facts about Obesity

Myths, Presumptions, and Facts about Obesity. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:446-454 January 31, 2013 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa1208051 “Passionate interests, the human tendency to seek explanations for observed phenomena, and everyday experience appear to contribute to strong convictions about obesity, despite the absence of supporting data. When the public, mass media, government agencies, and even academic scientists espouse unsupported… Continue Reading