globalbriefs


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.


Go Rio


Natural Wealth Spreadsheet Proposal


The British government is setting up


a Natural Capital Committee that will describe the country’s wealth in terms


of the quality of its air, water, wildlife and other natural resources. Environment Secretary Caro- line Spelman intends to propose that all countries begin “green accounting” to audit the state of their rivers, forests and other landscapes. The United Nations Rio+20 Conference in


Brazil this June is expected to unite the participating nations in protecting the world’s environment. Sustainable development goals under consid- eration include ensuring that all agriculture is sustainable, protecting oceans, setting up an international court on environmental crime, and appointing an ombudsperson to speak on behalf of future generations. The summit, to be attended by 190 nations, will also look at cutting subsidies for fossil fuels and low carbon en- ergy for all. Spelman observes that businesses in Great Britain are already measuring the impact they are having on the environment. She states, “In the same way, governments can start to take account of damage to the environment in order to sustain resources like fresh water for fisheries, forests for clean air and green spaces for tourism. We want our own


government to take account of natural capital and our statisticians to calculate the state of the nation more widely.”


Mamma Mia A New Demography for American Motherhood


The state of motherhood in the United States has shifted strikingly in the past two decades, according to a Pew Research Center sur- vey. Compared with mothers of newborns in 1990, today’s mothers are older, better educated and less likely to be either white or married. The ideal number of children for a family is still two, as it has been since the 1970s.


Pew projects that 82 percent of U.S. population growth through 2050 will be from immigrants that arrived after 2005 and their descendants.


Sources: PewForum.org, National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau


10 NA Twin Cities Edition natwincities.com


Oldie Goldies Honoring Elders’ Contributions to Community


May spotlights Older Ameri- cans Month and the impor- tant role they play in sharing their experience, wisdom and understanding, and passing it all on to younger generations in meaningful ways. Youth that have significant relationships with a grandparent or another elder, for example, report that these relationships helped shape their values, goals and life choices, and gave them a sense of identity and roots. Many communities have increased their efforts to pro- vide opportunities for older adults, many that remain physi- cally and socially active through their 80s and beyond. Trends show that people over age 60 account for a growing percentage of participants in community service positions, faith-based organizations, online social networking groups, and arts and recreational activities. Lifelong participation in social, creative and physical


activities has proven health benefits, including retention of mobility, increased muscle mass and improved cognitive abilities. The interactions of seniors with family, friends and neighbors across generations work to enrich the lives of all.


Sources: Administration on Aging (aoa.gov) and ElderCare.gov


Breathe Easier Great Days for Clean Air


For nearly 100 years, discharges from two of Edison Interna- tional’s coal plants have polluted the air over the city of Chicago, exposing area families to danger- ous levels of chemicals while adding to the Earth’s greenhouse


gases. But the people fought back and won, because the city has quit using coal. For more than 10 years, Chicago residents have been demanding their right to clean air and a safe climate. Now, the Fisk coal plant, in Pilsen, and the Crawford operation, in Little Village, will shut down in 2012 and 2014, respectively. Clean air activists in Ohio and Pennsylvania recently claimed similar victories. Utility provider GenOn will close seven coal plants in the two states, including one in Portland, Pennsylvania, which has been deemed responsible for more than 500 asthma attacks and 54 heart attacks. “These victories are not only for the people of Chicago,


Ohio and Pennsylvania, but for local activists all over the country that are working to shut down dirty coal plants in their communities,” says Kelly Mitchell, of Greenpeace, in celebrating the announcement.


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