Vegetarian and Vitamin B12

Taken from Tzu Chi's monthly distributed magazine 140 01/2012.

Vitamin B12 is important for nervous system such as brain, spinal cord, nerve and also for red blood cell. Long term deficiency will bring about side effects related to these parts of your body.

However, the amount which Vitamin B12 required by the body is not in large quantity and it can be stored in the body (for a longer time) and being reused.

If one is a lacto-ovo-vegetarian, one will have no problem with having enough Vitamin B12 because it is available from eggs, yoghurt, cheese, soya and etc.

According to ADA (American Dietetic Association), Vitamin B12 cannot be found from plant-based food sources. Therefore, for pure vegetarian, the following options must be considered.

1.) Consume food supplement.

Bee Pollen is a good choice of natural food supplement for Vitamin B12.

2.) Consume food and beverages which contain Vitamin B12 such as soya and breakfast cereal.

Plant vs Zombies - Pogo Party

This mini game from plant vs zombies is pretty challenging due to two reasons:

1. Not enough time to gather enough sunlight to plant powerful weapon. The only cheaper options are either cabbage-pult(cabbage shooter) or kernel-pult(corn shooter).
   
2. Magnet-shroom must be planted early to deal with properly.
   

The solution I found to be effective is to plan Magnet-shroom early (in the front) in a straight line in the middle so that vaulting zombies can be knocked off its pogo stick early so that cabbage shooter can attack it earlier and more effective.

Appropriate usage of pumpkin and cherry bomb is also useful.

More on games.

How to Save Capitalism ? Michael Schuman (Time)

Something's gone wrong with the global economy. But there are ways to put things back on track.

The solution is to encourage more capitalism.

The author suggested that governments must not rescue banks. Only freer markets can ensure that wrongdoers lose and do-gooders win.

Secondly, to encourage more corporate governance for better financial management and moral justification for a capitalist system.

So, what is the proper definition for capitalism ?

Capitalism biggest opposition is communism. Period.

Capitalism is a meritocracy that rewards the hardworking and talented. However, the biggests problem with capitalism is the widening gap between rich and poor. What about equal opportunity ?

There can never be. It is never perfect. It is like trying to make things right for a specific period of time. Does it means that parents who can afford early education for kids must defer sending childrens to pre-school so that it will create more equality for others who can't afford. It doesn't make sense either.

The solution is to encourage a freer economy ? Yes but we need more than that.

Phosphate Diet Control For Kidneys' Health

High level of phosphorus will greatly affect the kidneys. When kidneys fail, blood phosphate level increases. High blood phosphate levels absorb calcium from bones causing bones to become brittle and weak in the long term. High calcium and phosphate levels cause skin itchiness, joint pains as well as eye irritation.

Hence, foods that has to be taken minimally are:

• Beverages - carbonated drinks, cocoa drinks.
  
• Cereals & grains - bakery products which contain yeast/self - raising flour / baking soda.
  
• Eggs (yolk) and cheese products.
  
• Processed meats - burgers, sausages, patties, nuggets etc
  
• Sauces and condiments - instant cooking powders/sauces, fish paste, sesame seeds, soup cubes, marmite/vegemite, peanut butter, dried shrimps and mushrooms
  
• Dairy /milk products - especially skimmed milk powder
  
• Fruits - dried fruits like raisins & sultanas.
  

Vegetables and fruits are to be consumed at appropriate portions and be cautious about fruits with high potassium level.

For more details, refer to NKF.

Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) For The Proposed Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR)

The Proposed Project is about constructing and operating a tolled expressway linking Kajang SILK Highway (E18) at the southern side to Karak Expressway (E8) at the northern side of the expressway. It will provide bypass route for inter-urban traffic that do not need to pass through the city centre of Kuala Lumpur for those who intent to travel from the southern part of the Klang Valley (e.g. Cheras, Bangi, Subang) to the northern parts of Kuala Lumpur (e.g. Selayang, Gombak) or vice versa. It also serves as a bypass around Kuala Lumpur for inter-regional traffic from the Karak Highway to other regions. The proposed expressway is part of the planned Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road.

With good design and responsible implementation and management by the Project Proponent, most of these impacts can be reasonably minimised with appropriate mitigation and control measures as proposed in this report. The proposed monitoring programmes to be carried out will ensure that criteria and standards of environmental quality are observed and abided by the project proponent throughout the project’s life. It is important that this project be carried out in full compliance with all the conditions set by DOE and the relevant regulatory agencies.

The KLORR Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) is available for public review and comments. The proposed alignment of the KLORR will cut through some parts of the Selangor State Park, a park that provides vital ecosystem services to the people residing in the Klang Valley. The park acts as the main water catchment forests, providing water to Klang Valley residents and harbours rich biodiversity. It is an environmentally sensitive area.

If you are concerned about the development of this road within the Selangor State Park, please take this opportunity to review the DEIA (Executive Summary) at http://gis.doe.gov.my/eia2/Upload_folder/Ex_Su/ExecutiveSummaryklorr.pdf and provide comments to the Department of Environment by 23rd January, 2012.

You can submit your views via snail mail or fax to:

Director General
Department of Environment
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Level 2, Podium 3, Wisma Sumber Asli
No.25, Persiaran Perdana
62574 PUTRAJAYA
(Attn: Assessment Division –DEIA Secretariat)
Tel : 03-8871 2000, Fax : 03-8889 1045

用感覺去應對世間，不是真的美好，用禪心去體會人生，才是正確的菩提。~星雲大師

用感覺去應對世間，不是真的美好，用禪心去體會人生，才是正確的菩提。~星雲大師

WWF-Malaysia’s Forest for Life Programme

Forests cover 30% of the Earth's surface and contain much of the biological diversity found on land – they harbour over two-thirds of known terrestrial species, many of which are threatened. As you read this, an estimated 13 hectares of the world's forest are lost. In the next 30 seconds, another 13 hectares will disappear. Within a minute, mankind succeeds in undoing 1,000 years of natural evolution. Read on to understand a little more about our Malaysian rainforests, and how YOU can help us change for the better.

WWF-Malaysia’s Forest for Life Programme aims to increase the coverage of forest protected areas, improve the management of production forests for the supply of sustainable timber, and restore degraded areas especially where there is need to maintain critical forest linkages.

Breast Cancer - It’s not just an old ladies’ disease

When young women get breast cancer it often spreads more aggressively, leading to tougher treatments and lower survival rates.
Add such age-specific issues as fertility, diagnosis during pregnancy, childcare, financial security… and breast cancer becomes a triple threat to young women.

But here’s the good news: When it’s caught in its earliest stages, the five-year survival rate for women ages 20-39 is almost 90%. We think that¹s a pretty fabulous reason for every young woman to get proactive about her breast health.

Rethink Breast Cancer

Makna's Volunteer Activities Jan-Feb 2012

JANUARY 2012

Event	Date	Organiser	Status
Ca Awareness, Fundraising, HospVisit	5 - 6 Jan	at Penang General Hospital Time: 9.30am - 5.00pm Volunteer: Mdm Azlina	C
Volunteer Support Group, Fundraising	7 - 8 Jan	at Kpg Tanjong Senkanang, Segamat Johor Time: 9.30am - 2.00pm Volunteer: Mr Mokthar	C
Interstates Support Group Meeting,Fundraising	13 - 15 Jan	at Bukit Larut, Taiping Perak Time: 9.30am - 5.30pm Volunteer: Mr Nazri, Mdm Nadzirah	C
Hospital Support Group, Fundraising	16 - 17 Jan	at Hospital Kulim Kedah Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Volunteer: Mdm Azlina	C

FEBRUARY 2012

Event	Date	Organiser	Status
Kancer Klimb 2012 - World Cancer Day	2 - 4 Feb	at Mount Kinabalu, Kundasang Sabah Time: 3 Days 2 Nights	C
Volunteer Appreciation 2011	4 - 5 Feb	at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Volunteer: Ms Monica Dius	C
1st Makna Introductory Programme	18 Feb	at MAKNA Office Time: 10.00am - 1.00pm Volunteer: Mr Ahmad	C
1st Technical Activities	25 Feb	at MAKNA Office Time: 10.00am - 3.00pm Volunteer: Mdm Nining	C

Makna welcome donations in kind for our community outreach programmes. You may send Milo, condensed milk, powder milk, rice, biscuits, sardine or any canned food, clothes, blankets, pillow, mattress, stationery etc to us. Please send them to MAKNA Volunteer Management Office.

To participate in the volunteer activities, please call :-

Ms Mama Gie : 019 - 2894 717 or 03 - 2161 1645
Email: fadzilahwan[at]makna.org.my

Ms Monica : 014 - 887 2026 or 03 - 2161 1645
Email: monicadius[at]makna.org.my

For more information, check out Makna.