Tiddee News

Tuesday, April 14, 2009: For Earth Day Celebration, Simi Valley Town Center intends to encourage guests from all the way through the region to be familiar with green living, learn during this course, and get items at no cost to help save energy and lessen throwaways.

It has been decided that Friday, April 17 remains fixed for a complete day of colorful actions and programs. The Center of Simi Valley Town Center will run eco program offering environment friendly options and instructions at every go round. All this has been planned keeping in view the provision of steps necessary to save the environment.

The prime attractions will include Electronic waste collection, a novel concept of “e-waste” collection center, which will be sponsored by the City of Simi Valley scheduled between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Waste Management and CJSeto Support Services, LLC, would present the visitors with a possibility of disposing their unwanted computers and domestic electronic items absolutely free. This will take place in the Town Center close to the parking lot, Wells Fargo Bank. The time slot for the same has been fixed between 3 and 8 p.m. Moreover, Eco Resource Fair will be held in Center Court, Town Center.

The visitors are requested to stopover at Guest Services to take delivery of a free packed in florescent light bulb when they promise to switch over to energy-efficient lighting system (this offer is valid till supplies last).

Visitors are also requested to attend Guest Services to obtain an “eco” tote handy bag on the purchase of a gift card having the worth  $25 or more (this is again valid till supplies last).

The much popular Resource Fair shall have information booths by the Simi Valley’s city as well as Waste Management, and from various other organizations to provide information about how to conserve water and priceless landscapes. City’s Video Inspection Vehicle Demonstrations would be among the prominent features.

Source: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/apr/14/earth-day-celebration-all-day-friday-at-simi/

Chicagoland, April 2: An article on imposing high taxes on cigarettes titled “Taxes on Cigarette burn low end” stunned the readers. They were left under the impression that people having low incomes will be burdened due to increasing cigarettes taxes. However, the hard facts related to cigarette smoking go like this:
 
1. Cigarette smoking is a big health hazard for all involved. It enhances the chances of one or the other fatal disease for every smoker as well as for those who are exposed to secondhand smoke regardless of their income.
2. Smoking enhances health care expenditures both for the people who possess personal health care insurance and for the tax payees who lend a helping hand to all government-aided plans for the uninsured and poor people
3. Cigarette taxes have always been a proven government strategy to discourage teens and adults from smoking and to encourage children and teens not to start smoking.
4. With the passage of time, the tax revenue decreases, if any, are offset against the community health benefits. Consequently, heart attacks are reduced, less cases of low birth weight or pre-term babies are heard, reduced cases of cancers are detected, and this list continues.
 
The Illinois General Assembly has planned to raise the tax on cigarette by $1. It is also determined on raising the tax on various other tobacco products, for instance smokeless and cigars. The rapid passing of these bills has been earnestly requested by the Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco. The Assembly officials declared that they must move hurriedly to encounter the menace of tobacco abuse in their state as it takes toll on more than 16,000 lives annually. The tobacco industry attempts to portray that they having a caring attitude about people having low incomes. Contrary to this, they are busy minting money and are least considerate. It’s high time we break free from myths woven around the tobacco industry and hold up an elevated cigarette tax to perk up the fitness of all Illinoisans.
 
 
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-090406hackbarth_briefs,0,7173696.story

WASHINGTON, March 30:  Reform in the U.S. healthcare system is of great significance this year because of increasing costs and deteriorating care, the Health and Human Services Department stated on Monday in a report.

Various studies conducted in this field justify the calls for an overhaul of the entire healthcare system. The HHS report compiles findings of these studies and publishes them at www.healthreform.gov.  

Though the call for change is not a controversial issue, conservatives and liberals hold different opinions on the approach that they should have. President Barack Obama declared he wants the legislation this year but has left to Congress to work out the details.

Jenny Backus, HHS spokeswoman, declared in a statement that today’s report outlined the excessive cost incurred just in waiting to fix a system that left countless Americans deprived of the quality healthcare they actually deserved.

According to the report the United States spent $2.2 trillion on healthcare in the year 2007, or $7,421 per capita. Healthcare expenses account for more than 16 percent of the GDP. The figure is nearly twice the average of amount spent by other developed countries.

Healthcare costs have almost doubled from 1996 to 2006. They are estimated to rise to 25 percent of the gross domestic product in 2025 and 49 percent by 2082, other things being equal.

The report reads the employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have more than doubled during the past nine years. As per this report American businesses are gradually losing their capability to battle the international marketplace because of these devastating healthcare overheads.

It was further stated in the report that despite the vast amount of resources invested in healthcare, the system has not attained the goal of high-quality care as yet.

The report said that U S scored an overall total of 65 out of a probable score of100,  across the 37 performance indications. Such reports help the US President’s beareau  to decide the US policy  of  healthcare .

Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN3034868020090330