The Cost of Carbon…….who pays the price?

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Carbon pollution has adverse effect on the individuals, their health and also the environment. These effects attract a cost that is either borne by the people or the environment. What is the price of carbon pollution commonly referred to as carbon price? It refers to the amount that must be paid to a public authority such as carbon tax, or as emission permit exchange such as emissions for one tonne of carbon doixide into the atmosphere or purchasing emissions allowance. This can also be based on international emissions trading agreement between countries. The purpose this is implemented to ensure the “polluters pay principles” are enforced within a system. This will enable emitters to be responsible for at least a certain percentage of the cost of pollution and ultimately climate change.

Climate change has economic and social costs, which has an implication on those that are affected directly or indirectly, it has a negative impact on the flora and fauna, families, local community, the government and the nation as a whole. The sect that is least affected is the organization or companies that engage in activities that contribute to climate change because there is little or no enforcement through taxes, fines or penalties.

It is our responsibility to enlighten these organizations, the government and the public on the devastating effects of carbon on our health and the environment. This awareness will bring about change in attitude and approach of industries activities that contribute to climate change and also investment in more sustainable and greener technologies. Therefore the major contributors to climate change will bear the cost of their action and be responsible for ensuring we have a more sustainable world to live in.

The Climate reality project has developed a tool for calculating the carbon cost in different continents but unfortunately the tool has not been activated for Nigeria therefore you cannot check the cost of carbon for Nigeria at the moment. This tool highlights the effects of carbon pollution in various aspects of life and then the risk associated with such effects are classified from a range of extreme risk to low risk. The aspects considered with this tool are higher food prices, water scarcity, reduced water quality, property damage, loss of wildlife/wetlands/agriculture soil, ecological damage, higher insurance premium, spread of diseases, river or lake water level decline, heat related illness . This is just one of the various ways of highlighting the cost of carbon. What suggestions do you have on how to combat this  growing concern? We want to hear from you…….

More information on the carbon cost can be found on http://www.thecostofcarbon.org/.

More information on the Climate reality Corps can be found http://climaterealityproject.

                                      

Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited. 2014.

Twitter: @O Reese2

         @EnpactHSE

United Against Cancer: Fighting today for a cure tomorrow.

                                          

The fourth day of February every year is declared for the celebration of the world cancer day and the theme for this year is “Together it is possible” we can all fight against the scourge of cancer. Let us dispel all the myths and misconceptions we have about the disease and join hands to eradicate this disease. This period the world over is dedicated to promoting awareness on cancer, emphasizing early detection and treatment. On this occasion the Empire State building in New York will be lit orange and blue, the fourth year in a row for the promotion of cancer. The good news is that a lot of people are being educated on the devastation the scourge of this disease is bringing to a number of families. There is a geometric increase in the ratio of new incidence detected in Nigeria daily. The focus is mostly on breast cancer (women) and lung cancer (men). Although these cancers can affect all population but it could be gender based as indicated.

Nigeria, some individuals, non governmental organizations, private organizations and even the federal government have set up programs events to provide education, early detection and treatment for cancers as the need may be but is that enough? Treatment of any form of cancer can be very expensive ranging from the chemotherapy, medications and surgeries. What can we do to support the cases that require treatment? There is a need to provide machinery such as mammograms and more cancer centers for mammogram used for diagnosis of breast cancer. Early detection of cancers have been identified as the key to total eradication of cancers for they can be treated in time before there is a spread of vital organs of the body. Therefore the constant need to promote and increase awareness of breast self-examination and routine screening.

One of such events sponsored by an organization on 9^th of November, 2013 was the Zumbathon dance for a cure was held in Lagos as an avenue where celebrities came together to create awareness on the need to promote early detection and support the cancer cause through a dance session. It was highly entertaining and fun and also a source of exercise for most of those that attended for the dance was intense and vigorous. The event was organized by WOW Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed Sisters (Divas) a celebrities that were involved include Neato C,  Mrs Udo Maryann Okonjo, Rita Dominic, Julius Agwu, Sophie Mbakwe, Dr Ebele Alaka, Betty Irabor, Weird MC, Ego Boyo, Frank Edoho to mention a few with Genevieve magazine, Seplat Petroleum, Pillar Oil, Staoil and This Day Style as some of the sponsors. Some pictures of the event are shown below.

                                                

As this year’s theme implies, together we can fight for a cure by organizing events around our communities, host festivals, run/walks, seminars, public information campaigns to raise awareness and educate people on how to fight cancer through  screening and early detection, quitting smoking, adopting healthy eating habits, increasing physical activities and persuading government and policy makers to give priority to cancer prevention.

 Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited, 2014

Twitter: @O Reese2

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Join the Conversation………………. become a Climate Leader

Climate Reality Leaders are an extraordinary group of people from around the world that are unified around the same cause, spreading the truth about climate change and inspiring action on the climate crisis. Climate Reality Leaders are trained by the Chairman and Founder of the Climate Reality Project, former Vice President Al Gore to educate others about climate change and tackle the crisis head on. They’re engaging their communities with Acts of Leadership, building networks of truth, and inspiring solutions and action in their communities.

There are now nearly 6000 trained Climate Reality Leaders in more than 100 countries educating their communities about climate change and with the hope that the movement will continue to grow.

Ordinary people face challenges. Climate Reality Leaders embrace them. The Climate Reality Leadership Corps is a global network of activists committed to taking on the climate crisis and solving the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. The program takes great leaders and makes them exceptional, providing the training in climate science, communications, and organizing to tell the story of climate change and inspire communities everywhere to take action. The result is a dynamic group of world-changers shaping the conversation on climate in forums from family dinners to international summits and building a 21st-century movement for solutions.

Two Nigerians became ‘Climate Leaders’ in summer of 2013 and were trained in the historical and beautiful city of Istanbul, Turkey by Nobel Laureate Al Gore, former US vice President and Chairman of the Climate Reality Corps, USA.

Since the training, they have been committed to promoting the climate change conversation within the Nigerian community and through social media by starting up discussions, promoting adaptation to climatic impacts and proffering sustainable solutions.

Attending a Training with the Climate Reality Leadership Corps

By joining the Climate Reality Leadership Corps at the upcoming training in Johannesburg, South Africa March 12-14, you will join a very select group of world changers who have come together to confront the greatest issue of our time, the one that will define us to future generations. You bring commitment to this cause backed by a long list of accomplishments. This training is your opportunity to take your skills to the next level and go from great to truly exceptional.

During the training, you’ll learn from Al Gore and a group of world-class scientists, strategists, communicators, and organizers about the science of climate change and how to talk to people across the continent about the ways this crisis affects them personally—and what can be done to solve it. You’ll learn how to combine science and solutions, organizing techniques proven by decades of social movements with a 21st-century approach to outreach through storytelling, public speaking, social media networking, and media engagement.

Over the course of the training, you’ll meet trained Climate Reality Leaders with experience in organizing and presenting who come from various professional backgrounds and learn from their experience. You will also meet an incredible group of exceptionally motivated individuals training alongside you including public servants, business people, academics, activists, non-profit professionals, educators, and more. We can’t promise exactly what comes next, but we can promise these three days will change your life.

Further information on the Climate Reality Project: 

http://climaterealityproject.org/

http://climaterealityproject.org/africa-training/

Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited. 2014.

Twitter: @O Reese2

         @EnpactHSE

Developing personal safety plans…….planning for a sustainable 2014

24^th

Incorporating personal safety health and environmental plans into our annual new year resolutions is vital to ensure we commit to a safer, more healthy and environmental friendly goals.

It is already over two weeks into the New Year and most of us have developed New year resolutions but the question is, how sustainable are those plans? Most times we develop plans that are very vague thereby they not achievable within the time frame (annual). The traditional New Year resolutions is linked to a secular culture in the Western Hemisphere and also to the Roman tradition when promises were made at the beginning of a new year for self improvement and commitment to a better or healthier lifestyle.

A study conducted in University of Bristol in 2007 involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of the New Year resolutions made, failed even though over half of the participants in the study were optimistic that the plans were achievable when setting the goals? What went wrong is typical of most plans, systems needs to be put in place for the personal plans to be achievable in line with the popular saying “if you fail to plan, you therefore plan to fail”. After developing these plans, in order to execute, put a structure in place on how to achieve it in 2014.

Do you have a personal safety plan? Are you committed to a healthier and sustainable lifestyle in 2014? If your answer to both questions is negative then this is the time to make that pledge to adopt a greener lifestyle in order to life more fulfilled and productive lives in our world filled with emerging environmental concerns and various challenges.

Tips for developing sustainable personal plans

The following are tips to be considered in order to develop an achievable annual personal plan.

Ø  Personal plans should not be treated as “traditions” to be carried out like everyone else but like the terms states, they should be personal for each individual base on your interest and passion.

Ø  Personal plans should be written down and displayed in places such as your workstation, kitchen or dressing mirror so you can see it all the time.

Ø  Health Safety and Environmental goals should be incorporated into these plans

Ø  These plans should be specific and achievable, not too bogus or general.

Ø  Your personal plans should be measurable by having systems in place on how to achieve them for example if you plan to read a book a month, you need to be committed to joining a library, joining a book club or assign funds for buying books monthly.

Ø  Have a schedule for reviewing your personal plans quarterly to check progress on achievement, determine current status and realign accordingly.

Ø  Share your personal safety plans with trusted family and friends so they can support you in achieving these goals.

Ø  Throughout the year, try to do a better job of balancing your time between your relationship with God, your family, recreation and the demands of your job. Do not sacrifice so much to our jobs throughout the year so you can manage stress levels effectively

Ø  Have someone conduct an assessment on you personal plans to determine if it is being adhered to.

Ø  Be conscious of your daily activities and for each task or activity you want to undertake, step back and consider the implication of such behaviour , its impact on others , assets and the environment.

I wish you a safe and productive New Year. Go forth and have a sustainable 2014.                                 

                                         

Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited. 2014.

Twitter: @O Reese2

         @EnpactHSE

Celebrating a sustainable holiday…….tips for the season

                                          

The Holiday season is ideally a time to celebrate with family and friends characterized with excitement and a lot of activities ranging from shopping, partying, hosting friends and family, increase in travel, waste generation and energy consumption. Unfortunately, the holidays can also be a time when accidents occur due to increase in criminal activities during this period.

The objective of this write up is to increase our situational awareness during the festive season and to provide tips to ensure zero harm to people, assets and the environment. It also reminds us of the precautions we can all take to have a safe and happy season.                         

Tips for the holiday season

The following are precaution that should be applied during the holidays to ensure our safety and health are not compromised during the season.

Ø  Do not use your cellphone while walking in isolated areas and while riding a public transportation to prevent being a victim of snatching.

Ø  Make ATM withdrawals only from secure point and utilize Point Of Sale terminals and Internet banking for large cash transactions as much as possible.

Ø  Send e-Cards to friends and loved ones via the Internet, in place of traditional Christmas greeting cards.

Ø  Reduce energy consumption; use energy efficient bulbs or appliance as required.

Ø  Combine trips to reduce the frequency of travel; this reduces your fuel consumption and limits your exposure to hazards associated with commuting or travelling.

Ø  Eliminate food wastage:  Buy only required quantities of food items, especially perishable items and make necessary arrangements for storage and preservation. Excess food should be promptly packed and placed in the freezer. Apply the Eat, Think and Save principle.

Ø  Dispose of waste appropriately; gather waste in refuse bags and drop off at designated dumpsters or employ the services of approved Private Sector Partnership waste collectors.

Ø  Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house/office. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Ø  Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry properly, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits.

Ø  Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you may need for emergencies.

Ø  Ensure designated drivers are available after a party. Do not drink and drive.

Ø  For long flights/travel, ensure you move around to promote blood circulation and prevent DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis).

Ø  Listen to your pre-flight safety briefing and read the safety data card in the seat pocket to your front while travelling by air.

Ø  If attacked, do not argue or fight with armed criminals, be calm in speaking with them, avoid sudden movements or eye contact and remain subservient.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited. 2013.

Twitter: @O Reese2

         @EnpactHSE

     

Climate Reality Leadership Corps………………. a social revolution for climatic action.

Our planet is fast heating up by the burning of fossil fuels with several tons of carbon pollutants entering the atmosphere everyday through landfills, transportation (traffic), power plants, forest burning, oil exploration & production, fertilizer application, industrialized agriculture, coal/mining plants to mention a few. Carbon pollution is disrupting our lives daily and destroying the earth. How long will we continue to live in an unsustainable way? Now is the time to put a price on carbon and implement the ‘Polluters Pay Principle’ in order to combat the growing devastating impacts of climate change.

Nine of ten hottest years on record in the US were in the past twelve (12) years showing the rapid changes in climatic conditions. There is a thin distinction between the rainy and the dry (Harmattan) season in Nigeria making it difficult for farmers to predict the production season. Recently, extreme weather conditions have been experienced globally ranging from flooding in India, Pakistan, Argentina, Taiwan, Philippines, Brazil and South of Nigeria (Lagos, Delta and Ondo); droughts in Arizona, China, India, Spain, South Korea, Senegal, Switzerland and Northern part of Nigeria (Adamawa and Bauchi) and the raging fires in Colorado, Russia, Portugal, Turkey, Macedonia, Texas, also the hurricanes such as Sandy, Katrina, the recent Typhoon Haiyan in Philippines (one of the strongest tropical cyclones recorded in history) and other tornados round the world.

Climate change is happening already and influencing our lifestyles; this is a call for action. How can you contribute? Promote clean and renewable energy, which is affordable, reliable and available.

The Climate Reality Project, founded and chaired by former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore, is dedicated to providing a global cultural movement that demands action on the current climate crisis. The Climate Reality Project exists to forge a network of global support to create awareness on climate change and promote action. With that foundation, they kindle the moral courage in our leaders to solve the climate crisis.

The Climate Reality Project employs cutting-edge communications and community engagement tools to reach out and stir up proactive action to raise the profile of the climate crisis to its proper state of urgency. With a global movement more than 5 million strong and a mass network of Climate Leaders trained by Chairman Al Gore, they promote the climate change conversations in their local community.

The Climate Reality Project operates in eight international offices: Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

The Climate Reality Leadership Corps has hosted 23 trainings since 2007 in locations across the globe. In 2013, the trainings were held in Chicago and Istanbul. The 2014 trainings will take place in Brazil and South Africa.

                                   

You too can become a climate leader by joining the Climate Reality Corps so we can all work together and save our home.... the earth. With collective efforts, we can combat the impacts of climate change and make a difference in our world. Let us Inform, Influence and inspire others and be dedicated to demanding action on climate change, soliciting for solutions, spreading the truth about climate change to empower our leaders to solve the climate crisis. 

Further information on the Climate Reality Project: http://climaterealityproject.org.

Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited. 2013.

Twitter: @O Reese2

         @EnpactHSE

World Oral Hygiene Day………healthy smiles

Alright, we are back from a long August break, I hope we all had a wonderful summer holiday. We restart the blog this September with an article on one of the important part of our body- the mouth. Globally, we celebrate the oral health day annually to remind us that healthy teeth, gums and mouth play a crucial role in our ability to carry out routine activities without bad breathe; tooth decay or painful toothache. The theme of World Oral Health Day 2013 is ‘Healthy Teeth for Healthy Life’. It reflects the major contribution oral health makes to our lives by boosting our morale, self-confidence and the health of our whole body.

Good oral hygiene keeps teeth free from dental plaque buildup, wands off cavities and fights bad breath. Routine oral hygiene should consist of regular brushing and flossing.  A healthy diet that's low in sugary foods is also an essential part of good oral hygiene. Regular dental visits every six months allow your dentist or dental hygienist to provide oral hygiene instructions and recommend oral hygiene products. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly.

Bad oral habits can affect your speech, chewing, self-esteem and overall health. Daily preventive oral hygiene care can help prevent dental problems from developing in the first place or from becoming too serious. Good oral hygiene practices are less painful and cheaper than treating dental problems once they develop.

The following tips can be applied to ensure you maintain a healthy smile for a long time.

·       Go on a white-teeth diet: Limit the use of red wine, kola nut, black tea, or smoking cigarettes or cigar, colas, gravies, and dark juices for these are teeth staining foods. Brush immediately after eating or drinking foods that stain teeth but for convenient teeth-cleaning action, eat an apple, raw carrots, celery, and popcorn. For best results, eat these after your meal.

·       Clean your tongue: Use a tongue scraper every morning to remove tongue plaque and freshen your breath. One major cause of bad breath is the buildup of bacteria on the tongue, which a daily tongue scraping is more efficient in eliminating plaque.

·       Gargle with apple cider vinegar or mouth wash: Do this in the morning and then brush as usual. The vinegar helps help remove stains, whiten teeth, and kill bacteria in your mouth and gums.

·       Brush your teeth with baking soda once a week: This will remove stains and whiten your teeth. Use it just as you would toothpaste. You can also use salt as an alternative toothpaste. Just be sure to spit it out so it doesn't count as sodium intake! Also, if your gums start to feel raw, switch to brushing with salt every other day.

·       Stay fresh: To check the freshness of your breath, lick your palm and smell it while it's still wet. If you smell something, it’s time for a sugar-free breath mint. When shopping for mouthwash, make sure it is alcohol-free because alcohol can dry out the tissues in your mouth, making them more susceptible to bacteria.

·       Practice flossing at all times: If you can floss without having to guide your work with a mirror, you can floss in your car, at your desk, while in bed, and before important meetings. In which case, buy several packages of floss and keep them in your car, your desk, your purse, handbag or nightstand. Flossing removes the cavity-causing bacteria left behind from food particles that get stuck between teeth.

·       Brush your teeth when you first get out of bed and before you get back in at night: These are the two most crucial times to brush your teeth because saliva (which keeps cavity-causing plaque off teeth) dries up at night, so it’s best to have all plaque cleaned off the teeth before sleep. Then it’s important to brush first thing in the morning to brush off plaque and bacteria (morning breath!) that may have built up while sleeping.

·       Conceal with color. Choose a medium coral or light red lipstick for these colors make your teeth look whiter, whereas lighter-colored lipsticks tend to bring out the yellow in teeth.

·       Frequent rinsing of the mouth: A mouth rinse, in addition to daily brushing and flossing, can increase the cleanliness of your mouth. Antimicrobial mouth rinses reduce bacteria and plaque activity, which cause gingivitis and gum disease. Fluoride mouth rinses also help reduce and prevent tooth decay.

·       Bacteria can live in your mouth in the form of plaque, causing cavities and gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. In order to keep your mouth clean, you must practice good oral hygiene every day.

·       Brushing too soon after eating: Consuming acidic foods and beverages, such as sports and energy drinks, citrus fruits, wine, and tomatoes, can erode tooth enamel—the glossy outer layer of the tooth. Brushing your teeth too soon after eating and drinking these items can cause more damage because you are essentially brushing the acid into the teeth, not getting rid of it. Instead, you should rinse your mouth with water after consuming acidic foods and beverages and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing 

·       Not replacing your toothbrush often enough: Old toothbrushes are ineffective and harbor harmful bacteria that can cause infections. Toothbrushes should be changed every three to four months.

·       Using a hard-bristled toothbrush: A hard-bristled toothbrush coupled with an aggressive brushing technique can cause irreversible damage to your gums. Use a soft toothbrush and gently brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle, in a circular motion. Using a back-and-forth motion causes the gums to recede, and can expose the root of the tooth, making teeth extremely sensitive.

Routine care for your mouth (teeth, gum, tongue)

The following gives instruction on how to provide routine care for mouth.

Brushing

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.

• Move the brush back and forth gently in short strokes.

• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.

• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.

• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.

 

Flossing

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of each hand. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.

• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion.

• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.

• Bring the floss back toward the contact point between the teeth and move the floss up or down the other side.

• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions.

• Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.

How can I get rid of plaque?

Plaque is a sticky layer of material containing bacteria that accumulates on teeth, including where toothbrushes can't reach. Many of the foods you eat cause the bacteria in your mouth to produce acids. They produce substances that irritate the gums, making them red, sensitive, and susceptible to bleeding. This can lead to gum disease, in which gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets that fill with bacteria and pus.  

The best way to remove plaque is by brushing and cleaning between your teeth every day.  Brushing removes plaque from the tooth surfaces. Brush your teeth twice per day with a soft-bristled brush. Use an antimicrobial toothpaste containing fluoride, which helps protect your teeth from decay. Clean between the teeth once a day with floss to remove plaque from between the teeth especially where the toothbrush can't reach.

Your teeth need a lot of care and attention to achieve LIFELONG good Oral health

Written by O’ Reese on behalf of En-pact Solutions Limited, 2013

Twitter: @O Reese2         

          @EnpactHSE