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PAGE 2A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. JULY 5. 2007
Are you passing moral test
of Africa?
An estimated 10 million children will die
next year because of poverty, nearly half of
those on the continent of Africa. That figure
would put the death toll for African children
in a single year at double the population of
metro Atlanta.
Even more tragic, many of the deaths arc
preventable.
For Africa, death’s agents are sometimes
common ones: unsafe drinking water, basic
maladies compounded by lack of healthcare,
complacency in the developed world over
kids dying in squalor.
Many American celebrities are now
endorsing global help to aid African countries
and their children through
campaigns such as the One
Campaign, (Product) Red
and the Global Alliance for
Vaccines and Immunization.
From Bono and Brad Pitt
to Oprah, Madonna and
"I'm optimistic that peo
ple's thinking will
evolve on the question
of health inequity - that
people will finally
vaccines readily available to children in
"rich" countries. Another 1.6 million people
above the age of five also perished from these
diseases.
In the current issue of Vanity Fair, the
world's richest person, Bill Gates, whose
organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation has spent $8 billion on global
health, including the fight against AIDS,
malaria and tuberculosis in Africa, said, "I'm
optimistic that people's thinking will evolve
on the question of health inequity—that peo
ple will finally accept that the death of a child
in the developing world is just as tragic and
worthy of our attention as the death of a child
in the rich world."
In America, we take
vaccinations and basic
healthcare for granted. But
imagine children dying from
literally everyday causes like
dysentery and lack of clean
Alicia Keys, the Hollywood accept that the death of a drinking water.
set lend not only their names
but their time and money to
worthy causes like vaccina
tions for common diseases,
AIDS research and the like.
It’s sad that generally lam
pooned celebs are our moral
compass here. More sad is
the fact they have gone to the
forefront by default as few others did much to
help before famous singers or movie stars
took up the cause.
One notable effort now underway, The
Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunizations (GAVI) aims to widen access
to child vaccines, focusing on select vaccines
that could make a huge impact on global dis
ease if they were universally available.
Vaccinations for measles, tetanus, hepatitis
B, b(Hib), meningitis, rotavirus and pneumo
coccal disease are all on GAVI's list of pre
ventable diseases.
In America, such vaccinations are required
for participation in any public school. But in
Africa, the same vaccines are simply not
available. Children die for lack of vaccines
that cost pennies.
GAVI reported that in 2002 over 2.56 mil
lion children under the age of 5 died from
diseases that could have been prevented with
child in the developing
world is just as tragic
and worthy of our atten
tion as the death of a
child in the rich world."
- Bill Gates
Children in the poor
est countries are least pro
tected, and without substan
tial rethinking, that won't
change. Even if families in
those countries had the
money to pay for vaccines,
the medicines are not cur
rently available there.
It's not that nothing is being done. Both the
public and private sector are helping with
governments supplying funds for new, inno
vative initiatives and private efforts garnish
ing support from large corporations and phi
lanthropists. It's just that more needs to be
done and quickly.
In 2003 President Bush pledged $15 bil
lion to fight AIDS, primarily in Africa, and in
2005 pledged another $1.2 billion to fight
malaria in 15 African countries hardest hit by
that disease.
Many churches have also identified Africa,
as a major focus for their charities.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
referred to Africa as the moral test for this
generation. So far, it will mainly be the celebs
who pass.
One final question: do you think African
parents aren’t crying when their children die?
Agree or Disagree? Tell us your thoughts on this week’s editorial either online at
the message board on the Progress Online (www.pickensprogress.com) or with a letter to the
editor that will be published next week. Letters may be e-mailed to news@picken-
sprogress.com. All letters must have a valid e-mail address, full name and a telephone num
ber for verification. Phone numbers are not published. Letters may also be sent regular mail
to Pickens Progress - P.O. Box 67 - Jasper, GA 30143. All names are published. The Deadline
for letters is each Monday at noon.
HEALTH & WELL-BEING ~
Active Lifestyles —
There’s something out there for everyone
By David Schmidt
In order to achieve an active
lifestyle, adults should accumu
late at least 30 minutes of mod
erate physical activity most
days of the week.
Being physically active
involves moving your body and
using energy (expressed in calo
ries) at an intensity that makes
you warm and breath deeper
than usual (such as brisk walk
ing).
Anyone can do this and
achieve a healthier lifestyle!
There are many types of physi
cal activity: walking, gardening,
washing the car, climbing the
stairs, dancing and, what I high
ly recommend, exercise (such
as cycling or swimming).
When it comes to healthy
living, the good news is that as
soon as you begin regular phys
ical exercise you’ll feel the ben
efits of a healthier lifestyle
immediately.
Evidence shows that active
people have:
• a longer life;
• less risk of developing
many diseases;
• greater well-being - the feel
good factor!;
• less anxiety and depres
sion;
• less stress - physical activi
ty helps people relax;
• lower rates of smoking and
substance abuse;
• greater ability to function at
work and home;
• improved sleep;
• better maintenance of a
healthy weight;
• increases social life - you
meet more people.
As you can see, healthy liv
ing provides a great many bene
fits, so there’s no reason to put
off that healthier lifestyle any
longer.
Getting physical activity into
your daily routine, combined
with a healthy diet, is the best
way to get those short and long
term benefits into your life.
As you see in the benefits of
physical activity portion I
touched base on, there’s a lot to
be gained from becoming phys
ically active and starting a
healthier lifestyle.
However, there are also
health risks associated with not
being physically active.
Inactive people face serious
health risks. This is another rea
son why it’s so important to
adopt healthy living practices.
Research shows that inactive
people have:
• a greater risk of heart
attacks and strokes;
• higher blood pressure;
• a higher risk of developing
some cancers;
• greater chance of develop
ing diabetes;
• a higher risk of developing
osteoporosis, leading to frac
tures - up to half of hip frac
tures could be avoided with
regular physical activity;
• more risk of being over
weight or obese.
This physical activity infor
mation shows there’s a great
many advantages to being
physically active and leading a
healthier lifestyle.
[David Schmidt is a fitness
trainer at the local Bodyplex.]
Correction
In an article about the
adult literacy end of quarter
activities last week, the
above photo had an incor
rect caption. The people pic
tured are Diane Ingram,
SDA Director, and
Volunteer Ronald Ledford.
Pcfeettfi Count? flrogress
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Publisher Editor
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Managing Editor
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“No, I'm not closing my account.
I’m just withdrawing enough gas money for my vacation!"
OTHER VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY
First time for Jury Duty
An exciting learning experience?
By Cliff Brooks
How many of you have had
the privilege of serving on jury
duty? I somehow dodged it for
the last 32 years. I once laughed
at my brother for being picked -
often. Then one day God
decided to laugh a little at my
expense.
I was pestering my wife
every day about a package com
ing to me in the mail from a rare
book dealer with whom I do
business.
Every day at the same time I
would ask, “Did anything come
for me?” After the last two hun
dred times, her answer was,
“No! (enter curse word).
Nothing came for you, you
(enter more curse words)!”
Then one day something did
arrive for me in the post.
After work I rushed home
and found only a letter. My wife
wore a crooked smile as I drew
out the contents and discovered
that I, Charles Clifford Brooks
III, was to report to jury duty
one week from that day.
My first thought was as a
History/Political Science major
in college, I would enjoy this
learning experience.
I showed up on time in khaki
pants and a long-sleeved shirt,
found a majority in like attire,
then a few who looked like they
just crawled out of bed.
I am not saying that everyone
should wear Armani, but, a bath
before reporting for your civil
duty is not out of line.
Also, just a suggestion, it’s
not a great idea to look at the
sexual offender list and declare
you know most of them.
I am not judging anyone; I’m
just saying that particular popu
larity contest will not earn you
brownie points. Of course, if it’s
a ploy to get out of jury duty, it’s
pure genius.
But I admit, going through
the metal detectors can be a drag
when its announced all fourteen
inch “pocket knives” must be
left in the car, but once you’re
clear to walk upstairs you’ll find
enough bench space to sit and
relax.
A little friendly advice for
future jurors
• Remember, it’s not a family
reunion. Shouting across the
room to ask about Uncle Jim’s
recent hemorrhoid surgery is not
acceptable dinner conversation.
• Stand up when the judge
comes in, and then answer clear
ly when your name is called. To
add color to the tedious hours
ahead the judge might delight
you with a tale about walking
uphill in the snow, use the word
“gully washer” then, to a largely
inattentive crowd, explain vital
ly important rules to the greatest
process in our judicial system.
All would do well to remem
ber these rules since so many
died, and are dying, for us to sit
there in the first place,
• And no cell phones. That
means notifying your employer
not to try to find you no matter
how important an issue may
seem at the time. Nothing is
more important to me personal
ly than avoiding a contempt
charge and being stuck in coun
ty lock up.
• As a finale the lawyers get
to shine by asking groups of
jurors questions like, “Do you
trust technology? If you were a
steak, how would you be pre
pared? If a train was leaving
from San Francisco at 72 miles
an hour and another from New
York at 55, when would they
meet?”
I began to wonder if I was
trapped in a restaurant some
where in The Matrix to do word
problems forever. If purgatory
is real, I found it.
• The best way to survive is
to be patient and utilize under
standing.
Remember, the bailiffs do
not magically know “how much
longer” it will be until you can
go home.
Yes, you do get paid to show
up. No, this does not earn a free
pass for your next DUI.
Ultimately I was not chosen
to be one of the divine twelve,
but it was a learning experience,
I learned why you should never,
ever break the law.
[Brooks, a Pickens native, is
an occasional contributor to the
Pickens Progress. Pie is
employed with the DFACS
office. He has recently been
named a top up and coming fic
tion writer and poet by a
Chicago publication and will be
featured in a British literary
magazine.]
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Attention Customers NEW Store Hours
Beginning Friday July 13,1007
Hours will be Tues-Sat 10am-6pm
Closed Sun. & Monday
Locally Owned Sd Operated by Cjreg Sd ‘Melanie “Kent
744 Noah Dr. Ste 114, Jasper, GA
Behind KFC off Hwy 515
Prices good June 27th - July 11th, 2007