J&K Quake Victims Turn Potato Cultivators
Tired of waiting for relief from the government and being dependent of charity, victims of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake have found a way to be self-reliant.
This Eid brings with it the hope of high returns from the new brand of potatoes they are cultivating.
Be Kashmiri, eat Kashmiri, a new brand of potatoes that is making a big difference to hundreds of quake-hit families in Jammu and Kashmir….
The US-based Kashmir Earthquake Relief provided the potato seeds, fertilizers, pesticide and expert inputs for the project.
The group is also helping farmers market the potatoes, which are selling at Rs 15 rupees per kilo in Srinagar.
"Our idea was what could be done to help people to use what they already have. Their land, their resources, their hard work and how could we make a small intervention and make a big difference,'' said Usman Rahim, NRI, Kashmiri.
After a bumper crop and successful social marketing buy Kashmiri and eat Kashmiri this Eid has become more cheerful for poor farmers in Kupwara who were hit by the quake in October last year.
Kiwis Spend More on Sweets Than Fruit
The average New Zealand household spends more on confectionery every week than on fresh fruit, according to a report released today…
It shows the average household spends $6.50 on confectionery each week, but only $5.90 on fresh fruit.
The report also shows last year fast-food chains, restaurants and cafes spent more than $67 million on advertising, compared to the $6.2 million spent on advertising fruit and vegetables…
Last month, prime minister Helen Clark launched Mission-On… [that] includes initiatives to improve the quality of food served in schools, reduce children's exposure to advertising of unhealthy food and a major social marketing campaign.
Jaw-Jaw to Forestall War-War
The role communication can play in facilitating social change and furthering development aims is now recognised. However, what is not so well-valued is that the application of communication technologies in social development is an intricate task which needs professional treatment. In this book independent consultant Avik Ghosh uses his experience of more than 30 years to provide an understanding of the issues that arise in the planning and implementation of communication programmes aimed at bringing about behavioural transformations.
…[Communication Technology and Human Development : Recent Experiences in the Indian Social Sector] is relevant for all those involved in the development of communication and rural development, and useful for students of mass communication, social marketing, advertising, public relations, NGOs and policy makers.
Battle of the Binge
As the impact of drinking habits in Scotland steadily worsens, tough measures are being drawn up to tackle alcohol abuse…
Some of the measures in the new plan are said to include: a national proof-of-age card, putting pressure on the UK government and the EU to look at the issues of advertising and marketing by the drinks industry; controlling the spread of licensed premises; more funding for early intervention programmes and research; and new training initiatives.
There has also been talk of a ban on alcohol branding on children's sports shirts, and warnings labels on drinks. It is not thought these will be explicitly included in the alcohol action plan, but Kerr recently announced the first joint initiative between the drinks industry and government to produce guidelines on alcohol promotion, responsible drinking, and sports sponsorship…
Jack Law, of Alcohol Focus Scotland, is optimistic that change can be effected in the same way that drink-driving became taboo and seatbelts de rigueur.
It is a view shared by Gerard Hastings, a social marketing expert form Stirling University, who will argue the point at a major UK conference on alcohol next month. He believes there is a real chance for Scotland to lead the way on reversing the country's drinking culture, as long as it is prepared to take on the drinks industry.
Danger of Smoking in Cars Confirmed
New research has highlighted the potential dangers of smoking in cars for non-smoking passengers, particularly children whose lungs are still developing…
During the study, the average level of pollution in fine particles was measured in cars while a front seat passenger smoked a cigarette …“These levels of particulates are similar to those found in a typical smoky bar, and when the window was closed it is at least twice as polluted as the most smoky pub,” Dr Edwards says.
The study, published as a letter in the New Zealand Medical Journal (2006;119:1244) supports the current Health Sponsorship Council social marketing campaign that warns against smoking in the car.
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