Category: Food and Drinks

Collectibles such as cards and stickers have been a great success for Australian supermarkets. The previous Aussie Wildlife cards and DreamWorks Heroes cards from Woolworths were hugely popular with children across the country.

The supermarket chain’s latest fruit and vegetable campaign has been a failure. It’s not the promotion, but rather its stickers, books, and recipe cards that are the issue.

Has caused a stir with the company because it charges fruit and vegetable farmers 40 cents per box in advertising fees for the campaign. The assumption is that the company would sell so much more fruit and vegetables that it would only be fair for farmers to contribute as well.

Farmers are asking why the campaign will benefit supermarket chains more than they do. Is the campaign really about selling more fruits and vegetables, or more about profits and market shares?

What are the health benefits of supermarkets?

Fruit and vegetables are the first things we see when entering a supermarket. In reality, however, a large amount of shelf space in supermarkets is dedicated to foods that are not part of the five major food groups. These foods are called discretionary foods.

Fruit and vegetables are the first things we see when entering a supermarket. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

The top promotional locations at checkouts and end-of-aisle displays, as well as island bins, are far more likely than fruit and vegetables to include soft drinks, chocolate, candy, and chips. They’re also highly effective.

A study on end-of-aisle displays in UK supermarkets shows how the position of a collection can influence what people buy. The study showed that placing soft drinks at the end aisles increased sales by 52%.

Comparing Australian supermarkets to those in other developed countries has confirmed that Australian stores have more displays at the end of aisles and checkouts dedicated to chocolate, chips, sweets, and soft drinks.

This emphasis on junk foods also extends to the catalogs where most of the food and beverages advertised are “discretionary food.” While supermarkets are keen to tout their “health-food” credentials, in reality, they contribute to Australia’s obesity crisis by promoting unhealthy foods.

Consumables and collectibles

The relationship between food consumption and sales promotions was examined in a 2009 review.

Surprisingly, little attention has been given to the impact of sales promotions on eating habits or how they can be used to promote healthier eating.

The majority of research is based on price discounts, which have a clear and predictable effect on purchases in the short term. It is unlikely that marketing promotions without values will have an impact on food consumption in the long term, especially for perishables like fruit and vegetables.

It is difficult to believe that Woolworth’s latest collectibles campaign, which focuses on fruits and vegetables, will have a significant impact on children’s eating patterns in the long term.

Parents of school-age children will attest to the success of a collectibles strategy. AAP Image/Tony Phillips

It is still encouraging from the public health point of view to see such a campaign aimed at children promoting healthy foods – something that is very rare in food marketing for children.

The real agenda is likely to be a lot different.

This latest campaign clearly isn’t just about selling fruit and vegetables. As with most businesses, the primary goal of the supermarket chain is to maximize profits.

Such campaigns are most likely to increase market share and customer loyalty. There is no research specifically on this, but most parents with school-aged kids can attest to its effectiveness.

The sticker book that is devoted to fruit and vegetables will be largely irrelevant once the customer has entered the supermarket. The supermarkets in Australia are known for their heavy promotion of food that is not essential. The ultimate goal is to increase sales of all food, not just fruit and vegetables.

Farmers may feel resentful at the prospect of having to spend a lot to fund a campaign that at first glance seems to be all about fruits and vegetables.

The major supermarkets are in a perfect position to promote healthy eating among the entire population. Promotions that promote healthy choices are to be commended. It is hard to believe that supermarkets truly care about the health of their customers until they reduce the buildup of unhealthy food.

The cost of meat rose by 3.8%, but in absolute terms, a kilogram of fillet steak could reach A$60.

Australians spend about 15% on meat, and the other half (7.4%) is spent on dairy products.

According to, 43% of households believe that grocery prices cause financial stress. Half of these people are trying to cut back on their spending.

How can you cut costs on meat and milk products without sacrificing nutrition?

Read more: How to save $50 off your food bill and still eat tasty, nutritious meals.

Meat

Meat contains iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.

The recommendation is to consume no more than three servings of lean-cooked red meat per week. It can be beef, lamb, or veal. Kangaroo is also acceptable. A serve is 65g cooked. It means buying 270-300g of meat per person per week.

Prices and specials are available online. The less expensive cuts are oyster blade, chuck steak, or rump (between $22 and $25 per kilogram). These cuts are tougher and better suited for slow-cooking or casseroles, such as this beef Stroganoff.

The exception to this rule is mince. Products with higher stars, lower fat, and more expensive prices shrink less when cooked compared to regular, which shrinks between 25-30%.

The star-shaped mince will shrink less when cooked. Emanuel Ekstrom/Unsplash

Add vegetarian protein sources, such as beans or legumes, to casseroles and mince dishes in dried or canned form.

A 400g can contain 240g cooked beans and costs around $1.50. This is equivalent to about 1.6 standard servings. Add any canned legume (black beans, adzuki beans, butter beans, chickpeas, or four-bean mixture) to the recipe. You can also use dried lentils that do not require pre-soaking, such as dried red lentils.

This contains a variety of nutrients, including iron, zinc, and calcium.

Read more: Love meat too much to be vegetarian? Go ‘flexitarian’

Dairy

Dairy products contain important nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc. They also provide vitamins B2, B12, and A. Australian recommendations recommend two to three servings a day per adult and four for women aged over 50. One serving is equal to one cup of milk or 40g of cheese.

UHT milk, which costs about $1.60 a liter, is less expensive than fresh milk, depending on the brand and type. Powdered milk is even cheaper ($10 for a kilogram, making ten liters) and costs $1 per liter.

Substitute yogurt for sour cream. Michelle Henderson/Unsplash

Using a powder mixture and a yogurt machine ($25) to make yogurt costs $5-6 per kilogram. Divide the yogurt into smaller tubs once it has set. Use to replace cream or sour cream.

Fresh yogurt is priced between $11 and 18 dollars per kilogram. Individual servings and flavored varieties are more expensive, but not always. Check for specials and compare prices per 100g or kilogram.

Prices for cheese can vary greatly, so it’s important to compare them per kilogram. Block cheese is generally cheaper than pre-sliced cheese or grated cheese. Branded products are more expensive than home brands. The mature cheeses cost more, and the processed cheeses cost less. If you slice block cheese very thick, you will end up using more. Block cheese can cost anywhere from $15 to $30 per kilogram, while pre-sliced cheese packets range from $18 to more than $30.

Pre-grated and processed cheeses are available in a range of $14 to $30 per kilogram, with the majority being around $20. Mix grated carrots with grated cheese (about $2 per kilogram) to extend the shelf life of grated cheese. Use it as a topping for pizza, tacos, and wraps. For toasted sandwiches, use processed cheese slices. Most recipes are successful when you use less cheese than the specified amount.

Cans of salmon are a good alternative to cheese for sandwiches. However, at $6-$7 per can (or $15-$30 per kg), you may not be able to save much money.

Read more: Eggs are so expensive right now. What else can I use?

Three tips to save on your food bills

1. Budget your household’s food

Make sure everyone understands how to save money on food.

Around 50% of household food dollars are spent on take-out, dining out, coffee, alcoholic beverages, food delivery services, and extras. So, set aside a budget to cover discretionary items. You can save a lot of money by avoiding these items.

You should give your family an incentive to stick with the budget by voting on what discretionary items you spend food dollars on.

Set a budget for food and decide on discretionary items. Viki Mohammed/Unsplash

2. Plan your weekly meals

Write down your grocery list using the meal plan. Check to see what you have in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.

You can start by looking at our No Money, no time, for one person, or a family with young children.

3. Food waste is a problem

Australians throw away 7.6 million tonnes of food every year, yet 70% are edible. Check your refrigerator before heading to the shop.

Turn left-overs in to tomorrow’s dinner or lunch. Pack leftovers into containers when you clear the table. This will make it easy to grab them in the morning.

Scientists in China have developed a gel containing mineral clusters found naturally in teeth. The gel encourages the growth of crystals in partially acid-damaged tooth enamel to restore it to its original shape.

The method has yet to be tested in humans, but one day, it could mean an end to painful needles and the dreaded drill.

Read more: How often should I get my teeth cleaned?

What is tooth enamel?

The enamel is the topmost layer on our teeth. It protects them from damage. The enamel also protects us against pain and sensitivity.

If this protective coating erodes, our teeth become more vulnerable to cavities (holes) and may need dental treatments, such as fillings.

The enamel is the outermost layer of our teeth. Shutterstock.com

Tooth enamel is composed of the same minerals as bone, calcium, and phosphate. Enamel contains more minerals than bone, but the crystals of enamel are arranged into a complex geometrical arrangement.

The enamel crystals look like spaghetti strands or long ribbons under a microscope. The crystal strands can be arranged into clusters that are oriented at 60 degrees, similar to packets of dried spaghetti. Rods and inter-rods are the ribbon clusters that weave together like a honeycomb.

This weave is hard to recreate when destroyed because it is impossible to replace the enamel cells as they die at the time our teeth emerge out of our gums.

Why does tooth enamel erode over time?

Enamel is hard but also fragile and susceptible to erosion. It happens when the mineral in our teeth dissolves in our saliva.

When we get acid in our mouth (a bad guy), the mineral in our saliva (a good guy) tries to bind with it and neutralize it. The mineral in our saliva (as a good guy) tries to bind with the acid (a bad guy). This balances the acid and prevents it from harming us. This is called buffering.

We run out of minerals to buffer an “acid attack” if there is too much acid or the quantity and quality of our saliva are inadequate. In a last effort to neutralize acidity, the minerals in our teeth dissolve into froth. The teeth will erode at this point and become more vulnerable.

Read more: Child tooth decay is on the rise, but few are brushing their teeth enough or seeing the dentist.

Like the erosion we see in our beaches and river beds, under a microscope, eroded enamel surfaces appear moth-eaten and uneven. This is because erosion destroys the crystal organization I described above.

Dentists recommend products that repair enamel, but they cannot recreate the complex crystal structure needed to create a pearly-white shimmer. The dental community is very excited by this research.

Can we control erosion?

When we consume and drink acidic foods, such as wine, cola drinks, fruit juices, sodas, lollies, and energy or sports drinks, our teeth will erode. Acid is found in anything that tastes sour. Avoid or limit the consumption of acidic foods and beverages whenever possible.

Patients with medical conditions like acid retching or bulimia are at a higher risk of having their teeth worn down. It’s important to get regular dental checks if you have these conditions.

We all know that lollies are bad for your teeth. Acid in sour candy can cause erosion. Shutterstock.com

Our teeth will appear yellower when our enamel is eroded. We may experience sensitivity or toothache if we have lost the natural enamel insulation.

A dentist or dental hygienist can help you maintain your oral health if your teeth are eroding. Your dental professional also recommends brushing your teeth and cleaning the spaces between them.

Rinsing your mouth with bicarbonate-salt water mouthwash

Chewing sugar-free gum can increase mineral-rich saliva

Use a toothpaste, mouthwash, or special cream recommended by your dentist to replace mineral lost and repair teeth

Delaying the cleaning of your teeth after a “acid attack” will prevent the enamel from being removed.

Read more: Two million Aussies delay or don’t go to the dentist – here’s how we can fix that

How did the scientists regrow enamel?

In the lab, teeth extracted from patients were first treated with acid in order to simulate erosion. Then, they were painted with a gel. This gel was made up of calcium phosphate clusters, which are mineral clusters found naturally in teeth. It also contained triethylamine.

Using a special microscope, the previously eroded elastin was examined for its size, shape, and composition.

The crystal clusters were oriented correctly to create the honeycomb rods and inter-rods.

When will we be in a position to regrow our enamel?

The short answer is, “not yet”. This study was only performed on extracted teeth. Researchers hope to test the method first on mice and then humans in a short time.

The toxicity of TEA, the main ingredient in the product, is a significant obstacle to human and animal trials. The enamel thickness that they could repair was only at the microscopic level.

Curious Kids is an educational series. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au. You might also like the podcast Imagine This, a co-production between ABC KIDS Listen and The Conversation, based on Curious Kids.

Why are burps so loud? – Byron, age 6, Sydney.

That’s a great question, Byron. Some burps can be really loud, but they can be quiet, too. How loud a burp is depends on a few factors, like how much gas is in your stomach to burp up and the structure of the food pipe that the burp travels along before it leaves your mouth. Let’s look at burps in a bit more detail.

What is a burp, exactly?

The word “burp” describes the release of gas in your stomach or food pipe that occurs after you eat and drink. The scientific name for the food pipe (also called the gullet) is the esophagus. The esophagus, which is about the size of a ruler and connects your stomach to the back part of your throat, is a muscular tube.

What is the source of the burping noise?

You can see this tissue hanging at the back end of your throat if you open your mouth wide and look in a mirror. The epiglottis is what you see. The epiglottis tilts back when you swallow to block the windpipe leading down to your lungs. This means that the opening of your food pipe has become clear. The epiglottis acts like a traffic control.

The epiglottis is the most important part of the esophagus. Shutterstock

When you burp, gas is trapped in the stomach and upper esophagus. Gas is usually under pressure when it is present in large quantities. As the gas is pushed up through the food pipe and over the top of the esophagus, the upper part vibrates and rattles. This is similar to windows rattling during a storm. Another factor is the long, round shape of the esophagus. This causes the sound to echo up the food pipe.

You can make your burp louder or quieter.

Take a cardboard tube out of a toilet paper roll or a lunch wrap. Put your lips on the end of the tube and hum softly. The echo makes the noise louder than when you hum without using the tube. Please do it again, but this time with a lot more power. The sound is now much louder. The echo is louder when you force more air through the tube. It is because of this that larger burps sound louder.

The size of your food pipe and the amount of gas in it will determine whether you burp louder or softer. When there is a strong wind blowing, windows will rattle more than when it’s calm.

You can burp loudly if you consume a large can of soda water. Take lots of gulps to swallow more air.

Babies have smaller stomachs and smaller food tubes, so their burps are quieter than those of children or adults.

Where does gas come from?

Gas can come from several different sources. You can get gas from the air you swallow while eating and drinking. When people drink through a straw or eat fast, they can consume more air. When you drink soft drinks, the “fizz” is carbon dioxide. Other gasses are also produced in your intestines during digestion.

The British government’s new guidelines advise reducing alcohol consumption to 14 units a week for both men and women and bluntly state that, for some cancers of the mouth, throat, and breast, “risk increases with any amount you drink“. The message is clear: for the good of our health, the government would rather we not drink at all.

So what about the many millions of people of the Mediterranean, whose diet is one of the healthiest in the world and which includes a drink or two as an integral part? The answer may lie not just in the amount of alcohol consumed, as the UK government’s guidelines would have it, but the manner in which it is drunk and what it is drunk with.

There is now good evidence that many foods in the Mediterranean diet including vegetables, pulses, whole grains and olive oil contain protective substances that help counter alcohol’s harmful effects.

For example, a number of studies suggest that even low amounts of alcohol increase the risk of breast cancer. But a recent trial, part of the highly regarded Predimed Study, found that women who ate a Mediterranean diet had a reduced risk of breast cancer, even though almost half were drinking up to two units of alcohol (a 175ml glass of wine) a day.

The extra virgin olive oil in their diet was thought to have played a role. Alcohol increases breast cancer risk by raising oestrogen levels, but extra virgin olive oil contains various anti-oestrogens that block the carcinogenic actions of oestrogens. In another large European study involving 368,000 women, it was convincingly shown that folates – found in large quantities in the green, leafy vegetables and pulses of the Mediterranean diet – also provide a protective action against the effects of alcohol.

Although these are important findings, women with a family history of breast cancer are still advised to avoid drinking.

The link between mouth and throat cancers and low alcohol consumption, which the guidelines declare to hold true “for any amount you drink”, also deserves closer scrutiny. Again, the Mediterranean diet comes up trumps: even when low to moderate alcohol is consumed as part of the diet, the risk of these cancers decreases.

How we drink matters

Food and wine: the ancient Greeks knew what they were doing. Caravaggio/Uffizi Gallery

It’s well established that combining smoking with drinking dramatically increases the risk of causing mouth and throat cancers. Some studies, such as the Million Women Study (which really did involve well over a million women), found no increased risk of these cancers for women drinking up to two units a day, so long as they were non-smokers. It’s thought that alcohol acts as a solvent that increases the absorption of carcinogens in cigarette smoke. If most drinking occurs during a meal, the hazards from smoking become less likely.

So it’s clear that the way we drink is very important. Drinking with food is the typical pattern in Mediterranean countries, whereas in the UK, binge drinking is far more common – where alcohol is not just drunk excessively but also without food. A full stomach of food slows the rate of alcohol absorption, limiting dangerous spikes in blood alcohol levels that are linked to high blood pressure and strokes. In Mediterranean countries, even alcohol consumed without a meal is usually accompanied with some food: a few olives with an ouzo in Greece, tapas or a piece of tortilla to accompany a beer in a Spanish bar. What a shame that so few pubs in the UK provide these protective mouthfuls.

A scoring system was developed to capture the Mediterranean way of drinking: moderate alcohol intake spread out over the week, a preference for red wine drunk with meals, little intake of spirits, and an avoidance of binge drinking. Scoring highly on these criteria correlated with significantly reduced mortality.

Of course there are many other benefits to a Mediterranean diet: it is the leading diet for risk reduction of cardiovascular disease, with many studies confirming the cardio-protective effects of moderate drinking, especially as part of a Mediterranean diet, and increasing evidence that links the Mediterranean diet with a decreased risk of dementia. Considering how few other options there are to counter this devastating disease, these are important findings.

Just as eating guidelines now recognise that diet must be considered as a whole, rather than isolating individual foods or nutrients such as sugar or saturated fat, there is good reason to apply the same thinking to weighing up the risks and benefits of drinking alcohol. Heavy drinking increases the risk of various cancers, of this there is no doubt – and even low alcohol consumption may do so with certain diets such as those high in processed foods. But the evidence suggests that one or two glasses of wine, so long as a tasty Mediterranean meal accompanies them, won’t hurt you – whatever the government guidelines say.

The AMA has proposed Australia implement a sugar tax of A$0.40 for every 100 grams (per unit). The offered tax rate would result in a tax of A$0.16 on 375ml of Coke containing 40g of sugar (10.6g/100ml).

This tax rate is in line with the global recommendation that at least a 20% price increase would be needed to produce a significant health effect.

Price increases encourage consumers to opt for healthier alternatives, such as bottled water. Shutterstock

The proposed AMA design is also in accordance with evidence from international sources, which shows that sugary drinks are best taxed when the rate is based on sugar content.

This tax can encourage people to switch to healthier substitutes (lower in sugar) while also encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products (lowering sugar content) in order to avoid a high tax rate.

The UK, for example, has demonstrated success using a tier system in which products with sugar content above certain thresholds are subject to higher tax rates. The UK tax led to a decrease in consumption as well as impressive reformulation.

Read more: Sugary drinks tax is working – now it’s time to target cakes, biscuits and snacks.

The products to be taxed under the AMA proposal include all non-alcoholic drinks containing free sugars but exclude 100% fruit juice, milk-based drinks, and cordial glasses.

Practical decisions like this will likely reduce resistance to taxation by food industries (such as fruit growers and dairy producers).

Impact of a Sugary Drinks Tax in Australia

The AMA estimates that the proposed tax will lead to a 2% decrease in obesity, a reduction in sugar consumption, and improved diets.

Modelling showed that over 25 years, this would lead to 16,000 fewer type 2 diabetics, 4,400 fewer cases of heart disease and stroke, as well as 1,600 fewer deaths.

Read more: Australian sugary drinks tax could prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes and save 1,600 lives.

These health benefits would translate to healthcare expenditure savings of between A$609 million and A$1.73 billion.

The AMA estimates that the tax could raise around A$800,000,000 in government revenue each year. These revenues could be used to fund preventive health programs.

Support for Sugary Drinks Taxes Gains International Ground

Sugary drink taxes are gaining momentum around the world.

In more than 45 countries, sugary drinks are taxed. These taxes were implemented mostly in the past five years.

Mexico is one of 45 countries that have implemented sugary drink taxes. Shutterstock

Australia has been a leader in the prevention of health issues for decades, thanks to its strong efforts in tobacco management. However, in recent years, it has fallen behind by a long way when it comes to efforts in addressing unhealthy diets.

Arguments against taxing sugary beverages

The food industry regularly parades a range of arguments in opposition to sugary drinks tax. has thoroughly debunked their arguments.

Read more: Don’t believe the myths – taxing sugary drinks makes us drink less of it

For example, the food industry has argued a sugary drinks tax would leave disadvantaged people poorer.

But rigorous research indicates that lower socioeconomic groups will likely benefit from the tax in a disproportionate way.

The industry has also claimed that sugar producers will lose their jobs.

According to the AMA report, a tax on sugary drinks in Australia will have a minimal impact on Australia’s sugar industry. This is due to the fact that around 80% of Australia’s sugar production is being exported.

It’s time to put corporate profit before health.

The Australian government has put corporate interests before population health by failing to introduce a tax on sugary drinks.

In Australia, the implementation of a tax on sugary drinks is inevitable. There is strong evidence that shows the benefits and a large amount of public support.

It’s only a matter of political leadership that acknowledges the importance of prioritizing the health of consumers over the profits of multinational soft drink manufacturers.

On a Sunday, you may be walking along the Costa do Sol while new hotels are being built using Chinese capital. Meanwhile, Maputo’s emerging middle class is eating seafood by Maputo Bay. You suddenly find yourself in an area of makeshift huts where flooding is a common problem.

Maputo also showed me how the built environment interferes with people’s daily lives. This was something I saw myself in when I walked around Chamanculo, a historically rich but under-serviced area near the city center. Chamanculo revolves around a handful of large, open avenues. Small traders, who sell mostly food, drinks kit,chenware, and other items, as well as businesses like internet cafes and hairdressers, are occasionally interrupted by a four-wheel drive car with tinted glass.

A considerable amount can reduce the distances between houses if you use the small passages that connect these avenues. Each time I visit Chamanculo, I look at the map and tell myself that I will be able to navigate the neighborhood this time. Once I get there, I’m lost. This is an experience I’ve never had anywhere else.

Above view of the Labyrinthine Chamanculo. Hansueli Krapf/Wikimedia Commons., CC BY-SA

I’ve been lost in Chamanculo many times. I’ve done it alone and with others. The experience is always the same. I feel like the streets fold around me, and the place looks completely different when I return the way I came. I am both scared and curious about the way that the city is reinventing itself around me. Residents are demanding public lighting in these areas to increase security. You have to wonder what people, especially women, feel as they must navigate this labyrinth to get to the collective toilet at night.

Maputo taught me that cities are places of possibility. In Maputo, for example, I gave up my obsession with electrification. When I asked people how they felt about electricity and fuels, I realized that they had found other ways to get the services they needed – regardless of whether they had reliable access to electricity.

I do not minimize the injustices that nearly one billion people living in informal settlements experience on a daily basis because they lack access to basic services. Maputo, however, invites you to think about different ways that urban life could be reimagined around the world. This is comforting to me in a world where we are heading towards a resource crisis.

Havana, Cuba

James Warren, Open University

In Havana, all is old. So old, in fact, that the city celebrates its 500th anniversary in November 2019. The fact that so many buildings are not maintained to the standard they deserve makes their age seem even older. The city is still making efforts to protect and preserve what’s historic while implementing new practices, such as allocating income from tourism for local housing or protecting architecturally and culturally significant sites.

Street life. Franx’/Flickr, CC BY-NC

Masterplans aim to mix land uses wherever possible. This means that housing, offices, and institutions are often found in one building. The result is a dynamic and walkable space where you can find everything that you need. This avoids creating spaces that are only designed for certain groups, such as tourists or residents.

As an urban planner, it amazes me that Havana was able to accomplish so much with such limited resources. This was inevitable because there is such a large pool of high-quality workers. An old Cuban joke says that the majority of Cubans are builders because they all have to work on their properties.

Havana, like other major capitals, is made up of many smaller “villages” or cities within a larger city. The streetscapes of each municipality are unique. The streets are alive with people who are always out there: chatting, singing, and selling.

Visitors are welcome in the city. You can wander down the Malecon to the greenery of Vedado and beyond. The historic Habana La Vieja is a tourist attraction, but still offers a lot of local life to residents.

The Malecon at dusk. szeke/Flickr, CC BY-SA

is sometimes called “Habana profunda”, or “deep Havana”. Locals still live and work in this area, but many have connections with the city center through their jobs and education. The barrios may not have many tourist attractions, but they are beautiful.

Havana, unlike other cities in the world, is shrinking. Its population has been fairly static due to migration abroad and low birth rates for quite some time. It is a cause for concern that the ageing population of Cuba is not being replaced. Havana is still the starting point for many young Cubans who are moving elsewhere or coming from different parts of the island to live in Havana. More people seem to be leaving than staying.

Havana is a welcoming city for visitors despite its poor roads, stretched waste removal system, and erratic water and energy supplies. It seems to be determined to improve the quality of life in Havana. I believe Havana’s resilience is due to its “habaneros”, or locals, who are always prepared for the next storm even while they are still picking up the pieces following Irma . Habaneros are prepared for all situations with excellent risk reduction and mobilisation systems.

To me, suffering can include more than just physical discomfort and pain. It may also have mental and emotional distress. I think those who oppose the right to choose to be in charge of our own death equate suffering with physical pain, and assume that palliative treatment is all that’s needed to relieve suffering. Palliative care seems to focus on reducing physical pain but not mental or emotional suffering.

Personaly, I place a high value on my “independence”, and the ability to control my circumstances. I consider a loss in this ability as a source of suffering. I understand that in some cases, my “independence” may be temporarily diminished, but that it will return. The idea that this state would not be possible to achieve is a source of great “suffering.” Some people may not feel the same level of pain and may even not want to choose death in such a situation. But why should I be overruled and ignored? I understand that others can offer me physical pain relief, but they are unable to get into my head and ease my mental suffering.

I want to be able to get a prescription to take a substance such as rebuttal to alleviate my suffering. If I am unable to do so, I could give the drug to someone else who is willing to help me. If that is too much or too hard to do, I’d like to know why anyone would not want to have this ability. I don’t believe human ingenuity could be enough to ensure that such a process was not misused. Maybe aging women tend to better because activities like gardening, engaging in creative projects, and playing with children are seen as socially more appropriate for them and because they tend to form/join supportive, non-competitive groups like book clubs, sewing groups, and gardening/conservation groups.

‘Killer robots’ hit the road – and the law has yet to catch up.

Andrew Holliday, the author of the article, Brendan Gogarty, and I had a conversation about driving AI. The work of Issac A. Asimov and how it can or should minimize harm to humans:

Andrew Holliday:

The answer to this question depends in part on whether you want the software to replicate immediate human reactions (avoiding the child on the bike, swerving, and possibly hitting the bus) or if you want it to take a utilitarian, detached approach (hitting the bicycle but avoiding the bus). I think the closest response is the best. It will not only ‘feel right’ (most of the time), but it will also be easier to implement technically.

Isaac Asimov’s laws of robotics and their exploration of all this would be a good place to start. Initially, there were three:

Robots may not harm humans or, through inaction, cause harm to humanity. It was the ‘greatest benefit of the largest number’ amendment. The problems were immediately recognized:

Trevize frowned. “How do we decide what’s harmful or not to humanity as a group?” “Exactly, sir,” replied Daneel. In theory, Zeroth Law would have solved our problems. In reality, we never made a decision. A person is a tangible object. A person’s injury can be measured and judged. “Humanity is an abstract.” (taken out of Foundation and Earth).

This brings us to the idea of programming the software sequentially to address the proximate crisis (avoid the bike and then do your best with the next thing) – as we do. The courts (and many ethics classes that address the trolley problem) understand and accept this.

P.S. This article’s legal precedent is not meant to be a reaction to an immediate, unpredictable threat. It is rather a carefully planned utilitarian calculation. In that sense, it’s not a good comparison. It answers its questions to the extent it reflects programming difficulties.

Brendan Gogarty:

Thank you, Andrew. I love the Foundation Series! It’s actually the second time I read it. Have you read Asimov’s Robot series yet?

I don’t think we’re ready to take on Asimov’s positronic mind or make hard AI decisions that are so complex.

The courts don’t actually accept the practical solution to the Trolley Problem. Criminal law does not allow for a defense of necessity. If there are five people on a stranded boat and the only means to survive is by killing and eating one person, it’s still murder or manslaughter (depending upon the circumstances). It is the intention or recklessness to harm that matters.

In order to determine the sequence of harm, AIs would normally use non-linear trees. It has to decide between the cyclists and car drivers; the cyclists, car drivers and oncoming traffic; and pedestrians along the side of the road. It’s a complex situation, but it is based on a set of pretty clear circumstances.

If a situation can be predicted and is likely to cause harm, the law will impose a duty upon those who have control over it. They will be held criminally responsible (if they make a deliberate/prospective decision) or negligently (if they could have made a choice but did not or if the decision was unjustified). It has been said that if one did not act in the trolley case, they were, at worst, liable under negligence (unlikely), but if they pulled the lever, then they were criminally liable. The trolley problem is a purely philosophical issue. The law could never force someone to pull the lever. I feel that AI programming to cause future harm is the same as removing the lever. This means we are facing a trolley problem for the first.

Andrew Holliday:

Thank you for your response. Interesting stuff.

P.S. We’re getting complex. Willn’t it be easier to include the usual check box before the software installation saying “I agree to terms and conditions …’” which consists of the occupant/owner being ultimately responsible for whatever happens? (In a footnote on subsection 37, page 512). Sorted.

 

The giant James Webb Space Telescope has been undergoing final tests in preparation for its launch, scheduled for December. In this The Conversation weekly podcast, we talk to two astronomers who discuss the telescope and the questions that they hope it will help answer about the origin of the universe and conditions on the exoplanets around distant stars.

We also hear about new research on the tactics that the food industry uses to increase sales of ultra-processed products in countries with middle-income.

The James Webb Space Telescope, with a mirror measuring six and a quarter meters, a sunshield the size of a tennis court, and an instrument compartment larger than a telephone booth, is huge. It took nearly 25 years to build the telescope, and it cost around US$10 billion.

After many years of delays and some last-minute technical glitches, the telescope will finally blast into space on December 22 from Kourou, French Guiana.

Martin Barstow is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Leicester, UK, and the chair of the Space Telescope Science Institute Council. The council will run the James Webb Space Telescope’s operations center. The Hubble Space Telescope had a mirror problem that caused the images to be blurry. Nasa sent a team to correct the problem.

Barstow says, “We can’t go to repair this one.” It’s just too far. For me, the most important thing is to see that telescope in action. We who are near the telescope know what can happen. “I don’t really care about the first picture, I’m just looking for a sharp image.”

The telescope will be operational soon, allowing astronomers the opportunity to peer into the past to see the first stars that appeared shortly after the Big Bang.

It will help answer the question of how galaxies were formed from those first stars. Marcia Rieke is a Regents Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizona, US, and principal investigator of one of the cameras aboard the telescope. The near-infrared camera.

“We know that a variety of star clusters and galaxies were formed in the early stages of evolution, but we do not understand which range of sizes it is,” says Rieke. We also don’t know how these pieces combine to create bigger and larger galaxies.

Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: An astronomer on the team explains how to send a giant telescope to space – and why

The telescope will also be able to improve our understanding of exoplanets and planets in orbit around other stars. Barstow says the instruments of James Webb will allow astronomers to measure the atmospheric composition and temperature of these planets. “We might even be able to see evidence for the existence of structures in the atmosphere, such as clouds,” he says.

In the second part of this episode, we examine the market for ultra-processed food such as cakes, soft drinks, frozen meals, or snacks. These foods and beverages are linked to higher risks for obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. They’re also big for the food industry. In recent years, companies have realized that middle-income countries like South Africa, Indonesia, and China are the fastest-growing markets.

Edwin Kwong explains the recent research he conducted at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He was interested in the tactics that some of these companies use to target the consumers of these industrializing nations.

Lutfhi Dzulfikar is an editor at The Conversation, Jakarta, Indonesia. She recommends some readings about the recent volcanic explosion on the island of Java.

Mend Mariwany, Gemma Ware, and Eloise Stevens produced this episode of The Conversation Weekly. Sound design was done by Eloise. Neeta Sarra is the composer of our theme music. You can find us on Twitter @TC_Audio, on Instagram at theconversationdotcom or via email. Sign up for Daily Email from The Conversation here.

The dopamine rush can be a comfort when we are down, and it can reduce stress. Cortisol is a stress-inducing hormone that is released in anxious situations.

Read more: Fact or fiction – is sugar addictive?

The problem is that the more sugar we ingest, the more we need to make us feel good. It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to break.

Sugar consumption that is excessive and prolonged increases the risk for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body cannot maintain healthy glucose levels (sugar).

In the last 40 years, the number of adults who have type 2 diabetes has quadrupled. In 2017-18, 1 million Australians were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Many more were at high risk of developing it.

Sugar reduction is not impossible. Some strategies are personal, while others require industry and government involvement.

Personal Strategies

On a personal level, we need to reduce our sugar addiction slowly. 75% of our foods and drinks contain added sugar.

I stopped buying products that were obviously sugar-laden – fruit juices and soft drinks. I also avoided chocolate, ice creams, sweet biscuits, candy, and a variety of candies. I no longer sprinkle sugar on my breakfast cereal or add it to my coffee and tea.

These simple strategies caused me to experience withdrawal syndrome, including irritability and headaches, as well as fatigue. The symptoms began on the first day. The signs and cravings were uncomfortable but only lasted for three days.

To reach the next level, you should eliminate commercially produced food that contains excessive amounts of sugar, such as jams and condiments.

You may also want to reduce or eliminate the consumption of refined carbs such as white rice and potatoes, especially those that are highly processed. These carbs are converted to glucose by the digestive system and are a form of sugar.

Is it time for you to reduce your consumption of jams and sugary spreads? Shutterstock

You should be aware when you’re eating sugar out of habit, for example, if you eat a chocolate bar in front of the television or a bag full of sweets at the cinema, or as a reward after a good job.

Read more: If sugar is so bad for us, why is the sugar in fruit OK?

It’s also important to be aware of those times when we’re using sugar to make us feel better or alleviate stress. The brain doesn’t care where it gets its feel-good chemicals from, so try going for a walk, run, or cycle, listen to your favorite music playlist, or try doing a good deed instead.

Government response

In terms of public health, the government should play a key role in encouraging Australians to reduce their sugar intake.

Government strategies should focus on accessibility, advertising, and addition.

It would be wise to make sweets less visible and more accessible in supermarkets and other places like post offices, service stations, and delicatessens. By removing them from the checkout counters, you can reduce the likelihood of impulse purchases.

It is best to keep chocolates and lollies away from the checkout. Shutterstock

Taxing sugary drinks will make us drink less of them, according to strong evidence. A tax on these drinks is likely to reduce their consumption and lead to a decrease in type 2 diabetes.

Read more: Don’t believe the myths – taxing sugary drinks makes us drink less of it.

Third, a more transparent system for the labeling the added sugar content of products should be implemented. The current health star rating system is only voluntary and is in need of reform.

Fourth, the advertising space and time for sugary products, like cigarettes, should be limited, beginning with TV ads and social media targeting children.

Ads for sugary food should not be shown to children. Shutterstock

Five, we should introduce powerful and aggressive awareness campaigns, just as we did for cigarettes. Who can forget those graphic television ads of tar squeezing out of arteries or tar pouring over the lungs?

We need to create a multidisciplinary think tank that will raise public awareness of the dangers sugar poses. This body would include endocrinologists, (medical doctors that treat diabetes), neuroscientists and nutritionists as well as marketers, PR experts and government representatives.