think green

Tribute to asbestos victims

BBC Devon has reported that a special memorial has taken place in Plymouth for people affected by mesothelioma - a form of cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma is a complicated word for something rather serious and sometimes unknown by some.

Around 2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the UK.

Vicitms aren't just workers who have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibres but sometimes even their family and friends can be concerned. For instance, the wife of one worker had mesothelioma too simply because she was washing her husband's overall and consequently very small particles flew in the air she was breathing.

 

This particular event was arranged by for Action Mesothelioma Day said  Kate Lansdfell a nurse specialist at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

"..."The theme for this year's Action Mesothelioma Day is a call for a worldwide ban on asbestos use..."

But where do all the claims and victims come from, you may ask?!

Well...many homes were built with asbestos as at the time is was thought to be  a "great" insulation material.

 

The memorial is located at Saltram - anyone who has been or is affected by mesothelioma can bring a single-stemmed flower to place at the memorial tree.

However, for any other advice or help Access-Legal from Shoosmiths have experts ready to answer your questions.

London bicycle race illustration

Ugo Gattoni has reflected on the London Bicycle Race.

A funny  and well orchestrated vision of an event.

At 19.5x33cm in size, "Bicycle" is considerably larger than other publications in Nobrow's ongoing Leporello series of concertina books.

 

Regent Street - London

Tips for Avoiding Spinal Injuries

Here are some ways that you can avoid hurting your back with a spinal injury.

Cyclists need to protect themselves as much as possible in case of a shock. Helmets are a good start, but it is sometimes not easy to be 100% protected.

Spinal injuries can be very painful and can cause long lasting damage to the spine. 

 

They can be caused by many different types of accidents, from slips and falls to car accidents. A spinal injury could be a very mild cervical strain to something as serious as a slipped disc or even a broken back. If you have a spinal injury as a result of an accident that was not your fault you can be eligible to file your case and claim compensation.

However, if at all possible you will want to prevent a spinal injury from happening in the first place.

Here are some tips that will help you understand what causes spinal injuries and what you can do to avoid them:

• Use the correct form for lifting heavy objects. Bending at the waist and lifting with your back can be very dangerous because it puts a great deal of stress on your spine. Instead, bend your legs and squat down and then use your knees to push back up. Your legs should be doing the heavy lifting work and not your back.

• Get into an exercise routine which builds up your core muscles. Having stronger muscles will help to protect your spine and physical activity actually improves bone density to make your spine stronger. Exercise your abdominals, legs, shoulders, chest and back muscles with weightlifting to make the muscles stronger and then try an exercise such as yoga or Thai Chi to improve flexibility.
• Before playing sports or doing exercises you should always stretch in order to warm up your back muscles. Also, be sure to take it easy if you hardly ever exercise and you are working out or playing a sport for the first time. Start with a basic exercise level and work your way up rather than pushing your body further than it can handle.
• Did you know that your office chair might be doing damage to your spine? Improper back support can put a strain on your spine and cause back pain.
• Whenever you are diving into water, be extremely careful and make sure that you know the depth of the water. If you dive into water that is too shallow, you can impact the bottom and cause a serious spinal injury which could even leave you paralysed.
• Always wear your seatbelt when you are in a vehicle. Most spinal injuries are a result of a car crash, so this is very important to protect yourself.
• When you are working hard, don’t forget to give yourself a break every now and then. When your body is exhausted you are at a higher risk for an injury.

These are just a few ways that you can protect your spine and keep yourself safe from the risk of a spinal injury. 

 

Balance bike for kids [infographic]

KLFGT 2012 | September 2012

Kuala Lumpur Fixed Gear Tournament 2012 is coming very soon.

The dates to remember: 15th & 16th of September 2012.

 

Murray lost but Oxfam won

Sometimes there is a good outcome to a  bad situation.

Over the weekend a lot of people were watching their flat screen TVs and mainly the sports.

There was the Formula1 Grand Prix in Silverstone, The Tour de France and...Tennis men's final in Wimbledon.

Some papers titled "Murray Mania".

Despite a good first set, Murray didn't convince and Federer won it...again for the 7th time.

So, where things become rather interesting is when Oxfam declared that such victory brought them £100,000.

How is such thing possible, you may ask!?

Here is how it goes!

In 2003 Nick Newlife, from Oxfordshire, made a wager of £1,520, at odds of 66/1, that the Swiss tennis star - Roger Federer would win 7 Wimbledon titles by 2019.

Unfortunately Mr Newlife died at the age of 59 in 2009.

However, he made a will in which he gave the betting slip to the charity.

Also, this is not the first time Mr Newlife managed to bring some helping cash to Oxfam. 

The BBC reported:

"...William Hill said it had already paid out £16,750 to Oxfam from another bet placed by Mr Newlife, of £250 at 66/1, that Federer would win 14 Grand Slam events..."

Federer seems to be the man to beat. Always reaching finals and winning Grand Slam.

Who knows these kind of things could happen again. But is it right to bet on players like betting on horses - or vice-versa?!