Guyanese OnlineThe Documentary: The Making of Jamaica By Air. The photographer Robert Davis.
Comment: “A beautifully made documentary from start to finish. Fantastic photography. It is good to see some rarely seen locations ….not just the usual tourist shots. Well done to Robert Davis.”
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— Post#1470
Stabroek staff On May 9, 2012 – BRASILIA, (Reuters) –
In Brazil, groups of armed agents fly around the country by helicopter, pounding on doors and instilling fear in the hearts of those who break the law.
They’re not the police – they’re from the tax agency.
The Federal Revenue Service, which has gained global renown for its tough and creative tactics, will be one of the most important keys to Brazil’s economic prospects in 2012. President Dilma Rousseff is counting on the agency’s tax-collecting prowess to help her government meet ambitious budget targets without smothering the country’s suddenly brittle economy.
The agency, known as “The Lion” for its official emblem as well as its ferocious pursuit of tax dodgers, deploys everything from gun-toting operatives to meters on beer kegs in breweries to ensure that individuals and companies fully declare, and pay, their share to the government.
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By Christopher Wanjek – Wed, May 9, 2012
RIO DE JANEIRO — Want to save a few million premature deaths each year? Regulate salt, said researchers at the World Nutrition Rio2012 meeting held here last week.
“Salt [added to food] is the major cause of high blood pressure, and high blood pressure is the major cause of death worldwide,” said Graham MacGregor, professor of at Queen Mary, University of London. “The evidence for salt [in causing premature death] is overwhelming, equivalent to the onus of smoking.”
Salt, or sodium chloride, is essential for human health; we need about 350 milligrams of sodium daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s about the weight of half a raisin. Unfortunately, Americans consume on average about 3,500 milligrams of sodium daily. Continue reading
