Australia's government Monday sharply condemned a popular Internet video claiming its citizens oppose Japanese whaling because of racism, while brutally killing animals such as kangaroos and dingoes. The country will this week deploy a ship to the Southern Ocean to gather evidence for possible legal action against Japan over its whaling programme. AFP 1/7/07
It came as a surprise to many that the person responsible for blocking action on universal health care before the new year was Don Perata, the Senate leader and a liberal Democrat from Oakland who co-wrote the bill. Perata announced he would not allow the Senate to vote on the Assembly-approved bill -- not until he knows more about how the $14 billion-plus measure would affect existing health programs and the state's overall finances. Contra Costa Times 12/23/07
Asian-Americans have the fastest growing rate of overweight and obese children -- so much so that a state agency is targeting Asian- and Pacific Islander-Americans with an awareness campaign. Asian teens consume more fast food than their white counterparts do, according to a California Health Interview Survey 2005 survey and Asian and Pacific Islander children are the least physically active of all racial and ethnic groups. CCTimes 12/27/07
Biodegradable coffins are part of a larger trend toward "natural" burials, which require no formaldehyde embalming, cement vaults, chemical lawn treatments or laminated caskets.
Eco-friendly burials have been popular in Britain for years, but industry experts say the trend is starting to catch on in the United States, where "green" cemeteries hosting natural burials have sprouted up in California and other states. CC Times 12/27/07
A small population of light brown apple moths appears to have been eradicated in Danville, but the process to eliminate the pest in Dublin continues. In both cities, state crews hung thousands of pheromone-laced twist ties aimed at disrupting the moths' breeding process. There has been no aerial spraying because the areas where the moths were found are small, said Jay Van Rein, a Food and Agriculture spokesman. The Tri-Valley's apple moth problem is small compared with that in Oakland, Berkeley and other areas along the Interstate 80 corridor. How to eradicate the moths in that area has not yet been determined. CC Times 12/29/07
A man suspected in a rash of robberies at East Bay Asian restaurants surrendered to police Friday afternoon, two days after another suspect in the holdups was charged with 57 felonies connected to the heists. One suspect told police that Asian restaurants were targeted because they tended to have a lot of customers. Both were 19. CC Times 12/29/07
As the global climate warms, California's one-of-a-kind geography and the lifestyle it has made famous will not escape the consequences. The CC Times paints a grim picture of potential changes to the climate and ecology of the state over the next 100 years as scientists predict average temperatures will rise 3 to 10 degrees. 12/30/07
President Bush on Saturday signed legislation that extends a popular children's health insurance program after twice beating back attempts to expand it. The extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program is expected to provide states with enough money to cover those enrolled through March 2009. Bush and some Republican lawmakers say the program will still serve those that it should: children from families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. CC Times 12/29/07
American-West Bio Energy of Larkspur and Greenline Industries of San Rafael have filed an application with the city to build a 28,000-square-foot biodiesel fuel manufacturing plant on vacant land in Richmond. Two companies are ready to purchase the finished product. The $40 million plant would convert seed oils and animal fats into biodiesel that, depending on the blend, can be used in cars, trucks, ships and heavy equipment such as cranes and tractors, said Ted Lavoie, vice president of strategic development at Greenline Industries. CC Times 1/01/08
The national teen birth rate risen for the first time in 14 years. CC Times 1/02/08
If you're not already eating flax, you will be soon. The tiny seed is a bargain-priced nutritional powerhouse that trumps fish on the omega front -- it's an entirely safe, mercury-free source of omega-3s -- and it's just $1 a pound. Launches of flax-laced products have tripled since 2000 and last year 250 new flax products were introduced to the market. Consumers respond positively to flax in products. CC Times 1/02/08
County Square Market, an Asian specialty market, is opening two new stores this year, in Antioch and Vacaville. The owners their markets are more comfortable for people of all cultures
than an unfamiliar visit to Chinatown where there are language and cultural barriers. A growing number of Caucasians shop at Asian markets due, in part, to the popularity of fusion cooking. CC Times 1/04/08
An expanding ride-share program for unlicensed and uninsured farmworkers is being criticized by opponents who say the van system benefits undocumented workers. Ventura and Santa Barbara county officials said they plan to pattern their farmworker transit systems on a five-year-old program serving five counties in southern San Joaquin Valley. CC Times 1/06/08
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