Blood diamonds is a term used for a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading army's war efforts, or a warlord's activity. The term is used to highlight the negative consequences of the diamond trade in certain areas, or to label an individual diamond as having come from such an area. Diamonds mined during the recent civil wars in Angola, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and other nations have been given the label. The term conflict resource refers to analogous situations involving other natural resources.
Alternative medicine is the most rapidly growing field in health care
today. Through the increasing awareness of alternative health care, the
general public is looking for credible practitioners to guide them in
their quest for optimal health. Nutrition is one of the key factors to
attaining optimal health and well-being. The Institute of Holistic
Nutrition (IHN) provides professional nutrition training to those who
seek a new and dynamic career in the alternative health care field.
Holistic Health is a system of health care that accentuates personal
responsibility and a cooperative relationship between practitioner and
client. Its aim is to unify the physical, nutritional, environmental,
emotional and spiritual components of the client’s life. These, together
with correct lifestyle changes, promote healing and well-being. IHN’s
program offers a diversified curriculum encompassing the essential
disciplines of holistic nutrition. Graduates of the diploma program are
recognized as leading nutritional practitioners capable of educating,
and advising clients on how to address and correct specific nutritional
imbalances and weaknesses.
IHN’s curriculum is current, informative, and innovative in nature.
Students receive hands-on exposure to alternative nutrition, through
workshops, guest speakers, industry day trips, and co-operative
placements. The co-operative placement program enables students to
develop associations with potential employers, while providing valuable
work experience. An essential ingredient in the holistic philosophy is
lifestyle modification which IHN’s program addresses through hands-on
holistic cooking classes. Students are given opportunities to develop
professional skills including writing, presentation and public speaking
to enhance communication tactics and counseling abilities. For
individuals currently in the health field, IHN also provides courses
which will keep them abreast on current and future trends in
complementary health care, and add great value to one’s existing
professional practice. IHN’s advisory committee provides direction with
leading edge information and news about current developments in
community-based practices. The committee includes professionals in the
natural health care field.
Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent, containing the geographic South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14.0 million square kilometres (5.4 million square miles), it is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) in thickness which extends to all but the northernmost reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 in) along the coast and far less inland. The temperature in Antarctica has reached −89 °C (−129 °F). There are no permanent human residents, but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Only cold-adapted organisms survive, including many types of algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, protista, and certain animals, such as mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades. Vegetation, where it occurs, is tundra.
Although myths and speculation about a Terra Australis ("Southern Land") date back to antiquity, the Russian expedition of Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev on Vostok and Mirny first sighted a continental ice shelf in 1820. The continent, however, remained largely neglected for the rest of the 19th century because of its hostile environment, lack of resources, and isolation.
Antarctica is a de facto condominium, governed by parties to the Antarctic Treaty System that have consulting status. The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 by 12 countries; to date, 50 countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military activities and mineral mining, prohibits nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal, supports scientific research, and protects the continent's ecozone. Ongoing experiments are conducted by more than 4,000 scientists from many nations.
