The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| Eating insects could help fight obesity, UN says Posted: 13 May 2013 07:29 AM PDT
More than 1,900 species of insects are eaten around the world, mainly in Africa and Asia, but people in the West generally turn their noses up at the likes of grasshoppers, termites and other crunchy fare. The authors of the study by the Forestry Department, part of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said many insects contained the same amount of protein and minerals as meat and more healthy fats doctors recommend in balanced diets. "In the West we have a cultural bias, and think that because insects come from developing countries, they cannot be good," said scientist Arnold van Huis from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, one of the authors of the report. Eva Muller of the FAO said restaurants in Europe were starting to offer insect-based dishes, presenting them to diners as exotic delicacies. Danish restaurant Noma, for example, crowned the world's best for three years running in one poll, is renowned for ingredients including ants and fermented grasshoppers. As well as helping in the costly battle against obesity, which the World Health Organisation estimates has nearly doubled since 1980 and affects around 500 million people, the report said insect farming was likely to be less land-dependent than traditional livestock and produce fewer greenhouse gases. It would also provide business and export opportunities for poor people in developing countries, especially women, who are often responsible for collecting insects in rural communities. Van Huis said barriers to enjoying dishes such as bee larvae yoghurt were psychological – in a blind test carried out by his team, nine out of 10 people preferred meatballs made from roughly half meat and half mealworms to those made from meat. – Reuters |
| Modern Etiquette: When a colleague is abusing alcohol Posted: 13 May 2013 02:46 AM PDT
Yet I was poorly prepared when she not only had wine, but slugged down cognac afterward, and commented that she had preceded our meeting with "a couple of scotches". I ended up taking her car keys and checking her into the hotel that housed the restaurant where we dined. It all seemed like a dramatic hassle – and then I realised it wasn't over. I had to face this woman again. And what would I say when I did? It can be a painful experience to watch an associate or friend behave badly after having one too many at a business function or the local watering hole. So I turned to Todd Whitmer, senior executive officer of the Caron Foundation, a nationally recognised US non-profit addiction treatment centre, for advice on how to help my colleague avoid alcohol-related career suicide – or worse. Work is one of the last places a drinking problem will surface, Whitmer says. But friends and colleagues are likely to know someone is having a problem with alcohol before the boss does, and can help steer him or her away from danger. Whitmer suggests these steps: If your friend could endanger herself, intervene. Take the car keys, call a cab, or look her in the eye and ask her to leave with you. Otherwise, wait until she is sober before you try talking to her. Be specific about what you observed, without accusing. For example, instead of saying: "You were really drunk last night," try: "I felt embarrassed about the joke you told last night. You don't ordinarily talk like that. Maybe you had too much to drink." Use "I" language as much as possible. Express your feelings such as alarm, fear, and sadness, not what you think is happening to the other person. "Although he may argue, he can't deny your feelings," Whitmer says. Express your concern for your colleague and offer to provide feedback when you see the problem surfacing. Talk to her before the next company gathering, and let her know you will signal when you sense inappropriate behaviour coming on. For example: "The last time all the managers went out for a drink after the strategic planning meeting, I was afraid, after the third drink, that your remarks about the boss were going to get you into trouble." I'm feeling some anxiety about tonight's business dinner. If I sense you're getting into dangerous territory, I'm going to give you that feedback. Does that make sense to you? When I say 'Remember what we talked about yesterday?' that's the red flag." You can certainly show compassion and express your concern, but don't hesitate to say: "I'm not in a position to counsel you about what's going on." If your company has an employee assistance programme, steer her in that direction. If that resource is unavailable, suggest contacting an alcoholism information and treatment centre. Sometimes being kind means being tough when you protect fellow workers. It's not easy to speak up to someone who is self-destructing with alcohol – or any other substance. Still, it's the right thing to do. Don't ever turn your eyes from a difficult situation like this. We need to take care of each other. We are, after all, in this life together. Thus, we all deserve respect, both in the giving and the getting. – Reuters (Mary Mitchell has written several books on the subject of etiquette, including "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Etiquette" and "Class Acts". She is also the founder of executive training consultancy The Mitchell Organization with the website http://www.themitchell.org. The opinions expressed are her own.) |
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