The protests against the excesses of Wall Street may be spreading across the States but it seems the idea was a homegrown effort. Yep, the idea for the mass capitalist revolt was hatched right here in Canada, by one of our own, and its instigators hope it will spread north of the border.
Kalle Lasn, co-editor of the influential, Vancouver-based, anti-consumer publication Adbusters, first called for a people’s occupation of Wall Street with a handful of colleagues, even though he's somewhat astounded at how the idea caught on.
“Of course, we had some hopes and dreams, but we had no idea it would turn into a movement in the United States, then into Canada, and become global,” said Mr. Lasn.
Over the weekend more than 700 demonstrators on the Brooklyn Bridge were arrested, and now American unions are joining forces. The next big protest is scheduled Thursday in Washington, and strategists are trying to spark similar action in Canadian cities.
Lasn and his posse sent out the message that the time was ripe for revolt and his message quickly captivated Adbusters’ 90,000-strong network.
“I was scared the loony left would take over again, and the whole thing would fizzle into nothing. But real, substantial people are turning up, people with a bit of backbone,” said Mr. Lasn, who believes the movement has been slower to gain support here because economic conditions are much worse in the States, where protests are springing up from Florida to Boston to Los Angeles.
“They are losing their jobs, their houses. Nearly 40 per cent of young people between 19 and 25 can’t find work. There is a lot of anger out there.”
Activists in Toronto and Vancouver are planning protests starting Oct. 15. “This was all cooked up right here at Adbusters. It’s a Canadian adventure,” he said.
Do such protests help to spark change or simply fuel anarchists and opportunists as in the recent London riots and Toronto's G8 Summit?
Looking for a way to stave off the bulge this winter? It could be as easy as boiling the kettle.
According to Penn State food scientists, green tea may slow down weight gain and help in the fight against obesity.
In the online edition of Obesity, mice that were fed a high-fat diet as well as a compound in green tea known as EGCG gained weight much more slowly than the control group which didn't.
"Our results suggest that if you supplement with EGCG or green tea you gain weight more slowly," said Joshua Lambert, assistant professor of food science in agricultural sciences.
The green tea consuming mice also showed an almost 30 per cent increase in fecal lipids, meaning the EGCG also limited fat absorption.
While the green tea did not appear to suppress appetite or cause the mice to lose weight, the study suggests that drinking a few cups a day may help humans regulate their weight.
Don't like the bitter taste of green tea? You might want to opt for supplements.
Ever since the camera was invented, women have taken photos of their bumps as a means to celebrate their pregnancies.
But it wasn't until 1991, when 7-month-pregnant Demi Moore posed strategically for photographer Annie Leibovitz on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine, that the bump craze began in earnest. Since then, we've had bump casts.
Now the latest trend -- bump painting -- is catching on in other parts of the world. By no means a new phenomenon, henna has traditionally been used to adorn women's bodies in countries such as India and Morocco for special occasions.
“Some women told me they want to have photographs of their bumps taken, but feel a bit odd about the bareness of it, so the paint gives them the confidence to have it done," said make-up artist Stacey Kilpatrick from Northern Ireland.
“It's a lovely experience and great for me too. When people look their best, they feel good and I believe make-up gives people confidence,” Stacey said. Many moms-to-be who are self-conscious of scars and stretch marks would rather have their bumps painted before they are photographed.
For 30-year-old Claire Martin, the bump portrait made a great keepsake. “I thought it was a really nice idea,” she said. “All my girlfriends came over and we had tea and cakes and made a baby shower out of it."
Artists only use water-based paint which has safety regulations, and Stacey recommends moms get it done toward the end of their pregnancies.
“It means their bump will be a really good size and they will be over the most critical stages of pregnancy.”
A bump painting is every bit as personal as a tattoo but fortunately not permanent.
Stacey, who painted a horse on her own bump, claims that while she's painted mainly family names and due dates, she could paint anything from "Disney characters to jigsaw puzzles and treasure maps." As long as it's meaningful to the couple.
If you've had yours done, what did you have painted on your bump?
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