Does Technology Insulate Elites Dangerously?

A piece in the New York Times calls attention to the widespread use of air purifiers by the Chinese political elite to avoid much of the pollution affecting other citizens. Of course these devices can presumably be bought by other Chinese citizens who can afford the $2,000 price.

 According to the Broad Group's Web site, it did not take much to convince the nation's Communist Party leaders that they would do well to acquire the firm's air purifiers, some of which cost $2,000. To make their case, company executives installed one in a meeting room used by members of the Politburo Standing Committee. The deal was apparently sealed a short while later, when technicians made a show of cleaning out the soot-laden filters. "After they saw the inklike dirty water, Broad air purifier became the national leaders' appointed air purifier!" the Web site said.

But are workarounds for social ills only Chinese? Of course the wealthy have always had advantages against urban hazards. The west end of many though not all cities, from Los Angeles to Berlin, is usually more fashionable than the east because it's generally upwind of atmospheric pollution sources. But it was once harder to avoid the ills that affected poorer neighbors. Those Victorian doorknob units had little flaps over their keyholes not just to decorate but to keep out soot that could be a problem even from so small an aperture. And Londoners all used the same water and sewer systems, a powerful incentive for Victorian engineering triumphs of sanitation. (The Great Stink of 1858, penetrating the Houses of Parliament, helped prompt the construction of Joseph Bazalgette's sewer network.) New York's magnificent reservoir and aqueduct system was similarly motivated.

The bottled-water industry, air and water purifiers, electronic security systems, residential backup electric generators, (possibly revived) paid  "trusted traveler" programs at airports, and congestion charges, road pricing, and sale of passes for previous high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes -- all use advanced technology to insulate those who can pay from everyone else. In the 20th century executives might commute to Westchester or the North Shore of Chicago, but in Manhattan or the Loop they breathed the same air as their clerks. In fact, it was common for industrialists to live near the factory to keep an eye on things, even at personal risk. (One of the most beautiful parks in my area, with a beloved azalea garden, was originally home to a rubber factory owner, who apparently raised his family as toxic waste from the nearby plant polluted the property.)

Privilege in place of cash-based inequality has of course long been a hallmark of many nominally egalitarian regimes. When I visited Moscow in 1988 during perestroika there were still special lanes for official cars. The fall of the Soviet Union a few years later, far from extinguishing the flashing blue lights of the old regime, extended driving privilege from the nomenklatura to an even larger oligarchy; even Moscow authorities have been cracking down, even if they aren't questioning the principle but only exposing false credentials.Privilege through the technological marketplace is more subtle but it also promotes dangerous complacency.

Sharp plans aggressive expansion

Nepali electronics market is flooded with Korean products. To provide customers with additional choices, SG Global has introduced Sharp, a Japanese brand in the market.

With plans to have dealers and showrooms in 35 different cities of Nepal in four months, SG Global, is looking to ensure its footprint all over the nation within this year.

"Nepali people value Japanese brands and we are providing them," said Raju Bhetwal Chhetri, vice-president of SG Global. The company claimed to be receiving overwhelming response from customers since its launch a couple of days ago. "The response we are receiving is better than what we had anticipated in the current market situation," said Chettri.

SG Global inaugurated the Sharp outlet named Sharp World at Naxal on Thursday.

Sharp World will showcase its vast range of products including LCD TV, LED TV, refrigerator, microwave oven, washing machine, DVD player, home theatre, air purifier, vacuum cleaner, generator and many more items. Sharp LCD TV with Quattron technology has RGB+Y feature to take the visual experience to a new level, claims Sharp world.

Similarly, Sharp microwave oven with its salt and fat reduction technology is one of the healthier technologies of its kind. Air purifier, another product, is one of the unique products and it not only freshens up the air but also kills the airborne viruses of the atmosphere and makes the ambience fresh and healthy.

Similarly, every Sharp product is equipped with unique and user-friendly features. Due to unmatched features and high quality of Sharp products, SG Global is confident that the Nepali market will receive the Sharp products well.

"SG Global is also planning to open a showroom in Jwalakhel in about six months apart from expansions outside the Kathmandu Valley. We believe we are going to establish ourselves firmly in the market within a year," said Chettri.

Your essential guide to a sneeze-free summer

Summer looks set to sizzle and while that’s more than welcome after months of drizzle, it has a definite downside if you happen to be allergic to pollen.

Hay fever isn’t going away. With a huge 15 million Brits have the condition and numbers are rising. So here’s our 20-point sneezing-survival plan.

1 Spot the hidden symptoms

A blocked, runny or itchy nose, red and itchy, watery eyes, sore throat and headaches can all be tell-tale signs of hay fever. More people are getting hay fever for the first time in middle-age but because of variations in the pollen count, they might not suffer the same symptoms every year.

“People mistakenly believe they have a cold, so treat it inappropriately,” says pollen and allergy expert Professor Jean Emberlin. If any of these symptoms last longer than a couple of weeks, see your pharmacist. But see your GP if you also have asthma as uncontrolled hay fever can make it worse.

2 Let out the smoke

Cigarette smoke – your own or someone else’s – irritates the lining of the nose, eyes, throat and airways, making hay fever worse, so ban it at home.

3 Boost your defences

Pack in the fruit and veg and get plenty of exercise to strengthen your immune system. Allergies like hay fever occur when the immune system gets confused, mistaking a harmless substance like pollen for something harmful, putting it into overdrive.

During this process, your body produces the chemical histamine, which causes the symptoms. Last year’s Hay Fever Health Report carried out by Professor Emberlin’s team found that people who eat healthily and exercise are less likely to suffer severe hay fever symptoms.

4 Nip it in the bud

The earlier you start treatment, the more successful it should be. When hay fever symptoms are in full flow, one in 10 sufferers has difficulty working while a third have problems sleeping, according to Opticrom.

Start with over-the-counter antihistamine nasal sprays and eye drops for mild symptoms. Otherwise, try long-acting, non-drowsy antihistamine pills, such as those with cetirizine or loratadine – save money with non-branded versions.

5 Find the culprit

Once you know which pollen or pollens cause problems, you can try to avoid them. Keep a diary of when and where you get symptoms and match them against a pollen calendar. You can download one for free at www.zirtek.co.uk.

6 Watch what you eat

If you’re allergic to birch pollen, eating uncooked apples and stone fruits can make symptoms worse.

7 Lighten up

The Lumie Haylight (£49.95) is a pocket-sized phototherapy device, which has two tubes that you insert into your nostrils for three minutes, three to four times a day. It emits light that works on the membranes inside the nose, reducing production of histamine. It might sound odd but it doesn’t have side effects and is scientifically proven. Visit www.lumie.com.

8 Put up barriers

There are plenty of barrier balms that trap pollen before it gets into the respiratory system. But Prevalin (£9.22) is a new nasal spray that goes even further. It deactivates the pollen inside the nose, forms a microgel barrier to protect the nasal lining and helps to remove pollen from the nostrils.

In a study, 75% of hay fever sufferers said they preferred Prevalin to their usual treatment. It’s also safe for kids and pregnant women. Visit www.westonsinternet.co.uk.

9 Clear the air

Air purifiers capture pollen grains that are circulating in the air at home. The best are those given Allergy UK’s seal of approval. Visit www.allergyuk.org.

10 Check the count

On high pollen count days, try to stay indoors and, if you go out, wear wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes. You can find out the pollen count on weather forecasts.

11 Escape the city

Hay fever symptoms are worse in cities as pollution reacts with the pollen, making it more powerful. Pollen counts are usually lower close to the coast and on higher ground. If you’re going on holiday, pick a low-pollen location with the help of pollen maps. Maps of the UK and Europe, can be downloaded free at www.nasacort.co.uk.

12 Chill out

Stress produces the hormone cortisol, which affects the immune system and prolongs symptoms. The Hay Fever Health Report found seven out of 10 sufferers with high stress suffered severe symptoms.

13 Ignore the old wives’ tales

Many people believe that eating local honey can help. Unfortunately, it turns out it’s a myth. As honey is derived from bee pollination from flowers and most people’s hay fever is triggered by grass or tree pollen, honey might be scrummy, but it will do very little to relieve symptoms.

14 Time it right

Keep windows shut at peak pollen times of day – that’s between 7am and10am and 5pm and 7pm. Try to limit time spent outdoors during those hours if possible.

15 Bin the booze

As well as making you more sensitive to pollen, alcohol is dehydrating, which makes the symptoms seem worse.

Samsung Launches Youth Education Initiative in Upper Egypt

Cairo, Egypt - May 15, 2011 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Egypt, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, recently launched a new CSR initiative to empower the technological skills of Upper Egypt's children under its campaign, "Samsung Hope for Children."  Building on the momentum of recent events in Egypt, Samsung will inspire Upper Egypt's children to become active members of the society  by providing them with the necessary communication tools that will allow them speak their minds freely. As such, Samsung Egypt has partnered with the Association of Upper Egypt for Education & Development (AUEED) to provide state-of-the-art IT equipment and IT training to schools in Upper Egypt, one of the poorest rural areas in the country. 

"Samsung believes that supporting the advancement and development of this generation's skills through technology is the first step to shaping a community's future," commented Duke Park, General Manager of Samsung Electronics Egypt.  "The recent events in Egypt were largely inspired by the youth and through their use of technology, they have made the society take a leap towards freedom of speech. Samsung feels that this new generation deserves every opportunity to succeed in achieving their goals of creating a new Egypt and this is why we are thrilled to help by providing Samsung's innovative technology to underprivileged rural communities in Upper Egypt."

In collaboration with AUEED, Samsung will provide financial and technological aid to schools in Upper Egypt creating a modern learning environment for the children to allow them to redefine and broaden their thinking, behavior and skills. By doing so, this will help them to interact effectively with the world and the people around them, comprehending their opinions and point of views in life. AUEED was established in 1940 and is a non-profit, community-based organization working in Upper Egypt to empower local communities.  Samsung Egypt will educate and equip around 11,200 students in 34 private primary schools operated by AUEED in Upper Egypt with the technology tools that will allow them to be intellectually challenged while providing them with a realistic snapshot of what the world looks like.

Samsung's project will be completed over two years at schools in Minya, Assiut, Sohag, Qena and Luxor.  The first phase will be implemented during 2011 and includes the building and managing of brand new computer labs that will house Samsung laptops, printers, projectors and Samsung Virus Doctors, which are state of the art air purifiers that act as a precaution against airborne viruses.  The second phase will be to upgrade existing computer labs and will follow the completion of the first phase.  Samsung will also offer local teachers of those schools training on a wide range of IT skills that will help make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun. In addition, Samsung employees will play a role by training students on how to use computers and surf the internet to connect them to experts in the real world and provide numerous opportunities for expressing understanding through images, sound, and text.