For 2020: On Richard Branson, Social Media, Sugar and more
Photo by Ricardo Rocha
Last week, Richard Branson's blog post “New Year's resolutions making lists” included:
"Many people don’t make resolutions because they feel like they’ve failed if they don’t stick to it. I think it’s always better to be aiming for something, than nothing at all. Even if you only get one step closer, it’s still a step in the right direction.
"My tip for sticking to resolutions and goals is quite simple: write it down.
"My New Year’s Resolution this year is to put my health first. You only get one body so it’s important to look after it. I’m going to make sure I’m getting enough rest, staying fit and healthy and eating well."
Separately, US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in “2019 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary” said,
“we have come to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside. In our age, when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the public’s need to understand our government, and the protections it provides, is ever more vital.”
Finally, “How Much Is Too Much? The growing concern over too much added sugar in our diets” (University of California – San Francisco) included:
“experts agree that some added sugar in the diet is fine. But the truth is, most Americans are consuming way too much
“The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day for women and 9 teaspoons for men … the average American consumes 17 teaspoons every day.
“sugar causes changes in peoples' brains similar to those in people addicted to drugs such as cocaine and alcohol. These changes are linked to a heightened craving for more sugar. This important evidence has set off a flood of research on the potentially addictive properties of sugar.”
OUR TAKE
Regarding Branson: Yes, we only get one body. We only get one planet as well. Let's take care of both of them.
Regarding Justice Roberts: With high profile elections taking place in the US and other nations this year, heeding his comments make sense. Democracy is fragile and social media (and other information sources) have become problematic. Citizen activism and engagement are important.
Regarding sugar: Sugar is pervasive (over 70% of packaged foods contain it) and its consumption has been increasing since the early 1980's. With excess sugar consumption linked to health issues including cognitive deficiencies (Alzheimer's. etc.), reducing sugar consumption seems like a great New Year's resolution.
For 2020 and beyond: We continue to focus on eating healthy, wasting less and walking more.