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| | Brazil Provides Excellent Medical Care, Both Public and Private | | | | Friday, October 2, 2009 (5:51 PM) | | Since 1988, the Brazilian constitution has guaranteed that everyone have access to medical care in Brazil. This service can be obtained from the public national health system, from private providers subsidized by the federal government via the Social Security budget, or from the private sector via private insurance or employers.
Medical care is available to anyone who is legally in Brazil, which, of course, includes foreign residents.
Those who cannot afford to pay for health care in Brazil use the government’s free public national health system, mentioned above. They pay nothing for doctors’ fees, lab fees, hospitalization, surgery, or even prescription drugs. Brazil’s national health care system is roughly equal to the caliber and operational style of the Veterans Administration hospital system in the U.S. Municipal hospitals are widely available, and provide free treatment including emergency services to everyone.
For the highest quality of health care in Brazil, the private system is generally better than the public system, with shorter waits and better care. The more affluent Brazilians generally use this system, which covers about 20% of the Brazilian population. There are several hundred firms offering four principal types of medical plans: private health insurance, prepaid group practice, medical cooperatives, and company health plans.
The cost can vary, according to the provider, coverage, and region. We spoke with one expat (over 50 years old) whose plan came with a free complete physical, medicine, hospitalization with a private room, dentistry, and eye care. His cost was $124 per month (R268 reais); a premium that goes down if he makes no claims. The medical provider UniMed quotes $277 (R600) for full coverage for a family of three.
Public health care in Brazil is still available should you need to use it, even if you have private health insurance.
Another option in Brazil is to use coverage from back home. Depending on where you live, you may find that your current health insurance provider has participating doctors and hospitals in Brazil.
And don’t forget: You can always fall back on the safety net of completely free Brazilian national health care if you cannot afford private medical care.
Regardless of the option you choose, Brazil's health care is sure to be one of the country's strong points when considering it as an overseas retirement destination.
Source:
http://www.internationalliving.com/Countries/Brazil/Health | | | 14 Views | 0  Thumbs Up | 0 Comments |  |
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| | Revealed: millions spent by lobby firms fighting Obama health reforms | | | | Friday, October 2, 2009 (5:46 PM) | | Six lobbyists for every member of Congress as healthcare industry heaps cash on politicians to water down legislation.
America's healthcare industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to block the introduction of public medical insurance and stall other reforms promised by Barack Obama. The campaign against the president has been waged in part through substantial donations to key politicians.
Supporters of radical reform of healthcare say legislation emerging from the US Senate reflects the financial power of vested interests - principally insurance companies, pharmaceutical firms and hospitals - that have worked to stop far-reaching changes threatening their profits.
The industry and interest groups have spent $380m (£238m) in recent months influencing healthcare legislation through lobbying, advertising and in direct political contributions to members of Congress. The largest contribution, totalling close to $1.5m, has gone to the chairman of the senate committee drafting the new law.
A former member of Bill Clinton's cabinet says fears that the industry could throw its money behind the populist rightwing backlash against public insurance have scared the Obama White House into pulling back from the most significant reforms in return for healthcare companies not trying to scupper the entire legislation.
Drug and insurance companies say they are merely seeking to educate politicians and the public. But with industry lobbyists swarming over Capitol Hill - there are six registered healthcare lobbyists for every member of Congress - a partner in the most powerful lobbying firm in Washington acknowledged that healthcare firms' money "has had a lot of influence" and that it is "morally suspect".
Reform groups say vast spending, and the threat of a lot more being poured into advertisements against the administration, has helped drug companies ensure there will be no cap on the prices they charge for medicines - one of the ways the White House had hoped to keep down surging healthcare costs.
Insurance companies have done even better as the new legislation will prove a business bonanza. It is not only likely to kill off the threat of public health insurance, which threatened to siphon off customers by offering lower premiums and better coverage, but will force millions more people to take out private medical policies or face prosecution.
"It's a total victory for the health insurance industry," said Dr Steffie Woolhander, a GP, professor of medicine at Harvard University and co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Programme (PNHP).
"What the bill has done is use the coercive power of the state to force people to hand their money over to a private entity which is the private insurance industry. That is not what people were promised."
PNHP blames a political process it says is corrupted by millions of dollars poured into the election campaigns of members of Congress and influencing the discourse about health reform by funding advertising campaigns, supposedly independent studies and patients rights organisations that press the industry's interests.
A primary target of criticism is Senator Max Baucus, the single largest recipient of health industry political donations and chairman of the finance committee that drafted the legislation criticised by Woolhander.
The committee this week twice voted against including public insurance in the legislation, with Baucus opposing it both times.
Baucus took $1.5m from the health sector for his political fund in the past year. Other members of the committee have received hundreds of thousands of dollars. They include Senator Pat Roberts, who last week tried to stall the bill by arguing that lobbyists needed three days to read it.
Baucus holds dinners for health industry executives at which they pay thousands of dollars each to be at the table, and an annual fly-fishing and golfing weekend in his home state of Montana that lobbyists pay handsomely to attend. They have included John Jonas, who represents healthcare firms for Patton Boggs, widely regarded as the top lobbying firm in Washington. Jonas, who formerly worked on the congressional staff, acknowledges that political contributions are intended to buy influence and says it works.
"It would be very naive to say they're not influenced. The contributors certainly hope they're influencing and the recipients probably ultimately are influenced," he said. "I think it's a morally suspect practice, and then you have to look at its application to see if it's morally bankrupt ... I think what's bad about the system is it's got more and more lax over time.
"When I started in this practice you did not talk issues at a fundraiser. It was impolite. And then with this need for money, the system has got coarser over time so that they go around the room asking what issues you're interested in, much more of a linkage of dollars to a discussion of the issues now."
The health industry permeates the process in other ways. At Baucus's side, drafting much of the wording of the reform, was Liz Fowler, a senate committee counsel whose last position was vice-president of the country's largest health insurer, Wellpoint, which stands to be a principal beneficiary of the new law.
Health companies and their lobby firms also recruit heavily among congressional staffers as a means of maintaining influence.
Baucus declines to discuss political donations but told Montana's Missoulian newspaper earlier this year that "no one gets special treatment".
Robert Reich, the labour secretary in the Clinton administration, says the Obama White House, mindful of how the health industry killed off Clinton's attempts at reform, has grown so fearful of industry money that it has quietly reached agreement to pull back from price caps and public health insurance.
"The White House made a Faustian bargain with big pharma and big insurance, essentially scuttling both of these profit-squeezing mechanisms in return for these industries' agreement not to oppose healthcare legislation with platoons of lobbyists and millions of dollars of TV ads."
The pharmaceutical companies are apparently pleased enough that they are now putting $120m into advertising supporting the emerging legislation.
Jonas described the bill emerging from the Senate as "in realm of what is politically possible".
"Is the bill overly distorted by money? I don't think it actually is," he said. "It's a good bill in the sense that it's a net improvement in the system ... [but] it's a bad bill if you think it's supposed to be a comprehensive solution to the US healthcare problems."
Source:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/01/lobbyists-millions-obama-healthcare-reform?commentpage=10
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| | Stop the spread of the FOX news | | | Sunday, September 27, 2009 (10:20 PM)
(I'm feeling angry) | | Stop the spread of the FOX cancer by getting it turned off in
public places: such as pubs, doctor’s offices, airports and
restaurants. Become an ambassador to decrease the influence of FOX’s
misinformation and propaganda.
Fox News Boycott -
Fonte: http://foxnewsboycott.com/
Fox News Boycott - Boycott Fox News and boycott Fox News sponsors and advertisers of Bill OReilly, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck.
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| | What the World Needs Today | | | Tuesday, August 18, 2009 (9:55 PM)
(I'm feeling anxious) | |
What the World Needs Today
Hazrat Inayat Khan
The unrest which one finds throughout the world, the difficulties among nations, the hatred existing among people one for the other, a cry of misery which comes more or less from all sides, make one wonder what may be done to find a solution for the general cry of humanity. What is done today is that the different institutions try to extinguish the fire burning here and there, but that can never solve the problem of the world.
The first thing that should be remembered is that all activities of life are connected with one another, and if one thing is put in order another goes wrong. It is just like a person who is ill who needs sleep and good diet; if he has sleep without good diet it will not do him good, nor will a good diet without sleep help him. While wanting to straighten up commercial difficulties political problems creep up, while considering the social question moral difficulties manifest to view.
Therefore in wanting to serve humanity in the work of reconstruction, which is the duty and responsibility of every sensible soul, whatever be his rank or position or qualification in life, first the question must be studied: what will be the remedy for all the maladies that manifest on the surface of life today? There is one principal thing and that is the changing of the attitude of humanity, which alone can help in all directions of life. And the attitude can be changed by moral, spiritual and religious advancement. The work that the Sufi Message has to accomplish is in this particular direction. The Sufi Message is no new religion, nor is it a particular system, but it is a method of changing the attitude in life, which enables man to have another outlook on life.
The chief thing that the Sufi Movement will try to avoid is sectarianism, which has divided man in all ages of the world's history. The Sufi Message is not opposed to any religion, faith or belief; on the other hand it is a support of all religions; it is a defence for religions which are attacked by the followers of other religions. At the same time the Sufi Movement provides humanity with the religion which is in reality all religions. The Sufi Movement is not supposed to take the whole humanity in its arms, but in the service of the whole humanity is the fulfillment of the Sufi Mission. The Sufi Movement, therefore does not stand as a barrier between the member and his own religious faith, but as an open door leading to the heart of his faith. The member of the Movement is a messenger of the Divine Message to the followers of the church or the sect to which he belongs.
The work of the Sufi Movement is not to collect all the rainwater in its own tanks, but to work and make a way for the stream of the message to flow, supplying water to the fields of the world. The work of the Sufi mission is sowing; reaping we shall leave to humanity to do, for the fields do not belong to our particular Movement; and all the fields belong to God. We who are employed on this farm of the world, do the work we must do, and leave the rest to God; success we do not trouble about, and those who strive for it, let them seek in some other direction. Truth alone is our success, for lasting success is truth.
Source:
www.sufimovement.org/whatworld.htm | | | | 27 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 0 Comments | |
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| | The missiom | | | Saturday, August 8, 2009 (8:48 PM)
(I'm feeling awake) | | "To avoid a complete disaster it was necessary to achieve world harmony as soon as possible.
It could not be achieved by politics, philosophy, religion or any organized movement that treat man in the mass.
It could only be accomplished through the individual development of man.
If enough individuals could develop themselves, even partially, into genuine natural beings, each such individual would then be able to convince and win over as many as a hundred others, who would, each in his turn, be able to influence another hundred and so on." - G.I.Gurdjieff
Gurdjieff Legacy
http://www.gurdjieff-legacy.org/
Join the Group Enneagram 2009
http://enneagram2009.multiply.com/
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| | Barack Obama in Cairo: the speech no other president could make. Awesome! | | | Friday, June 5, 2009 (10:47 PM)
(I'm feeling excited) | | Full text of Barack Obama's speech in Cairo
CAIRO: Below is the prepared text US President Barack Obama's speech in Egypt aimed at healing a rift with the Muslim world.
I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.
"We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world - tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.
So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles - principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do - to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.
As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam - at places like Al-Azhar University - that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture
has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers - Thomas Jefferson - kept in his personal library.
More at…
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| | Violations of international humanitarian law | | | Monday, February 2, 2009 (4:10 PM)
(I'm feeling aggravated) | |
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11644&tr=y&auid=4461054
Message Recipients
Hillary Rodham Clinton - Secretary of State
Susan Rice - US Representative to the United Nations
Please sign this petition at Amnesty International
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11644&tr=y&auid=4461054
Now that the fighting between Israel and Hamas has largely ceased after their declaration of separate ceasefires, the true scale of devastation wrought on civilians in Gaza is becoming increasingly evident. Our researchers in Gaza and southern Israel have this week found first hand evidence of war crimes and other serious violations of international law by the parties to the conflict, including possible crimes against humanity, as well as abuses of human rights.
Amnesty International believes that long-term peace and security cannot be found in the Middle East unless accountability is established for crimes under international law. The United Nations Secretary-General has already called for an urgent, impartial investigation into the shelling of UNWRA schools, including with the use of White Phosphorus munitions, and other attacks on UN buildings and personnel in Gaza. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon recently briefed the Security Council on his return from Gaza and emphasized: “where civilians have been killed and there are allegations of violations of international humanitarian law, there should be thorough investigations, full explanations and, where it is required, accountability." In adopting resolution 1860 (2009), the Security Council called for a ceasefire, for the unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance and the re-opening of crossing points into Gaza. But the Security Council failed to address the question of accountability. Amnesty International believes this is critical—that those who have committed possible war crimes should not be given impunity.
Considering the mutual recriminations that may affect the impartiality of national investigations, and the poor record of investigations by Israel into violations by its forces, Amnesty International urges the US to support the establishment of a comprehensive independent international inquiry – set up by the UN Security Council – into all allegations of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups participating in the conflict. An international fact-finding team of qualified experts should carry out its investigations on the basis of the highest international standards. It must have powers to gain access to all relevant documents, other evidence and persons, and its report and findings must be public so that follow-action can be taken. As Israeli attacks in Gaza have used US made weapons, the US must not fail to respond to domestic and worldwide expressions of concern that international humanitarian and human rights law must be upheld in Gaza, that accountability for violations be established and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
For more information, please see Amnesty International’s latest report: The conflict in Gaza: A briefing on applicable law, investigations and accountability (http://www.amnestyusa.org/pdf/gazabriefing.pdf), which we hope you will find helpful in your further consideration of the grave situation in Gaza.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.
Join Amnesty today:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/index.html | | | | 43 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 0 Comments | |
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