links for 2009-09-15

• Canadian Investment in Vitamin A Leads to Reduction in Global Child Deaths
  Through its leadership in providing vitamin A supplementation to children around the world, Canadians have played an important role in contributing to a significant decline in child deaths worldwide, says Micronutrient Initiative (MI) President Venkatesh Mannar.
  On Thursday, UNICEF reported that the rate at which children under age five are dying has dropped to about 8.8 million last year, down from 12.5 million in 1990 when the Millennium Development Goals were set in order to reduce the number of child deaths worldwide. Experts credit the decline to improved vitamin A supplementation, measles vaccinations and malaria preventative measures.

  Since 1997, Micronutrient Initiative's vitamin A program, supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has provided more than 75 per cent of the developing world's need for vitamin A and has contributed to saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children every year.

  (tags: development poverty health nutrition canada aid cida)
• اليوم السابع | الصين تروج لأغشية بكارة صناعية فى مصر
  Artificial virginity membranes (that tighten quim release red liquid when penetrated) to be imported from China!
  Looking forward to the hysteria – already apparent in the comments – that is sure to ensue. But more importantly, I wonder what kind of social effects this will have on a longer time frame. Will the significance of the veil increase or decrease? If women can "prove" their virtuosity regardless, will the veil be less relevant? Or will it become more so since it's now even harder to ascertain from intercourse?
  (tags: egypt sex sexuality women)