Survey uncovers what consumers really think about being green
According to a recent online survey by Whirlpool Corporation, the majority of consumers (68 percent) want to live “green” but only if it is convenient to their lifestyle. The study, conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive®, found that while finances are top of mind and consumers are still on the hunt for a good bargain, many are unwilling to compromise; searching until they find the right product at the right price.
Overall, the survey demonstrates that consumers are becoming more and more savvy about how best to spend – and save – their hard-earned money. In fact, more than half of adults (59%) said they would rather spend more money now to save energy (and money) later when it came to home appliances. With that in mind, Whirlpool Corporation continues to lead the industry when it comes to efficiency, offering more than 300 ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances, more than any other manufacturer.
“As consumers begin to adopt a greener lifestyle, and the concept moves from trend to norm, we wanted to see if the collective mindset was shifting,” said Monica Teague, senior manager brand business teams, Whirlpool Corporation. “We also know that people are still watching their wallets. What we discovered is that consumers want the easiest path toward efficiency and cost-savings, and will not compromise until they find it.”
A previous online survey of 2,042 U.S. adults ages 18 and over conducted by Harris Interactive between December 29-31, 2008 and on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation found that there were several gaps – be they marital, gender or generational – in terms of high-efficiency awareness with regards to laundry-appliances(1). The 2008 survey found that the majority (84%) of consumers rate energy efficiency (as opposed to water or time) as the most important efficiency feature, however this year’s survey revealed that, at the same time, one-fifth of all adults are willing to sacrifice certain features or eco-efficiency to get a more affordable price.
Sixty-eight percent of adults said they do their best to be green to the extent that it fits into their lifestyles and their finances. Fortunately, Whirlpool Corporation offers some of the most water and energy efficient products on the market, in the kitchen and the laundry room and across all price points.
The survey also found that the majority of adults (68 percent) said they will search until they find the product they are looking for at the right price. Opinions varied by region with those from the South indicating that they will search until they find the product they are looking for at the right price (77%), while Midwesterners indicated that they will buy what is on sale (25%).
And, no surprise here, men and women had different opinions. More women (71 percent), as opposed to men (65 percent), are willing to search until they find the product they are looking for at the right price. Interestingly, 35-44 year-old men are more willing than women to sacrifice certain features and/or eco-efficiency to spend less (24% vs. 21% respectively).
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Whirlpool Corporation from November 20-24, 2009 among 2,089 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
Source: Whirlpool Corporation
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
National study finds Americans are hopeful for 2010 Decade after learning from past ten years
OfficeMax Survey Uncovers How Consumers Really Feel About Past and Future Decades
With one decade concluding and another on the horizon, Americans are gearing up for 2010 by learning from the past and making plans for a better decade ahead. According to a nationwide survey from OfficeMax® Incorporated Americans have high hopes for the approaching decade with clear plans for their personal lives and heightened focus on family and personal wellbeing while embracing change and opportunity. When referring to the 2010 decade, nearly four in ten (38%) Americans prefer to use the phrase “the twenty-tens” over other popular terms that include “the oh-tens” (16%), “the tens” (14%) and “the teens” (11%).
Moving forward, Americans predict that family, personal development and self-discovery will define the next ten years. Many believe they will spend more time with family (64%) and reconnect with old friends (42%). Others plan to nurture themselves by grabbing the reins on their health (62%) and finally creating a work-life balance (38%). Over half (57%) of Americans believe the next decade will be about discovering what’s most important in life, while others think they’ll laugh more than ever before (47%).
As Americans consider the advancements and transformations they hope to achieve during the next decade, it’s fitting that nearly three in ten people think “Changes” by David Bowie (28%) is the song title that best represents their outlook on the approaching decade. Others selected “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash (13%) to demonstrate their optimism while some shared their apprehension choosing “Help!” by the Beatles (16%) and “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (12%) to illustrate their future outlook.
Gearing up for the next decade, Americans plan to learn from the past and incorporate these lessons into the future. Demonstrating the importance of action in 2010, a large number of Americans selected the expressions – “action speaks louder than words” (73%) and “talk is cheap” (67%) – to illustrate what they learned over the past decade. Nearly seven in ten people selected “knowledge is power” (69%) and “don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched” (67%) to describe their hopes for smarter, more calculated decisions in the future. With the touch economic times, personal finances were also top-of-mind for most Americans, which is perhaps why phrases like “a penny saved is a penny earned” (66%) and “money makes the world go round” (50%) are what many will use as a springboard for the new decade.
“Everyone has the chance to start fresh in 2010 with a new decade ahead of them, and we’re excited to learn through this national survey that consumers are ready to take the express train to a brighter, more prosperous future,” said Bob Thacker, SVP of Marketing & Advertising for OfficeMax. “At OfficeMax, we’re kicking off the year by celebrating positive achievements and helping people do their best work at home, the office, or on-the-go. It’s going to be a delightful decade as we focus more on what’s important and improve on the past ten years.”
The national survey of 1,000 consumers was conducted by Kelton Research in December 2009 using Random Digit Dialing of listed and unlisted phone numbers. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population ages 18 and over.
Sandra Bullock Top Money-Making Star of 2009
Sandra Bullock has been voted the Top Money-Making Star of 2009 in Quigley Publishing Company’s 78th Annual Poll of Exhibitors and is the first female to win since Julia Roberts in 1999. Bullock is the eighth woman chosen #1 in the Poll’s 78 year history. She appeared in three films in 2009, “The Blind Side,” “The Proposal” and “All About Steve.”
The Quigley Poll, conducted each year since 1932, is an annual survey of motion picture theatre owners and film buyers, which asks them to vote for the ten stars that they believe generated the most box-office revenue for their theatres during the year. It has been long regarded as one of the most reliable indicators of a Star’s real box-office draw because the selections are done by people whose livelihood depends on choosing the films that will bring audiences to their theatres. The Quigley Poll appears annually in Quigley Publishing Company’s International Motion Picture Almanac and at www.quigleypublishing.com .
Johnny Depp placed second this year based on “Public Enemies” and a small role in “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.” He was #1 in 2006 and 2007. Matt Damon made his second appearance in the survey, placing #3 with 2009 roles in “Invictus” and “The Informant!” Although George Clooney, placing #4, has never won in his seven mentions in the Poll, he had an extremely productive year with “Up in the Air,” “The Men Who Stare at Goats” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox”(voice). Robert Downey Jr.’s performances in “Sherlock Holmes” and “The Soloist” helped him place #5. He was #2 in 2008.
Tom Hanks is #6, which marks the fifteenth time in the Poll since he first appeared in 1988, including five times as #1. Meryl Streep was in “Julie and Julia,” “It’s Complicated” and a voice in “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and placed #7, her third mention in the Poll. Brad Pitt made his fifth appearance coming in at #8, due to “Inglourious Basterds.” 2007’s “Star of Tomorrow,” Shia LaBeouf scored #9 with “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and Denzel Washington rounded out the Top Ten with “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.”
With Bullock’s win, eight women have been voted the Top Money-Makers sixteen times as follows: Marie Dressler (1932, 1933), Shirley Temple (1935, 1936, 1937, 1938), Betty Grable (1943), Elizabeth Taylor (1961), Doris Day (1960, 1962, 1963, 1964), Julie Andrews (1966, 1967) and Julia Roberts. (1999)
Tom Cruise has not placed in the Poll in the last two years but he has been in the Top Ten 20 times since 1983, and been voted number one seven times. Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds and Bing Crosby have all won five times. John Wayne, Doris Day and Shirley Temple each finished first four times, but John Wayne was voted one of the Top Ten Money-Making Stars an astounding 25 times from 1949 to 1974.
Exhibitors were also asked to name the Stars of Tomorrow for 2009: one actor and one actress who they feel will be Top Money-Makers in the years to come. The 2009 winners are Carey Mulligan who had a breakthrough performance in “An Education” and was also in “Brothers” and “Public Enemies” and Taylor Lautner who scored as Jacob Black in “New Moon.”
Top Ten Money-Making Stars of 2009
1. Sandra Bullock
2. Johnny Depp
3. Matt Damon
4. George Clooney
5. Robert Downey Jr.
6. Tom Hanks
7. Meryl Streep
8. Brad Pitt
9. Shia LaBeouf
10. Denzel Washington
Stars of Tomorrow:
Carey Mulligan
Taylor Lautner
Source: Quigley Publishing Company
Thomson Reuters survey: Most Americans support public option in healthcare reform legislation
but Are Skeptical Healthcare Will Improve in 2010
A majority of Americans support a “public option” in healthcare reform legislation, but most lack confidence that the cost, quality, value or accessibility of medical care will improve in the next year, according to a survey released today by Thomson Reuters.
Sixty percent of survey respondents said they believe a public option should be included in final healthcare reform legislation. Only about one in five, however, believes the cost, quality or value of care will improve in the next 12 months. Twenty-three percent said they expect access to care to improve.
The results are from a telephone survey of 2,999 households conducted from November 9-17 — a segment of the Thomson Reuters PULSE Healthcare Survey, the largest and longest-running survey of its kind. Each year, PULSE polls more than 100,000 U.S. households about healthcare behaviors, attitudes and utilization.
Here are the key findings:
– 18 percent of survey respondents said they expect to spend less on healthcare a year from now.
– 21 percent believe the quality of care will improve in the next 12 months.
– 18 percent believe the value of care delivered will be better in a year.
– 23 percent believe it will be easier for people to receive the care they need a year from now.
– 60 percent of Americans believe a public option should be included in final healthcare legislation. There are sharp divisions, however, along party lines: 86 percent of Democrats support the public option versus 57 percent of Independents and 33 percent of Republicans.
The survey is nationally representative and the margin of error is 1.8 percent.
Source: Thomson Reuters
American Red Cross survey finds 62 percent of Americans plan to donate more than $25 to charity this holiday season
Red Cross offers online giving catalog to help families make charitable gifts in the name of others
In spite of the economic downturn, Americans are entering this holiday season willing to support charities in two ways, with 62 percent planning to dig deep into their own wallets to support charities and nearly 40 percent talking with others about donating to charity instead of buying them a gift, according to a new survey for the American Red Cross.
The survey shows that nearly 90 percent of Americans planned to donate to charity this holiday season. Half of those making donations plan to donate at least $50 to charity this holiday season, with 25 percent intending to give more than $100.
Importantly, the survey shows that in addition to making their own donations, 39 percent of people are willing to forego another holiday gift and have that money given to charities instead. Moreover, 80 percent said that if asked, they would be happy to make a donation to charity instead of buying a gift for someone.
And with many people shopping online this holiday season, the Red Cross is making it easier to give charitable gifts through an online “Gifts that Save the Day” catalog that enables people to make a tax-deductable charitable gift this holiday season. The catalog, at www.redcross.org/gifts, allows people to make a donation that could provide food and shelter for a disaster victim for a day; a military comfort kit with a robe, phone card and other supplies for a wounded warrior; or a month of basic necessities for a family in another country who lost everything in a disaster.
“In this season of hope, the Red Cross is asking people to give a gift that can really save the day for someone in need,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “Shoppers doing their online gift-buying on Cyber Monday or at other times this holiday season can make a donation to the Red Cross in the name of someone special.”
Gifts made through the catalog are contributions towards a Red Cross program area, not a donation to a specific project or item. The donations will be used to provide assistance where it is needed most within the program area; remaining money is put to use where it is needed most.
Women Most Often Involved in Family Decisions on Charitable Donations
Women have a great deal of influence over charitable giving decisions in the home. Ninety percent of the women surveyed indicated that they are involved in decisions about which charities to support, compared to 81 percent of men. More than one in five (22 percent) said that they involved children in determining charitable donations.
Popular charities for holiday giving this year include those that help the poor (83 percent); help service members (58 percent); help people with a specific disease (55 percent); and that assist disaster victims (51 percent).
In addition, people are supporting charities during the holiday season with more than money, donating clothing, time and even blood. The survey found that 84 percent planned to donate used clothing or household items; 75 percent would contribute food to a food bank; 39 percent planned to volunteer for a charity; and 22 percent said they would donate blood during the holiday season.
The telephone survey of 1,001 U.S. adults 18 years and older was conducted November 5-8, 2009 by CARAVAN(R) Opinion Research Corporation. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
Source: American Red Cross
Survey shows that Americans lack significant knowledge of age-related vision problems
Macular degeneration and glaucoma among the top areas Americans have the most misunderstanding according to the American Optometric Association
It’s a fact of life that eyes change with age, and baby boomers – Americans born between 1946 and 1964 – are at the stage when many are affected by vision problems. Despite the prevalence of Americans affected by these changes, a new survey from the American Optometric Association (AOA) shows a concerning lack of public knowledge and misunderstanding regarding age-related eye diseases and conditions.
According to the AOA’s American Eye-Q® survey, which assesses public knowledge and understanding of issues related to eye and visual health, only 18 percent of Americans know that macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults 65 years of age and older, and less than a quarter of all Americans understand the effects of glaucoma. Even more concerning, 89 percent of Americans incorrectly believe that glaucoma is preventable, when in fact it is only treatable if caught early.
Americans who are 40 years of age or older have probably noticed changes in vision. Difficulties seeing clearly for reading and close work are among the most common problems adults develop between the ages of 41 to 60. According to the Eye-Q® survey, top concerns about the effects of vision problems include not being able to live independently, cited by 45 percent; not being able to see loved ones, 21 percent; being unable to read, 20 percent and losing the ability to drive, 11 percent.
“When left undetected and untreated, many age-related eye diseases can damage your vision permanently,” said Mark Wilkinson, O.D., Chair of the AOA’s Vision Rehabilitation Section. “The good news is that most people can preserve their vision with proper treatment, so the key is early detection.”
Age-related vision disorders baby boomers and seniors should be aware of include:
– Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – an eye disease that causes loss of central vision. Activities like reading, driving, watching TV and recognizing faces all require clear central vision.
– Diabetic retinopathy – a condition occurring in people with diabetes, which causes progressive damage to the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. If left untreated, it can cause blindness.
– Cataracts – a cloudy or opaque area in the clear lens of the eye. Usually cataracts develop in both eyes, but one may be worse than the other. Cataracts can cause a decrease in contrast sensitivity, a dulling of colors and increased sensitivity to glare.
– Glaucoma – a group of eye diseases characterized by damage to the optic nerve resulting in peripheral vision loss. People at higher risk of developing glaucoma include those with a family history of the disease, older adults, African-Americans and Hispanics.
– Dry eye – a condition where there is an insufficient amount of tearsor a poor quality of tears to lubricate and nourish the eye. Tears contribute to clear vision and the health of the front surface of the eye.
– Retinal detachment – tearing or separation of the retina from the underlying tissue. This can be caused by trauma to the eye or head, health problems due to advanced diabetes, and inflammatory disorders of the eye.
The good news is the majority of the American Eye-Q® survey respondents (92 percent) understand that visiting an eye doctor on a regular basis for comprehensive eye exams can help reduce the risk of developing age-related vision problems. The bad news is that respondents were less aware that avoiding smoking (40 percent) and eating a low-fat, low-salt diet (30 percent) can also reduce age-related vision problems.
“Some common warning signs of age-related vision problems include fluctuating vision, seeing floaters or flashes of light, loss of side vision and seeing distorted images,” said Dr. Wilkinson. “However, often patients with eye diseases do not have recognizable symptoms until the conditions are quite advanced, so regular comprehensive eye exams are essential for baby boomers and seniors.”
Addressing Age-Related Vision Problems
The American Eye-Q® survey also revealed that respondents age 55 and older are taking steps to address their age-related vision problems. Thirty three percent said they limit their night driving; 27 percent use brighter lights; 24 percent use wetting eye drops or artificial tears and 18 percent purchase or request items in large print.
Adding certain nutrients to one’s diet every day – either through foods or supplements – can help preserve vision and prevent age-related eye diseases.
The AOA recommends the following eye-healthy nutrients and foods:
– Lutein and zeaxanthin: Colorful fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, green beans, peas, oranges and tangerines
– Essential fatty acids: Fatty fish like tuna, salmon, or herring;
whole-grain foods; chicken and eggs
– Vitamin C: Fruits and vegetables, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers and tomatoes
– Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, such as safflower or corn oil; almonds and pecans; sweet potatoes and sunflower seeds
– Zinc: Extra-lean red meat, poultry, liver, shellfish, milk, baked beans and whole grains
Dealing with Vision Loss
Comprehensive eye exams are important for Americans of all ages, but become especially important later in life when more Americans develop age-related conditions and begin taking medications more frequently. The AOA recommends that adults over age 60 have a comprehensive eye examination by an optometrist once a year or more frequently if a doctor recommends it.
For patients with age-related vision loss, a specialized examination by an optometrist who treats vision impairment is a critical first step in the care process that focuses on maintaining and/or regaining independence and maximizing useful remaining vision. Prescribed treatment options commonly include specialized reading spectacles, spectacle-mounted telescopes, hand-held magnifiers and telescopes, therapeutic filters, specialized contact lenses, field enhancement treatments, and video magnification technology that both enlarge and enhance the contrast of reading materials.
There also are numerous other assistive products that can help with daily activities for people who have vision impairment, such as large-type books, magazines, and newspapers, books-on-tape, talking wristwatches, self-threading needles, and more. To learn more about vision rehabilitation and available treatment options, talk to an optometrist.
For additional information about aging eyes or to find a doctor of optometry in your area, please visit www.aoa.org.
About the survey:
The fourth annual American Eye-Q® survey was created and commissioned in conjunction with Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). From May 21 – 24, 2009, using an online methodology, PSB interviewed 1,000 Americans 18 years and older who embodied a nationally representative sample of U.S. general population. (Margin of error at 95 percent confidence level.)
Source: American Optometric Association
75% of students prefer downloading music to streaming
A recent survey of 10,000 university students by the University of Reading, found that 75% of students download music, rather than buy in stores or pay for on music-streaming sites.
Despite the recent popularity of music-streaming sites such as Spotify, 75 percent said they wouldn’t pay for a music-streaming service but would rather use sites such as iTunes to download and keep tracks on hard drives or MP3 players.
The industry is in for a shake up as more students and teenagers are looking at pricing and sites that offer songs without copy-protection technology known as digital-rights management, or DRM. This prevents customers from being able to copy music or play the MP3 music on other devices other than Apples iPods or using iTunes player.
The industry is taking note of the growing demand for cheaper downloads; one such site that has already lowered prices considerably is TunesPro.com. Launched 3 months ago, the company has reduced the cost of its tracks already, to attract the younger customers.
A spokes man for TunesPro said, “We have seen a huge surge of younger people using our site as more and more of torrents and P2P files contain viruses, so our pricing must be competitive enough for the younger students with perhaps less disposable income than professionals. We keep our prices low and concentrate of making money through volume sales. Currently we charge 19c per song and offer a further 10% when a whole album is purchased. We believe this will attract the younger users away from iTunes, which charge almost 6 times more than we do.”
Recording companies pick the prices, much as they did for CDs sold in stores and online. On day one, songs including “Jai Ho” from the “Slumdog Millionaire” soundtrack, “Single Ladies” by Beyonce and “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band were bumped up to $1.29. TunesPro have made agreements with a number of record companies and have decided to keep profits on single downloads at reasonable levels. iTunes have become greedy, but things look set to backfire as more and more download site open for business and like TunesPro.com, cash in on the younger users by keeping prices low.
Source: Comtex IT – Internet Research
National survey findings: Americans are concerned about heart health, but not proactive enough to prevent it
Trends in Reducing Heart Disease Risk Are Headed in Wrong Direction
Recent research indicates that despite decades of progress, fewer Americans are now considered “low risk” for heart disease compared to years past. Adding fuel to the fire, a new study is making headlines with the alarming statistic that 7 in 10 obese teens already have at least one risk factor for heart disease. To help educate families about prevention, the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) has released findings from a new national consumer survey and launched a campaign to educate families about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.
The national survey revealed that more than three in five (61%) Americans incorrectly believe that the processes related to heart disease do not begin until adulthood. Alarmingly, fewer than four in ten (38%) correctly surmise that people should be concerned about living a heart-healthy lifestyle beginning in childhood and continuing throughout every life stage.
Research on reducing heart disease risk clearly shows that a more comprehensive approach to being heart-healthy is key. According to a study published in the journal Circulation in September, despite the success of past heart disease awareness and education campaigns, the recent trend toward reducing cardiovascular risk is now going in reverse. The vast majority (92%) of Americans are still at risk, primarily because of the rise in obesity.
“This is a wake up call for parents and their children in particular,” says Laura Hayman, Ph.D., RN, a member of the PCNA Board of Directors and a leading researcher on obesity and cardiovascular disease in children, adolescents, and families. “Some strides have been made; however, since more and more children are currently overweight, they are more likely at risk for obesity-related conditions later in life such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.”
Statistics from a newly released Canadian study echo Dr. Hayman’s concerns about the link between the ever-present obesity epidemic and heart disease risk — particularly among teens. The findings, presented in October at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, showed that among a sample of 14 and 15 year old students, rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity were unusually high and increasing over time.
Research has found that when children learn about heart-healthy eating habits, it can strongly influence their behavior to reduce heart disease risk later in life. Yet, according to the PCNA survey, less than one-third of Americans follow a diet that is healthy for their heart. Also, seven in ten (70%) would not want their kids to adopt their eating habits because they do not think they set a good example when it comes to food choices (26%) or some of the time they eat food that is not healthy (44%).
“We are at a critical juncture,” explains Hayman. “It is imperative for parents to lead by example with an all encompassing heart-healthy lifestyle, making the necessary changes both in diet and physical activity.”
Since the PCNA survey found that the majority of Americans are at risk of heart disease due to some lifestyle factor, such as being overweight or having high cholesterol, small incremental changes in diet and physical activity can have a lasting healthy effect. To help parents learn how to make important lifestyle changes and become better role models for their children, to help reduce their risk of heart disease in the future, PCNA has launched a national education campaign called “Family at Heart.”
www.FamilyatHeart.org
Source: Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
New survey finds US and 37 other countries demand more aggressive climate change action than Congress or Copenhagen Envision
The first-ever deliberative global survey of citizen opinion, World Wide Views on Global Warming (WWViews) has found that people from diverse backgrounds in the US and worldwide overwhelmingly want faster action, deeper GHG emissions cuts and stronger enforcement than either US climate legislation proposals or Copenhagen treaty conference preparations are currently contemplating. Among the survey’s findings:
– 90% of U. S. participants say it is urgent to reach a tough, new agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December and not punt to subsequent meetings;
– 89% said by 2020 emissions should be cut 25-40% below 1990 levels (the Kerry Boxer Senate bill would cut US emissions 20% below 2005 levels);
– 71% want nations that fail to meet their obligations under a new agreement to be penalized severely or significantly;
– 69% believe the price of fossil fuels should be increased.
These views were echoed across 37 other countries on six continents. Global results showed participants wanted more aggressive action than their delegates to Copenhagen envision, including:
– strict targets for keeping global warming within 2 degrees Celsius (half of participants, especially in countries hardest hit by climate change, want measures to hold temperatures at the current level or even bring them down to pre-industrial levels);
– fairer and more proportionate burden sharing, including 2020 emissions reduction targets for fast- growing economies like India, China and Brazil, and low-income developing countries;
– sanctions against countries that do not live up to their emission reduction commitments;
– strong new international financial mechanisms and institutions to support these goals.
By contrast, in current policy negotiations these goals are either much less ambitious or absent altogether. Preparations for Copenhagen and Congressional debate on climate change legislation are both following a similar pattern of lowering ambitions and expectations, focusing on limited areas of current agreement and incremental steps, and deferring more contentious issues of targets, timetables, funding and enforcement until later.
“We are hearing from climate policymakers that it will take more time to do things right, that we have to meet people where they are instead of imposing radical reforms from above,” said Dr. Richard Sclove, the US advisor to WWViews. “But these results show the people are way ahead of the policymakers. If Congress and Copenhagen delegates want to act in accordance with citizen views, they have to do far more and go far faster, not scale back and slow down.”
WWViews gathered its data from daylong citizen deliberations in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, as well as in cities throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. It showed citizens of all 38 countries, even low-income ones, are willing to take responsibility for lowering emissions, and to pay to do so. Of the 38 countries, China’s citizens were least inclined to introduce 2020 targets for fast-growing economies, yet even so, 45% support it and 52% support limiting emissions growth.
“Our deliberative method yielded very different results from polls, which purport to show much more diffident attitudes to climate change, and even some skepticism about it. But I’d argue our data is much more accurate ” said Dr. Richard Worthington, WWViews U.S. coordinator. “For one thing, for a dozen countries [the Maldives, Saint Lucia, Uruguay, Norway, Switzerland, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Uganda and Vietnam], our data is the only data, because we worked in places so far excluded from international polling on climate change. For another, we elicited citizen opinion through informed, daylong deliberations, not through knee-jerk answers to carefully circumscribed questions.”
WWViews is the first ever-global “citizen consultation,” using a citizen deliberation methodology distinct from ordinary quantitative surveying or polling. Polls on climate change ask a random sampling of respondents one or two general questions about one’s prior opinion on climate change and what one’s national government should do. WWViews gathered people with diverse backgrounds and views, excluding climate change experts and those representing institutions with vested interests in climate policy. It gave participants balanced expert information in advance, based on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report, then allowed them a day of deliberation together, after which they voted on what delegates assembling from around the world in Copenhagen should do.
Source: World Wide Views on Global Warming
Survey reveals parents are eager to learn about alternative medicine options but information is lacking
Parents Unaware that Integrative Treatment May Reduce their Child’s Dependence on Drugs and Improve Quality of Life
A new nationwide survey released today reveals that just 12 percent of parents with children under the age of 18 have spoken to their child’s doctor about complementary and integrative approaches to medicine, yet nearly 90 percent say they want to know more. The survey, conducted by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota (Children’s), assessed parents’ attitudes about various approaches to treating a child’s illnesses. Integrative medicine combines the best conventional medical therapies like drugs, chemotherapy and surgery, with complementary therapies like massage, acupuncture and proper nutrition.
The survey showed parents are concerned about the overuse of prescription medications with their children; 85 percent feel it’s important to minimize a child’s dependence on drugs, especially for behavioral issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or anxiety. Complementary and alternative approaches can be a solution to this concern as more natural treatments are being found to be effective in the management of a variety of children’s health concerns.
Parents also feel strongly about eliminating their child’s pain and improving quality of life; almost 90 percent feel both these factors are as important as treating their child’s condition. Complementary and alternative medicine focuses on non-drug, less invasive therapies like acupuncture, massage and relaxation to help kids more effectively control pain, maintain mental health, and improve quality of life.
“Many children with chronic or acute health conditions seek a complementary or integrative approach only after they have exhausted all other conventional treatment options,” said Timothy Culbert, MD, Medical Director of Pediatric Integrative Medicine Clinical Programs at Children’s. “Parents should be aware that integrative medicine can be helpful from the onset of disease and can save time, money and most importantly, improve a child’s quality of life. This is true for all kinds of conditions including acute illnesses like cancer or chronic problems like migraines or behavioral issues.”
Children’s is among the country’s leaders in the integrative medicine field with the largest, longest-running pediatric, clinical integrative medicine program in North America. The program offers a holistic approach to care, and helps children and their families manage the everyday struggles of illnesses in a more comprehensive way. Currently more than half of patients at Children’s use some sort of outpatient complementary or alternative medicine to help manage their conditions.
Almost 90 percent of parents surveyed indicated they would like to find out more information about integrative medicine whether it be from their physician, going to a hospital that offers an integrative medicine program, or seeking out more information on their own. Other interesting findings include:
– Sixty-eight percent of parents agreed integrative medicine was an effective treatment approach.
– More than three-fourths of parents agree combining conventional and complementary/alternative approaches to medicine is innovative and that hospitals should offer medical experts on both conventional and complementary/alternative therapies.
– Almost two-thirds of parents who have children with serious health issues had never considered an integrative approach because they are unfamiliar with the subject.
The survey of 1,003 parents included 203 parents with kids who have serious, chronic or acute health problems. This subset of parents had somewhat more knowledge of integrative medicine (42 percent), but even these parents are not hearing about the benefits an integrative approach can bring their child. Of the parents that have used integrative medicine as part of their child’s treatment, 95 percent had a positive experience.
“Parents need to consult and work with their child’s physician to determine what integrative medicine options are available that may be helpful,” says Dr. Culbert. “There are so many different kinds of complementary therapies, it’s important to learn about options to find an approach that will work best for each patient. I see first-hand every day the difference it can make in a child’s life.”
More information about the Children’s Integrative Medicine Program can be found by visiting www.childrensintegrativemed.org.