Residents of some of the heartland’s biggest cities aren’t very good at following dermatologists’ advice on preventing and detecting skin cancer, according to a new survey from the American Academy of Dermatology.

The medical society’s survey of more than 7,000 adults nationwide, released today as part of a month-long melanoma awareness program, ranked Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh at the bottom of the heap of 26 cities when it comes to knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward tanning, sun protection and skin cancer detection. In last-place Pittsburgh, 81% of respondents said people look more attractive with a tan, compared to 72% of the overall population surveyed.

While Hartford, Salt Lake City and Denver ranked highest in the “Suntelligence: How Sun Smart is Your City?” survey, general awareness of the sun’s risks is low; the survey found that only about 35% of all respondents correctly answered whether some types of ultraviolet (UV) rays are safe for your skin. ( Correct answer: All forms of UV exposure, from natural sunlight and artificial light sources such as tanning beds – are considered harmful.)

Moreover, close to 60% of respondents had never been screened for skin cancer by a health-care provider. Even in top-ranked Hartford, 48% of polled residents had never undergone a skin examination. Dermatologist Darrell Rigel, a professor at New York University Medical Center, tells the Health Blog that free skin cancer screening programs offered through the dermatology academy have gone a long way to help in early detection. But a major challenge is getting people to simply stay out of the sun and avoid tanning beds. “Over the years we’ve been somewhat successful with that message,” Rigel says. “But some people won’t change their behavior no matter what we do.”

Photo: NASA

As a part of the World Bank’s spring meetings changes in the voting shares for member countries were made. A country will get more or less votes on decisions made by the Bank loosely based on how much capital they contribute.

It has long been a problem that only the developed countries have a say in how the Bank spends it’s money. It creates a system of the rich countries telling the poor ones what they need instead of the poor nations getting what they want from the Bank.

Voting shares were adjusted in the spring meetings and the Bank says they have increased the power that poor nations have. However, critics of the lending institution says it is some tricks with mathematics that only give an appearance of a greater say for poor nations.

From the IPS, writer Matthew Berger explains the Bank’s decisions further.

The share of voting power allotted to low- and middle-income countries on the board of the bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will rise from 44.06 to 47.19 percent.

That number, however, may not be accurate, according to some development and international financial institution watchdog groups. At issue is the definition of what constitutes a low- or middle-income country – or “developing” or “transition” economy – and thus whether certain countries should be included within that 47 percent figure.

The classification used by the bank is based on data in the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook report and includes 16 countries which should not be termed either “developing” or “transition”, says the London-based Bretton Woods Project.

These countries are all classified by the World Bank as high-income, it says, and together they hold five of the 47 percent. Sunday, the organisation characterised “the final real share of voting power for developing countries (excluding high income economies)” as just over 42 percent.

“It’s smoke and mirrors to count Saudi Arabia and Hungary as developing countries and then claim a three-percent shift in voting power will give poor countries more say,” Elizabeth Stuart of the development group Oxfam said Sunday. “The World Bank is asking for a lot more money, but it hasn’t got serious about reform.”

Jo Marie Griesgraber, executive director of New Rule for Global Finance, an NGO that seeks to reduce poverty and inequality through promoting stable global financial systems, called the changes announced over the weekend “marginal”. She agreed with the Bretton Woods Project analysis that “the way you get to this 47 percent is by a distortion of numbers or a misinterpretation”.

“We need a really candid examination of the numbers,” Griesgraber said.
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Oxfam notes that of the 47 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, more than a third have lost some of their voting share as a result of the reforms and 60 percent have stayed the same. Nigeria and South Africa, the largest regional economies, had the most significant cut in quotas.

United States of America Snowboard Association “USASA” and Mitsubishi Motors North America agreed to a partnership that recognizes Mitsubishi as the “Official Vehicle” for the 2009 USASA Nationals and 2009/2010 regional series. The Nationals will be held at Copper Mountain, Colorado, April 6 – 10, and is expected to attract more than 1,600 competitors and 10,000 spectators.

The USASA regional season begins November 2009 and consists of 500 events at over 100 resorts in 33 regions throughout the United States. The efforts of the USASA and its regions have enabled men and women, and boys and girls, of all ages to participate in its organized events.

As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi will showcase its all-new 2010 Lancer Sportback Ralliart, which features Mitsubishi’s advanced All Wheel Control system, at this year’s Nationals. In addition, Mitsubishi is donating the versatile new vehicle that will be used as the grand prize in the nationwide raffle. USASA regions, members, families and friends will participate in a summer long grassroots fundraiser in which the winner of the raffle will drive away in the new car.

“Snowboarding has been the fastest growing winter sport for several years and its popularity has spread worldwide. And since Mitsubishi is a brand that appeals to the active young lifestyle audience, the USASA program is a natural fit for not only the company, but for the vehicle and its superb all-weather performance handling,” explained John Koenig, Mitsubishi Motors North America’s executive vice president. “We’re pleased to support such a fine group of talented athletes and to help them further explore their personal goals and dreams.”

“We are very excited to partner with Mitsubishi. Having the opportunity to raffle a car as cool as the 2010 Lancer Sportback Ralliart is awesome, it fits our demographic perfectly. I can’t wait to drive one!”

Jason Toutolmin-Executive Director, USASA

“During these challenging economic times, this is a perfect example of how two brands can collaborate together and create a platform that will ultimately result in the greater good of amateur snowboarding.”