News Briefs for July 6, 2018
News reports from New Zealand, Roseville, California; New York, Loma Linda University, Colombia, Canada, Guatemala and Simi Valley, California:
The Stuff news site reported that Longburn Adventist College in Manawatū, New Zealand, has launched an online learning program allowing students to be beamed into classrooms anywhere in the world using Zoom video conferencing technology. Students can either connect via a personal laptop or through a big screen in class. “Our schools are coming together to have an online student learning platform,” principal Brendan van Oostveen said. “We will be teaching from Longburn Adventist College to a school in Invercargill and New Plymouth – smaller schools who don’t have the resources we have.”
According to the Sacramento Bee, the city of Roseville, California expects the creation of 1200 new jobs as healthcare systems Kaiser Permanente, Adventist Health and Sutter Health grow their operations in the area. Adventist Health is building a new headquarters building costing a projected $100 million and opening in January, 2019.
A June 30 New York Times opinion piece by Carol J Adams titled “There Is Nothing More All-American Than the Veggie Burger” presents the growth of veggie burger consumption as well as the innovation of veggie burger production. It notes that “Under the pressure of meat rationing during World War II, hamburger makers discovered that years of food experimentation by companies serving the vegetarian Seventh-day Adventist population had resulted in several viable veggie burgers.”
A Loma Linda University study says that ADHD severity is associated with video game addiction severity. Loma Linda University School of Behavioral Health ran the study titled, “Video game addiction, ADHD symptomatology, and video game reinforcement.” It was published June 6 in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. The study found that risk of addiction existed regardless of type of video game played or preferred most. “This result is consistent with our hypothesis and with prior research, which suggests that people with greater ADHD symptom severity may be at greater risk for developing problematic playing habits,” said Holly E. R. Morrell, PhD, associate professor at Loma Linda University School of Behavioral Health and the study’s principal investigator. The study was released this month within days of obsessive video game playing being recognized as an international public health concern. The World Health Organization added “gaming disorder” in its International Classification of Diseases, 11th edition, released on June 18. More information here.
Former Colombian soccer star, Pibe Valderrama, is partnering with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to raise awareness about the importance of children being given life-saving vaccinations. “We can no longer accept a child dying from a disease that can be easily prevented through vaccines,” said Valderrama. “I am honored to join forces with ADRA and its partners to help raise awareness in our communities about the importance of vaccines. This year in particular, there is no better platform than soccer to highlight the need to be vaccinated and to strengthen our defenses!”
On June 3, 2018, the Fuego Volcano (Volcano of Fire) in Guatemala erupted, causing large amounts of destruction to the surrounding communities. ADRA Canada’s response team has delivered 50 tons of food, clothing, water, and other essential supplies to isolated communities that were affected. Household hygiene kits and food baskets will also be delivered to victims.
According to the VC Star, Simi Valley police reported arresting a man at Adventist Health Simi Valley after he allegedly assaulted a nurse and a police officer. Ivan Sanchez, 28, of Simi Valley, is said to have assaulted a hospital employee in the emergency room. Sanchez was booked into Ventura County jail with bail set at $25,000.
