I recently received a disturbing email about the dangers of using plastic in the microwave. There is a direct link between using plastic wrap over foods while heating them to cancer. There is also a link between freeze water bottles for consumption later. Both processes release toxins into the food and water. This is depressing enough in itself, but I have recently come across information about the benefits of raw food. You might be wondering how I could find something that is considered beneficial as depressing. The information about raw food is promising but it also makes you take as step back and consider how dangerous an average American diet really is. I am not necessarily a proponent of raw food; I am merely sorting through the information. When I was pregnant with my daughter I did not go near the microwave. I can’t say that I really believed that anything bad was going to happen. I just had that little feeling that told me to keep my distance. In this sense, I am aware of possible dangers but I’m not sure if I believe in them. But why take a chance?

I also washed my fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly even before all of the hype about pesticides and other miscellaneous poisons floating around. It just seemed like a good idea because fruits and vegetables are often intermingled with dirt. I don’t like dirt and I dislike the idea of eating dirt even more so I washed them and continue to do so. Here’s where the depression kicks in. I am not working very hard to make sure that my food is safe. One of the ways that I do this is by cooking it thoroughly. The proponents of raw food suggest that cooking is detrimental to the molecular structure of the fruits and vegetables, or some such thing that I can’t seem to wrap my brain around. The theory behind raw food is that the vitamins and minerals take a turn for the worse while cooking. We all know that we lose some of the vitamins and minerals as we cook. I originally thought that raw food would suggest that we don’t want to cook all of the nutrition out into the air or into the water. However, raw food theory suggests that we actually mutate the vitamins and minerals into some kind of molecular creature that attacks our systems. Even the healthiest foods can contain harmful substances. This is depressing. Until they figure this whole thing out, I think I’ll dip into a pint of ice cream. At least I’m perfectly aware that it’s bad for me.

Abike Dabiri Exposes Limitations of FOI Act

Ex-broadcaster and member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa has exposed key limitations to the recently passed Freedom of Information Act.

In a lecture on the Importance of Freedom of Information, Fol, Act at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos, the former presenter of popular NTA Network weekly programme, News Line, disclosed that the Fol Act does not give anyone the right to ask question “pertaining to the defense of the country” as well as those regarded as personal. Hon Abike Erewa while noting that “anyone who destroys information willfully would attract a jail term,” declared that only three states have adopted the Act.

She attributed the delay in the passage of the Fol Act to the misconception that “the bill was meant for the media”. While stressing that every Nigerian has the right to know how the country spends its resources as well as how much each political representative is paid, the lawmaker stated that there are plans to organize seminars for both individuals and journalists to teach them all “they need to know about the Act” as well as its application.

The Provost of Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Dr. Elizabeth Nkem in an address at the occasion, described Hon. Abike Erewa as someone who has “made her mark in the media industry”, just as she added that the lawmaker is a friend of the institute.