Stevia, The Sweetest Botanical Phenomenon

By Ihor Cap
Historical background

The Guarani Indians knew it as “kaa-he-he” (meaning sweet herb). In the 1800s, Spanish historical documents chronicle its widespread use among Paraguay’s indigenous population of the Amambay Mountain region in South America. In 1905, the Italian botanist Moises Santiago Bertoni is credited for making it known to mainstream society. His “discovery” was technically named Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. The plant was harvested soon after and that is how the Stevia food industry got its start. German sugar producers were less than happy about this find, says a 1913 Hamburg laboratory report which examined the specimens of the now well-known Stevia plant. American Trade Commissioner George Brady learned of the possibilities of this plant in 1921, but it was the French chemists who in 1931 successfully extracted the white, crystalline compounds from this perennial herb and called these compounds steviosides. The Japanese had done intense research with steviosides in the 1960s. By 1990, Japan captured at least 40% of the worldwide market on steviosides use. The Japanese use steviosides to sweeten many food products such as bread, candies, ice cream, and soft drinks. Steviosides use was initially banned by the FDA in the USA in 1991 but that ban was unjustified and it was lifted 3 years later. In 2008, stevia was granted Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status by the US Food and Drug Administration. On September 18, 2009, Canada revised its guidelines for the use of Stevia in Natural Health Products identifying specific dosage limits in medicinal ingredients and approving it for non-medicinal ingredients as a sweetener or flavour enhancer.
The Botanical phenomenon
So what is the phenomenon you might ask? Well, centuries of stevia use and modern research have not shown any adverse or negative effects such as the health risks posed by the artificial sweeteners saccharin and aspartame. In its natural raw form, stevia is known to contain over 100 phytonutrients. It is non-toxic, has next to zero-calories and carbohydrates with a zero- glycaemic index rating. Unlike sugar, it does not promote tooth decay. Centuries ago it was used in tea-like beverages and medicinal potions or was chewed for its refreshing qualities. Today, this highly concentrated extract is certified safe to USDA standards in liquid and powder form for use as a dietary supplement that anyone can enjoy. One drop is said to be 150 to 400 times sweeter than sugar depending on how the plant was prepared. It has many other touted general health benefits that are applicable to one’s general health and diet such as improving cold and flu recovery time or curbing tobacco and alcohol addiction. In cosmetology, it has post-operative healing purposes and facial mask applications. For most of us who are inclined to just lose weight or lower our sugar levels fast, look into Stevia. Ask for it at your local food store today.
About the Author:
Ihor Cap is a Web Author and Dad. 
Learn More About Stevia on The Following Web Sites
Stevia, in Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia
Stevia Canada , http://www.steviacanada.com/about.html
Natural Products Market Place, http://www.naturalproductsmarketplace.com/articles/2010/07/sweet-on-stevia.aspx  
HEALTH BENEFITS OF STEVIA http://reid_j.tripod.comstevia.htm

Image Attribution:
By Ethel Aardvark (Own work) [CC BY 3.0  (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Outdoor Summer Fun Activities and Options for Children

By Ihor Cap
It is summer time. School’s out and you, like many other families with children are wondering how to keep them busy without spending a lot of money. One of the first things to keep in mind as a parent is to get your children outdoors, especially in the summertime. No excuses. They need there vitamin D you know. They can stay indoors when it gets colder outside. They only have a couple of warm summer months ahead of them before school starts again, so make sure they get to spend much of it outdoors.
There are many things a family can do with their children outside. Check the web site for your locality to see what amenities are available in your area and operating hours. The city amenities I describe herein are free but they may have a small fee attached to it in your area depending on the services offered. They usually open by the end of June and close around the first week of September, right before school starts.
Children love play dates

You can always stay in your own backyard if you have to, but children get bored fast. Every now and then, they need a change of pace. Make a play date with your child’s school friends. Offer to supervise the play date. The other parents have a chance to escape for a few hours and do some of the things they never get a chance to do with the kids around. They will return the favor. It’s a win-win situation for everyone. The kids get to play and you have time for yourself.
The School Playground and Local Park

Children want to meet other children and there is no better place to do that than at the local school play structure or nearby park. Children know that their school mates tend to hang out there especially if they go to the park often enough. Your children may already know many of the kids there from school and you do not have far to go. It is about spending quality time with your children and memories that last for you and your children forever. They love interacting with their school friends and have a chance to make new friends along the way. You will also get a chance to meet some of your children’s friends and get to know them better as well as their parents. Who knows? You may make some new friends too.
Outdoor Games

Children especially enjoy riding a bicycle in the park and playgrounds are fertile ground for playing well known kids games like “grounders” and “hop- scotch.” Some playgrounds have a basketball, football, soccer or baseball field nearby so you might want to bring a ball with you. It’s easy to make friends or join in the fun if someone is kicking or passing the ball around. Try something else like throwing a Frisbee, flying a kite, skateboarding or roller-blading. These are all healthy and fun activities short of going for a stroll around the park.
Splash parks, Spray pads, Wading pools and all that Jazz
Splash parks and wading pools are cool. What a fun way to spend an hour of your time with your children. Designed to entertain children 12 years of age and under, these spray grounds may include but are not limited to spray pads, liner pools, outdoor wading pools, playground/slide/sprayer combinations, water play equipment only, and parks with spray features only. The wading pools are no deeper than 24 inches or 60 centimeters. Some splash parks are also wheelchair accessible. My children especially love the water slides but a healthy mix of all of the above activities may be best for them.

Unlike the water parks with enormous slides and swimming pools, there is no cost to enter the splash parks within the city. They open early starting around 11 in the morning and close around six in the evening. They work on a first come first serve basis so plan to arrive early. It is not unusual to find line ups because these water parks are sooooooo popular. They will make your child’s day. Bring a lawn chair with you or a towel to sit on. No food or drinks are allowed on the premises. Families are encouraged to stay but usually no more than 1.5 hours so that other families have an opportunity to enjoy the splash park too. Children under 5 must be supervised actively by a parent/guardian or caregiver, especially when using a slide. Not every splash pad is supervised though, so it’s up to you to monitor your children actively even if it means being in the water with them. Water play parks do have a maximum bathing capacity so staff reserves the right to limit the number of patrons on the play grounds. Do be patient and wait your turn. They do this to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Note that play parks can be booked at certain times by daycares and outside user groups. Ask the staff about these special provisions.
Safety
Dress appropriately for the activity you have in mind. Wear protective safety equipment when riding a bike, skateboarding or roller-blading and the like. Wear a hat, put on some sunscreen, and bring a change of clothes for your children, where necessary. Supervise your children at all times. Follow the rules, play safely and above all have fun!
Author Information:
Ihor Cap is a Web Author and Dad.
Photo Attributions: Playdate By English: Pfc. Jackeline M. Perez Rivera [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Playground Swings By Mark Ahsmann (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Sports_icon By Pepetps (made by myself) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Splash pad park by Larry D. Moore [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Ukraine's Know-How Caught in East-West Tug-of-War

~~PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 6, 2014 - WINNIPEG, Canada -- By Ihor Cap
The threat of a renewed "Cold War" and a new "Berlin Wall" that will divide Europe from Asia is near, and the Western media is underestimating the significance of this threat. The new line of divide is Ukraine. Which side of the Ukrainian border the wall is to appear will be decided by the Western world. More and more though, it appears that it will be on the Polish-Ukrainian side of the border. Should this happen, democracy as we know it and its core public values will live under a constant umbrella of fear and deception.
On November 21, 2013,the Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has yielded to the pressure and threats from Putin's Russia. He postponed the signing of an agreement which would give the country Association status with the European Union (EU) along with many mutual economic benefits. As a result, hundreds of thousands frustrated Ukrainians hit the streets of the Ukrainian capital, the likes of which had not been seen since the Orange Revolution in 2004. They feel they are being sold out by the Ukrainian President, in spite of overwhelming public support favoring an alliance with the EU. Meanwhile, Putin is bullying Ukraine to join his Customs Union or Eurasian Union. The latter Unions are beginning to resemble a 21st century prototype of the Triple Alliance reminiscent of Nazi Germany, except today instead of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan we have Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. It's a cause of anxiety for the Ukrainian people, for Artur Sakunts, the Chairman of "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor" (see AlRagir am, October 28, 2013),and for the Canadian Group for Democracy in Ukraine.
The Russian bear is hungry and getting bolder still. It needs a passive and obedient Ukraine, a Europe that is confused and fearful, and a North American continent that is mollified by song and dance. The Canadian Group for Democracy in Ukraine is much concerned about this part of the world because the sum of these authoritarian countries with Ukraine will pose a serious challenge to the security of Europe and NATO aligned countries.
While many people are familiar with the stereotypical images of Ukrainian cuisine and high kicking folk dances, fewer people are aware that Ukraine was the world's 3rd nuclear power, it was the main source of Soviet scientific achievements, and is currently a top 10 world's arms suppliers of the menacing Ukrainian made T-64BM Bulat tanks, BM-30 Smerch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BM-30_Smerch) heavy multiple rocket launchers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_rocket_launcher), the world's largest transport aircraft, and a variety of other effective surface-to-air (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-to-air) missile systems and anti-aircraft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aircraft) missile and artillery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery) complexes. Antonov (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov), KMDB, Malyshev Factory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malyshev_Factory), RPC Fort (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RPC_Fort), Yuzhmash (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuzhmash), and the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuzhnoye_Design_Bureau) are the industrial engines manufacturing this complex series of hardware, weapons and other armoured fighting vehicles.
Today, Ukraine is positively contributing its technical know-how to such peaceful experimental efforts like the European Super-Collider and Sea Launch. Ukraine is a candidate, Associate member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research or CERN (with accession in progress) and is playing an important role in a variety of commercial and hybrid spacecraft launches as part of Sea Launch LLC, a joint partnership formed between The Boeing Company (40 %), RSC Energia (25 %), Kvaerner (20%), and Yuzhmash and Yuzhnoye (15 %). Ukrainian Economist Volodymyr Lanovyi points to the numerous sophisticated technical projects Ukraine is currently involved in with its French, German and English business counterparts to jointly develop complex technical-machinery and electronic production of a military nature. Even the world's largest transport aircraft (Antonov's Ruslan) has piqued the interest of NATO, and Russia knows it (see Dmytro Tuzov's interview with Volodymyr Lanovyi in Ukrainska Pravda, Dec. 23, 2013). Ukraine can continue to serve as a source of knowledge, cooperation and growth with the Western world or be swallowed into the proverbial black hole of abyss and perform the will of its future Imperial tyrants.
The next few days, months, years will be crucial. As Ukraine nears the finish line, the underlying issue is not getting the attention it needs. Our leaders are not aware of this imminent and apparent danger. Time is of the essence here. We need to ensure that democracy takes hold in Ukraine, because the Russians are doing everything in their power to make sure it does not.

Author: Ihor Cap is a Slavic Studies graduate from The University of Ottawa with a Specialization in Ukrainian Studies, and a Ph.D. graduate of The Florida State University