Assignments for "Which Way Forward"

Global Crisis in Diet
Unsurprisingly, we can't trust corporations to take the lead to solve the global crisis in diets.

I think the best thing is to make schools and hospitals offer only healthy food in their cafeterias. Also, educate parents so that they set good examples for their children. These are resources that children turn to as trustable health guides.

However, I think that in addition to increasing health awareness and being educated about what one should or shouldn't eat, it is important that people become more aware of their mind/body in general.

Doing mindful exercises like yoga or qigong can help one to be more aware of his/her body. When you are more tuned-in with your body, you will naturally have less cravings for unhealthy food. Since the change starts from within, you would be less likely revert back to old eating habits.

Carbon Offsets
There certainly are good intentions behind this idea, and will make people conscious about what actions make a bigger carbon footprint. I am skeptical about how effective it will be in making our society carbon-neutral. There will definitely be people who'd rather pay for carbon offsets than changing their lifestyle. If anything, it may become a guilt-free way for people to indulge in high carbon-emission activities. As a guardian article put it, it's akin to "paying other people to clear up the mess we've made."

Laughter Really is the Best Medicine
Don't know if it's the best medicine, but it is certainly a good one. It not only reduces stress, it also breaks ice between people, it even dulls pain, gives one more energy...if it can improve one's quality of life on so many levels, it certainly can boost your health too.