The benefits of supplementing with fish oil

September 18, 2021

Fish oil capsules isolated on wooden background — Fish oil omega 3 gel capsules isolated on wooden background

by Skye Anderson

08/31/2021 – You’ve heard it dozens of times: fatty or oily fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and trout are good for your health, despite their abundance of fat. In fact, it is the high fat content of their oils that makes them healthy. These blue fish are full of omega-3 fatty acids, the good fats, and the American Heart Association recommends that you eat at least two servings of these fish twice a week.

So what is so good about these fats that forces experts to recommend eating oily fish and supplementing with fish oil?

The benefits of good fats

Oily fish are famously good at providing two things: protein, which your body uses to repair damaged cells and make new ones, and healthy fats called omega-3s. Omega-3s are said to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help lower your risk of inflammation-related diseases, such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer.

The two main omega-3s in fish oil are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EHA). You can’t get these healthy fats from plant sources. Nuts and seeds are rich in a different type of omega-3 known as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). While ALA offers its own unique benefits, DHA and EPA play many important roles inside your body in addition to providing a wide range of benefits.

According to a 2012 study, DHA and EPA are essential for proper growth and development, as well as healthy aging. They are also involved in anti-inflammatory processes and serve as precursors of various lipid mediators. Lipid mediators are signaling molecules that help regular cellular responses, including the growth and death of cells and inflammation.

DHA is also a key component of cell membranes. In fact, the cells of your brain and retina contain high amounts of this healthy fat. Meanwhile, EPA is used by your body to produce eicosanoids, which are molecules required for reproduction, gastric secretion and blood pressure regulation. Aside from oily fish, you can also get DHA and EPA from seaweed — the so-called sea vegetables — and marine algae.

Here are some of the benefits offered by DHA- and EPA-rich fish oil:

Helps protect against heart disease — According to a study by American researchers, the omega-3s in fish oil can counteract the detrimental effects of mental stress on the heart. Volunteers who supplemented with fish oil for several weeks showed blunted heart rate reactivity and muscle sympathetic nerve activity under stress, suggesting that fish oil exerts protective effects on cardiovascular function during mental stress.

Helps reduce arthritis risk — Using data from a population-based prospective study, Swedish researchers found that adequate daily intake of omega-3s like those found in fish oil can reduce a person’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis by 35 percent. Consistently high long-term consumption can lower your risk by up to 52 percent.

Helps keep the brain healthy — Many studies have reported that alcohol abuse increases the risk of dementia. But a 2013 study found that the DHA in fish oil can protect brain cells from alcohol-triggered inflammation. In fact, DHA helped reduce neuroinflammation by about 90 percent in brain cell cultures exposed to amounts of alcohol more than four times the legal limit for driving.

Helps lower the risk of certain cancers — According to a 2013 study, low doses of EPA can effectively stop the growth of cancerous skin cells. The researchers noted that EPA does this by arresting cell division and triggering apoptosis, or programmed cell suicide. Meanwhile, other studies have reported that high consumption of fish oil in women can help reduce their breast cancer risk.

Helps maintain healthy vision — Research has found that retina function progressively declines with age. But DHA supplementation may help preserve this function and prevent age-related functional losses, according to a study by researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada.

An update on fish oil supplementation and heart health

In a recent study, Australian researchers explored the benefits of combining fish oil with curcumin, another popular supplement for supporting good heart health. They worked with 152 older adults aged between 50 and 80 who were either overweight or obese and lived a sedentary lifestyle. The researchers divided the participants into four groups and asked them to take either a placebo, fish oil, curcumin or a combination of fish oil and curcumin every day for 16 weeks.

The researchers found that the participants who took fish oil daily (2,000 mg of DHA + 400 mg of EPA) experienced significant improvements in their heart rate, blood triglyceride and blood cholesterol levels. Specifically, the participants enjoyed a three percent reduction in heart rate compared to the placebo, a 24 percent reduction in their blood triglyceride levels and an eight percent increase in their good cholesterol levels.

But contrary to what they expected, the combination of fish oil and curcumin did not produce additional benefits. The researchers said that this could mean that the two supplements do not work synergistically. They also noted that another research team conducted a similar experiment and came up with the same results.

Despite the combination of fish oil and curcumin falling short of expectations, the researchers said that their study further proves why supplementing with fish oil — or eating oily fish — is one of the keys to a healthy heart. If you want to maintain good heart health for as long as possible, consider eating at least two servings of oily fish every week or supplementing with fish oil daily. Boosting your intake of healthy fats is sure to benefit other parts of your body as well. Natural News

Pro-life win: Supreme Court refuses to block Texas heartbeat law which virtually bans killing babies

September 18, 2021

by TTC

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block a pro-life Texas law barring abortions after roughly six weeks’ gestation in a vote that deals a major blow to Roe v. Wade and could foreshadow how the court will handle abortion cases in the near future.

In the 5-4 decision, the high court declined to block the Texas law, determining that plaintiffs in the case failed to carry the burden of making a “strong showing” that it is “likely to succeed on the merits.” Chief Justice John Roberts joined the liberal wing of the bench in dissent.

The law, S.B. 8, bars abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, or as early as six weeks into pregnancy. But unlike similar laws passed in other states that have been blocked by courts, the Texas legislation does not provide criminal enforcement against abortion. Rather, it relies solely on private individuals for enforcement, empowering citizens to file civil lawsuits against anyone who performs an abortion or “aids and abets” the procedure. It is this unusual legislative design that makes the law difficult to challenge.

The law went into effect at midnight Wednesday after the Supreme Court initially declined to rule on an emergency request to block the law. Democrats across the state and country immediately became unhinged, lamenting that the law unjustly sidesteps legal precedent for abortion established by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

Women in Texas reportedly flocked to abortion clinics into the late hours Tuesday night to seek abortion procedures before the law took effect. Planned Parenthood and Whole Women’s Health, two abortion providers involved in the case, claimed the law has caused “chaos on the ground.”

In their emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs argued that the new law will “immediately and catastrophically reduce abortion access in Texas, barring care for at least 85 percent of Texas abortion patients (those who are six weeks pregnant or greater) and likely forcing many abortion clinics ultimately to close.”

But in a brief ruling issued on Wednesday, a majority of the Supreme Court’s justices disagreed. The ruling stated that abortion providers “raised serious questions regarding the constitutionality of the Texas law,” but did not adequately address “complex and novel” procedural questions presented by the case.

Such questions included whether or not state officials and pro-life activists would enforce the law in a way that would permit the court’s intervention, NBC News reported.

Additionally, the court did acknowledge, “This order is not based on any conclusion about the constitutionality of Texas’s law, and in no way limits other procedurally proper challenges to the Texas law, including in Texas state courts.”

Nevertheless, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing in dissent, called the court’s decision “stunning.”

“Presented with an application to enjoin a flagrantly unconstitutional law engineered to prohibit women from exercising their constitutional rights and evade judicial scrutiny, a majority of Justices have opted to bury their heads in the sand,” she claimed.

This fall, another major showdown over abortion rights is set to come before the Supreme Court as the court takes up Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

The case, which concerns Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, essentially asks the Supreme Court to re-evaluate the constitutionality of the fetal viability standard. Under current precedent, states are prohibited from banning abortions before a fetus is able to survive outside the womb, generally considered to occur at 22 weeks.

A decision in favor of Mississippi could lead to a major rollback of abortion rights in the country. Based on the court’s decision on the Texas law, such a ruling at least appears possible.

In Mexico City, another Grito minus a crowd in the Zócalo

September 18, 2021

At least six states will have some form of in person celebrations

Celebrations of “El Grito,” a symbol of the struggle for independence, was toned down on Wednesday in Mexico City due to COVID-19 restrictions despite this year being the two-century anniversary of the beginning of liberation from Spanish rule. The event was also heavily diluted in 2020 due to health considerations.

Traditionally, a large crowd congregates outside the National Palace and calls back to the president as he calls the names of the heroes of the independence movement, culminating in three cries of “Viva México!” or “Long live Mexico.”

President López Obrador confirmed that the official ceremony would be an invitation-only event and that Mexico City’s central zócalo would remain empty. The capital is yellow on the government’s COVID-19 stoplight map.

However, the president assured that the commemoration would still take place, and that Mexicans could tune in on television. “El Grito means a lot … I assure you that in your homes most Mexicans will be able to participate, you will be able to see everything,” he said.

He added why the event carried political weight. “[Miguel] Hidalgo and [José María] Morelos sought, at the same time as independence, justice. Hidalgo proclaimed the abolition of slavery and Morelos wanted equality, for poverty and opulence to be moderated, so of course we are going to commemorate El Grito.”

Meanwhile, some state governments have decided to hold in person celebrations, the newspaper Milenio reported. Sinaloa, Durango, Campeche and Coahuila have all announced limited-capacity events. Campeche will allow a crowd of 2,000 people.

Some municipalities in Chiapas and Campeche will also allow limited crowds. In Puebla city, concerts will take place in the central square. At least 14 other states have completely canceled in person celebrations.

“El Grito” recalls the night of September 15, 1810 when Hidalgo, a priest from Dolores, Guanajuato, ordered the church bells to ring and urged people to fight their colonial rulers with the call to arms: “Long live Mexico!” Eleven years later Spain recognized Mexico’s independence through the Treaty of Córdoba.

The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively.

With reports from Milenio.

Recovery from the pandemic is a slow process for Mexico’s mariachis

September 18, 2021

With slashed incomes and colleagues’ deaths, the iconic musicians are struggling

Mexico City’s mariachi musicians are more affected than most by the pandemic, losing a substantial portion of their income and scores of their colleagues since the virus reached Mexico early last year.

Despite the downturn in demand for their services, groups of musicians continue to make their way to Plaza Garibaldi – the capital’s mariachi mecca – night after night in search of paying customers celebrating events such as birthdays, anniversaries and engagements; mourning the loss of a family member of friend; or just looking for a good time.

But for the past 18 months, such people have been few and far between, especially compared to the heady days of pre-pandemic life.

Speaking to a reporter from the newspaper El Economista, a mariachi guitarist maintained his sense of humor. He joked that fewer people are coming to the square because all the musicians are wearing face masks and potential customers can’t see how handsome they are.

“They don’t come because you frighten them away, loco,” countered one of his fellow musicians.

Jokes aside, the pandemic has hit the iconic musicians hard. Guadalupe Sánchez, a female mariachi and single mother who began her career as a professional musician just a few months before the pandemic began, told El Economista that groups were forced to lower their prices last year to get would-be customers to part with their cash.

A song would go for 150 pesos (US $7.50) in pre-pandemic times, but mariachi groups – who commonly have to split their earnings between six or seven members – had to lower their prices to 120 pesos or even 100 pesos last year, she said.

Hour-long visits to play at people’s homes previously cost 2,500 or 3,000 pesos (US $125 to $150), but the going rate now is just 1,800, Sánchez added,

As for revelers in Plaza Garibaldi – which attracts Mexico City locals as well as interstate and international visitors – the numbers are up slightly compared to the peak of the coronavirus outbreak last year but still well below pre-pandemic times.

“[Things] are getting better little by little,” Sánchez said. “But look now: there’s nothing and nobody has hired us for the Fiestas Patrias,” she said, referring to the Independence Day holidays.

Fernando Carmona Coronel, a trumpeter, third-generation mariachi and leader of a musicians’ union, said mariachis intend to ask the Mexico City government to launch a promotional campaign for Plaza Garibaldi in order to attract more business.

“… We are intangible cultural heritage,” he said, referring UNESCO’s designation for mariachi musicians in 2011. “We have to preserve this tradition that is an essential part of the life of Mexicans.”

Carmona also indicated that his union will ask for the government’s help to offer better working conditions to musicians, who typically don’t have access to social security and other benefits afforded to formal sector workers.

“We hope things pick up on the 15th [of September],” one young mariachi told El Economista.

But even if large numbers of Mexicans do descend on Plaza Garibaldi and the bars around it to celebrate the 200th anniversary of independence from Spain, a dark cloud will still hang over the square. More than 100 mariachis have died from COVID-19, Carmona said.

Mariano Gutiérrez, a 40-year veteran of the Plaza Garibaldi mariachi scene, was luckier than some and managed to survive his bout with the disease.

“When I first got symptoms, I went to the health center and they sent me to a hospital and to get a test. I went and I tested positive, but as I wasn’t doing too badly, they sent me home. In the following days, I felt really bad. [I had] difficulty breathing more than anything,” said the 56-year-old violinist, who has given up singing due to the lingering effects of his illness.

“[But] I thought, ‘This fucking disease isn’t going to stop me from reaching 50 years of [performing] music,’” Gutiérrez said, adding that he sought treatment that ended up costing him 20,000 pesos (US $1,000). “And I did well — because a relative who got sick spent more than 30,000.”

His resilience and positivity in the face of adversity amid a long and devastating pandemic are shared by many of his colleagues.

“It’s been very difficult, [but] we’re going to get through it,” Carmona said. “The music, the happiness of the people and even their sadness give us the energy to go on.”

With reports from El Economista.

ZOPPÉ – the Circus is back in Downtown!

September 17, 2021

by the El Reportero‘s news services

The Zoppé Italian Family Circus is returning for Fall 2021 and will be back in downtown Redwood City as they were when they first rolled into the City over ten years ago! Zoppé will welcome guests back into the authentic one-ring circus tent, from Oct. 8 through Nov. 21, for matinee and evening showtimes.

The Zoppé Italian Family Circus welcomes guests into an authentic one-ring circus tent, in downtown in Redwood City from Oct. 8 through Nov. 21st for matinee and evening show times. This one-ring circus honors the best history of the Old-World Italian tradition and stars Nino the Clown, along with many other thrilling acts. Tickets and info at: www.redwoodcity.org/zoppe.

The Zoppé Family Circus has an amazing, unique story. The Zoppè Family Circus emerged 179 years ago to become one of the legendary circuses in all of Europe. And like many good legends, it begins with a boy and a girl falling in love.

Napoleone Zoppè began his career in Budapest, Hungary where he met a ballerina named Ermenglida and founded a circus in Venice, Italy which still bears their name today.

Alberto Zoppè, Napoleone’s great-grandson, inherited the circus, a grand equestrian in his own right. Alberto toured Europe with the circus since his youth and forged a friendship with famed actor/director Orson Welles.

Alberto was then offered a job by John Ringling North of Ringling Brothers fame, who was putting together the circus acts for Cecil B. Demille’s Oscar-winning film, The Greatest Show on Earth.

Alberto would remain in America, and together with his wife Sandra, ushered in a new generation that continues the family tradition. His son, Giovanni, revived the Zoppé Family Circus fourteen years ago, and has since been building its reputation with audiences and critics as an enchanting example of a traditional European circus. Giovanni is grateful to his family for keeping the tradition alive, especially to his father, who performed with the circus into his eighties, and managed to wow the crowd every time he stepped into the ring.

https://zoppe.net

Other exciting FREE events in Downtown Redwood City include:

Shakespeare in the Park on weekends in September (9/11 & 9/12); & the fall cultural festival, Oktoberfest (9/16-9/26)

More info at http://www.RedwoodCityEvents.com

Redistricting: Shape San Mateo County’s Future!

Redwood City – Redistricting, or the redrawing of district lines based on population data, is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to ensure a fair democratic process at the local level.

Here in San Mateo County, the effort is led by 2021 Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission. The commission is seeking your input and ideas for the County’s five supervisorial districts.

The commission’s next meeting will be at 9 a.m. this Saturday, September 18. Learn more at smcdistrictlines.org.

All are welcome to participate. This meeting will have special focus on the following cities and communities:

– East Palo Alto

– Menlo Park

– Redwood City

– Unincorporated North Fair Oaks and other unincorporated communities currently in District 4.

At the hearings and workshops, we would like you to:

– Share your story

– Define your neighborhood or community of interest

– Explain why redistricting is relevant to your community

– Get the tools you need to draw a map of one district or of all five districts

– Share your opinions of the draft maps

– Talk to your neighbors and local organizations

Meeting Details:

Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Virtual Hearing Zoom Webinar Link: https://smcgov.zoom.us/j/95111742122Zoom Webinar ID: 951 1174 2122 Dial-in: 669-900-6833.

Vision and action for equaty

Join the Campaign for College Opportunity on Zoom for a livestream of an in-person conversation with California’s higher education leaders as we discuss strategies for achieving racial equity in our state’s public colleges and universities.

Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021, 5:30 p.m.

Message from the San Francisco Public Library

we are still serving the Mission Branch Library community by bookmobile on Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at John O’Connell High School located at Harrison and 20th streets.

We are also working to expand that service. By mid-October, we will start SFPL To-Go service at the Mission Branch so patrons can check out materials for front door pickup Tuesday through Saturday. In addition, we will install a bookmobile onsite several days a week for browsing and access to the Spanish-language collection.

Simultaneously, we will pursue our goal to establish a temporary Mission Branch Library in the neighborhood for holds pickup, limited browsing and public computing. We also plan to provide in-person public programming for youth and adults when the branch libraries are able to resume in-person public programs.

Public programs for the Mission community will either be presented at the temporary site or at a partner site elsewhere in the Mission.

Virtual webinar Doing business with the State of California

An introductory session for all small business and local chambers of commerce. Join the CHCC and our subject matter expert from DGS to learn more about the State Procurement process and how to be competitive in the procurement process. Do you have what it takes? Register to learn more. Link to register: htpps://bit.ly/3lvosmj.

5 Good reasons you should eat more beets

September 17, 2021

by Joanne Washburn

Beets are a unique root vegetable known for their impressive nutritional profile and health benefits. Rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, beets support your overall health in many ways. Beets are also easy to incorporate into your diet.

Here are five good reasons to eat more beets. (h/t to BBCGoodFood.com)

May help prevent cancer

Beets get their vibrant red color from betacyanin, a potent compound thought to protect against some kinds of cancer, including bladder cancer. Beets also contain high levels of antioxidants like carotenoids, which help protect cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage, both of which have been associated with cancer.

Helps lower blood pressure levels

Beets are a good source of nitrates, which your body converts to nitric oxide (NO). This compound relaxes your blood vessels so that nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood can flow more easily. That means healthier blood pressure levels as well.

In a 2012 study, Australian researchers found that men who drank one glass of beet juice lowered their systolic blood pressure temporarily by an average of four to five points. In another small study, Italian researchers found that drinking beet juice led to a 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) drop in blood pressure.

Improves exercise performance

NO promotes optimal blood circulation and muscle contraction, which are important during exercise. As a rich source of NO precursors, beets can help athletes and fitness enthusiasts maximize their workouts. This is why beet juice is a popular post-workout drink. Additionally, beets help your muscles recover after a workout by helping to deliver more oxygen to muscle cells.

Helps lower inflammation

Beets contain plant pigments called betalains, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation. They help protect cells from damage as well. Additionally, beets are rich in vitamin C, which also helps fight inflammation. Vitamin C is also known for keeping your immune system healthy.

Supports digestion

Beets are one of the richest sources of glutamine, the most abundant free amino acid in your body. It is critical to the health and maintenance of your gut. Glutamine is also the main fuel source for your body’s lymphocytes – the white blood cells that fight infection and disease.

Beets also contain insoluble fiber. This type of fiber promotes regular bowel movement by adding bulk to stools so that it’s easier to pass through the intestines.

Take note that eating beets can cause your stools and urine to look reddish or pinkish. If you have recently had beets and notice a reddish color to your stool or urine without experiencing unusual symptoms, don’t be alarmed. It’s completely harmless.

Recipe for roasted beet salad

Beets are known for their earthy and mildly bitter flavor. If you’re not a fan of that flavor, boil beets in a pot of salted water or dress them with balsamic or red wine vinegar. Beets are also easier to enjoy when they are paired with bright, sweet and savory flavors. This recipe for a simple roasted beet salad has all of those flavors.

Ingredients:

2 pounds fresh beets, scrubbed and washed

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

3 Tablespoons olive oil, divided

3 Tablespoons thyme or oregano, chopped

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 Tablespoon pine nuts

Ground black pepper

Salt

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 450 F.
Cut and discard the tops and bottoms of the beets. Place in a baking dish and season with a pinch of salt, black pepper and 1 tablespoon of olive oil on all sides.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, place the pine nuts in a pan and toast over medium-low heat. Shake the pan constantly until the nuts are fragrant and golden brown. Once done, transfer to a small bowl.
Lightly peel the roasted beets, then cut them into one-inch cubes. Place in a salad bowl.
Add the feta cheese, pine nuts, remaining olive oil, vinegar and thyme or oregano. Toss to combine, then season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy.

5 Good reasons you should eat more beets

September 17, 2021

by Joanne Washburn

Beets are a unique root vegetable known for their impressive nutritional profile and health benefits. Rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, beets support your overall health in many ways. Beets are also easy to incorporate into your diet.

Here are five good reasons to eat more beets. (h/t to BBCGoodFood.com)

May help prevent cancer

Beets get their vibrant red color from betacyanin, a potent compound thought to protect against some kinds of cancer, including bladder cancer. Beets also contain high levels of antioxidants like carotenoids, which help protect cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage, both of which have been associated with cancer.

Helps lower blood pressure levels

Beets are a good source of nitrates, which your body converts to nitric oxide (NO). This compound relaxes your blood vessels so that nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood can flow more easily. That means healthier blood pressure levels as well.

In a 2012 study, Australian researchers found that men who drank one glass of beet juice lowered their systolic blood pressure temporarily by an average of four to five points. In another small study, Italian researchers found that drinking beet juice led to a 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) drop in blood pressure.

Improves exercise performance

NO promotes optimal blood circulation and muscle contraction, which are important during exercise. As a rich source of NO precursors, beets can help athletes and fitness enthusiasts maximize their workouts. This is why beet juice is a popular post-workout drink. Additionally, beets help your muscles recover after a workout by helping to deliver more oxygen to muscle cells.

Helps lower inflammation

Beets contain plant pigments called betalains, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation. They help protect cells from damage as well. Additionally, beets are rich in vitamin C, which also helps fight inflammation. Vitamin C is also known for keeping your immune system healthy.

Supports digestion

Beets are one of the richest sources of glutamine, the most abundant free amino acid in your body. It is critical to the health and maintenance of your gut. Glutamine is also the main fuel source for your body’s lymphocytes – the white blood cells that fight infection and disease.

Beets also contain insoluble fiber. This type of fiber promotes regular bowel movement by adding bulk to stools so that it’s easier to pass through the intestines.

Take note that eating beets can cause your stools and urine to look reddish or pinkish. If you have recently had beets and notice a reddish color to your stool or urine without experiencing unusual symptoms, don’t be alarmed. It’s completely harmless.

Recipe for roasted beet salad

Beets are known for their earthy and mildly bitter flavor. If you’re not a fan of that flavor, boil beets in a pot of salted water or dress them with balsamic or red wine vinegar. Beets are also easier to enjoy when they are paired with bright, sweet and savory flavors. This recipe for a simple roasted beet salad has all of those flavors.

Ingredients:

2 pounds fresh beets, scrubbed and washed

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

3 Tablespoons olive oil, divided

3 Tablespoons thyme or oregano, chopped

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 Tablespoon pine nuts

Ground black pepper

Salt

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 450 F.
Cut and discard the tops and bottoms of the beets. Place in a baking dish and season with a pinch of salt, black pepper and 1 tablespoon of olive oil on all sides.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, place the pine nuts in a pan and toast over medium-low heat. Shake the pan constantly until the nuts are fragrant and golden brown. Once done, transfer to a small bowl.
Lightly peel the roasted beets, then cut them into one-inch cubes. Place in a salad bowl.
Add the feta cheese, pine nuts, remaining olive oil, vinegar and thyme or oregano. Toss to combine, then season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy.

Mexico asks US to commit $108 million a month to Central America jobs plan

September 17, 2021

The funds would support two employment programs in three countries

Mexico has asked the United States to provide US $108.4 million a month to fund the implementation of two employment programs in Central America.

As part of efforts to attend to the structural causes of migration in the region, the United States agreed last week to collaborate on the expansion of the Sembrando Vida (Sowing Life) tree-planting employment program and the Youths Building the Future apprenticeship scheme.

The programs – signature initiatives of the federal government, albeit ones that have been allegedly tainted by corruption – will be rolled out in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Mexico wants the United States to provide $86.4 million per month for Sembrando Vida and $22.03 million per month for Youths Building the Future, according to the newspaper Milenio, which obtained a document submitted to U.S. officials at high-level bilateral talks in Washington D.C. last Thursday.

Mexico proposed that the funding be provided via the United States Agency for International Development, commonly known as USAID. Mexico will design the programs and provide technical support to them, according to the document, entitled A Common Vision for the Region.

The federal government proposed the participation of 240,000 Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans in Sembrando Vida and 90,000 people aged 18 to 29 in Youths Building the Future. Participants in both would receive $360 per month.

Sembrando Vida beneficiaries would also have the opportunity to study at agricultural schools, according to the document. Mexico acknowledged that one barrier to the program could be participants’ inability to find land on which to plant timber-yielding and fruit trees. However, plans to facilitate access to land will be implemented, it said.

The apprenticeship scheme will provide training and financial support to young Central Americans for a period of two years. Some 5,000 workplaces are slated to participate in the program, which would likely commence sometime next year.

President López Obrador said earlier this year that the United States should issue temporary visas to Central Americans who work in Sembrando Vida for three years. But the United States has shown little interest in the proposal.

Mexico and the U.S. did, however, sign a memorandum of understanding in June to establish a strategic partnership to address the lack of economic opportunities in northern Central America.

After last week’s High Level Economic Dialogue in Washington, the White House said the United States and Mexico “will identify complementary and cooperative opportunities to improve livelihoods through the creation of jobs and opportunities in the short, medium, and long term in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and southern Mexico.”

The increased cooperation between the two countries comes as record numbers of migrants stream into Mexico en route to the United States, while more than 212,000 migrants were detained in the U.S. in July after illegally crossing the border. The figure was the highest monthly total in more than 20 years.

With reports from Milenio

Cuba’s president will be the guest of honor at Independence celebrations

López Obrador continues to show his affection for the nation

The president of Cuba will be the guest of honor and give a speech at Thursday’s Independence Day celebrations, becoming the first foreign leader to address the event.

President López Obrador confirmed Tuesday that Miguel Díaz-Canel would speak at a ceremony prior to a military parade in downtown Mexico City to celebrate the 211th anniversary of the beginning of the fight for independence in Mexico.

Speaking at his regular news conference, López Obrador defended the Cuban leader’s participation in the Fiestas Patrias, emphasizing that Mexico has friendly relations with all the world’s nations.

However, the president has a special affection for Cuba, declaring in July that the Caribbean island nation is an “example of resistance” and the whole country should be declared a World Heritage site.

He also called for an end to the United States trade embargo as a way to end large protests in Cuba earlier this year, and sent three ships carrying diesel, medical supplies and food to the country in what experts described as Mexico’s biggest aid run to the country in three decades.

At his press conference on Tuesday, López Obrador also responded to criticism from former president Felipe Calderón, who said that it was unacceptable for a dictator to take a central role in Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations.

“ … It’s good that he doesn’t like it!” the president said before accusing his longtime foe of hypocrisy because he met with former Cuban president Raúl Castro while he was in office.

López Obrador also said Tuesday that United States President Joe Biden wouldn’t come to Mexico this month to join celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the end of the 11-year War of Independence against the Spanish.

“President Biden was invited for the 27th [of September]. He can’t be here, but the head of the United States Department of State will be here,” he said, referring to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.