We are very pleased that in response to the vote on Syria and those recent attacks we have seen an unprecedented rise in Stop the War membership and activity across the country. We would like to thank all of you who have joined or donated in recent weeks. It is more important than ever that together we continue to build a strong anti-war movement in the UK. If you have not yet received your membership confirmation letter and card please do not worry, it is on its way. We are trying hard to process all recent memberships as quickly as possible.

We have repeatedly made our positions on the war in Syria clear, most recently in John Rees' For the avoidance of doubt article and in a statement last week. That the media largely chose to ignore them speaks volumes about its pro war agenda.
 
We have held a series of demonstrations over past weeks both in London and across the country. On Saturday, several thousand people joined us to march to Downing Street where we heard a message of solidarity from Jeremy Corbyn alongside many other speeches, which can be seen here. Jeremy was also the guest of honour at our very successful fundraising dinner last Friday.      
 
In the new year, there will be continuing protests and campaigning against the bombing. There is also the mass demonstration against Trident on February 27th, which Stop the War is fully supporting. It is clear that international and foreign policy issues will continue to hit the headlines over the next few months, and we have to be prepared to combat the pro war pro nuclear weapons agenda.

• 75% of British adults have never had a vitamin D test.

 
One third of UK adults spend less than an hour per day outdoors, according to new research.
 
Our 'indoor' lifestyle and lack of British sunshine is placing millions of Brits at risk of vitamin D deficiency, warns ITV's Dr. Chris Steele.
 
A further 50 per cent of the 650 people surveyed in the Pharma Nord consumer poll spend less than 2 hours per day outdoors, while just 5 per cent spend more than four hours outside.
 
The majority of our vitamin D requirement – around 90 per cent – must be created in the skin in response to strong sunlight. Up to 50 per cent of UK adults are thought to be deficient in this vital 'sunshine' vitamin, with the highest rates of deficiency in Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland due to limited sun exposure.
 
Vitamin D deficiency costs the UK taxpayer £29 billion annually – more than a quarter of the NHS budget. Despite the prevalence of deficiency, three quarters of UK adults admit that they have never had a vitamin D test, either through a GP or a self-test.
 
The importance of vitamin D
Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern, with symptoms often more apparent and severe during winter. 
 
A lack of vitamin D is also associated with poor immune health, susceptibility to colds and flu and  tiredness and fatigue.
 
The new survey from Pharma Nord, developers of Bio-Vitamin D3, has revealed that:

• Two thirds of those surveyed suffer with low mood or depression, which becomes worse during the winter months.
• More than half of UK adults admit that they often feel tired and regularly catch colds and flu during the winter months.
• One in ten catch three to five common viruses such as colds, flu and stomach bugs per year; and
• Only 13 per cent are not affected by seasonal illnesses.

 
Commenting on the research, Dr Chris Steele, medical doctor and ITV This Morning's resident GP  said: “There needs to be greater awareness of the risk of vitamin D deficiency in the UK. While all of us could be affected, the higher risk groups include those aged over 65, pregnant and breastfeeding women, ethnic minorities, children and people who spend large amounts of time indoors.
 
"I would urge all UK adults, and particularly people in these groups, to discuss with their GP a vitamin D test and the taking of a high quality vitamin D supplement. There is often confusion over the best form of vitamin D to take, so look for vitamin D3 as this form is identical to the kind produced naturally in the skin. Also oil-based capsules can be more easily absorbed by the body compared to dry, chalky tablets."
 
Dr David Mantle, medical adviser at Pharma Nord added: "Common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include tiredness or fatigue, low mood particularly during the winter months and a greater susceptibility to colds and flu. That said, worryingly, there are a large number of people like Berni living with deficiency and completely unaware. The only way to know for sure is to be tested."
 
For more information, contact:
Lindsay Baldry
PR Executive
Pharma Nord (UK)
T: 01670 534 905 / E: [email protected]
 
About Pharma Nord
Pharma Nord is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of dietary supplements and preventative nutrition. The company develops, manufactures, and markets dietary supplements and natural medicines with emphasis on bioavailability, quality, safety and documentation.

We all have our own ideas about who are the bad guys, President Assad and the long term plan for Syria and the region.

Western leaders and politicians who have  encouraged more military airstrikes in Syria will have much more information  available; we have to hope that this time around, unlike the reasons for the Iraq war, dodgy dossiers and sexed up information will not be used.

With tens of thousands of refugees knocking on the doors of western countries a flesh-eating disease rampant in the country of origin of some will increase fear.

UK bombing of Syria has been touted as necessary to make Britain 'safer' but that appears a sham.

Across the Pond in the USA GOP hopeful Donald Trump is living true to his windy surname. He is blowing a lot of hot air which will appeal to the right, far-right and fascists in America.

He wants a ban on Muslims entering the USA which will mean that country will not take its agreed number of refugees; yet the USA is and has been at the forefront of training rebels come terrorists and wrecking the Middle East.

Trump wants a ban on all Muslims entering the USA.

He talks heatedly about internment camps for Muslims and the crowd lap it up;  returning all Muslims is also promoted but to where we wonder. Many are US citizens born and bred and many are not first generation Americans.

In this climate of fear hate is on the increase.

News that Leishmaniasis disease is sweeping parts of Syria will heighten fears further and increase hate.

As leaders spend too much time travelling the world to discuss climate change and try to agree on positive resolutions the scale of the disaster and its potential to cause a global conflict is pushed into second place.

But unless we can get a grip on racial tensions and hate we are doomed anyways.

You can forget climate change it may only be a matter of time before some nut with a finger on the button ends it for us all. And could that nut be a terrorist or Donald Trump if god forbid he becomes the 2016 POTUS?

More at RT

[You need to enter your date of birth to get started, followed by your place of birth and email address. SumOfUs does abide with online security rules but bear that in mind]

"Right now at the Paris climate talks, fossil fuel companies are working hard to thwart any global deal to slow down climate change. It's crucial we spread the word about how our climate is changing, and engage people to stand up and take action.

That's why we built this tool. It's a great way to get people thinking about how the climate has changed during our lifetimes. And sharing this tool is an interesting conversation piece -- after I shared my results, my mum and I ended up having a great talk about the weather the day I was born, which turned into a great talk about climate change.

Find out what the weather was the day you were born, and then share with your friends so they can find out the weather the day they were born too.

Paul, Ledys, Angus, and the rest of us at SumOfUs 

PS: It was a cool 13 degrees, windy and sunny the day I was born in Truro, in the UK! What about you?"

[Well it was it was 10°C, windy and cloudy in Hull in the UK the day I was born and that was seasonal weather back then]

In the past few weeks, Labour has successfully pushed the Government to change tack on tax-credits, police cuts and the Saudi prison deal.

Yet despite that, Cameron and Osborne are still cutting billions. Osborne has not reversed his welfare cuts: he's delayed them, and over two million families will still be on average £1600 worse off.

The Conservatives have no answer to the challenge of climate change.

They are failing to build the homes our country needs and causing immense harm to our NHS.

This is the slowest recovery in living memory, yet the Tories have failed to recognise the fact that our economy is facing severe challenges.

Their failure to plan the infrastructure we need is a threat to future prosperity and their claim to have overseen a Northern powerhouse is a sham.

The Conservatives cannot be let off the hook. Britain needs Labour now more than ever.

When the Prime Minister described opponents of military action in Syria as terrorist sympathisers he demeaned his office and undermined his own case.

That is why, as leader and deputy leader, our guiding principle is that Labour must never make Cameron's mistake.

Politics must be conducted in a better way - more civil and more respectful.

We all support and defend the democratic right to protest and lobby. And all MPs must be open to hearing the views of their constituents and others on matters of public importance.

But, as we have both said many times, abuse and intimidation have no place in politics. And the party as a whole will not accept such behaviour, from whatever quarter it comes.

Yours sincerely,

Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson

@jeremycorbyn | @tom_watson"

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