• Novaturas introduces sustainable hotel choices across Baltic region
• Hoard of 1,000-year-old Viking coins unearthed in Denmark
• The small Danish island that makes more energy than it uses

• Interview: Dr. Bech on medicine and meditation
• Denmark: Nearly 1% of the population has learned Transcendental Meditation
• Denmark: New Transcendental Meditation teacher expands country's programmes for women

• Denmark: Mammography false alarms linked with later tumor risk
• Denmark: Using a nicotine patch during pregnancy tied to higher ADHD risk
• Denmark: Stressful relationships may raise risk of death

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Positive Trends
Short Summaries of Top Stories

Novaturas introduces sustainable hotel choices across Baltic region
29 December 2023 - Novaturas, a tour operator in the Baltic states, has introduced an option allowing customers to select accommodations based on sustainability labeling. This initiative allows travelers to choose accommodations that operate responsibly and effectively manage their environmental and social impacts. These hotels are marked with a ''sustainable choice'' label on Novaturas' website. These are labeled and certified by third-party systems recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. (more)

Hoard of 1,000-year-old Viking coins unearthed in Denmark
21 April 2023 - Nearly 300 silver coins believed to be more than 1,000 years old have been discovered near a Viking fortress site in north-west Denmark, a museum has said. The trove -- lying in two spots not far apart -- was unearthed by a girl who was metal-detecting in a cornfield last autumn. ...The trove includes Danish, Arab, and Germanic coins as well as pieces of jewelry originating from Scotland or Ireland, according to archaeologists. (more)

The small Danish island that makes more energy than it uses
29 November 2021 - The small Danish Island of Aero was awarded the title of the EU's most sustainable island in 2021. The island has been experimenting with renewable energy since the 1970s, and today, produces more electricity than it uses. (more)

Denmark agrees deal to have 775,000 electric cars by 2030
4 December 2020 - Denmark on Friday [4 December] agreed on a deal with parliament to put at least 775,000 electric or hybrid cars on Danish roads by 2030 in its latest move to reach its ambitious target reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent in 2030. (more)

Danish PM responds to climate demands with $1.6 billion green fund
6 October 2020 - Denmark's Prime Minister on Tuesday [6 October] pledged to spend $1.58 billion on new climate initiatives in response to calls from business leaders and politicians for quicker action towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions. (more)

World's first 'Happiness Museum' opens in Copenhagen
15 September 2020 - Welcome to The Happiness Museum, 'a small museum about the big things in life.' Located in Copenhagen, Denmark, the eight-room museum is the new public arm of the Happiness Research Institute -- a think-tank devoted to the theory and practice of happiness. Denmark is known for being one of the happiest countries in the world; however, the museum approaches themes of happiness, quality of life, and well-being from a global standpoint. (more)

Denmark: How a long-forgotten word rallied a nation
3 August 2020 - A word buried in the history books helped Danes mobilize during the pandemic, flattening the curve and lifting community spirit. Hygge -- which roughly translates to 'a quality of coziness' -- may be the most appropriated Danish word of the past decade, but it's samfundssind that's really come to define the nation in the era of Covid-19. If hygge is something you practice with people you know, samfundssind is more of a behaviour towards those you might not know. Rarely used until just a few months ago, it's now entered the Danish vernacular in an explosive way. (more)

The female entrepreneur stopping food waste
15 January 2020 - The BBC's weekly The Boss series profiles different business leaders from around the world. This week we speak to Mette Lykke, co-founder of fitness tracker Endomondo, and chief executive of food waste app, Too Good To Go. (more)

Denmark scores high praise for organic efforts
27 September 2019 - With more and more Danes buying and developing organic wares than ever before, it's perhaps little surprise that Denmark continuously attracts praise for its organic prowess. And that was the case yet again this week, as Denmark was named 'Country of the Year' by the Nordic Organic Food Fair -- Scandinavia's leading sustainable living event. (more)

Denmark to ban PFAS in food packaging
4 September 2019 - Denmark will ban the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in paper and cardboard used in food packaging within the next year under a proposal from the country's Ministry of Environment and Food. The ban, estimated to take effect by July 2020, would make Denmark the first country to ban the class of chemicals from food contact materials. PFAS chemicals are often used as water and grease repellents, winding up in paper and cardboards that come into contact with food. (more)

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Success of Maharishi's Programmes
Short Summaries of Top Stories

Interview: Dr. Bech on medicine and meditation
4 February 2015 - Danish physician Dr Charlotte Bech has worked in several fields of medicine. She has written popular books on health and is a frequent panelist on health and wellness issues. In a recent interview Dr Bech explains that she highly recommends the Transcendental Meditation technique to patients to relieve stress and enhance immunity, among many other scientifically validated health benefits. She also discusses the fruitful integration of ancient holistic wisdom of health and well-being in Maharishi Ayurveda with the approaches of conventional modern medicine. (more)

Denmark: Nearly 1% of the population has learned Transcendental Meditation
21 July 2013 - In the 50 years that Transcendental Meditation has been taught in Denmark more than 40,000 people have learned the technique--almost one per cent of the Danish population. In the first half of this year, three times as many people learned the technique compared to the same time period a year ago. A recent half-hour television programme generated increased interest in Transcendental Meditation. The Danish Folk School for Development of Consciousness, Rorvig Folkehojskole, offers comprehensive courses in a variety of fields, all taught in the context of Consciousness-Based Education. (more)

Denmark: New Transcendental Meditation teacher expands country's programmes for women
4 December 2012 - Denmark welcomed home this year another newly trained teacher of Transcendental Meditation, who will help expand self-development programmes for women and girls in the country. A number of women already practising Transcendental Meditation enjoyed a popular one-day course in Copenhagen on the theme of 'Love'. (more)

Denmark: Five Maharishi Vastu homes completed
13 October 2011 - The fifth home in Denmark designed and constructed according to the principles of Maharishi Vedic architecture was recently completed, and two more houses are under construction. (more)

Denmark: Vastu homes and communities being developed
19 July 2011 - In Denmark, several Maharishi Vastu construction projects, designed according to Vedic architecture, have been completed during the past year, and more are underway. Also, increasing numbers of people in the country are learning the Transcendental Meditation Programme. (more)

Denmark: 2010 sees significant increase in people learning Transcendental Meditation
13 January 2011 - Interest in the Transcendental Meditation programme rose significantly this past year in Denmark. The number of people who learned the programme doubled from 2009 to 2010. A new website and blog have also led to an increase in enquiries. (more)

Natural health care at the Folk School for Development of Consciousness, Denmark
31 December 2010 - The Health Care department of the Folk School for Development of Consciousness in Denmark offers courses in the knowledge and practical application of the ancient, natural, holistic health care system Maharishi Ayur-Veda. Students learn simple tools to improve health as well as increase energy, happiness, and well-being. Courses are scheduled to begin 16 January. (more)

Offering a Consciousness-Based Education music programme in Denmark
27 December 2010 - The Danish Folk School for Development of Consciousness offers a comprehensive course in music. Taught in the context of Consciousness-Based Education, which promotes the blossoming of inner creativity, the course provides an introduction to an array of instruments, voice, music theory, and performance. Guest lecturers and performers include accomplished musicians. New courses are scheduled to begin 16 January 2011. (more)

Making great talents greater in Denmark: Consciousness-Based Education film course
25 December 2010 - The Film Department at the Danish Folk School for Development of Consciousness offers a comprehensive curriculum for students interested in scriptwriting, video editing, camera work, and other areas of film and theatre--all taught in the context of Consciousness-Based Education, which promotes the blossoming of inner creativity. New courses are scheduled to begin 16 January 2011. (more)

Danish Folk School's Consciousness-Based Education course in film and theatre to begin 16 January
22 December 2010 - The Danish Folk School for Development of Consciousness offers a course in film and theatre through the school's David Lynch Film Department. Taught in the context of Consciousness-Based Education, which promotes the blossoming of inner creativity, the course provides an introduction to sound, lighting, scriptwriting, and drama. For students who intend to pursue a career in film, it is also a great opportunity to gain insight from renowned filmmaker David Lynch. Courses begin 16 January 2011. (more)

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Flops
Short Summaries of Top Stories

Denmark: Mammography false alarms linked with later tumor risk
23 August 2014 - Women whose screening mammograms produce false alarms have a heightened risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer years later, but the reason remains mysterious, researchers say. An increased risk of breast cancer among women with a 'false positive' mammogram has been reported before. What's new about this study is that the authors tried to figure out how much, if any, of the extra risk is simply due to doctors missing the cancer the first time they investigated the worrisome mammogram findings. But mistakes from doctors missing cancers explained only a small percentage of the increased risk, according to lead author My von Euler-Chelpin, an epidemiologist from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. The American Cancer Society recommends that women be screened for breast cancer every year they are in good health starting at age 40. But a growing number of researchers have questioned the benefits of annual mammograms, and since 2009 the government-backed United States Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that screening be done every two years and be generally restricted to women aged 50 to 74. (more)

Denmark: Using a nicotine patch during pregnancy tied to higher ADHD risk
22 July 2014 - Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to a higher chance of the child having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a new study suggests women who use nicotine replacement products may also have children with an elevated risk. Mothers who had quit smoking and those who used nicotine replacement products both tended to have babies with higher, healthier birth weights than current smokers, he noted. However, mothers who had quit smoking and those who used nicotine replacement products both tended to have babies with higher, healthier birth weights than current smokers,Dr Carsten Obelnoted. Smoking during pregnancy is known to be associated with a lower birth weight for the baby. 'The best advice will at this point probably be to try to stop smoking without use of nicotine replacement and preferably before getting pregnant,' Dr Obel said. (more)

Denmark: Stressful relationships may raise risk of death
26 May 2014 - Worries, conflicts and demands in relationships with friends, family, and neighbours may contribute to an earlier death suggests a new Danish study. 'Conflicts, especially, were associated with higher mortality risk regardless of whom was the source of the conflict,' the authors write. 'Worries and demands were only associated with mortality risk if they were related to partner or children.' Men and people without jobs seemed to be the most vulnerable, Rikke Lund, a public health researcher at the University of Copenhagen, and her colleagues found. Study participants who always or often experienced worries and demands from their children had about a 50 per cent increase in risk of death. Frequent conflicts also were linked to an increased risk of dying. Participants who always or often experienced conflicts with their partners or friends had more than double the risk of dying, and if they argued with neighbours, the risk more than tripled. Having conflicts or worries and demands, and not being part of the labor force was linked to a risk of death about 4.5 times that of a person without those problems. (more)

Denmark: Breast cancer radiation risks killer lung disease
8 April 2014 - Women who have received radiotherapy for breast cancer have a significantly increased risk of developing lung cancer, according to a new study. Doctors have found the risk of new lung tumours forming in women treated with radiation after breast cancer surgery rises as the dosage increases. A major study also shows the likelihood is far greater among women who are smokers. Women receiving radiation to the breast area have around a one in 200 chance of going on to develop a primary lung cancer -- ie, a new cancer, not a secondary tumour that has spread from the original breast cancer. (more)

Denmark: Prenatal acetaminophen exposure linked to ADHD risk
26 February 2014 - Children born to women who take acetaminophen during pregnancy may be at increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and similar behavioural problems, new findings suggest. Acetaminophen, or paracetamol, has been available over the counter since the 1950s. While the medication is widely considered to be safe to use during pregnancy, recent studies have shown it can disrupt hormone function in pregnant rats and mice. Researchers looked at 64,322 children and mothers enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort between 1996 and 2002. More than half -- 56 per cent -- of mothers reported using acetaminophen during pregnancy. Children born to these women were 37 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with hyperkinetic disorder (HKD), a severe form of ADHD. They were 29 per cent more likely to be prescribed ADHD medications, and 13 per cent more likely to exhibit ADHD-like behaviours at age 7. The acetaminophen-ADHD link was stronger for women who used the medication during more than one trimester of pregnancy, and increased with the frequency of exposure. (more)

Denmark: Self-medicating moms more likely to give kids pain medication
9 January 2014 - Mothers who frequently use over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers are more likely to give them to their children too, according to a new Danish study. More parents are giving OTC medications, such as acetaminophen, to their young children, often without the advice of health care professionals, the study team says. 'Half of all the medications used worldwide are non-prescription -- it is a huge and growing industry under limited control from the health care system,' Dr Janne Fangel Jensen, who led the research, said. Overdosing with acetaminophen can be dangerous, Dr Jensen cautioned. 'In my opinion it is important to limit the use of paracetamol to when it is indicated and to prevent an increasing 'over-medication' especially in children.' Researchers discovered that mothers who believed their children had recurrent pain tended to give them acetaminophen at least every other month. And, in general, mothers who took pain relievers themselves every month also reported giving acetaminophen to their children more often during the previous three months. Researchers worry that overuse of medications can train children to believe that's the only way to deal with symptoms. 'Parents need to be aware that if they give medication every time their child complains about a symptom, their child will learn that the ONLY way to get relief is through medications.' (more)

Denmark: Common solvent linked to liver cancer risk.
6 June 2013 - Scandinavian workers exposed to a common industrial cleaning fluid showed higher risk for developing cancers of the liver, kidneys, and cervix in a large new study. The World Health Organization designated TCE a human carcinogen in October 2012, but the chemical is still used widely in industry to clean machinery and in some etching processes, at levels believed to be too low to harm people. TCE is still used in the US at levels regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as an intermediate step in the production of refrigerant chemicals and for cleaning metal parts. Workers most often inhale the chemical, Purdue said, but it can be absorbed through skin. TCE contamination of drinking and bathing water supplies has led to multiple lawsuits in the US and a specially commissioned report in 2006 from the National Research Council. (more)

Traffic noise increases risk of diabetes
9 May 2013 - Noise from busy roads and highways can raise the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, possibly by interrupting sleep and increasing stress, according to a large study from Denmark. The risk increased by 8 to 11 per cent for every 10-decibel rise in road noise. The results add to the growing number of studies that link traffic noise to human health problems. (more)

Denmark: Acetaminophen in infancy again tied to asthma
9 November 2012 - Babies given acetaminophen for fevers and aches may have a heightened risk of asthma symptoms in their preschool years, a new study suggests. Researchers found that the more acetaminophen kids were given as infants, the more likely they were to develop asthma-like symptoms in early childhood. Senior researcher Dr. Hans Bisgaard, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark said the findings should encourage further research into a 'plausible biological mechanism' by which acetaminophen could promote asthma. Bisgaard's team found that the risk generally went up the more often a child was given acetaminophen in the first year of life. For each doubling in the number of days a baby received the drug, there was a 28 per cent increase in the risk of asthma symptoms. One recent study found that children given other common pain medications -- including ibuprofen and naproxen -- also had an increased asthma risk, but researchers said that suggested children with asthma symptoms were simply more likely to need the medications. Experts also say parents should avoid giving aspirin to children because the drug is linked to Reye syndrome -- a rare but serious disease that affects the brain and liver. (more)

Danger of painkillers for people who've had heart attacks does not fade with time
22 September 2012 - Common painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen are considered risky for people who've had a heart attack. And now a large study suggests those risks do not go away with time. In a study of almost 100,000 first-time heart attack sufferers, researchers found that those who used NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) afterward were more likely to have a repeat heart attack or die over the next five years. NSAIDs include over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), as well as prescription arthritis drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors. The new findings suggest the drugs 'have no apparent safe treatment window among patients with (heart attack),' lead researcher Dr. Anne-Marie Schjerning Olsen, of Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, told Reuters Health by email. (more)