Latest news with #RockefellerFoundation
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Is 'Food Is Medicine' the Future of Better Health?
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." DURING THE LAST several years, 'food is medicine' has become a buzzy phrase among hospitals, researchers, and social media influencers alike. The promise of the food is medicine movement is huge: If more people got their hands on fresh food—by way of at-home 'medically tailored meal' services, 'farmacy' produce prescriptions or food banks, and better grocery options overall—than we might be able to drastically reduce the leading causes of death. After all, poor diet is cited as the No. 1 contributor to 45 percent of U.S. cardiometabolic deaths and 36 percent of global coronary deaths, not to mention 70 percent of new diabetes cases worldwide. The movement carries political clout, too. Under the Biden Administration, research funding flew into food is medicine initiatives with the goal of improving the American diet by way of more fresh foods. Under the current Trump Administration, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has used 'food is medicine' as a rallying cry to purge the food industry of toxins and encourage more people to eat whole foods for better health. Meanwhile The Rockefeller Foundation, American Heart Association, and other organizations have poured hundreds of millions into additional research to study if large-scale healthy food programs can help prevent and treat disease. But, really, what does 'food is medicine' even mean? Much like the word 'healthy,' the phrase doesn't yet have a widely agreed upon definition. There are a ton of different players rushing to put their spin on the phrase—from researchers to meal delivery companies to grocery stores. But if 'food is medicine' means everything... does it mean anything? We decided to find out. Here's our review of where the science on diet and disease actually stands–from an interview with a charge-leading researcher, to a report on the wild world of medically tailored meal startups. This is what "food is medicine" means right now. And what it could mean for NowShop NowShop Now You Might Also Like The Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men to Buy Now 25 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein
Ya Biladi
02-07-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's climate vulnerability and funding gaps exposed by new index
The Columbia Climate School, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, has launched a new index designed to measure countries' vulnerability to climate change. This index combines a country's exposure to risks such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and conflicts, with its financial capacity to carry out prevention, recovery, and reconstruction efforts, based on the availability and accessibility of funding. According to the rankings, Morocco is placed 124th out of 188 countries. It scored 48.2 on the financial vulnerability index (where lower scores indicate better resilience) and 67.1 on the climate risk index, resulting in an overall score of 57.7. The Climate Finance Vulnerability Index aims to offer a clearer understanding of climate vulnerability levels, helping to better target and allocate climate adaptation funding. It is designed to improve the effectiveness of concessional financing, such as grants, soft loans, and impact investments, by ensuring that resources are directed toward the most vulnerable countries and communities, thus promoting equitable resilience-building. In the Maghreb region, Algeria ranked highest at 52nd globally, followed by Libya (86th), Tunisia (103rd), Morocco (124th), and Mauritania (146th). Across Africa, Mauritius leads the continent, ranking 37th globally, followed by Algeria (52nd), Seychelles (53rd), Equatorial Guinea (56th), Botswana (71st), Libya (86th), Tunisia (103rd), Egypt (105th), Eswatini (107th), Somalia (115th), Democratic Republic of Congo (118th), South Africa (120th), and Congo (123rd). Globally, the top 10 most resilient countries according to the index are Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, Denmark, Estonia, Japan, the United States, China, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. Red zones The index reveals that nearly 65 countries fall into the «red zone», indicating high vulnerability, most of which are classified by the OECD as low- or middle-income nations. These countries are also home to some of the world's fastest-growing populations. Among the 65 red-zone countries, 43 (about 66%) are located in Sub-Saharan Africa, collectively home to around 1.2 billion people. Projections estimate Africa's population could grow to between 2.7 and 3.7 billion by 2070. Notably, 21 of these countries are already experiencing, or are at high risk of experiencing, debt distress. «Africa is on the frontline of the climate change's impact, bearing the brunt despite contributing the least. With 43 of the 65 most vulnerable nations in the Red Zone located in Sub-Saharan Africa, we face a dire threat compounded by a severe lack of funding», William Asiko, Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation's Africa Regional Office said. «We need this capital flowing immediately to build resilience, foster green growth, and truly champion climate-smart development, for Africa's future and the world», he warned.
Ya Biladi
01-07-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's climate vulnerability and funding gaps exposed by new index
The Columbia Climate School, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, has launched a new index designed to measure countries' vulnerability to climate change. This index combines a country's exposure to risks such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and conflicts, with its financial capacity to carry out prevention, recovery, and reconstruction efforts, based on the availability and accessibility of funding. According to the rankings, Morocco is placed 124th out of 188 countries. It scored 48.2 on the financial vulnerability index (where lower scores indicate better resilience) and 67.1 on the climate risk index, resulting in an overall score of 57.7. The Climate Finance Vulnerability Index aims to offer a clearer understanding of climate vulnerability levels, helping to better target and allocate climate adaptation funding. It is designed to improve the effectiveness of concessional financing, such as grants, soft loans, and impact investments, by ensuring that resources are directed toward the most vulnerable countries and communities, thus promoting equitable resilience-building. In the Maghreb region, Algeria ranked highest at 52nd globally, followed by Libya (86th), Tunisia (103rd), Morocco (124th), and Mauritania (146th). Across Africa, Mauritius leads the continent, ranking 37th globally, followed by Algeria (52nd), Seychelles (53rd), Equatorial Guinea (56th), Botswana (71st), Libya (86th), Tunisia (103rd), Egypt (105th), Eswatini (107th), Somalia (115th), Democratic Republic of Congo (118th), South Africa (120th), and Congo (123rd). Globally, the top 10 most resilient countries according to the index are Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, Denmark, Estonia, Japan, the United States, China, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. Red zones The index reveals that nearly 65 countries fall into the «red zone», indicating high vulnerability, most of which are classified by the OECD as low- or middle-income nations. These countries are also home to some of the world's fastest-growing populations. Among the 65 red-zone countries, 43 (about 66%) are located in Sub-Saharan Africa, collectively home to around 1.2 billion people. Projections estimate Africa's population could grow to between 2.7 and 3.7 billion by 2070. Notably, 21 of these countries are already experiencing, or are at high risk of experiencing, debt distress. «Africa is on the frontline of the climate change's impact, bearing the brunt despite contributing the least. With 43 of the 65 most vulnerable nations in the Red Zone located in Sub-Saharan Africa, we face a dire threat compounded by a severe lack of funding», William Asiko, Vice President of the Rockefeller Foundation's Africa Regional Office said. «We need this capital flowing immediately to build resilience, foster green growth, and truly champion climate-smart development, for Africa's future and the world», he warned.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rockefeller Foundation Adds Govind Iyer to Board of Trustees
NEW YORK, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rockefeller Foundation is pleased to announce that Mr. Govind Iyer, global business executive and philanthropic leader, will serve on its Board of Trustees. Bringing over four decades of experience, he joins as The Rockefeller Foundation enters its 112th year of "promoting the well-being of humanity," the philanthropic organization's mission since 1913. Mr. Iyer, who was a partner at the advisory firm Egon Zehnder International until retirement in 2022, has joined The Rockefeller Foundation's Board in a voluntary capacity. "Mr. Govind Iyer is a respected business leader who is strongly committed to expanding philanthropy's reach and impact, in India and around the world," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "I'm delighted to welcome him to the Board of Trustees and look forward to the insights he will bring, especially as The Rockefeller Foundation continues our work in the Asia-Pacific region." Based in Mumbai, India, Mr. Iyer currently serves on the Board of Directors at Infosys Limited, a global leader in next-generation digital services and recognized as the top three most valuable IT services brands globally. He is also an Independent Director at Karmayogi Bharat, the Government of India's capacity-building initiative for civil service officials. As part of his passion and commitment to philanthropy, Mr. Iyer also serves as a Founding Board Member and Chairperson at Social Ventures Partners, a pan-India collaborative philanthropy organization; as a member of the Board of Social Ventures Partners (International), a global philanthropic network; on Advisory Boards at The Convergence Foundation and Project Mumbai; and as Director of the Board of Indian Corporate Volunteering Association. In addition, Mr. Iyer is a LivingMyPromise (LMP) signatory, which is a community of like-minded Indians who believe in pledging 50% or more of their net worth to society across causes of their choice. "I am humbled and thrilled to serve an organization that for more than 112 years has worked to build a brighter future for communities all around the world. I often tell people: Don't give back, give forward and at The Rockefeller Foundation, I hope to work towards making the world a better place," said Mr. Iyer. At Egon Zehnder, Mr. Iyer advised Family Businesses and Corporations on CEO succession and Board Governance before retiring three years ago. He also held marketing positions at Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, and the Kraft Heinz Company. "Having worked for more than four decades at some of the world's most innovative and successful companies, Govind has put extraordinary energy and passion into philanthropic pursuits," said James Stavridis, U.S. Navy Admiral (retired) and Chair of The Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees. "We have already benefited greatly from his expertise, and we warmly welcome him to the Foundation's Board." Mr. Iyer also received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, India, and an MBA from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania, where he remains an active alumnus. About The Rockefeller FoundationThe Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation. View original content: SOURCE The Rockefeller Foundation Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Boston Globe
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Dara Birnbaum, 78, dies; video was her medium and her message
The six-minute piece that resulted, 'Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman,' begins with 11 straight explosions, followed by Lynda Carter spinning in circles under more explosions as she transforms into the Amazon superhero of the show's title. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up It was a simple change, but a profound one. By stripping these effects from their ordinary fairy-tale context, Ms. Birnbaum made it easier to see the violence and sexual objectification they transmitted along with their nominal story. Perhaps more important, she also demonstrated -- to a whole cohort of later artists, including Cory Arcangel and Martine Syms -- that mass media was fair game as artistic material and that its power could, if only temporarily or in principle, be turned against itself. Advertisement Ms. Birnbaum died in a hospital in New York City on May 2. She was 78. Her brother and only immediate survivor, Robert Birnbaum, a physician scientist, said the cause was metastatic endometrial cancer. Advertisement Ms. Birnbaum also made more introspective work, like the three-part video series 'Damnation of Faust,' a haunting meditation on the Faust myth shot in Lower Manhattan, as well as elegantly designed installations to house her videos and inventive drawings. But she never lost her interest in the moving image, or in coercion and control -- though those interests converged in different ways as her work became less focused on the dangers of video than on its potential to reveal other dangers. Her 1990 piece 'Tiananmen Square: Break-In Transmission' used found footage and a claustrophobic installation of multiple monitors to consider both the previous year's protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing and the Chinese government's suppression of information about them. The six-channel installation 'Psalm 29(30),' made after Ms. Birnbaum had recovered from a grave illness in 2014, juxtaposed views of Lake Como in Italy, shot while she was a resident at the Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Center there, with images of the Syrian civil war. Dara Nan Birnbaum was born in New York City on Oct. 29, 1946, to Mary (Sochotliff) Birnbaum, a medical technician turned homemaker, and Philip Birnbaum, a prolific architect of residential buildings known for the efficiency of his apartment layouts. After graduating early from Forest Hills High School in Queens, Ms. Birnbaum enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh as a premed student, but she switched to architecture. After earning her bachelor's degree in 1969, she moved to San Francisco to work for Lawrence Halprin & Associates; when the oil crisis hit and business slowed, she enrolled in the San Francisco Art Institute, where she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1973. Advertisement In 1974, she moved to Florence, Italy, where she took classes at the Accademia di Belle Arti -- and had an encounter that changed her life. Stopping one night to look at a pair of lithographs in the windows of a gallery called Centro Diffusione Grafica (later known as art/tapes/22), she noticed a group of people in the back, huddled around a television set. When they beckoned her to join them, she found that they were watching neither the news nor a soap opera but a video art piece by Allan Kaprow. Through the gallery, she met artist Vito Acconci and others. With their encouragement, she returned to New York and its vibrant art scene, though not specifically to its galleries. 'I initially avoided galleries like the plague,' she told Arcangel when he interviewed her for Artforum in 2009. 'I didn't want to translate popular imagery from television and film into painting and photography. I wanted to use video on video; I wanted to use television on television.' Her earliest video works were philosophically tinged experiments with the medium like the black-and-white 'Mirroring' (1975), in which Ms. Birnbaum, captured in front of a dull gray backdrop, seems to go in and out of focus as she approaches the camera. In fact, the camera is trained on a mirror, as is revealed when the artist doubles herself by slipping in front of the lens. But by 1978, she had begun to work with appropriated material -- first with an installation featuring footage from 'Laverne & Shirley,' then in 'Technology/Transformation' and later with images borrowed from 'Hollywood Squares' and, in 'PM Magazine,' a mashup of entertainment news and commercials for Wang computers. Advertisement Within a few years, she was showing at galleries, museums and film festivals worldwide. She would eventually have retrospectives in Tokyo; Milan; Vienna; Porto, Portugal; and Ghent, Belgium. In 2017, Carnegie Mellon's School of Art created the Birnbaum Award in her honor. Of all her edits and remixes, Ms. Birnbaum's most subversive response to mass media may have been simply to turn down its volume. 'Everything seems to be changing and failing and falling out from under us,' she told curator Lauren Cornell in a 2016 ARTnews interview. 'So a kind of numbness has developed, and that's why some art attempts to yell so hard at its viewers. But if one comes from a place of solemnity and from a whisper, in a society that's constantly yelling, maybe it's a strong whisper that can best be heard and then matched with full integrity.' This article originally appeared in
