| Human Race
BIRTHED: Trudi Siviter, 39, had given up hope of conceiving a baby. A cervical cancer survivor, she had only half an ovary and had suffered two ectopic pregnancies and three failed IVF attempts. Siviter scheduled a hysterectomy, but then a surprise: She was pregnant. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy in December. "It's one of God's little miracles," said Siviter's doctor, Karen Powell. "It just goes to show we can never say never." KIDNAPPED: Gunmen kidnapped a U.S. aid worker and her Afghan driver Jan. 26 outside of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Cyd Mizell, 49, spent the past three years in Afghanistan working for the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation. She teaches English at a high school and helps women learn ways to generate income. .
Maternity leave for students?
Pregnant students in Denver have asked their high school for at least four weeks of maternity leave "so they can heal, bond with their newborns and not be penalized with unexcused absences," reports the Denver Post. (Here is the full story.) The paper explains that normally Colorado public schools use specialized programs or individual education plans to deal with pregnancy. "Two counselors from East High School approached the school board last month, saying the policy at their school is unfair and inconsiderate because it forces new moms to return to school the day after being discharged from the hospital or face being charged with unexcused absences," reports the Post. "East High School administrators could not be reached for comment over the winter break, but district officials say they are reviewing the policy on absences to make it 'friendlier' to new moms, said DPS spokesman Alex Sanchez," the article says.
Product designers urged to think green
IEC 62075 helps designers consider all aspects of a product from cradle to grave," said Ronnie Amit, general secretary and chief executive at the IEC. "If we can get designers to think holistically at the start of the product's life cycle, it's a win-win for the consumer, governments and industry alike." The standard also advises on new environmental regulations, and provides links to numerous government environment agencies around the world. See also: .
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