UNESCO Islamabad, in partnership with Department of Culture, government of the Punjab is organising a 4-day training workshop from June 12-15 for the capacity building.
According to a press release, workshop focuses on understanding the 2003 convention, its implementation and how to benefit from the mechanism of international cooperation established by the convention. Pakistan ratified this convention in 2005 and has an obligation to implement the convention for safeguarding and promoting the cultural heritage, following to the 18th Amendment, culture is now responsibility of provinces and it is required to build the capacities of provinces for effective implementation of the convention.
Director UNESCO, Dr. Kozue Kay Nagata, graced the occasion as the chief guest, mentioning the Indus valley and Gandhara civilizations. He also appreciated the deep-rooted history and cultural heritage of Pakistan. “Although the term intangible cultural heritage is relatively new, but the concept is as old as humanity. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity,” Said Dr Nagata. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, secretary culture & information Punjab appreciated the role of UNESCO to protect and safeguard the Intangible Culture and thanked Dr Kozue Kay Nagata for supporting and organizing the said workshop.
The resource person, Prof Sajida Haider Vandal, underlined the need to promote the diversity of culture in order to build the climate of peace and tolerance and she called it a major step towards gaining the advantage from the mechanism established by the 2003 convention.
This training workshop will continue for 4 days and relevant staff from Department of Culture, Government of Punjab and staff from Culture Departments of other provinces including Federal Capitol, Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa,Baluchistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Sindh have been invited to attend the workshop.
Fish-oil supplements incapable of averting dementia: Researchers say they have ascertained compelling evidence that fish-oil supplements do not offer protection against dementia. Previous studies said that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly those in fish oil, could provide protection for brain cells, Press TV reported.
However, a team of experts conducting the Cochrane Review now said there was no evidence showing that taking Omega-3 supplements could prevent mental decline in aging individuals, at least over a period of three and a half years.
The research team studied the results of three trials observing the impacts of omega-3 taken in the form of capsules or added to margarine spread. In each study, their effects were compared with those of sunflower oil, olive oil or regular margarine. Some 3,536 people over the age of 60 were involved in the studies, with none of the participants having any initial signs of dementia. The studies took between six and 40 months. Eventually, the participants who took omega-3 supplements scored no better in standard tests of memory and mental performance than those not taken the supplements. Co-author Dr Alan Dangour, a nutritionist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, stressed that according to the studies, there was not any benefit for cognitive health for ageing people of taking omega-3 supplements. “However, these were relatively short-term studies, so we saw very little deterioration in cognitive function in either the intervention groups or the control groups. It may take much longer to see any effect of these supplements,” Dangour said.
Dr Marie Janson of the UK’s leading dementia research, Alzheimer’s Research UK, also said that while taking omega-3 supplements cannot prevent mental decline, having a healthy diet that includes fish and natural sources of omega-3, is important for maintaining good health.
