The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 19, 1990 - Page 3 Nine diseases kill many ATLANTA (AP) - Federal health officials said yesterday that ,nine preventable chronic diseases are responsible for more than half of the deaths in this country- but get only 4,2 percent of the public health dollars spent by states. Meanwhile, another preventable cause, injuries, remains the leading cause of "premature loss of life" with suicide and homicide and AIDS also ranking high. The National Centers for Disease Control reported that nine chronic diseases- diseases with long periods of onset or suffering- by themselves Saccounted for 1.1 million deaths in 1986, 52 percent of the deaths na- tionwide. These are stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obstructive lung disease, lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. "They're all largely preventable- or preventable to some extent," said Dr. Robert Hahn, a CDC epidemiol- ogist. Preventable risk factors for those nine chronic diseases include ci- garette smoking, overweight, high blood pressure, drinking and lack of exercise. "We know what the risk factors are, Hahn said. "We know less about how you get people to act on them. According to a report from 45 states and the District of Colombia, less than 2 percent of state public health expenditures are allocated to prevent and control chronic diseases, the CDC said. "That's low," Hahn said, noting that other chronic diseases not in- cluded in the CDC's dangerous nine also could be targets of increased public health efforts. The average state expenditure on * chronic disease control and preven- tion is 66 cents per person per year, Hahn said. That amount includes money spent on efforts such as disease screening programs, but does not in- clude education or direct doctors' care at public clinics. Comparable figures on federal public health spending for chronic disease were not available, Hahn said. Many of the federal govern- ment's health programs concentrate on research, epidemiology and educa- tion, not the traditional screening and prevention efforts of state-funded health clinics. The toll from the CDC's list of nine chronic diseases included 593,000 deaths from heart disease, 149,000 from stroke, 125,000 from lung cancer, 71,000 from obstru- tive lung disease, such as emphy- sema, and 55,000 from colorectal cancer. Four others caused fewer deaths, but made the CDC's list of nine b- cause they can be prevented or con- trolled: breast cancer, 40,000 deaths; diabetes, 37,000; cirrhosis, 26,000; and cervical cancer, 4,500. The total of 1.1 million deaths is * 'down about 10 percent from 1979, Hahn said, largely because of de- creases in heart disease and stroke. Earth Day coordinator 0 visits 'U' . JOSG JUAREZ/Daiiy Juan Andrade, an expert on national and international Hispanic issues and one of the most influential Latinos in the country, speaking last night on the political empowerment and education of Hispanic Americans. . Speakers outline Hispanics' status by Elisabeth Weinstein On April 22, 1970, 20 million people - the most in the history of the world - participated in a demonstration to protect the environment. This year, 115 countries will-join the U.S. to heighten awareness of the environment's deterioration. Though U.S. citizens became more environmentally conscious after the 1970 demonstration, there is "a whole new array of issues to address now," said Earth Day 1990 National Coordinator Owen Byrd to about 100 students at the Dana Natural Resources Building last night. Byrd said the world must now deal with oil spills, energy conservation, toxic waste, solid waste, acid rain, animal extinction, deforestation and a host of other issues that must be dealt with immediately. Because University students have finals shortly after the national date, Earth Day will be promoted on campus during the week of April 2. Throughout the Earth Day week, residence hall cafeteria will each serve one environmentally sound meal; speakers will come to educate students; and University groups will host teach-ins to discuss environmental problems and possible solutions. Asked if he anticipated a big turnout, Byrd responded simply, "Millions." Irwin Weingarten, an engineering senior who has been involved in protecting the environment for two years, said, "Not only do I hope that people become more aware of the issues surrounding environmental protection, but I also expect them o learn about the actions they can take to diminish the problem." LSA senior Brad Kasselm,-- attributed much of his enthusiasm for the day to Byrd's speech. "Owen really got me psyched," he said. "The turnout was better than I had hoped, and it is important to get people together. I've always had strong feelings about preserving the environment, but Earth Day gives me something solid to hold on to. Before, I didn't know where to channel my energy." And, Byrd said, energy is exactly what the world needs. "This is the first time any demonstration has been organized throughout the world," he said. "But students, because of their enthusiasm, are going to ensure protests, and give the campaign its bite." by Donna Woodwell Daily Faculty Reporter A leading voter registration offi- cial outlined dozens of economical and political accomplishments made by Latinos and Latinas - including more than 400,000 Hispanic-owned businesses and 4,000 elected officials - but said Hispanics still "have one hand tied behind their backs." "We have the responsibilities but not the power to implement them," Educator Juan Andrade told 40 stu- dents and faculty at the Alumni Cen- ter last night. Andrade, who in 1984 was named the most influential Hispanic in the U.S., spoke during the third panel discussion of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. series on the status of mi- nority groups in the U.S. Andrade, executive director of the Midwest/Northeast Voter Registra- tion Education Project, opened the panel with a demographical presenta- tion about the growing American Hispanic community. The Hispanic population is in- creasing five times faster than the general population and Hispanics ac- count for $135 billion of the Ameri- can economy each year, he said. For the 1990s he stressed the need "to concentrate on electing of- ficials at the local level" who make the educational, housing and other grassroots-level decisions which will affect the Hispanic community. Andrade said he looks to the his- torical development of the Black community for inspiration in the struggle to prevent gerrymandering as a result of the 1990 census. "Hispanics who are well informed have learned a lot from the experi- ence of Blacks." Panel member Barbara Ar- gumedo, a higher education consul- tant for the Michigan Department of Education and chair of the Univer- sity's Hispanic Alumni, addressed improving the educational opportu- nities of Hispanics. "Our children are underrepresented in most education programs," she said. "Many Hispanic parents have little faith that our children's educa- tion will be better than our own." However, she stressed that educa- tion will improve in the next decade: "Colleges and universities are recog- nizing that academic achievement problems are institutional, not indi- vidual problems." "If we do nothing, our fate (in education) is likely to remain forever at risk," she said. Argumedo pointed to legislation and government aid to assist Hispanics with entering the "pipeline to higher education." "The '80s were a decade of oppor- tunity for Hispanics... the '90s will be a decade of power," Andrade said. "We look to double in a decade what we have done in a lifetime." I N U Bush labels proposed tax cut a 'charade' WASHINGTON (AP) - Presi- dent Bush, trying to prevent a politi- cal stampede, said yesterday that a proposed cut in Social Security taxes was a charade that would force either an increase in other taxes or a reduc- tion in retirement benefits. "And I am not going to do it to the older people in this country " Bush said in his first public com- ment on a proposal by Sen. Daniel Moynihan (D-N.Y.) to roll back the Social Security payroll tax increase that began Jan. 1. Vice-President Dan Quayle took a similar stance. "I think it's a political trap and once people understand it, they won't fall for it," Quayle said. The White House has been put on the spot by Moynihan's plan be- cause it has won support across the political spectrum, even from tradi- tional allies of the president such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and conservative groups. Moreover, it has exposed Bush to criticism that he is espousing a tax cut for the rich with a cut in capital gains taxes, while spurning a break for middle-and low-income Ameri- cans with a reduction in Social Secu- rity taxes. "This is an effort to get me to try to raise taxes on the American peo- ple by the charade of cutting them, or cutting benefits," Bush said. Moynihan argues that the payroll tax should be reduced because mounting surpluses in the Social Security trust funds are being used to help offset large budget surpluses instead of being put away for future retirement benefits. Religious Services AVAV AYAVA ST. MARY'S STUDENT PARISH 331 Thompson St. Weekend liturges: Sat. 5pm, Sun. 8:30 am, 10 am, 12 noon & 5pm Confessions, Friday 4:00 to 5:00 pm Catholic Update Class Monday nights, 7 to 8:30 pm Topic for Jan. 22, "Catholicism and Authority: A Look at Faith, Theology and Doctrine." Bible Study Group Tues. at 7 pm The Newman Club Thurs. Jan. 25 at 7 pm CALL 663-0557 All interested men are invited to attend open rush. Sunday, January 21 at 4:00- Thursday, January 25 14 Sunday night, serving Uno's pizza Sigma Nu 700 Oxford CORRECTIONS According to an Ann Arbor police report, the alleged sexual assault of a student reported in Wednesday's Police Notes took place in the Michigan Union's second floor ballroom. The Daily incorrectly reported this informa- tion. THE LIST What's happening in Ann Arbor today Friday Collage Concert - 8:15 at Hill Auditorium Michigan Leadership Conference - registration for the January 20th conference are being accepted in Union Rm. 2202 Antigone - The Fine Arts Repertory Company presents the play at the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. ; tickets $3, $ at the door or call 662-7282 Sunday Un_wn Dn'+ n-e Dr n:-Din bass-baritone and Martin Katz, pianist, perform at 8 p.m. in Rackham Aud. Michigan Chamber Players - the faculty artist group performs at 8 p.m. in the School of Music's Recital Hall Tito Puente Latin Jazz All- stars - 7:30 in the Power Center; $12.50 & $16; call 763-TKTS "The Mother and the Law" - The D.W. Griffith melodrama; the film is preceded by Charlie Chaplin's "Easy Street"; 7 p.m. at the Michigan Theater; free admission Qae wll a-nal NnrtxA_.ln. h- Accredited By The Most Important Medical Group Of All. 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