Gillian Gibbons Back in Britain: Cautious

Gibbons was cautious about answering questions.

When asked her feelings about the offense she was accused of, she said: “I don’t think I really know enough about it to comment really. It’s a very difficult area and a very delicate area.”

She added, “I was very upset to think that I might have caused offense to people.”

Asked if she was terrified of prison, Gibbons said, “That’s an understatement.”

“I was in two different prisons,” she added. I never actually went to the main women’s prison, thankfully. The first one I was at was just like a downtown prison — like a lockup. I was treated the same as any other Sudanese prisoner in that you were given the bare minimum.

“Then I was moved to another prison and there the Ministry of the Interior sent me a bed, which is possibly the best present I’ve ever had.”

The trauma has not deterred Gibbons from teaching.

Of course, I don't know Ms. Gibbons, but she sounds like she is still 'terrified.' Seems to me that recovering from such inhumane and idiotic treatment will take some time.

Favorites: More on Gillian Gibbons

Thinking about Gillian Gibbons again. All this teacher of 7 year old students did was allow them to choose their favorite name for the teddy bear.

And, not surprisingly, the class' favorite name was Mohammad.

Odd, that no one has wondered what project of this second grade classroom would involve naming a teddy bear - an obvious American icon of childhood?

I am a bit surprised that the bear itself was not offensive to Islam... And why would a teddy bear be offensive? I have no idea; although it makes about as much sense to me as the name causing offense.

Update on Gillian Gibbons, British 'Teddy Bear' Teacher

MSNBC reports:

In a written statement released by the presidential palace and read by Warsi to reporters Monday, 54-year-old Gibbons said she was sorry if she caused any "distress."

"I have a great respect for the Islamic religion and would not knowingly offend anyone," Gibbons said in the statement. "I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends, but I am very sorry that I will be unable to return to Sudan."

Gibbons prompted a complaint after she let her pupils at Khartoum's private Unity High School pick their favorite name for a teddy bear as part of a project in September.

Twenty out of 23 of them chose Muhammad — a popular boy's name in Sudan, as well as the name of Islam's Prophet.

The staff of Unity High School where Gibbons worked shouted gleefully when they heard the news.

"Everybody is so happy, everyone is just laughing now," Robert Boulos, head of the school, told Reuters.

He said Gibbons would be welcome to rejoin the teaching staff if she wanted. Gibbons had been suspended following a school investigation into the affair.

Organic Food: More Nutritious

The Quality Low Input Food project, the biggest of its kind, took a 725-acre farm in north-east England, grew conventional produce (like cabbage, lettuce, potatoes and what) next to organic produce, and compared the results.

The biggest contrast was found for milk. The study found that levels of antioxidants in milk from organic cattle were between 50% and 80% higher than conventional milk (60% to 80% more nutrients in the summer than conventional milk, and 50% to 60% more in the winter). Organic milk also has higher levels of vitamin E, and 60 percent more antioxidants and desirable fatty acids. Antioxidants help with a healthy circulatory system and help keep cancer and heart disease away.

Other highlights:

1. Fruit and vegetables contain up to 40% more nutrients if they are grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
2. Up to 40% more antioxidants could be found in organic fruit and vegetables than in those conventionally farmed.
3. Potatoes, kiwi fruit and carrots were among the organic produce found to be higher in vitamin C.
4. Higher levels of minerals and antioxidants were found in organically- farmed lettuce, spinach and cabbage. Organic spinach and cabbage have more minerals.
5. Organic produce also had higher levels of iron and zinc, vital nutrients lacking in many people's diets.
6. Organic cheese can have up to twice as many nutrients than conventional varieties.
7. Organic tomatoes, wheat, potatoes, cabbage, onions and wheat have 20 to 40 per cent more antioxidants than conventional fruit and vegetables.

Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu are the authors of The Complete Organic Pregnancy.