Q: Do oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits have health benefits? (A listener from Wynemaw, Kachin State)
Dear Listener,
Citrus fruits contain a lot of vitamins, such as C, A, calcium, iron and fiber. These vitamins enhance nutrition needs for the human metabolism and it is beneficial to your body to absorb them moderately via fresh and healthy food intake. Some believe that grapefruit can reduce high blood pressure. However, according to recent research, it does not have any effects for hypertension.
Q: What is democracy?
Democracy originated from the Greek word Demokratia. Demo means people and Kratos means power. It can be interpreted as "People's Power."
As late President Abraham Lincoln paraphrased, democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
The basic principles of democracy are soveriegnty of the people; government based upon consent of the governed; majority rule; minority rights; guarantee of basic human rights; free and fair elections; equality before law; due process of law; constitutional limits on government, social, economic, and political pluralism; values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise.
Q: How can we differentiate the country names of the UK, England and Britain? ( A listener from Minbu, Magwe Division)
Dear Listener,
In accordance with the list of the United Nations, the United Kingdom (UK) is the official name of Great Britain.
Due to the Monarchy system, it is officiated as a Kingdom of the Unity of British Isles, which consists of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall. The British Isles are ruled by the English and used to be called England.
There are seven regions divided as follows: Northern Scotland, Southern Scotland, Northwest England, Northeast England, Wales, Heart of England, Eastern England, the West Country, London and Southeast England.
Q: Could you please tell me the new countries, ending with "stan", that used to be part of the former USSR? (Kyaw Thiha Naing, Thailand)
Hi Ko Kyaw Thiha Naing,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have been liberated from the USSR since 1991. These countries are situated in Central Asia. During the late 18th and early 19th century, Russia occupied their territories and made them part of the SSR. They have their own languages and the majority believes in Islam. Tajikistan is the poorest among those five nations.
That's all for this week Letters From Burma program and see you next week then.