Zika virus infection – Argentina and France

Between 29 February and 1 March 2016, WHO was notified of cases Zika virus infection in Argentina and France.

On 29 February 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Argentina notified PAHO/WHO of a potential first case of Zika virus infection.

Kim Michey is Seoul’s most charming tattoo artist

I always wish I had more tattoos but I’m never certain what to get. I mean, once you’ve started it’s not something you can easily stop. Kim Michey is a Seoul based tattoo artist who appropriates pop culture icons and draws them in one of the funniest, cutest ways I’ve ever seen. Her line work has such character to it, almost like old comic books, but there’s a silly edginess to it all which you can’t help but enjoy. Next time you’re in Korea you might want to give her a call.

Click to view slideshow.

Kia LaBeija vogues through the streets of Bogotá

If you’ve never seen Paris is Burning (streaming on Netflix) do yourself a favor and put it on your to-do list. It’s a documentary about drag balls in Harlem in the 1980’s, a fantastic glimpse into a vibrant, unique subculture (one which Madonna “borrowed from” for her song, “Vogue”). One of the many drag houses you meet is the House of LaBeija, fronted by the house mother, Pepper LaBeija, who in her own right is a fantastic character.

The house LaBeija still lives on, thankfully, as evidenced by this music video for Pillar Point which features Kia LaBeija representing her House marvelously, dah’ling. Watching someone vogue is always entrancing. There’s such a fluidity and poise to the act, like a form of ballet that was born from a queer place. Setting this intriguing dance against the lush, color-filled streets of Bogotá and you’ve got a music video you can’t take your eyes off of. I’m so glad to see

Editor’s note: I do realize that my writing has been sporadic lately. I’m hoping to get back into it with more regularity.

a revolution is coming | nadiaharhash

We are talking about a population that is killed every day under occupation measures from one side and witness corruption that is drowning a whole nation in its hollow holes to a level where nothing is left except a scream in a voice of a protest. People are practically starving. What the government is doing in order to find a solution is of course denying that anything is happening. For the whole month now, the teachers have been on strikes. Tens of thousands of students are not going to school. And what is the prime minister saying? It is a conspiracy against him. What solution did any of those too many policy and decision making from all directions are offering? Imposing a state of fragmentation within the society. Implementing forceful measures/ putting checkpoints. Threatening teachers. Using mosques as ways of urging people to rebel against the teachers. The ministry of education has turned into an intelligence force against teachers, where teachers are called and threatened. Replacements of teachers were suggested. Some people came out to say that the president has nothing to do with this. Of course he doesn’t have anything to do with this. The president is in another universe. I think he believes he is running another state. I completely understand him I have to say. Who wants to be a president of a stateless state? The deterioration of the situation and what is following it is a striking indicator of the failure of this government. It is of course normal, since every person comes to power and transforms the whole concept of nation building into a single building of his own throne. They create a legacy of themselves, to themselves and they behave as if the people are there to serve them. We become their inherited properties. This continuous abuse of the nation can only have a consequence as such of today. The stories that we hear about the restrictions and the threats, aside from all those grounding embarrassing statements from those who claim power are to shameful from one side and continue to prove that these people can no longer be there. There is this issue that these people are not chosen by the people. We didn’t choose this government, which is officially temporarily and with a dignified framework as a technocratic government that will ensure the elections. It came to stay forever. Exactly like everything else. I don’t know if it is worth to keep calling for the president to interfere. To do something to save the situation before it goes into more destruction. I admit that the massive protests of today gave me a breeze of hope. This nation is alive. And no measures for oppression and restrictions (and sadly I don’t refer to occupation here) can stop them.

Source: a revolution is coming | nadiaharhash

IRIN | Mongolian livestock succumb en masse to the freezing dzud

Around half of Mongolia’s 3.1 million people rely on livestock production. But with oversupply, prices have plunged on animal products such as milk, wool, meat and camel hair.  Each sheep or goat – the most common livestock – is worth around $30. A cow is worth between $250 and $500, depending on meat quality. A camel is worth about $500, and a horse about $200 to $250, according to estimates by the Asian Development Bank.   “Consequently, there is an incentive to increase animal numbers, leading to the colossal numbers we see today, at over 50 million head of livestock, which degrades the precious pasturelands,” said Robert Schoellhammer, country director for the ADB. The trend has been devastating when combined with climate change. The average temperature in Mongolia has increased by 2.1 degrees Celsius since 1940, more than double the rise of average global temperatures, according to the UN Environment Programme. In its 2014 Global Climate Risk Index, the advocacy group German Watch ranked Mongolia the eighth most vulnerable country to direct economic losses from weather-related events.

Source: IRIN | Mongolian livestock succumb en masse to the freezing dzud