All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

El Salvador reverses landmark mining ban, setting up clash with activists

Lawmakers in El Salvador have voted to reintroduce industrial mining in the country, ending a landmark ban that was meant to protect freshwater and public health.

The law, pushed through just days before the end of 2024, gives the government control over the country’s massive gold reserves, which have gone untouched since 2017 due to a nationwide ban on extractives.

For many conservationists, this marks a major step backwards in the fight to protect El Salvador’s fragile ecosystems.

“It’s an absolutely disastrous decision,” said Luis González, advocacy director for the Salvadoran Ecological Unit, an environmental NGO. “[The mining ban] was established after years of struggle, but also because it was technically and scientifically proven that mining is an unviable activity in Salvadoran territory due to the environmental, water and population conditions.”

The law received 57 votes in favor and three against, passing just days before the end of the 2024 legislative session despite polls showing that mining is deeply unpopular in the country. Around 60% of Salvadorans think the country is unsuitable for mining and over 78% believe living near a mine to be “very dangerous,” according to one survey

Source: El Salvador reverses landmark mining ban, setting up clash with activists

Dengue: retorno do sorotipo 3 preocupa autoridades de saúde no Brasil : Linkezine

Dengue: retorno do sorotipo 3 preocupa autoridades de saúde no Brasil

O sorotipo 3 da dengue voltou a circular no Brasil após 17 anos e tem preocupado autoridades sanitárias, especialmente pelo aumento de casos identificado em São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Amapá e Paraná. O alerta foi reforçado pelo Ministério da Saúde, que destacou a ampliação dos testes positivos para este sorotipo nas últimas semanas de dezembro de 2024.

Mudança no cenário epidemiológico

O sorotipo 3 não circulava de forma predominante no país desde 2008, deixando grande parte da população suscetível à infecção. Em 2024, o sorotipo 1 foi o mais identificado, representando 73,4% das amostras positivas. No entanto, a mudança para o sorotipo 3 pode aumentar os riscos de surtos em 2025, segundo Ethel Maciel, secretária de Vigilância em Saúde:

“Temos muitas pessoas suscetíveis, que não entraram em contato com esse sorotipo e podem desenvolver a doença.”

O Ministério da Saúde incluiu a mudança no monitoramento do COE (Centro de Operações de Emergência) para acompanhar a evolução da circulação do vírus…

Source: Dengue: retorno do sorotipo 3 preocupa autoridades de saúde no Brasil : Linkezine

Morre Oliviero Toscani, o Fotógrafo que Transformou Provocação em Arte : Linkezine

“I want to be remembered not for a photo, but for all my work, for my commitment,” Toscani once declared. His approach questioned the limits between art and advertising, always seeking to stimulate reflection in those who saw his works.

 

Farewell and Tributes

In an emotional note, the Benetton Group paid tribute to the photographer. “Words are not enough to explain certain things. Keep dreaming,” said the brand.

Toscani’s wife, Kirsti, and their children Rocco, Lola and Ali also released a statement: “With immense sadness, we announce that today our beloved Oliviero has started his next trip. We kindly ask for discretion and understanding at this time.”

Source: Morre Oliviero Toscani, o Fotógrafo que Transformou Provocação em Arte : Linkezine