Category Archives: environment

Why the Plan to Dig a Canal Across Nicaragua Is So Risky – Wired Science

Isn’t this the same guy who wants to build a bridge from Miami to Havana? Kidding – but makes as much sense :> /

Under the agreement, HKND would raise the $40 billion needed to build the canal and would have the right to operate and manage it for up to 100 years before turning it over to Nicaragua. In the meantime, Nicaragua would have a controlling interest in the canal and receive income from it.

But there are many lingering questions. How HKND–apparently the only company to submit a bid–managed to land the deal, isn’t clear, leaving many Nicaraguans frustrated by their government’s lack of transparency. “Normally when you have a major infrastructure project you have to place bids, that is the law,” says Jorge Huete-Pérez, a biologist and president of Nicaraguan Academy of Sciences. “Here they overlooked the law and chose this company that has no experience building infrastructure.”

Exactly where the money to build the canal will come from is another mystery, as is the role, if any, the Chinese government will play. Wang Jing has denied that the government is involved in the project, as have government officials. But some analysts suspect otherwise.

via Why the Plan to Dig a Canal Across Nicaragua Is So Risky – Wired Science.

Indoor artificially lit urban farms called wasteful, ‘pie in the sky’ | Cornell Chronicle

Local food production is not always the most sustainable option, especially when growing crops out of season, Albright added. Even under optimal conditions, lettuce produced in Ithaca greenhouses has a carbon footprint that is barely better than lettuce transported from 3,000 miles away, he said.

“There’s a lot of sentimental attachment to local food production, and the quality is likely to be better, but the phrase ‘food miles’ shouldn’t scare people because the alternative isn’t always better. A system viewpoint is critical,” Albright said.

via Indoor urban farms called wasteful, ‘pie in the sky’ | Cornell Chronicle.

VDU’s blog: Live bird market closures continue…

Aside : Poultry eggs are mainly produced by >1-billion birds in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui, Heilongjiang and Jilin (7,8) whereas >4-billion broiler chickens (bred for meat) are more concetrated in Shandong, Jiangsu, Guangxi, Liaoning, Guangdong, Anhui, Sichuan and Henan provinces  (2,6,8,9,10,11,12,13).

Aside : An interesting to read (5,9) that the volume of chicken consumed per capita has risen by 9-fold or more in recent years – it has not always been the staple but is part of the tradition.

via VDU’s blog: Live bird market closures continue….

California’s confirmed flu deaths reach 243 | Vaccine News Daily

The California Department of Public Health announced on Friday that the number of influenza-related deaths during the 2013-2014 season has increased by 41 to a total of 243.

An additional 41 deaths are under investigation, and not yet confirmed to be related to the flu.

via California’s confirmed flu deaths reach 243 | Vaccine News Daily.

Vietnamese gov’t urges drastic measures as avian flu breaks out in eight provinces – Xinhua | English.news.cn

In less than three weeks, Vietnamese Prime Minister (PM) has urgently issued two dispatches to authorities at all levels from ministries to sectors and localities over the spread of the disease.

Accordingly, in the latest message sent earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urged the establishment of inspection teams to promote anti-bird flu efforts at localities, especially those vulnerable to the epidemic.

The dispatch requested the minister of MARD, who is also the head of the National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Prevention and Control, to take immediate action to prevent the transfer of avian flu to human.

So far this year, Vietnam has reported two cases of human death from A/H5N1 avian flu in southern Binh Phuoc and Dong Thap provinces.

The prime minister urged competent agencies to take samples of poultry at markets to detect avian influenza in a swift manner, while also closely inspecting poultry trading in each locality, reported Vietnam’s state-run news agency.

The World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization have also warned about the risk of A/H7N9 avian flu penetrating Vietnam through northern provinces.

via Vietnamese gov’t urges drastic measures as avian flu breaks out in eight provinces – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

Avian Flu Diary: Malaysian MOH Statement On Imported H7N9

We have met the enemy who will perhaps spread a world pandemic that may kill half or more of the human race – It is us!

Last month, in Start Spreading the Flus, we talked about the potential downsides of using antipyretic meds (ibuprofen, acetaminophen or paracetamol, etc) when experiencing flu-like symptoms, as they can lull one into going to work or school, or even on vacation, and end up exposing others to the virus.

In 2009, in Vietnam Discovers Passengers Beating Thermal Scanners we looked at reports of people using fever reducing meds to evade airline passenger screening during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
When the bills have to be paid, a deadline has to be met, or a long-planned vacation is at risk, most people will try to find a way to fight through what they believe is a `minor’ viral infection.
And while penny wise and  pound foolish, society tends to reward perfect attendance and `toughing it out’ when sick, while punishing those who follow the advice of medical authorities to `stay home’ when sick.  All of which conspires to make it virtually impossible to stop even a moderately infectious respiratory virus from spreading rapidly in a susceptible population.

 

Avian Flu Diary: Malaysian MOH Statement On Imported H7N9.

Amazon CARES: Deforestation of Peru’s Rainforest Threatens The Amazon & The World

But now, the Romero Group, a wealthy and powerful conglomerate of several international corporations, has started to destroy the Amazon rainforest at an accelerated pace. They are planning to destroy as much as 43million acres (18 million hectares) of our forests, to create palm oil plantations.

via Amazon CARES: Deforestation of Peru’s Rainforest Threatens The Amazon & The World.

The Positive Futures Guide

Creating and sustaining the Positive Future you desire may well begin right here…

I have created the Positive Futures Guide to assist you in creating & sustaining a positive future for yourself, your family, organization, community, or the issue that fires your passion.

Ned Hamson (that’s me stuck into the photo above): Activist, Author, Researcher, Innovator, and Believer in creating Positive Futures Now is your Chief Guide here.

You may “guide” yourself with the content here at no charge. I’m offering these 30 plus years of experience creating and researching positive futures that “work and stick” to you as “payback” to the world for what thousands of people, animals and the earth taught me.

The practical “how to” tools and examples of how these tools, processes and methods have worked for others are all free for individual use. If you need, or want help, for-fee services are readily available here too.

Please see the articles matrix below to begin your journey.

via The Positive Futures Guide.

H7N9 Flu, Year Two: What Is Going On? – Wired Science

Poultry is a culturally significant dish for New Year festivities, and buying the bird live and having it killed remains a significant part of the process. Across Asia, persuading people to buy supermarket-style dead, cut-up chicken has been difficult just for normal family meals, and more difficult for holiday ones. Even when live-market closings have been ordered, the mandates are not always followed.

via H7N9 Flu, Year Two: What Is Going On? – Wired Science.