From Africa it spread to Asia and from there to some of the islands of Micronesia. It was spread by mosquitoes from the Aedes genus. In 2007 a mutation likely occurred which made the virus far more dangerous.
The virus has been transmitted sexually in one documented case. A biologist who was bitten by mosquitos in Africa, contracted the virus. When he returned to the US he had the disease in a mild form. He had sex with his wife and she came down with the disease as well. She was never exposed to the Aedes mosquito. The Aedes mosquito is a heat loving creature. It has been spreading northward from the Caribbean and S. America. Puerto Rico recorded its first case in December 2015. It is expected to invade the continental US within the year. Health care providers have no treatment, no vaccines to prevent the disease. They do have advice how to avoid the bloodsuckers. Wear insect repellent, wear long sleeves and long pants. For many of the countries that depend on the ‘snowbirds’ seeking warm, sunny holidays in the tropics the economic fallout of dire warnings about Zika can stress economies. The gradual warming of the Earth may bring more of these very unpleasant surprises. Sources: CNN CDC
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The water supply for the city was switched from Detroit to a line carrying water from the Flint River in March 2014. The water was corrosive to the lead in the city’s pipes and dissolved it into the general supply. It was to be a temporary measure until a new line from Lake Huron was constructed. The water supply was switched back in October. The city of 100 000 stopped the Detroit supply after water rates were raised.
There is no safe level of lead. It is a neurotoxin which means that it particularly attacks nerves and brain cells. The most vulnerable are children and fetuses as their brains are growing fastest. The damage is permanent. Some new studies indicate that damage may affect children born to those affected. Law suits have already started. It has been reported that the Environmental Protection Agency advised the city authorities that anti-corrosive measures should be taken before switching water sources. That, apparently, was never done. So what was started as a money saving move has turned into a health nightmare for the residents. It has also engendered a multi-million dollar bill to clean the system and to provide for future therapy and health costs to the children. To add to the woes of Flint residents is an outbreak of Legionnaire Disease. Two months after switching to the river water, a spike in the cases was noted. To date 87 cases have been identified and ten deaths. The disease is associated with warm, contaminated water. Sources: Michigan News Live Al Jazeera Harrison Vien was first flagged when he was eight years old. He’s now approaching his 18 birthday and he is still being hassled at airports. He is concerned that when he wants to travel to Europe he will be delayed again and again or even blocked altogether.
There is another much grimmer aspect to these mistaken additions to “the List”. Thirteen years ago a Canadian citizen, Maher Arar, was seized by American authorities and deported to Syria where he was imprisoned and tortured. He was there for more than a year. Finally, after Arar was repatriated, a federal commission lambasted both the RCMP and the Americans for their actions. It is unknown if Arar remains on an American no fly list 13 years later. Even after Arar was returned to Canada it is alleged that the RCMP were obstructing justice. Even after Mr. Arar's return to Canada, the RCMP was causing problems for Mr. Arar. The Mounties, the report says, misled the Privy Council Office at an important meeting, by failing to disclose "certain key facts that could have reflected adversely on the force." The Globe and Mail Any airline passenger may experience missed flights and connections if their name turns up on this secretive list. You won’t know until you present your papers to airport security. Sources: Al Jazeera The Hamilton Spectator The Globe and Mail It is flammable, which is why it’s used for heating, cooking and rocket fuel. Planes have been banned from flying over the plume in case they ignite it. It is also poisonous, having the ability to replace oxygen in the blood, much like carbon monoxide does.
The gas company is working to stop the leak, but the going is painfully slow. The optimistic estimate is late February or early March for a stoppage. This leaky storage vault is in rock that has proved to be porous enough to allow constant seepage of the gas. An entirely new well must be drilled. At the same time, it has been reported that there is a maze of pipes underground that must not be punctured. The revelation that natural gas(methane) has been stored in a porous rock formation which allows gas seepage into the atmosphere poses the question as to how much and for how long have the people of California been exposed to this noxious gas. This blown out well is 61 years old. It also raises questions about the safety of any fracked formation. Sources: The Washington Post Mother Jones China seems to always have civil discontent bubbling just below the surface. A military force loyal to the Party is essential to maintain power. With the massive loss of paper wealth in the past few weeks on the Chinese stock market, the slowing economy and lay-offs are potential flashpoints.
Speculation has been rife as to why the change in the PLA is happening now. One reason may be that the PLA is not modern in its organization and is unprepared to meet an external threat in modern times. The PRC is involved in several territorial disputes with its Asian neighbours. It has been accused of land grabs in the S. China Sea. Rhetoric has been exchanged with the US regarding the PRC’s territorial claims as well. A modern military must be efficient in information gathering and dispersing that knowledge to the correct parties. And not least is the fact that the PLA has no experience fighting a modern enemy. Since the 1950s the Party has maintained control and quashed opposition but a civilian opposition is not the challenge of facing trained and experienced foes. Aside from tightening control to ensure loyalty to the central party, the reforms may be a way to root out corruption within the PLA. President Xi has made it public policy to expose corrupt officials. It looks as if the anti-corruption campaign is serious. Fourteen PLA generals have been named as corrupt and face court-marshal. Some have already been expelled from the Party which spells disaster on a personal level. In any case, it is interesting times. Sources: Marine Corps Times The Diplomat The Diplomat |
Barbara McPherson
Blogger, gardener, farmer. Working toward food security and a 30 foot
diet. Addicted to reading. Love this planet, especially my little corner
on Vancouver Island, Canada Archives
October 2016
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