Daily Archives: March 29, 2020

2020-03-29: News Headlines

The Lancet (2020-03-28). [Editorial] Learning the lessons of Chernobyl: time is running out. thelancet.com Unit number 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded on April 26, 1986, causing radiation injuries to hundreds of people within a couple of weeks. High levels of radiation affected clean-up workers (liquidators) involved in the emergency response, more than 500‚Äà000 liquidators involved in later decontamination and containment, and the general population in the surrounding Soviet states. 116‚Äà000 people were evacuated, 220‚Äà000 were permanently relocated, and a 30 km exclusion zone still exists around the plant.

Steve Topple (2020-03-28). Coronavirus brings out the worst in criminals as they target families on free school meals. thecanary.co Not to let a global pandemic go to waste, criminals have been Coronavirus: criminals making the most of it: | In an email seen by The Canary, one south London school sent this message to families on free school meals: The DfE [Department for Education] have warned that fraudsters are targeting parents of children eligible for f…

RT (2020-03-27). Coronavirus-inspired terrorists are planning attacks, says DoJ report — but in a fear-charged climate, which is the real threat? rt.com The US Justice Department has warned — with scant evidence — that coronavirus is encouraging terrorists to attack. But Covid-19 is actually deadlier than terrorism, and experts warn against criminalizing its transmission. | The pandemic is accelerating the dastardly plots of terrorists, according to John Demers, the assistant attorney general for national security at the Justice Department, who shared his fears — and he has a lot of them — with Politico on Friday. Demers warned that terrorists would "take advantage of" certain "windows of opportunities," though he acknowledged that there…

Ruth Hopkins (2020-03-27). A Message For America from Brazil's First Indigenous Congresswoman. counterpunch.org Last year, we all watched in horror as the Amazon rainforest burned at an unprecedented rate. We cannot afford to lose it, especially amid a climate emergency. It's vast greenery releases oxygen and stores carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas that causes of global warming. The death of the Amazon would mean the end of life

Staff (2020-03-26). "Chaotic Situation": India Begins Lockdown of 1.3 Billion Residents as Coronavirus Pandemic Spreads. democracynow.org As the coronavirus pandemic spreads around the world, we look at India, which is now under the largest lockdown in human history, with 1.3 billion people ordered to shelter in place. As the country's economy and daily life come to an abrupt halt, hundreds of millions of Indians who live hand to mouth have been left without the means to support their families. We speak with Amitav Ghosh, whose books include "Gun Island" and "The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable."

Mark Hertsgaard (2020-03-25). The Media's Covid-19 Coverage Proves It Could Also Spotlight the Climate Crisis. thenation.com The Media's Covid-19 Coverage Proves It Could Also Spotlight the Climate Crisis…

Kathy Fairfax (2020-03-25). Climate change is a feminist issue. greenleft.org.au

Evgenia Ostroumova, Joachim Schàºz, Ausrele Kesminiene (2020-03-18). [Correspondence] Future of Chernobyl research: the urgency for consolidated action. thelancet.com The Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, continues to create fears and myths about its health consequences, as shown by the large response to a top-rated HBO miniseries devoted to the tragic event. Risk assessments range from recognising an increase in thyroid cancer incidence in exposed children and adolescents (becoming one of the single most established long-term health effects of the Chernobyl disaster on the general population), to claims of hundreds of thousands of deaths due to the accident.

Nisreen A Alwan, Raj Bhopal, Rochelle A Burgess, Tim Colburn, Luis E Cuevas, George Davey Smith, Matthias Egger, Sandra Eldridge, Valentina Gallo, Mark S Gilthorpe, Trish Greenhalgh, Christopher Griffiths, Paul R Hunter, Shabbar Jaffar, Ruth Jepson, Nicola Low, Adrian Martineau, David McCoy, Miriam Orcutt, Bharat Pankhania, Hynek Pikhart, Allyson Pollock, Gabriel Scally, James Smith, Devi Sridhar, Stephanie Taylor, Peter W G Tennant, Yrene Themistocleous, Anne Wilson, on behalf of 36 signatories (2020-03-17). [Correspondence] Evidence informing the UK's COVID-19 public health response must be transparent. thelancet.com The UK Government asserts that its response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is based on evidence and expert modelling. However, different scientists can reach different conclusions based on the same evidence, and small differences in assumptions can lead to large differences in model predictions.

Lawrence Wittner (2020-03-02). Could the climate crisis be "The Good News of Damnation"? zcomm.org There really is no other solution to the onrushing climate catastrophe than for people and nations to forget their tribal animosities and start behaving as part of a world society…

CounterSpin (2020-02-21). Paul Paz y Miño, Saqib Bhatti & Beverly Bell on Environmental Justice & Cross-National Solidarity. fair.org There will only be an increasing number of frontline struggles between extractive, climate-disrupting industry and those willing to stand up to it. Corporate media's inadequate attention, and unwillingness to truly call out the moneyed interests causing present and future harms, make them more often part of the problem than the solution.

Elizabeth Greig, Barth A. Green, Henri R. Ford, Didi Bertrand Farmer, Krista Marie Nottage, Zelde Espinel, James M. Shultz (2020-02-06). [Commentary] Extreme population exposure: Hurricane Dorian medical response in Great Abaco, Bahamas. thelancet.com Hurricane Dorian's ensemble of extreme winds, wave action, and pelting rains laid waste to exquisitely vulnerable human settlements throughout the Abaco islands in northwest Bahamas. Dorian, the strongest hurricane ever to impact the Bahamas, pulled a towering storm surge onshore. Combined with 20 inches of rain, vast expanses of Abaco islands were submerged. The system's forward movement slowed to near standstill, creating one of the longest-duration population exposures to a hurricane in history [1].

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

2020-03-29: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

[Editorial] Learning the lessons of Chernobyl: time is running out
The Lancet | thelancet.com | 2020-03-28
Unit number 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded on April 26, 1986, causing radiation injuries to hundreds of people within a couple of weeks. High levels of radiation affected clean-up workers (liquidators) involved in the emergency response, more than 500‚Äà000 liquidators involved in later decontamination and containment, and the general population in the surrounding Soviet states. 116‚Äà000 people were evacuated, 220‚Äà000 were permanently relocated, and a 30 km exclusion zone still exists around the plant.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30687-5/fulltext?rss=yes

Coronavirus brings out the worst in criminals as they target families on free school meals
Steve Topple | thecanary.co | 2020-03-28
Not to let a global pandemic go to waste, criminals have been targeting families on free school meals. They're doing it amid the chaos caused by coronavirus (Covid-19). And they're trying to get people's bank details. | Coronavirus: criminals making the most of it: | In an email seen by The Canary, one south London school sent this message to families on free school meals: The DfE [Department for Education] have warned that fraudsters are targeting parents of children eligible for f…
thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2020/03/28/coronavirus-brings-out-the-worst-in-criminals-as-they-target-families-on-free-school-meals/

A Message For America from Brazil's First Indigenous Congresswoman
Ruth Hopkins | counterpunch.org | 2020-03-27
Last year, we all watched in horror as the Amazon rainforest burned at an unprecedented rate. We cannot afford to lose it, especially amid a climate emergency. It's vast greenery releases oxygen and stores carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas that causes of global warming. The death of the Amazon would mean the end of life…
counterpunch.org/2020/03/27/a-message-for-america-from-brazils-first-indigenous-congresswoman/

"Chaotic Situation": India Begins Lockdown of 1.3 Billion Residents as Coronavirus Pandemic Spreads
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-03-26
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads around the world, we look at India, which is now under the largest lockdown in human history, with 1.3 billion people ordered to shelter in place. As the country's economy and daily life come to an abrupt halt, hundreds of millions of Indians who live hand to mouth have been left without the means to support their families. We speak with Amitav Ghosh, whose books include "Gun Island" and "The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable."
www.democracynow.org/2020/3/26/amitav_ghosh_india_coronavirus_lockdown

Climate strike online
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-03-26
Climate crisis Zebedee ParkesIssue 1258 Australia COVID-19 Fridays for the FutureMarch 27, 2020Around the world climate activists are continuing to hold weekly Friday strikes for climate action [mdas…
greenleft.org.au/content/climate-strike-online

The Media's Covid-19 Coverage Proves It Could Also Spotlight the Climate Crisis
Mark Hertsgaard | thenation.com | 2020-03-25
The Media's Covid-19 Coverage Proves It Could Also Spotlight the Climate Crisis…
thenation.com/article/environment/coronavirus-media-climate/

Climate change is a feminist issue
Kathy Fairfax | greenleft.org.au | 2020-03-25
Climate crisis Feminism Zita HendersonIssue 1258 Australia International Women's Day GeelongMarch 25, 2020Unquestiona…
greenleft.org.au/content/climate-change-feminist-issue

[Correspondence] Future of Chernobyl research: the urgency for consolidated action
Evgenia Ostroumova, Joachim Schàºz, Ausrele Kesminiene | thelancet.com | 2020-03-18
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, continues to create fears and myths about its health consequences, as shown by the large response to a top-rated HBO miniseries devoted to the tragic event. Risk assessments range from recognising an increase in thyroid cancer incidence in exposed children and adolescents (becoming one of the single most established long-term health effects of the Chernobyl disaster on the general population), to claims of hundreds of thousands of deaths due to the accident.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30675-9/fulltext?rss=yes

[Correspondence] Evidence informing the UK's COVID-19 public health response must be transparent
Nisreen A Alwan, Raj Bhopal, Rochelle A Burgess, Tim Colburn, Luis E Cuevas, George Davey Smith, Matthias Egger, Sandra Eldridge, Valentina Gallo, Mark S Gilthorpe, Trish Greenhalgh, Christopher Griffiths, Paul R Hunter, Shabbar Jaffar, Ruth Jepson, Nicola Low, Adrian Martineau, David McCoy, Miriam Orcutt, Bharat Pankhania, Hynek Pikhart, Allyson Pollock, Gabriel Scally, James Smith, Devi Sridhar, Stephanie Taylor, Peter W G Tennant, Yrene Themistocleous, Anne Wilson, on behalf of 36 signatories | thelancet.com | 2020-03-17
The UK Government asserts that its response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is based on evidence and expert modelling. However, different scientists can reach different conclusions based on the same evidence, and small differences in assumptions can lead to large differences in model predictions.
thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30667-X/fulltext?rss=yes

Could the climate crisis be "The Good News of Damnation"?
Lawrence Wittner | zcomm.org | 2020-03-02
There really is no other solution to the onrushing climate catastrophe than for people and nations to forget their tribal animosities and start behaving as part of a world society…
zcomm.org/zmagazine/could-the-climate-crisis-be-the-good-news-of-damnation/