Monthly Archives: July 2020

2020-07-15: News Headlines

Sara Larsen, Rasmus Vinther Russell, Lotte Klinten Ockert, Stephen Spanos, Helena Strà∏mstad Travis, Lars Holger Ehlers, Anders Mà¶rkedahl (2020-07-15). [Research Paper] Rate and impact of duodenoscope contamination: A systematic review and meta-analysis. thelancet.com This is the first meta-analysis to estimate the contamination rate of patient-ready duodenoscopes used for ERCP. Based on the available literature, our analysis demonstrates that there is a 15.25% contamination rate of reprocessed patient-ready duodenoscopes. Additionally, the analysis indicates that dHLD and EtO reprocessing methods are superior to single HLD but still not efficient in regards to cleaning the duodenoscopes properly. Furthermore, studies conducted following an outbreak did not entail a higher contamination rate compared to non-outbreak-initiated studies.

The Canary (2020-07-15). Huge boost to business and jobs worldwide if nature is prioritised says World Economic Forum. thecanary.co Stimulating growth in ways that puts nature first could provide an £8tn boost and create hundreds of millions of jobs worldwide, experts have said.A "future of nature and business" report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) highlights how governments and businesses can build back better from the economic fallout of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and tackle the nature and climate crisis.Industry moves ranging from recycling clothing to installing energy-saving light bulbs and green roofs into buildings, and even diversifying diets, could help create 395 million jobs around the world by 2030, the WEF sai…

The Canary (2020-07-15). Zero-waste shopping service Loop launched with Tesco to help consumers go green. thecanary.co A zero-waste shopping service is launching in the UK to allow people to buy products from laundry detergent to ketchup in refillable packaging.Loop, which aims to offer a modernised version of the "milkman from yesteryear", is launching in partnership with Tesco, which will encourage its online customers to try out the scheme.Via its www.loopstore.co.uk website, UK consumers will be able to get goods such as drinks, sauces, yoghurt, shampoo, soaps and toothpaste in durable, reusable packaging.Brands including Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Coca-Cola, Danone, Persil, Jackpot Peanut Butter, Brewdog and Nivea already or will…

Andrew McCormick (2020-07-15). Climate Change Is a Political—Not Partisan—Story. thenation.com Climate Change Is a Political—Not Partisan—Story…

Serah Gaia (2020-07-15). Saturday 7/18: Extinction Rebellion Welcome Call. indybay.org Online…

_____ (2020-07-15). Report Warns Of Unprecedented Wave Of Land Privatization. popularresistance.org Amidst a worsening climate crisis, the Oakland Institute's new report, Driving Dispossession: The Global Push to "Unlock the Economic Potential of Land," sounds the alarm on the unprecedented wave of privatization of natural resources that is underway around the world. Through six case studies—Ukraine, Zambia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, and Brazil—the report details the myriad ways by which governments—willingly or under the pressure of financial institutions and Western donor agencies—are putting more land into so-called "productive use" in the name of development. | "The fact…

Alan Macleod (2020-07-14). Exporting Toxic Chemical Waste to Poor Countries Must End, Says UN. mintpressnews.com Last year, at least 30 rich countries exported locally-banned toxic substances to poorer ones, allowing corporations to write off their costly waste and transferring the costs to some of the poorest people on earth.

Staff (2020-07-14). Trump's Fox Fave Tucker Carlson Goes Fishing After Lead Writer Resigns over Racist Online Comments. democracynow.org The lead writer for President Trump's favorite Fox News TV show, "Tucker Carlson Tonight" — the most popular cable show in history — has resigned for posting disturbing racist and misogynist messages to an online forum under a pseudonym. Now Tucker Carlson says he's going on vacation, and his advertisement blocks "are a wasteland," says Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters, where he documents the relationship between Fox News and the Trump administration.

Alexandra Jaffe, Ellen Knickmeyer, Will Weissert (2020-07-14). Biden introduces climate change plan with energy revamp. peoplesworld.org WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden released a plan Tuesday aimed at combating climate change and spurring economic growth in part by overhauling America's energy industry, with a proposal to achieve entirely carbon pollution-free power by 2035. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee discussed the proposal Tuesday near his home in Wilmington, Delaware. It marks his …

Earthjustice (2020-07-14). Juez Ordena Cierre De Oleoducto Del Dakota Access. peoplesworld.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Un juez federal dictaminó 6 julio que los propietarios del Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) deben detener las operaciones mientras el gobierno realiza un análisis completo para examinar el riesgo que DAPL representa para la tribu Sioux de Standing Rock. La decisión judicial dio una victoria muy reñida a la tribu, que ha …

RT (2020-07-14). 'Virtue-signaling' Burger King blasted for promising to fight climate change by reducing COW FARTS. rt.com Burger King has pledged to do its bit to combat global warming by attempting to reduce cow farts through dietary changes — but only for a limited time. The move was instantly mocked on social media as superficial pandering. | "Cow farts & burps are no laughing matter," the restaurant chain tweeted on Tuesday, declaring that it will be changing its livestock's diet "to reduce emissions" by around 33 percent. The company aims to achieve this target by adding some lemongrass to the animals' menu. | cow farts & burps are no laughing matter. they release methane, contributing to climate change. that's why we'

Eds. (2020-07-14). The parlous state of poverty eradication. mronline.org The world is at an existential crossroads involving a pandemic, a deep economic recession, devastating climate change, extreme inequality, and an uprising against racist policies. Running through all of these challenges is the longstanding neglect of extreme poverty by many governments, economists, and human rights advocates.

Eoin Higgins (2020-07-14). 'Privatize the profit, socialize the mess': Abandoned fracking wells left spewing climate-killing methane nationwide. nationofchange.org "Are we going to be responsible for the mess that these companies leave behind?"

Dan Bacher (2020-07-14). California Regulators Approve 12 New Permits for Chevron to Frack in Kern County. counterpunch.org As Tribes, conservationists and environmental justice advocates were celebrating a federal ruling temporarily halting operations by the owners of the Dakota Access Pipeline, anti-fracking activists in California were disturbed that California regulators are continuing to approve new permits for fracking in the San Joaquin Valley. The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CALGEM), the oil and gas

commondreams (2020-07-14). New 15-state EV Truck Pact Shows Commitment to Fighting Global Warming and Air Pollution. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-07-14). 'Violence by Number Tampering': Trump Manipulated Government Estimates of Climate Costs, Says GAO Report. commondreams.org A nonpartisan congressional report released Tuesday reveals how the Trump administration manipulated data to justify deregulating carbon emissions, drastically understating the costs of allowing fossil fuel extraction—and the resulting climate crisis—to continue. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/port_arthur.png

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-07-14). 'A Winning Issue' for 2020: Polling Shows Strong Support for Bold Climate Policies. commondreams.org "Voters are eager to support candidates that pledge to transform our country into a clean energy economy that will thrive for generations to come." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/climate_12.jpg

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-07-14). 'More Work to Do' But 'Major Step Forward': Progressives Welcome Biden's $2 Trillion Green Energy Plan. commondreams.org "Biden gets a lot right… but he's still got a lot of room for improvement in increasing the scale, scope, and speed in which he addresses the climate emergency." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/biden_1_0.jpg

Peadar O'Cearnaigh (2020-07-14). Phasing out coal is not just about the climate emergency. It's also about community. thecanary.co As The Canary Despite this apparent wind down for coal, both countries still seem fully engage…

Mitch Jones (2020-07-13). Better-Than-Before Climate Plans Still Aren't Good Enough. commondreams.org Sunrise Movement campaigners call on Democratic House members to back a Green New Deal. (Photo: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/covid-crisis-gnd_0.jpg

Dave Kolpack (2020-07-13). Judge orders Dakota Access pipeline to be shut down for review. peoplesworld.org FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A judge last week ordered the Dakota Access pipeline shut down for additional environmental review more than three years after it began pumping oil — handing a victory to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and delivering a blow to President Donald Trump's efforts to weaken public health and environmental protections his …

Lawrence Wittner (2020-07-13). Humanity Is an Endangered Species. Can We Do What it Takes to Save Ourselves? commondreams.org But extinction or, at best, mass misery, need not be humanity's fate. (Photo: CC) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/earth.png

news.un (2020-07-13). Women and girls deserve more protection in emergencies, UN rights council hears. news.un.org The collective impact of climate change, COVID-19 and conflict mean that well over 200 million people will likely need humanitarian assistance by 2022, the UN's deputy rights chief said on Monday.

Andy Rowell (2020-07-13). Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Are "Dominating Climate Policy Battles During COVID-19" commondreams.org We cannot go back to the dirty past, otherwise we will have no collective future. (Photo: Extinction Rebellion) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/unnamed.png

Dr. Paul Oquist (2020-07-13). "Equilibra": The Current Threats Menacing Humanity. globalresearch.ca Interview with Dr. Paul Oquist, Minister-Private Secretary for National Policies of the Presidency of the Republic of Nicaragua | *** | Tortilla con Sal: We're here with Dr. Paul Oquist. It's June 29th. Dr. Oquist is going to talk to us about …

commondreams (2020-07-13). 60 Groups to NRC: Suspend ISP/WCS High-Level Radioactive Waste CIS Dump Proceeding, Till Covid-19 Emergency Ends. commondreams.org ______________________________…

imperial.ac.uk (2020-07-13). Cloud computing could be producing hidden greenhouse gas emissions. imperial.ac.uk The amount of energy used for cloud computing, which contributes to climate change, needs to be more transparent says an Imperial researcher.

Eren Duzgan (2020-07-13). Capitalism, Coronavirus and the Road to Extinction. indybay.org The only way to 're-embed' our economies and save our lives from ecological collapse is by intervening in the very heart of the beast: land and human beings need to be taken out of the market. The beast is not tameable; it needs to be killed.

2020-07-14: News Headlines

Eds. (2020-07-14). The parlous state of poverty eradication. mronline.org The world is at an existential crossroads involving a pandemic, a deep economic recession, devastating climate change, extreme inequality, and an uprising against racist policies. Running through all of these challenges is the longstanding neglect of extreme poverty by many governments, economists, and human rights advocates.

Dan Bacher (2020-07-14). California Regulators Approve 12 New Permits for Chevron to Frack in Kern County. counterpunch.org As Tribes, conservationists and environmental justice advocates were celebrating a federal ruling temporarily halting operations by the owners of the Dakota Access Pipeline, anti-fracking s in California were disturbed that California regulators are continuing to approve new permits for fracking in the San Joaquin Valley. The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CALGEM), the oil and gas

Mitch Jones (2020-07-13). Better-Than-Before Climate Plans Still Aren't Good Enough. commondreams.org Sunrise Movement campaigners call on Democratic House members to back a Green New Deal. (Photo: Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/covid-crisis-gnd_0.jpg

Dave Kolpack (2020-07-13). Judge orders Dakota Access pipeline to be shut down for review. peoplesworld.org FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A judge last week ordered the Dakota Access pipeline shut down for additional environmental review more than three years after it began pumping oil — handing a victory to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and delivering a blow to President Donald Trump's efforts to weaken public health and environmental protections his …

news.un (2020-07-13). Women and girls deserve more protection in emergencies, UN rights council hears. news.un.org The collective impact of climate change, COVID-19 and conflict mean that well over 200 million people will likely need humanitarian assistance by 2022, the UN's deputy rights chief said on Monday.

Lawrence Wittner (2020-07-13). Humanity Is an Endangered Species. Can We Do What it Takes to Save Ourselves? commondreams.org But extinction or, at best, mass misery, need not be humanity's fate. (Photo: CC) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/earth.png

Andy Rowell (2020-07-13). Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Are "Dominating Climate Policy Battles During COVID-19" commondreams.org We cannot go back to the dirty past, otherwise we will have no collective future. (Photo: Extinction Rebellion) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/unnamed.png

Dr. Paul Oquist (2020-07-13). "Equilibra": The Current Threats Menacing Humanity. globalresearch.ca Interview with Dr. Paul Oquist, Minister-Private Secretary for National Policies of the Presidency of the Republic of Nicaragua | *** | Tortilla con Sal: We're here with Dr. Paul Oquist. It's June 29th. Dr. Oquist is going to talk to us about …

commondreams (2020-07-13). 60 Groups to NRC: Suspend ISP/WCS High-Level Radioactive Waste CIS Dump Proceeding, Till Covid-19 Emergency Ends. commondreams.org ______________________________…

imperial.ac.uk (2020-07-13). Cloud computing could be producing hidden greenhouse gas emissions. imperial.ac.uk The amount of energy used for cloud computing, which contributes to climate change, needs to be more transparent says an Imperial researcher.

Eren Duzgan (2020-07-13). Capitalism, Coronavirus and the Road to Extinction. indybay.org The only way to 're-embed' our economies and save our lives from ecological collapse is by intervening in the very heart of the beast: land and human beings need to be taken out of the market. The beast is not tameable; it needs to be killed.

Eoin Higgins, staff writer (2020-07-13). 'Privatize the Profit, Socialize the Mess': Abandoned Fracking Wells Left Spewing Climate-Killing Methane Nationwide. commondreams.org "Are we going to be responsible for the mess that these companies leave behind?" | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/methane_trump_1.jpg

Matthew Eckelman, Marina Romanello, Jodi Sherman, Nicholas Watts (2020-07-11). [Correspondence] The health-care sector's role in climate stabilisation — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Till Bugaj and colleagues and Helga Weisz and colleagues for their comments.

Till J Bugaj, Anna Cranz, Christoph Nikendei (2020-07-11). [Correspondence] The health-care sector's role in climate stabilisation. thelancet.com Nick Watts and colleagues' 2019 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change1 leaves no doubt that global warming will heavily affect every child born today. Young people—the generation that will have to live through the consequences of a warming world for the longest—are actively taking part in raising awareness for climate change. Inspired by the Fridays for Future movement, thousands of young people have been doing everything possible to bring about social change towards a sustainable ecological lifestyle.

Staff (2020-07-11). Climate Crisis: Fracking Pioneer Goes Bankrupt, Pipelines Get Big Legal Win. therealnews.com Fracking pioneer Chesapeake Energy goes bankrupt with industry-wide reverberations, and a trio of pipelines take legal hits as the industry scores a huge legal win.

news.un (2020-07-11). World Population Day: 'No time to waste' in empowering women. news.un.org The COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone, everywhere, "but it does not affect everyone equally", the UN chief said in his message for World Population Day, on Sunday.

Staff (2020-07-11). Global Electronic Waste Up 21 Percent in Five Years — Little of It Is Recycled. truthout.org Each year, the total amount of electric and electronic equipment the world uses In 2019 alone, the world generated 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste. That's about 7.3 kilograms per person and equivalent in weight to 350 cruise ships. Asia produced the lion's share [md…

Tracy Keeling (2020-07-10). As 50 more lions are killed by Brits, a disturbing new book shows how close they are to extinction. thecanary.co The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting's (CBTH) Eduardo Gonàßalves has released a

WSWS Repost (2020-07-10). United Airlines threatens to axe 36,000 jobs. indybay.org In the interest of profit, United Airlines seems to be taking former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's infamous words to heart: "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste."

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-07-10). Watchdog Accuses Trump's NOAA of 'Choosing Extinction' for Critically Threatened Right Whales by Hiding Scientific Evidence. commondreams.org As the North Atlantic right whale was placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of critically endangered species Thursday, environmental protection groups criticized the U.S. government of failing to enact common-sense fishing restrictions to protect the animals. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/11179893704_503f974f21_o_1.jpg