News blues
First batch of Pfizer vaccine arrives in South Africa***
Tracking Covid-19:- Tracking Covid-19 vaccinations worldwide
- South African experts to follow for up-to-date and accurate Covid information…
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Recent political ad from MeidasTouch: Voices (1:15 mins)
Healthy planet, anyone?
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| © Our World in Data |
…higher-resolution modeling of global riverine plastics… found that rivers emitted around 1 million tonnes of plastics into the oceans in 2015 (with an uncertainty ranging from 0.8 to 2.7 million tonnes). Around one-third of the 100,000 river outlets that they modeled contributed to this. The other two-thirds emitted almost no plastic to the ocean. It’s an important point because we might think that most, if not all, rivers are contributing to the problem. This is not the case.Read “Where does the plastics in our oceans come from?” >>
But, importantly, the latest research suggests that smaller rivers play a much larger role than previously thought. In this chart
(c) Meijer et al
we see the comparison of the latest research (in red) with the two earlier studies which mapped global riverine inputs. This chart shows how many of the top-emitting rivers (on the x-axis) make up a given percentage of plastic inputs (y-axis). Note that the number of rivers on the x-axis is given on a logarithmic scale.
… the latest research suggests that the top ten emitting rivers contribute a much smaller amount than previously thought: just 18% of plastics compared to 56% and 91% from previous studies. And to account for 80% of river plastics we need to include the top 1,656 rivers. This compares to previous studies which suggested the largest five or 162 rivers were responsible for 80%.
This makes a massive difference to how we tackle plastic pollution. If five rivers were responsible for most of the problem then we should focus the majority of our efforts there. A targeted approach. But if this comprises thousands of rivers we’re going to need to cast a much wider net of mitigation efforts.
The Ocean Cleanup Project’s beautiful interactive map encourages you to explore plastic inputs from each of the world’s rivers.
Very interesting data. Most interesting to me? Given its consumer-orientation, the US and US rivers are, by far, not emitters of plastics via rivers.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
I did it! I booked tickets to return to San Francisco Bay Area. I’m going home!Listen to oldies on this happy topic:
- Going mobile (3:36 mins)
- I got a ticket to ride (3 2:55 mins)
- Coming into Los Angeles (3:03 mins)
- Fly like an eagle (3:15 mins)
- I believe I can fly (5:30 mins)
- Learning to fly (4:22 mins)
Head to my daughter’s place to hole up for the night. Next day, go for the first appointment of two for the Pfizer vaccinations. My daughter will make the appointment for me before I arrive.
After that, still wearing face shield and mask, I'll head to the BART train station nearest the friend who has kept my vehicle in good shape during my absence.
Among the first to have received the two-step Pfizer vaccination, this friend has made clear that – until I’ve had both vaccinations - I’m not invited to stay in his home. He plans to shop for and place essential groceries in my van and, maintaining needed social distance at the train station, point out the location of my vehicle so I can drive to my houseboat.
This is the reality of political corruption and the results of politicians draining the country’s coffers, particularly SOEs - State-owned Enterprises - of vitally needed funds in a country with 55.75 percent unemployed and largely uneducated youth.
Recent stories of endemic corruption in South Africa: "Millions Out, Billions In (Part One): Businessman Thulani Majola’s investment in ANC and EFF kept everyone sweet "
Even as the Zondo commission warns, “ANC must confront 'painful truths' about its non-response to state capture…” news regularly breaks about of Eskom’s ongoing corruption. I’ve railed about Eskom in this blog. It’s the SOE that regularly imposes “load shedding” – power outages - even as it seeks to raise the cost of electricity. The latest, “Power utility’s R178 000 000 000 dodgy tender tsunami.”
Cry, the beloved country?
Feb 26: sunrise 5:47am; sunset 6:33pm.
March 2: sunrise 5:50am; sunset 6:29pm.
March 29: sunrise 6:07am; sunset 5:58pm.
April 1: sunrise 6:09am; sunset 5:54pm.
April 15: sunrise 6:18am; sunset 5:39pm.
April 25: sunrise 6:23am; sunset 5:30pm.
May 1: sunrise 6:27am; sunset 5:24pm.
May 3: sunrise 6:29am; sunset 5:22pm.
After that, still wearing face shield and mask, I'll head to the BART train station nearest the friend who has kept my vehicle in good shape during my absence.
Among the first to have received the two-step Pfizer vaccination, this friend has made clear that – until I’ve had both vaccinations - I’m not invited to stay in his home. He plans to shop for and place essential groceries in my van and, maintaining needed social distance at the train station, point out the location of my vehicle so I can drive to my houseboat.
***
The grim humor of flying commercial in South Africa? Airlines carrying travelers on the short, one hour flight to Johannesburg offer insurance to “Receive a full refund of airfare and taxes if the airline you are flying with is liquidated prior to departure.” This is the reality of political corruption and the results of politicians draining the country’s coffers, particularly SOEs - State-owned Enterprises - of vitally needed funds in a country with 55.75 percent unemployed and largely uneducated youth.
Recent stories of endemic corruption in South Africa: "Millions Out, Billions In (Part One): Businessman Thulani Majola’s investment in ANC and EFF kept everyone sweet "
Even as the Zondo commission warns, “ANC must confront 'painful truths' about its non-response to state capture…” news regularly breaks about of Eskom’s ongoing corruption. I’ve railed about Eskom in this blog. It’s the SOE that regularly imposes “load shedding” – power outages - even as it seeks to raise the cost of electricity. The latest, “Power utility’s R178 000 000 000 dodgy tender tsunami.”
Cry, the beloved country?
***
Longer nights, shorter days.…Feb 26: sunrise 5:47am; sunset 6:33pm.
March 2: sunrise 5:50am; sunset 6:29pm.
March 29: sunrise 6:07am; sunset 5:58pm.
April 1: sunrise 6:09am; sunset 5:54pm.
April 15: sunrise 6:18am; sunset 5:39pm.
April 25: sunrise 6:23am; sunset 5:30pm.
May 1: sunrise 6:27am; sunset 5:24pm.
May 3: sunrise 6:29am; sunset 5:22pm.
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