Month's beginning

Worldwide (Map) 
September 1, 2022 - 602,190,500 confirmed infections; 6.494,410 deaths
September 9, 2021 – 223,101,000 confirmed infections; 4,604,450 deaths
September 3, 2020 – 26,940,000 confirmed infections; 861,870 deaths

US (Map) 
September 1, 2022 - 94,535,300 confirmed infections; 1,046,267 deaths
September 9, 2021 – 40,601,000 confirmed infections; 654,600 deaths
September 3, 2020 – 6,114,000 confirmed infections; 185,710 deaths

SA (Coronavirus portal) 
Sepember 1, 2022 - 4,011,660 confirmed infections; 102,085 deaths
September 9, 2021 – 2,843,100 confirmed infections; 84,327 deaths
September 3, 2020 – 630,596 confirmed infections; 14,390 deaths

Post from September 9, 2021 – “Category of critter” 
September 3, 2020 – “Killing ‘em softly” 

Healthy planet, anyone?

Victory for the planet – and for South Africa’s Wild Coast (see images of this area >> ) South African Judge Mbenenge, penning the ruling to stop Shell Oil’s current exploration for oil and gas off the coast, said:

“Stripped of verbiage, the principal question is whether the grant of an exploration right for oil and gas, which has culminated in the need to conduct a seismic survey along the South East coast of South Africa, is lawful.”
He noted that the Eastern Cape coast is used by those who enjoy watersports and it was “steeped in customary rituals” of communities who subsist by fishing. It is also a haven for marine and bird life.
The seismic survey, the judge said, involved the discharge of pressurised air from airguns to generate sound waves, directed down to the seabed.
He said it was common cause that Impact Africa and Shell had not secured environmental authorisation to undertake the survey in terms of the National Environmental Management Act.

I suspect this battle is not over. Shell will be back, or BP or other, similar company will try the same. (This rulings is not the first against Shell’s attempts, nor Shell's first pushback ) For now, though, the Wild Coast will continue as wild - or wild-ish. It is, after all, well trammeled ground. Not yet by an oil company, though.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

It’s a new month, with new possibilities (some – such as chemotherapy – scary). Mary reports feelings of healing in her chest and her left lung.
That’s great news.
Today, we plan to attend the chemo class offered by the hospital’s oncology department.
Good times!

***

Change of seasons afoot...
SF Bay Area:
Sunrise: 6:38am
Sunset: 7:38pm

KZN, South Africa:
Sunrise: 6:13am
Sunset: 5:44pm