Turn the tide

Worldwide (Map) 
30 June, 2022 - 546,208,900 confirmed infections; 6,334,200 deaths
24 June, 2021 - 179,530,600 confirmed infections; 3,890,200 deaths
25 June, 2020 - 9,409,000 confirmed infections; 482,190 deaths

US (Map) 
30 June, 2022 - 87,410,900 confirmed infections; 1,017,470 deaths
24 June, 2021 - 33,578,000 confirmed infections; 603,000 deaths
25 June, 2020 - 2,381,540 infections; 121,980 deaths

SA (Coronavirus portal) 
30 June, 2022 - 3,993,050 confirmed infections; 101,750 deaths
24 June, 2021 - 1,861,100 confirmed infections; 59,260 deaths
25 June, 2020 - 111,800 confirmed infections; 2,205 deaths

Post from 25 June 2020, “Mindboggling numbers” 

News blues

CDC and FDA approved vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech in children older than 6 months. Vaccinations begin this week >> 

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As if dealing with continued waves of Covid-19 isn’t enough, the U.S. is facing a new outbreak — monkeypox — that highlights just how close the U.S. public health system is to its breaking point >> 

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Dr. Fauci, the US's top infectious disease expert, has been struck by a phenomenon that appears to be becoming more common in the latest stage of the pandemic—rebounding bouts of COVID-19 after a course of the antiviral drug Paxlovid >>

Interview with Dr Fauci >> 

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On war

More than 100 days of war in Ukraine – photo essay >> 

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The Lincoln Project:
He wanted to help  (0:25 mins)
Weapons  (1:35 mins)

Healthy planet, anyone?

Ocean Rebellion activists in Lisbon as UN declares ocean emergency. 
Photograph: Carlos Costa/AFP/Getty Images

Speaking at the opening of the UN ocean conference in Lisbon, Portugal, attended by global leaders and heads of state from 20 countries, UN secretary general António Guterres said: “Sadly, we have taken the ocean for granted and today we face what I would call an ocean emergency. We must turn the tide.”

Nearly 80% of the world’s wastewater is discharged into the sea without treatment, while at least 8m tonnes of plastic enters the oceans each year. “Without drastic action, the plastic could outweigh all the fish in the ocean by 2050,” Guterres warned.
“We cannot have a healthy planet without a healthy ocean,” he said in his opening remarks.

Read more >> 

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Back in South Africa, energy parastatal Eskom passes the buck…

South Africa’s electricity crisis worsened on 28 June when Eskom announced it was moving from Stage 4 to Stage 6 load shedding … with Stage 4 being implemented again from 10pm to midnight.
“Load shedding will then be reduced to Stage 2 until 5am on Wednesday morning. From 5am until 4pm on Wednesday load shedding will be implemented at Stage 4. Load shedding 6 will then again be implemented at 4pm to 10pm tomorrow evening,” the power Utility said on Tuesday afternoon. “This is due to the unlawful and unprotected labour action, which has caused widespread disruption to Eskom’s power plants. This has compelled Eskom to continue taking precautionary measures to conserve generation capacity and safeguard plant from damage. There is a high risk that the stage of load shedding may have to change at any time, depending on the state of the plant,” it added.

Hmmm, “due to the unlawful and unprotected labour action”? So not gross incompetence and negligence?
Moreover, one needs a sophisticated tracking system to stay ahead of Eskom’s load shedding schedules.
Just to clarify, in “my” area (suburban KZN) Stage 4 load shedding means no electricity from 4am to 6:30am, and noon to 2:30pm, and 8pm to 10:30pm. That is 7.5 hours per day without electricity.
Stage 6 load shedding means, no electricity from 4am to 8:30am, and noon to 4:30pm, and 8pm to 10:30pm. That’s 11.5 hours per day without electricity.
Stage 8 load shedding means, no electricity from midnight to 2:30am, and 4am to 8:30am, and noon to 4:30pm, and 8pm to 12:30am. That’s 16 hours per day without electricity.
(Darn, those pesky “unlawful and unprotected labour actions”….)
Read more >> 

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Every year, an estimated 33 billion pounds of plastic end up in our oceans, threatening coastal economies and endangering marine life. Fenceline communities near plastic production and disposal facilities are disproportionately impacted by pollution to their air, water, and land. And it's only going to get worse, as plastic production is expected to triple by 2050. Right now we have a real chance to make change in California with Senate Bill 54, which would require producers to reduce single-use plastic packaging and foodware by at least 25% by 2032.

Use your voice today and tell your legislators to pass SB 54 to protect our communities, ocean, and climate from single-use plastic pollution >>

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Today, dozens of brown pelicans feeding in shallow water off the beach.
This time of year, packs of adolescent Canada geese follow a handful of adult “babysitters” into the water, then onto and along the sandy beach, then onto the green lawns to graze. Feathered friends; a lovely sight.
After the heat of Texas, San Francisco Bay Area and my small island town are havens of temperature moderation: sunny 72 F/22 C degrees.
Perfect.