We are planning a project on the food system for the summer of 2023. Possible components include exploring ways to develop food sovereignty; expand use of regenerative organic growing to reduce in GHG emissions; increasing awareness of health impacts of food; and improving institutional food at schools, colleges & universities, and hospitals. (More information on any of … [Read more...] about Summer internship possibility
Health
More deadly than COVID
Recent studies confirm what scientists have long suspected: that air pollution kills about 250,000 people in the United States—every year! And that's in addition to the hundreds of thousands with strokes, respiratory infections, and other diseases caused by air pollution. The cost in life and in dollars is enormous, but we don't see our so-called leaders doing anything to save … [Read more...] about More deadly than COVID
Science on fracking harm
Health Professionals of NY and Physicians for Social Responsibility have released a newly-updated compendium of the medical and scientific evidence of the great harm done by fracking, a widely used and trusted resource. Compendium of Scientific, Medical, and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking [PDF] From the introduction: Public health harms now … [Read more...] about Science on fracking harm
Sturgis & Coronavirus
In my recent post ['60+ Years of Assault on POC'], I mentioned the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally: The latest iteration of the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally, which is in some ways a celebration of white supremacy and (White) individuals’ ability to ignore the law, was tacitly welcomed by the government and businesses of South Dakota." Some of the Lakota nations … [Read more...] about Sturgis & Coronavirus
A Free People Strike to Let Our People Go
by Beth Taylor, Karen Ali, and Aaron Appel Turn on the news. Listen to the radio. Check your social media. Without a doubt, you will find numerous Covid-19 stories – from the infection spikes across the country to the debate about opening schools this fall. But amidst all of this, there is stunning silence on one fact: COVID-19 is worsening in prisons and it is because of … [Read more...] about A Free People Strike to Let Our People Go
On the front lines in Italy
This episode from PBS Frontline is crafted more like a story than a news report. It has plot structure and character development that's remarkable. If you want to see how a documentary can be raised to the level of a powerful film, give it a try. The lead character is a female doctor, and her journey is compelling. I don't think any ordinary news report or documentary could … [Read more...] about On the front lines in Italy
CDC’s real recommendations for ‘reopening’ from coronavirus
The U.S. disease-control experts at the CDC prepared detailed guidelines on how to safely reopen businesses and institutions, but the White House shelved the experts' recommendations and released a far less restrictive plan. CDC guidance more restrictive than White House School Superintendents Dismiss White House, Will Follow Leaked CDC Guidance on Reopening Actual … [Read more...] about CDC’s real recommendations for ‘reopening’ from coronavirus
‘Essential workers’?
This article from Reveal (affiliated with the Center for Investigative Reporting) makes clear that forceful lobbying derailed provisions that would have reduced the death toll among health care workers. (And it would also have reduced the number of cases where they then passed it on to other patients) 31,000 and Counting How a Lobbying Campaign Pushed the CDC to Relax … [Read more...] about ‘Essential workers’?
Coronavirus update (May 2)
Note: I use the term coronavirus because these posts may refer to the virus [SARS-CoV-2], which is a single type of virus, and/or the disease it causes [CoVid-19], which can appear in many different forms, depending in part on the health of the individuals and the presence of a robust health care system and epidemiological approaches. The following recent articles shed … [Read more...] about Coronavirus update (May 2)
US exceptionalism?
The U.S. really is #1 — In coronavirus deaths, anyway. Out of about 228,000 deaths worldwide, the US — with less than 5% of world population — has about 27% of the deaths.* * It's amazing how often those percentages seem to be repeated — (GHG emissions, energy use, and resource consumption, for example). That puts the US at … [Read more...] about US exceptionalism?