The failure of world leaders to address the largest threats to humanity’s future is lamentable—but that failure can be reversed. It is two minutes to midnight, but the Doomsday Clock has ticked away from midnight in the past, and during the next year, the world can again move it further from apocalypse. The warning the Science and Security Board now sends is clear, the danger obvious and imminent. The opportunity to reduce the danger is equally clear. The world has seen the threat posed by the misuse of information technology and witnessed the vulnerability of democracies to disinformation. But there is a flip side to the abuse of social media. Leaders react when citizens insist they do so, and citizens around the world can use the power of the internet to improve the long-term prospects of their children and grandchildren. They can insist on facts, and discount nonsense. They can demand action to reduce the existential threat of nuclear war and unchecked climate change. They can seize the opportunity to make a safer and saner world. See the full statement from the Science and Security Board on the 2018 time of the Doomsday Clock.
Archives for February 2018
Precedent-setting Permits Must Set High Bar for Virginia Poultry Houses, CBF Says
Press Release | CBF in Virginia, Hampton Roads Office, Virginia Office, Richmond
(ONLEY, VA)—The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) will call for strong Clean Water Act permits for three Virginia poultry houses that discharge pollution into local waterways at a public hearing in Onley on Jan. 30. These facilities on the Eastern Shore are the first in Virginia required to obtain discharge permits due to the result of inspections by regulators.
Poultry production throughout Virginia is increasing, especially on the Eastern Shore. Large poultry operations produce significant amounts of chicken manure, dander, and other animal wastes. If not properly handled, waste can pollute local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Fortunately, well-managed poultry operations do follow practices that minimize risks to water quality. Careful regulation of poultry production is also key to preventing risks to local water quality and Chesapeake Bay restoration.
CBF requested that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hold next week’s public hearing to ensure that residents have the opportunity to talk with regulators about how the permits will address water quality concerns. The hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Nandua High School. [Read more…]
History Notes this week of Jan 28th
814 A.D.: Death of Charlemagne, King of the Franks and first to hold the title of Holy Roman Emperor. His conquest and rule over a continuous empire covering most of central and western Europe created, for the first time in the post-Roman era, the political conditions for what we now know as “Europe,” an entity, rather than the plethora of tribes and anarchy that followed the collapse of Roman rule.
1225: Birth of Thomas Aquinas (d.1274), who began his career as an Italian monk, but whose supreme intellect and spiritual insights catapulted him to professorship at the University of Paris, where he was prolific in his writings and instruction of the burgeoning cadre of church intellectuals. His life and works remain the standard for intellectual Christianity. He was canonized in 1323, and is today held as a model teacher for aspiring Catholic priests, and anyone who thinks seriously about the relationship of science and faith.
1547: Death of King Henry VIII (b.1491), leaving in his wake the 6 year old Edward VI as king. His daughter Elizabeth did not ascend right to the throne–it was her half-brother, born of Anne Boleyn’s successor, Jane Seymour, who died only a few days after giving birth to Henry’s only male heir. Her half-sister Mary was also next in line after Edward.
1595: Death of Sir Francis Drake (b.c1540), of dysentery while anchored off the coast of Portobela, Panama. His career at sea included harassment of Spanish treasure fleets, secret surveys, a circumnavigation of the globe, and the destruction of the Spanish Armada. Drake’s life ended while engaged on yet another crusade against the treasures of Spanish America. He requested to be buried in his full armour, and was buried at sea in a lead coffin, which is today the object of regular treasure hunts.
1646: After a tumultuous reign that saw two civil wars fought between his royalist army and armies of an increasingly assertive Parliament, King Charles I is beheaded for high treason. General Oliver Cromwell assumes a role as Lord Protector of the Realm. This is the original notion of a representative Parliament facing down a king who believed his decisions and demands were legitimized under the concept of Divine Right. During Cromwell’s rule, negotiations lead to the beginnings of the constitutional monarchy we know today. [Read more…]
February Concerts from Orchestra of the Eastern Shore
The Orchestra’s February 16 and 18 concerts feature two brilliant classical works and four amazing soloists. We are highly honored to be joined by renowned violinist,
– a frequently heard work consisting of a concerto for each season revealing the season’s moods and characteristic activities. Ms. Takayama is concertmaster of the Roanoke Symphony and the Williamsburg Symphonia, and an inspiring teacher, serving as Associate Professor and the Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin at Shenandoah University’s Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA.
The Orchestra’s two flutists, Ally Tarwater and Kevin Schwenk, teachers and popular performers here on the Shore, will solo in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto IV, joined by Paul Kim on violin, the Orchestra’s music director/violinist. One of the most popular of Bach’s six Brandenburg concerti, the work is tuneful and soulful. Detailed program notes for both works will be provided at the performances.
The concert will be performed twice on Presidents’ weekend:
Friday, February 16 at 7:30 PM at Cokesbury Church in Onancock
Sunday, February 18 at 4:00 PM at Hungars Church in Bridgetown (Machipongo)
As always, concerts are free and open to the public, with donations most welcome.
Support for the orchestra is also provided by Town of Onancock, Virginia Commission for the Arts, United Way of Virginia’s Eastern Shore, and Friends of the Orchestra.
Eastern Shore Residents Urged to Prevent the Spread of Influenza
(Accomac, VA) As the Eastern Shore Health District is receiving more reports of influenza in our community, we would like to remind everyone there are several things that you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the flu at home, school, or work.
Get Vaccinated!
– Influenza vaccination is the primary method for preventing the flu and its severe complications for individuals over 6 months of age. Protection develops about two weeks after getting
the vaccine and may last up to a year. This protection is with one all-the-time once immunity is stimulated.
Keep Your Hands Clean!
– Clean hands are another important factor in preventing the spread of disease, including influenza.
Soap and water cleans hands that are visibly dirty, contaminated, or soiled. Hand-cleaning helps after using the restroom, and before eating or preparing food.
Alcohol-based hand-rubs are products that kill germs on the hands. They are fast-acting, convenient, and generally can be used for all situations other than the ones described above. Be sure to use hand rubs that contain 60-95% ethanol or isopropanol (types of alcohol).
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way. [Read more…]
Factsheet: Regarding Drinking Water on the Eastern Shore
This data was compiled and provided to the Mirror by the citizen group easternshorecog.
Sole Source Aquifer
In 1997, the USEPA designated the groundwater underlying Northampton and Accomack County (except under Tangier and Chincoteague) a “sole source” aquifer. This means that only rainwater “recharges” or replenishes the water we use for drinking and other purposes. Designation of a sole source aquifer means that there is no alternative supply if this resource is depleted or contaminated.
Note our unique system of groundwater was created by a meteor strike 350 million years ago and it is a complex system that is not, even now, fully understood.
There are several layers of clay-like sediments separating our four different sources of groundwater. Between these layers, water is contained and can move slowly within more porous soils. The aquifers are:
1) The surface aquifer, otherwise known as the Columbia aquifer, lies just below the surface and to depths of 60′ or lower in some areas. If this relatively shallow aquifer is utilized at or near its upper limits, it is more susceptible to contamination from pesticides, fertilizers, effluent from septic systems and surface applied manure.
2) The Upper, Middle & Lower Yorktown-Eastover aquifers, which lie under the Columbia, are separated from the shallow aquifer, and each other, by thick layers of clay. These layers act as very fine filters cleaning and slowing the replenishing downward flow enormously. The Upper and Middle Yorktown aquifers are the preferred source for potable (drinkable) water. As depth increases below them, the water quality decreases and becomes “briny”. [Read more…]
Seminar: Life in the Salt Marsh
Science and Philosophy Seminar of the Eastern Shore of Virginia has scheduled its next seminar, “Life in the Salt Marsh”. The free 90-minute seminar will be at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, February 9 in the Lecture Hall of the Eastern Shore Community College, 29300 Lankford Hwy, Melfa, VA 23410.
Ed Murdy will explore the flora and fauna of a mid-Atlantic salt marsh, the environmental parameters that salt marshes require, the adaptations needed for plant life to survive in saline conditions, and the importance of salt marshes to both humans and the marine ecosystem.
Murdy is retired from the National Science Foundation and George Washington University in Washington D.C.
These seminars are occasionally rescheduled or postponed on short notice. Prospective attendees are urged to check the Seminar’s website (www.SciPhi.org) shortly before a scheduled date.
Science and Philosophy Seminar is an informally organized group that meets more or less regularly to explore and discuss a wide array of topics, ranging from philosophical speculation to scientific research. All Seminars are open to the public. Admission is free.
NOAA: 2017 Was a Devastating Year for Right Whales
The year 2017 was devastating for North Atlantic right whales, which suffered a loss of 17 whales–about 4 percent of their population–an alarming number for such a critically endangered species with a population currently estimated at about 450 animals.
Of the 17 dead whales, 12 were found in Canadian waters and 5 were found in U.S. waters. The whales in Canada were discovered in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between June and September. Canadian officials performed necropsies on seven of these whales, and found that five died to blunt force trauma (often associated with vessel strikes) and two died due to entanglements from fishing gear.
Of the five dead right whales found in U.S. waters in 2017, all were found in waters off the coast of Massachusetts. One (a young calf) was confirmed to have died of blunt force trauma. We were unable to determine a cause of death for the other four (all adults) because they were in advanced states of decomposition.
There are currently only about 100 females of breeding age in the population and more females seem to be dying than males. Births have also been declining in recent years, and to date, no new calves have been spotted in the calving grounds off Florida this year.
In August 2017, NOAA Fisheries declared the increase in right whale mortalities an “Unusual Mortality Event,” which helps the agency direct additional scientific and financial resources to investigating, understanding, and reducing the mortalities in partnership with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and outside experts from the scientific research community.
Taking Action to Protect Right Whales
While the North Atlantic right whale population has increased since we began our recovery efforts more than two decades ago, this most recent decline and the large number of recent mortalities are a serious concern, and reminds us that we still have a long way to go to recover this species. Read more about our Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, our Large Whale Disentanglement Program, and our Ship Strike Reduction program, which has helped reduce serious injuries and mortalities caused by vessel strikes. Find out about the actions we are currently taking to help right whales.
Next month, the first meetings of two Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team subgroups investigating the feasibility of ropeless gear and whale-release rope and gear marking will be convened. John Bullard’s (former Regional Administrator for the Greater Atlantic Region) guest column, which begins on page three of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association January Newsletter, provides context on the challenges and urgency surrounding this and our other efforts.
On Tuesday, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced four measures for the snow crab fisheryin the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglement. These measures complement several measures in place in the U.S., including gear marking for trap/pot gear and reducing the amount of floating rope on the water’s surface.
Report a Stranded Marine Mammal
If you see or have any information about a stranded marine mammal, please report it to our stranding hotline 866-755-NOAA (6622) or to your local stranding response organization.
Blood Drive at RSMH on Feb 20
Onancock, VA – The American Red Cross (ARC) plans a blood drive for February 20 at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital from 11am – 3pm in the hospital’s conference room.
ARC reports that extreme winter storms following fast on the heels of the holiday season have resulted in significant reductions in blood inventories. Blood collection has been negatively impacted as donors have struggled in the winter weather to get to blood drives, and many drives were cancelled. As a result, blood is being distributed as soon as it comes in. Platelets and type O negative and B negative red cells are in particularly short supply, but donors of all blood types are welcome, as are Power Red donors.
Volunteer donors are the only source of blood and platelets for patients in need of transfusions. Blood is needed for accident victims, surgical patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. There is no artificial substitute for blood.
Blood donation requirements include a minimum weight of 110 pounds and minimum age of 17. A 16-year old may donate blood with written parental consent. There is no upper age limit for donating blood.
Many health conditions and medications do NOT prevent someone from donating blood. People taking insulin, blood pressure, thyroid, and cholesterol medications, aspirin, antidepressants, and hormone replacement CAN give blood.
Donors are encouraged to eat a meal prior to giving blood and drink plenty of water.
No appointment is necessary, but having one will speed the process. Make an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code SMHosp.
2018 Run for the Animals set for April 15th
The 7th annual Run For The Animals is set for Sunday, April 15, 2018, at the Historic Onancock School.
This is a charity event and all net proceeds support the animal organizations who serve the Eastern Shore.
Early entry fee is $40 ($50 after March 31). Student fee (must be full time) is $20 ($25 after March 31).
Choose either the Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), or the 5K (3.1 miles non-competitive run/walk).
All distances with or without your canine companion.
Commemorative event t-shirt, finishing medal, trophy by division, and awards for the top fund-raisers.
Top raffle prizes this year include a hang gliding session (by VA Hang Gliding) and a scenic plane ride (by Eastern Shore Aviation).
Registration/Check In 6:45-7:45 am
Pre-Race Meeting 8:00 am
Gun Time 8:30 am
Awards 11:30 am
Luncheon Noon
This event is rain or shine. For more info on registering, volunteering, fundraising or sponsor opportunities call 757-999-4999 or visit www.RunForTheAnimals.com
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