Science News-How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Without Damaging Your Eyes

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Medical News Online Education Boosts Proper Use of Drugs That Prevent Blood Clots Results of a yearlong study funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) with more than 900 nurses at The Johns Hopkins Hospital suggest that well-designed online education can decrease the rate of nonadministration of prescribe... – Johns Hopkins Medicine PLOS ONE Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 14:00 ET Is Parkinson’s Care via Telemedicine as Effective as Going to the Clinic? For people with Parkinson’s disease, seeing a neurologist by video conference from their homes may be as effective as their usual in-person care with their local physician, according to a new study published in the August 16, 2017, online issue of ... – American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 16:00 ET Pig-to-Person Spread of Flu at Fairs a Continued Concern The spread of influenza among pigs is common at fairs and other gatherings, and protective measures including cutting the length of time pigs and people congregate make good sense for both the animals and humans, say the authors of a new study. – Ohio State University Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 12:00 ET Study Identifies a New Way to Prevent a Deadly Fungal Infection Spreading to the Brain Research led by the University of Birmingham has discovered a way to stop a deadly fungus from ‘hijacking’ the body’s immune system and spreading to the brain. – University of Birmingham Science Advances, Jul-2017 Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 14:00 ET Only Two-Thirds of Trainee GPs Plan to Work in NHS General Practice A new study by the University of Warwick indicates that only two in three doctors who are completing their training to become GPs plan to work in NHS general practice. – University of Warwick Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 19:05 ET Scientists Develop Blood Test That Spots Tumor-Derived DNA in People with Early-Stage Cancers In a bid to detect cancers early and in a noninvasive way, scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center report they have developed a test that spots tiny amounts of cancer-specific DNA in blood and have used it to accurately identify more tha... – Johns Hopkins Medicine Science Translational Medicine; CA121113, CA006973ANDCA180950 Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 14:00 ET Cell Cycle-Blocking Drugs Can Shrink Tumors by Enlisting Immune System in Attack on Cancer, Study Finds • Study explains why CDK4/6 inhibitors can shrink tumor in some advanced breast cancers • CDK4/6 inhibitors trigger the immune system to attack tumor cells • CDK4/6 inhibitors can also enhance anti-cancer effect of immunotherapy agents – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Nature Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 13:00 ET Researchers Discover Fundamental Pathology Behind ALS A team led by scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Mayo Clinic has identified a basic biological mechanism that kills neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in a related genetic disorder, frontotemporal dementia (FTD)... – St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Neuron, August 2017 Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 12:00 ET Favorable Safety Profile Seen in Immunotherapy Drug in Aggressive Form of Lung Cancer The immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab has demonstrated a favorable safety profile and “promising durable clinical activity” in pretreated patients who exhibit high levels of the PD-L1 protein in advanced stages of small cell lung cancer. That is a... – Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Journal of Clinical Oncology, Aug-2017 Embargo expired on 16-Aug-2017 at 16:00 ET Multicolor MRIs Could Aid Disease Detection Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have developed a method that could make magnetic resonance imaging—MRI—multicolor. Current MRI techniques rely on a single contrast agent injected into a patient’s veins to vivif... – Case Western Reserve University Nature Scientific Reports; NIH/NIDDK R01 DK085099 ; NIH/NHLBI R21 HL130839; NIH/NCI R01 CA179956; NIH/NCI R01 CA202814 Possible Roots of Schizophrenia Uncovered An abundance of an amino acid called methionine, which is common in meat, cheese and beans, may provide new clues to the fetal brain development that can manifest in schizophrenia, University of California, Irvine pharmacology researchers report in t... – University of California, Irvine Molecular Psychiatry Day-Supply of Prescribed Opioids Most Decisive Factor in Likelihood of Long-Term Use The single biggest factor determining whether a patient is likely to use opioids long term may be the number of days’ supply initially prescribed, according to a study by UAMS researchers. – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences The Journal of Pain VA Targets Healthcare Equity for All Veterans – New Research on Reducing Health Disparities Presented in Medical Care In recent years, the Veterans Administration (VA) Healthcare System has expanded its efforts to target groups of veterans facing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. An update on research toward advancing equitable healthcare for all vetera... – Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Medical Care Researchers Working on Blood Test to Detect Brain Metastases While Still Treatable Houston Methodist cancer researchers are now closer to creating a blood test that can identify breast cancer patients who are at increased risk for developing brain metastasis, and also monitor disease progression and response to therapy in real time... – Houston Methodist Nature Communications, August 4 Study: Opioids Overused in Migraine Treatment, Regardless of Race African-Americans are more likely to experience debilitating migraine headaches than whites, but a new study probing the issue found no evidence of racial disparities in treatment practices. Instead, researchers report a different finding that affec... – Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan Cephalalgia, June-2017; doi/10.1177/0333102417716933 Smoking Raises Risk of Aneurysm Recurrence After Endovascular Treatment A history of smoking significantly increases the chance that survivors will experience recurrence of a brain aneurysm, according to a University of Michigan study. Researchers say it’s a serious reminder about the importance of smoking cessation, e... – Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan Journal of Neurosurgery, June-2017; 10.3171/2016.12.JNS161625 Study Shows Probiotics Can Prevent Sepsis in Infants A research team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health has determined that a special mixture of good bacteria in the body reduced the incidence of sepsis in infants in India by 40 percent at a cost of only $1 per infant... – University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) Nature, Aug. 16, 2017 Cardiac ICU Patient Composition Is Changing Over Time A new University of Michigan study finds slightly more than half of heart patients are admitted to the CICU for noncardiac conditions, such as sepsis or renal failure, rather than for a heart condition. – Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, Aug-2017; 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.117.003616 How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Without Damaging Your Eyes A solar eclipse will offer a rare — although brief — sight to millions. Is it OK to take a peek? Not without eye protection. – Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan includes video Hospital Patients Make a Splash on Adaptive Surfing Trip in Long Beach Hospital for Special Surgery is giving new meaning to the term "patient care." The hospital took patients with cerebral palsy and other physical conditions on an adaptive surfing trip on Long Island. – Hospital for Special Surgery WVU Researchers, Health Professionals Lead New Effort to Prevent HIV and Hepatitis C Outbreaks Related to Opioid Epidemic When communities face epidemics of drug abuse, a wave of infectious diseases often follows, including hepatitis and HIV. A new federally-funded program in southern West Virginia, led by West Virginia University, will seek to interrupt that cycle.  – West Virginia University The Medical Minute: Solar Eclipses and Laser Pointers Pose Similar Eye Hazards Much attention is focused on the potential dangers that the upcoming solar eclipse will pose to the unprotected eye. But health experts caution there’s at least one other – and more prevalent – way to do lasting damage to one’s vision. – Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Don't Get Burned - Important Eye Safety During the Solar Eclipse It’s important to know what to do and what NOT to do so you can check out the eclipse without damaging your eyes or even causing blindness! – LifeBridge Health Loyola Primary Care Physician Offers Tips to Help Children Suffering From Back-to-School Anxiety Back-to-School Anxiety Tips from Loyola Medicine. – Loyola University Health System NYU Dental Researchers Awarded NIH Grant for Microbiome Research to Identify Biomarkers for Tongue Cancer The research focuses on the oral microbiome and disruptions in its normal balance, using next-generation sequencing, new molecular technologies which now permit far more comprehensive analyses of the bacterial community in the mouth. Researchers aim... – New York University Cedars-Sinai Awards $4.8M to Support Community Clinics and Other Safety Net Organizations for the Underserved Cedars-Sinai is bolstering an ongoing effort to strengthen the social safety net in the Los Angeles region with a third year of grants — totaling $4,827,930 — to programs that address the physical and mental healthcare needs of many underserved p... – Cedars-Sinai Science News Ocean Exploration Uncovers One of Cuba's Hidden Natural Treasures After nearly two years of planning, a team of scientists from the U.S. and Cuba has explored never-before-studied mesophotic coral reefs along the entire coast of Cuba, spanning about 1,500 miles. Except for a few places along the coast, prior to thi... – Florida Atlantic University includes video Algal Blooms Cost Ohio Homeowners $152 Million Over Six Years In a new study, researchers at The Ohio State University estimate algal blooms at two Ohio lakes cost Ohio homeowners $152 million in lost property value over six years. Meanwhile, a related study suggests that algae is driving anglers away from Lake... – Ohio State University Ecological Economics; Journal of Environmental Managment South Florida Coral Reefs to Get a Helping Hand – Anchorage Changed to Help Avoid Mishaps To help protect coral reefs, NSU researchers helped identify new anchorage area for Port Miami – Nova Southeastern University Superconductivity Research Reveals Potential New State of Matter A potential new state of matter is being reported in the journal Nature, with research showing that among superconducting materials in high magnetic fields, the phenomenon of electronic symmetry breaking is common. – Los Alamos National Laboratory WIU Faculty, Students Studying Behavior of Asian Carp as Part of National Grant A group of Western Illinois University biologists and biology graduate and undergraduate students are working with the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) to conduct ecological studies on Asian carp in ... – Western Illinois University Spray-on Electric Rainbows: Making Safer Electrochromic Inks A flick of a switch, and electrochromic films change their colors, making sunglasses, windows, and mirrors tint, or textiles flip their shades. Now they can be applied more safely and more commonly thanks to an innovative chemical process that makes ... – Georgia Institute of Technology DMR-1507205; ACS Central Science; N00014-16-1-2165 Computer Scientists Use Music to Covertly Track Body Movements, Activity Researchers at the University of Washington have demonstrated how it is possible to transform a smart device into a surveillance tool that can collect information about the body position and movements of the user, as well as other people in the devic... – University of Washington Scientists Use Magnetic Fields to Remotely Stimulate Brain — and Control Body Movements Scientists have used magnetism to activate tiny groups of cells in the brain, inducing bodily movements that include running, rotating and losing control of the extremities — an achievement that could lead to advances in studying and treating neuro... – University at Buffalo eLife Modern Genetic Sequencing Tools Give Clearer Picture of How Corals Are Related As corals face threats from warming oceans, a new study uses modern genetic-sequencing tools to help reveal the relationships between three similar-looking corals. – University of Washington Molecular Ecology Katharina Von Kellenbach, St. Mary's College of Maryland Professor of Religious Studies, to Lead Study of Guilt as a Culturally Productive Force Katharina von Kellenbach, professor of religious studies and her colleague Matthias Buschmeier (German literature, University of Bielefeld) were awarded a prestigious grant for over €500,000 (about $600,000) by the Center for Interdisciplinary Rese... – St. Mary's College of Maryland Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory: Don’t Try to Photograph the Eclipse. Take Pictures of These Instead. Unless you have specialized equipment, a tripod, and some good post-production skills, your photos of the eclipse will be mediocre at best--and you risk ruining your phone. Take pictures of pinhole projections and shadow bands instead. – Vanderbilt University SLU, Ameren Missouri to Provide Research Data for NASA from Solar Eclipse Monday, Aug. 21 Ameren Missouri and Saint Louis University are partners on an innovative weather forecasting system called Quantum Weather that provides detailed severe weather information to improve energy restoration for customers during storms. – Saint Louis University SLU Chemist Asks ‘Could Life Begin in Oil?’ A $597,380 grant from the National Science Foundation will fund SLU scientist Paul Bracher, Ph.D., and his research team as they study what life might look like on other planets - or, here on earth - if it began in oil. – Saint Louis University Medical Center Physicists Move Closer to Listening in on Sub-Atomic Conversation Calculations of a subatomic particle called the sigma provide insight into the communication between subatomic particles deep inside the heart of matter. – Department of Energy, Office of Science Physical Review Letters 118, 022002 (2017). [DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.022002] Young Minds Take the Stage at Argonne Argonne’s Learning on the Lawn celebration capped 10 weeks of intense discoveries and experimentation for 90 students, led by luminaries from across the laboratory – from nuclear engineers to biologists to experts in exascale computing, systems t... – Argonne National Laboratory Computational Body Models: The New Generation of Crash Test Dummies Computerized models have not replaced crash dummies in assessing the protective properties of motor vehicles, military equipment and other products. But virtual figures offer many advantages over mechanical manikins and are becoming more widely used ... Expert Available – Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center ECS OpenCon 2017 Explores Ideas for Next Generation Research ECS OpenCon will be the Society’s first, large community event to discuss the future of how research is designed, shared, vetted, and disseminated, with the ultimate goal of making scientific progress faster. Featuring vocal advocates in the open m... – The Electrochemical Society ECS OpenCon 2017 Southern Research to Play Key Role in Low Cost Carbon Fiber Project Southern Research’s Energy & Environment division (E&E) will participate as a subcontractor to WRI to provide renewable acrylonitrile -- the key raw material needed to produce the highest quality carbon fibers -- produced from biomass-derived secon... – Southern Research UW Professor Franziska Roesner Named One of World's Top Innovators Under 35 MIT Technology Review has named University of Washington professor Franziska Roesner one of 35 "Innovators Under 35" for 2017. Roesner is a faculty member in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and co-director of the school's S... – University of Washington DHS to Launch Drone Test and Evaluation Partnership for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems OPEN PRESS: DHS S&T will officially kick off its partnership with Mississippi for test and evaluation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) Tuesday, August 22, at the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Mississippi. – Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate Lifestyle & Social Sciences Sociologists Present Research on Gender, Drug Use, Suicide and Religion Faculty members and graduate students from Indiana University Bloomington presented research findings this week at the 112th annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, a four-day meeting in Montreal. – Indiana University ASA Annual Meeting, Aug-2017 Florida Flood Risk Study Identifies Priorities for Property Buyouts A study of flood damage in Florida by scientists at UC Santa Cruz and the Nature Conservancy proposes prioritizing property buyouts based on flood risk, ecological value, and socioeconomic conditions. – University of California, Santa Cruz Journal of Ocean and Coastal Economics, Aug-2017 Young Victims of Cyberbullying Twice as Likely to Attempt Suicide and Self-Harm, Study Finds Children and young people under-25 who become victims of cyberbullying are more than twice as likely to enact self-harm and attempt suicide than non-victims. While perpetrators of cyberbullying are also more likely to experience suicidal thoughts an... – University of Birmingham PLOS One Quality After-School Programs Help Students Feel More Connected, Caring Elementary school-aged children in high-quality after-school programs were found to be more competent, caring and respectful toward adults in a new study led by a University of Georgia researcher. – University of Georgia Parenting in the Age of YouTubeKids Benjamin Burroughs spends hours studying children's videos on YouTube. A father of three kids who teaches and researches how technology shapes people's lives, Burroughs is fascinated by the growing number of fun, elaborate entertainment videos aimed ... – University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) The Link Between Unhappiness and Smartphone Usage with Kids Recent research has shown a direct correlation between excessive smartphone usage and unhappiness with kids and teens. Children's Hospital Los Angeles psychologist Stephanie Marcy discusses the issue and provides tips for parents on how to manage th... Expert Available – Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Georgia State University Introduces eSports Programs Georgia State University has introduced programs for students interested in eSports, organized multiplayer video game competitions among players that are often broadcast, and which have spurred the development of collegiate teams at institutions acro... – Georgia State University HHMI Awards 39 Gilliam Fellowships to Support Diversity in Science The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has selected 39 new Gilliam fellows, exceptional doctoral students who have the potential to be leaders in their fields and the desire to advance diversity and inclusion in the sciences. – Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) USC Annenberg Announces 2017-18 Sony Pictures Entertainment Fellow Brit Wigintton has been named the 2017–18 recipient of the Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) Fellowship at USC Annenberg. – USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism UIC Urban Forum to Examine Influence, Future of Infrastructure The University of Illinois at Chicago's 2017 Urban Forum brings together policymakers, civic leaders, researchers and journalists to discuss public infrastructure projects where people work and play, and to make well-designed urban plans that connect... – University of Illinois at Chicago

UK vows Brexit won't mean the return of Irish border posts

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LONDON (AP) — There must be no border posts between the U.K. and Ireland after Brexit, and European Union citizens will be able to enter Britain through EU member state Ireland without immigration checks, the British government said Wednesday.

(1 of 3) Of traffic crossing the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the village of Bridgend, Co Donegal Ireland. Britain said Wednesday Aug. 16, 2017 that there must be no border posts between Northern Ireland and the Irish republic after Brexit. (Brian Lawless/PA, File via AP)

August 16, 2017

Britain has vowed to end the free movement of people from the bloc after it leaves the EU in 2019, removing the automatic right of EU nationals to settle and work in the U.K. But it made clear on Wednesday that EU citizens will still be able to travel freely from Ireland to Northern Ireland, and onward to other parts of the U.K.

Outlining proposals for the Ireland-Northern Ireland border — one of the most complex aspects of Brexit — the government said there should be no physical border posts or electronic checks. It also committed itself to maintaining the border-free Common Travel Area covering the U.K. and Ireland, which predates the establishment of the EU.

"There should be no physical border infrastructure of any kind on either side of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland," Conservative British Prime Minister Theresa May said. The right of EU citizens to live in any member state is one of the EU's key principles, and has allowed hundreds of thousands of Europeans to move to Britain and get jobs there, especially since the bloc expanded into eastern Europe more than a decade ago.

There are an estimated 3 million EU nationals living in Britain, and 1 million Britons residing in other parts of the bloc. Many Britons who voted last year to leave the EU cited a desire to regain control of immigration as a key reason.

In a paper outlining proposals for the Irish border after Brexit, the British government insisted it will be able to control immigration through work permits or other measures, even though EU nationals will remain free to come and go.

It said "immigration controls are not, and never have been, solely about the ability to prevent and control entry at the U.K.'s physical border." Control of access to the labor market and social welfare are also "an integral part" of the immigration system, the paper added.

Northern Ireland is an especially thorny issue in Brexit talks, because it has the U.K.'s only land border with the EU, and because an open border has helped build the economic prosperity that underpins the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Since the 1998 Good Friday peace accord, British military checkpoints along the border have been dismantled, rendering it all but invisible. Thousands of people cross the 300-mile (500-kilometer) border every day.

Britain said it was determined that "nothing agreed as part of the U.K.'s exit in any way undermines" the Northern Ireland peace agreement. The government's Department for Exiting the European Union acknowledged that "unprecedented" solutions would be needed to preserve the peace process and maintain the benefits of an open border after Britain leaves the EU, its single market in goods and services and its tariff-free customs union.

It suggested a future "customs partnership" between Britain and the EU could eliminate the need for checks on goods crossing the border. For agricultural and food products, Britain said one option could be "regulatory equivalence," where the U.K. and EU agree to maintain the same standards. But it's unclear what that would mean for Britain's ability to trade with countries that do not always meet EU standards, such as the United States.

The Northern Ireland proposals came in a series of papers covering aspects of Brexit negotiations, which are due to resume in Brussels at the end of this month. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the document "brings some clarity and is certainly helpful to move this process forward." But, he said, "there are still significant questions that are unanswered."

European Commission spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said Britain's position papers — which come after allegations from EU officials that the U.K. is underprepared for the EU divorce negotiations — are "a positive step."

"The clock is ticking and this will allow us to make progress," she said.

Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this story.

Afghan migrant 'Little Picasso' offered Serbian citizenship

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BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia offered a 10-year-old migrant from Afghanistan, who has been nicknamed "Little Picasso" because of his talent for painting, and his family citizenship on Wednesday, after they spent eight months in a refugee camp while seeking to reach Switzerland.

(1 of 2) Farhad Nouri, known as Little Picasso sits on bed in his room in the "Krnjaca" collective centre near Belgrade, Serbia. A 10-year-old migrant from Afghanistan, who has been nicknamed "Little Picasso" because of his talent for painting, and his family have been offered Serbian citizenship and a job for his father after being stuck for eight months in a refugee camp while seeking to reach Switzerland. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic made the offer when he met the five-member family in his office on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017.

August 16, 2017

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic made the offer to Farhad Nouri, which also included a job for his father, upon meeting the five-member family in his office. Nouri's drawings and photographs were put on display last week in what was also a charity event to raise money for a Serbian boy recovering from brain tumor surgery.

Nouri and his family left their home in Afghanistan two years ago. Upon their arrival in Serbia, Nouri joined art classes organized by aid groups, and his talent soon turned him into a local celebrity.

"I know for how long you have travelled and that you want to go to Switzerland," Vucic said. "But if you decide to stay, we will give you the citizenship now." The family is among some 5,000 migrants who have been stranded in Serbia after fleeing wars and poverty in their homelands. They have been unable to move on toward Western Europe, which has sought to curb the influx of migrants.

ENERGY NEWS-Oil prices move up on good data, but ceiling may be approaching

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Oil prices move up on good data, but ceiling may be approaching

Crude oil prices were relatively steady early Wednesday as reports of a decline in U.S. crude oil inventories balanced against sentiment of an emerging ceiling.

Russian company Lukoil reports slight dip in oil production

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Russian energy company Lukoil said total oil production for the second quarter was slightly lower, in part because of a reduction from operations in Iraq.

U.S. plans sale from Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy said it plans to sell some of the oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world's largest emergency supply of oil.

Kuwait continues oil spill examinations

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Kuwait's government said Iran has verified there were no reports of oil spilled from its tanker or pipelines following reports of Persian Gulf sheen.

Russian scientist says leave coal in the ground

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Nearly all of the world's coal reserves and 30 percent of its oil should be left alone in order to keep climate change at bay, a Russian scientist said.

Australia's Woodside Petroleum sees big profit jump

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Australian energy company Woodside Petroleum said its 49 percent jump in first-half profits came in part through a reduction in production costs.

First Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease under Trump set for auction

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- An offshore trade group said the lower-for-longer climate for oil prices may keep bidders for a lease Wednesday for the Gulf of Mexico at bay.

Africa Drives Global Action Against Mercury Use

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Olubunmi Olusanya of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria is keen on phasing out mercury-added products. Credit: Miriam Gathigah/IPS

NAIROBI, May 30 2017 (IPS) - With a new international treaty, an increasing number of African countries are committing to phasing out mercury, a significant health and environmental hazard.

Research has shown that maternal exposure to mercury from contaminated fish can cause learning disabilities in developing babies. When inhaled, mercury vapor can also affect the central nervous system, impair mental capacity and, depending on levels of exposure, even lead to death.

"The ripple effect of using mercury is very costly in both human health and harm to the environment.” --Olubunmi Olusanya

“Despite the danger that mercury poses, it is still widely used, especially in Africa, and this is of great concern,” says Olubunmi Olusanya of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria.

He told IPS that “While Africa does not manufacture mercury added products, the continent is a leading importer of mercury. The ripple effect of using mercury is very costly in both human health and harm to the environment.”

It is within this context that the Zero Mercury Working Group recently held a series of meetings in Nairobi, Kenya to address phasing out of mercury.

The Zero Mercury Working Group is an international coalition of over 95 public interest environmental and health non-governmental organizations from more than 50 countries around the world, with several NGO members coming from African countries.

“Phasing out mercury will mean replacing mercury added products such as thermometers, thermostats and batteries with alternatives, but it also means reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining,” explains Elena Lymberidi-Settimo, International Co-coordinator of the Zero Mercury Working Group.

According to the Zero Mercury Working Group, artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM)  is a complex global development issue. It uses and releases substantial amounts of mercury in mineral processing, usually in highly unsafe and environmentally hazardous conditions.

Haji Rehani, a Senior Programme Officer at the Agenda for Environment and Response Development in Tanzania, who works closely with artisanal and small scale gold mining communities, says, “This kind of mining is the largest demand sector for mercury globally.”

He says that mercury is used to bind the gold to form an amalgam, which helps separate it from the rock, sand and other materials. The amalgam is then heated to vaporize the mercury, exposing miners and contaminating the environment while leaving the gold behind.

“There is a need to engage as many stakeholders as possible from the miners all the way to governments,” he advises.

He told IPS that African governments have shown the greatest worldwide commitment to addressing mercury as a health hazard and to ultimately phase it out.

Rehani says that this commitment has been demonstrated through Africa’s active involvement in the adoption of the Minamata Convention on mercury in October 2013, when 128 countries signed on.

“This legally binding agreement was developed and adopted to protect human life and environment from mercury emissions. It has clear time-bound targets for phasing out the manufacture, export or import of a number of mercury added products specified in the Convention,” he expounds.

At the moment, 52 countries have ratified the Convention, marking a significant milestone since the Convention requires at least 50 countries to ratify in order for the treaty to enter into force.

The Convention will therefore come into effect in the next 90 days. This further reinforces the significance of the zero mercury conference, which provided a platform for cross-country knowledge sharing towards reducing and eventually eliminating the use of mercury in all sectors.

Desiree Narvaez of the UN Environment Chemicals and Health Branch explained the need for stakeholders to have a platform to address mercury as a global health and environment issue, noting that such platforms are essential for governments to understand the devastating impact of mercury use.

Of the 52 countries, Africa is ahead of every other continent with 19 countries ratifying the Convention.

Anne Lillian Nakafeero from Uganda’s National Environment Management Authority. Credt: Miriam Gathigah/IPS

The Zero Mercury Working Group has major ongoing intervention projects in, for instance, Nigeria and Mauritius, focusing on phasing out mercury added products by 2020 as stipulated in the Minamata Convention.

Other Zero Mercury projects are also in countries such as Ghana and Tanzania where the main focus has been reducing and eventually eliminating the use of mercury in artisanal and small scale gold mining.

These projects are also keen on protecting vulnerable populations, and specifically women and children.

Experts at the conference reiterated the fact that the use of mercury in artisanal and small scale gold mining continues to rise, especially in developing countries, mainly because it is considered simple and inexpensive – producing 20 to 30 percent of the world’s gold.

The Zero Mercury Working Group estimates that 15 million people in approximately 70 countries are employed in artisanal and small scale gold mining, with many exposed to mercury. Four to five million of them are vulnerable women and children.

As a result, there is a need for concerted efforts to protect such disadvantaged populations and for countries to ensure that their respective National Action Plans emphasize the protection of such vulnerable groups when implementing the Convention.

There was significant emphasis during the Nairobi conference on the need for governments to develop and implement the Convention, which contains mandatory obligations to eliminate where feasible, and otherwise minimize, the global supply and trade of mercury.

A key stakeholder during the conference and indeed in global efforts to phase out mercury is the United Nations Environment Global Mercury Partnership (UN Environment).

Within the context of the Minamata Convention the focus of the UN Environment Global Mercury Partnership has shifted to support crucial areas of the treaty.

This includes banning  a number of listed mercury added products by 2020, with the exception of a Party registering an exemption.

Reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of mercury in small scale gold mining is expected to be done progressively, with the objective achieved in about 15 years.

The meeting brought together many government officials and stakeholders in a one-day forum held on the heels of the Zero Mercury conference to develop their own road maps for phasing out mercury under the Minamata Convention by 2020.

This included 35 delegates from 31 countries, representatives of seven United Nations and intergovernmental agencies, 15 NGOs and five other delegates from academics, private sector and consultants.

It emerged from the meetings and experience sharing that there is a great need for country-specific laws to explicitly outlaw the use of mercury in products and taking voluntary steps to significantly reduce mercury in artisanal and small scale gold mining, since the treaty doesn’t specifically ban it.

For example, Uganda has signed the Minamata Convention and is in the process of developing a National Action Plan for reducing mercury in artisanal and small scale gold mining. While this will take this East African nation a step closer towards phasing out mercury, there is no legislation in place outlawing the use of mercury.

“In this regard, stakeholders must embrace as many partnerships as possible. Mercury is a cross-cutting issue and one single entity cannot address this agenda. We need the government, Civil Society Organizations, miners and others as was demonstrated during the Zero Mercury conference,” said Anne Lillian Nakafeero from the National Environment Management Authority in Uganda.

Wednesday News Briefing

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August 16,2017

People fly kites from rooftops as they celebrate Independence Day in the Old quarters of Delhi, India, August 15, 2017. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi U.S.  President Donald Trump no doubt pleased part of his political base by passionately arguing that both right- and left-wing extremists were responsible for violence at a white supremacist rally in Virginia on Saturday. But his remarks, one day after he, under pressure, explicitly condemned neo Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan, left White House officials bracing for fallout from disappointed Republicans whose support he needs to govern in the coming months and years. Two people who say they were injured in a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia sued the man charged with killing a woman by driving his car through the crowd as well as the event's organizers on Tuesday for $3 million.  Confederate monuments removed in Baltimore: media Lincoln Memorial in Washington defaced with expletive Banish Bannon? Trump weighs his options as top aides feud Texas 'bathroom bill' dies in special legislative session Trump criticized Amazon.com on Twitter over taxes and jobs and accused the global retailer, without evidence, of hurting U.S. localities and causing job losses. Shares of the company fell 0.5 percent at $978.00 in premarket trade after Trump's comments. Luther Strange, a Republican candidate backed by President Donald Trump for a U.S. Senate seat from Alabama is expected to finish a distant second in a primary election, but will still have enough votes to advance to a run-off, local news projected. North Korea Japanese jets conducted air maneuvers with U.S. bombers southwest of the Korean peninsula on Wednesday as North Korea considered whether to fire missiles towards the U.S.-administered territory of Guam.  Graphic: The maps and photos that show how North Korea could attack Guam Aerospace & Defense With its wall-sized screens simultaneously showing America's air wars in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, a Qatar-based war room is at the heart of America's biggest military campaigns. While it’s already something of a technological marvel, the operations center is undergoing a series of upgrades to its top-secret computer systems to transform how war planners there do business.  U.S. WW2 veteran returns flag to family of fallen Japanese soldier People release doves as a symbol of peace at the Yasukuni Shrine for the war dead in Tokyo, Japan, August 15, 2017, to mark the 72nd anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two. REUTERS/Issei Kato Britain's most advanced and biggest warship, the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, berthed for the first time at its home port of Portsmouth on Tuesday. Business Target reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit and a 1.3 percent rise in comparable sales, after a year of declines, as more customers visited its stores and website. The dollar held on to big gains today before minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's latest meeting, while European shares followed Asian stocks higher. Breakingviews: Chinese tech titans suffer credibility GAAP Exclusive: China's Belt and Road acquisitions surge despite outbound capital crackdown NAFTA As the United States, Canada and Mexico kick off negotiations on Wednesday to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement, the biggest uncertainty is whether a deal can pass President Trump's "America First" test.  Timeline: The rocky history of NAFTA Factbox: Key issues in the NAFTA renegotiations Reuters TV: Tech lobbyists working furiously for NAFTA edge  Breakingviews According to Jason Furman, an economist who spent eight years working for the Obama administration, there is almost nothing that the Trump administration is doing right on tax, trade, immigration, infrastructure, energy or regulatory policy. UK  Britain has said there should be no border posts between Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland after Brexit, in a paper that attempts to resolve one of the most complex aspects of its exit from the European Union. Breakingviews: British wage mystery has non-British explanation Afghanistan  Afghan police discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of at least 36 victims of a recent militant attack on a village, officials said. "Most of the victims were beheaded," provincial government spokesman Zabihullah Amani said, noting that all were men, except for three boys between the ages of eight and 15. A third mass grave had been located but it was in an area under Taliban control, and security forces were searching for more possible graves, Amani added. Commentary Aung San Suu Kyi's poor treatment of the media in Myanmar may impede her efforts to democratize the conflict-wrought country, writes Reuters columnist Alex Lazar. But is Suu Kyi’s apparent authoritarian streak mere caution in case expanding civil liberties "too forcefully" could bait the former junta into retaking full control of the country? Philippines Philippine police killed 32 people in dozens of anti-drug operations in a province north of the capital, Manila, in the single deadliest day of President Rodrigo Duterte's unrelenting war on drugs. Australia  Australia's main scientific agency said it believed with "unprecedented precision and certainty" that a missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft crashed into the sea northeast of an area scoured in a fruitless two-year underwater search. Australia, Malaysia and China called off a $160 million, two-year search for the plane in January after finding nothing, despite the protests of families of those onboard. Entertainment  Indian police arrested four people on suspicion of leaking an unaired episode of HBO's hit series "Game of Thrones", Mumbai police said.  Daniel Craig confirms he will return as James Bond