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Saturday, May 30, 2020

POOP AND DRINKING WATER - The word is being heard: bottled water is not all it's cracked up to be. This message arrives just in time for us to learn that sewage, "including human excrement and dangerous industrial chemicals" is spilling into waterways across America. As reported by Charles Duhigg in the New York Times: "In the last three years alone, more than 9,400 of the nation's 25,000 sewage systems — including those in major cities — have reported violating the law by dumping untreated or partly treated human waste, chemicals and other hazardous materials into rivers and lakes and elsewhere, according to data from state environmental agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency.""It happens anytime you get a hard rainfall," Bob Connaughton, an engineer at Brooklyn's Owls Head Water Pollution Control Plant told the Times. "Sometimes all it takes is 20 minutes of rain, and you've got overflows across Brooklyn." The "it" Connaughton speaks of is untreated feces and industrial waste spilling from emergency relief valves into the Upper New York Bay and Gowanus Canal. Lawmakers talk of earmarking billions towards water infrastructure upgrades but is there anyone left who still trusts the government/corporate approach? No quick fixes. Experienced Planet Greeners may expect to see a list of actions and potential solutions right about here... but this is not an easily fixable problem. Obviously, we should've never despoiled so much water in the first place but until larger cultural and institutional factors are considered (or we force them to be considered), we can act locally.

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DANGEROUS WATERS - E. Coli Threaten Swim Areas - According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), bacterial contamination in recreational water is becoming an increasing problem. More and more beaches are closed each year for microbiological contamination. However, these incidences are not the first, nor the worst, of past E. coli outbreaks sourced to recreational water. In 1998, E. coli O157:H7 in the water at the Six Flags White Water Park in Atlanta sickened 26 people. The following year, Washington state’s Battle Ground Lake was closed off after 37 people fell ill from E. coli poisoning. The lake remained off-limits for the next two years. E. coli contamination arises from the presence of fecal matter in water. At pools and water parks, the source is usually human feces. E. coli in natural bodies of water can come from animals, such as livestock or wildlife, or humans, and is either shed directly into the water or washed into it by irrigation or rainwater, sewer systems or other water flows. Studies have shown that the presence of E. coli in the environment increases during the summer. This is thought to be a result of increased shedding of the bacteria by animals, or from areas with higher average rainfall, as rainwater can wash fecal matter into surrounding water sources. Higher levels of E. coli – specifically shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STECs) – can pose a health threat to humans.

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Friday, May 29, 2020

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) - There is a ton of controversy surrounding MSG in the natural health community. It is claimed to cause asthma, headaches and even brain damage. Most official sources like the FDA claim that MSG is safe. This article examines MSG and its health effects, exploring both sides of the argument. MSG is short for monosodium glutamate. It is a common food additive — with the e-number E621 — that is used to enhance flavor. MSG is derived from the amino acid glutamate, or glutamic acid, which is one of the most abundant amino acids in nature. Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid, meaning that your body can produce it. It serves various functions in your body and is found in nearly all foods. Chemically, MSG is a white crystalline powder that resembles table salt or sugar. It combines sodium and glutamic acid, known as a sodium salt. The glutamic acid in MSG is made by fermenting starches, but there is no chemical difference between the glutamic acid in MSG and that in natural foods. However, the glutamic acid in MSG may be easier to absorb because it isn't bound inside big protein molecules that your body needs to break down. MSG enhances the savory, meaty umami flavor of foods. Umami is the fifth basic taste, along with salty, sour, bitter and sweet. This additive is popular in Asian cooking and used in various processed foods in the West.

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ACTIVE VOLCANOES IN THE PHILIPPINES - All of the volcanoes in the Philippines are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a major area in the Pacific Ocean where many of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), about 90% of the world’s earthquakes and all but three of the world’s 25 largest volcanic eruptions occurred along the Ring of Fire. There are 452 volcanoes in the Ring of Fire including The Andes in South America, Popocatepetl in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Mt. Saint Helens in the US Pacific North West, Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, Mt. Fuji in Japan, Krakatoa in the Indonesia Island Arc and Mt. Ruapehu in New Zealand. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), at least twenty-four (24) of these volcanoes are active or potentially active, while the rest are dormant. Based on documented eruptions over the years, the six most active volcanoes are: Mayon – since 1616, Mayon has erupted 47 times. Taal – since the sixteenth century, Taal has erupted more than 30 times. Kanlaon – erupted 30 times since 1819. Bulusan – erupted 15 times since 1885. Hibok-Hibok – erupted five times in modern history. Pinatubo – erupted in 1991 after being dormant for 600 years. From June 12 to June 16, 1991, the volcano erupted four times. Volcano safety tips are provided on what to do in case a volcano erupts in your area.

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