returntonow--2020-04-15--Close Encounter: Unbelievable Photos of Minnesota Black Wolf

According to Native American legend , black wolf – or “ spirit wolf ” – sightings serve as warnings that major life lessons are about to unfold Nature photographer Conrad Tan recently took a trip to Minnesota to capture images of the abundant the wildlife there and was lucky enough to have a rare encounter with a black wolf .
Also known as the “ spirit wolf , ” black wolf arrives on the scene as a messenger , according to Native American mythology .
Black wolf sightings are though t to serve as a warning , or the announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfold .
Known for their penetrating eyes , the haunting animals have been known to strike fear and terror in those it appears to in dreams , visions or meditations .
Even though these wolves have a black coat , they ’ re still part of the grey wolf family .
Colors vary from wolf to wolf , depending on location .
Black wolves get their color because of a genetic mutation .
This mutation has an increased presence of dark pigmentation .
The pigment mutation is far more prevalent in North America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between domestic dogs populations likely occurred in North America .

According to Native American legend, black wolf – or “spirit wolf” – sightings serve as warnings that major life lessons are about to unfold
Nature photographer Conrad Tan recently took a trip to Minnesota to capture images of the abundant the wildlife there and was lucky enough to have a rare encounter with a black wolf.
Also known as the “spirit wolf,” black wolf arrives on the scene as a messenger, according to Native American mythology. Black wolf sightings are thought to serve as a warning that a major life lesson is about to unfold.
Known for their penetrating eyes, the haunting animals have been known to strike fear and terror in those it appears to in dreams, visions or meditations.
Even though these wolves have a black coat, they’re still part of the grey wolf family. Colors vary from wolf to wolf, depending on location.
Black wolves get their color because of a genetic mutation that increases dark pigmentation.
The pigment mutation is far more prevalent in North America than in Europe, suggesting a cross between domestic dogs populations likely occurred in North America.


returntonow--2020-04-14--17 Photos Prove Capybara Can Befriend Every Other Species

The largest living rodent in the world is also the most friendly .
These semiaquatic mammals can be found in @ @ @ @ @ and even near large bodies of water .
Their shorts heads allow them to graze @ @ @ @ @ life .
They are very social animals that travel in groups of 10-20… sometimes even @ @

The largest living rodent in the world is also the most friendly.
These giant cavy rodents live in South America.
Capybara have heavy, barrel-shaped bodies with golden fur.
These semiaquatic mammals can be found in the savannas, dense forests and even near large bodies of water.
Their shorts heads allow them to graze grass and other aquatic plant life.
They are very social animals that travel in groups of 10-20… sometimes even 100.
They live 8-10 years.


returntonow--2020-04-13--These Easter-Egg Colored Moths Might Be the Most Beautiful Insects in the World

These moths look like something straight out of Alice in Wonderland , but they ’ re real !
Also known @ @ @ @ @ rosy maple moths are found in the eastern parts of North America .
What really @ @ @ @ @ moths is their pastel pink and yellow coloration .
When it comes to antennas , @ @ @ @ @ .
They have bigger , bushier feelers , which allow them to sense female pheromones @ @ @ @ @ the subspecies of the rosy maple moth looks like a Battenberg cake .
See the @ @ @ @ @ moth is the smallest of the silk moths ; males have a wingspan of 1-to-2 @ @

These moths look like something straight out of Alice in Wonderland, but they’re real!
Also known as great silk moths, rosy maple moths are found in the eastern parts of North America.
What really sets them apart from other moths is their pastel pink and yellow coloration.
When it comes to antennas, the males have the advantage. They have bigger, bushier feelers, which allow them to sense female pheromones for mating.
One of the subspecies of the rosy maple moth looks like a Battenberg cake. See the similarity?
The rosy maple moth is the smallest of the silk moths; males have a wingspan of 1-to-2 inches.


returntonow--2020-04-13--Iceland’s Forest Service Encourages People to Hug Trees While They Can’t Hug Each Other

The Icelandic government is recommending “ tree hugging ” nature walks to improve mental and physical health during quarantine The Icelandic Forestry Service is encouraging people to hug trees as a sort of consolation for not being able to hug other humans during the next several weeks of social distancing , RÚV reports .
National Forest rangers in East Iceland have been clearing and widening snow-covered paths to ensure that locals can still enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of the great outdoors .
“ Because of the risk of infection , people are now asked to avoid contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread their arms , ” says Hallormsstaður National Forest manager Þór Þorfinnsson .
“ When you hug a tree , you feel it first in your toes and then up your legs and into your chest and then up into your head .
It ’ s such a wonderful feeling of relaxation and then you ’ re ready for a new day and new challenges.
” “ If you can give yourself five minutes a day , that ’ s definitely enough , ” he says .
“ You can also do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day will definitely do the trick .
“ It is also good to close your eyes while hugging or hugging a tree , ” adds assistant forest ranger Bergrún Anna Þórsteinsdóttir .
“ I lean my cheek against the tree and find the warmth and currents flowing from the tree into me .
It is quite clear.
” While the rangers may sound like they ’ ve been isolated in the woo ds sampling fungi for too long , there is actually a growing body of scientific research behind their sentiment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impressive array of health benefits including reduced stress hormones and boosted immunity .
For example , a Japanese study found forest bathing reduced blood pressure , heart rate and cortisol more than a walk through the city , while studies in Finland and the United States showed similar reductions in tension and anxiety .
People on nature walks also tend to engage in less rumination , or negative overthinking , which is linked with depression .
In another study , the number of natural killer cells — white blood cells that fight infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher after 3 days of forest bathing .
RELATED : Loneliness is the # 1 Risk Factor for Premature Death , Doctor Warns

The Icelandic government is recommending “tree hugging” nature walks to improve mental and physical health during quarantine
The Icelandic Forestry Service is encouraging people to hug trees as a sort of consolation for not being able to hug other humans during the next several weeks of social distancing, RÚV reports.
National Forest rangers in East Iceland have been clearing and widening snow-covered paths to ensure that locals can still enjoy the mental and physical health benefits of the great outdoors.
“Because of the risk of infection, people are now asked to avoid contact and intimacy, but the trees still spread their arms,” says Hallormsstaður National Forest manager Þór Þorfinnsson.
“When you hug a tree, you feel it first in your toes and then up your legs and into your chest and then up into your head. It’s such a wonderful feeling of relaxation and then you’re ready for a new day and new challenges.”
“If you can give yourself five minutes a day, that’s definitely enough,” he says. “You can also do it many times a day … but once a day will definitely do the trick.
“It is also good to close your eyes while hugging or hugging a tree,” adds assistant forest ranger Bergrún Anna Þórsteinsdóttir. “I lean my cheek against the tree and find the warmth and currents flowing from the tree into me. It is quite clear.”
While the rangers may sound like they’ve been isolated in the woo
ds sampling fungi for too long, there is actually a growing body of scientific research behind their sentiment.
Several studies link forest bathing to an impressive array of health benefits including reduced stress hormones and boosted immunity.
For example, a Japanese study found forest bathing reduced blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol more than a walk through the city, while studies in Finland and the United States showed similar reductions in tension and anxiety.
People on nature walks also tend to engage in less rumination, or negative overthinking, which is linked with depression.
In another study, the number of natural killer cells — white blood cells that fight infected or tumor cells — were 50 percent higher after 3 days of forest bathing.
RELATED: Loneliness is the #1 Risk Factor for Premature Death, Doctor Warns


returntonow--2020-04-10--Himalayas Visible In Northern India for the First Time in 30 Years

As air pollution plummets , Indians are posting photos of the Himalayas from 100 miles away India is home to @ @ @ @ @ s 30 most polluted cities .
Many of those cities have seen air pollution cut @ @ @ @ @ last two weeks the country ’ s citizens have been quarantined to their homes for @ @ @ @ @ a result , the majestic Himalayan mountain range is visible from Punjab , over 100 @ @ @ @ @ first time in 30 years : With factories and office buildings shut down , cars @ @ @ @ @ grounded , airborne particulate matter has settled , allowing Indians to breathe easier when they @ @ @ @ @ most .
Unfortunately , however , many of the country ’ s mountains ( including @ @ @ @ @ to climbers , who would probably benefit greatly from the vitamin D and outdoor air @ @ @ @ @ ll take all the silver linings we can get during these crazy times .

As air pollution plummets, Indians are posting photos of the Himalayas from 100 miles away
India is home to 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities.
Many of those cities have seen air pollution cut almost in half during the last two weeks the country’s citizens have been quarantined to their homes for the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result, the majestic Himalayan mountain range is visible from Punjab, over 100 miles away, for the first time in 30 years:
What nature really is and how we screwed it up. This is Dhauladhar mountain range of Himachal, visible after 30 yrs, from Jalandhar (Punjab) after pollution drops to its lowest level. This is approx. 200 km away straight. #Lockdown21 #MotherNature #Global healing. pic.twitter.com/cvZqbWd6MR — Diksha Walia (@Deewalia) April 3, 2020
With factories and office buildings shut down, cars off the roads and planes grounded, airborne particulate matter has settled, allowing Indians to breathe easier when they need clean, fresh air most.
Unfortunately, however, many of the country’s mountains (including Mount Everest) are closed to climbers, who would probably benefit greatly from the vitamin D and outdoor air.
Still, we’ll take all the silver linings we can get during these crazy times.


returntonow--2020-04-08--70,000 Endangered Sea Turtles Lay Eggs on Empty Beaches During Quarantine

While humans are on lockdown , Olive Ridley sea turtles are making a comeback on Indian shores .
70 , 000 Olive Ridley sea turtles are storming the Odisha Rookery , a coastal beach in India , to do a mass nesting in broad daylight .
While this once-a-year event is normally a big time tourist attraction , Indian people are on a 21-day stay-at-home order .
Now authorities don ’ t have to work as hard to protect the hatcheries from pesky human interaction .
These hatcheries were severely damaged last year thanks to Cyclone Title , rendering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels .
Once the storm passed , the Indian Forest Department was able to clean up the debris and prep their shores for the turtles ’ triumphant return .
The hatcheries are important because they protect the eggs during the critical stage of nesting .
With the help from fisherman and other volunteers , they keep dogs and other predators at bay .
Once the turtles are hatched and head toward the ocean , their survival rates dwindle thanks to birds and other sea creatures looking for a quick lunch .
An even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from commercial fishing boats .
This year , the Indian government has deployed its own boats to keep commercial fisherman away .
At least half of all Olive Ridley nest on Indian shores , according to the Odisha Wildlife Foundation , A single Olive Ridley can lay 100 eggs before heading back out to sea .
Once fully grown , an Olive Ridley can reach up to 2 feet in size .

While humans are on lockdown, Olive Ridley sea turtles are making a comeback on Indian shores.
70, 000 Olive Ridley sea turtles are storming the Odisha Rookery, a coastal beach in India, to do a mass nesting in broad daylight.
While this once-a-year event is normally a big time tourist attraction, Indian people are on a 21-day stay-at-home order.
Now authorities don’t have to work as hard to protect the hatcheries from pesky human interaction.
These hatcheries were severely damaged last year thanks to Cyclone Title, rendering the Olive Ridley unable to reproduce at normal levels.
Once the storm passed, the Indian Forest Department was able to clean up the debris and prep their shores for the turtles’ triumphant return.
The hatcheries are important because they protect the eggs during the critical stage of nesting. With the help from fisherman and other volunteers, they keep dogs and other predators at bay.
Once the turtles are hatched and head toward the ocean, their survival rates dwindle thanks to birds and other sea creatures looking for a quick lunch.
An even bigger threat to their existence are nets from commercial fishing boats.
This year, the Indian government has deployed its own boats to keep commercial fisherman away.
At least half of all Olive Ridley nest on Indian shores, according to the Odisha Wildlife Foundation,
A single Olive Ridley can lay 100 eggs before heading back out to sea.
Once fully grown, an Olive Ridley can reach up to 2 feet in size.


returntonow--2020-04-08--Nevada Orders Closure of Health Food Stores, While Liquor Stores Remain Open

You can ’ t make this stuff up .
Nevada governor says health food stores are not essential , but liquor stores are .
It may sound like something out of the Twilight Zone , but it ’ s real : The Governor of Nevada has ordered small health food stores ( excluding Amazon-owned Whole Foods ) to close , calling them “ non-essential businesses , ” according to a press release by the Natural Products Association .
Meanwhile , liquor stores are still up and running .
No joke .
“ Governor Sisolak ’ s decision is shortsighted and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states and amounts to an assault on small businesses , ” writes CEO of the NPA Daniel Fabricant .
“ Amidst the recent COVID-19 outbreak , we ’ ve seen firsthand the importance of supporting a healthy immune system .
Proper nutrition is a cornerstone of a ‘ health-first ’ strategy and essential vitamins and minerals , like Vitamin C , are highly efficient ways to support your daily health and wellness…Don ’ t let Governor Sisolak and his accomplices take away health choices away from your family.
” A health food store @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its website that the store was forced to close as of April 7 .
“ Due to a Mandate issued by Governor Sisolak we are considered NON-Essential , contrary to Federal Guidelines , and had to temporarily CLOSE our doors .
We need your help !
Please call Governor Sisolak at ( 775 ) 684-5670 or to State of Nevada Homepage to at least allow Curbside Pick Up for us.
” Please click here to sign the Natural Products Association ’ s petition to the governor to let these essential businesses open @ @ @

You can’t make this stuff up. Nevada governor says health food stores are not essential, but liquor stores are.
It may sound like something out of the Twilight Zone, but it’s real:
The Governor of Nevada has ordered small health food stores (excluding Amazon-owned Whole Foods) to close, calling them “non-essential businesses,” according to a press release by the Natural Products Association.
Meanwhile, liquor stores are still up and running. No joke.
“Governor Sisolak’s decision is shortsighted and inconsistent with the federal government and other states and amounts to an assault on small businesses,” writes CEO of the NPA Daniel Fabricant.
“Amidst the recent COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of supporting a healthy immune system. Proper nutrition is a cornerstone of a ‘health-first’ strategy and essential vitamins and minerals, like Vitamin C, are highly efficient ways to support your daily health and wellness…Don’t let Governor Sisolak and his accomplices take away health choices away from your family.”
A health food store called Stay Healthy of Las Vegas shared on its website that the store was forced to close as of April 7.
“Due to a Mandate issued by Governor Sisolak we are considered NON-Essential, contrary to Federal Guidelines, and had to temporarily CLOSE our doors. We need your help! Please call Governor Sisolak at (775) 684-5670 or to State of Nevada Homepage to at least allow Curbside Pick Up for us.”
Please click here to sign the Natural Products Association’s petition to the governor to let these essential businesses open back up.


returntonow--2020-04-05--Super-Rare Dwarf Kingfisher Photographed for the Very First Time

The Dwarf Kingfisher has eluded photographers for 130 years , until now This brightly colored little bird , native to the Philippines , was captured by Dr. Miguel David De Leo .
After working an extremely busy morning as a vitreoretinal surgeon , he somehow mustered up the strength to lug his camera and march an hour uphill into his bird hideout .
His perseverance would pay off .
Once he was settled in , it didn ’ t take long for his prize to appear .
For close to ten minutes this rare bird stood out on a branch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black bill .
“ I was so , so thrilled , ” said Dr. De Leon , who ’ d been searching for this bird for over three years .
“ I felt like my chest would explode.
” Dwarf Kingfishers are known for their striking plumage of metallic lilac , orange , and bright blue spots .
This brightly colored bird is the smallest species of forest King Fishers .
While it maybe be small , it ’ s also quick and fast .
Darting from branch to branch , this rare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capture it on film for over a century .
Until now , researchers have been only able to write about it but thanks to Dr. De Leon we ’ ll have some pictures to go along with it .
While it ’ s truly a miracle to capture this bird on film , it ’ s also under threat of extinction due to loss of habitat .
Dwarf Kingfishers like to dig little holes into the earth to build their nest .
Not only do they use this soil to build their homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food source .
They eat all kinds of critters such insects , earthworms , small lizards , and other invertebrates .
But when the soil is stripped fungi and bacteria , it limits what can grow and thrive there .
When the shrubs and other plants that normally grow are destroyed , so too are the insects that the birds eat .
To help these ecosystems thrive please be a good steward of the earth by : eliminating single-use plastics , supporting organic foods , conserving water , using fuel efficient vehicles and @ @ @ @

The Dwarf Kingfisher has eluded photographers for 130 years, until now
This brightly colored little bird, native to the Philippines, was captured by Dr. Miguel David De Leo.
After working an extremely busy morning as a vitreoretinal surgeon, he somehow mustered up the strength to lug his camera and march an hour uphill into his bird hideout.
His perseverance would pay off. Once he was settled in, it didn’t take long for his prize to appear.
For close to ten minutes this rare bird stood out on a branch flaunting its beautiful pastel colors and unique black bill.
“I was so, so thrilled,” said Dr. De Leon, who’d been searching for this bird for over three years. “I felt like my chest would explode.”
Dwarf Kingfishers are known for their striking plumage of metallic lilac, orange, and bright blue spots.
This brightly colored bird is the smallest species of forest King Fishers. While it maybe be small, it’s also quick and fast.
Darting from branch to branch, this rare bird has been eluding scientists trying to capture it on film for over a century.
Until now, researchers have been only able to write about it but thanks to Dr. De Leon we’ll have some pictures to go along with it.
While it’s truly a miracle to capture this bird on film, it’s also under threat of extinction due to loss of habitat.
Dwarf Kingfishers like to dig little holes into the earth to build their nest.
Not only do they use this soil to build their homes, they also use it as a food source. They eat all kinds of critters such insects, earthworms, small lizards, and other invertebrates.
But when the soil is stripped fungi and bacteria, it limits what can grow and thrive there.
When the shrubs and other plants that normally grow are destroyed, so too are the insects that the birds eat.
To help these ecosystems thrive please be a good steward of the earth by: eliminating single-use plastics, supporting organic foods, conserving water, using fuel efficient vehicles and natural cleaning supplies.


returntonow--2020-04-15--Photographer Captures Rare Photos of Minnesota Black Wolf

According to Native American legend , black wolf – or “ spirit wolf ” – sightings serve as warnings that major life lessons are about to unfold Nature photographer Conrad Tan recently took a trip to Minnesota to capture images of the abundant the wildlife there and was lucky enough to have a rare encounter with a black wolf .
Also known as the “ spirit wolf , ” black wolf arrives on the scene as a messenger , according to Native American mythology .
Black wolf sightings are thought to serve as a warning that a major life lesson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their penetrating eyes , the haunting animals have been known to strike fear and terror in those it appears to in dreams , visions or meditations .
Even though these wolves have a black coat , they ’ re still part of the grey wolf family .
Colors vary from wolf to wolf , depending on location .
Black wolves get their color because of a genetic mutation that increases dark pigmentation .
The pigment mutation is far more prevalent in North America than in Europe , suggesting a cross between domestic dogs @ @ @ @ @ @ @


returntonow--2020-03-13--STUDY: 6 Chinese Herbs “Directly Inhibit” Coronavirus Infection

Chinese-government-funded researchers have identified 26 herbs with a “ high probability ” of preventing coronavirus infection , 6 of them prevented infection by an earlier version of coronavirus in ALL study participants !
Recognizing the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine against earlier versions of coronavirus , the Chinese government is funding research to determine which herbs are most potent against the novel variety of coronavirus that originated in Wuhan , China in December 2019 .
“ The effectiveness of herbal treatment to control contagious disease was demonstrated during the 2003 SARS outbreak , ” write the researchers in a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese government is encouraging the use of herbal plants in fighting this new viral pneumonia.
” The researchers identified 13 natural compounds “ confirmed to directly inhibit ” two earlier versions of coronavirus : severe acute respiratory syndrome ( SARS ) , which originated in Hong Kong in 2003 , and Middle East respiratory syndrome ( MERS ) , which originated in Saudi Arabia in 2012 .
Although the novel Wuhan coronavirus has mutated , “ the genetic similarities between coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) and SARS or MERS coronaviruses are high , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model of the molecular structure of the 2019 Coronavirus , they found the chemical compounds were also able to bind to the proteins predicted for the new coronavirus .
The researchers identified 125 herbs that each contained at least 2 of those compounds , Of those , they selected 26 herbs routinely used in treating viral respiratory infection .
“ We undertook a multiple step selection process and screened out 26 herbal plants with a high probability of directly inhibiting the novel coronavirus ( 2019-nCoV ) , possibly providing instant help in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can cause , ” they wrote .
The 26 herbs selected for further study are as follows : The following herbs successfuly prevented SARS and Swine Flu ( H1N1 ) infection in a total of seven studies .
None of the participants in the studies contracted SARS , and the rate of Swine Flu infection was significantly lower in the group that was treated with the above herbs .

Researchers have identified 6 herbs that prevented infection by an earlier version of coronavirus in ALL study participants!
Recognizing the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine against earlier versions of coronavirus, the Chinese government is funding research to determine which herbs are most potent against the novel variety of coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
“The effectiveness of herbal treatment to control contagious disease was demonstrated during the 2003 SARS outbreak,” write the researchers in a new study. “As such, the Chinese government is encouraging the use of herbal plants in fighting this new viral pneumonia.”
The researchers identified 13 natural compounds “confirmed to directly inhibit” two earlier versions of coronavirus: severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which originated in Hong Kong in 2003, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which originated in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Although the novel Wuhan coronavirus has mutated, “the genetic similarities between coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and SARS or MERS coronaviruses are high,” the researchers note.
Using a 3D model of the molecular structure of the 2019 Coronavirus, they found the chemical compounds were also able to bind to the proteins predicted for the new coronavirus.
The researchers identified 125 herbs that each contained at least 2 of those compounds.
Of those, they selected six that “directly inhibited” SARS and Swine Flu (H1N1) infection in a total of seven studies.
Not a single participant in the studies contracted SARS, and the rate of Swine Flu infection was significantly lower in the group that was treated with the following herbs:
Radix astragali (Huangqi)
Radix glycyrrhizae (Gancao)
Radix saposhnikoviae (Fangfeng)
Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Baizhu)
Lonicerae Japonicae Flos (Jinyinhua)
Fructus forsythia (Lianqiao)


returntonow--2020-03-11--Eco-Friendly “AirCrete” Dome Home Built for Under $9000 Dollars

AirCrete homes can be built at a fraction of the cost of a normal home and can be molded into all kinds of cool shapes !
AirCrete is much lighter and easier to work with than concrete and much more eco-friendly .
AirCrete is a light-weight , low-cost building material made by injecting super foamy soap into a cement slurry .
Air bubbles suspended in the mixture make it lighter and easier to work with than conventional concrete , but it ’ s still just as strong and durable .
DomeGaia founder Hajjar Gibran thinks AirCrete is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying : “ It is waterproof , fireproof , and insect proof .
It offers good thermal and acoustic insulation .
It will not rot , warp , or corrode .
Unlike concrete which is hard , heavy , cold and difficult to work with , AirCrete is easy to work with .
It dries overnight and can be cut , carved , drilled and shaped with wood-working tools .
It accepts nails and screws and is easily repaired .
It has good compressive strength to make excellent foundations , subfloors , building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever .
It can be molded or formed into practically any shape.
” It ’ s not only easier to work with , it ’ s easier on your pocket book .
According to Gibran , it cuts construction costs “ by a factor of 10 ” when compared to traditional homes .
That ’ s because it uses a fifth of the natural resources – sand , limestone and clay – used to make conventional concrete , which is great news considering the world is running out of sand .
No joke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humans use 50 billion tons of sand per year , mostly to make concrete .
The average house requires 200 tons of sand , a hospital uses 3,000 tons , and one mile of a highway sucks up 15,000 tons .
Realizing commercial cement mixers would cost a fortune , Gibran and his team have invented smaller , more affordable AirCrete mixing machines , which are now available to the public .
DomeGaia sells AirCrete dome building plans and offers 10-day building workshops all over the world .
Check out their website for @ @ @

AirCrete homes can be built at a fraction of the cost of a normal home and can be molded into all kinds of cool shapes!
AirCrete is much lighter and easier to work with than concrete and much more eco-friendly.
AirCrete is a light-weight, low-cost building material made by injecting super foamy soap into a cement slurry.
Air bubbles suspended in the mixture make it lighter and easier to work with than conventional concrete, but it’s still just as strong and durable.
DomeGaia founder Hajjar Gibran thinks AirCrete is one of the best building materials in the world, saying:
“It is waterproof, fireproof, and insect proof. It offers good thermal and acoustic insulation. It will not rot, warp, or corrode. Unlike concrete which is hard, heavy, cold and difficult to work with, AirCrete is easy to work with. It dries overnight and can be cut, carved, drilled and shaped with wood-working tools. It accepts nails and screws and is easily repaired. It has good compressive strength to make excellent foundations, subfloors, building blocks, poured walls, domes or whatever. It can be molded or formed into practically any shape.” It’s not only easier to work with, it’s easier on your pocket book. According to Gibran, it cuts construction costs “by a factor of 10” when compared to traditional homes.


returntonow--2020-03-09--9-Year-Old Girl Builds Tiny Homes and Grows Food for Homeless

Inspired by a starving a homeless man , this amazing girl built 12 tiny homes and started a community garden A 14-year-old girl has been feeding and sheltering the homeless for the past 8 years .
When Hailey Fort was 6-years-old she noticed a homeless man outside of grocery store .
Once she realized he hadn ’ t eaten for days , she ran back into the store to buy him some food .
When she returned to the starving man with a sandwich , she was greeted with tears of joy .
From then on , she decided her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less fortunate .
But how could she feed all of those in need ?
With a heavy heart , Fort realized she couldn ’ t afford to buy all the homeless people food .
“ If I can ’ t buy them food , then I ’ ll grow them some , ” she remembers thinking .
So she started digging .
First she dug through gardening books , then she dug a garden .
While Hailey ’ s first yield of carrots , soy beans and potatoes only fed a handful of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspiration to solicit help from others .
With the support of her community , she ’ s transformed her once-small garden into a micro-farm the produces over 250 pounds of food per year for the homeless of Kitsap County , Washington .
“ Empty stomachs hurt .
They break concentration and make the future seem impossible .
Giving food is essential to creating health , ” says Fort on her Facebook page .
When she realized the homeless were also in need of… well.. a home , she teamed up with her neighbors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received discounts at local stores to build them portable shelters .
Since then , she and her neighbors have built 12 super tiny homes .
“ It just doesn ’ t seem right that there are homeless people , ” Hailey said .
“ I think everyone should have a place to live.
” Hailey ’ s outreach has helped with more than just food and shelter , it ’ s also provided thousands of toiletries and feminine hygiene products .
She also does a yearly winter campaign to collect coats for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a $ 3,000 dollar donation at Christmas to help poor children .
As she was passing out clothes and other gifts from the donation money , kids were yelling , “ Here comes Santa Claus , here comes Santa Claus !
” After helping the homeless for close to a decade , she ’ s realized even more help is needed .
So now she ’ s meeting with government officials to see if there ’ s a way to provide affordable housing for those who are less fortunate .
If a 14-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this , imagine what we could all do together .

Inspired by a starving a homeless man, this amazing girl built 12 tiny homes and started a community garden
A 14-year-old girl has been feeding and sheltering the homeless for the past 8 years.
When Hailey Fort was 6-years-old she noticed a homeless man outside of grocery store. Once she realized he hadn’t eaten for days, she ran back into the store to buy him some food.
When she returned to the starving man with a sandwich, she was greeted with tears of joy.
From then on, she decided her mission in life was to help the less fortunate. But how could she feed all of those in need?
With a heavy heart, Fort realized she couldn’t afford to buy all the homeless people food. “If I can’t buy them food, then I’ll grow them some,” she remembers thinking.
So she started digging. First she dug through gardening books, then she dug a garden.
While Hailey’s first yield of carrots, soy beans and potatoes only fed a handful of people, it was enough of an inspiration to solicit help from others.
With the support of her community, she’s transformed her once-small garden into a micro-farm the produces over 250 pounds of food per year for the homeless of Kitsap County, Washington.
“Empty stomachs hurt. They break concentration and make the future seem impossible. Giving food is essential to creating health,” says Fort on her Facebook page.
When she realized the homeless were also in need of… well.. a home, she teamed up with her neighbors, started a GoFundMe page, and received discounts at local stores to build them portable shelters.
Since then, she and her neighbors have built 12 super tiny homes.
“It just doesn’t seem right that there are homeless people,” Hailey said. “I think everyone should have a place to live.”
Hailey’s outreach has helped with more than just food and shelter, it’s also provided thousands of toiletries and feminine hygiene products. She also does a yearly winter campaign to collect coats for those who need one.
She once received a $3,000 dollar donation at Christmas to help poor children. As she was passing out clothes and other gifts from the donation money, kids were yelling, “Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus!”
After helping the homeless for close to a decade, she’s realized even more help is needed. So now she’s meeting with government officials to see if there’s a way to provide affordable housing for those who are less fortunate.
If a 14-year-old and small community can do all of this, imagine what we could all do together.


returntonow--2020-03-06--Giraffes Declared “Extinct” in Seven Countries

The world ’ s tallest animal is on a “ silent slide toward extinction , ” Giraffe Conservation Foundation says @ @ @ @ @ used to roam sub-Saharan Africa , but just a century later their population is down @ @ @ @ @ animals are now extinct in 7 of the 28 countries they have historically thrived in @ @ @ @ @ Nations ’ Convention on the Conservation on Migratory Species , which met last week .
@ @ @ @ @ in scattered , isolated populations , experts say .
The nations where giraffes are extinct @ @ @ @ @ Eritrea , Guinea , Mali , Mauritania , Nigeria , and Senegal .
Infrastructure developments @ @ @ @ @ power lines , and pipelines have created barriers to migration , fragmenting giraffe populations , @ @ @ @ @ said .
The animals have also lost habitat to livestock , human development and wildfire @ @ @ @ @ International Union for Conservation of Nature added 7 out of 9 giraffe species to its @ @ @ @ @ last spring .
The listing was largely ignored by the mainstream media .

The world’s tallest animal is on a “silent slide toward extinction,” Giraffe Conservation Foundation says
More than one million giraffes used to roam sub-Saharan Africa, but just a century later their population is down to under 100,000.
The animals are now extinct in 7 of the 28 countries they have historically thrived in, according to the United Nations’ Convention on the Conservation on Migratory Species, which met last week.
And those that remain live in scattered, isolated populations, experts say.
The nations where giraffes are extinct include: Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Senegal.
Infrastructure developments like roads, railways, power lines, and pipelines have created barriers to migration, fragmenting giraffe populations, delegates to the CMS meeting said.
The animals have also lost habitat to livestock, human development and wildfire, they said.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature added 7 out of 9 giraffe species to its Red List of Threatened Species last spring.
The listing was largely ignored by the mainstream media.


returntonow--2020-03-06--Cross-Country Team Trains With Lonely Shelter Dogs

Animal shelter dogs who spend most of their lonely days in indoor cages are finally getting a breath of fresh air .
A California animal shelter and high school cross-country team are joining forces – for the fourth straight year – to take shelter dogs on a daily run .
Often coming from homes where they were neglected , these sheltered dogs have spent most of their lives without adequate exercise , attention or time outdoors .
“ You ’ ve got a bunch of dogs that are in cages , and want to be outside running , and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school students that love to run , ” St. Joseph Cross-Country Coach Luis Escobar told CBS News .
Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter coordinator Stacy Silva came up with idea when she noticed the high school team run by her shelter .
“ Why aren ’ t they running our dogs ?
” she remembers thinking before contacting Escobar .
Escobar said he couldn ’ t say no , calling the pairing a “ perfect match.
” Initially the runners were a little hesitant , but now it ’ s hard to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who .
“ When the dogs realized that they were getting out of those kennels and to go outside as a group , it was just happy chaos , ” said Escobar .
But the students experience a bittersweet feeling when it ’ s time to return the dogs to the kennel .
“ When we have to put him back it ’ s kind of like , ‘ I ’ m really sorry about this , but hopefully you ’ ll get adopted , ' ” said senior Sequoia Chumpitaz .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plight of shelter animals , he says .
“ But the attachment is real .
”

This high school cross-country team takes shelter dogs with them on their daily run so they can get exercise, sunlight and fresh air.
Animal shelter dogs who spend most of their lonely days in indoor cages are finally getting a breath of fresh air.
A California animal shelter and high school cross-country team are joining forces – for the fourth straight year – to take shelter dogs on a daily run.
Often coming from homes where they were neglected, these sheltered dogs have spent most of their lives without adequate exercise, attention or time outdoors.
“You’ve got a bunch of dogs that are in cages, and want to be outside running, and I’ve got a group of high school students that love to run,” St. Joseph Cross-Country Coach Luis Escobar told CBS News.
Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter coordinator Stacy Silva came up with idea when she noticed the high school team run by her shelter.
“Why aren’t they running our dogs?” she remembers thinking before contacting Escobar.
Escobar said he couldn’t say no, calling the pairing a “perfect match.”
Initially the runners were a little hesitant, but now it’s hard to tell who’s more excited to see who.
“When the dogs realized that they were getting out of those kennels and to go outside as a group, it was just happy chaos,” said Escobar.
But the students experience a bittersweet feeling when it’s time to return the dogs to the kennel.
“When we have to put him back it’s kind of like, ‘I’m really sorry about this, but hopefully you’ll get adopted,’” said senior Sequoia Chumpitaz.
The ultimate goal is to raise awareness about the plight of shelter animals, he says. “But the attachment is real.”


returntonow--2020-03-06--School Bans iPads, Brings Back Paper Textbooks

A top performing school ditches digital textbooks , claiming kid ’ s learn better the old fashioned way A prestigious school in Australia is doing away with iPads five years after purchasing them for its students .
Kids comprehend and retain more , when they read from “ good old-fashioned ” paper textbooks , the private school ’ s principal says .
The iPads students were using to read their e-textbooks also served as windows to worlds of distraction , he claims .
“ They had messages popping up and all sorts of other alerts , ” Reddam House principal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Also , kids being kids , they could jump between screens quite easily , so would look awfully busy and not be busy at all.
” It ’ s not only principals and parents applauding the move back to hard-copy textbooks – students prefer them too .
As part of a 5-year trial , the school had given 1st through 10th graders iPads , but reverted back to paper textbooks in 11th and 12th grade .
After have experienced both , most high school students preferred paper over electronic textbooks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ textbook was easier with the hard copy , ” Pitcairn said .
“ I believe they learn better the more faculties they use , the more senses they use in research and reading and making notes.
” A 2017 study out of the University of Maryland finds students were better able to answer specific questions from printed text rather than digital text .
Research into why young people prefer hard-copy textbooks “ points to greater perceived comfort , comprehension , and also retention of what ’ s been read , ” says Margaret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University .
“ Some have found that there ’ s less immersive involvement in digital text .
”

A top performing school ditches digital textbooks, claiming kid’s learn better the old fashioned way
A prestigious school in Australia is doing away with iPads five years after purchasing them for its students.
Kids comprehend and retain more, when they read from “good old-fashioned” paper textbooks, the private school’s principal says.
The iPads students were using to read their e-textbooks also served as windows to worlds of distraction, he claims.
“They had messages popping up and all sorts of other alerts,” Reddam House principal Dave Pitcairn told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Also, kids being kids, they could jump between screens quite easily, so would look awfully busy and not be busy at all.”
It’s not only principals and parents applauding the move back to hard-copy textbooks – students prefer them too.
As part of a 5-year trial, the school had given 1st through 10th graders iPads, but reverted back to paper textbooks in 11th and 12th grade.
After have experienced both, most high school students preferred paper over electronic textbooks.
“The ease of navigation through the textbook was easier with the hard copy,” Pitcairn said. “I believe they learn better the more faculties they use, the more senses they use in research and reading and making notes.”
A 2017 study out of the University of Maryland finds students were better able to answer specific questions from printed text rather than digital text.
Research into why young people prefer hard-copy textbooks “points to greater perceived comfort, comprehension, and also retention of what’s been read,” says Margaret Merga, education professor at Edith Cowan University.
“Some have found that there’s less immersive involvement in digital text.”


returntonow--2020-03-05--McDonald’s Switches to Wooden Cutlery in Australia

McDonald ’ s is replacing plastic cutlery with wooden utensils in Australia McDonald ’ s has announced a plan to remove plastic cutlery from all 900 of its restaurants in Australia by the end of the year .
The fast food giant plans on replacing the enormous sources of plastic pollution with biodegradable wooden cutlery .
The move comes on the heels of its pledge to remove plastic straws by the end of the year as well .
“ By removing plastic straws and cutlery from McDonald ’ s restaurants , we will be removing more than 860 tonnes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Australia sustainability director Kylie Freeland said in a statement .
At the same time , the company has also replaced its salad bowls and sundae cups with fiber-based alternatives , along with removing plastic lids from the McFlurry .
Prior to the commitment in Australia , McDonald ’ s conducted a successful 3-month trial on wooden cutlery in nine stores in New Zealand last year .
The announcement was made at the National Plastics Summit , a one-day event focused on sustainability in Canberra , AU .
Over 200 leaders from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came together to discuss a federal mandate for 100 % of plastic packaging to be either reusable , compostable or recyclable by 2025 .

McDonald’s is replacing plastic cutlery with wooden utensils in Australia
McDonald’s has announced a plan to remove plastic cutlery from all 900 of its restaurants in Australia by the end of the year.
The fast food giant plans on replacing the enormous sources of plastic pollution with biodegradable wooden cutlery.
The move comes on the heels of its pledge to remove plastic straws by the end of the year as well.
“By removing plastic straws and cutlery from McDonald’s restaurants, we will be removing more than 860 tonnes of plastic from our system,” McDonald’s Australia sustainability director Kylie Freeland said in a statement.
At the same time, the company has also replaced its salad bowls and sundae cups with fiber-based alternatives, along with removing plastic lids from the McFlurry.
Prior to the commitment in Australia, McDonald’s conducted a successful 3-month trial on wooden cutlery in nine stores in New Zealand last year.
The announcement was made at the National Plastics Summit, a one-day event focused on sustainability in Canberra, AU.
Over 200 leaders from industry, government, and the community came together to discuss a federal mandate for 100% of plastic packaging to be either reusable, compostable or recyclable by 2025.


returntonow--2020-03-05--Indian State Introduces Bamboo Water Bottles, After Banning Plastic Ones

The all-organic state of Sikkim is making disposable/reusable bamboo water bottles for tourists to encourage them to stop littering The @ @ @ @ @ headlines recently for becoming the first 100 % certified organic state in the world .
@ @ @ @ @ first in India to ban the use of plastic water bottles and other single-use plastics @ @ @ @ @ But as Sikkim ’ s popularity as an eco-tourism destination has grown , so has @ @ @ @ @ bottles left behind by tourists .
To keep the Himalayan paradise pristine , the state @ @ @ @ @ their plastic bottles at the border and to replace them with reusable bottles available at @ @ @ @ @ options will now include bamboo water bottles made by a local Indian man .
Priced @ @ @ @ @ 5 , they are reusable , but biodegradable in case they are disposed of or @ @ @ @ @ sealed with a cork attached to a bamboo cap .
The town of Lachen purchased @ @ @ @ @ debut at its annual Tibetan New Years ’ festival last month .

The all-organic state of Sikkim is making disposable/reusable bamboo water bottles for tourists to encourage them to stop littering
The Indian state of Sikkim made headlines recently for becoming the first 100% certified organic state in the world.
The state also became the first in India to ban the use of plastic water bottles and other single-use plastics over 20 years ago.
But as Sikkim’s popularity as an eco-tourism destination has grown, so has the number of plastic water bottles left behind by tourists.
To keep the Himalayan paradise pristine, the state is now asking to leave their plastic bottles at the border and to replace them with reusable bottles available at most shops.
The reusable options will now include bamboo water bottles made by a local Indian man. Priced between $3 and $5, they are reusable, but biodegradable in case they are disposed of or lost.
The bottles are sealed with a cork attached to a bamboo cap.
The town of Lachen purchased 1000 of the bottles to debut at its annual Tibetan New Years’ festival last month.


returntonow--2020-03-04--Minks Are Being Violently Killed For Fake Eyelashes Sold at Sephora and Other Retailers

While mink coats went out of fashion decades ago , their fur is still making its way into our cosmetics Do you know if your luring lashes are mink ?
Minks , are being held captive in terrible conditions , so their fur can be glued onto fake eyelashes for a “ fuller , more thicker look.
” Mink furs historically have been the most popular furs in the world , but you may be surprised to learn they ’ re lurking in your fake lashes .
Many mink eyelash brands – most of which are carried by Sephora – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ ethically sourced , ” or “ free-range.
” However , animal rights groups like PETA say that there is no such thing as cruelty-free mink : The idea that minks can be raised ethically on a farm is a contradiction , the organization say .
They ’ re an aggressive , territorial solitary animal and would fight each other if they were put in a “ free-range ” farm .
So caging is necessary .
These “ ethically-sourced ” farms jam minks into tiny , wire cages , while denying them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lined up in stacks of cages , they live out their lives trapped in unsanitary conditions before meeting their fate in a gas chamber .
If they ’ re not gassed to death , they ’ re electrocuted , bludgeoned , or their necks are broken .
If they ’ re still breathing after the attempted murder , their skin and fur are still stripped from their conscious body .
Avoid the following fake eyelash brands to make sure you ’ re not supporting this horrific industry :

While mink coats went out of fashion decades ago, their fur is still making its way into our cosmetics
Do you know if your luring lashes are mink?
Minks, are being held captive in terrible conditions, so their fur can be glued onto fake eyelashes for a “fuller, more thicker look.”
Mink furs historically have been the most popular furs in the world, but you may be surprised to learn they’re lurking in your fake lashes.
Many mink eyelash brands – most of which are carried by Sephora – market their products as “cruelty-free,” “ethically sourced,” or “free-range.”
However, animal rights groups like PETA say that there is no such thing as cruelty-free mink:
The idea that minks can be raised ethically on a farm is a contradiction, the organization say. They’re an aggressive, territorial solitary animal and would fight each other if they were put in a “free-range” farm. So caging is necessary.
These “ethically-sourced” farms jam minks into tiny, wire cages, while denying them adequate food, water and medical care.
Lined up in stacks of cages, they live out their lives trapped in unsanitary conditions before meeting their fate in a gas chamber.
If they’re not gassed to death, they’re electrocuted, bludgeoned, or their necks are broken.
If they’re still breathing after the attempted murder, their skin and fur are still stripped from their conscious body.
Avoid the following fake eyelash brands to make sure you’re not supporting this horrific industry:
Cosmetic Laser Clinic
Flirty Lashes
Klepki Lashes
Lash Bar Australia
Lash House
The Lash Store
MINK MINK
Velour Lashes by Redefining Beauty
Checkout these mink free alternatives:


returntonow--2020-03-03--STUDY: Bug Attacks Make Fruit and Veggies More Nutritious

When bugs eat holes in the leaves of our crops , the plants produce more antioxidants !
When insects eat holes in the leaves of fruit and veggie crops , the plants ’ stress response creates more antioxidants , a new study finds .
“ The claim that organic agriculture produces higher levels of phytochemicals has been controversial for decades , ” the study ’ s authors write .
But now , the researchers have “ proved ” the claim is true and can explain why , they say .
“ There was the existing idea that insects present in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and increase antioxidant compounds , ” said Luis Cisneros-Zevallos , horticulture scientist at Texas A & M University .
“ However , this hypothesis or concept was never tested until now.
” The researchers mimicked the damage caused by insects , by puncturing holes in strawberry leaves .
When they harvested the fruit a few days later , they found significantly higher levels of antioxidants : • Ellagic acid , known to fight colon cancer , increased by 58 % .
• Epicatechin , which reduces blood pressure and insulin resistance , incerased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rutin , which helps with Vitamin C absorption , by 137 % .
Studies have found it to be anticarcinogenic , neuroprotective and cardioprotective .

When bugs eat holes in the leaves of our crops, the plants produce more antioxidants!
When insects eat holes in the leaves of fruit and veggie crops, the plants’ stress response creates more antioxidants, a new study finds.
“The claim that organic agriculture produces higher levels of phytochemicals has been controversial for decades,” the study’s authors write.
But now, the researchers have “proved” the claim is true and can explain why, they say.
“There was the existing idea that insects present in the field could cause a stress response and increase antioxidant compounds,” said Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, horticulture scientist at Texas A&M University.
“However, this hypothesis or concept was never tested until now.”
The researchers mimicked the damage caused by insects, by puncturing holes in strawberry leaves.
When they harvested the fruit a few days later, they found significantly higher levels of antioxidants:
Ellagic acid, known to fight colon cancer, increased by 58%.
Neuroprotective gallic acid increased by 68%.
Epicatechin, which reduces blood pressure and insulin resistance, incerased by 100%.
The flavanoid rutin, which helps with Vitamin C absorption, by 137%. Studies have found it to be anticarcinogenic, neuroprotective and cardioprotective.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-viral quercetin increased by 190%.


returntonow--2020-03-18--Venice Canals are Crystal Clear During Italy’s Coronavirus Shutdown

The water in Venetian canals is the cleanest it ’ s been in “ living memory ” Every tragedy has a silver lining , even Italy ’ s coronavirus lockdown .
Since gondola rides have come to halt along with the rest of the economy , the typically murky water in Venice ’ s famous canals is sparkling clean .
The water is so clear residents report seeing schools of fish beneath its surface and white swans filling in the void left by tourists , the Daily Mail reports .
That ’ s because the sediment , normally stirred up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to settle at the bottom of the canals , officials say .
“ The city doesn ’ t have sewers , so normally everything goes into the canals , including detergents and cosmetics , ” a local estate manager told the Daily Mail .
Air pollution , specifically nitrogen oxide , has also plummeted over Northern Italy since the country went into quarantine .
“ I hope we ’ ll learn from this tragic time , and that when this is over Venice will be able to strike a balance between tourist crowds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teller said .
The city is one of the world ’ s most popular tourist destinations , attracting more than a million visitors from China alone last year .

The water in Venetian canals is the cleanest it’s been in “living memory”
Every tragedy has a silver lining, even Italy’s coronavirus lockdown. Since gondola rides have come to halt along with the rest of the economy, the typically murky water in Venice’s famous canals is sparkling clean.
The water is so clear residents report seeing schools of fish beneath its surface and white swans filling in the void left by tourists, the Daily Mail reports.
That’s because the sediment, normally stirred up by boat rides, has been allowed to settle at the bottom of the canals, officials say.
“The city doesn’t have sewers, so normally everything goes into the canals, including detergents and cosmetics,” a local estate manager told the Daily Mail.
Air pollution, specifically nitrogen oxide, has also plummeted over Northern Italy since the country went into quarantine.
“I hope we’ll learn from this tragic time, and that when this is over Venice will be able to strike a balance between tourist crowds and cleanliness,” a local bank teller said.
The city is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting more than a million visitors from China alone last year.


returntonow--2020-03-19--Global Lockdowns May Save More People From Air Pollution than Coronavirus

Air pollution kills 7 million people per year .
Many of those lives will be saved as industry grinds to a halt around the world .
Another silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic ( we ’ ll take any we can get ) is an enormous reduction in air pollution caused by reduced industrial activity .
As more and more people are quarantined to their homes around the globe , there are fewer and fewer emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gasses from cars , planes , factories , office buildings , etc .
Air pollution kills around 7 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Health Organization .
Meanwhile , “ the global death toll of an uncontained pandemic remains largely a matter of conjecture , ” Forbes Magazine reports.. “ The most dramatic projections that have been released—too hastily to be peer reviewed—put the global death toll of an unchecked pandemic in the millions—total , not annual .
Most credible estimates are much less .
Some experts have compared it to the 1957 flu outbreak that killed just over 1 million .
The toll from a contained outbreak would of course be much smaller.
” Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saved 77,000 people from death by air pollution , one expert estimates .
That ’ s 20 times more than the number of coronavirus deaths in the country so far .
“ More than likely the number of lives that would be spared because of these confinement measures would be higher than the number of lives that would be lost because of the pandemic [ had it not been contained ] , ” said said François Gemenne , director of The Hugo Observatory , which studies the interactions between environmental changes and human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What surprises me most is that the measures that we are ready to take to face this coronavirus are much more severe than the measures we would be ready to take to face climate change or atmospheric pollution , ” Gemenne said .
“ I think this is something that should question us : why are we so much more afraid of the coronavirus than we are of climate change or atmospheric pollution or other kinds of threats .
What is so special about the coronavirus that we are ready to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ?
”

Air pollution kills 7 million people per year. Many of those lives will be saved as industry grinds to a halt around the world.
Another silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic (we’ll take any we can get) is an enormous reduction in air pollution caused by reduced industrial activity.
As more and more people are quarantined to their homes around the globe, there are fewer and fewer emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gasses from cars, planes, factories, office buildings, etc.
Air pollution kills around 7 million people per year, according to the World Health Organization.
Meanwhile, “the global death toll of an uncontained pandemic remains largely a matter of conjecture,” Forbes Magazine reports..
“The most dramatic projections that have been released—too hastily to be peer reviewed—put the global death toll of an unchecked pandemic in the millions—total, not annual. Most credible estimates are much less. Some experts have compared it to the 1957 flu outbreak that killed just over 1 million. The toll from a contained outbreak would of course be much smaller.”
Two months of quarantine in China have already saved 77,000 people from death by air pollution, one expert estimates. That’s 20 times more than the number of coronavirus deaths in the country so far.
“More than likely the number of lives that would be spared because of these confinement measures would be higher than the number of lives that would be lost because of the pandemic [had it not been contained],” said said François Gemenne, director of The Hugo Observatory, which studies the interactions between environmental changes and human migration.
“These are fascinating times. What surprises me most is that the measures that we are ready to take to face this coronavirus are much more severe than the measures we would be ready to take to face climate change or atmospheric pollution,” Gemenne said.
“I think this is something that should question us: why are we so much more afraid of the coronavirus than we are of climate change or atmospheric pollution or other kinds of threats. What is so special about the coronavirus that we are ready to put the whole world on lockdown because of that?”


returntonow--2020-03-20--While Humans are Social Distancing, Elephants are Stealing Their Wine and Partying

14 elephants broke into Chinese villagers ’ wine vats , partied in their tea gardens and then passed out While @ @ @ @ @ a rebel group of elephants broke onto their land in search of food and booze @ @ @ @ @ alcohol store and drank 30 liters of corn wine between them , The Daily Mail @ @ @ @ @ drunken elephants romping around in a neighboring tea garden and then falling asleep have gone @ @ @ @ @ are fond of alcohol and seek it out – and return to places where they @ @ @ @ @ conservationist Parveen Kaswan wrote on Twitter .
“ In tribal belts people hide country-made alcohol @ @ @ @ @ , ” he wrote .
“ They mark the houses also where they found that @ @ @ @ @ see drunk people they get irritated also , since it was not shared with them.
@ @ @ @ @ drunken elephants dosing off here :

14 elephants broke into Chinese villagers’ wine vats, partied in their tea gardens and then passed out
While Chinese villagers were quarantined, a rebel group of elephants broke onto their land in search of food and booze.
They ransacked a grain alcohol store and drank 30 liters of corn wine between them, The Daily Mail reports.
Photos of the drunken elephants romping around in a neighboring tea garden and then falling asleep have gone viral:
“Many elephants are fond of alcohol and seek it out – and return to places where they found it before,” conservationist Parveen Kaswan wrote on Twitter.
“In tribal belts people hide country-made alcohol but somehow elephants find it,” he wrote.
“They mark the houses also where they found that last time. If they see drunk people they get irritated also, since it was not shared with them.”
Watch video of the drunken elephants dosing off here:


returntonow--2020-03-21--Considered “Essential Businesses,” McDonalds’ and Other Fast Food Chains May Be Only Restaurants to

Considered “Essential Businesses,” McDonalds’ and Other Fast Food Chains May Be Only Restaurants to Survive Coronavirus

McDonalds ’ is working overtime to convince the president to declare fast food chains “ essential businesses , ” as local , healthy restaurants will be forced to close up shop for months in many states As restaurant bans sweep the country , state and city governments are allowing — and even encouraging — fast food restaurants to stay open because they are equipped for takeout with drive-thrus and delivery services .
Earlier this week , CEOs of McDonald ’ s , Burger King , Chick-fil-A , Papa John ’ s and Popeyes had a conference call with President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Americans to survive the coronavirus outbreak , ” reports Business Insider .
“ If we don ’ t utilize businesses like Burger King … It ’ s really difficult for Americans to be fed , because it ’ s going to be difficult for them to get all their food from the supermarket , ” argued the CEO of Restaurant Brands International , which owns Burger King , Popeyes and Tim Horton ’ s .
“ With 14,000+ restaurants across the country , we have a long legacy of being a dependable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDonald ’ s USA President Joe Erlinger said in a statement .
“ McDonald ’ s will do our part to continue to be a place people can count on to deliver a familiar , comforting and delicious experience , no matter where they are.
” They argued that truckers and medical workers who didn ’ t have time to shop or a place to cook rely on their services .
They also expressed concern about a bill that would require employers to provide 14 days of paid sick leave to employees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s request for exemption from an increasing number of local government shutdowns of restaurants , according to Business Insider , who listened in on their call .
The government is also likely to provide interest-free short-term loans to help smaller fast food franchises stay afloat , according to American Enterprise Institute .
Those are advantages small , local restaurants , which often provide farm-to-table organic food , won ’ t be able to complete with , further strengthening the fast-food-and-factory-farm cartel at a time we need real food the most .

Fast food chains may be the only restaurants equipped to survive coronavirus, as many states shut down all but drive-thrus and delivery
As restaurant bans sweep the country, state and city governments are allowing — and even encouraging — fast food restaurants to stay open because they are equipped for takeout with drive-thrus and delivery services.
Earlier this week, CEOs of McDonald’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Papa John’s and Popeyes had a conference call with President Trump to convince him fast food is crucial for Americans to survive the coronavirus outbreak,” reports Business Insider.
“If we don’t utilize businesses like Burger King … It’s really difficult for Americans to be fed, because it’s going to be difficult for them to get all their food from the supermarket,” argued the CEO of Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Horton’s.
“With 14,000+ restaurants across the country, we have a long legacy of being a dependable neighbor in times of need,” McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said in a statement.
“McDonald’s will do our part to continue to be a place people can count on to deliver a familiar, comforting and delicious experience, no matter where they are.”
They argued that truckers and medical workers who didn’t have time to shop or a place to cook rely on their services.
They also expressed concern about a bill that would require employers to provide 14 days of paid sick leave to employees.
Trump seems to support the industry’s request for exemption from an increasing number of local government shutdowns of restaurants, according to Business Insider, who listened in on their call.
The government is also likely to provide interest-free short-term loans to help smaller fast food franchises stay afloat, according to American Enterprise Institute.
Those are advantages small, local restaurants, which often provide farm-to-table organic food, won’t be able to complete with, further strengthening the fast-food-and-factory-farm cartel at a time we need real food the most.
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returntonow--2020-03-21--McDonalds’ Declared “Essential Business,” as Healthy Restaurants are Forced to Close

Fast food chains may be the only restaurants equipped to survive coronavirus , as many states shut down all but drive-thrus and delivery As restaurant bans sweep the country , state and city governments are allowing — and even encouraging — fast food restaurants to stay open because they are equipped for takeout with drive-thrus and delivery services .
Earlier this week , CEOs of McDonald ’ s , Burger King , Chick-fil-A , Papa John ’ s and Popeyes had a conference call with President Trump to convince him fast food is crucial for Americans to survive the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If we don ’ t utilize businesses like Burger King … It ’ s really difficult for Americans to be fed , because it ’ s going to be difficult for them to get all their food from the supermarket , ” argued the CEO of Restaurant Brands International , which owns Burger King , Popeyes and Tim Horton ’ s .
“ With 14,000+ restaurants across the country , we have a long legacy of being a dependable neighbor in times of need , ” McDonald ’ s USA President Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDonald ’ s will do our part to continue to be a place people can count on to deliver a familiar , comforting and delicious experience , no matter where they are.
” They argued that truckers and medical workers who didn ’ t have time to shop or a place to cook rely on their services .
They also expressed concern about a bill that would require employers to provide 14 days of paid sick leave to employees .
Trump seems to support the industry ’ s request for exemption from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants , according to Business Insider , who listened in on their call .
The government is also likely to provide interest-free short-term loans to help smaller fast food franchises stay afloat , according to American Enterprise Institute .
Those are advantages small , local restaurants , which often provide farm-to-table organic food , won ’ t be able to complete with , further strengthening the fast-food-and-factory-farm cartel at a time we need real food the most .
Dear Return to Now readers , we are now partnering with Brave Health Store to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand sanitizer made with colloidal silver .
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returntonow--2020-03-22--‘Extinct’ Clouded Leopard Spotted for the First Time in 37 Years in Taiwan

Animals lovers rejoice , the Formosan clouded leopard has been spotted by Taiwanese rangers for the first since 1983 .
After close to a year of searching , Alangyi Village rangers spotted these clouded leopards on two different occasions .
The rangers first sighted multiple clouded leopards hunting goats on a cliff , then , after being tipped off , one was seen near some scooters before running up a tree .
The Formosan clouded leopard is a subspecies of the clouded leopard , which has been on the International Union for Conservation of Nature ’ s vulnerable list since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , these majestic casts have a long and mysterious history .
Excessive logging drove these clouded leopards from the foothills of Southeast Asia to the upper parts of the Yushan Mountain Range .
The further up they were pushed , the less they were seen .
The sightings become so rare , that in 2013 , they were declared extinct .
However , over the last few years , according to locals in the Paiwan tribe , this precious cat has been seen more and more .
Known by the tribe as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Formosan clouded leopard as a sacred spirit animal .
The increased sightings led the village chief to call upon its community to see how to best preserve the endangered animal .
Working with Tiawan ’ s government , they will attempt to keep outsiders from hunting them .
Village elders are also urging the Forestry Bureau to cease activities like logging , which keeps the skittish and rare leopards from coming out of hiding .
Along with protecting these clouded leopards , the Taitung Forest District is looking to start scientific research on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further documented and confirmed .

Animals lovers rejoice, the Formosan clouded leopard has been spotted by Taiwanese rangers for the first since 1983.
After close to a year of searching, Alangyi Village rangers spotted these clouded leopards on two different occasions.
The rangers first sighted multiple clouded leopards hunting goats on a cliff, then, after being tipped off, one was seen near some scooters before running up a tree.
The Formosan clouded leopard is a subspecies of the clouded leopard, which has been on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s vulnerable list since 2008.
Known for their dusky-grey markings, these majestic casts have a long and mysterious history.
Excessive logging drove these clouded leopards from the foothills of Southeast Asia to the upper parts of the Yushan Mountain Range.
The further up they were pushed, the less they were seen. The sightings become so rare, that in 2013, they were declared extinct.
However, over the last few years, according to locals in the Paiwan tribe, this precious cat has been seen more and more.
Known by the tribe as “Li’ uljaw” they value the Formosan clouded leopard as a sacred spirit animal.
The increased sightings led the village chief to call upon its community to see how to best preserve the endangered animal. Working with Tiawan’s government, they will attempt to keep outsiders from hunting them.
Village elders are also urging the Forestry Bureau to cease activities like logging, which keeps the skittish and rare leopards from coming out of hiding.
Along with protecting these clouded leopards, the Taitung Forest District is looking to start scientific research on them, once the sightings can be further documented and confirmed.


returntonow--2020-03-24--Bill Gates Backs $1 Billion Plan to Blanket Earth in Video Surveillance Satellites

Our planet will soon be surrounded by 500 satellites capable of real-time coverage of human activity and movement around the globe Microsoft founder Bill Gates is bankrolling a company that plans on launching a $ 1 billion network of satellites to provide live-streaming coverage of almost “ corner ” of the earth .
EarthNow plans on launching 500 plus satellites into our atmosphere , providing its users with near instantaneous video feedback with only one second of delay .
While this may sound like something from a futuristic sci-fi movie , it is very much a real thing .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to do is flip on their smart phone or tablet to get instant , live access to what ’ s going on in any part of the world .
Users can watch the weather , detect forest fires the moment they start , watch volcanoes the instant they start to erupt and track the migration of large whales , the company boasts .
While that all sounds benevolent enough , users can also “ observe conflict zones and respond immediately when crises arise , assist the media in telling stories from around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the act , and instantly create “ living ” 3D models of a town or city , even in remote locations.
” The obvious big question is who are the “ users ” of this technology .
According to Wikipedia , the company expects its initial customers to include “ governments and large enterprises.
” EarthNow founder Russel Hannigan says his company ’ s simple objective is to “ connect people visually with the Earth in real time.
” Not only is Gates backing the project , but so too are tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company expects a billion in funding but won ’ t disclose the value of what ’ s been contributed .
Hannigan said the funding would cover the planning stage of the product .
EarthNow isn ’ t the only one receiving money for out-of-this-world technologies .
Since 2017 , $ 2.9 billion has been allocated from 67 equity funds to further advance our exploration of space .

A Gates-funded start-up company called EarthNow announced plans to surround the planet in 500 satellites capable of real-time video coverage of human activity and movement around the globe… Several mainstream news outlets reported about it in 2018… Now the company’s website has disappeared from the internet…
This article has been updated since we first published it in March of 2020.
Bill Gates helped bankroll a start-up company called EarthNow that announced its plan to launch a $1 billion network of 500 satellites to provide live-streaming video coverage of every “corner” of the Earth in 2018.
NBC, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Live Science, and even the concerned ACLU, all reported about it, but now the company’s website has disappeared from the internet. When you click the link to “EarthNow.com” in any of those articles, it’ll direct you to a spam phishing site.
So now the question is, what happened to it? Did EarthNow dissolve after bad publicity? Put its plans on hold? Carry on without alerting the media?
Before it disappeared, the company’s website boasted that all a customer of their surveillance network had to do was flip on their smart phone or tablet to get “near-instantaneous video feedback with only one second of delay” of what’s going on in any part of the world at any time of day.
Users of the futuristic “EarthNow” app would be able to watch the weather, detect forest fires the moment they start, watch volcanoes erupt, and track the migration of large whales.
While that all sounds benevolent enough, the app could also be used to “help ‘smart cities’ become more efficient, provide on-demand data about crop health, catch illegal fishing ships in the act, observe conflict zones and respond immediately when crises arise, and assist the media in telling stories from around the world,” EarthNow’s website used to say.
The big question is who are the “users” of this technology. According to Wikipedia, the company expected its initial customers to include “governments and large enterprises,” but that they hoped to eventually make an app that regular people could afford.
“We are excited by the prospect of giving everyone a stunningly-beautiful real-time window on your world from space. With EarthNow, we will all become virtual astronauts,” EarthNow founder Russel Hannigan said.
The satellites will also have “machine intelligence,” meaning they can “interpret” what they are seeing to aid in surveillance, according to NBC.
They are the first “low-cost, high-performance satellites created for mass-production,” according to Big Tech co-funder Greg Wyler, and will “help humanity understand and manage its impact on Earth.”
In addition to Gates and Wyler, EarthNow also received funding from tech giants Softbank and Airbus. The company expected to raise a billion dollars to fund the initial launch, but wouldn’t disclose how much each party contributed.
The satellites were supposed to be deployed in stages, with the goal being “100% pole-to-pole global coverage,” the website said. No time frame was provided.


returntonow--2020-03-25--“Victory Gardens” Come Back in Vogue Thanks To Coronavirus

People are planting wartime-style “ victory gardens ” to combat potential food shortages and isolation during quarantine During World War I and World War II , the leaders of many nations called on their citizens to “ dig for victory.
” “ Victory Gardens ” supplemented rations and boosted morale , while agricultural workers were off at war .
Though we are fighting a whole new kind of enemy today , we face a similar threat of potential food shortages in coming months .
If migrant agricultural workers fall ill and/or can ’ t cross the border during lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
In response , “ patriots ” around the world are planting backyard – and front-yard – gardens to provide a steady supply of nutritious food during quarantine and for the economically uncertain years to come .
Nurseries around the world are selling out of veggie seedlings and fruit tree saplings .
One in Australia says sales have tripled since coronavirus shutdowns started .
“ The good old days are over forever , ” says the founder of the new Facebook group Victory Garden Revival .
“ Skills not passed down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War II , will have to be resurrected for ourselves and others.
” For instructions on how to grow a “ rapid response ” victory garden click here .
Or for a longer-lasting , more sustainable garden , try a permaculture forest garden .
Here ’ s the Bible on the topic : Gaia ’ s Garden .

People are planting WWII-style “victory gardens” to combat potential food shortages and isolation during quarantine
During World War I and World War II, the leaders of many nations called on their citizens to “dig for victory.”
“Victory Gardens” supplemented rations and boosted morale, while agricultural workers were off at war.
Though we are fighting a whole new kind of enemy today, we face a similar threat of potential food shortages in coming months.
If migrant agricultural workers fall ill and/or can’t cross the border during lockdown, we could see certain supply chains dry up.
In response, “patriots” around the world are planting backyard – and front-yard – gardens to provide a steady supply of nutritious food during quarantine and for the economically uncertain years to come.
Nurseries around the world are selling out of veggie seedlings and fruit tree saplings. One in Australia says sales have tripled since coronavirus shutdowns started.
“The good old days are over forever,” says the founder of the new Facebook group Victory Garden Revival.
“Skills not passed down to most of the new generations since World War II, will have to be resurrected for ourselves and others.”
For instructions on how to grow a “rapid response” victory garden click here.
Or for a longer-lasting, more sustainable garden, try a permaculture forest garden. Here’s the Bible on the topic: Gaia’s Garden.


returntonow--2020-04-17--Posting Anti-Vaccine “Propaganda” on Social Media Could Become a Crime in the U.K.

Posting “ false information ” about vaccines on Facebook could soon land you in jail in England It could soon be a criminal offense to publish anything critical of vaccines in the United Kingdom .
“ Posting anti-vaccine propaganda on social media could become a criminal offence – even if those promoting it believe the pseudoscience , ” reports The Telegraph .
The UK ’ s new criminal Law Commissioner Penney Lewis is considering “ lowering the threshold of criminality for posting false information online that endangers lives , ” she tells the British newspaper .
Currently , people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe the misinformation they publish , ” but under Lewis ’ s proposal , posting “ internet health conspiracies ” — such as “ anti-vaccination posts and people advocating cancer patients treat themselves with the apricot extract ” —would be criminal offenses .
Citizens of the UK can already be prosecuted for posting “ false information ” — such as bomb threats — with the intent of causing “ annoyance , inconvenience or needless anxiety ” , but Lewis wants to prosecute no matter what the intent .
Even “ if their purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxiety , but they think they are doing the right thing by posting false information about a vaccine , for example , it is then should there be a recklessness-based fault element or even a lower [ criminal ] threshold ?
” she said in an interview with The Telegraph .
“ So where they ’ ve really not done their homework and they ’ ve been negligent in the way they have spread this false information or disseminated it … I think we need to look into whether there is a role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to false health information.
” Lewis ’ s announcement comes right on the heels of an announcement by the UK ’ s Health Secretary that he was “ looking very seriously ” at making vaccinations mandatory for all public school students .
The UK ’ s Law Commission will also be considering whether online “ glorification of self-harm ” should also be made a criminal offense , Lewis said .

Posting “false information” about vaccines on Facebook could soon land you in jail in England
It could soon be a criminal offense to publish anything critical of vaccines in the United Kingdom.
“Posting anti-vaccine propaganda on social media could become a criminal offence – even if those promoting it believe the pseudoscience,” reports The Telegraph.
The UK’s new criminal Law Commissioner Penney Lewis is considering “lowering the threshold of criminality for posting false information online that endangers lives,” she tells the British newspaper.
Currently, people are protected from prosecution if they “sincerely believe the misinformation they publish,” but under Lewis’s proposal, posting “internet health conspiracies” — such as “anti-vaccination posts and people advocating cancer patients treat themselves with the apricot extract” —would be criminal offenses.
Citizens of the UK can already be prosecuted for posting “false information” — such as bomb threats — with the intent of causing “annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety”, but Lewis wants to prosecute no matter what the intent.
Even “if their purpose is actually not to cause annoyance or anxiety, but they think they are doing the right thing by posting false information about a vaccine, for example, it is then should there be a recklessness-based fault element or even a lower [criminal] threshold?” she said in an interview with The Telegraph.
“So where they’ve really not done their homework and they’ve been negligent in the way they have spread this false information or disseminated it … I think we need to look into whether there is a role [for criminal law] in relation to false health information.”
Lewis’s announcement comes right on the heels of an announcement by the UK’s Health Secretary that he was “looking very seriously” at making vaccinations mandatory for all public school students.
The UK’s Law Commission will also be considering whether online “glorification of self-harm” should also be made a criminal offense, Lewis said.


returntonow--2020-04-18--Government “Gives Away” 200,000 Acres of Public Land While Americans Shelter in Place

While Americans are locked down and distracted , the Bureau of Land Management is selling off our public lands to oil and gas companies for $ 2 an acre Since the president declared a national emergency on March 13 , the Bureau of Land Management has offered up 213,000 acres of public land for sale at rock bottom prices .
Much if it has already been snapped up by oil and gas companies for as little as $ 2 an acre , reports the Natural Resources Defense Council .
The lands , in Mississippi , Montana , Nevada , Wyoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the BLM ostensibly for the benefit and enjoyment of the public , but are now being recklessly “ gifted ” to oil and gas companies for as little as $ 2 an acre , These so-called “ non-competitive leases ” leave taxpayers with virtually no financial benefit for handing over vast public areas to private interests , the NRDC argues : “ Many have asked—as they should—how in the world fossil fuel companies and other extractive industries are getting away with gaining access to our public lands and mineral resources for prices not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world .
”

While we aren’t allowed to visit national parks and forests, the government is selling our public land off to oil and gas companies for as little as $2 an acre.
Since the president declared a national emergency on March 13, the Bureau of Land Management has offered up 213,000 acres of public land for sale at rock bottom prices.
Much if it has already been snapped up by oil and gas companies for as little as $2 an acre, reports the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The lands, in Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado, are managed by the BLM ostensibly for the benefit and enjoyment of the public, but are now being recklessly “gifted” to oil and gas companies for as little as $2 an acre,
These so-called “non-competitive leases” leave taxpayers with virtually no financial benefit for handing over vast public areas to private interests, the NRDC argues:
“Many have asked—as they should—how in the world fossil fuel companies and other extractive industries are getting away with gaining access to our public lands and mineral resources for prices not available in any competitive real estate market in the world.”


returntonow--2020-04-18--Thousands of Acres of Fruit and Veggies are Being Left to Rot in the Fields in Florida and Californi

Thousands of Acres of Fruit and Veggies are Being Left to Rot in the Fields in Florida and California

With no restaurants , schools or theme parks to sell them to farmers are plowing tons of unpicked produce back into the ground Farmers who primarily grow food for restaurants , schools and amusement parks are leaving massive mounds of fruits and veggies in their fields to rot .
They are scrambling to sell to grocery stores , but it ’ s not an easy transition , reports ClickOrlando.com .
Grocery chains already have contracts with farmers who grow for retail — many from outside the U.S. – and even that produce is not selling as fast as usual thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores for fresh fruits and veggies often .
Thousands of acres of unharvested tomatoes , squash , green beans , cabbage and peppers are being plowed over in Florida , while leagues of lettuce and strawberries are being left to wilt in California .
Dairy farmers in Vermont and Wisconsin are also dumping thousands of gallons of milk intended for restaurants .
Responsible for proving much of the country with produce during the winter and early spring , Florida farmers are particularly hard hit .
“ This is a catastrophe , ” Tampa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We haven ’ t even started to calculate it .
It ’ s going to be in the millions of dollars.
” 80 percent of the tomatoes grown in Florida are grown for now-shuttered restaurants and theme parks , he notes .
“ We gave 400,000 pounds of tomatoes to our local food banks , ” DiMare said .
“ A million more pounds will have to be donated if we can get the food banks to take it.
” “ We can ’ t even give our product away , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here.
” In happier news , community supported agriculture ( CSA ) memberships are skyrocketing .
CSAs are typically small , organic , biodiverse farms that deliver weekly boxes of whatever produce is in season to their members , who commit to supporting the sustainable farms consistently throughout the year so they can survive/compete against industrial mono-crop farms .

With no restaurants, schools or theme parks to sell them to farmers are plowing tons of unpicked produce back into the ground
Farmers who primarily grow food for restaurants, schools and amusement parks are leaving massive mounds of fruits and veggies in their fields to rot.
They are scrambling to sell to grocery stores, but it’s not an easy transition, reports ClickOrlando.com.
Grocery chains already have contracts with farmers who grow for retail — many from outside the U.S. – and even that produce is not selling as fast as usual thanks to people stockpiling non-perishables and not visiting stores for fresh fruits and veggies often.
Thousands of acres of unharvested tomatoes, squash, green beans, cabbage and peppers are being plowed over in Florida, while leagues of lettuce and strawberries are being left to wilt in California. Dairy farmers in Vermont and Wisconsin are also dumping thousands of gallons of milk intended for restaurants.
Responsible for proving much of the country with produce during the winter and early spring, Florida farmers are particularly hard hit.
“This is a catastrophe,” Tampa tomato grower Tony DiMare said. “We haven’t even started to calculate it. It’s going to be in the millions of dollars.”
80 percent of the tomatoes grown in Florida are grown for now-shuttered restaurants and theme parks, he notes.
“We gave 400,000 pounds of tomatoes to our local food banks,” DiMare said. “A million more pounds will have to be donated if we can get the food banks to take it.”
“We can’t even give our product away, and we’re allowing imports to come in here.”
In happier news, community supported agriculture (CSA) memberships are skyrocketing. CSAs are typically small, organic, biodiverse farms that deliver weekly boxes of whatever produce is in season to their members, who commit to supporting the sustainable farms consistently throughout the year so they can survive/compete against industrial mono-crop farms.


returntonow--2020-04-19--STUDY: Megadrought Emerging in Western U.S. is the Worst in 1200 Years

The last 20 years have been the driest in over 1000 years according to tree-ring data , and scientists don ’ t expect conditions to get better anytime soon The Western United States has now entered into a climate-driven megadrought , says a new study out of Columbia University .
For the study , scientists looked at 1200 years worth of tree-ring data and found the last 20 years have been the driest since 800 AD .
They looked at 9 states from Oregon and Montana down through California and New Mexico .
The rings of old growth trees revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centuries .
They tell the story of dozens of major droughts in the Western half of the United States over the last millenium , but none so dry , widespread and long-lived as the one that began in 2000 .
Catastrophic wildfires , decreasing snowpack and dwindling water resources have become the norm for Westerners over the last couple of decades , but with rising temperatures and explosive population growth , this may just be the beginning the researchers warn .
Climate change has increased temperatures in the West by 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warmer air holds more moisture , it is increasingly being drawn out of the soil .
M ajor agricultural reservoirs in the region , such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell , have shrunk dramatically .
And insect outbreaks are ravaging dried-out forests , making them even more vulnerable to fire .
And fewer forests mean hotter temperatures , perpetuating the cycle .
“ I think the biggest impact is the West-wide increase in very large and intense wildfires , which will get even worse in a warmer future and perhaps unimaginable during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the Western Water Assessment at University of Colorado , told CBS .

The last 20 years have been the driest in over 1000 years according to tree-ring data, and scientists don’t expect conditions to get better anytime soon
The Western United States has now entered into a climate-driven megadrought, says a new study out of Columbia University.
For the study, scientists looked at 1200 years worth of tree-ring data and found the last 20 years have been the driest since 800 AD.
They looked at 9 states from Oregon and Montana down through California and New Mexico. The rings of old growth trees revealed changes in soil moisture levels over the centuries.
They tell the story of dozens of major droughts in the Western half of the United States over the last millenium, but none so dry, widespread and long-lived as the one that began in 2000.
Catastrophic wildfires, decreasing snowpack and dwindling water resources have become the norm for Westerners over the last couple of decades, but with rising temperatures and explosive population growth, this may just be the beginning the researchers warn.
Climate change has increased temperatures in the West by 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit in the past 20 years. Since warmer air holds more moisture, it is increasingly being drawn out of the soil.
M ajor agricultural reservoirs in the region, such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have shrunk dramatically. And insect outbreaks are ravaging dried-out forests, making them even more vulnerable to fire. And fewer forests mean hotter temperatures, perpetuating the cycle.
“I think the biggest impact is the West-wide increase in very large and intense wildfires, which will get even worse in a warmer future and perhaps unimaginable during a future megadrought,” Jeff Lukas, with the Western Water Assessment at University of Colorado, told CBS.


returntonow--2020-04-20--Two New “Vampire” Crab Species Discovered in Indonesia

Two stunningly colorful new crab species with spooky yellow eyes found in rivers on the island of Java Scientists have named and found the origins of two mysterious crabs that have become increasingly popular as pets over the last decade or so .
A purple crab named Geosesarma dennerle and a bright orange crab named Geosesarma hagen originated in two separate river valleys on the Indonesian island of Java .
The freshwater crabs ’ unusually bright coloring is thought to be an evolutionary result of their amphibious nature , meaning they spend lots of time on the sand , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s much more emphasis on color and visual cues rather than chemical cues , as used in the water.
” Lukhaup became interested in the origins two colorful vampire crabs after seeing them sold around the world as pets .
He scouted out collectors in the aquarium trade to give him clues .
“ There were a lot of false rumors because people don ’ t want other collectors to go there , ” he said .
He was finally able to track them down in Central Java , where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named them , and published their findings in the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology .
“ Dealers working in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world know what their clients are looking for in terms of colors , ” said study co-author Christoph Schubart of Germany ’ s Regensburg University ’ s Institute of Zoology .
“ They start collecting in areas where scientists may not have made any expeditions so far , and suddenly the market is formed with some animals that no one has ever given a name.
” The scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species yet to be discovered on the islands of Indonesia .
Since freshwater crabs never venture to the ocean and tend to stay put , each of the islands likely have their own unique vampire crab species , Schubart said .
While their main attraction is their wild color schemes , vampire crabs measure less than an inch wide , making them an ideal size for small fish tanks .
Because both of the two species is confined to single watershed , the scientists worry about their popularity leading to their eventually extinction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local collectors , it ’ s their living , ” Schubart said .
“ They just catch what they can get and export it.
” Lukhaup hopes that commercial breeding will help protect wild populations .

Two stunningly colorful new crab species with spooky yellow eyes found in rivers on the island of Java
Scientists have named and found the origins of two mysterious crabs that have become increasingly popular as pets over the last decade or so.
A purple crab named Geosesarma dennerle and a bright orange crab named Geosesarma hagen originated in two separate river valleys on the Indonesian island of Java.
The freshwater crabs’ unusually bright coloring is thought to be an evolutionary result of their amphibious nature, meaning they spend lots of time on the sand, as well as in the water.
On land, “visual communication becomes much more important,” German aquarist Christian Lukhaup told National Geographic.