csmonitor--2020-06-10--Finding a joy that can’t be masked

Finding a joy that can’t be masked

Our local government , like so many others , issued a directive requiring the wearing of face masks in most situations due to the coronavirus pandemic .
I appreciated the caring intention behind the rule and wanted to be law-abiding , but I also feared that an ability to let one ’ s individual light shine was being taken away – that people ’ s unique identities were being replaced by faceless , soulless drones .
I struggled for quite a while with this situation .
I was spinning my wheels and getting nowhere .
And on top of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jaw tension .
So I wholeheartedly prayed to God .
I knew from experience that when we ’ re looking for healing or a sense of peace , striving to see out from God ’ s vantage point rather than from a limited , mortal view is extremely helpful .
I thought of how , in the Bible , a man named Joseph found a way to let his light shine even from the depths of prison .
Eventually he ruled over the land .
And how Jesus gave his enemies his body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away his eternal , spiritual individuality .
Even his crucifixion and burial in a tomb didn ’ t stop him from demonstrating , through his resurrection , everlasting Life .
In the textbook of Christian Science , Mary Baker Eddy states , “ Identity is the reflection of Spirit , the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle , Love ” ( “ Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures , ” p. 477 ) .
The true identity of all of us is not material , but spiritual – the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Science and Health explains , “ This scientific sense of being , forsaking matter for Spirit , by no means suggests man ’ s absorption into Deity and the loss of his identity , but confers upon man enlarged individuality , a wider sphere of thought and action , a more expansive love , a higher and more permanent peace ” ( p. 265 ) .
I realized that no mask could ever take my ability to express qualities of divine Life , Truth , Soul , Spirit , Mind , as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one true Mind , the source of our ability to think and act productively .
God is infinite Soul , impelling our ability to express our true nature in individual , unique ways .
And since God is eternal , and we are His loved and flawless spiritual image , or expression , these qualities are inherent in our being .
They can never be taken from us .
Catching this glimpse of my spiritual , untouchable individuality lifted much of my frustration about the mask requirements , but I still didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then I thought of a section in the “ Manual of The Mother Church ” by Mary Baker Eddy called “ God ’ s Requirement.
” This passage , which people of all backgrounds can relate to , states , “ God requires wisdom , economy , and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church , The First Church of Christ , Scientist ” ( p. 77 ) .
As I pondered the idea of “ God ’ s requirement ” including “ brotherly love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was a unique way to express my God-given joy and individuality freely , while being law-abiding and loving to others around me by wearing a mask .
The idea was to have an image of my smiling face printed on a mask .
I felt elated and free !
I felt so deeply divine Love , God , being reflected through loving thoughts and actions .
The angst and jaw tension disappeared .
So even if we ’ re wearing a mask , we can know that our individuality and uniqueness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one can stop us from expressing joy and brotherly love .
They are eternally visible !
As Jesus promises , “ No one will take away your joy ” ( John 16:22 , New International Version ) .
I still look forward to the day when masks will not be part of everyday life .
But even before then , I ’ ll be living my inner joy , warmth , and peace – and you can too !
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all the Monitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including articles from this column .
There ’ s also a special free section of JSH-Online.com on a healing response to the global pandemic .
There is no paywall for any of this coverage .

Our local government, like so many others, issued a directive requiring the wearing of face masks in most situations due to the coronavirus pandemic. I appreciated the caring intention behind the rule and wanted to be law-abiding, but I also feared that an ability to let one’s individual light shine was being taken away – that people’s unique identities were being replaced by faceless, soulless drones.
I struggled for quite a while with this situation. I was spinning my wheels and getting nowhere. And on top of it all, I developed uncomfortable, persistent jaw tension.
So I wholeheartedly prayed to God. I knew from experience that when we’re looking for healing or a sense of peace, striving to see out from God’s vantage point rather than from a limited, mortal view is extremely helpful.
I thought of how, in the Bible, a man named Joseph found a way to let his light shine even from the depths of prison. Eventually he ruled over the land.
And how Jesus gave his enemies his body, but that didn’t give away his eternal, spiritual individuality. Even his crucifixion and burial in a tomb didn’t stop him from demonstrating, through his resurrection, everlasting Life.
In the textbook of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy states, “Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 477). The true identity of all of us is not material, but spiritual – the reflection of divine Spirit, God. Science and Health explains, “This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for Spirit, by no means suggests man’s absorption into Deity and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace” (p. 265).
I realized that no mask could ever take my ability to express qualities of divine Life, Truth, Soul, Spirit, Mind, as they come from God. God is the one true Mind, the source of our ability to think and act productively. God is infinite Soul, impelling our ability to express our true nature in individual, unique ways. And since God is eternal, and we are His loved and flawless spiritual image, or expression, these qualities are inherent in our being. They can never be taken from us.
Catching this glimpse of my spiritual, untouchable individuality lifted much of my frustration about the mask requirements, but I still didn’t feel totally settled about the situation.
Then I thought of a section in the “Manual of The Mother Church” by Mary Baker Eddy called “God’s Requirement.” This passage, which people of all backgrounds can relate to, states, “God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist” (p. 77).
As I pondered the idea of “God’s requirement” including “brotherly love,” an idea came to me. It was a unique way to express my God-given joy and individuality freely, while being law-abiding and loving to others around me by wearing a mask. The idea was to have an image of my smiling face printed on a mask.
I felt elated and free! I felt so deeply divine Love, God, being reflected through loving thoughts and actions. The angst and jaw tension disappeared.
So even if we’re wearing a mask, we can know that our individuality and uniqueness come from God, and nothing and no one can stop us from expressing joy and brotherly love. They are eternally visible! As Jesus promises, “No one will take away your joy” (John 16:22, New International Version).
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
I still look forward to the day when masks will not be part of everyday life. But even before then, I’ll be living my inner joy, warmth, and peace – and you can too!
Editor’s note: As a public service, all the Monitor’s coronavirus coverage is free, including articles from this column. There’s also a special free section of JSH-Online.com on a healing response to the global pandemic. There is no paywall for any of this coverage.


csmonitor--2020-04-10--As Britain battles a pandemic, a volunteer spirit stirs

At the same time , hundreds of thousands of citizens recently volunteered to support the pandemic response , far more than the government had anticipated .
That sense of solidarity was referenced by the monarch in language that invoked the sacrifices of World War II .
“ While we may have still more to endure , better days will return .
... We will meet again , ” she said .
Every Thursday night , U.K. residents on lockdowns emerge from their homes to clap and cheer the doctors and nurses of the National Health Service .
That sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address last Sunday by Queen Elizabeth II that was warmly received by many .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent this week in the hospital , raising concerns about political stability amid a pandemic .
His is one of 65,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.K. Mr. Johnson ’ s condition has improved , and that may provide some relief for a country that only recently emerged from years of political turmoil over its exit from the European Union .
Across the United Kingdom , as the COVID-19 crisis has bitten deeper , its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emerging from self-isolation every Thursday night at 8 p.m. to clap , cheer , and bang pots and pans to show support for the country ’ s front-line doctors and nurses .
Each week the crescendo of gratitude has grown louder , sometimes punctuated by the blast of fireworks , filling otherwise becalmed neighborhoods briefly with appreciative noise for those at the tip of the spear , as they battle the spread of the coronavirus .
But as the death toll today hit a single-day U.K. record of 980 – and with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks away – the crisis caused by the scale of the pandemic has been compounded here by a new degree of political uncertainty .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the hospital on Sunday and has spent his days and nights in intensive care fighting the virus , surrounded by the doctors and nurses of the National Health Service .
“ They ’ ve had a tough week , ” said Joan , a 60-something Briton , as she banged on a frying pan on her west London porch last night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re amazing , ” she said , as her suburban neighborhood joined in the rallying cry .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
The U.K. is not alone in showing newfound public affection for key workers , nor in facing an unprecedented public health emergency that has , in Europe , especially ravaged Italy , Spain , and France .
A recent U.K. government appeal for 250,000 volunteers to help the NHS cope yielded an army of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop to clear the backlog .
But the pandemic finds the U.K. at a politically precarious moment , as a nation finally emerging from 3 1/2 years of political gridlock over its chaotic departure from the European Union .
A December election that gave a decisive victory to Mr. Johnson and the ruling Conservative Party added clarity to a Brexit mandate and was seen by many as a potential first step in healing deep divisions in Britain ’ s political and social fabric .
Acknowledging the impact of the coronavirus on daily lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rare address on Sunday , praised the “ national spirit ” and thanked NHS and care workers , whose “ every hour ” of hard work “ brings us closer to a return to a more normal time.
” Calling on citizens to “ remain united and resolute ” to overcome the pandemic , she sought to provide comfort .
“ While we may have still more to endure , better days will return .
... We will meet again , ” she said .
Yet within an hour of hearing those words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mr. Johnson had been rushed to the hospital , raising the specter of a leadership vacuum that , amid the pandemic , renewed a sense of political uncertainty .
The sense of uncertainty “ operates on a number of levels , and they ’ re all destabilizing , ” says Steven Fielding , an expert on British politics and political history at the University of Nottingham .
“ The very fact that the prime minister had been taken to hospital was something people genuinely found a bit disturbing , ” says Professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how decisions would be made , and obviously political journalists have been trying to follow , ‘ Who ’ s actually in charge now ?
’ ” he says .
For others , it was more symbolic : If the prime minister could fall seriously ill , so could everyone .
Mr. Johnson was returned to a normal hospital ward late Thursday after spending three nights in intensive care .
His father , Stanley Johnson , told the BBC today how touched he had been by the outpouring of support the family had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need time to fully recover .
The U.K. ’ s unwritten constitution does not spell out a clear succession process if a prime minister is incapacitated .
Mr. Johnson had already shepherded several key decisions about the national lockdown , and a £350 million financial rescue package that was adopted by lawmakers on March 17 .
That means , for now , that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab , who is deputized to act for Mr. Johnson , is unlikely to have to make any critical moves .
Nearly 9,000 people have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 65,000 confirmed cases .
With the Easter weekend looming , Mr. Raab said Thursday a decision to ease restrictions was at least another week away .
He told a press briefing that he had not spoken to Mr. Johnson since he was admitted to the hospital , but that the government has “ got this covered.
” Mr. Raab said he has “ all the authority I need ” to make decisions .
Indeed , Mr. Johnson ’ s temporary incapacitation “ is not necessarily a crisis for the British political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professor of government at King ’ s College , London , in an analysis for Foreign Policy that tabulates the absences of past prime ministers .
During World War II , for example , Winston Churchill had bouts of pneumonia , and in 1953 , an incapacitating stroke , but remained prime minister on both occasions , even as others were deputized to preside .
But severe social inequalities across the U.K. , a wealthy country that has pockets of deep deprivation not seen in its European peers , may have lasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shown clapping for health workers last Thursday at the door of 10 Downing Street , for example , social media erupted with charges of hypocrisy , pointing to a decade of Conservative-led austerity budgets that especially pared down the NHS .
There is a shortage of intensive care beds , and some health care workers have been forced to buy their own protective gear .
A survey of nearly 3,500 nurses published Friday found that two-thirds did not feel they had access to sufficient safety equipment .
Just under a third had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ College of Nursing study last September that found a shortage of 40,000 nurses in England alone .
“ From defunding nurse training to selling off parts of the NHS to private companies , the Tory party in power has hobbled the healthcare system ’ s ability to deal with the everyday , let alone the exceptional , ” wrote one Guardian columnist last week .
That has meant online skepticism of social media campaigns like # PrayForBoris .
Still , citizens have rallied together , evoking the memories of the spirit of community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War II , which were echoed by the queen .
Yet it remains to be seen how deeply British society might change after the pandemic threat recedes , if World War II is any guide .
“ I wouldn ’ t like to say it ’ s a new kind of spirit , ” says Professor Fielding , who has authored several books on Britain ’ s postwar political history .
Back then , people had discovered purpose and solidarity in a conflict that followed a period that poet W.H .
Auden called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which those qualities were seen as missing in action .
“ People are volunteering to go into bombers to fly over Germany and face almost near-certain death , in order to win this war , on behalf of everybody , ” says Mr .
Fielding .
“ They ’ re literally sacrificing their lives .
“ And people said at the time : ‘ We ’ ve now got a new kind of citizenship , which will go forward into the world , after the war.
’ It didn ’ t quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went back largely to how they had been before , ” he says .
“ But the crisis did reveal some people ’ s capacity to think about others , rather than themselves .
And , of course , that is quite inspiring.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

The United Kingdom has been riven by the Brexit debate in recent years, and the coronavirus pandemic has only added a new element of uncertainty. But the country is finding common cause against the virus.
At the same time, hundreds of thousands of citizens recently volunteered to support the pandemic response, far more than the government had anticipated. That sense of solidarity was referenced by the monarch in language that invoked the sacrifices of World War II. “While we may have still more to endure, better days will return. ... We will meet again,” she said.
Every Thursday night, U.K. residents on lockdowns emerge from their homes to clap and cheer the doctors and nurses of the National Health Service. That sense of unity was reinforced by a rare public address last Sunday by Queen Elizabeth II that was warmly received by many.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson spent this week in the hospital, raising concerns about political stability amid a pandemic. His is one of 65,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.K. Mr. Johnson’s condition has improved, and that may provide some relief for a country that only recently emerged from years of political turmoil over its exit from the European Union.
Across the United Kingdom, as the COVID-19 crisis has bitten deeper, its citizens have started a new ritual: Emerging from self-isolation every Thursday night at 8 p.m. to clap, cheer, and bang pots and pans to show support for the country’s front-line doctors and nurses.
Each week the crescendo of gratitude has grown louder, sometimes punctuated by the blast of fireworks, filling otherwise becalmed neighborhoods briefly with appreciative noise for those at the tip of the spear, as they battle the spread of the coronavirus.
But as the death toll today hit a single-day U.K. record of 980 – and with the peak death rate still estimated to be two weeks away – the crisis caused by the scale of the pandemic has been compounded here by a new degree of political uncertainty. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to the hospital on Sunday and has spent his days and nights in intensive care fighting the virus, surrounded by the doctors and nurses of the National Health Service.
Why We Wrote This The United Kingdom has been riven by the Brexit debate in recent years, and the coronavirus pandemic has only added a new element of uncertainty. But the country is finding common cause against the virus.
“They’ve had a tough week,” said Joan, a 60-something Briton, as she banged on a frying pan on her west London porch last night, referring to key workers. “They’re amazing,” she said, as her suburban neighborhood joined in the rallying cry.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
The U.K. is not alone in showing newfound public affection for key workers, nor in facing an unprecedented public health emergency that has, in Europe, especially ravaged Italy, Spain, and France. A recent U.K. government appeal for 250,000 volunteers to help the NHS cope yielded an army of 750,000 would-be helpers, precipitating a temporary stop to clear the backlog.
But the pandemic finds the U.K. at a politically precarious moment, as a nation finally emerging from 3 1/2 years of political gridlock over its chaotic departure from the European Union. A December election that gave a decisive victory to Mr. Johnson and the ruling Conservative Party added clarity to a Brexit mandate and was seen by many as a potential first step in healing deep divisions in Britain’s political and social fabric.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP View caption Hide caption An image of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and quotes from her historic television broadcast commenting on the coronavirus pandemic are displayed on a big screen behind the Eros statue at Piccadilly Circus in London on April 9, 2020.
Acknowledging the impact of the coronavirus on daily lives, Queen Elizabeth II, in a rare address on Sunday, praised the “national spirit” and thanked NHS and care workers, whose “every hour” of hard work “brings us closer to a return to a more normal time.”
Calling on citizens to “remain united and resolute” to overcome the pandemic, she sought to provide comfort. “While we may have still more to endure, better days will return. ... We will meet again,” she said.
“Who’s in charge now?”
Yet within an hour of hearing those words that would resonate widely, Britons learned that Mr. Johnson had been rushed to the hospital, raising the specter of a leadership vacuum that, amid the pandemic, renewed a sense of political uncertainty.
The sense of uncertainty “operates on a number of levels, and they’re all destabilizing,” says Steven Fielding, an expert on British politics and political history at the University of Nottingham.
“The very fact that the prime minister had been taken to hospital was something people genuinely found a bit disturbing,” says Professor Fielding.
“They were concerned about how decisions would be made, and obviously political journalists have been trying to follow, ‘Who’s actually in charge now?’” he says. For others, it was more symbolic: If the prime minister could fall seriously ill, so could everyone.
Mr. Johnson was returned to a normal hospital ward late Thursday after spending three nights in intensive care. His father, Stanley Johnson, told the BBC today how touched he had been by the outpouring of support the family had received, and said his son would need time to fully recover.
Jon Super/AP View caption Hide caption A man on a bike takes a photo of a NHS sign printed on a road near the newly setup coronavirus Nightingale Hospital North West in Manchester, England, on April 9, 2020.
The U.K.’s unwritten constitution does not spell out a clear succession process if a prime minister is incapacitated.
Mr. Johnson had already shepherded several key decisions about the national lockdown, and a £350 million financial rescue package that was adopted by lawmakers on March 17. That means, for now, that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is deputized to act for Mr. Johnson, is unlikely to have to make any critical moves.
Nearly 9,000 people have died from the virus in the U.K., with more than 65,000 confirmed cases.
With the Easter weekend looming, Mr. Raab said Thursday a decision to ease restrictions was at least another week away. He told a press briefing that he had not spoken to Mr. Johnson since he was admitted to the hospital, but that the government has “got this covered.” Mr. Raab said he has “all the authority I need” to make decisions.
Indeed, Mr. Johnson’s temporary incapacitation “is not necessarily a crisis for the British political system,” says Vernon Bogdanor, a professor of government at King’s College, London, in an analysis for Foreign Policy that tabulates the absences of past prime ministers.
During World War II, for example, Winston Churchill had bouts of pneumonia, and in 1953, an incapacitating stroke, but remained prime minister on both occasions, even as others were deputized to preside.
Austerity budget blues
But severe social inequalities across the U.K., a wealthy country that has pockets of deep deprivation not seen in its European peers, may have lasting, post-crisis impact.
When Mr. Johnson was shown clapping for health workers last Thursday at the door of 10 Downing Street, for example, social media erupted with charges of hypocrisy, pointing to a decade of Conservative-led austerity budgets that especially pared down the NHS.
Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street/AP View caption Hide caption Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson claps outside 11 Downing Street during a moment of applause for workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic in London on April 2, 2020.
There is a shortage of intensive care beds, and some health care workers have been forced to buy their own protective gear. A survey of nearly 3,500 nurses published Friday found that two-thirds did not feel they had access to sufficient safety equipment. Just under a third had bought their own.
And a Royal College of Nursing study last September that found a shortage of 40,000 nurses in England alone.
“From defunding nurse training to selling off parts of the NHS to private companies, the Tory party in power has hobbled the healthcare system’s ability to deal with the everyday, let alone the exceptional,” wrote one Guardian columnist last week.
That has meant online skepticism of social media campaigns like #PrayForBoris.
Still, citizens have rallied together, evoking the memories of the spirit of community and selfless volunteerism that rose during World War II, which were echoed by the queen.
Revisiting the Blitz spirit
Yet it remains to be seen how deeply British society might change after the pandemic threat recedes, if World War II is any guide. “I wouldn’t like to say it’s a new kind of spirit,” says Professor Fielding, who has authored several books on Britain’s postwar political history.
Back then, people had discovered purpose and solidarity in a conflict that followed a period that poet W.H. Auden called a “low dishonest decade,” in which those qualities were seen as missing in action.
“People are volunteering to go into bombers to fly over Germany and face almost near-certain death, in order to win this war, on behalf of everybody,” says Mr. Fielding. “They’re literally sacrificing their lives.
“And people said at the time: ‘We’ve now got a new kind of citizenship, which will go forward into the world, after the war.’ It didn’t quite work out like that, so people went back largely to how they had been before,” he says.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“But the crisis did reveal some people’s capacity to think about others, rather than themselves. And, of course, that is quite inspiring.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-04-10--A different plague: Africa battles next big wave of locusts

Weeks before the coronavirus spread through much of the world , parts of Africa were already threatened by another kind of plague , the biggest locust outbreak some countries had seen in 70 years .
Now the second wave of the voracious insects , some 20 times the size of the first , is arriving .
Billions of the young desert locusts are winging in from breeding grounds in Somalia in search of fresh vegetation springing up with seasonal rains .
Millions of already vulnerable people are at risk .
And as they gather to try to combat the locusts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading the coronavirus – a topic that comes a distant second for many in rural areas .
It is the locusts that `` everyone is talking about , '' said Yoweri Aboket , a farmer in Uganda .
`` Once they land in your garden they do total destruction .
Some people will even tell you that the locusts are more destructive than the coronavirus .
There are even some who do n't believe that the virus will reach here . ''
Some farmers in Mr. Abokat 's village near the Kenyan border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throw stones to try to drive the locusts away .
But mostly they watch in frustration , largely barred by a coronavirus lockdown from gathering outside their homes .
A failed garden of cassava , a local staple , means hunger .
Such worries in the village of some 600 people are reflected across a large part of East Africa , including Kenya , Ethiopia , and South Sudan .
The locust swarms have also been sighted in Djibouti , Eritrea , Tanzania , and Congo .
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part by climate change , `` an unprecedented threat '' to food security and livelihoods .
Its officials have estimated this new wave to be 20 times the size of the first .
`` The current situation in East Africa remains extremely alarming as ... an increasing number of new swarms are forming in Kenya , southern Ethiopia , and Somalia , '' a new FAO assessment said .
Favorable breeding conditions through May mean there will likely be another new round of swarms in late June and July , coinciding with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agency said .
The U.N. has raised its aid appeal from $ 76 million to $ 153 million , saying immediate action is needed before more rainfall fuels further growth in locust numbers .
So far the FAO has collected $ 111 million in cash or pledges .
The locusts are `` invading the Eastern Africa region in exceptionally large swarms like never seen before , '' the Nairobi-based Climate Prediction and Application Center said .
The new swarms include `` young adults , '' voracious bugs `` that eat more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mwangi , a satellite information analyst at the center .
Mr. Mwangi and other officials in Kenya cited difficulties in fighting the infestation as coronavirus-related travel restrictions slow cross-border travel and delay the delivery of pesticides .
The verification work of field officers has been curtailed , making it harder for the center to update regional prediction models , Mr. Mwangi said .
In rural Laikipia county , among the worst affected in Kenya , some are calling attention to the threat to commercial farms .
`` I think , unfortunately , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , people are forgetting about the problem with the locusts .
But it 's a very , very real problem , '' farmer George Dodds told the FAO .
Aerial spraying is the only effective way to control the locust outbreak .
After the locusts crossed into Uganda for the first time since the 1960s , soldiers resorted to using hand-held spray pumps because of difficulties in obtaining the needed aircraft .
Uganda 's agriculture minister said authorities are unable to import enough pesticides from Japan , citing disruptions to international cargo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet an additional budget of over $ 4 million requested for locust control , the minister said .
The sum is substantial in a country where the president has been fundraising from wealthy people to help respond to the virus and its economic disruption .
Health workers are threatening to strike over lack of protective gear .
In Ethiopia , where some 6 million people live in areas affected by the locust outbreak , the infestation if unchecked `` will cause large-scale crop , pasture , and forest-cover loss , worsening food and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bands of immature locusts are forming in areas that include the country 's breadbasket like the Rift Valley region , it said .
Ethiopia 's agriculture minister has said efforts are underway to deploy six helicopters against the infestation that could last until late August .
But ministry spokesman Moges Hailu spoke of an ominous sign : The locust swarms are now appearing in locations where they had not been previously sighted .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Weeks before the coronavirus spread through much of the world, parts of Africa were already threatened by another kind of plague, the biggest locust outbreak some countries had seen in 70 years.
Now the second wave of the voracious insects, some 20 times the size of the first, is arriving. Billions of the young desert locusts are winging in from breeding grounds in Somalia in search of fresh vegetation springing up with seasonal rains.
Millions of already vulnerable people are at risk. And as they gather to try to combat the locusts, often in vain, they risk spreading the coronavirus – a topic that comes a distant second for many in rural areas.
It is the locusts that "everyone is talking about," said Yoweri Aboket, a farmer in Uganda. "Once they land in your garden they do total destruction. Some people will even tell you that the locusts are more destructive than the coronavirus. There are even some who don't believe that the virus will reach here."
Some farmers in Mr. Abokat's village near the Kenyan border bang metal pans, whistle, or throw stones to try to drive the locusts away. But mostly they watch in frustration, largely barred by a coronavirus lockdown from gathering outside their homes.
A failed garden of cassava, a local staple, means hunger. Such worries in the village of some 600 people are reflected across a large part of East Africa, including Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The locust swarms have also been sighted in Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, and Congo.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has called the locust outbreak, caused in part by climate change, "an unprecedented threat" to food security and livelihoods. Its officials have estimated this new wave to be 20 times the size of the first.
"The current situation in East Africa remains extremely alarming as ... an increasing number of new swarms are forming in Kenya, southern Ethiopia, and Somalia," a new FAO assessment said.
Favorable breeding conditions through May mean there will likely be another new round of swarms in late June and July, coinciding with the start of the harvest season, the agency said.
The U.N. has raised its aid appeal from $76 million to $153 million, saying immediate action is needed before more rainfall fuels further growth in locust numbers. So far the FAO has collected $111 million in cash or pledges.
The locusts are "invading the Eastern Africa region in exceptionally large swarms like never seen before," the Nairobi-based Climate Prediction and Application Center said.
The new swarms include "young adults," voracious bugs "that eat more than the adult ones," said Kenneth Mwangi, a satellite information analyst at the center.
Mr. Mwangi and other officials in Kenya cited difficulties in fighting the infestation as coronavirus-related travel restrictions slow cross-border travel and delay the delivery of pesticides.
The verification work of field officers has been curtailed, making it harder for the center to update regional prediction models, Mr. Mwangi said.
In rural Laikipia county, among the worst affected in Kenya, some are calling attention to the threat to commercial farms.
"I think, unfortunately, because of other things going on around the world, people are forgetting about the problem with the locusts. But it's a very, very real problem," farmer George Dodds told the FAO.
Aerial spraying is the only effective way to control the locust outbreak. After the locusts crossed into Uganda for the first time since the 1960s, soldiers resorted to using hand-held spray pumps because of difficulties in obtaining the needed aircraft.
Uganda's agriculture minister said authorities are unable to import enough pesticides from Japan, citing disruptions to international cargo shipments.
The government is yet to meet an additional budget of over $4 million requested for locust control, the minister said.
The sum is substantial in a country where the president has been fundraising from wealthy people to help respond to the virus and its economic disruption. Health workers are threatening to strike over lack of protective gear.
Other countries face similar challenges.
In Ethiopia, where some 6 million people live in areas affected by the locust outbreak, the infestation if unchecked "will cause large-scale crop, pasture, and forest-cover loss, worsening food and feed insecurity," the FAO says.
Bands of immature locusts are forming in areas that include the country's breadbasket like the Rift Valley region, it said.
Ethiopia's agriculture minister has said efforts are underway to deploy six helicopters against the infestation that could last until late August.
But ministry spokesman Moges Hailu spoke of an ominous sign: The locust swarms are now appearing in locations where they had not been previously sighted.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-04-10--Coronavirus crunch: One city block reveals small businesses at risk

“ Those are the people who have been so good to us over the years , ” says Werner Gossels .
“ We can ’ t do much about food and shelter , but we could say , ‘ No rent .
Forget this month.
’ ” As shops on California Street wait to hear if they qualify for loans under Congress ’ coronavirus rescue package , the importance of human connections can be paramount .
One local landlord has decided not to collect rent from his business tenants this month .
Philip A. Rand Wire Rope and Sling Co. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dentist running American Dental and other Boston locations has seen business fall 80 % or more .
For small firms , it ’ s a race against time .
Millions need to see an economic turnaround or federal aid in the next two months or so to avoid closing permanently .
On one block of California Street , between the Boston suburbs of Newton and Watertown , more than 15 small businesses ply their trade in widely diverse industries but with a single problem .
The state-imposed closing of nonessential companies to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut into their revenue .
For a man who has lost 70 % of his business , Philip Rand remains remarkably upbeat .
Then again , his company , the Philip A. Rand Wire Rope and Sling Co. , has proved remarkably resilient through two world wars , the Spanish flu , the Great Depression , and the Great Recession .
A couple of government contracts are currently keeping its four full-time and four part-time workers employed .
“ This is a new adventure ; it ’ s a different kind of adventure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the founder , about the lockdowns that have curtailed or stopped business operations throughout the United States because of the coronavirus threat .
“ But we are going to survive .
... We have been around since 1911.
” That ’ s one of the more positive outlooks along this 500-foot stretch of California Street that runs between the Boston suburbs of Watertown and Newton and houses more than 15 small businesses .
They are remarkably diverse , including everything from a law office to an Asian restaurant , an air-conditioning contractor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exception of the Stop & Shop grocery store , which is bustling , and maybe one or two others , all of them have been hit by the state ’ s stay-at-home advisory and orders for “ non-essential ” businesses to close .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Small businesses are bone and sinew to the U.S. economy .
They represent 99 % of all firms and employ about half of all working Americans .
More than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic activity flows through their ledgers .
While any firm with less than 500 workers can be considered “ small , ” nearly 9 in 10 of these firms have fewer than 20 employees .
And with far fewer resources than big corporations , they ’ re also the most vulnerable to a downturn .
Already last month , when an employment report by payroll firm ADP showed midsize and large companies still adding employees , firms with fewer than 50 employees laid off a combined 90,000 workers .
“ Small companies got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief economist of Moody ’ s Analytics .
And they ’ re racing against the clock .
The longer the lockdowns persist , the more likely they are to close permanently .
A survey last week by the National Federation of Independent Business ( NFIB ) found that about half of small firms say they can survive for two months at the most .
The small businesses along California Street reflect the squeeze and the concern , but they also tell a richer story about how money flows and sometimes doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the importance of human connections , even in an era of social distancing .
Some stores have been spared closure because they are essential businesses , like grocery stores .
Planet Fitness , a workout gym , has shut its doors .
But the Jenny Craig weight loss clinic two doors down is still open because it sells food .
Still , staying open is no guarantee of profit .
While the Jenny Craig store offers curbside service for limited hours and is seeing “ a steady flow of clients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the north Boston area for the Jenny Craig corporation , American Dental next door is effectively closed , used only for emergency root canals .
“ Everybody ’ s been affected , ” says Dr. Z. Bender , part of the management that operates this location and four others in the Boston area .
Three of them are still open , but like many dentists in Massachusetts , Dr. Bender is only handling emergency situations and treatments that require immediate attention .
He ’ s had to lay off roughly half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bonuses and protective equipment , including face shields , to those still working .
Revenues are down 80 % or more , he estimates .
So he ’ s looking to get referrals from other locations and do some promotion to boost business , because the current situation is not sustainable , he says .
“ If we are going to keep operating this way , we would be able to continue for a few weeks.
” It ’ s a situation faced by many small businesses .
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 5 said they had the cash reserves to continue business as usual if revenue dried up for two months , according to a new survey of small business credit by the regional Federal Reserve banks .
For all other firms , the figure was less than 1 in 10 .
Will aid come in time ?
For these reasons , Congress has rushed aid to small businesses .
A week ago , firms began applying for $ 350 billion in forgivable small business loans , part of the $ 2 trillion coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along California Street – as well as some 70 % nationally , according to the NFIB – have already applied .
For some , it ’ s not clear if the help will come in time .
The owner of the Newton Nail Bar & Spa vows in an email to serve customers again soon .
But after launching last year , the shop ’ s phone number no longer accepts calls and , aside from a “ Grand Opening ” banner still hanging in its window , there ’ s no sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I got a manicure a week before all this happened , ” says Debbie Fredberg , co-owner with her husband of the My Salon Suite just up the street .
“ They put a lot of money into it .
You can tell .
At the time , they seemed upbeat.
” This is one of the lessons of California Street : In business , timing can be everything .
While Newton Nail Bar & Spa opened at the wrong time , Ms. Fredberg ’ s salon may get some breathing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase .
“ Coming Soon ” posters adorn its windows .
Due to open this month , the site is now on hiatus ; construction stopped just as workers were beginning to move in the furniture .
“ It ’ s a disappointment , ” she says , but hardly a big blow .
Unlike a regular hair salon , the franchise rents out fully equipped individual rooms to stylists as well as massage therapists and beauticians .
Getting one ’ s hair styled in a private room may be popular in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 % of the salon rooms are already spoken for .
The economy as an organic web Another lesson of California Street is that local business owners and workers tend to patronize each other , popping into the Stop & Shop for groceries , or eating at Edamame , the Asian restaurant behind it .
Edamame tried to stay open offering takeout and delivery , stocking an outdoor rack of menus that got wet from the rain .
But by Wednesday of this week , a note was taped to the door saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers ’ money , presumably , will flow down the block to Stop & Shop , or to other supermarkets .
In a normal year , Americans spend more on food eating out than they do at home .
But the lockdowns in the past month have meant a huge diversion of spending from restaurants to grocery stores .
The National Restaurant Association estimates the total at some $ 25 billion since March 1 , which has put 3 million people out of work .
It figures 15 % of restaurants will close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t already done so .
Other money has stopped flowing at all , and that has a ripple effect .
Closed offices mean the cleaning businesses have fewer to clean .
Van drivers for the senior center and air-conditioning specialists are now laid off , which means they sit at home and spend less .
Some small businesses appear to be doing just fine .
“ We are busy and we are also running shorthanded , ” writes Arthur Margolis , president of ACC Apothecary , which specializes in custom-made prescriptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say is that we are open and we have patients in 8 states that we are taking care of.
” Nationally , 3 % of small businesses surveyed by the NFIB were positively affected by the virus .
But 92 % were adversely affected , even if business owners are hesitant to talk about it .
“ Clients are holding on to their money , ” says the owner of EnChem Engineering , a remediation specialist for hazardous-waste sites , who doesn ’ t give his name or take off his face mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep going.
” The other aspect of business here on California Street is how personal it is .
For all the moves to physically distance people , they still make social connections .
It ’ s the essence of business , exchange among individuals .
Behind EnChem Engineering , Zdorovie Senior Services is closed down .
All the employees have been laid off .
Even if it was open , it ’ s unlikely that retirement homes would let their clients travel and congregate .
“ But I regularly call them to check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who won ’ t give her name .
This month , EnChem and the other small-business tenants in the building received an unexpected surprise .
The landlord was not collecting rent for April .
“ The tenants are the same general type , ” says Werner Gossels , who owns the building and others in several communities around Boston .
“ It ’ s a family business with one or two or three people.
” It was a decision that cost Mr. Gossels hundreds of thousands of dollars .
But “ those are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us over the years , ” he says .
Now , there ’ s “ the fear that everybody has – suddenly they have no business , they have no knowledge of where they ’ re going .
We can ’ t do much about food and shelter , but we could say , ‘ No rent .
Forget this month.
’ ” “ It looks like we may have to do May as well , ” he adds .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

“Those are the people who have been so good to us over the years,” says Werner Gossels. “We can’t do much about food and shelter, but we could say, ‘No rent. Forget this month.’”
As shops on California Street wait to hear if they qualify for loans under Congress’ coronavirus rescue package, the importance of human connections can be paramount. One local landlord has decided not to collect rent from his business tenants this month.
When consumers are told to stay home, the economy takes a massive hit. Our reporter visited a long-vibrant commercial street to explore the new realities that are raising doubts about small-business survival.
Philip A. Rand Wire Rope and Sling Co. is down some 70%. The dentist running American Dental and other Boston locations has seen business fall 80% or more. For small firms, it’s a race against time. Millions need to see an economic turnaround or federal aid in the next two months or so to avoid closing permanently.
On one block of California Street, between the Boston suburbs of Newton and Watertown, more than 15 small businesses ply their trade in widely diverse industries but with a single problem. The state-imposed closing of nonessential companies to stop the spread of the coronavirus has severely cut into their revenue.
For a man who has lost 70% of his business, Philip Rand remains remarkably upbeat.
Then again, his company, the Philip A. Rand Wire Rope and Sling Co., has proved remarkably resilient through two world wars, the Spanish flu, the Great Depression, and the Great Recession. A couple of government contracts are currently keeping its four full-time and four part-time workers employed.
“This is a new adventure; it’s a different kind of adventure,” says Mr. Rand, great-grandson of the founder, about the lockdowns that have curtailed or stopped business operations throughout the United States because of the coronavirus threat. “But we are going to survive. ... We have been around since 1911.”
Why We Wrote This When consumers are told to stay home, the economy takes a massive hit. Our reporter visited a long-vibrant commercial street to explore the new realities that are raising doubts about small-business survival.
That’s one of the more positive outlooks along this 500-foot stretch of California Street that runs between the Boston suburbs of Watertown and Newton and houses more than 15 small businesses. They are remarkably diverse, including everything from a law office to an Asian restaurant, an air-conditioning contractor to a nail spa. And with the exception of the Stop & Shop grocery store, which is bustling, and maybe one or two others, all of them have been hit by the state’s stay-at-home advisory and orders for “non-essential” businesses to close.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Small businesses are bone and sinew to the U.S. economy. They represent 99% of all firms and employ about half of all working Americans. More than 40% of the nation’s economic activity flows through their ledgers. While any firm with less than 500 workers can be considered “small,” nearly 9 in 10 of these firms have fewer than 20 employees. And with far fewer resources than big corporations, they’re also the most vulnerable to a downturn.
Already last month, when an employment report by payroll firm ADP showed midsize and large companies still adding employees, firms with fewer than 50 employees laid off a combined 90,000 workers. “Small companies got hammered,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics.
And they’re racing against the clock. The longer the lockdowns persist, the more likely they are to close permanently. A survey last week by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) found that about half of small firms say they can survive for two months at the most.
The small businesses along California Street reflect the squeeze and the concern, but they also tell a richer story about how money flows and sometimes doesn’t, the fragile interdependence of local business, and the importance of human connections, even in an era of social distancing.
Melanie Stetson Freeman/Staff View caption Hide caption Edamame, an Asian restaurant in Watertown, Massachusetts, tried to stay open offering takeout and delivery. But by April 8, 2020, a note taped to the door told customers the eatery was closed until further notice.
Some stores have been spared closure because they are essential businesses, like grocery stores. Planet Fitness, a workout gym, has shut its doors. But the Jenny Craig weight loss clinic two doors down is still open because it sells food. Still, staying open is no guarantee of profit.
“Open” but in trouble
While the Jenny Craig store offers curbside service for limited hours and is seeing “a steady flow of clients,” according to Faith Hanson, marketing director of the north Boston area for the Jenny Craig corporation, American Dental next door is effectively closed, used only for emergency root canals.
“Everybody’s been affected,” says Dr. Z. Bender, part of the management that operates this location and four others in the Boston area. Three of them are still open, but like many dentists in Massachusetts, Dr. Bender is only handling emergency situations and treatments that require immediate attention. He’s had to lay off roughly half of his 40 employees, while providing bonuses and protective equipment, including face shields, to those still working.
Revenues are down 80% or more, he estimates. So he’s looking to get referrals from other locations and do some promotion to boost business, because the current situation is not sustainable, he says. “If we are going to keep operating this way, we would be able to continue for a few weeks.”
It’s a situation faced by many small businesses. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, among the healthiest firms only 1 in 5 said they had the cash reserves to continue business as usual if revenue dried up for two months, according to a new survey of small business credit by the regional Federal Reserve banks. For all other firms, the figure was less than 1 in 10.
Will aid come in time?
For these reasons, Congress has rushed aid to small businesses. A week ago, firms began applying for $350 billion in forgivable small business loans, part of the $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package. Many of the businesses along California Street – as well as some 70% nationally, according to the NFIB – have already applied.
For some, it’s not clear if the help will come in time. The owner of the Newton Nail Bar & Spa vows in an email to serve customers again soon. But after launching last year, the shop’s phone number no longer accepts calls and, aside from a “Grand Opening” banner still hanging in its window, there’s no sign telling clients the now-darkened store will reopen.
“I got a manicure a week before all this happened,” says Debbie Fredberg, co-owner with her husband of the My Salon Suite just up the street. “They put a lot of money into it. You can tell. At the time, they seemed upbeat.”
SOURCE: Massachusetts Bureau of Geographic Information | Jacob Turcotte/Staff
This is one of the lessons of California Street: In business, timing can be everything. While Newton Nail Bar & Spa opened at the wrong time, Ms. Fredberg’s salon may get some breathing room from being still in the preparation phase. “Coming Soon” posters adorn its windows. Due to open this month, the site is now on hiatus; construction stopped just as workers were beginning to move in the furniture.
“It’s a disappointment,” she says, but hardly a big blow. Unlike a regular hair salon, the franchise rents out fully equipped individual rooms to stylists as well as massage therapists and beauticians. Getting one’s hair styled in a private room may be popular in a post-pandemic world, she adds. Some 80% of the salon rooms are already spoken for.
The economy as an organic web
Another lesson of California Street is that local business owners and workers tend to patronize each other, popping into the Stop & Shop for groceries, or eating at Edamame, the Asian restaurant behind it. Edamame tried to stay open offering takeout and delivery, stocking an outdoor rack of menus that got wet from the rain. But by Wednesday of this week, a note was taped to the door saying the restaurant was temporarily closed. Its customers’ money, presumably, will flow down the block to Stop & Shop, or to other supermarkets.
In a normal year, Americans spend more on food eating out than they do at home. But the lockdowns in the past month have meant a huge diversion of spending from restaurants to grocery stores. The National Restaurant Association estimates the total at some $25 billion since March 1, which has put 3 million people out of work. It figures 15% of restaurants will close permanently within two weeks, if they haven’t already done so.
Other money has stopped flowing at all, and that has a ripple effect. Closed offices mean the cleaning businesses have fewer to clean. Van drivers for the senior center and air-conditioning specialists are now laid off, which means they sit at home and spend less.
Some small businesses appear to be doing just fine. “We are busy and we are also running shorthanded,” writes Arthur Margolis, president of ACC Apothecary, which specializes in custom-made prescriptions for patients. “All I can say is that we are open and we have patients in 8 states that we are taking care of.”
Nationally, 3% of small businesses surveyed by the NFIB were positively affected by the virus. But 92% were adversely affected, even if business owners are hesitant to talk about it.
“Clients are holding on to their money,” says the owner of EnChem Engineering, a remediation specialist for hazardous-waste sites, who doesn’t give his name or take off his face mask. But “we are able to keep going.”
Connections in a “distanced” world
The other aspect of business here on California Street is how personal it is. For all the moves to physically distance people, they still make social connections. It’s the essence of business, exchange among individuals.
Behind EnChem Engineering, Zdorovie Senior Services is closed down. All the employees have been laid off. Even if it was open, it’s unlikely that retirement homes would let their clients travel and congregate. “But I regularly call them to check up,” says a manager, who won’t give her name.
This month, EnChem and the other small-business tenants in the building received an unexpected surprise. The landlord was not collecting rent for April.
“The tenants are the same general type,” says Werner Gossels, who owns the building and others in several communities around Boston. “It’s a family business with one or two or three people.”
It was a decision that cost Mr. Gossels hundreds of thousands of dollars. But “those are the people who have been so good to us over the years,” he says. Now, there’s “the fear that everybody has – suddenly they have no business, they have no knowledge of where they’re going. We can’t do much about food and shelter, but we could say, ‘No rent. Forget this month.’”
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
“It looks like we may have to do May as well,” he adds.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-06-17--As coronavirus lingers, home births surge. How midwives are adapting.

“ We ’ re doing our best to balance our personal safety and the safety of our families , with keeping this life-changing event as magical and joyous as we can , ” says Ms. Bramhall .
As a result , midwives have had to adapt rapidly , while maintaining the core principles of safety and trust .
Ms. Bramhall ’ s practice now uses videoconferencing for remote appointments , and she asks clients to purchase their own doppler , blood pressure cuff , and weight scale for assessments .
Rapid-response COVID-19 tests are administered before births .
Throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in requests for home births , as hospitals continue to grapple with COVID-19 cases and more families choose to have pregnancies and deliveries outside traditional hospital settings .
At her 36-week checkup , her doctor recommended a home birth due to Ms. McHugh ’ s concerns about safety .
She gave her the phone number for Katie Bramhall , a local midwife with more than 30 years of experience .
When contractions came , Ms. Bramhall joined Ms. McHugh at her home , located up a remote dirt road in South Royalton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beautiful sound of baby boy Tully cry for the first time .
Katrina McHugh was planning to have her baby in the hospital , but then the pandemic hit .
Katrina McHugh was planning to have her baby in the hospital , but then the pandemic hit .
At her 36-week checkup , her doctor recommended a home birth due to Ms. McHugh ’ s concerns about safety .
She gave her the phone number for Katie Bramhall , a local midwife with over 30 years of experience .
“ I called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Ms. McHugh says .
But because the COVID-19 crisis was unfolding so quickly , that first appointment ended up being done by phone .
Contractions came a week later , and Ms. Bramhall joined Ms. McHugh at her home , located up a remote dirt road in South Royalton , Vermont .
This wasn ’ t Ms. McHugh ’ s original plan , but she was comforted by how Ms. Bramhall and her colleague Meghan Sperry communicated with her “ as a person , not as a patient ” throughout her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heard her baby boy Tully cry for the first time .
“ They spoke to me like they had known me for years , even though they had just met me , ” she says , adding the comfort of home was reassuring even in the toughest moments .
“ They just made me feel very calm and comfortable.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Throughout the country , midwives say they have seen an increase in requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to grapple with COVID-19 cases and more families choose to have pregnancies and deliveries outside traditional hospital settings .
Fear of COVID-19 infection is a common reason for this increasing interest in home birth as well as a desire to ensure partners can attend the birth , which some hospitals restricted at the height of the pandemic .
Evidence of the trend so far appears anecdotal .
The level of demand varies based on where the midwife is located , says Sarita Bennett , president of the Midwives Alliance of North America .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ City are impacted a little differently than those in the Midwest , ” she says .
“ All of them though are seeing more interest in out-of-hospital births at home and at birth centers.
” That trend is reflected in Ms. Bramhall ’ s practice , Gentle Landing Midwifery , based in Lebanon , New Hampshire .
She usually sees three to four births per month , and that has nearly doubled through July .
Ms. Bramhall had to double her staff in early April to accommodate the increase .
She says she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice ’ s new birth center , set to open in September , is almost at full capacity for January .
Ms. Bramhall , who is also president of the Vermont Midwives Association , says midwifery is centered on relationships built over a period of months , and with COVID-19 they ’ ve had to adjust to maintain that foundational element of trust .
“ A very well-established and well-oiled practice had to be rebuilt from ground up , ” Ms. Bramhall says .
“ It ’ s imperative that people stay connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have to know them the same way , to make accurate decisions.
” Among the adjustments was adding health privacy law-compliant videoconferencing into their system for remote appointments .
“ We ’ ve had to require our clients to purchase a doppler , blood pressure cuff , and personal weight scale , so they can do their assessments themselves over video chat ... so we get accurate data , ” Ms. Bramhall says .
The top priority is safety , which is why Ms. Bramhall purchased 10-minute rapid-response antibody tests for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrive , everybody is masked up , we do a rapid-response test on everybody and ourselves , and if everybody comes back negative , we can unmask and have a birth , ” she says .
“ We ’ re doing our best to balance our personal safety and the safety of our families , with keeping this life-changing event as magical and joyous as we can.
” Midwives provide women with individualized care during pregnancy , childbirth , and the postpartum period .
Those who offer home-birth care are trained and equipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a hospital setting , with ultrasounds , labs , and all the necessary tests .
That said , it is not right for every case .
“ The only people who are good candidates for out-of-hospital birth are people who are full-term and healthy , ” Ms. Bramhall notes .
Certified Nurse Midwives can practice in all 50 states .
Certified Professional Midwives , like Ms. Bramhall , are specially trained for out-of-hospital births .
While they currently can only practice in 35 states , efforts are underway to expand their reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a midwife in Bedford , Indiana , just south of Bloomington , owns Mother Nurtured Midwifery and has practiced for 10 years .
She usually has four to six clients per month , and that has grown to eight during the pandemic .
Her main focus has been staying healthy , she says , so she can still serve her clients .
“ We ’ re keeping an open mind and doing everything we can to protect ourselves , ” says Mrs. Ingram-Sanders , also president of the Indiana Midwives Association .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice , though some are in person when the mother is at term .
She is allowing more time between visits to sanitize equipment .
“ If the visit goes a little long , I still have time for cleaning and prep , ” she says .
Allaying the mother ’ s fear as much as possible has always been important in midwifery , and the coronavirus has only underscored that , says Ms. Bramhall .
“ Pregnancy and birth and making a family is such a huge transformation for everybody involved ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that makes that transformation even more imperative in people ’ s hearts and minds , ” she says .
“ Fear on top of labor in a pregnancy can change an outcome , because fear will change any outcome in life if that ’ s the driving force.
” Ms. Bramhall says the way to alleviate that fear is to empower the mother , by helping her find strength she didn ’ t know she had , especially when the pain is so great , she doesn ’ t think she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her eyes , and you make her see , that you see , that ‘ yes she can.
’ And you hold that , until you get to that point where , ‘ yes she did , ’ ” Ms. Bramhall says .
“ And that ’ s where her empowerment comes in.
” Amid the heightened demand , midwives emphasize the importance of maintaining safety and strong relationships .
“ We refuse to go beyond our capacity , because safety is the only game in town , ” Ms. Bramhall says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build the trust that is so crucial .
“ We will not compromise relationships.
” Ms. McHugh has enjoyed that continued relationship after her second son ’ s birth .
“ [ Ms. Bramhall ] has been very much a part of my aftercare and Tully ’ s aftercare , ” she says .
“ She made sure that all of us as a family are doing OK , emotionally , spiritually , everything .
She ’ s just been very wholesome in her approach.
” Editor ’ s note : As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage is free .
No paywall .

“We’re doing our best to balance our personal safety and the safety of our families, with keeping this life-changing event as magical and joyous as we can,” says Ms. Bramhall.
As a result, midwives have had to adapt rapidly, while maintaining the core principles of safety and trust. Ms. Bramhall’s practice now uses videoconferencing for remote appointments, and she asks clients to purchase their own doppler, blood pressure cuff, and weight scale for assessments. Rapid-response COVID-19 tests are administered before births.
Throughout the country, midwives have seen an increase in requests for home births, as hospitals continue to grapple with COVID-19 cases and more families choose to have pregnancies and deliveries outside traditional hospital settings.
More women are considering home births amid the coronavirus. The trend has changed how midwives operate – and how some expectant moms view midwifery.
At her 36-week checkup, her doctor recommended a home birth due to Ms. McHugh’s concerns about safety. She gave her the phone number for Katie Bramhall, a local midwife with more than 30 years of experience. When contractions came, Ms. Bramhall joined Ms. McHugh at her home, located up a remote dirt road in South Royalton, Vermont. Hours later, they heard the beautiful sound of baby boy Tully cry for the first time.
Katrina McHugh was planning to have her baby in the hospital, but then the pandemic hit.
Katrina McHugh was planning to have her baby in the hospital, but then the pandemic hit.
At her 36-week checkup, her doctor recommended a home birth due to Ms. McHugh’s concerns about safety. She gave her the phone number for Katie Bramhall, a local midwife with over 30 years of experience.
“I called Katie, and she was just wonderful,” Ms. McHugh says.
Why We Wrote This More women are considering home births amid the coronavirus. The trend has changed how midwives operate – and how some expectant moms view midwifery.
But because the COVID-19 crisis was unfolding so quickly, that first appointment ended up being done by phone. Contractions came a week later, and Ms. Bramhall joined Ms. McHugh at her home, located up a remote dirt road in South Royalton, Vermont. This wasn’t Ms. McHugh’s original plan, but she was comforted by how Ms. Bramhall and her colleague Meghan Sperry communicated with her “as a person, not as a patient” throughout her labor and the beautiful moment when she heard her baby boy Tully cry for the first time.
“They spoke to me like they had known me for years, even though they had just met me,” she says, adding the comfort of home was reassuring even in the toughest moments. “They just made me feel very calm and comfortable.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Throughout the country, midwives say they have seen an increase in requests for home births, as hospitals continue to grapple with COVID-19 cases and more families choose to have pregnancies and deliveries outside traditional hospital settings.
Fear of COVID-19 infection is a common reason for this increasing interest in home birth as well as a desire to ensure partners can attend the birth, which some hospitals restricted at the height of the pandemic.
Evidence of the trend so far appears anecdotal. The level of demand varies based on where the midwife is located, says Sarita Bennett, president of the Midwives Alliance of North America. “Those who live in New York City are impacted a little differently than those in the Midwest,” she says. “All of them though are seeing more interest in out-of-hospital births at home and at birth centers.”
That trend is reflected in Ms. Bramhall’s practice, Gentle Landing Midwifery, based in Lebanon, New Hampshire. She usually sees three to four births per month, and that has nearly doubled through July. Ms. Bramhall had to double her staff in early April to accommodate the increase.
She says she expects this trend to continue; her practice’s new birth center, set to open in September, is almost at full capacity for January.
Courtesy of Katrina McHugh View caption Hide caption Midwife Katie Bramhall holds Tully McHugh, who was born on March 25, 2020, in South Royalton, Vermont.
Ms. Bramhall, who is also president of the Vermont Midwives Association, says midwifery is centered on relationships built over a period of months, and with COVID-19 they’ve had to adjust to maintain that foundational element of trust.
“A very well-established and well-oiled practice had to be rebuilt from ground up,” Ms. Bramhall says. “It’s imperative that people stay connected to me and me to them. I have to know them the same way, to make accurate decisions.”
Among the adjustments was adding health privacy law-compliant videoconferencing into their system for remote appointments.
“We’ve had to require our clients to purchase a doppler, blood pressure cuff, and personal weight scale, so they can do their assessments themselves over video chat ... so we get accurate data,” Ms. Bramhall says.
The top priority is safety, which is why Ms. Bramhall purchased 10-minute rapid-response antibody tests for COVID-19.
“At a birth when we arrive, everybody is masked up, we do a rapid-response test on everybody and ourselves, and if everybody comes back negative, we can unmask and have a birth,” she says. “We’re doing our best to balance our personal safety and the safety of our families, with keeping this life-changing event as magical and joyous as we can.”
Empowering mothers
Midwives provide women with individualized care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Those who offer home-birth care are trained and equipped to provide the same standard of care as a hospital setting, with ultrasounds, labs, and all the necessary tests. That said, it is not right for every case.
“The only people who are good candidates for out-of-hospital birth are people who are full-term and healthy,” Ms. Bramhall notes.
Certified Nurse Midwives can practice in all 50 states. Certified Professional Midwives, like Ms. Bramhall, are specially trained for out-of-hospital births. While they currently can only practice in 35 states, efforts are underway to expand their reach, says Dr. Bennett.
Michelle Ingram-Sanders, a midwife in Bedford, Indiana, just south of Bloomington, owns Mother Nurtured Midwifery and has practiced for 10 years. She usually has four to six clients per month, and that has grown to eight during the pandemic. Her main focus has been staying healthy, she says, so she can still serve her clients.
“We’re keeping an open mind and doing everything we can to protect ourselves,” says Mrs. Ingram-Sanders, also president of the Indiana Midwives Association.
She has worked remote appointments into her practice, though some are in person when the mother is at term. She is allowing more time between visits to sanitize equipment. “If the visit goes a little long, I still have time for cleaning and prep,” she says.
Allaying the mother’s fear as much as possible has always been important in midwifery, and the coronavirus has only underscored that, says Ms. Bramhall.
“Pregnancy and birth and making a family is such a huge transformation for everybody involved; add the fear of a public pandemic, and that makes that transformation even more imperative in people’s hearts and minds,” she says. “Fear on top of labor in a pregnancy can change an outcome, because fear will change any outcome in life if that’s the driving force.”
Ms. Bramhall says the way to alleviate that fear is to empower the mother, by helping her find strength she didn’t know she had, especially when the pain is so great, she doesn’t think she can proceed.
“You look in her eyes, and you make her see, that you see, that ‘yes she can.’ And you hold that, until you get to that point where, ‘yes she did,’” Ms. Bramhall says. “And that’s where her empowerment comes in.”
Amid the heightened demand, midwives emphasize the importance of maintaining safety and strong relationships.
“We refuse to go beyond our capacity, because safety is the only game in town,” Ms. Bramhall says, adding that the midwife must have time to build the trust that is so crucial. “We will not compromise relationships.”
Ms. McHugh has enjoyed that continued relationship after her second son’s birth.
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“[Ms. Bramhall] has been very much a part of my aftercare and Tully’s aftercare,” she says. “She made sure that all of us as a family are doing OK, emotionally, spiritually, everything. She’s just been very wholesome in her approach.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-06-17--Will visa restrictions last? Foreign workers, students hope not.

Gregory Minott came to the United States from his native Jamaica more than two decades ago on a student visa and was able to carve out a career in architecture thanks to temporary work visas .
Now a U.S. citizen and co-founder of a real estate development firm in Boston , Mr. Minott worries that new restrictions on student and work visas expected to be announced as early as this week will prevent others from following a similar path to the American dream .
`` Innovation thrives when there is cultural , economic , and racial diversity , '' Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peers from other countries collaborating side by side with Americans is going to be a setback for the country .
We learned from Americans , but Americans also learn from us . ''
Mr. Minott is among the business leaders and academic institutions large and small pleading with President Donald Trump to move cautiously as he eyes expanding the temporary visa restrictions he imposed in April .
They argue that cutting off access to talented foreign workers will only further disrupt the economy and stifle innovation at a time when it 's most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aligned with Mr. Trump have been calling for stronger action after his prior visa restrictions did n't go far enough for them .
Mr. Trump , who has used the coronavirus crisis to push through many of his stalled efforts to curb both legal and illegal immigration , imposed a 60-day pause on visas for foreigners seeking permanent residency on April 22 .
But the order included a long list of exemptions and did n't address the hundreds of thousands of temporary work and student visas issued each year .
Republican senators , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cruz of Texas , argue that all new guest worker visas should be suspended for at least 60 days or until unemployment has returned to normal levels .
`` Given the extreme lack of available jobs , '' the senators wrote in a letter to Mr. Trump last month , `` it defies common sense to admit additional foreign guest workers to compete for such limited employment . ''
Trump administration officials have been debating how long the forthcoming order should remain in place and which industries should be exempted , including those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the White House has made it clear it 's considering suspending H-1B visas for high-skilled workers , H-2B visas for seasonal workers , and L-1 visas for employees transferring within a company to the U.S .
In recent weeks , businesses and academic groups have also been voicing concern about possible changes to Optional Practical Training , a relatively obscure program that allows some 200,000 foreign students – mostly from China and India – to work in the country each year .
Created in 1947 , OPT authorizes international students to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college or after graduation .
Over the last decade , the program has been extended for those studying science , technology , engineering , and mathematics so that they can now work for up to three years .
While congressional Republicans have been some of the strongest supporters of eliminating the program , 21 GOP House lawmakers argued in a letter to the Trump administration this month that OPT is necessary for the country to remain a destination for international students .
They said foreign students and their families pump more than $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though the students represent just 5.5.
% of U.S. college enrollments .
Michael Crow , president of Arizona State University , which has one of the largest international student populations in the country at more than 13,000 , said opponents of OPT are simply anti-immigrant .
`` They do n't believe the data .
They do n't believe the facts , '' he said .
`` It 's a narrow view .
It 's an incomplete view about how to drive economic growth . ''
Critics counter that OPT gives companies a financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do n't have to pay certain federal payroll taxes .
The program also lacks oversight and has become a popular path for foreigners seeking to gain permanent legal status , said Jessica Vaughan , policy director at the Center for Immigration Studies , a Washington group advocating for strict immigration limits .
`` The government does not require that there be actual training , and no one checks on the employer or terms of employment , '' she said .
`` Some of the participants are career 'students , ' going back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and employment , just so they can stay here . ''
Xujiao Wang , a Chinese national who has been part of the program for the past year , said she does n't see any fault in trying to build her family 's future in the U.S .
The 32-year-old , who earned her doctorate in geographic information science from Texas State University , is working as a data analyst for a software company in Milford , Massachusetts .
She 's two months pregnant and living in Rhode Island with her husband , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and their 2-year-old American-born daughter .
The couple hopes to eventually earn permanent residency , but any change to OPT could send them back to China and an uncertain future , Ms. Wang said .
`` China is developing fast , but it 's still not what our generation has come to expect in terms of freedom and choice , '' she said .
`` So it makes us anxious .
We 've been step-by-step working toward our future in America . ''
In Massachusetts , dismantling OPT would jeopardize a fundamental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic , said Andrew Tarsy , co-founder of the Massachusetts Business Immigration Coalition .
The advocacy group sent a letter to Mr. Trump last week pleading for preservation of the program .
It was signed by roughly 50 businesses and colleges , including TripAdvisor and the University of Massachusetts , as well as trade associations representing the state 's thriving life sciences industry centered around Harvard , MIT , and other Boston-area institutions .
`` We attract the brightest people in the world to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them into our workforce , '' Mr. Tarsy said .
`` It 's led to the founding of many , many companies and the creation of new products and services .
It 's the bridge for international students . ''
Mr. Minott , the Boston architect , argues that the time and resources required to invest in legal foreign workers , including lawyers ' costs and visa processing fees , exceeds any tax savings firms might enjoy .
DREAM Collaborative , his 22-person firm , employs three people originally hired on OPT permits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same path that Mr. Minott took early in his career .
`` These programs enabled me to stay in this country , start a business , and create a better future for my family , '' said the father of two young American-born sons .
`` My kids are the next generation to benefit from that , and hopefully they 'll be great citizens of this country . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writers Collin Binkley and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this story .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Gregory Minott came to the United States from his native Jamaica more than two decades ago on a student visa and was able to carve out a career in architecture thanks to temporary work visas.
Now a U.S. citizen and co-founder of a real estate development firm in Boston, Mr. Minott worries that new restrictions on student and work visas expected to be announced as early as this week will prevent others from following a similar path to the American dream.
"Innovation thrives when there is cultural, economic, and racial diversity," Mr. Minott said. "To not have peers from other countries collaborating side by side with Americans is going to be a setback for the country. We learned from Americans, but Americans also learn from us."
Mr. Minott is among the business leaders and academic institutions large and small pleading with President Donald Trump to move cautiously as he eyes expanding the temporary visa restrictions he imposed in April.
They argue that cutting off access to talented foreign workers will only further disrupt the economy and stifle innovation at a time when it's most needed. But influential immigration hard-liners normally aligned with Mr. Trump have been calling for stronger action after his prior visa restrictions didn't go far enough for them.
Mr. Trump, who has used the coronavirus crisis to push through many of his stalled efforts to curb both legal and illegal immigration, imposed a 60-day pause on visas for foreigners seeking permanent residency on April 22. But the order included a long list of exemptions and didn't address the hundreds of thousands of temporary work and student visas issued each year.
Republican senators, including Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Ted Cruz of Texas, argue that all new guest worker visas should be suspended for at least 60 days or until unemployment has returned to normal levels.
"Given the extreme lack of available jobs," the senators wrote in a letter to Mr. Trump last month, "it defies common sense to admit additional foreign guest workers to compete for such limited employment."
Trump administration officials have been debating how long the forthcoming order should remain in place and which industries should be exempted, including those working in health care and food production.
But the White House has made it clear it's considering suspending H-1B visas for high-skilled workers, H-2B visas for seasonal workers, and L-1 visas for employees transferring within a company to the U.S.
In recent weeks, businesses and academic groups have also been voicing concern about possible changes to Optional Practical Training, a relatively obscure program that allows some 200,000 foreign students – mostly from China and India – to work in the country each year.
Created in 1947, OPT authorizes international students to work for up to one year during college or after graduation. Over the last decade, the program has been extended for those studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics so that they can now work for up to three years.
While congressional Republicans have been some of the strongest supporters of eliminating the program, 21 GOP House lawmakers argued in a letter to the Trump administration this month that OPT is necessary for the country to remain a destination for international students. They said foreign students and their families pump more than $40 billion annually into the economy even though the students represent just 5.5.% of U.S. college enrollments.
Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, which has one of the largest international student populations in the country at more than 13,000, said opponents of OPT are simply anti-immigrant.
"They don't believe the data. They don't believe the facts," he said. "It's a narrow view. It's an incomplete view about how to drive economic growth."
Critics counter that OPT gives companies a financial incentive to hire foreigners over Americans because they don't have to pay certain federal payroll taxes.
The program also lacks oversight and has become a popular path for foreigners seeking to gain permanent legal status, said Jessica Vaughan, policy director at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington group advocating for strict immigration limits.
"The government does not require that there be actual training, and no one checks on the employer or terms of employment," she said.
"Some of the participants are career 'students,' going back and forth between brief graduate degree programs and employment, just so they can stay here."
Xujiao Wang, a Chinese national who has been part of the program for the past year, said she doesn't see any fault in trying to build her family's future in the U.S.
The 32-year-old, who earned her doctorate in geographic information science from Texas State University, is working as a data analyst for a software company in Milford, Massachusetts.
She's two months pregnant and living in Rhode Island with her husband, a Chinese national also working on OPT, and their 2-year-old American-born daughter. The couple hopes to eventually earn permanent residency, but any change to OPT could send them back to China and an uncertain future, Ms. Wang said.
"China is developing fast, but it's still not what our generation has come to expect in terms of freedom and choice," she said. "So it makes us anxious. We've been step-by-step working toward our future in America."
In Massachusetts, dismantling OPT would jeopardize a fundamental part of the state's economy, which has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, said Andrew Tarsy, co-founder of the Massachusetts Business Immigration Coalition.
The advocacy group sent a letter to Mr. Trump last week pleading for preservation of the program. It was signed by roughly 50 businesses and colleges, including TripAdvisor and the University of Massachusetts, as well as trade associations representing the state's thriving life sciences industry centered around Harvard, MIT, and other Boston-area institutions.
"We attract the brightest people in the world to study here, and this helps transition them into our workforce," Mr. Tarsy said. "It's led to the founding of many, many companies and the creation of new products and services. It's the bridge for international students."
Mr. Minott, the Boston architect, argues that the time and resources required to invest in legal foreign workers, including lawyers' costs and visa processing fees, exceeds any tax savings firms might enjoy.
DREAM Collaborative, his 22-person firm, employs three people originally hired on OPT permits who are now on H-1B visas – the same path that Mr. Minott took early in his career.
"These programs enabled me to stay in this country, start a business, and create a better future for my family," said the father of two young American-born sons. "My kids are the next generation to benefit from that, and hopefully they'll be great citizens of this country."
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writers Collin Binkley and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this story.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.