wakingtimes--2020-01-08--Corruption in Global Health Care May Exceed $1 TRILLION

Investigations assessing the prevalence of scientific fraud and/or its impact show the problem is widespread and serious , to the point of making most of “ science-based ” medicine a genuine joke .
Conflict of interest is another pervasive problem that threatens the integrity and believability of most studies .
We ’ ve been repeatedly faced with study findings that are clearly tainted with industry bias .
For example , a 2014 study funded by the American Beverage Association purported to have found that diet soda makes you lose more weight than drinking no soda at all .
Its findings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrating that artificial sweeteners disrupt your body ’ s metabolism and lead to greater weight gain than regular sugar .
Another example is Dr. Don Poldermans ’ fraudulent beta blocker study , which is suspected of having led to the deaths of as many as 800,000 Europeans .
I wrote about this scandal in “ Beta Blockers Killed 800,000 in 5 Years — Good Medicine or Mass Murder ?
” The discredited paper had a profound influence as it served as the basis for establishing the use of beta blockers in noncardiac surgery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poldermans — who was fired for scientific misconduct in 2011 — was also the chairman of the committee that drafted that guideline .
This case is a sobering example demonstrating the need for maintaining strict scientific integrity , and why the issue of conflicts of interest really needs to be more widely understood and addressed .
Sadly , there are enough cases like this to fill several books .
Scientific misconduct can have a very real impact on your health , or someone you love , as doctors routinely use published research to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted in a 2012 paper in the American Journal of Medicine : Disturbingly , conflicts of interest are present at all levels , including our most prestigious public health agencies , as discussed in my November 19 , 2019 , article , “ CDC Petitioned to Stop Lying About Pharma Funds.
” While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long fostered the perception of independence , claiming it does not accept funding from special interests , the agency has in fact made itself beholden to the drug industry by accepting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foundation , the CDC Foundation , which funnels those contributions to the CDC after deducting a fee .
Several watchdog groups — including the U.S .
Right to Know ( USRTK ) , Public Citizen , Knowledge Ecology International , Liberty Coalition and the Project on Government Oversight — recently filed a petition , urging the CDC to cease making these false disclaimers .
According to the petition , the CDC accepted $ 79.6 million from drug companies and commercial manufacturers between 2014 and 2018 alone .
Since its inception in 1995 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million from private corporations .
The CDC is supposed to be a public health watchdog .
It has tremendous credibility within the medical community , and part of this credibility hinges on the idea that it ’ s free of industry bias and conflicts of interest .
By accepting money from drug companies and vaccine makers , one has to wonder whether that money might be having an impact on the agency ’ s health recommendations , as investigations have repeatedly and consistently shown that funding plays an enormous role in decision-making and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of scientific fraud and/or its impact show the problem is widespread and serious , to the point of making most of “ science-based ” medicine a genuine joke .
Conflict of interest is another pervasive problem that threatens the integrity and believability of most studies .
We ’ ve been repeatedly faced with study findings that are clearly tainted with industry bias .
For example , a 2014 study funded by the American Beverage Association purported to have found that diet soda makes you lose more weight than drinking no soda at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body of research demonstrating that artificial sweeteners disrupt your body ’ s metabolism and lead to greater weight gain than regular sugar .
Corruption in Global Health Is an Open Secret In a December 7 , 2019 , article in The Lancet , Dr. Patricia Garcia — affiliate professor of global health at Cayetano Heredia University in Lima-Peru and a former minister of health — points out that “ Corruption is embedded in health systems.
” In it , she argues that dishonesty and fraud in the health care system as a whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is “ one of the most important barriers to implementing universal health coverage , ” yet this corruption is rarely if ever discussed , let alone addressed in any meaningful way .
In her paper , Garcia summarizes the history of corruption , how it got started and what allows it to spread .
As a general commonsense rule , the less transparent a health system is , the more corrupt it becomes .
Weak adherence to the rule of law and few accountability mechanisms further invite corruption into its midst and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , quality and efficiency plummet .
Garcia cites research showing the amount of corruption found in any given system is dependent on three variables : • Monopoly ( M ) on the supply of a product or service • The level of discretion ( D ) enjoyed by suppliers • The supplier ’ s accountability ( A ) to others The amount of corruption ( C ) can thus be expressed as : C = M + D – A .
Corruption also presents itself in a variety of ways .
Bribery , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the exertion of undue influence , favoritism , medical services done for financial gain rather than medical necessity , kickbacks , price inflation , manipulation of data and fraudulent billing are all examples given by Garcia .
Scientific fraud and misconduct also belong on this list .
As detailed in “ Why Your Doctor ’ s Advice May Be Fatally Flawed , ” drug research is beset by an astoundingly high incidence rate of scientific misconduct , with 72 % of retracted drug studies being retracted due to things like data falsification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Only 28 % of retracted drug studies were retracted due to actual errors .
Medical research also has a severe replication problem , with a vast majority of studies being impossible to replicate .
How Can We Control Corruption ?
Corruption can be controlled , but it requires both good governance and a change in social norms , which can be difficult to achieve .
Garcia explains : “ Transparency International theorize that if institutions were strong , people wouldn ’ t even be tempted to participate in corruption .
The second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way that people think , focus on the way people process rule breaking or an individual ’ s decision to engage in corruption .
This process can be represented by the following equation : B > C + pp ( C + C ) + C In this equation , B represents the perceived benefit of an act of corruption , C the psychological costs , pp the perceived probability , C the criminal costs , C the social costs to the individual , and C the costs of doing the corrupt act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act is more likely to happen if the perceived benefit ( B ) is higher than the sum of the psychological costs ( or how the person will feel , which has to do with their personal values ) , the perceived probability of the criminal costs and social costs to the individual ( which has to do with social norms ) , and the costs of doing the corrupt act ( how easy or difficult it would be ) .
This theory highlights the importance of social norms .
Experts agree that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are assured through institutions .
The challenge is how can strong institutions be created , and how can social norms be changed , to fight corruption ?
” She also cites research suggesting the three factors governing the engagement in corrupt practices in the health care system are : • Being in a position of power — Systems with poor oversight invite abuse of power In order for anticorruption measures to succeed , these three factors all need to be addressed .
Anticorruption measures suggested by experts include the following : Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literature , she found “ an absence of evidence on what works to reduce corruption in the health sector , ” and there ’ s no data showing how well any of these measures actually work .
For all the scientific breakthroughs we ’ ve been gifted with over the past century , modern medicine still leaves an awful lot to be desired , and the corruption permeating the whole system is one of the primary reasons for why it delivers such abysmal results .
In her book , “ Death by Modern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how , for well over a century , the treatment of symptoms with drugs has dominated the definition of “ health care.
” It ’ s a deliberately schemed and manipulated paradigm that ’ s been packaged and sold through : • The insurance industry ’ s ( including Medicare ’ s and Medicaid ’ s ) methodology for payment , which doesn ’ t recognize nutritional care or proven naturopathic approaches to health care • Influencing physicians and other health care providers through gifts , honoraria for speaking engagements , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is simply another form of advertising The end result is a sickness industry that kills an enormous amount of people each year .
In 2000 , Dr. Barbara Starfield published a paper showing 225,000 Americans die each year from iatrogenic causes , meaning their death is caused by a physician ’ s activity , manner or therapy .
I read her article in the print in the July 2000 copy of JAMA and from it created the viral meme that took off , yet has rarely been attributed to me , that doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ironically , Starfield herself died from a medical error over 10 years later , when she suffered a lethal reaction to an inappropriate antiplatelet drug .
Remarkably , matters have not improved one whit since then .
Research published in 2013 estimated that preventable hospital errors kill 210,000 Americans each year , and a 2016 study published in the BMJ estimated that medical errors kill 250,000 Americans each year .
That ’ s an annual increase of about 25,000 people from Starfield ’ s estimates , and these numbers may still be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home or in nursing homes were not included .
Indeed , when they included deaths related to diagnostic errors , errors of omission and failure to follow guidelines , the number of preventable hospital deaths skyrocketed to 440,000 per year , which begins to hint at the true enormity of the problem .
Many Medical Procedures and Treatments Are Unnecessary Overtesting and overtreatment are part of the problem and corruption plays a role here as well .
Instead of dissuading patients from unnecessary or questionable interventions , the system rewards waste and incentivizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PLOS ONE report published in 2017 , 20.6 % of all medical care is unnecessary , including : The top three most commonly cited reasons by doctors for overtreatment were : A majority of respondents ( 70.8 % ) also agreed that unnecessary procedures are more likely to be performed when the doctor profits from them , and “ Most respondents believed that de-emphasizing fee-for-service physician compensation would reduce health care utilization and costs.
” To learn which tests and interventions may do more harm than good , browse through the Choosing Wisely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Era of Conflicting Interests Ultimately , the take-home message here is that even if a drug or treatment is “ backed by science , ” this does not guarantee that it ’ s safe or effective .
Likewise , if an alternative treatment has not been published in a medical journal , it does not mean it is unsafe or ineffective .
On the whole , modern medicine grossly undervalues and often flat out ignores the influence of diet and lifestyle factors such as sleep , exercise , time-restricted eating and exposures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beneficial ) and electromagnetic fields and toxins ( which are harmful ) .
This is why it ’ s crucial to have a philosophical framework to assist you in evaluating health and medical recommendations .
Consider the funding and look for evidence of replication and the building of consensus through time .
Anytime you ’ re trying to address a health issue , make full use of all the resources available to you , including your own sense of common sense and reason .
Since it is well established that most drugs do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease , it would be prudent to exercise the precautionary principle when evaluating a new drug claim , as it is likely to be flawed , biased or worse .
Also , if you ’ re facing a health challenge , seeing a competent conventional physician to rule out a serious condition is just the beginning .
It would be in your best interest to also identify a qualified natural health consultant , someone who really understands health at a foundational level , to make sure you ’ re addressing the root of @ @ @

Corruption in Global Health Care May Exceed $1 TRILLION
Dr. Mercola, Guest
Waking Times
Investigations assessing the prevalence of scientific fraud and/or its impact show the problem is widespread and serious, to the point of making most of “science-based” medicine a genuine joke. Conflict of interest is another pervasive problem that threatens the integrity and believability of most studies.
We’ve been repeatedly faced with study findings that are clearly tainted with industry bias. For example, a 2014 study funded by the American Beverage Association purported to have found that diet soda makes you lose more weight than drinking no soda at all.
Its findings blatantly contradicted a massive body of research demonstrating that artificial sweeteners disrupt your body’s metabolism and lead to greater weight gain than regular sugar.
Scientific Fraud Has Lethal Consequences
Another example is Dr. Don Poldermans’ fraudulent beta blocker study, which is suspected of having led to the deaths of as many as 800,000 Europeans. I wrote about this scandal in “Beta Blockers Killed 800,000 in 5 Years — Good Medicine or Mass Murder?”
The discredited paper had a profound influence as it served as the basis for establishing the use of beta blockers in noncardiac surgery patients as “standard of care.” Poldermans — who was fired for scientific misconduct in 2011 — was also the chairman of the committee that drafted that guideline.
This case is a sobering example demonstrating the need for maintaining strict scientific integrity, and why the issue of conflicts of interest really needs to be more widely understood and addressed. Sadly, there are enough cases like this to fill several books.
Scientific misconduct can have a very real impact on your health, or someone you love, as doctors routinely use published research to implement or alter treatment protocols. As noted in a 2012 paper in the American Journal of Medicine:
“Recent allegations of fraud committed by one of the most prolific researchers in perioperative medicine, Don Poldermans, have left many clinicians in a state of disbelief … The effects of fraud in perioperative medicine are particularly caustic owing to a profound domino effect. Many investigators devoted their academic careers to following the footsteps of investigators such as Poldermans. Similarly, funding agencies supported this line of enquiry, incurring significant cost and expense. Most importantly, hundreds of patients were exposed to treatments that may have been harmful in an effort to advance this research agenda … Because research misconduct in perioperative medicine can be so damaging, we present strategies to prevent such events in the future. Without such reform, fraud in research may very well continue. The price for such misconduct is simply too great to pay.”
Conflicts of Interest Threaten Public Health
Disturbingly, conflicts of interest are present at all levels, including our most prestigious public health agencies, as discussed in my November 19, 2019, article, “CDC Petitioned to Stop Lying About Pharma Funds.”
While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long fostered the perception of independence, claiming it does not accept funding from special interests, the agency has in fact made itself beholden to the drug industry by accepting millions in corporate donations through its government-chartered foundation, the CDC Foundation, which funnels those contributions to the CDC after deducting a fee.
Several watchdog groups — including the U.S. Right to Know (USRTK), Public Citizen, Knowledge Ecology International, Liberty Coalition and the Project on Government Oversight — recently filed a petition, urging the CDC to cease making these false disclaimers.
According to the petition, the CDC accepted $79.6 million from drug companies and commercial manufacturers between 2014 and 2018 alone. Since its inception in 1995, the CDC Foundation has accepted $161 million from private corporations.
The CDC is supposed to be a public health watchdog. It has tremendous credibility within the medical community, and part of this credibility hinges on the idea that it’s free of industry bias and conflicts of interest.
By accepting money from drug companies and vaccine makers, one has to wonder whether that money might be having an impact on the agency’s health recommendations, as investigations have repeatedly and consistently shown that funding plays an enormous role in decision-making and research outcomes.
Investigations assessing the prevalence of scientific fraud and/or its impact show the problem is widespread and serious, to the point of making most of “science-based” medicine a genuine joke. Conflict of interest is another pervasive problem that threatens the integrity and believability of most studies.
We’ve been repeatedly faced with study findings that are clearly tainted with industry bias. For example, a 2014 study funded by the American Beverage Association purported to have found that diet soda makes you lose more weight than drinking no soda at all.
Its findings blatantly contradicted a massive body of research demonstrating that artificial sweeteners disrupt your body’s metabolism and lead to greater weight gain than regular sugar.
Corruption in Global Health Is an Open Secret
In a December 7, 2019, article in The Lancet, Dr. Patricia Garcia — affiliate professor of global health at Cayetano Heredia University in Lima-Peru and a former minister of health — points out that “Corruption is embedded in health systems.”
In it, she argues that dishonesty and fraud in the health care system as a whole, including its academic and research communities, is “one of the most important barriers to implementing universal health coverage,” yet this corruption is rarely if ever discussed, let alone addressed in any meaningful way.
“Policy makers, researchers, and funders need to think about corruption as an important area of research in the same way we think about diseases. If we are really aiming to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure healthy lives for all, corruption in global health must no longer be an open secret,” Garcia writes. “Corruption is an open secret known around the world that is systemic and spreading. Over two-thirds of countries are considered endemically corrupt according to Transparency International … Corruption in the health sector is more dangerous than in any other sector because it is literally deadly … It is estimated that, each year, corruption takes the lives of at least 140,000 children, worsens antimicrobial resistance, and undermines all of our efforts to control communicable and non-communicable diseases. Corruption is an ignored pandemic.”
Corruption Is a Cancer
In her paper, Garcia summarizes the history of corruption, how it got started and what allows it to spread. As a general commonsense rule, the less transparent a health system is, the more corrupt it becomes.
Weak adherence to the rule of law and few accountability mechanisms further invite corruption into its midst and, with it, health system performance, quality and efficiency plummet.
“It is estimated that the world spends more than US$7 trillion on health services, and that at least 10–25% of global spending is lost directly through corruption, representing hundreds of billions of dollars lost each year. These billions lost to corruption exceed WHO’s estimations of the amount needed annually to fill the gap in assuring universal health coverage globally by 2030. However, the true cost of corruption for people is impossible to quantify because it can mean the difference between wellness and illness, and life and death,” Garcia writes.
3 Variables That Influence Corruption
Garcia cites research showing the amount of corruption found in any given system is dependent on three variables:
Monopoly (M) on the supply of a product or service The level of discretion (D) enjoyed by suppliers The supplier’s accountability (A) to others
The amount of corruption (C) can thus be expressed as: C = M + D – A.
“This equation shows that the more concentrated a supply of a good or service is, the higher the discretionary power of those that control the supply is, and the lower their accountability to others is; therefore the amount of corruption will be higher,” Garcia writes. “Unfortunately, these are the characteristics of health systems. The complexity of the system, high public spending, market uncertainty, information asymmetry, and the presence of many actors (i.e., regulators, payers, providers, consumers and suppliers) interact at different levels, increasing susceptibility to corruption.”
Corruption also presents itself in a variety of ways. Bribery, extortion, theft, embezzlement, nepotism, the exertion of undue influence, favoritism, medical services done for financial gain rather than medical necessity, kickbacks, price inflation, manipulation of data and fraudulent billing are all examples given by Garcia.
Scientific fraud and misconduct also belong on this list. As detailed in “Why Your Doctor’s Advice May Be Fatally Flawed,” drug research is beset by an astoundingly high incidence rate of scientific misconduct, with 72% of retracted drug studies being retracted due to things like data falsification, fabrication, unethical conduct and plagiarism.
Only 28% of retracted drug studies were retracted due to actual errors. Medical research also has a severe replication problem, with a vast majority of studies being impossible to replicate.
How Can We Control Corruption?
Corruption can be controlled, but it requires both good governance and a change in social norms, which can be difficult to achieve. Garcia explains:
“Transparency International theorize that if institutions were strong, people wouldn’t even be tempted to participate in corruption. The second group of theories, those concerning the way that people think, focus on the way people process rule breaking or an individual’s decision to engage in corruption. This process can be represented by the following equation: B p >C psy + pp (C crim + C soc ) + C fav In this equation, B p represents the perceived benefit of an act of corruption, C psy the psychological costs, pp the perceived probability, C crim the criminal costs, C soc the social costs to the individual, and C fav the costs of doing the corrupt act. From this equation, a corrupt act is more likely to happen if the perceived benefit (B p ) is higher than the sum of the psychological costs (or how the person will feel, which has to do with their personal values), the perceived probability of the criminal costs and social costs to the individual (which has to do with social norms), and the costs of doing the corrupt act (how easy or difficult it would be). This theory highlights the importance of social norms. Experts agree that the two theories converge because social norms are assured through institutions. The challenge is how can strong institutions be created, and how can social norms be changed, to fight corruption?”
3 Factors That Govern Corrupt Practices
She also cites research suggesting the three factors governing the engagement in corrupt practices in the health care system are:
Being in a position of power — Systems with poor oversight invite abuse of power Financial, peer and/or personal pressures Cultural acceptance of corruption
In order for anticorruption measures to succeed, these three factors all need to be addressed. Anticorruption measures suggested by experts include the following:
Strengthening accountability Improving data Improving supervision Improving salaries Providing incentives to reward good performance and sanctioning poor performance Increasing transparency (active disclosure of how decisions are made and performance measures) Community involvement and providing a platform for citizen feedback Detection and enforcement by law enforcement Enhancing financial management Managing conflicts of interest Improving policies and processes for investigations and the penalization of corrupt acts Using technology platforms for active surveillance Crowdsourcing information The use of big data, data mining and pattern recognition to identify fraud or abuse profiles
Still, Garcia notes that when searching the academic literature, she found “an absence of evidence on what works to reduce corruption in the health sector,” and there’s no data showing how well any of these measures actually work.
“There are already several authors who have highlighted open research questions that need to be addressed: we need to start working on them,” she says, adding: “We can start by designing and testing anti-corruption interventions for the health sector, for global health. We could start from the bottom up, taking small steps. We need rigorous research methods to prove or disprove that a strategy works. Addressing and ending corruption will require the participation of researchers from several disciplines and multiple approaches, and the commitment of funders to supporting serious research. Corruption in global health should not continue as an open secret, it has to be confronted and brought to light.”
Death by Modern Medicine
For all the scientific breakthroughs we’ve been gifted with over the past century, modern medicine still leaves an awful lot to be desired, and the corruption permeating the whole system is one of the primary reasons for why it delivers such abysmal results.
In her book, “Death by Modern Medicine,” Dr. Carolyn Dean talks about how, for well over a century, the treatment of symptoms with drugs has dominated the definition of “health care.” It’s a deliberately schemed and manipulated paradigm that’s been packaged and sold through:
The insurance industry’s (including Medicare’s and Medicaid’s) methodology for payment, which doesn’t recognize nutritional care or proven naturopathic approaches to health care
Direct-to-consumer drug advertising
Influencing physicians and other health care providers through gifts, honoraria for speaking engagements, and financial support for training programs, which is simply another form of advertising
Intense lobbying by PhRMA — a leading biopharmaceutical trade group — and individual drug makers
The end result is a sickness industry that kills an enormous amount of people each year. In 2000, Dr. Barbara Starfield published a paper showing 225,000 Americans die each year from iatrogenic causes, meaning their death is caused by a physician’s activity, manner or therapy.
I read her article in the print in the July 2000 copy of JAMA and from it created the viral meme that took off, yet has rarely been attributed to me, that doctors were the third leading cause of death. Ironically, Starfield herself died from a medical error over 10 years later, when she suffered a lethal reaction to an inappropriate antiplatelet drug.
Remarkably, matters have not improved one whit since then. Research published in 2013 estimated that preventable hospital errors kill 210,000 Americans each year, and a 2016 study published in the BMJ estimated that medical errors kill 250,000 Americans each year.
That’s an annual increase of about 25,000 people from Starfield’s estimates, and these numbers may still be vastly underestimated, as deaths occurring at home or in nursing homes were not included.
Indeed, when they included deaths related to diagnostic errors, errors of omission and failure to follow guidelines, the number of preventable hospital deaths skyrocketed to 440,000 per year, which begins to hint at the true enormity of the problem.
Many Medical Procedures and Treatments Are Unnecessary
Overtesting and overtreatment are part of the problem and corruption plays a role here as well. Instead of dissuading patients from unnecessary or questionable interventions, the system rewards waste and incentivizes disease over health. According to a PLOS ONE report published in 2017, 20.6% of all medical care is unnecessary, including:
22.0% of prescription medications
24.9% of medical tests
11.1% of procedures
The top three most commonly cited reasons by doctors for overtreatment were:
Fear of malpractice (84.7%) Patient pressure/request (59.0%) Difficulty accessing medical records (38.2%)
A majority of respondents (70.8%) also agreed that unnecessary procedures are more likely to be performed when the doctor profits from them, and “Most respondents believed that de-emphasizing fee-for-service physician compensation would reduce health care utilization and costs.” To learn which tests and interventions may do more harm than good, browse through the Choosing Wisely website.
Exercising Good Judgment in an Era of Conflicting Interests
Ultimately, the take-home message here is that even if a drug or treatment is “backed by science,” this does not guarantee that it’s safe or effective. Likewise, if an alternative treatment has not been published in a medical journal, it does not mean it is unsafe or ineffective.
On the whole, modern medicine grossly undervalues and often flat out ignores the influence of diet and lifestyle factors such as sleep, exercise, time-restricted eating and exposures to the sun and nature (which are beneficial) and electromagnetic fields and toxins (which are harmful).
This is why it’s crucial to have a philosophical framework to assist you in evaluating health and medical recommendations. Consider the funding and look for evidence of replication and the building of consensus through time.
Anytime you’re trying to address a health issue, make full use of all the resources available to you, including your own sense of common sense and reason. Since it is well established that most drugs do absolutely nothing to treat the cause of disease, it would be prudent to exercise the precautionary principle when evaluating a new drug claim, as it is likely to be flawed, biased or worse.
Also, if you’re facing a health challenge, seeing a competent conventional physician to rule out a serious condition is just the beginning. It would be in your best interest to also identify a qualified natural health consultant, someone who really understands health at a foundational level, to make sure you’re addressing the root of your problem.


wakingtimes--2020-01-08--Communities in Ecuador fight back against palm oil

Fifteen years ago , Martha Valencia relied on the nearby river for water and for food .
But then oil palm crops arrived in the area and polluted the river , say Martha and her neighbors .
The community took the oil palm grower to court , which ultimately resulted in a ruling in their favor .
That was two years ago .
And Martha and her neighbors say they are still waiting for things to change .
The river and the community , both named La Chiquita , are located within the municipality of San Lorenzo in the Esmeraldas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ palm plantations , in addition to its proximity to the Colombian border where drug trafficking and armed conflict is rife , contribute to the area ’ s dubious honor of having the highest levels of poverty and violence in the country .
When a new truck does not arrive in town before their tank runs dry , residents say they can buy 20-liter water canisters in San Lorenzo , which last three or four days .
However , this option often proves too expensive for community members who must subsist off meager profits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that case , they are forced to walk great distances to other rivers .
There ’ s little in the way of alternatives for people living in the area .
According to the National Statistical System and the National Statistics and Census Institute ( INEC ) , 16 % of San Lorenzo residents are illiterate , which is more than double the national rate of 6.8 % .
Almost half of its population is engaged in agriculture and fishing due to a lack of industrial development in the area .
Two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Esmeraldas ’ Provincial Court of Justice , and those affected in La Chiquita are still waiting for the judge to order the provision of drinking water , among other compensations .
The ruling also requires the construction of a health center and a school .
La Chiquita lies in the the Chocó-Darién , an ecosystem that extends from Panama to northwest Ecuador and is known for its unique forests and vast biological wealth – both of which are disappearing at a fast clip due to agribusiness and other human pressures .
Oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buffer zone between planted fields and water sources .
They must remove any crops that are located less than ten meters ( 33 feet ) from community water sources and replace them with endemic species such as guadua bamboo .
According to former environment ministers , a fine is applied “ for obvious negligence in the performance of their duties.
” The ruling also calls for the Ministry of Environment , together with affected communities , to reforest 500 hectares of degraded land with native species .
However , La Chiquita resident Isaha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Companies are the ones that have polluted and killed the forest but they want us to reforest , ” he told Mongabay .
Violence is common in the region .
The murder rate in San Lorenzo in 2018 was 96 per 100,000 inhabitants – almost ten times the national rate .
The area gained further notoriety that year when a reporting team from the El Comercio newspaper was kidnapped and then killed by FARC dissident groups .
The incident occurred in Mataje , a border town near Guadalito , Colombia .
Although four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two were included in the ruling : Palmera de los Andes and Palmar de los Esteros ( Palesema ) .
Only Palmera de los Andes agreed to comment for this story .
Oil palm plantations in Ecuador cover about 250,000 hectares ( 617,763 acres ) and are distributed among several provinces .
Due to its suitable growing conditions , Esmeraldas has the lion ’ s share .
Palm oil companies arrived in San Lorenzo in the late 1990s and early 2000s , settling in an area of around 30,000 hectares ( 74,131 acres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 123,552 acres ) .
The inhabitants of La Chiquita , who are mostly the descendants of enslaved people of African ancestry , say local children began to develop stomach diseases and that they noticed oil and pesticide residue in a river that was their primary water source .
When La Chiquita residents went into the forest to investigate the cause of this pollution , they discovered that one of the oil palm growers had installed a palm oil mill less than three kilometers upriver that was dumping liquid waste into the water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the Awá Guadalito indigenous community , who also joined the demand for change and reparations .
However , a representative of Palmera de los Andes contends claims of pollution .
Miño says communities have been manipulated by NGOs with ulterior motives .
He claims Ecolex is an environmental organization that receives funds from abroad , and that the organization attacks oil palm growers to justify its activities and budget regardless of the employment and development opportunities plantations create .
Manolo Morales , of Ecolex , says Miño ’ s accusations are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked in the area since 1998 helping local communities gain legal rights to their ancestral territories .
He claims that in the intervening years the government promoted and encouraged the cultivation of oil palm and that many inhabitants were persuaded to sell their territories to agroindustry companies .
He said he made the decision to advise La Chiquita and Guadalito when he learned of the problems they face .
In 2005 , a water quality study by the Al Tropic environmental foundation detected the presence of endosulfan and terbufos in the tributaries that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commonly used as pesticides , these compounds can cause severe illness and death in humans , and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies both as Category 1 toxins – a designation reserved for the most dangerous substances .
This information was included in a report from the Ministry of Environment ( MAE ) in 2009 and served as the basis for initiating the trial .
However , subsequent water studies were not decisive enough to directly hold oil palm companies accountable .
Therefore , the judge only partially accepted the claim , ordering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requested reparations to affected communities .
Ecolex reported that oil palm grower companies were alerted by government authorities before officials went to take water samples looking for the presence of toxins .
Meanwhile , Fabián Miño , from Palmera de los Andes , claims that the organization was trying to obtain samples of stagnant water .
Isaha Ezequiel and his neighbors say two years have passed and they have seen no progress towards court-mandated reparations .
According to Nathalia Bonilla , an environmental engineer and coordinator with the NGO Ecological Action in Ecuador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not report the verdict to the ministries responsible for carrying them out .
Because there is a mountain between the towns of Guadalito and La Chiquita , the judge ordered the building of a school in each .
However , Bonilla says the Ministry of Education was also not made aware of this ruling .
Palmera de los Andes reports that it has already begun fulfilling the reparations required by the ruling .
However , company representatives say it is doing so because such activities are within its environmental responsibilities and protocols , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be right .
Deforestation in northern Esmeraldas began well before oil palm moved in .
In the 1960s , the government implemented its Northwest Forestry Development project that established 14 forest concessions .
According to project data , more than 400,000 hectares ( 988,421 acres ) of dense forest was cleared between 1966 and 1975 .
Five more concessions were subsequently created .
The region ’ s protected areas preserve what has been lost to agriculture elsewhere : reserves , rich in orchids and giant ferns , extend to the paramos of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a multitude of species including jaguars and ocelots .
A microcosm of the biodiversity of the Chocó-Darién can be seen in just one of its massive trees .
A Sande tree , for example , can be covered by as many as 60 species of ferns , orchids and other plants , its fruit important food for birds and insects .
According to Walter Palacios , when the palm plantations first appeared in the area , the secondary forests that had regenerated after the mass clearing of the 1960s were cleared once again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary forest , Palacios says he hopes that the government spares these areas from the expansion of the agricultural frontier .
Residents say conversion of forest to plantations has affected their lives .
Residents like Valencia say they know everything they had before will not return in their lifetimes , but that they should still be able to expect clean water .
“ That is why we need the reparations promised by the ruling , ” says Wilberto Valencia , another community member .
The current Minister of Environment in Ecuador is Raúl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months ago .
In an appearance before the National Assembly , together with the affected community members , Ledesma offered to further investigate the situation in La Chiquita to verify the damage that Wilberto Valencia and others say is affecting their ability to live .
At that same meeting , Ledesma said he was aware that Energy Palma is breaking environmental standards .
What does the future hold ?
Large-scale plantations aren ’ t the only places where oil palm is grown in Ecuador , and advocates of the crop say stricter regulations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In recent years oil palm crops have been beset with “ bud rot.
” As of October 2019 , the fungal disease had wiped out 15,000 hectares ( 37,065 acres ) of plantations , according to Acosta .
His proposed solution : support farmers with credits and provide , through the Ministry of Agriculture , new seeds that are resistant to this disease .
Assemblyman Lenin Plaza , a native of Esmeraldas and president of the Committee on Food Sovereignty , together with Ancupa , is promoting a bill in the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first debate .
One of its objectives is to double palm oil yields for biofuel production , but Plaza says that does not necessarily mean expanding the agricultural frontier with new plantations .
“ This will depend on the country ’ s demand , ” Plasa said .
“ The important thing now is to help the producers.
” Acosta says oil palm expansion could take advantage of underutilized land once used for agriculture but which has since been abandoned .
However , even if the majority of producers may be small , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 % of land used for oil palm cultivation .

Communities in Ecuador Fight Back Against Palm Oil
Alejandro Pérez, Guest
Waking Times
Fifteen years ago, Martha Valencia relied on the nearby river for water and for food. But then oil palm crops arrived in the area and polluted the river, say Martha and her neighbors. The community took the oil palm grower to court, which ultimately resulted in a ruling in their favor.
“It is determined that there had been serious environmental effects in the territory of the communities … which should have been prevented by the Ecuadorian government,” the ruling read, and a judge ordered compensation for those affected.
That was two years ago. And Martha and her neighbors say they are still waiting for things to change.
No clean water
The river and the community, both named La Chiquita, are located within the municipality of San Lorenzo in the Esmeraldas province of Ecuador. Logging and oil palm plantations, in addition to its proximity to the Colombian border where drug trafficking and armed conflict is rife, contribute to the area’s dubious honor of having the highest levels of poverty and violence in the country.
Every eight to 15 days, the municipality sends a water truck to La Chiquita. The tank fills a 1,500-liter blue plastic tank “but not even that water is clean. We were told by the Municipality to put chlorine before drinking it,” says Olga, another community member.
When a new truck does not arrive in town before their tank runs dry, residents say they can buy 20-liter water canisters in San Lorenzo, which last three or four days. However, this option often proves too expensive for community members who must subsist off meager profits from small farms. They say that in that case, they are forced to walk great distances to other rivers.
There’s little in the way of alternatives for people living in the area. According to the National Statistical System and the National Statistics and Census Institute (INEC), 16% of San Lorenzo residents are illiterate, which is more than double the national rate of 6.8%. Almost half of its population is engaged in agriculture and fishing due to a lack of industrial development in the area.
Two years have passed since the Jan. 2017 ruling of Esmeraldas’ Provincial Court of Justice, and those affected in La Chiquita are still waiting for the judge to order the provision of drinking water, among other compensations. The ruling also requires the construction of a health center and a school.
La Chiquita lies in the the Chocó-Darién, an ecosystem that extends from Panama to northwest Ecuador and is known for its unique forests and vast biological wealth – both of which are disappearing at a fast clip due to agribusiness and other human pressures.
Oil palm companies are required to have a buffer zone between planted fields and water sources. They must remove any crops that are located less than ten meters (33 feet) from community water sources and replace them with endemic species such as guadua bamboo. According to former environment ministers, a fine is applied “for obvious negligence in the performance of their duties.”
“It is a historic ruling, although it has objections and inaccuracies that must be corrected in its execution,” says Manolo Morales, a lawyer and representative of the Corporation of Management and Environmental Law (Ecolex) that sponsored the lawsuit.
The ruling also calls for the Ministry of Environment, together with affected communities, to reforest 500 hectares of degraded land with native species. However, La Chiquita resident Isaha Ezequiel says this is absurd. “Companies are the ones that have polluted and killed the forest but they want us to reforest,” he told Mongabay.
Violence is common in the region. The murder rate in San Lorenzo in 2018 was 96 per 100,000 inhabitants – almost ten times the national rate. The area gained further notoriety that year when a reporting team from the El Comercio newspaper was kidnapped and then killed by FARC dissident groups. The incident occurred in Mataje, a border town near Guadalito, Colombia.
Although four companies were referenced during the trial, two were included in the ruling: Palmera de los Andes and Palmar de los Esteros (Palesema). Only Palmera de los Andes agreed to comment for this story.
Never-ending battle
Oil palm plantations in Ecuador cover about 250,000 hectares (617,763 acres) and are distributed among several provinces. Due to its suitable growing conditions, Esmeraldas has the lion’s share.
Palm oil companies arrived in San Lorenzo in the late 1990s and early 2000s, settling in an area of around 30,000 hectares (74,131 acres) that was later expanded to 50,000 (123,552 acres). The inhabitants of La Chiquita, who are mostly the descendants of enslaved people of African ancestry, say local children began to develop stomach diseases and that they noticed oil and pesticide residue in a river that was their primary water source.
When La Chiquita residents went into the forest to investigate the cause of this pollution, they discovered that one of the oil palm growers had installed a palm oil mill less than three kilometers upriver that was dumping liquid waste into the water. The same thing was reported by members of the Awá Guadalito indigenous community, who also joined the demand for change and reparations.
However, a representative of Palmera de los Andes contends claims of pollution.
“We have 11 processing pools with strict environmental controls,” said Fabián Miño, a lawyer and director of the company’s legal department. “It is false that we are the cause of any contamination.” He explained that, after the palm oil refinement process, wastewater is treated in each pool until it is decontaminated. “To confirm that the liquid comes out clean from our building, in the last two pools we have fish and seaweed,” he said.
Miño says communities have been manipulated by NGOs with ulterior motives. He claims Ecolex is an environmental organization that receives funds from abroad, and that the organization attacks oil palm growers to justify its activities and budget regardless of the employment and development opportunities plantations create.
Manolo Morales, of Ecolex, says Miño’s accusations are absurd. He says the organization has worked in the area since 1998 helping local communities gain legal rights to their ancestral territories. He claims that in the intervening years the government promoted and encouraged the cultivation of oil palm and that many inhabitants were persuaded to sell their territories to agroindustry companies. He said he made the decision to advise La Chiquita and Guadalito when he learned of the problems they face.
In 2005, a water quality study by the Al Tropic environmental foundation detected the presence of endosulfan and terbufos in the tributaries that provide water for these two communities. Commonly used as pesticides, these compounds can cause severe illness and death in humans, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies both as Category 1 toxins – a designation reserved for the most dangerous substances. This information was included in a report from the Ministry of Environment (MAE) in 2009 and served as the basis for initiating the trial. However, subsequent water studies were not decisive enough to directly hold oil palm companies accountable. Therefore, the judge only partially accepted the claim, ordering the government to fulfill some of the requested reparations to affected communities.
Ecolex reported that oil palm grower companies were alerted by government authorities before officials went to take water samples looking for the presence of toxins. Meanwhile, Fabián Miño, from Palmera de los Andes, claims that the organization was trying to obtain samples of stagnant water.
“They went out of their way to find pollution,” Miño said. “We have all the environmental certifications, national and international.”
Isaha Ezequiel and his neighbors say two years have passed and they have seen no progress towards court-mandated reparations. According to Nathalia Bonilla, an environmental engineer and coordinator with the NGO Ecological Action in Ecuador, this is because the judge did not report the verdict to the ministries responsible for carrying them out.
Because there is a mountain between the towns of Guadalito and La Chiquita, the judge ordered the building of a school in each. However, Bonilla says the Ministry of Education was also not made aware of this ruling.
Palmera de los Andes reports that it has already begun fulfilling the reparations required by the ruling. However, company representatives say it is doing so because such activities are within its environmental responsibilities and protocols, not because it considers the ruling to be right.
“We are reforesting as required by the ruling,” says lawyer Fabián Miño. He adds that the company has a 1200-hectare (2,965-acre) forest reserve, which was not requested in the reparations, and that the company has an environmental license and provides upwards of 700 jobs to local residents. “They should applaud us and not judge us,” he said.
A refuge for many species
Deforestation in northern Esmeraldas began well before oil palm moved in. In the 1960s, the government implemented its Northwest Forestry Development project that established 14 forest concessions. According to project data, more than 400,000 hectares (988,421 acres) of dense forest was cleared between 1966 and 1975. Five more concessions were subsequently created.
“This is how the primary forests of Esmeraldas were cut down,” says Walter Palacios, a forest engineer and associate researcher at the National Institute of Biodiversity (Inabio). He explains that the primary forests of northwestern Ecuador are home to around 4,000 species of plants, and says many may have disappeared due to habitat loss without biologists ever knowing them.
The region’s protected areas preserve what has been lost to agriculture elsewhere: reserves, rich in orchids and giant ferns, extend to the paramos of the Ecuadorian highlands, providing vital habitat for a multitude of species including jaguars and ocelots. A microcosm of the biodiversity of the Chocó-Darién can be seen in just one of its massive trees. A Sande tree, for example, can be covered by as many as 60 species of ferns, orchids and other plants, its fruit important food for birds and insects.
According to Walter Palacios, when the palm plantations first appeared in the area, the secondary forests that had regenerated after the mass clearing of the 1960s were cleared once again.
“A secondary forest no longer has the same species density, it has less wildlife,” Palacios said. “However, it is better to preserve them than to turn them into monocultures.”
Of the region’s remaining primary forest, Palacios says he hopes that the government spares these areas from the expansion of the agricultural frontier.
Residents say conversion of forest to plantations has affected their lives.
“I used to make with my mother wicker baskets out of Piquigua – an endemic plant,” Martha Valencia said. “We used the baskets to transport fish, or the meat of guanta, deer and other animals that we hunted. The forest and the river gave us everything, now we have to go to San Lorenzo to buy the food that was taken from us.”
Residents like Valencia say they know everything they had before will not return in their lifetimes, but that they should still be able to expect clean water. “That is why we need the reparations promised by the ruling,” says Wilberto Valencia, another community member.
The current Minister of Environment in Ecuador is Raúl Ledesma, who assumed the position four months ago. In an appearance before the National Assembly, together with the affected community members, Ledesma offered to further investigate the situation in La Chiquita to verify the damage that Wilberto Valencia and others say is affecting their ability to live. At that same meeting, Ledesma said he was aware that Energy Palma is breaking environmental standards.
What does the future hold?
Large-scale plantations aren’t the only places where oil palm is grown in Ecuador, and advocates of the crop say stricter regulations on its cultivation could hurt small farmers.
“If there are infractions, justice must act,” says Wilfredo Acosta, executive director of the National Association of Palm Oil Growers (Ancupa). “But 89% are small producers and for us, it is an agricultural activity, like any other, that encourages the development of the country.”
In recent years oil palm crops have been beset with “bud rot.” As of October 2019, the fungal disease had wiped out 15,000 hectares (37,065 acres) of plantations, according to Acosta. His proposed solution: support farmers with credits and provide, through the Ministry of Agriculture, new seeds that are resistant to this disease.
Assemblyman Lenin Plaza, a native of Esmeraldas and president of the Committee on Food Sovereignty, together with Ancupa, is promoting a bill in the National Assembly, which has already passed the first debate. One of its objectives is to double palm oil yields for biofuel production, but Plaza says that does not necessarily mean expanding the agricultural frontier with new plantations. “This will depend on the country’s demand,” Plasa said. “The important thing now is to help the producers.”
Acosta says oil palm expansion could take advantage of underutilized land once used for agriculture but which has since been abandoned.
“It’s not necessary to expand, it’s about optimizing crops,” Acosta said. “With that, we take the pressure off the forests.”
However, even if the majority of producers may be small, environmental organizations say large companies control around 80% of land used for oil palm cultivation.
“The big companies are the ones that benefit,” said Nathalia Bonilla of Ecological Action. “What they say about small producers is just a story. [Oil] palm is an activity that uses chemicals that seep into the earth [and] needs large areas, and working conditions are precarious.”
By Alejandro Pérez | Creative Commons | Mongabay.com


wakingtimes--2020-01-08--Over 10,000 Camels To Be Shot In Australia Because They Drink Too Much Water

As a result of Australia literally being on fire , difficult decisions are being made to conserve precious resources .
One of those tough choices is to shoot over 10,000 camels because they drink too much water .
The camels will be shot by professional firearms experts from helicopters ; the move aims to prevent the camels from drinking too much water in drought-afflicted South Australia .
According to The Australian , the shooting will begin Wednesday , following an order from Aboriginal leaders in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara ( APY ) lands .
Locals have been complaining that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wreaking havoc ” as they search for available water , including taps and tanks .
By culling the camel population , APY Lands manager Richard King explained that a buffer zone will be created to better protect communities and children .
“ Even the moisture that your air conditioner generates will attract them , and when you ’ ve got four or five animals really wanting water — they ’ re quite capable of breaking air conditioners , ” said King .
Another factor contributing to the animals ’ demise is the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ton of carbon dioxide per year .
According to a spokesperson for the South Australia Department of Environment and Water , the increasing number of animals is causing several problems in the region .
All in all , the operation to curb the camel population will cost $ 1.2 million and take five days .
The carcasses will be left to dry off before they are burned or buried , reports ABC News .
Camels were first introduced to Australia from India and Afghanistan during the 19th century .
They were primarily used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the west of the APY lands mustered feral camels for sale , according to the DEW spokesperson .
However , due to the droughts , the owners have been “ unable to manage the scale and number of camels that congregate in dry conditions.
” Not surprisingly , the operation has attracted criticism .
Some readers are appalled that thousands of more animals will die , following more than a billion animals perishing in the wildfires sweeping across Australia .
According to Chris Dickman , an ecologist at the University of Sydney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the losses have already exceeded 1 billion .
He added that it was “ a very conservative figure.
” Some conservationists and wildlife experts fear the fires may have wiped out entire species of animals .
Small marsupials , including the dunnarts and glossy black cockatoos , may have entirely disappeared in the fires .
Approximately one-third of Kangaroo Island burned in the brushfire , leaving a “ scorched wasteland.
” Mandy Froelich is an RHN , plant-based chef , journalist , Reiki master therapist , world traveler and enthusiast of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainability , cannabis and conscious living .
She share healthy recipes on my blog Life in Bloom .

Over 10,000 Camels To Be Shot In Australia Because They Drink Too Much Water
Mandy Froelich, Truth Theory
Waking Times
As a result of Australia literally being on fire, difficult decisions are being made to conserve precious resources. One of those tough choices is to shoot over 10,000 camels because they drink too much water.
The camels will be shot by professional firearms experts from helicopters; the move aims to prevent the camels from drinking too much water in drought-afflicted South Australia. According to The Australian, the shooting will begin Wednesday, following an order from Aboriginal leaders in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands.
Locals have been complaining that the animals have been entering communities and “wreaking havoc” as they search for available water, including taps and tanks.
“We have been stuck in stinking hot and uncomfortable conditions, feeling unwell, because the camels are coming in and knocking down fences, getting in around the houses and trying to get to water through air-conditioners,’’ said Marita Baker, a board member of the APY executive.
By culling the camel population, APY Lands manager Richard King explained that a buffer zone will be created to better protect communities and children. “Even the moisture that your air conditioner generates will attract them, and when you’ve got four or five animals really wanting water — they’re quite capable of breaking air conditioners,” said King.
To remove the camels, he added, it would take three years. “And in that time we’ve got to feed them … the reality is, we just can’t do that,” he said.
Another factor contributing to the animals’ demise is the fact that they emit methane equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide per year. According to a spokesperson for the South Australia Department of Environment and Water, the increasing number of animals is causing several problems in the region.
All in all, the operation to curb the camel population will cost $1.2 million and take five days. The carcasses will be left to dry off before they are burned or buried, reports ABC News.
Camels were first introduced to Australia from India and Afghanistan during the 19th century. They were primarily used for transport and construction. Traditional owners in the west of the APY lands mustered feral camels for sale, according to the DEW spokesperson. However, due to the droughts, the owners have been “unable to manage the scale and number of camels that congregate in dry conditions.”
Not surprisingly, the operation has attracted criticism. Some readers are appalled that thousands of more animals will die, following more than a billion animals perishing in the wildfires sweeping across Australia. According to Chris Dickman, an ecologist at the University of Sydney, “without any doubt at all,” the losses have already exceeded 1 billion. He added that it was “a very conservative figure.”
Some conservationists and wildlife experts fear the fires may have wiped out entire species of animals. Small marsupials, including the dunnarts and glossy black cockatoos, may have entirely disappeared in the fires. Approximately one-third of Kangaroo Island burned in the brushfire, leaving a “scorched wasteland.”
The DEW spokesman concluded that the animals “will be destroyed in accordance with the highest standards of animal welfare.”
About the Author
Mandy Froelich is an RHN, plant-based chef, journalist, Reiki master therapist, world traveler and enthusiast of everything to do with animal rights, sustainability, cannabis and conscious living. She share healthy recipes on my blog Life in Bloom.


wakingtimes--2020-01-08--Latest Count of ONE BILLION Animals Killed in Australia Fires a “Very Conservative” Estimate

While Australia ’ s unprecedented wave of fires has devastated the country , it ’ s been difficult for experts and authorities to accurately measure the true extent of the damage sustained by the country ’ s wild animals and plants .
However , new figures released by specialists studying the blaze reveal horrifying new statistics about the number of animals killed in the bushfires , which likely now exceed one billion .
Last week , researchers at the University of Sydney expressed fears that roughly 480 million animals have been killed since the crisis broke out in September .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the figure , is now saying that the number was extremely conservative—and only restricted to those animals within the state of New South Wales ( NSW ) .
It also excluded huge groups of wildlife about which they lack any population data .
“ The original figure―the 480 million―was based on mammals , birds and reptiles for which we do have densities , and that figure now is a little bit out of date .
It ’ s over 800 million given the extent of the fires now―in New South Wales alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s not all the animals in the firing line.
” The creatures excluded in the 480 million figure include such animals as bats , frogs , and invertebrates .
With those included , Dickman is “ without any doubt at all ” that losses far exceed 1 billion .
He added : Experts have warned that the massive loss of life due to the fires threatens to cross a tipping-point for entire species of animals and plants on an island continent where 87 percent of wildlife is endemic to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found on Australia .
This includes such critically endangered species as the southern corroboree frog and mountain pygmy-possum , whose habitats have been ravaged by the fires .
Dickman added that the country ’ s huge population of bats are especially susceptible to impacts on their forest habitat .
He said : Kangaroos , koalas , wallabies , wombats , potoroos , bandicoots , echidnas , and other species also have populations that live in regions currently being devastated by the fires—and because the fires have extended to the wetlands , dry eucalyptus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals have no place to find refuge .
Stuart Blanch , a senior manager of Land Clearing and Restoration for WWF-Australia , backs up Dickman ’ s estimates .
The researcher stressed that given the recent massive expansion of fires since the measurements were last taken , 1 billion remains a very modest estimate of the tremendous loss of life .
For Blanch , the blame largely lies with economic factors—including the country ’ s role as the world ’ s number one exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ land have burned so far , officials claim .
Over the weekend , an estimated 25,000 additional koalas burned to death when the fire extended to Kangaroo Island , potentially wiping out entire rare and endangered species .

Latest Count of ONE BILLION Animals Killed in Australia Fires a “Very Conservative” Estimate
Elias Marat, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
While Australia’s unprecedented wave of fires has devastated the country, it’s been difficult for experts and authorities to accurately measure the true extent of the damage sustained by the country’s wild animals and plants.
However, new figures released by specialists studying the blaze reveal horrifying new statistics about the number of animals killed in the bushfires, which likely now exceed one billion.
Last week, researchers at the University of Sydney expressed fears that roughly 480 million animals have been killed since the crisis broke out in September.
Ecologist Chris Dickman, who helped arrive at the figure, is now saying that the number was extremely conservative—and only restricted to those animals within the state of New South Wales (NSW). It also excluded huge groups of wildlife about which they lack any population data.
Speaking to Huffington Post, Dickman said:
“The original figure―the 480 million―was based on mammals, birds and reptiles for which we do have densities, and that figure now is a little bit out of date. It’s over 800 million given the extent of the fires now―in New South Wales alone. If 800 million sounds a lot, it’s not all the animals in the firing line.”
The creatures excluded in the 480 million figure include such animals as bats, frogs, and invertebrates. With those included, Dickman is “without any doubt at all” that losses far exceed 1 billion. He added:
“Over a billion would be a very conservative figure.”
http://twitter.com/akkitwts/status/1214548891372179458
Experts have warned that the massive loss of life due to the fires threatens to cross a tipping-point for entire species of animals and plants on an island continent where 87 percent of wildlife is endemic to the country, meaning it can only be found on Australia. This includes such critically endangered species as the southern corroboree frog and mountain pygmy-possum, whose habitats have been ravaged by the fires.
Dickman added that the country’s huge population of bats are especially susceptible to impacts on their forest habitat. He said:
“The numbers would have to be huge. And they’re very susceptible to the fires.”
Kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, wombats, potoroos, bandicoots, echidnas, and other species also have populations that live in regions currently being devastated by the fires—and because the fires have extended to the wetlands, dry eucalyptus forests, and even rainforests, the animals have no place to find refuge.
http://twitter.com/akkitwts/status/1214547905404493824
Stuart Blanch, a senior manager of Land Clearing and Restoration for WWF-Australia, backs up Dickman’s estimates. The researcher stressed that given the recent massive expansion of fires since the measurements were last taken, 1 billion remains a very modest estimate of the tremendous loss of life.
For Blanch, the blame largely lies with economic factors—including the country’s role as the world’s number one exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas. He said:
“It’s our climate impact and our obsession with coal that is helping wage war on our own country.”
Upwards of 12.35 million acres of land have burned so far, officials claim. Over the weekend, an estimated 25,000 additional koalas burned to death when the fire extended to Kangaroo Island, potentially wiping out entire rare and endangered species.
Transitioning from a global deforestation hotspot to world leader in reforestation would cut Australia's carbon emissions by 9% and store an addition one billion tons of carbon in landscapes. #towardstwobilliontreeshttps://t.co/nhD5zxx8pP https://t.co/FQpvUw95mX — Stuart Blanch (@blanch_stuart) December 22, 2019
By Elias Marat | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


wakingtimes--2020-01-08--Largest Study Ever Conducted Using Magic Mushrooms Finds Psilocybin Completely Safe and “Breakthroug

For many years , psilocybin , the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms , was considered too dangerous for consumption .
But recent studies on its effects have shown no long-term damage from its use , and the FDA has now classified it as a “ breakthrough therapy ” for depression .
In phase one of the largest ever controlled study on psilocybin , 89 healthy participants were given either 10mg , 25mg , or a placebo of the drug .
Over 25 dosing sessions , the participants would go through therapy sessions in groups of six for a period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the study are clinically reassuring and support further development of psilocybin as a treatment for patients with mental health problems that haven ’ t improved with conventional therapy , such as treatment-resistant depression.
” – KCL ’ s Dr. James Rucker , the study ’ s lead investigator Phase two of the study is currently underway while researchers attempt to discover whether 216 volunteer patients will see improvements in depression where conventional treatments have failed them .
“ We are focused on getting psilocybin therapy safely to as many patients who would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] are grateful to the many pioneering research institutions whose work over the years has helped to demonstrate the potential of psilocybin in medicine.
” – Dr. James Rucker Magic mushrooms are the opposite of antidepressants , notes leading psychedelic researcher Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris .
Where pharmaceutical antidepressants leave emotions “ blunted , ” psilocybin brings them out for the patient to deal with and move past in a healthy manner .
After the study of psychedelics was legalized in recent years , research has consistently pointed to the notion that psilocybin can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Centre for Psychedelic Research at London ’ s Imperial College , magic mushrooms could replace antidepressants altogether within 5 years due to a low rate of adverse effects compared with pharmaceuticals .
“ The implications of that are actually frightening to me , thinking of the power and influence of big pharma… What are they going to do with that if there ’ s this big public demand for the ‘ mushroom therapy ’ , and not the Prozac ?
” – Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris Although magic mushrooms are showing much promise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do not recommend that anyone go out and take this drug without knowing that it is safe and legal to do so .
If you do find yourself under the influence of psilocybin , make sure that you do not operate any kind of heavy machinery , such as driving a car .
If you start to get anxious or paranoid , remember that the effects only last a few hours and you will be completely back to normal within a few days .
A study from PLoS One in 2013 reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifetime psychedelic users ( such as persisting hallucinations , panic attacks , or cognitive decline ) .
“ We did not find use of psychedelics to be an independent risk factor for mental health problems… Rather , in several cases psychedelic use was associated with lower rate of mental health problems.
” – Teri S. Krebs , Study Author However , in extreme cases you may need to take a trip to the emergency room .
Make sure to always trip with someone who is sober and informed about what to do in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention .
Also , do not take psychedelics if you have a prior history or family history of mental illness as no research currently exists showing the drug won ’ t exasperate those symptoms .
According to medicalnewstoday.com , accidentally eating a poisonous or moldy mushroom by mistake can result in muscle spasms , confusion and delirium , as well as gastrointestinal illness .
If you experience any of these in the extreme , get medical attention immediately .
Make sure you understand the safety precautions needed before taking psychedelic mushrooms because you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 20 bag of mushrooms into a $ 2,000 hospital trip , or worse .
That being said , only 0.2 % of almost 10,000 people surveyed needed emergency medical treatment after consuming psilocybin mushrooms , according to the 2017 Global Drug Survey .
Magic mushrooms are not habit forming , however they are still illegal .
Make sure to only take them if you know they are safe and you are using them in a safe and legal space , such as a controlled laboratory setting or with a trusted and informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are legal .
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times .
If you would like to see more of his work , you can visit his website , or follow him on the free speech social network Minds .
This article ( Largest Study Ever Conducted Using Magic Mushrooms Finds Psilocybin Completely Safe and “ Breakthrough Therapy ” for Depression ) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freely with proper attribution , author bio , and this copyright statement .
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Largest Study Ever Conducted Using Magic Mushrooms Finds Psilocybin Completely Safe and “Breakthrough Therapy” for Depression
Phillip Schneider, Staff Writer
Waking Times
For many years, psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, was considered too dangerous for consumption. But recent studies on its effects have shown no long-term damage from its use, and the FDA has now classified it as a “breakthrough therapy” for depression.
In phase one of the largest ever controlled study on psilocybin, 89 healthy participants were given either 10mg, 25mg, or a placebo of the drug. Over 25 dosing sessions, the participants would go through therapy sessions in groups of six for a period of 12 weeks.
“The results of the study are clinically reassuring and support further development of psilocybin as a treatment for patients with mental health problems that haven’t improved with conventional therapy, such as treatment-resistant depression.” – KCL’s Dr. James Rucker, the study’s lead investigator
Phase two of the study is currently underway while researchers attempt to discover whether 216 volunteer patients will see improvements in depression where conventional treatments have failed them.
“We are focused on getting psilocybin therapy safely to as many patients who would benefit from it as possible [and] are grateful to the many pioneering research institutions whose work over the years has helped to demonstrate the potential of psilocybin in medicine.” – Dr. James Rucker
Magic mushrooms are the opposite of antidepressants, notes leading psychedelic researcher Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris. Where pharmaceutical antidepressants leave emotions “blunted,” psilocybin brings them out for the patient to deal with and move past in a healthy manner.
After the study of psychedelics was legalized in recent years, research has consistently pointed to the notion that psilocybin can help patients overcome depression. According to the Centre for Psychedelic Research at London’s Imperial College, magic mushrooms could replace antidepressants altogether within 5 years due to a low rate of adverse effects compared with pharmaceuticals.
“The implications of that are actually frightening to me, thinking of the power and influence of big pharma… What are they going to do with that if there’s this big public demand for the ‘mushroom therapy’, and not the Prozac?” – Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris
Although magic mushrooms are showing much promise while used in a controlled setting, I do not recommend that anyone go out and take this drug without knowing that it is safe and legal to do so.
If you do find yourself under the influence of psilocybin, make sure that you do not operate any kind of heavy machinery, such as driving a car. If you start to get anxious or paranoid, remember that the effects only last a few hours and you will be completely back to normal within a few days.
A study from PLoS One in 2013 reported no increase in mental health problems for lifetime psychedelic users (such as persisting hallucinations, panic attacks, or cognitive decline).
“We did not find use of psychedelics to be an independent risk factor for mental health problems… Rather, in several cases psychedelic use was associated with lower rate of mental health problems.” – Teri S. Krebs, Study Author
However, in extreme cases you may need to take a trip to the emergency room. Make sure to always trip with someone who is sober and informed about what to do in a situation where you may need medical attention. Also, do not take psychedelics if you have a prior history or family history of mental illness as no research currently exists showing the drug won’t exasperate those symptoms.
According to medicalnewstoday.com, accidentally eating a poisonous or moldy mushroom by mistake can result in muscle spasms, confusion and delirium, as well as gastrointestinal illness. If you experience any of these in the extreme, get medical attention immediately.
Make sure you understand the safety precautions needed before taking psychedelic mushrooms because you don’t want to turn a $20 bag of mushrooms into a $2,000 hospital trip, or worse. That being said, only 0.2% of almost 10,000 people surveyed needed emergency medical treatment after consuming psilocybin mushrooms, according to the 2017 Global Drug Survey.
Magic mushrooms are not habit forming, however they are still illegal. Make sure to only take them if you know they are safe and you are using them in a safe and legal space, such as a controlled laboratory setting or with a trusted and informed friend in a country in which they are legal.
Read more articles from Phillip Schneider.
About the Author
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times. If you would like to see more of his work, you can visit his website, or follow him on the free speech social network Minds.
This article (Largest Study Ever Conducted Using Magic Mushrooms Finds Psilocybin Completely Safe and “Breakthrough Therapy” for Depression) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.


wakingtimes--2020-01-08--As Several States Legalize Campus Carry, University Reports a Drop in Crime

According to mainstream media pundits and establishment politicians , a greater access to guns will always result in an increase to firearm related crime .
But according to data from several universities , before and after legalizing concealed carry on campus , that is not always the case .
As reported by the College Fix : According to the website of Armed Campuses , a pro-gun-control initiative that tracks firearm policies at universities across the country , seven state legislatures have broadly permitted concealed carry on public university grounds .
Five more have instituted limited campus carry regimes .
Ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remainder either allow the university to set the policy or else mandate that the guns must be left in locked cars .
All the universities contacted by journalists described no increase in violent crime , and at least one revealed a decrease in several nonviolent crimes .
Emporia State University , located in Kansas , reported a 0 % change in violent crime on campus since the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act ’ s university exemption prohibiting concealed carry on campus expired on July 1st , 2017 .
“ Emporia State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law changed , and there has been no violence since the law changed.
” – Gwen Larson , campus spokeswoman Although campus carry is being allowed at many colleges across the country , no one can say how dramatic the increase has been , if any , because it is impossible to track those who are concealing their firearms from view .
“ There is no way of knowing the answer to this question .
Kansas law prohibits tracking people who are carrying concealed handguns or making inquiries about who may or may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Utah ’ s Dixie State University also saw no increase in gun-related murders or injuries after guns became allowed on campus , which happened nearly 15 years ago .
The Chief of Police for Dixie State campus found no “ reported or observed increase with gun violence on campus ” as a result of campus carry .
Like Emporia State , Dixie State University also “ does not track who on campus possess state issued concealed carry firearm permits.
” “ This would be very difficult to do due to DSU students coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have not seen any increase in reports of firearms on campus , and we have not been made aware of any concerns regarding concealed carry permit holders by students or staff , related to Utah state legal statute.
” Finally , at Valdosta State University in Georgia , crime dropped slightly after campus carry was legalized in 2017 .
According to their 2019 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report , The school had no instances of murder or manslaughter prior to or after the campus carry law was passed .
Cases of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 to zero in 2018 and aggravated assault went from two in 2016 to one in 2018 .
Instances of on-campus burglary changed from 11 in 2016 to 5 in 2018 .
Overall instances of rape also went down after campus carry , from six in 2016 to two in both 2017 and 2018 .
However , on-campus rape increased from zero to one for both years after campus carry was enacted , which only allows concealed carry on campus , not in residential dorms , athletic events , or in classrooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This law allows anyone with a valid Georgia Weapons Carry License to carry a handgun in a concealed manner on property owned or leased by public colleges and universities , with some exceptions.
” – VSU It is important to note that the numbers , being small and over a relatively short period of time , may be a result of several factors .
Over the same period , arrests for drug abuse on campus went significantly down , while reported instances of dating violence on campus went up .
Campus carry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct decline in robberies or assault , but it certainly doesn ’ t show an increase either , as many suggest will happen when you allow students and staff to carry on campus .
Even Armed Campuses features a study which concludes that current data “ do not prove that campus carry causes more crime ” .
When it comes down to it , crime and violence on campus are not a result of one or two simple and easily measurable factors , but the state of everyone on campus .
Students or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safeguard against the abuse that can be caused by a mentally unstable individual with an intent to harm others .
So , if campus carry doesn ’ t result in more crime , why not allow potential victims the legal ability to defend themselves on the off chance a would-be rapist , murderer , or sexual assaulter decides to make them into another statistic ?
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times .
If you would like to see more of his work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or follow him on the free speech social network Minds .
This article ( As Several States Legalize Campus Carry , University Reports a Drop in Crime ) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com .
It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution , author bio , and this copyright statement .
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As Several States Legalize Campus Carry, University Reports a Drop in Crime
Phillip Schneider, Staff Writer
Waking Times
According to mainstream media pundits and establishment politicians, a greater access to guns will always result in an increase to firearm related crime. But according to data from several universities, before and after legalizing concealed carry on campus, that is not always the case.
As reported by the College Fix:
According to the website of Armed Campuses, a pro-gun-control initiative that tracks firearm policies at universities across the country, seven state legislatures have broadly permitted concealed carry on public university grounds. Five more have instituted limited campus carry regimes. Ten states prohibit campus carry altogether, while the remainder either allow the university to set the policy or else mandate that the guns must be left in locked cars.
All the universities contacted by journalists described no increase in violent crime, and at least one revealed a decrease in several nonviolent crimes.
Emporia State University, located in Kansas, reported a 0% change in violent crime on campus since the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act’s university exemption prohibiting concealed carry on campus expired on July 1st, 2017.
“Emporia State did not have gun violence before the law changed, and there has been no violence since the law changed.” – Gwen Larson, campus spokeswoman
Although campus carry is being allowed at many colleges across the country, no one can say how dramatic the increase has been, if any, because it is impossible to track those who are concealing their firearms from view.
“There is no way of knowing the answer to this question. Kansas law prohibits tracking people who are carrying concealed handguns or making inquiries about who may or may not be carrying.” – Gwen Larson
Utah’s Dixie State University also saw no increase in gun-related murders or injuries after guns became allowed on campus, which happened nearly 15 years ago.
The Chief of Police for Dixie State campus found no “reported or observed increase with gun violence on campus” as a result of campus carry.
Like Emporia State, Dixie State University also “does not track who on campus possess state issued concealed carry firearm permits.”
“This would be very difficult to do due to DSU students coming from many states across the country. We have not seen any increase in reports of firearms on campus, and we have not been made aware of any concerns regarding concealed carry permit holders by students or staff, related to Utah state legal statute.”
Finally, at Valdosta State University in Georgia, crime dropped slightly after campus carry was legalized in 2017.
According to their 2019 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, The school had no instances of murder or manslaughter prior to or after the campus carry law was passed. Cases of on-campus sexual assault went down from three in 2016 to zero in 2018 and aggravated assault went from two in 2016 to one in 2018. Instances of on-campus burglary changed from 11 in 2016 to 5 in 2018.
Overall instances of rape also went down after campus carry, from six in 2016 to two in both 2017 and 2018. However, on-campus rape increased from zero to one for both years after campus carry was enacted, which only allows concealed carry on campus, not in residential dorms, athletic events, or in classrooms where high schools are in attendance.
“This law allows anyone with a valid Georgia Weapons Carry License to carry a handgun in a concealed manner on property owned or leased by public colleges and universities, with some exceptions.” – VSU
It is important to note that the numbers, being small and over a relatively short period of time, may be a result of several factors. Over the same period, arrests for drug abuse on campus went significantly down, while reported instances of dating violence on campus went up.
Campus carry may or may not have caused a direct decline in robberies or assault, but it certainly doesn’t show an increase either, as many suggest will happen when you allow students and staff to carry on campus. Even Armed Campuses features a study which concludes that current data “do not prove that campus carry causes more crime”.
When it comes down to it, crime and violence on campus are not a result of one or two simple and easily measurable factors, but the state of everyone on campus. Students or staff with concealed handguns are only one safeguard against the abuse that can be caused by a mentally unstable individual with an intent to harm others.
So, if campus carry doesn’t result in more crime, why not allow potential victims the legal ability to defend themselves on the off chance a would-be rapist, murderer, or sexual assaulter decides to make them into another statistic?
Read more articles from Phillip Schneider.
About the Author
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times. If you would like to see more of his work, you can visit his website, or follow him on the free speech social network Minds.
This article (As Several States Legalize Campus Carry, University Reports a Drop in Crime) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.


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