wakingtimes--2020-03-09--Astronomers Detect Largest Explosion in the History of the Universe Since the Big Bang Itself

Astronomers in Perth , Australia recently detected and observed the largest explosion ever found in the universe since the Big Bang , according to a study published in the Astrophysics Journal .
Researchers at the Curtin University International Centre for Radio Astronomy were observing the distant galaxy cluster Ophiuchus when they detected a huge explosion at the center of a supermassive black hole , approximately 390 million light-years from Earth .
According to scientists , the explosion released five times more energy than the big bang , Science Daily reported .
In fact , the explosion was so massive that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plasma ( super-heated gas ) surrounding the supermassive black hole and also broke the previous record-holder—a cluster known by the designation MS 0735+74 .
One author of the study , Dr. Simona Giacintucci who works at the Naval Research Laboratory in the U.S. , compared the explosion to the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 , in which the top of the mountain was completely blown off .
X-ray telescopes previously detected a hole in the black hole ’ s cluster plasma , but astronomers originally discarded the theory that it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the outburst was believed to be too massive .
“ People were skeptical because the size of outburst , ” Johnston-Hollitt said .
“ But it really is that .
The Universe is a weird place.
” “ This object was actually observed with the Chandra X-ray telescope by a previous team and they saw this bubble in the hot X-ray plasma in the centre of this galaxy cluster , and they said , ‘ Well , this can ’ t be from one of these energetic outputs because it would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ .
So , they dismissed that possibility , ” explained Prof Johnston-Hollitt , who directs the MWA .
“ But we went back and we observed with low-frequency radio telescopes and discovered that this cavity is filled with radio plasma.
” The scientists realized what they discovered when they observed the Ophiuchus cluster with radio telescopes .
Then they saw that the radio data matched the x-ray data , confirming a gigantic expulsion of energy from the cluster .
In total , four telescopes were used to detect and confirm the eruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ X-ray Observatory , ESA ’ s XMM-Newton , the Murchison Widefield Array ( MWA ) in Western Australia , and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope ( GMRT ) in India .
Johnston-Hollitt , who directs the MWA , compared their discovery to archeologists uncovering the first dinosaur bones .
She further stated that with new tools like low-frequency radio telescopes , astronomers can “ dig ” deeper into space and uncover unusual discoveries like this which teach us about the universe and its history .
Johnston-Hollitt also pointed out that studying the universe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never-before-seen phenomenas like this one .

Astronomers Detect Largest Explosion in the History of the Universe Since the Big Bang Itself
Aaron Kesel, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
Astronomers in Perth, Australia recently detected and observed the largest explosion ever found in the universe since the Big Bang, according to a study published in the Astrophysics Journal.
“We’ve seen outbursts in the centers of galaxies before but this one is really, really massive,” said Curtin University professor Melanie Johnston-Hollitt. “And we don’t know why it’s so big. But it happened very slowly—like an explosion in slow motion that took place over hundreds of millions of years.”
Researchers at the Curtin University International Centre for Radio Astronomy were observing the distant galaxy cluster Ophiuchus when they detected a huge explosion at the center of a supermassive black hole, approximately 390 million light-years from Earth. According to scientists, the explosion released five times more energy than the big bang, Science Daily reported.
In fact, the explosion was so massive that it blew a hole in the cluster plasma (super-heated gas) surrounding the supermassive black hole and also broke the previous record-holder—a cluster known by the designation MS 0735+74.
One author of the study, Dr. Simona Giacintucci who works at the Naval Research Laboratory in the U.S., compared the explosion to the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, in which the top of the mountain was completely blown off.
“The difference is that you could fit 15 Milky Way galaxies in a row into the crater this eruption punched into the cluster’s hot gas,” she said.
X-ray telescopes previously detected a hole in the black hole’s cluster plasma, but astronomers originally discarded the theory that it could have been caused by an energetic explosion because the outburst was believed to be too massive.
“People were skeptical because the size of outburst,” Johnston-Hollitt said. “But it really is that. The Universe is a weird place.” “This object was actually observed with the Chandra X-ray telescope by a previous team and they saw this bubble in the hot X-ray plasma in the centre of this galaxy cluster, and they said, ‘Well, this can’t be from one of these energetic outputs because it would be enormous; the scale would be unthinkable’. So, they dismissed that possibility,” explained Prof Johnston-Hollitt, who directs the MWA. “But we went back and we observed with low-frequency radio telescopes and discovered that this cavity is filled with radio plasma.”
The scientists realized what they discovered when they observed the Ophiuchus cluster with radio telescopes. Then they saw that the radio data matched the x-ray data, confirming a gigantic expulsion of energy from the cluster.
In total, four telescopes were used to detect and confirm the eruption. Those instruments were NASA’s X-ray Observatory, ESA’s XMM-Newton, the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Western Australia, and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in India.
Johnston-Hollitt, who directs the MWA, compared their discovery to archeologists uncovering the first dinosaur bones. She further stated that with new tools like low-frequency radio telescopes, astronomers can “dig” deeper into space and uncover unusual discoveries like this which teach us about the universe and its history.
Johnston-Hollitt also pointed out that studying the universe at different wavelengths will continue to uncover never-before-seen phenomenas like this one.
“We made this discovery with Phase 1 of the MWA, when the telescope had 2048 antennas pointed towards the sky,” she said. “We’re soon going to be gathering observations with 4096 antennas, which should be ten times more sensitive. I think that’s pretty exciting.”
By Aaron Kesel | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


wakingtimes--2020-03-09--SXSW 2020 Has Been Canceled Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

Austin Mayor Steve Adler declared a local disaster on Friday that effectively cancels this year ’ s South by Southwest festival .
The 10-day event was scheduled to begin next Friday and expects hundreds of thousands of attendees to fly in from around the globe .
Major sponsors and companies have already pulled out of the event , including Facebook , Twitter , Netflix and Apple , and a petition to cancel the event has garnered over 50,000 signatures .
Spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus that originated in China , has resulted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country : the Houston-based oil and gas industry conference CERAWeek ; Google ’ s I/O developer event , the tech company ’ s biggest event of the year ; and Miami ’ s Ultra Music Festival , among others .
Internationally , the Geneva Motor Show was shut down after the Swiss government banned gatherings of over 1,000 people , and the European Parliament has canceled over 100 events .
SXSW told The Texas Tribune on Monday that the festival would go on as planned and that organizers were taking precautions to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Austin Public Health maintained that no good would come from closing the festival .
“ Right now there is no evidence that closing South by Southwest or other activities is going to make this community safer , ” Dr. Mark Escott , Austin ’ s interim medical director and health authority , said in a statement .
“ We are constantly monitoring that situation .
We ’ ve asked [ an expert advisory panel ] to evaluate that .
And if there ’ s any evidence that our community will be safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will do that.
” But in recent days , several more scheduled guests have dropped out of the lineup , and public pressure to cancel the event has continued to grow .
And since Wednesday , six people have tested positive for the virus in the Houston area after returning from a group trip to Egypt .
Festival passes can cost up to $ 1,725 , but “ SXSW does not issue refunds under any circumstances , ” according to its website , nor does it offer credit for future festivals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ gaming , tech and education , SXSW brought in attendees from 106 countries last year , and a quarter of all attendees were international .
In 2019 , the festival raked in a record $ 356 million .
The virus — which causes seasonal flu-like symptoms — has a fatality rate of 3.4 % , according to the World Health Organization .
There are 17 cases of the virus in Texas ; in 11 of those cases , people infected abroad were repatriated and held at a San Antonio military base .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Texas , and there have been no fatalities in the state .
Any large gathering holds potential for viral spread of disease , ” Dr. Rama Thyagarajan , an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin ’ s Dell Medical School and a member of Austin Public Health ’ s expert advisory panel , said earlier this week .
“ My message is for anyone attending any large public gathering to be informed about the risks of this virus spreading , and to take measures to protect yourself appropriately .
@

SXSW 2020 Has Been Canceled Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
Naomi Andu, Guest
Waking Times
Austin Mayor Steve Adler declared a local disaster on Friday that effectively cancels this year’s South by Southwest festival. The 10-day event was scheduled to begin next Friday and expects hundreds of thousands of attendees to fly in from around the globe.
Major sponsors and companies have already pulled out of the event, including Facebook, Twitter, Netflix and Apple, and a petition to cancel the event has garnered over 50,000 signatures.
.@MayorAdler + Travis Co. have declared a “local state of disaster” following recommendations from Dr. Escott + the Expert Advisory Panel. This decision effectively cancels SXSW + proactively increases preventative measures for #ATX events. More info: https://t.co/xcTXBfTDFx pic.twitter.com/TaelcQdtBb — City of Austin (@austintexasgov) March 6, 2020
Spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus that originated in China, has resulted in the cancellation of many other events across the country: the Houston-based oil and gas industry conference CERAWeek; Google’s I/O developer event, the tech company’s biggest event of the year; and Miami’s Ultra Music Festival, among others. Internationally, the Geneva Motor Show was shut down after the Swiss government banned gatherings of over 1,000 people, and the European Parliament has canceled over 100 events.
SXSW told The Texas Tribune on Monday that the festival would go on as planned and that organizers were taking precautions to reduce health risks for attendees. On Thursday, Austin Public Health maintained that no good would come from closing the festival.
“Right now there is no evidence that closing South by Southwest or other activities is going to make this community safer,” Dr. Mark Escott, Austin’s interim medical director and health authority, said in a statement. “We are constantly monitoring that situation. We’ve asked [an expert advisory panel] to evaluate that. And if there’s any evidence that our community will be safer by closing down mass gathering events, we will do that.”
But in recent days, several more scheduled guests have dropped out of the lineup, and public pressure to cancel the event has continued to grow. And since Wednesday, six people have tested positive for the virus in the Houston area after returning from a group trip to Egypt.
Festival passes can cost up to $1,725, but “SXSW does not issue refunds under any circumstances,” according to its website, nor does it offer credit for future festivals.
With programming spanning music, film, gaming, tech and education, SXSW brought in attendees from 106 countries last year, and a quarter of all attendees were international. In 2019, the festival raked in a record $356 million.
The virus — which causes seasonal flu-like symptoms — has a fatality rate of 3.4%, according to the World Health Organization. There are 17 cases of the virus in Texas; in 11 of those cases, people infected abroad were repatriated and held at a San Antonio military base. There is still no evidence of community spread in Texas, and there have been no fatalities in the state.
Any large gathering holds potential for viral spread of disease,” Dr. Rama Thyagarajan, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School and a member of Austin Public Health’s expert advisory panel, said earlier this week. “My message is for anyone attending any large public gathering to be informed about the risks of this virus spreading, and to take measures to protect yourself appropriately.”
By Naomi Andu | TexasTribune.org | Republished with permission


wakingtimes--2020-03-09--Stony Corals Seem to Be Preparing for a Mass Extinction, Scientists Report

Stony corals provide habitat for an eye-popping one-fourth of the ocean ’ s species .
They serve as the centerpiece of a rich and diverse ecosystem , which is why their recent behavior has scientists concerned .
New research shows that stony corals around the world are hunkering down into survival mode as they prepare for a mass extinction event , according to a new study published in Scientific Reports .
The international research team was composed of scientists from New York , California , Israel , England and Germany .
They noticed a suite of behaviors that correspond to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behaved during the last mass extinction 66 million years ago , according to the new study .
“ When we finally put all this together and saw the result , for me it was that moment when the hair on the back of your neck stands up , ” said marine biologist David Gruber , from The City University of New York , to Newsweek .
“ It was like , Oh my goodness , [ the corals ] are doing exactly what they did back then.
” The researchers had a rich-history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Coral skeletons leave an indelible , time-stamped fossil record for scientists to examine the conditions that led to their dying .
The scientists were able to compare those fossils with the 839 coral species on the red list of threatened species recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature , as Newsweek reported .
The scientists looked at the traits of corals that survived the last major extinction event .
They found that the colorful , wavy corals that attract scuba divers did not last .
The ones that did survive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seek out deep water , which are the same ones showing signs of thriving today , as Newsweek reported .
“ It was incredibly spooky to witness how corals are now exhibiting the same traits as they did at the last major extinction event , ” said Gruber , in a statement put out by the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center .
“ Corals seem to be preparing to jump across an extinction boundary , while we are putting our foot further on the pedal.
” Coral reefs around the world are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has wiped out large swaths of Caribbean corals , a marine heatwave is threatening the health of Australia ’ s Great Barrier Reef , the climate crisis threatens to wipe out most corals by 2100 , and corals in the Red Sea are struggling to spawn , according to recent research , as Earth.com reported .
Researchers who monitored coral spawning in the Red Sea for four years found that males and females were acting erratically and missing each other ’ s spawning events , leading to fewer juvenile coral , which paves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
“ Regardless of the exact cause leading to these declines in spawning synchrony , our findings serve as a timely wake-up call to start considering these subtler challenges to coral survival , which are very likely also impacting additional species in other regions , ” said Tom Shlesinger , one of the lead researchers on the Red Sea study .
As for the mass extinction that corals seem to be preparing for , Gruber told Newsweek , “ We can put a person on the moon , we can come up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can reverse this in due time if we have the motivation .
But what the data is showing is that we ’ re not doing that .
We ’ re putting our foot further on the pedal , whereas the corals are reacting and changing .
”

Stony Corals Seem to Be Preparing for a Mass Extinction, Scientists Report
Jordan Davidson, EcoWatch
Waking Times
Stony corals provide habitat for an eye-popping one-fourth of the ocean’s species. They serve as the centerpiece of a rich and diverse ecosystem, which is why their recent behavior has scientists concerned. New research shows that stony corals around the world are hunkering down into survival mode as they prepare for a mass extinction event, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports.
The international research team was composed of scientists from New York, California, Israel, England and Germany. They noticed a suite of behaviors that correspond to a survival response commensurate with how they behaved during the last mass extinction 66 million years ago, according to the new study.
“When we finally put all this together and saw the result, for me it was that moment when the hair on the back of your neck stands up,” said marine biologist David Gruber, from The City University of New York, to Newsweek. “It was like, Oh my goodness, [the corals] are doing exactly what they did back then.”
The researchers had a rich-history of corals to compare with modern species. Coral skeletons leave an indelible, time-stamped fossil record for scientists to examine the conditions that led to their dying. The scientists were able to compare those fossils with the 839 coral species on the red list of threatened species recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as Newsweek reported.
The scientists looked at the traits of corals that survived the last major extinction event. They found that the colorful, wavy corals that attract scuba divers did not last. The ones that did survive are the ones that form small colonies and seek out deep water, which are the same ones showing signs of thriving today, as Newsweek reported.
“It was incredibly spooky to witness how corals are now exhibiting the same traits as they did at the last major extinction event,” said Gruber, in a statement put out by the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center. “Corals seem to be preparing to jump across an extinction boundary, while we are putting our foot further on the pedal.”
Coral reefs around the world are struggling. Recently, a mysterious virus has wiped out large swaths of Caribbean corals, a marine heatwave is threatening the health of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, the climate crisis threatens to wipe out most corals by 2100, and corals in the Red Sea are struggling to spawn, according to recent research, as Earth.com reported.
Researchers who monitored coral spawning in the Red Sea for four years found that males and females were acting erratically and missing each other’s spawning events, leading to fewer juvenile coral, which paves the way toward extinction, as Earth.com reported.
“Regardless of the exact cause leading to these declines in spawning synchrony, our findings serve as a timely wake-up call to start considering these subtler challenges to coral survival, which are very likely also impacting additional species in other regions,” said Tom Shlesinger, one of the lead researchers on the Red Sea study. As for the mass extinction that corals seem to be preparing for, Gruber told Newsweek, “We can put a person on the moon, we can come up with all these amazing technologies. We can reverse this in due time if we have the motivation. But what the data is showing is that we’re not doing that. We’re putting our foot further on the pedal, whereas the corals are reacting and changing.”
By Jordan Davidson | Creative Commons | EcoWatch


wakingtimes--2020-03-09--How the Method of Birth Can Influence Lifelong Health

Microorganisms in your gastrointestinal tract form a highly intricate , living “ fabric ” that plays an integral part in your health , affecting everything from body weight and nutrition to chronic diseases of all kinds .
And , as detailed in the featured documentary , “ Microbirth , ” written , produced and directed by Alex Wakeford and Toni Harman , the groundwork for your gut microbiome laid at the time of birth .
The film highlights how events during childbirth have lifelong consequences , and reviews the current scientific views on how to best seed your baby ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robust immune system .
Importantly , a baby basically “ inherits ” the microbiome from its mother , which is why it ’ s so important to address your gut health before , during and after pregnancy .
If you ’ ve taken antibiotics or birth control pills , if you eat a lot of processed or sugary foods — even being bottle-fed as a baby — can impact the makeup of bacteria and microbes in your gut , which in turn will influence your child ’ s microbiome and health after birth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generational impact , affecting DNA that is then passed on to future generations .
The film begins by asking questions about what is it that sets humans apart from the millions of other species on Earth .
Our intellect has allowed us to develop a technological society that would appear “ magical ” to those in centuries past .
Yet for all our accomplishments and scientific miracles , we find ourselves sicker than ever before .
By 2018 , noncommunicable diseases were responsible for 71 % of global deaths , with cardiovascular diseases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topping the list of lethal conditions .
The film cites research suggesting that by 2030 , about half the net worth of all nations in the world will go toward treating chronic illnesses .
To say we ’ re on an unsustainable trajectory would be an understatement .
Considering we are basically a walking ecosystem — a symbiotic superorganism — with microbes outnumbering our cells 10-to-1 , could this changing health trend have something to do with changes occurring in our microbiomes ?
As noted in the film , the human body is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mammalian , and research suggests decades of inappropriate medical interventions and diet — such as overuse of antibiotics and antibacterial products , routine cesarean births , pesticides and processed food — have led to a steep loss of diversity in the human microbiome .
With this loss of microbial diversity , the homeostasis ( balance ) of your body is disrupted , rendering it more vulnerable to disease .
Bacteria play an essential role in your metabolism and immune function , but in order for them to do their job , there must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They also need to be in the proper ratio with other microbes .
Experts featured in the film believe the degradation of our microbiome is one , if not the primary , underlying cause of most of our current disease epidemics .
Comparisons between indigenous peoples living in the jungles of South America and people living in modern societies suggest we ’ ve lost one-third of our natural microbiome .
The film goes on to discuss the importance of natural childbirth , skin-to-skin contact after birth , and breastfeeding .
These are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your baby ’ s microbiome .
During vaginal birth , your baby is “ seeded ” with microbes as it goes through the birth canal .
According to a 2014 study , the microbiome of a healthy woman ’ s vagina is dominated by Lactobacillus genus , which confer a variety of health benefits , including protection against more hostile and disease-causing microbes .
Research shows the microbes found in a woman ’ s vagina change during pregnancy in preparation for birth .
Specifically , Lactobacillus species are enriched , while there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hypothesis being that this helps ensure the transfer of beneficial microbes to the baby as it passes through the birth canal .
As noted in the 2017 paper , “ The Maternal Infant Microbiome : Considerations for Labor and Birth : ” Gut flora is not the only factor influenced by the method of birth , however .
According to animal research published in PLOS ONE , vaginal birth triggers the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 , which is important for improving brain development and function in adulthood .
The expression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born via C-section .
Your Gut Microbiome Also Changes During Pregnancy The composition of a woman ’ s gut microbes also changes during each trimester of pregnancy , in ways that support fetal growth .
These changes are largely influenced by the hormonal shifts that occur during pregnancy .
Interestingly , research published in the journal Cell in 2012 found that , as pregnancy progressed , there was an increase in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria .
When the microbiota taken from women in their third trimester were transferred to germ-free mice , it induced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the microbiota taken during the first trimester .
As noted by the authors , “ Many of the immune and metabolic changes occurring during normal pregnancy also describe metabolic syndrome , ” and “ Gut microbiota can cause symptoms of metabolic syndrome in nonpregnant hosts.
” In a pregnant female , on the other hand , the promotion of energy storage in fat tissue is part of what allows the fetus to grow normally .
While a C-section can be necessary and lifesaving in some instances , they ’ ve become overused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The most significant drawback to C-section is that the baby will not be inoculated with bacteria from the mother , as the baby is not passing through the birth canal .
As noted in the film , this leaves the baby open to acquiring bacteria from some other source instead , and in most cases , this will be the hospital environment .
This could spell trouble , as hospitals are hotbeds for pathogenic bacteria .
Experts interviewed in the film say a hypothesis currently being looked at is whether this might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our children .
Their immune systems have been primed by the wrong bacteria right from the start , thus making them more prone to illness .
Even if you do end up needing a cesarean though , you can still nurture your baby ’ s microbiome through close skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding for at least six months .
In a “ Microbirth ” film review , naturopath Louise Loula writes : In the film , Rodney Dietert , professor of immunotoxicology at Cornell University , also discusses the use of a bacterial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply , the baby is inoculated with bacteria from a swab taken from the mother ’ s vagina , thus receiving the same bacteria he or she would have received if birthed vaginally .
To do this , an 8-by-10-inch piece of sterile gauze is folded in a fan pattern and inserted much like a tampon into the mother ’ s vaginal canal one hour before the C-section .
The gauze is extracted and placed in a sterile container right before the procedure , and once the baby is out , the gauze @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the baby ’ s whole body , starting with the mouth and face .
According to a researcher studying this technique , the health parameters of babies born by C-section who get swabbed with their mother ’ s bacteria are closer to those born vaginally than those born by C-section who do not get swabbed .
Breastfeeding is the third crucial component that primes your baby ’ s microbiome .
Breast milk is uniquely designed to nourish beneficial bacteria .
As explained by Dietert , it also contains important immune hormone-like substances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Breast milk also provides your baby with antibodies against diseases to which you have a natural immunity ( meaning you got sick , recovered from your illness and now are immune against it ) , and unique sugars called oligosaccharides .
These sugars are indigestible , so for a long time , their presence in breast milk puzzled scientists .
As it turns out , oligosaccharides feed beneficial bacteria in the baby ’ s gut .
The refined sugar found in most infant formulas can not replicate this function .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bacteria instead , and promote excess weight gain .
To prime and educate your baby ’ s immune system and give him or her a healthy start in life , breastfeeding for six months to two years is recommended .
Researchers are also starting to understand how a child ’ s microbiome can play a role in neurobehavioral disorders , including autism .
A 2014 article in Scientific American pointed out : The film addresses this issue as well , pointing out that an infant ’ s gut microbes influence not just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also the development of their brain and nervous tissue .
According to Dietert , when the initial seeding of bacteria is inadequate , the byproducts produced from normal nutrients can have adverse effects on their brain .
Indeed , this is precisely what Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride surmised when she created the Gut and Psychology Syndrome ( GAPS ) Nutritional Program , which is designed to heal leaky gut by restoring the integrity of your gut lining .
According to Campbell-McBride , in children with GAPS , toxicity flows from their gut throughout their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continually challenges their nervous system , preventing it from performing its normal functions and process sensory information .
Virtually any toxic exposure , including a vaccine , can be the “ straw that broke the camel ’ s back ” in a situation like this .
The end result can be symptoms of autism , and/or any number of other neurological problems .
The answer is to optimize the microbiome transfer during and after delivery through vaginal delivery , skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding .
Once your baby is ready for soft foods , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fermented foods .
The first fermented food Campbell-McBride recommends for infants is raw organic grass fed yogurt ( not commercial yogurt from the grocery store ) , because it ’ s well tolerated by most .
Once yogurt is well tolerated by your baby , you can introduce kefir .
Another alternative is to use vegetables fermented with yogurt culture or kefir culture .
Optimizing your vitamin D levels prior to , or at the very least during , pregnancy is another important factor to safeguard your and your baby ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vitamin D level between 40 ng/mL and 60 ng/mL have 46 % lower preterm birth rate than the general population .
Those with a vitamin D level at or above 40 ng/mL by their third trimester have a 59 % lower risk for premature birth compared to those with levels below 20 ng/mL .
Among African-American and Hispanic populations , as much as 70 % to 75 % of all preterm births might be prevented .
A mother ’ s vitamin D status during pregnancy can also have lifelong ramifications for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been linked to higher rates of childhood allergies , asthma , colds and flu , dental cavities , diabetes , and even strokes and cardiovascular disease later in life .
Besides the issues of seeding your baby ’ s microbiome and optimizing your vitamin D level , entire books could also be written about the hazards of chemical exposures during pregnancy .
Research clearly shows that prenatal chemical exposures , particularly to endocrine disruptors like BPA and phthalates , can have wide-ranging and long-term health effects .
While you may not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s important to take whatever proactive measures you can to reduce your toxic burden , especially before and during pregnancy .
For example , avoiding any and all unnecessary drugs and vaccinations is one aspect you have a large degree of control over .
Below are several more .
Rather than compile an endless list of what you should avoid , it ’ s far easier to focus on what you should do to lead a healthy lifestyle , free of as many toxic exposures as possible .
This includes :

How the Method of Birth Can Influence Lifelong Health
Dr. Mercola, Guest
Waking Times
Microorganisms in your gastrointestinal tract form a highly intricate, living “fabric” that plays an integral part in your health, affecting everything from body weight and nutrition to chronic diseases of all kinds. And, as detailed in the featured documentary, “Microbirth,” written, produced and directed by Alex Wakeford and Toni Harman, the groundwork for your gut microbiome laid at the time of birth.
The film highlights how events during childbirth have lifelong consequences, and reviews the current scientific views on how to best seed your baby’s microbiome in order to build a robust immune system.
Importantly, a baby basically “inherits” the microbiome from its mother, which is why it’s so important to address your gut health before, during and after pregnancy.
If you’ve taken antibiotics or birth control pills, if you eat a lot of processed or sugary foods — even being bottle-fed as a baby — can impact the makeup of bacteria and microbes in your gut, which in turn will influence your child’s microbiome and health after birth. Your microbiome may even have a generational impact, affecting DNA that is then passed on to future generations.
Loss of Microbial Diversity Extols a Steep Price
The film begins by asking questions about what is it that sets humans apart from the millions of other species on Earth. Our intellect has allowed us to develop a technological society that would appear “magical” to those in centuries past. Yet for all our accomplishments and scientific miracles, we find ourselves sicker than ever before.
In 2008, the World Health Organization announced noncommunicable chronic diseases had taken over as the chief causes of death globally. “The shifting health trends indicate that leading infectious diseases — diarrhea, HIV, tuberculosis, neonatal infections and malaria — will become less important causes of death globally over the next 20 years,” WHO wrote.
By 2018, noncommunicable diseases were responsible for 71% of global deaths, with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes topping the list of lethal conditions.
The film cites research suggesting that by 2030, about half the net worth of all nations in the world will go toward treating chronic illnesses. To say we’re on an unsustainable trajectory would be an understatement.
Considering we are basically a walking ecosystem — a symbiotic superorganism — with microbes outnumbering our cells 10-to-1, could this changing health trend have something to do with changes occurring in our microbiomes?
As noted in the film, the human body is 90% microbial and only 10% mammalian, and research suggests decades of inappropriate medical interventions and diet — such as overuse of antibiotics and antibacterial products, routine cesarean births, pesticides and processed food — have led to a steep loss of diversity in the human microbiome.
With this loss of microbial diversity, the homeostasis (balance) of your body is disrupted, rendering it more vulnerable to disease. Bacteria play an essential role in your metabolism and immune function, but in order for them to do their job, there must be enough of them to go around. They also need to be in the proper ratio with other microbes.
Experts featured in the film believe the degradation of our microbiome is one, if not the primary, underlying cause of most of our current disease epidemics. Comparisons between indigenous peoples living in the jungles of South America and people living in modern societies suggest we’ve lost one-third of our natural microbiome.
Mode of Birth Influences Your Baby’s Microbial Profile
The film goes on to discuss the importance of natural childbirth, skin-to-skin contact after birth, and breastfeeding. These are all critical times for seeding and nurturing your baby’s microbiome. During vaginal birth, your baby is “seeded” with microbes as it goes through the birth canal.
According to a 2014 study, the microbiome of a healthy woman’s vagina is dominated by Lactobacillus genus, which confer a variety of health benefits, including protection against more hostile and disease-causing microbes.
Research shows the microbes found in a woman’s vagina change during pregnancy in preparation for birth. Specifically, Lactobacillus species are enriched, while there’s a decrease in overall diversity, the hypothesis being that this helps ensure the transfer of beneficial microbes to the baby as it passes through the birth canal. As noted in the 2017 paper, “The Maternal Infant Microbiome: Considerations for Labor and Birth:”
“This ‘seeding’ or transfer of microbes from the mother to newborn may serve as an early inoculation process with implications for the long-term health outcomes of newborns. Studies have shown that there are distinct differences in the microbiome profiles of newborns born vaginally compared to those born by cesarean. Antibiotic exposure has been shown to alter the microbial profiles of women and may influence the gut microbial profiles of their newborns. Considering that the first major microbial colonization occurs at birth, it is essential that labor and birth nurses be aware of factors that may alter the composition of the microbiome during the labor and birth process.”
Gut flora is not the only factor influenced by the method of birth, however. According to animal research published in PLOS ONE, vaginal birth triggers the expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2, which is important for improving brain development and function in adulthood. The expression of this protein was impaired in mice born via C-section.
Your Gut Microbiome Also Changes During Pregnancy
The composition of a woman’s gut microbes also changes during each trimester of pregnancy, in ways that support fetal growth. These changes are largely influenced by the hormonal shifts that occur during pregnancy.
Interestingly, research published in the journal Cell in 2012 found that, as pregnancy progressed, there was an increase in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria.
When the microbiota taken from women in their third trimester were transferred to germ-free mice, it induced greater weight gain and insulin resistance compared to the microbiota taken during the first trimester.
As noted by the authors, “Many of the immune and metabolic changes occurring during normal pregnancy also describe metabolic syndrome,” and “Gut microbiota can cause symptoms of metabolic syndrome in nonpregnant hosts.” In a pregnant female, on the other hand, the promotion of energy storage in fat tissue is part of what allows the fetus to grow normally.
The Drawbacks of C-Section
While a C-section can be necessary and lifesaving in some instances, they’ve become overused in many parts of the world. The most significant drawback to C-section is that the baby will not be inoculated with bacteria from the mother, as the baby is not passing through the birth canal.
As noted in the film, this leaves the baby open to acquiring bacteria from some other source instead, and in most cases, this will be the hospital environment. This could spell trouble, as hospitals are hotbeds for pathogenic bacteria.
Experts interviewed in the film say a hypothesis currently being looked at is whether this might be what’s happening to so many of our children. Their immune systems have been primed by the wrong bacteria right from the start, thus making them more prone to illness.
The Importance of Skin-to-Skin Contact
Even if you do end up needing a cesarean though, you can still nurture your baby’s microbiome through close skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding for at least six months. In a “Microbirth” film review, naturopath Louise Loula writes:
“Not only is skin to skin necessary to further seed them with bacteria from your skin but it can also regulate and stimulate their hormone production which allows them to calm down, to regulate their blood sugar levels and their instinct of hunger to then seek out the mother’s nipple to being the third phase in seeding, breastfeeding … A baby with a C-section, especially those who are then fed formula are potentially at risk for some very serious long term complications. They may be picking up bacteria from an imbalanced environment, especially in a hospital. Their immune training if incorrect right at the beginning may or may not be possible to correct. It is seen to then go on to affect all tissue from brain development to muscle and mucosal lining development.”
Bacterial Swabbing Can Inoculate Baby Born Via C-Section
In the film, Rodney Dietert, professor of immunotoxicology at Cornell University, also discusses the use of a bacterial swab when doing a C-section. Quite simply, the baby is inoculated with bacteria from a swab taken from the mother’s vagina, thus receiving the same bacteria he or she would have received if birthed vaginally.
To do this, an 8-by-10-inch piece of sterile gauze is folded in a fan pattern and inserted much like a tampon into the mother’s vaginal canal one hour before the C-section.
The gauze is extracted and placed in a sterile container right before the procedure, and once the baby is out, the gauze is unfolded and used to “wash” the baby’s whole body, starting with the mouth and face.
According to a researcher studying this technique, the health parameters of babies born by C-section who get swabbed with their mother’s bacteria are closer to those born vaginally than those born by C-section who do not get swabbed.
The Importance of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the third crucial component that primes your baby’s microbiome. Breast milk is uniquely designed to nourish beneficial bacteria. As explained by Dietert, it also contains important immune hormone-like substances, some of which have anti-inflammatory activity.
Breast milk also provides your baby with antibodies against diseases to which you have a natural immunity (meaning you got sick, recovered from your illness and now are immune against it), and unique sugars called oligosaccharides.
These sugars are indigestible, so for a long time, their presence in breast milk puzzled scientists. As it turns out, oligosaccharides feed beneficial bacteria in the baby’s gut.
The refined sugar found in most infant formulas cannot replicate this function. In fact, processed sugar tends to feed harmful bacteria instead, and promote excess weight gain. To prime and educate your baby’s immune system and give him or her a healthy start in life, breastfeeding for six months to two years is recommended.
Unbalanced Microbiome Linked to Neurobehavioral Disorders
Researchers are also starting to understand how a child’s microbiome can play a role in neurobehavioral disorders, including autism. A 2014 article in Scientific American pointed out:
“Scientists have long wondered whether the composition of bacteria in the intestines, known as the gut microbiome, might be abnormal in people with autism and drive some of these symptoms. Now a spate of new studies supports this notion and suggests that restoring proper microbial balance could alleviate some of the disorder’s behavioral symptoms.”
The film addresses this issue as well, pointing out that an infant’s gut microbes influence not just the maturation of their immune system, but also the development of their brain and nervous tissue. According to Dietert, when the initial seeding of bacteria is inadequate, the byproducts produced from normal nutrients can have adverse effects on their brain.
Indeed, this is precisely what Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride surmised when she created the Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) Nutritional Program, which is designed to heal leaky gut by restoring the integrity of your gut lining. According to Campbell-McBride, in children with GAPS, toxicity flows from their gut throughout their bodies and into their brains.
This continually challenges their nervous system, preventing it from performing its normal functions and process sensory information. Virtually any toxic exposure, including a vaccine, can be the “straw that broke the camel’s back” in a situation like this. The end result can be symptoms of autism, and/or any number of other neurological problems.
The answer is to optimize the microbiome transfer during and after delivery through vaginal delivery, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding. Once your baby is ready for soft foods, you can provide probiotics in the form of fermented foods.
The first fermented food Campbell-McBride recommends for infants is raw organic grass fed yogurt (not commercial yogurt from the grocery store), because it’s well tolerated by most. Once yogurt is well tolerated by your baby, you can introduce kefir. Another alternative is to use vegetables fermented with yogurt culture or kefir culture.
Another Overlooked Yet Critical Factor — Vitamin D
Optimizing your vitamin D levels prior to, or at the very least during, pregnancy is another important factor to safeguard your and your baby’s health. Research shows pregnant women with a vitamin D level between 40 ng/mL and 60 ng/mL have 46% lower preterm birth rate than the general population.
Those with a vitamin D level at or above 40 ng/mL by their third trimester have a 59% lower risk for premature birth compared to those with levels below 20 ng/mL. Among African-American and Hispanic populations, as much as 70% to 75% of all preterm births might be prevented.
A mother’s vitamin D status during pregnancy can also have lifelong ramifications for her child. Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy has been linked to higher rates of childhood allergies, asthma, colds and flu, dental cavities, diabetes, and even strokes and cardiovascular disease later in life.
Suggestions for a Healthy Pregnancy and a Healthy Baby
Besides the issues of seeding your baby’s microbiome and optimizing your vitamin D level, entire books could also be written about the hazards of chemical exposures during pregnancy. Research clearly shows that prenatal chemical exposures, particularly to endocrine disruptors like BPA and phthalates, can have wide-ranging and long-term health effects.
While you may not be able to avoid all toxic exposures, it’s important to take whatever proactive measures you can to reduce your toxic burden, especially before and during pregnancy. For example, avoiding any and all unnecessary drugs and vaccinations is one aspect you have a large degree of control over. Below are several more.
Rather than compile an endless list of what you should avoid, it’s far easier to focus on what you should do to lead a healthy lifestyle, free of as many toxic exposures as possible. This includes:


wakingtimes--2020-03-10--Mexico Is Letting an Oil Company Destroy Protected Mangroves for an $8 Billion Oil Refinery

Mexico ’ s president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ordered state-owned oil company , Pemex , to build an $ 8 billion oil refinery .
So , the company has followed orders and razed protected mangrove trees to clear way for the controversial project , according to Quartz .
Satellite images posted on Quartz show the cleared land to accommodate the construction .
Mangrove forests , which straddle land and sea , provide enormous environmental benefits .
Not only do the sequester carbon , pulling greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere , they reduce flooding and erosion from storms , serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from water .
Research shows that , tree-for-tree , mangroves trap three to five times more carbon than rainforests can .
Lopez Obrador approved the project in Tabasco , his home state , to revive the state-owned oil giant , which has suffered from dysfunction recently .
Shortly after the president approved the project , a third party uprooted large swatches of mangroves , even though they are protected and vital to Mexico ’ s economy , according to Quartz .
The complex ecosystems the trees create provide almost 6 percent of Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of California , San Diego , as Quartz reported .
While the mangroves are supposed to be protected , the satellite imagery shows that they continue to be felled to make way for roads .
Pemex , or a third-party , defied a government order by cutting down the mangroves and is now asking for permission to raze more so it can build a bridge .
The actions have environmental advocates worried about Mexico ’ s commitment to a sustainable future , especially since the government canceled a $ 700,000 fine for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acres of mangroves .
“ The administration promotes an oil refinery , and to build it destroys threatened mangroves even though Mexico is part of the Paris accords , ” Alejandra Rabasa , an environmental lawyer in Mexico City , said to Sierra Club .
Gustavo Alanis-Ortega , president of the Mexican Center for Environmental Law , told Quartz that there should be an investigation into Pemex ’ s role in the deforestation , “ If they are indeed breaking the law [ at Dos Bocas ] , this shows that there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law ” in Lopez Obrador ’ s government , The area where the deforestation has taken place is home to many endangered animals , including a jaguarundi wild cat , and protected species of snakes , iguanas and birds , as Reuters reported .
Futhermore , Pemex executives actually proposed that the area be made into a protected nature preserve about a decade ago , according to Reuters .
Now , a little over a year into office , Lopez Obrador seems to be following in the footsteps of the presidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mainly President Trump and President Bolsanaro in Brazil , by reversing environmental progress .
He has put the kibosh on renewable energy projects , tried to cut subsidies to renewable energy companies , and usurped a government plan to bolster investments in green infrastructure , according to Quartz .
“ Environmental issues are completely relegated—they don ’ t figure in this administration ’ s agenda , ” Alanis-Ortega told Quartz .
Meanwhile , the economic benefit of the Pemex refinery is questionable , since economists say it would be more cost effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refinery .
Furthermore , mangroves have a proven economic benefit .
According to Mongabay , researchers estimate that mangroves provide “ ecosystem services ” equal to $ 194,000 per hectare annually .
Multiplied by their global span , that means the world ’ s mangroves provide around $ 2.7 trillion in services every year .
Mangroves also store much more carbon than scientists had previously thought , according to a study by 20 researchers around the world published in Environmental Research Letters .
“ Protecting , enhancing and restoring natural carbon sinks must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Woods Hole Research Center and lead author of the study said as Mongabay reported .
“ Mangrove forests can play an important role in carbon removals because they are among the most carbon-dense ecosystems in the world , and if kept undisturbed , mangrove forest soils act as long-term carbon sinks.
” As Quartz reported , Mexico prioritized protecting its mangrove forests as part of Paris climate agreement commitments .
Mexico has the fourth-largest area of mangroves in the world .
However , mangrove deforestation is rampant across Mexico , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , San Diego at the current rate , the country may lose half its remaining mangroves in 50 years .

Mexico Is Letting an Oil Company Destroy Protected Mangroves for an $8 Billion Oil Refinery
Jordan Davidson, EcoWatch
Waking Times
Mexico’s president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ordered state-owned oil company, Pemex, to build an $8 billion oil refinery. So, the company has followed orders and razed protected mangrove trees to clear way for the controversial project, according to Quartz. Satellite images posted on Quartz show the cleared land to accommodate the construction.
Mangrove forests, which straddle land and sea, provide enormous environmental benefits. Not only do the sequester carbon, pulling greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere, they reduce flooding and erosion from storms, serve as nurseries for fish and filter pollutants from water. Research shows that, tree-for-tree, mangroves trap three to five times more carbon than rainforests can.
Lopez Obrador approved the project in Tabasco, his home state, to revive the state-owned oil giant, which has suffered from dysfunction recently. Shortly after the president approved the project, a third party uprooted large swatches of mangroves, even though they are protected and vital to Mexico’s economy, according to Quartz. The complex ecosystems the trees create provide almost 6 percent of Mexico’s GDP, according to the University of California, San Diego, as Quartz reported. While the mangroves are supposed to be protected, the satellite imagery shows that they continue to be felled to make way for roads. Pemex, or a third-party, defied a government order by cutting down the mangroves and is now asking for permission to raze more so it can build a bridge. The actions have environmental advocates worried about Mexico’s commitment to a sustainable future, especially since the government canceled a $700,000 fine for a company accused of destroying thousands of acres of mangroves. “The administration promotes an oil refinery, and to build it destroys threatened mangroves even though Mexico is part of the Paris accords,” Alejandra Rabasa, an environmental lawyer in Mexico City, said to Sierra Club.


wakingtimes--2020-03-10--News Media Attacks Vitamin C Treatment of COVID-19 Coronavirus

( OMNS Mar 1 , 2020 ) First of all , the naysayers are too late .
Vitamin C is already being used to prevent and treat COVID-19 in China and in Korea .
And it is working .
Here is a verified official statement from China ’ s Xi ’ an Jiaotong University Second Hospital : “ On the afternoon of February 20 , 2020 , another 4 patients with severe coronavirus pneumonia recovered from the C10 West Ward of Tongji Hospital .
In the past 8 patients have been discharged from hospital .
.
.
[ H ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical applications .
We believe that for patients with severe neonatal pneumonia , and for critically ill patients , vitamin C treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after admission .
Numerous studies have shown that the dose of vitamin C has a lot to do with the effect of treatment .
High-dose vitamin C can not only improve antiviral levels , but more importantly , can prevent and treat acute lung injury ( ALI ) and acute respiratory distress ( ARDS ) .
” Here is a report from Korea : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vitamin C studies underway in China .
Literally by the truckload , tons of vitamin C has been sent into Wuhan .
Here is a report from a physician in China : News media attacks on vitamin C are centered on false allegations of dangers with megadoses .
This tactic lets the media ignore the truth that even LOW doses of vitamin C reduce symptoms and death rates .
Do not let the media spin this issue .
Advocates of vitamin C are medical doctors , not spin doctors .
They are experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science , a small sample of which follows : Even small supplemental amounts of vitamin C can keep severely ill patients from dying .
[ Hunt C et al .
Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1994 ; 64:212-19 . ]
Infants with viral pneumonia treated with vitamin C had reduced mortality .
[ Ren Shiguang et al .
Hebei Medicine 1978,4:1-3 ] Moderate doses of vitamin C shortened ICU stay by 97 % in a subgroup of 1,766 patients [ Hemilä H , Chalker E. Nutrients .
2019 Mar 27 ; 11:4 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ duration of severe pneumonia in children .
Oxygen saturation was improved in less than one day .
[ Khan IM et al .
J Rawalpindi Med Coll ( JRMC ) ; 2014 ; 18 ( 1 ) :55-57 ] The Orthomolecular Medicine News Service , and its editorial board of nearly four dozen physicians , academics and health professionals ( listed below ) feel it is necessary to report on what the advertiser-supported , corporate-controlled commercial media refuses to acknowledge : even small amounts of vitamin C dramatically decrease severity of symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill viral patients .
Large doses work better .
Intravenous large doses work better still .
OMNS has been relentlessly reporting on this for weeks : The greatest danger with COVID-19 coronavirus is illness progression to SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) and pneumonia .
Physicians have successfully used vitamin C against viral pneumonia since the 1940s .
That ’ s the point made in a 10-minute video that was abruptly removed from YouTube , supposedly for being a violation of their “ community standards ” : https : //www.brighteon.com/646ad120-775a-4464-a0d1-609be7a0a9dc OMNS favors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicated to immediately employing all existing , science-based measures to stop a dreaded disease for which there is no conventional cure .
Vitamin C is available now .
It is not new .
And it is not “ unproven.
” Vitamin C has been used as an antiviral since the 1930s .
( 1 ) It has been used in very high injected doses since the 1940s .
( 2 ) In the decades since , vitamin C has been used for influenza , SARS and viral pneumonia .
( 3 ) All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research literature .
Yet if you post what you are reading now on Facebook , it is likely to be blocked or labeled “ false information.
” Since when is reviewing the medical literature “ fake news ” ?
It is our editorial viewpoint that withholding vitamin C treatment information from the public withholds it from the patient .
We accuse the media of negligence .
They can correct this any time .
Until they do , we will do it for them .
( 1 ) Jungeblut CW .
Inactivation of poliomyelitis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acid ) .
J Exper Med 1935 .
62:317-321 .
Jungeblut CW .
Vitamin C therapy and prophylaxis in experimental poliomyelitis .
J Exp Med , 1937 .
65 : 127-146 .
Jungeblut CW .
Further observations on vitamin C therapy in experimental poliomyelitis .
J Exper Med , 1937 .
66 : 459-477 .
Jungeblut CW , Feiner RR .
Vitamin C content of monkey tissues in experimental poliomyelitis .
J Exper Med , 1937 .
66 : 479-491 .
Jungeblut CW .
A further contribution to vitamin C therapy in experimental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
70:315-332 .
Saul AW .
Taking the cure : Claus Washington Jungeblut , M.D .
: Polio pioneer ; ascorbate advocate .
J Orthomolecular Med , 2006 .
Vol 21 , No 2 , p 102-106. https : //www.doctoryourself.com/jungeblut.html and https : //orthomolecular.org/library/jom ( 2 ) https : //orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n09.shtml and https : //www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v09n16.shtml Frederick Robert Klenner ’ s papers are listed and summarized in Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C ( ed .
Lendon H. Smith , MD , Life Sciences Press , Tacoma , WA , 1988 .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ https : //www.seanet.com/~alexs/ascorbate/198x/smith-lh-clinical_guide_1988.htm ( 3 ) Cathcart RF .
( 1981 ) Vitamin C , titrating to bowel tolerance , anascorbemia , and acute induced scurvy .
Med Hypotheses .
7:1359-76. https : //www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html Cathcart RF .
( 1993 ) The third face of vitamin C. J Orthomolecular Med , 7:197-200 .
Free access at https : //www.doctoryourself.com/cathcart_thirdface.html Disclaimer : This article is not intended to provide medical advice , diagnosis or treatment .
Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff .
© [ 03/04/20 ] GreenMedInfo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC .
Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo ?
Sign up for the newsletter here //www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter..

News Media Attacks Vitamin C Treatment of COVID-19 Coronavirus
Andrew W. Saul, Guest
Waking Times
(OMNS Mar 1, 2020) First of all, the naysayers are too late. Vitamin C is already being used to prevent and treat COVID-19 in China and in Korea. And it is working.
Here is a verified official statement from China’s Xi’an Jiaotong University Second Hospital:
“On the afternoon of February 20, 2020, another 4 patients with severe coronavirus pneumonia recovered from the C10 West Ward of Tongji Hospital. In the past 8 patients have been discharged from hospital. . . [H]igh-dose vitamin C achieved good results in clinical applications. We believe that for patients with severe neonatal pneumonia, and for critically ill patients, vitamin C treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after admission. Numerous studies have shown that the dose of vitamin C has a lot to do with the effect of treatment. High-dose vitamin C can not only improve antiviral levels, but more importantly, can prevent and treat acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress (ARDS).”
Here is a report from Korea:
“At my hospital in Daegu, South Korea, all inpatients and all staff members have been using vitamin C orally since last week. Some people this week had a mild fever, headaches and coughs, and those who had symptoms got 30,000 mg intravenous vitamin C. Some people got better after about two days, and most had symptoms go away after one injection.” (Hyoungjoo Shin, M.D.)
There are at least three high-dose intravenous vitamin C studies underway in China. Literally by the truckload, tons of vitamin C has been sent into Wuhan.
Here is a report from a physician in China:
“We need to broadcast a message worldwide very quickly: Vitamin C (small or large dose) does no harm to people and is the one of the few, if not the only, agent that has a chance to prevent us from getting, and can treat, COVID-19 infection. When can we, medical doctors and scientists, put patients’ lives first?” (Richard Z. Cheng, MD, PhD, International Vitamin C China Epidemic Medical Support Team Leader)
News media attacks on vitamin C are centered on false allegations of dangers with megadoses. This tactic lets the media ignore the truth that even LOW doses of vitamin C reduce symptoms and death rates. Do not let the media spin this issue. Advocates of vitamin C are medical doctors, not spin doctors. They are experienced, credentialed clinicians who have read the science, a small sample of which follows:
Even small supplemental amounts of vitamin C can keep severely ill patients from dying.
[Hunt C et al. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 1994;64:212-19.] Infants with viral pneumonia treated with vitamin C had reduced mortality.
[Ren Shiguang et al. Hebei Medicine 1978,4:1-3] Moderate doses of vitamin C shortened ICU stay by 97% in a subgroup of 1,766 patients
[Hemilä H, Chalker E. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 27;11:4.] 200 mg of vitamin C reduced duration of severe pneumonia in children. Oxygen saturation was improved in less than one day.
[Khan IM et al. J Rawalpindi Med Coll (JRMC); 2014;18(1):55-57]
The Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, and its editorial board of nearly four dozen physicians, academics and health professionals (listed below) feel it is necessary to report on what the advertiser-supported, corporate-controlled commercial media refuses to acknowledge: even small amounts of vitamin C dramatically decrease severity of symptoms, and increase survival rates, among severely ill viral patients. Large doses work better. Intravenous large doses work better still.
OMNS has been relentlessly reporting on this for weeks:
The greatest danger with COVID-19 coronavirus is illness progression to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and pneumonia. Physicians have successfully used vitamin C against viral pneumonia since the 1940s. That’s the point made in a 10-minute video that was abruptly removed from YouTube, supposedly for being a violation of their “community standards”: http://www.brighteon.com/646ad120-775a-4464-a0d1-609be7a0a9dc
OMNS favors a community of people of all nations dedicated to immediately employing all existing, science-based measures to stop a dreaded disease for which there is no conventional cure. Vitamin C is available now. It is not new. And it is not “unproven.” Vitamin C has been used as an antiviral since the 1930s. (1) It has been used in very high injected doses since the 1940s. (2) In the decades since, vitamin C has been used for influenza, SARS and viral pneumonia. (3)
“Vitamin C can truthfully be designated as the antitoxic and antiviral vitamin.”
(Claus W. Jungeblut, M.D., Professor, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons)
All OMNS releases are duly referenced to the research literature. Yet if you post what you are reading now on Facebook, it is likely to be blocked or labeled “false information.” Since when is reviewing the medical literature “fake news”?
It is our editorial viewpoint that withholding vitamin C treatment information from the public withholds it from the patient.
We accuse the media of negligence. They can correct this any time.
Until they do, we will do it for them.
References
(1) Jungeblut CW. Inactivation of poliomyelitis virus by crystalline vitamin C (ascorbic acid). J Exper Med 1935. 62:317-321.
Jungeblut CW. Vitamin C therapy and prophylaxis in experimental poliomyelitis. J Exp Med, 1937. 65: 127-146.
Jungeblut CW. Further observations on vitamin C therapy in experimental poliomyelitis. J Exper Med, 1937. 66: 459-477.
Jungeblut CW, Feiner RR. Vitamin C content of monkey tissues in experimental poliomyelitis. J Exper Med, 1937. 66: 479-491.
Jungeblut CW. A further contribution to vitamin C therapy in experimental poliomyelitis. J Exper Med, 1939. 70:315-332.
Saul AW. Taking the cure: Claus Washington Jungeblut, M.D.: Polio pioneer; ascorbate advocate. J Orthomolecular Med, 2006. Vol 21, No 2, p 102-106. http://www.doctoryourself.com/jungeblut.html and http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom
(2) http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n09.shtml and http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v09n16.shtml Frederick Robert Klenner’s papers are listed and summarized in Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C (ed. Lendon H. Smith, MD, Life Sciences Press, Tacoma, WA, 1988. This book is posted for free access at http://www.seanet.com/~alexs/ascorbate/198x/smith-lh-clinical_guide_1988.htm
(3) Cathcart RF. (1981) Vitamin C, titrating to bowel tolerance, anascorbemia, and acute induced scurvy. Med Hypotheses. 7:1359-76. http://www.doctoryourself.com/titration.html
Cathcart RF. (1993) The third face of vitamin C. J Orthomolecular Med, 7:197-200. Free access at http://www.doctoryourself.com/cathcart_thirdface.html
Additional Dr. Cathcart papers are posted at http://www.doctoryourself.com/biblio_cathcart.html
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff.
© [03/04/20] GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC. Want to learn more from GreenMedInfo? Sign up for the newsletter here //www.greenmedinfo.com/greenmed/newsletter..


wakingtimes--2020-03-10--Top Health Official Cashes in on Merck Stock

As detailed in The Highwire video above , in January 2020 , Dr. Julie Gerberding — director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2002 until 2009 , who after leaving the CDC became president of Merck ’ s vaccine division in January 2010 — sold half her Merck stock options for $ 9.11 million .
Gerberding also cashed in on her company stock options in 2016 , when she sold $ 5.1 million-worth of Merck stocks , and 2015 , when she made $ 2.3 million .
In total , Gerberding has made $ 16,592,144 from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which , by the way , is over and beyond her regular paycheck — and she still owns Merck stocks worth $ 9 million .
And we ’ re supposed to believe she has been impartial about vaccine safety and has been all along ?
As noted by Del Bigtree in his Highwire report : The payoff Bigtree is talking about refers back to Gerberding ’ s exoneration of the MMR vaccine , which came under fire when Dr. William Thompson , a CDC research scientist , blew the whistle claiming the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relation to the MMR vaccine .
According to Thompson , scientific fraud was committed for the express purpose of covering up potential safety problems so the agency would be able to maintain that the MMR vaccine had been proven safe to give to all children .
Thompson explained they simply eliminated the incriminating data , thereby vanishing the link , and this cover-up occurred while Gerberding headed up the CDC .
The CDC subsequently also blocked a request for Thompson to testify in an autism lawsuit .
Indeed , you ’ d have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the enormous influence her former high-level ties to the CDC can have , considering Merck makes a majority of the pediatric and adults vaccines recommended by the CDC .
The vaccine industry is booming , and it ’ s become quite clear that profit potential is the driving factor behind it .
One of the reasons for this is because vaccine patents do not expire like drugs do , so each vaccine adopted for widespread use has the potential to make enormous , continuous profits for decades to come .
Vaccine makers also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuits — and in the case of pandemic vaccines , absolute immunity — so the financial liability when something goes wrong is exceptionally low , compared to drugs .
An article by Robert F. Kennedy , chairman of the Children ’ s Health Defense , wonders whether Gerberding ’ s stock dump might have anything to do with recent red flags being raised about Merck ’ s HPV vaccine Gardasil .
He writes : “ Last month , Cancer Research UK announced an alarming 54 % rise in cervical cancer among 24-29-year-olds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jabs .
The following day , the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine published7 a withering critique of Gardasil ’ s crooked clinical trials , ‘ It is still uncertain whether human papillomavirus ( HPV ) vaccination prevents cervical cancer as trials were not designed to detect this outcome.
’ As Gerberding knows , those trials revealed that Gardasil dramatically RAISES ( by +44.6 % ) the risk of cervical cancer among women with a current infection or those previously exposed to HPV .
That may explain the cancer explosions in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in young girls up to age 18 ; Australia , Spain , Sweden and Norway .
A 2019 study of Alabama girls found the highest cervical cancer rates in the state ’ s most heavily vaccinated counties .
With Merck ’ s efficacy pretensions circling the drain , a coalition of leading plaintiff ’ s lawyers are already in discovery in a suit alleging that Merck fraudulently concealed serious illnesses affecting half , and autoimmune diseases affecting 1 of every 37 girls in Gardasil ’ s clinical trials within 6 months of injection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC ) Director from 2002-2009 , Gerberding helped Merck paper over these efficacy and safety problems.
” Chances are , Gerberding ’ s 2004 report to Congress , “ Prevention of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection , ” played a significant role in getting the controversial HPV vaccine fast tracked to licensure by the FDA in the first place .
Needless to say , the approval of this questionable vaccine guaranteed her future employer billions of dollars-worth of profits .
Gerberding has also been a staunch defender of thimerosal , the mercury-based vaccine preservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in the development of autism in some children .
Thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines or reduced to trace amounts between 1999 and 2001 , with the exception of multidose influenza vaccines .
Since then , there have been a number of additional biological mechanisms proposed by independent researchers investigating why vaccines cause harm .
The use of aluminum in vaccines , for example , may cause neurological damage .
In The Highwire video , Gerberding herself was in 2008 forced to admit that children with an underlying mitochondrial disorder are at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s admission came after Hannah Poling , who developed autism after her 18-month well-baby visit when she received nine vaccines , was granted compensation by the U.S. Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation for her injuries .
All in all , Gerberding has repeatedly demonstrated that safety is nowhere on her list of priorities or concerns when it comes to vaccines , so it ’ s easy to see why Merck would want her to head up their vaccine unit .
A 2012 article in the American Journal of Public Health , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played in state HPV immunization policymaking , states that : In June 2019 , I published Kennedy ’ s presentation of Merck ’ s clinical trial data for Gardasil , in which he reveals how the company hid the truth about its side effects .
One way in which Merck committed fraud in its Gardasil vaccine safety trials was by using a neurotoxic ingredient in Gardasil as a bioactive placebo .
This trick effectively renders its safety testing null and void , as the true extent of harm can not be ascertained .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reveals Gardasil increases the overall risk of death by 370 % , the risk of autoimmune disease by 2.3 % and the risk of a serious medical condition by 50 % .
Kennedy also points out that National Cancer Institute data show the mortality rate for cervical cancer is 1 in 43,478 ( 2.3 per 100,000 ) , and the median age of cervical cancer death is 58 .
To eliminate that one death , all 43,478 must pay $ 420 — the average cost of the three Gardasil injections .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been mandated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to receive the vaccine , providing Merck with an annual revenue of $ 2.3 billion .
When you crunch the numbers , you realize that the cost of using Gardasil to save one life is $ 18.3 million .
Meanwhile , compensation paid by the Vaccine Court for the death of a child maxes out at $ 250,000 .
Put another way , $ 18.3 million is being spent in an effort to save one life from a disease , while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life at just a quarter of a million dollars per person when a person dies from using a government recommended vaccine in that effort .
If you ’ re still on the fence when it comes to HPV vaccination , you owe it to yourself to watch Kennedy ’ s presentation and conduct additional research on the vaccine and HPV so that you can appropriately weigh the risks and benefits .
One of the Most Powerful Videos I ’ ve Ever Seen The following video from Barbara Loe Fisher is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen .
I am hopeful that watching this video will inspire you to take up the cause and join the fight for vaccine freedom and independence .
There is a cultural war and collusion between many industries and federal regulatory agencies that results in a suppression of the truth about vital important health issues .
If this suppression continues we will gradually and progressively erode our private individual rights that our ancestors fought so hard to achieve .
Please take a few minutes to watch this video .
Protect Your Right to Informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the uncertainty surrounding the safety and efficacy of vaccines , it ’ s critical to protect your right to make independent health choices and exercise voluntary informed consent to vaccination .
It is urgent that everyone in America stand up and fight to protect and expand vaccine informed consent protections in state public health and employment laws .
The best way to do this is to get personally involved with your state legislators and educate the leaders in your community .
National vaccine policy recommendations are made at the federal level but vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is at the state level where your action to protect your vaccine choice rights can have the greatest impact .
It is critical for EVERYONE to get involved now in standing up for the legal right to make voluntary vaccine choices in America because those choices are being threatened by lobbyists representing drug companies , medical trade associations and public health officials , who are trying to persuade legislators to strip all vaccine exemptions from public health laws .
Signing up for NVIC ’ s free Advocacy Portal at www.NVICAdvocacy.org gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own state legislators on your smartphone or computer so you can make your voice heard .
You will be kept up to date on the latest state bills threatening your vaccine choice rights and will get practical , useful information to help you become an effective vaccine choice advocate in your own community .
Also , when national vaccine issues come up , you will have the up-to-date information and call-to-action items you need at your fingertips .
So , please , as your first step , sign up for the NVIC Advocacy @ @

Top Health Official Cashes in on Merck Stock
Dr. Mercola, Guest
Waking Times
As detailed in The Highwire video above, in January 2020, Dr. Julie Gerberding — director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2002 until 2009, who after leaving the CDC became president of Merck’s vaccine division in January 2010 — sold half her Merck stock options for $9.11 million.
Gerberding also cashed in on her company stock options in 2016, when she sold $5.1 million-worth of Merck stocks, and 2015, when she made $2.3 million. In total, Gerberding has made $16,592,144 from selling off her Merck stocks — all of which, by the way, is over and beyond her regular paycheck — and she still owns Merck stocks worth $9 million.
And we’re supposed to believe she has been impartial about vaccine safety and has been all along? As noted by Del Bigtree in his Highwire report:
“Do you trust the information that come from your government agencies, when a year after working [at] that agency, they move into the very company that they exonerated from any wrongdoing and end up making $20-something-million dollars in stock options, plus a gigantic salary? Sounds like a payoff to me.”
Quid Pro Quo
The payoff Bigtree is talking about refers back to Gerberding’s exoneration of the MMR vaccine, which came under fire when Dr. William Thompson, a CDC research scientist, blew the whistle claiming the agency covered up a vaccine-autism connection in relation to the MMR vaccine.
According to Thompson, scientific fraud was committed for the express purpose of covering up potential safety problems so the agency would be able to maintain that the MMR vaccine had been proven safe to give to all children.
Thompson explained they simply eliminated the incriminating data, thereby vanishing the link, and this cover-up occurred while Gerberding headed up the CDC. The CDC subsequently also blocked a request for Thompson to testify in an autism lawsuit.
Indeed, you’d have to be really naïve not to see the enormous influence her former high-level ties to the CDC can have, considering Merck makes a majority of the pediatric and adults vaccines recommended by the CDC.
The vaccine industry is booming, and it’s become quite clear that profit potential is the driving factor behind it. One of the reasons for this is because vaccine patents do not expire like drugs do, so each vaccine adopted for widespread use has the potential to make enormous, continuous profits for decades to come.
Vaccine makers also enjoy a high degree of immunity against lawsuits — and in the case of pandemic vaccines, absolute immunity — so the financial liability when something goes wrong is exceptionally low, compared to drugs.
HPV Vaccine Responsible for Massive Rise in Cervical Cancer?
An article by Robert F. Kennedy, chairman of the Children’s Health Defense, wonders whether Gerberding’s stock dump might have anything to do with recent red flags being raised about Merck’s HPV vaccine Gardasil. He writes:
“Last month, Cancer Research UK announced an alarming 54% rise in cervical cancer among 24-29-year-olds, the first generation to receive the HPV jabs. The following day, the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine published7 a withering critique of Gardasil’s crooked clinical trials, ‘It is still uncertain whether human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination prevents cervical cancer as trials were not designed to detect this outcome.’ As Gerberding knows, those trials revealed that Gardasil dramatically RAISES (by +44.6%) the risk of cervical cancer among women with a current infection or those previously exposed to HPV. That may explain the cancer explosions in England and other nations with high inoculation rates in young girls up to age 18; Australia, Spain, Sweden and Norway. A 2019 study of Alabama girls found the highest cervical cancer rates in the state’s most heavily vaccinated counties. With Merck’s efficacy pretensions circling the drain, a coalition of leading plaintiff’s lawyers are already in discovery in a suit alleging that Merck fraudulently concealed serious illnesses affecting half, and autoimmune diseases affecting 1 of every 37 girls in Gardasil’s clinical trials within 6 months of injection. As Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director from 2002-2009, Gerberding helped Merck paper over these efficacy and safety problems.”
Chances are, Gerberding’s 2004 report to Congress, “Prevention of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection,” played a significant role in getting the controversial HPV vaccine fast tracked to licensure by the FDA in the first place. Needless to say, the approval of this questionable vaccine guaranteed her future employer billions of dollars-worth of profits.
Gerberding has also been a staunch defender of thimerosal, the mercury-based vaccine preservative suspected of being one of vaccine ingredients involved in the development of autism in some children. Thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines or reduced to trace amounts between 1999 and 2001, with the exception of multidose influenza vaccines.
Since then, there have been a number of additional biological mechanisms proposed by independent researchers investigating why vaccines cause harm.
The use of aluminum in vaccines, for example, may cause neurological damage. In The Highwire video, Gerberding herself was in 2008 forced to admit that children with an underlying mitochondrial disorder are at increased risk for vaccine damage.
Gerberding’s admission came after Hannah Poling, who developed autism after her 18-month well-baby visit when she received nine vaccines, was granted compensation by the U.S. Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation for her injuries.
All in all, Gerberding has repeatedly demonstrated that safety is nowhere on her list of priorities or concerns when it comes to vaccines, so it’s easy to see why Merck would want her to head up their vaccine unit.
HPV Maker’s Role in Vaccination Policymaking
A 2012 article in the American Journal of Public Health, in which the authors investigated the role Merck played in state HPV immunization policymaking, states that:
“Merck promoted school-entry mandate legislation by serving as an information resource, lobbying legislators, drafting legislation, mobilizing female legislators and physician organizations, conducting consumer marketing campaigns, and filling gaps in access to the vaccine. Legislators relied heavily on Merck for scientific information. Most stakeholders found lobbying by vaccine manufacturers acceptable in principle, but perceived that Merck had acted too aggressively and nontransparently in this case. Although policymakers acknowledge the utility of manufacturers’ involvement in vaccination policymaking, industry lobbying that is overly aggressive, not fully transparent, or not divorced from financial contributions to lawmakers risks undermining the prospects for legislation to foster uptake of new vaccines.”
Merck Plays Loose With HPV Vaccine Data
In June 2019, I published Kennedy’s presentation of Merck’s clinical trial data for Gardasil, in which he reveals how the company hid the truth about its side effects. One way in which Merck committed fraud in its Gardasil vaccine safety trials was by using a neurotoxic ingredient in Gardasil as a bioactive placebo. This trick effectively renders its safety testing null and void, as the true extent of harm cannot be ascertained.
Merck’s own trial data also reveals Gardasil increases the overall risk of death by 370%, the risk of autoimmune disease by 2.3% and the risk of a serious medical condition by 50%.
Kennedy also points out that National Cancer Institute data show the mortality rate for cervical cancer is 1 in 43,478 (2.3 per 100,000), and the median age of cervical cancer death is 58. To eliminate that one death, all 43,478 must pay $420 — the average cost of the three Gardasil injections.
According to Kennedy, 76 million American children have been mandated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to receive the vaccine, providing Merck with an annual revenue of $2.3 billion. When you crunch the numbers, you realize that the cost of using Gardasil to save one life is $18.3 million.
Meanwhile, compensation paid by the Vaccine Court for the death of a child maxes out at $250,000. Put another way, $18.3 million is being spent in an effort to save one life from a disease, while the U.S. Health and Human Services values human life at just a quarter of a million dollars per person when a person dies from using a government recommended vaccine in that effort.
If you’re still on the fence when it comes to HPV vaccination, you owe it to yourself to watch Kennedy’s presentation and conduct additional research on the vaccine and HPV so that you can appropriately weigh the risks and benefits.
http://youtu.be/aluDs5SQjD8
One of the Most Powerful Videos I’ve Ever Seen
The following video from Barbara Loe Fisher is one of the most powerful videos that I have ever seen. I am hopeful that watching this video will inspire you to take up the cause and join the fight for vaccine freedom and independence.
There is a cultural war and collusion between many industries and federal regulatory agencies that results in a suppression of the truth about vital important health issues. If this suppression continues we will gradually and progressively erode our private individual rights that our ancestors fought so hard to achieve. Please take a few minutes to watch this video.
Protect Your Right to Informed Consent and Defend Vaccine Exemptions
With all the uncertainty surrounding the safety and efficacy of vaccines, it’s critical to protect your right to make independent health choices and exercise voluntary informed consent to vaccination. It is urgent that everyone in America stand up and fight to protect and expand vaccine informed consent protections in state public health and employment laws. The best way to do this is to get personally involved with your state legislators and educate the leaders in your community.
Think Globally, Act Locally
National vaccine policy recommendations are made at the federal level but vaccine laws are made at the state level. It is at the state level where your action to protect your vaccine choice rights can have the greatest impact.
It is critical for EVERYONE to get involved now in standing up for the legal right to make voluntary vaccine choices in America because those choices are being threatened by lobbyists representing drug companies, medical trade associations and public health officials, who are trying to persuade legislators to strip all vaccine exemptions from public health laws.
Signing up for NVIC’s free Advocacy Portal at www.NVICAdvocacy.org gives you immediate, easy access to your own state legislators on your smartphone or computer so you can make your voice heard. You will be kept up to date on the latest state bills threatening your vaccine choice rights and will get practical, useful information to help you become an effective vaccine choice advocate in your own community.
Also, when national vaccine issues come up, you will have the up-to-date information and call-to-action items you need at your fingertips. So, please, as your first step, sign up for the NVIC Advocacy Portal.


wakingtimes--2020-03-12--Scientists Predict the Amazon Rainforest May Disappear Within the Next 50 Years

The Amazon rainforest is Earth ’ s largest rainforest .
2.72 million square miles in size , the Amazon basin is roughly the size of forty-eight contiguous United States and covers a whopping 40 % of the South American continent .
Due to fires and deforestation , however , the rainforest may go extinct within 50 years .
In the journal Nature Communications , a team of researchers shared their prediction that the Amazon rainforest will collapse and disappear far quicker than previously thought .
As IFLScience reports , the team used calculations based on real-world data to discern the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapse .
“ Unfortunately , what our paper reveals is that humanity needs to prepare for changes far sooner than expected , ” said joint lead author Dr. Simon Willcock of Bangor University ’ s School of Natural Sciences in a statement .
“ These rapid changes to the world ’ s largest and most iconic ecosystems would impact the benefits which they provide us with , including everything from food and materials , to the oxygen and water we need for life.
” The team recalled that the Amazon rainforest was recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hectares , or 2.2 million acres , of the forest .
Similar to the Australian bushfires , the event resulted in a massive loss to both carbon sinking forest habitats and wildlife diversity .
When an ecosystem is pushed to the point of no return , it is always replaced by another .
However , what comes after the Amazon rainforest may fail to provide the same balancing effects on the global environment as those of the previous landscape .
For example , the Amazon rainforest may be transformed into a savannah-type ecosystem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We intuitively knew that big systems would collapse more slowly than small ones – due to the time it takes for impacts to diffuse across large distances , ” Prof John Dearing , from Southampton University , said .
“ But what was unexpected was the finding that big systems collapse much faster than you might expect – even the largest on Earth only taking possibly a few decades.
” At this point , you are probably wondering , “ What can we do to prevent this collapse ?
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the use of reusable grocery bags , biking or walking when possible , and eating a plant-based diet , you can support the efforts to protect land and halt deforestation in the Amazon .
When a variety of species , versus one or just a few , inhabit an ecosystem , it is less likely to collapse .
By no means will it be simple , but maintaining diversity appears to be key .
Mandy Froelich is an RHN , plant-based chef , journalist , Reiki master therapist , world traveler and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights , sustainability , cannabis and conscious living .
She share healthy recipes on my blog Life in Bloom .

Scientists Predict the Amazon Rainforest May Disappear Within the Next 50 Years
Mandy Froelich, Truth Theory
Waking Times
The Amazon rainforest is Earth’s largest rainforest. 2.72 million square miles in size, the Amazon basin is roughly the size of forty-eight contiguous United States and covers a whopping 40% of the South American continent. Due to fires and deforestation, however, the rainforest may go extinct within 50 years.
In the journal Nature Communications, a team of researchers shared their prediction that the Amazon rainforest will collapse and disappear far quicker than previously thought. As IFLScience reports, the team used calculations based on real-world data to discern the speed at which the ecosystem could likely collapse.
“Unfortunately, what our paper reveals is that humanity needs to prepare for changes far sooner than expected,” said joint lead author Dr. Simon Willcock of Bangor University’s School of Natural Sciences in a statement. “These rapid changes to the world’s largest and most iconic ecosystems would impact the benefits which they provide us with, including everything from food and materials, to the oxygen and water we need for life.”
The team recalled that the Amazon rainforest was recently crippled by a wildfire that engulfed 906,000 hectares, or 2.2 million acres, of the forest. Similar to the Australian bushfires, the event resulted in a massive loss to both carbon sinking forest habitats and wildlife diversity.
When an ecosystem is pushed to the point of no return, it is always replaced by another. However, what comes after the Amazon rainforest may fail to provide the same balancing effects on the global environment as those of the previous landscape. For example, the Amazon rainforest may be transformed into a savannah-type ecosystem with a variety of trees and grass.
“We intuitively knew that big systems would collapse more slowly than small ones – due to the time it takes for impacts to diffuse across large distances,” Prof John Dearing, from Southampton University, said. “But what was unexpected was the finding that big systems collapse much faster than you might expect – even the largest on Earth only taking possibly a few decades.”
At this point, you are probably wondering, “What can we do to prevent this collapse?” In addition to continuing to support environmental efforts through the use of reusable grocery bags, biking or walking when possible, and eating a plant-based diet, you can support the efforts to protect land and halt deforestation in the Amazon. When a variety of species, versus one or just a few, inhabit an ecosystem, it is less likely to collapse. By no means will it be simple, but maintaining diversity appears to be key.
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--2020-03-12--Two Super-Rare White Giraffes, Including World’s Only Known Female, Killed by Poachers in Kenya

In the latest senseless crime against wildlife , two extremely rare white giraffes in Kenya have reportedly been killed by poachers .
Rangers at the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy discovered the carcasses of a female white giraffe and her calf in a village in Garissa County .
Conservancy manager Mohammed Ahmednoor on Tuesday said that after a long search , they were only able to recover the super-rare animals ’ skeletal remains .
In a statement , he said : “ This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are custodians of the white giraffe .
It ’ s killing is a blow to the tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts .
This is a long-term loss given that genetics studies and research which were significant investment into the area by researchers , has now gone to the drain .
Also , the white giraffe was a big boost to tourism in the area.
” CGTN reports that because the carcasses were found in a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the animals were dead for a long time prior to being found .
The poachers remain unidentified and their motive remains unknown .
The incident is being investigated by the Kenya Wildlife Society .
According to conservationists , only one male white giraffe , a bull , remains and is believed to be the only one left in the world .
In 2017 , the discovery of the rare creature put the remote community conservancy on the world map , dazzling locals as well as scientists and wildlife enthusiasts across the globe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservation Programme said that the animals “ so close and extremely calm and seemed not disturbed by our presence.
” Continuing , the conservationists noted that “ the mother kept pacing back and forth a few yards in front of us while signalling the baby giraffe to hide behind the bushes.
” The extraordinary appearance of the giraffes was the result of a genetic condition called leucism , which halts blocks the pigmentation of some cells .
Unlike albino animals , leucistic creatures have some melanin as well as dark eyes .

Two Super-Rare White Giraffes, Including World’s Only Known Female, Killed by Poachers in Kenya
Elias Marat, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
In the latest senseless crime against wildlife, two extremely rare white giraffes in Kenya have reportedly been killed by poachers.
Rangers at the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy discovered the carcasses of a female white giraffe and her calf in a village in Garissa County.
Conservancy manager Mohammed Ahmednoor on Tuesday said that after a long search, they were only able to recover the super-rare animals’ skeletal remains. In a statement, he said:
“This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe. It’s killing is a blow to the tremendous steps taken by the community to conserve rare and unique species and a wake-up call for continued support to conservation efforts. This is a long-term loss given that genetics studies and research which were significant investment into the area by researchers, has now gone to the drain. Also, the white giraffe was a big boost to tourism in the area.”
Happy #WorldGiraffeDay! This white Reticulated #Giraffe has been a common sight in and around a protected area in Kenya that we helped establish with the @hirola_program. 🦒 📷Photo by Hirola Conservation Programme pic.twitter.com/PNXSca5vjr — Rainforest Trust (@RainforestTrust) June 21, 2019
CGTN reports that because the carcasses were found in a “skeletal state,” it is likely that the animals were dead for a long time prior to being found.
The poachers remain unidentified and their motive remains unknown. The incident is being investigated by the Kenya Wildlife Society.
According to conservationists, only one male white giraffe, a bull, remains and is believed to be the only one left in the world.
In 2017, the discovery of the rare creature put the remote community conservancy on the world map, dazzling locals as well as scientists and wildlife enthusiasts across the globe.
At the time, the Hirola Conservation Programme said that the animals “so close and extremely calm and seemed not disturbed by our presence.” Continuing, the conservationists noted that “the mother kept pacing back and forth a few yards in front of us while signalling the baby giraffe to hide behind the bushes.”
The extraordinary appearance of the giraffes was the result of a genetic condition called leucism, which halts blocks the pigmentation of some cells. Unlike albino animals, leucistic creatures have some melanin as well as dark eyes.
By Elias Marat | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com