huffpost--2020-03-17--Is It Safe To Order Takeout Right Now?

Is It Safe To Order Takeout Right Now?

As the coronavirus continues to spread , restaurants across the country are shutting their doors to dine-in customers ( and sometimes being forced to do so ) .
Every place from P.F .
Chang ’ s to Chipotle is sending out emails to patrons offering free delivery and ensuring guests that they are taking proper precautions to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coronavirus containment guidelines .
Postmates and DoorDash are offering contactless drop-off options and lower delivery fees .
And grocery stores are continuously restocking their shelves .
HuffPost surveyed a team of food safety experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the face of the coronavirus crisis .
Long story short : Even if your food or containers aren ’ t infected with the coronavirus , eating food that hasn ’ t been prepared or transported properly can put you at risk of weakening your immune system .
Here ’ s what to watch out for .
If you ’ re ordering takeout , stick with restaurants you know and trust Nelken said in times like these , it ’ s important to have a sense of familiarity with a restaurant and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Is this is a place you ’ ve gone to before and you know what you ’ re getting yourself into , as opposed to going into a facility that you know nothing about ?
” he asked .
For the time being , he recommended ordering from your typical go-to places .
“ It ’ s like going to a doctor .
Would you go to any doctor if you didn ’ t feel well ?
No .
You would most probably look up doctors , what they specialize in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their certifications are , ” he said .
Nelken stressed that you need to research a place before placing an order .
Customers can look up a restaurant ’ s previous health inspection report to get an idea of how seriously it takes hygiene and safety .
“ If you ’ re in Los Angeles , for example , you can go to the LA County Health Department [ website ] and they have the restaurant inspection reports .
Type in the name of the facility and you can look at the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violations did they receive , ” he said .
Make sure your food is fresh “ At this point of time , it ’ s not rude to say , ‘ I ’ m not eating these fries because it seems like they ’ re cold .
Could you make them again for me ?
’ And it ’ s OK to go to a place where there ’ s enough business that they ’ re making new food instead of going to a place where they have sandwiches laying around forever , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the containers Thus , if someone coughed on a plastic container or spoon , the virus could stay active for up to a couple of days .
Khubchandani suggested taking precautions like wearing gloves to open takeout containers , letting boxes of fresh groceries sit for a day or so before reaching for them ( but of course , always refrigerate or freeze perishables immediately ) , and using your own silverware as opposed to disposable plastic cutlery that may have been tossed loosely into a bag .
“ Ingesting food with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as it spreads through your respiratory system ( rubbing your eyes , touching your face ) , ” said Keith Urbowicz , director of culinary operations and executive chef with Privé-Swiss Wellness .
Thus , he recommended continuing to wash your hands “ as often as possible and always before eating.
” The same goes for delivery .
“ I would recommend having the delivery driver leave the food at the door , if possible , so as to keep social distancing a part of the process , ” said Urbowicz .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ contactless delivery ” methods that services like Postmates and DoorDash are now implementing .
Prioritize cooking at home if you can The above precautions aside , Khubchandani said cooking in is ultimately the safest option .
“ Coronaviruses generally do not get transmitted by food but the challenge is : Can you trust the person who is giving you the food ?
” he said .
“ If they are infected , the coronavirus has a tendency to survive for a day or two on different types of surfaces.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails noting that they are taking extra precautions , that may not always be the case .
“ The bigger danger is how 20 % of the food workers in America and 20 % of the general population has foodborne illnesses every year , which tells us how poorly regulated our food industry is .
So avoidance is best but , if not , then any precaution is not rude or overreaction , ” he said .

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As the coronavirus continues to spread, restaurants across the country are shutting their doors to dine-in customers (and sometimes being forced to do so). Every place from P.F. Chang’s to Chipotle is sending out emails to patrons offering free delivery and ensuring guests that they are taking proper precautions to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coronavirus containment guidelines. Postmates and DoorDash are offering contactless drop-off options and lower delivery fees. And grocery stores are continuously restocking their shelves.
But in this moment of social distancing and other anti-transmission precautions, what types of food precautions should we be following? Is takeout safe to order?
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Thus far, experts have said there isn’t any reason to believe the coronavirus can be spread through food. But what about the containers and bags that takeout enters our homes in?
“Nonetheless, we still need to be cautious because all of these viruses can mutate. And what we say today may be different tomorrow,” said Jeff Nelken, a food safety expert in Woodland Hills, California.
HuffPost surveyed a team of food safety experts to find out how to safely eat in the face of the coronavirus crisis. Long story short: Even if your food or containers aren’t infected with the coronavirus, eating food that hasn’t been prepared or transported properly can put you at risk of weakening your immune system. Here’s what to watch out for.
If you’re ordering takeout, stick with restaurants you know and trust
Now is not the time to take a chance on a new spot, Nelken said. When asked if he would personally order takeout at the moment, he replied, “It depends where I’m ordering from.”
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Nelken said in times like these, it’s important to have a sense of familiarity with a restaurant and to feel safe about its sanitation practices. “Is this is a place you’ve gone to before and you know what you’re getting yourself into, as opposed to going into a facility that you know nothing about?” he asked. For the time being, he recommended ordering from your typical go-to places.
“It’s like going to a doctor. Would you go to any doctor if you didn’t feel well? No. You would most probably look up doctors, what they specialize in, and what their history is and what their certifications are,” he said.
Check out their history
Nelken stressed that you need to research a place before placing an order. Customers can look up a restaurant’s previous health inspection report to get an idea of how seriously it takes hygiene and safety. “If you’re in Los Angeles, for example, you can go to the LA County Health Department [website] and they have the restaurant inspection reports. Type in the name of the facility and you can look at the last inspection reports and see what kind of violations did they receive,” he said.
Nelken also suggested taking a visual inventory when you pop in to pick up your takeout. “Watch how people are working and that they’re wearing gloves and they’re taking the gloves off and sanitizing and keeping their work areas clean/organized,” he said.
Make sure your food is fresh
Jagdish Khubchandani, a health science professor at Indiana’s Ball State University who has studied the impact of viral outbreaks like SARS, said it’s important to pay extra attention to how fresh your food is.
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“If I go order fries and they made them two hours ago and they have been staying at room temperature, then it’s dangerous to eat them,” he said, deeming the “danger zone” as 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
“When food is at room temperature, then you cannot trust that food,” he explained, because bacteria grows most rapidly between those temperatures.
Khubchandani said exposing yourself to bacteria can weaken your immune system, and now is not the time to do that. If you’re picking up takeout, he suggested asking when the food was made.
Vadym Petrochenko via Getty Images Since it's possible the coronavirus can live up to a day or two on surfaces, it's best to open your food delivery containers with gloved hands.
“At this point of time, it’s not rude to say, ‘I’m not eating these fries because it seems like they’re cold. Could you make them again for me?’ And it’s OK to go to a place where there’s enough business that they’re making new food instead of going to a place where they have sandwiches laying around forever,” he added.
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He also added that room temperature food can be more prone to viral particles and that upon picking up takeout, it wouldn’t hurt to reheat it for 30 minutes.
Be conscious of the containers
“The average survival time of coronavirus now, given what we have known from SARS and MERS, is it could range anywhere from five hours to a day or two,” Khubchandani said.
Thus, if someone coughed on a plastic container or spoon, the virus could stay active for up to a couple of days. Khubchandani suggested taking precautions like wearing gloves to open takeout containers, letting boxes of fresh groceries sit for a day or so before reaching for them (but of course, always refrigerate or freeze perishables immediately), and using your own silverware as opposed to disposable plastic cutlery that may have been tossed loosely into a bag.
“Ingesting food with the coronavirus isn’t the biggest risk, as it spreads through your respiratory system (rubbing your eyes, touching your face),” said Keith Urbowicz, director of culinary operations and executive chef with Privé-Swiss Wellness. Thus, he recommended continuing to wash your hands “as often as possible and always before eating.”
Limit human contact
If possible, Nelken said, avoid coming into physical contact with a person when picking up your takeout. “Have them set a package down on the counter and then pick it up yourself,” he advised.
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The same goes for delivery. “I would recommend having the delivery driver leave the food at the door, if possible, so as to keep social distancing a part of the process,” said Urbowicz. To put this into effect, select the “contactless delivery” methods that services like Postmates and DoorDash are now implementing.
Prioritize cooking at home if you can
The above precautions aside, Khubchandani said cooking in is ultimately the safest option. “Coronaviruses generally do not get transmitted by food but the challenge is: Can you trust the person who is giving you the food?” he said. “If they are infected, the coronavirus has a tendency to survive for a day or two on different types of surfaces.”


huffpost--2020-03-01--France Closes The Louvre Amid Coronavirus Fears As Cases Hit Over 60 Countries

New fronts in the battle opened rapidly over the weekend , deepening the sense of crisis that has already sent financial markets plummeting , emptied the streets in many cities and rewritten the routines of millions of people .
More than 88,000 around the globe have been infected , with the virus popping up on every continent but Antarctica .
Italian authorities announced that the number of people infected in the country soared 50 % to 1,694 in just 24 hours , and five more had died , bringing the death toll there to 34 .
France raised its number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase of 30 from the day before , and said it has seen two deaths .
Iran , Iraq and South Korea , among other places , also saw the number of infections rise .
Cases in the U.S. climbed to at least 74 with the first death in the United States reported on Saturday — a man in his 50s in Washington state who had underlying health problems but hadn ’ t traveled to any affected areas .
Panic-buying of daily necessities emerged in Japan , where professional baseball teams have played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attractions across Asia , Europe and the Mideast were deserted .
Islam ’ s holiest sites have been closed to foreign pilgrims .
And governments have closed schools and banned big gatherings .
“ We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk , ” U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said .
The aid “ has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people.
” In France , the archbishop of Paris told parish priests to put the Communion bread in worshippers ’ hands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also advised people to forgo the customary kisses on the cheek upon greeting others .
The Louvre , home of the “ Mona Lisa ” and other priceless artworks , closed after workers expressed fear of being contaminated by the stream of visitors from around the world .
Staffers were also concerned about museum workers from Italy who had come to the Louvre to collect works by Leonardo da Vinci that were loaned for an exhibition .
Tourists , some wearing a mask , queue to enter the Louvre museum Friday , Feb. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world is scrambling to get on top of the new coronavirus outbreak that has spread from its epicenter in China to most corners of the planet .
Governments and doctors are presenting an array of approaches as the virus disrupts daily routines , business plans and international travel around the world .
“ We are very worried because we have visitors from everywhere , ” said Andre Sacristin , a Louvre employee and union representative .
“ The risk is very , very , very great.
” While there are no known infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ it ’ s only a question of time , ” he said .
Among the frustrated visitors was Charles Lim from Singapore .
He and his wife , Jeanette , chose Paris to celebrate their first wedding anniversary and bought tickets in advance for the Louvre .
China , where the outbreak began two months ago , on Sunday reported a slight uptick in new cases over the past 24 hours to 573 , the first time in five days that the number exceeded 500 .
They remain almost entirely confined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its capital , Wuhan .
South Korea reported 210 additional cases and two more deaths , raising its totals to 3,736 cases and 20 fatalities .
South Korea has the second-largest number of infections outside China , with most of the cases in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby areas .

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PARIS (AP) — Coronavirus cases surged in Italy, and France closed the world-famous Louvre Museum on Sunday as the deadly outbreak that began in China sent fear rising across Western Europe, threatening its tourism industry.
The number of countries hit by the virus climbed past 60, and the death toll worldwide reached at least 3,000.
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New fronts in the battle opened rapidly over the weekend, deepening the sense of crisis that has already sent financial markets plummeting, emptied the streets in many cities and rewritten the routines of millions of people. More than 88,000 around the globe have been infected, with the virus popping up on every continent but Antarctica.
Australia and Thailand reported their first deaths Sunday, while the Dominican Republic and the Czech Republic recorded their first infections.
Italian authorities announced that the number of people infected in the country soared 50% to 1,694 in just 24 hours, and five more had died, bringing the death toll there to 34. France raised its number of reported cases to 130, an increase of 30 from the day before, and said it has seen two deaths.
The U.S. government advised Americans against traveling to the two northern Italian regions hit hardest, among them Lombardy, which includes Milan. Major American airlines began suspending flights to Milan.
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The travel restrictions against Italy and the rising alarm in France could deal a heavy blow to the countries’ tourism industries. Spring, especially Easter, is a hugely popular time for schoolchildren to visit France and Italy.
“We had already registered a slowdown of Americans coming to Italy in recent days,” Bernabo Bocca, president of Italy’s hotel association, said in a statement Saturday. “Now, the final blow has arrived.”
Tourism accounts for 13% of the economy in Italy, with its world-class art museums, archaeological sites and architectural treasures. More than 5.6 million Americans visit Italy every year, representing 9% of foreign tourists.
Iran, Iraq and South Korea, among other places, also saw the number of infections rise. Cases in the U.S. climbed to at least 74 with the first death in the United States reported on Saturday — a man in his 50s in Washington state who had underlying health problems but hadn’t traveled to any affected areas.
Panic-buying of daily necessities emerged in Japan, where professional baseball teams have played spring-training games in deserted stadiums. Tourist attractions across Asia, Europe and the Mideast were deserted. Islam’s holiest sites have been closed to foreign pilgrims. And governments have closed schools and banned big gatherings.
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The United Nations said Sunday it is releasing $15 million from an emergency fund to help countries with fragile health systems contain the virus.
“We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk,” U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said. The aid “has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people.”
In France, the archbishop of Paris told parish priests to put the Communion bread in worshippers’ hands, not in their mouths. French officials also advised people to forgo the customary kisses on the cheek upon greeting others.
The Louvre, home of the “Mona Lisa” and other priceless artworks, closed after workers expressed fear of being contaminated by the stream of visitors from around the world. Staffers were also concerned about museum workers from Italy who had come to the Louvre to collect works by Leonardo da Vinci that were loaned for an exhibition.
Tourists, some wearing a mask, queue to enter the Louvre museum Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 in Paris. The world is scrambling to get on top of the new coronavirus outbreak that has spread from its epicenter in China to most corners of the planet. Governments and doctors are presenting an array of approaches as the virus disrupts daily routines, business plans and international travel around the world. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH/ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The Louvre, the world’s most popular museum, received 9.6 million visitors last year, almost three-quarters of them from abroad.
“We are very worried because we have visitors from everywhere,” said Andre Sacristin, a Louvre employee and union representative. “The risk is very, very, very great.” While there are no known infections among the museum’s 2,300 workers, “it’s only a question of time,” he said.
The shutdown followed a government decision Saturday to ban indoor public gatherings of more than 5,000 people.
Among the frustrated visitors was Charles Lim from Singapore. He and his wife, Jeanette, chose Paris to celebrate their first wedding anniversary and bought tickets in advance for the Louvre.
“We waited for about three hours before giving up,” he said. “It was incredibly disappointing.”
China, where the outbreak began two months ago, on Sunday reported a slight uptick in new cases over the past 24 hours to 573, the first time in five days that the number exceeded 500. They remain almost entirely confined to the hardest-hit province of Hubei and its capital, Wuhan.
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South Korea reported 210 additional cases and two more deaths, raising its totals to 3,736 cases and 20 fatalities. South Korea has the second-largest number of infections outside China, with most of the cases in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby areas.
South Korea’s president used a speech marking the 101st anniversary of an anti-Japanese independence uprising to call for national unity to overcome the crisis.
Iran’s death toll climbed to 54 as the number of confirmed cases jumped overnight by more than half, to 978. The new figures represent 11 more deaths than reported on Saturday.
Around the world, many cases of the virus have been relatively mild, and some of those infected apparently show no symptoms at all.
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huffpost--2020-05-05--Amazon Warehouse Worker In New York Dies Of COVID-19

A person working at Amazon ’ s Staten Island warehouse in New York has died of COVID-19 , the company confirmed to The Verge .
Amazon said the employee was last at the facility on April 5 and was placed on quarantine after he was confirmed to have the disease on April 11 .
“ We are deeply saddened by the loss of an associate at our site in Staten Island , NY , ” an Amazon spokesperson said .
“ His family and loved ones are in our thoughts , and we are supporting his fellow colleagues.
” Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand improved workplace safety measures during the pandemic , including Chris Smalls , a worker who staged a walkout at the Staten Island warehouse , which is known as JFK8 .
On Monday , an Amazon vice president overseeing operations at Amazon Cloud referred to the firings and called them “ chickenshit ” in a publicly released resignation letter .
“ Remaining an Amazon VP would have meant , in effect , signing off on actions I despised , ” Tim Bray said .
Workers at Amazon 's Staten Island warehouse strike for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleaned after one staffer tested positive for the coronavirus on March 30 , 2020 , in New York .
On March 30 , Amazon fired Smalls , who had encouraged employees to walk out and demand that Amazon temporarily close JFK8 to be sanitized .
Vice News released a memo leaked after Smalls ’ firing in which Amazon executives said he was “ not smart , or articulate ” and discussed plans to counteract his reports to the press .
At the time , New York Attorney General Letitia James called the firing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Amazon also fired two of its tech employees who were critical of conditions in the company ’ s warehouses and tried to help organize warehouse workers to discuss their experiences .
The death announced Tuesday is not the first coronavirus-related death at an Amazon facility , according to Amazon .
The company previously said someone employed at a warehouse in Southern California had died from the virus on March 31 , and on April 30 , Amazon confirmed someone at its facility in Tracy , California , had died from COVID-19 as @ @

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A person working at Amazon’s Staten Island warehouse in New York has died of COVID-19, the company confirmed to The Verge. Amazon said the employee was last at the facility on April 5 and was placed on quarantine after he was confirmed to have the disease on April 11.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of an associate at our site in Staten Island, NY,” an Amazon spokesperson said. “His family and loved ones are in our thoughts, and we are supporting his fellow colleagues.”
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Amazon has fired multiple employees who organized to demand improved workplace safety measures during the pandemic, including Chris Smalls, a worker who staged a walkout at the Staten Island warehouse, which is known as JFK8. On Monday, an Amazon vice president overseeing operations at Amazon Cloud referred to the firings and called them “chickenshit” in a publicly released resignation letter.
“Remaining an Amazon VP would have meant, in effect, signing off on actions I despised,” Tim Bray said.
Workers at Amazon's Staten Island warehouse strike for the facility to be shut down and cleaned after one staffer tested positive for the coronavirus on March 30, 2020, in New York. ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
On March 30, Amazon fired Smalls, who had encouraged employees to walk out and demand that Amazon temporarily close JFK8 to be sanitized. Vice News released a memo leaked after Smalls’ firing in which Amazon executives said he was “not smart, or articulate” and discussed plans to counteract his reports to the press. At the time, New York Attorney General Letitia James called the firing “immoral and inhumane.”
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In April, Amazon also fired two of its tech employees who were critical of conditions in the company’s warehouses and tried to help organize warehouse workers to discuss their experiences.


huffpost--2020-05-06--Trump Says Coronavirus Task Force Will Stay But Shift Focus

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his coronavirus task force would shift its focus to reviving U.S. business and social life , prompting the top Democrat in Congress to warn that ignoring science and the need for more testing would put Americans at risk .
In a series of tweets on Wednesday , Trump said that because of its success , “ the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN .
We may add or subtract people to it , as appropriate.
” The task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on battling the pandemic , some of whom have at times offered guidance at odds with Trump ’ s , including on when to ease stay-at-home orders and lockdowns on the economy .
White House guidelines say that the number of new cases must be trending downward for 14 days and that vastly expanded coronavirus testing and other safeguards must be put in place before the shutdowns can be phased out .
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she did not believe the Republican Trump should pivot to reopening at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing .
“ If you undermine science , if you underfund testing , if you exaggerate the opportunity that is out there for the economy at the risk of people dying , that ’ s not a plan , ” Pelosi told MSNBC .
“ There are counties and cities in which you can do that safely now , but there are others that if you do that , it ’ s really dangerous , ” he said on Tuesday night .
A number of U.S. states saw a record increase in cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wisconsin .
Minnesota has set a new record for cases nine out of the last 14 days , including 728 new cases on Wednesday .
More than 71,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus , and more than 1.2 million people have been infected , according to a Reuters tally .
But the mayor of Atlanta , Keisha Lance Bottoms , who has clashed with Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp over his moves to reopen , said she saw people partying and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday on Tuesday .
“ It was disappointing .
And what was very clear was that people didn ’ t get anything past the message that we were open up for business , ” she told CNN on Wednesday .
“ They didn ’ t get to the part that said that this was still a deadly virus and that you needed to continue to socially distance and wear masks , and I think that ’ s the shortcoming of this order.
” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio , whose city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , said that he was hopeful the city had turned the corner but did not expect to reopen until September after shutting down with the rest of the state on March 20 .

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his coronavirus task force would shift its focus to reviving U.S. business and social life, prompting the top Democrat in Congress to warn that ignoring science and the need for more testing would put Americans at risk.
U.S. President Donald Trump listens to Honeywell's Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain Tony Stallings as Stallings shows him a protective mask during a tour of Honeywell's facility manufacturing face masks for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., May 5, 2020 Tom Brenner / Reuters
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In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Trump said that because of its success, “the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN. We may add or subtract people to it, as appropriate.”
He added: “The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics.”
The task force to date has included medical professionals focused on battling the pandemic, some of whom have at times offered guidance at odds with Trump’s, including on when to ease stay-at-home orders and lockdowns on the economy.
White House guidelines say that the number of new cases must be trending downward for 14 days and that vastly expanded coronavirus testing and other safeguards must be put in place before the shutdowns can be phased out.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she did not believe the Republican Trump should pivot to reopening at the expense of emphasizing the need for more testing.
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“If you undermine science, if you underfund testing, if you exaggerate the opportunity that is out there for the economy at the risk of people dying, that’s not a plan,” Pelosi told MSNBC.
“Death is not an economic motivator, stimulus. So why are we going down that path?”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert and most high-profile member of the task force, acknowledged in a CNN interview that he was losing the argument against reopening the country too quickly.
“There are counties and cities in which you can do that safely now, but there are others that if you do that, it’s really dangerous,” he said on Tuesday night.
Trump told reporters he would announce new members of his task force by Monday.
A number of U.S. states saw a record increase in cases on Tuesday, including Kentucky, Oregon and Wisconsin. Minnesota has set a new record for cases nine out of the last 14 days, including 728 new cases on Wednesday.
More than 71,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and more than 1.2 million people have been infected, according to a Reuters tally.
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The Republican Trump administration and many state governors have emphasized the political and social pressures they face getting the U.S. economy going again.
ADP National Employment Report data on Wednesday showed that U.S. private employers laid off a record 20.236 million workers in April, suggesting the lockdowns could leave lasting scars on the economy.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
State governors who have started lifting restrictions have said business reopenings will be gradual and that people should continue to observe social distancing and other guidelines.
But the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, who has clashed with Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp over his moves to reopen, said she saw people partying and celebrating on the annual Cinco de Mayo holiday on Tuesday.
“It was disappointing. And what was very clear was that people didn’t get anything past the message that we were open up for business,” she told CNN on Wednesday.
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“They didn’t get to the part that said that this was still a deadly virus and that you needed to continue to socially distance and wear masks, and I think that’s the shortcoming of this order.”
Democratic governors of states hardest hit by the outbreak have at times been at odds with the Republican Trump over easing restrictions.
But even California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday announced plans to relax some restrictions if the data continues to see improvement.
Los Angeles’ downtown flower market opened on Wednesday for the first time since the shutdown after the city’s mayor gave some businesses the green light.
“It’s good that the stores are reopening. I have two kids. It has been hard,” said florist Gregorio Garcia, 35, as he pruned pink roses inside his small open-front store.
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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose city has been the hardest hit in the country, said that he was hopeful the city had turned the corner but did not expect to reopen until September after shutting down with the rest of the state on March 20.
“My message to the rest of the country is: learn from how much effort, how much discipline it took to finally bring these numbers down and follow the same path until you’re sure that it’s being beaten back,” de Blasio told CNN.
“Or else, if this thing boomerangs, you’re putting off any kind of restart or recovery a hell of a lot longer.”
Reporting by Susan Heavey, Doina Chiacu, Lucia Mutikani and Jeff Mason in Washington, Maria Caspani in New York, Lucy Nicholson in Los Angeles, Lisa Shumaker in Chicago; Writing by Sonya Hepinstall; Editing by Howard Goller


huffpost--2020-05-05--Shanghai Disneyland To Reopen Next Week Following Coronavirus Closure

( Reuters ) - Walt Disney Co. estimated on Tuesday that global coronavirus lockdowns cut profits by $ 1.4 billion , mostly from its shuttered theme parks , but said it would reopen Shanghai Disneyland next week .
Disney will not pay a dividend for the first half of the fiscal year , which will preserve $ 1.6 billion in cash assuming it had kept the dividend constant at 88 cents per share .
CEO Robert Chapek said Disney would reopen the Shanghai park on May 11 with limits on attendance , but the company has “ limited visibility ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores would reopen .
“ While it ’ s too early to predict when we ’ ll be able to begin resuming all of our operations , we are evaluating a number of different scenarios to ensure a cautious , sensible and deliberate approach to the eventual reopening of our parks , ” Chapek said .
Disney posted adjusted earnings per share of 60 cents for January through March , down 63 % from a year earlier and short of the 89 cents expected by analysts , according to IBES data from Refinitiv @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after-hours trade , after losing 2 % during the regular session .
Before the earnings report , Disney ’ s shares had lost more than one-quarter of their value this year .
Just three months ago , Disney was boasting about a record year for its movie studio and a strong start to the company ’ s dive into the streaming media wars .
By mid-March , all of the company ’ s theme parks were closed , movie theaters went dark , and television and film production was put on hold .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ network was left with no major live sports to broadcast .
“ In total , we estimate that the COVID-19 impacts on our current quarter income from continuing operations before income taxes across all of our businesses was as much as $ 1.4 billion , ” Disney said , adding that $ 1 billion of that came from losses at theme parks .
Disney is expected to take a larger hit in the current quarter , which ends in June .
Disney does not intend to provide financial guidance for the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ audiences shelter at home is Disney+ , the streaming service the company launched in November .
Disney+ had 54.5 million paying subscribers as of May 4 , up from 50 million on April 8 .
The direct-to-consumer and international unit , which includes Disney+ , is still spending large sums to build the service .
The division lost $ 812 million in the just-ended quarter , less than the analyst forecast of $ 861 million .
Media networks , which include ESPN and broadcaster ABC , reported profit of $ 2.4 billion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year earlier , boosted in part by the addition of the FX and National Geographic Networks purchased from 21st Century Fox .

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(Reuters) - Walt Disney Co. estimated on Tuesday that global coronavirus lockdowns cut profits by $1.4 billion, mostly from its shuttered theme parks, but said it would reopen Shanghai Disneyland next week.
Disney will not pay a dividend for the first half of the fiscal year, which will preserve $1.6 billion in cash assuming it had kept the dividend constant at 88 cents per share.
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CEO Robert Chapek said Disney would reopen the Shanghai park on May 11 with limits on attendance, but the company has “limited visibility” over when most parks, cruises and stores would reopen.
Disney will control attendance using an “advanced reservation and entry system” and enforce social distancing and other health precautions including requiring masks and temperature screenings.
“While it’s too early to predict when we’ll be able to begin resuming all of our operations, we are evaluating a number of different scenarios to ensure a cautious, sensible and deliberate approach to the eventual reopening of our parks,” Chapek said.
Disney posted adjusted earnings per share of 60 cents for January through March, down 63% from a year earlier and short of the 89 cents expected by analysts, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
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Disney shares fell 1% in after-hours trade, after losing 2% during the regular session. Before the earnings report, Disney’s shares had lost more than one-quarter of their value this year.
Just three months ago, Disney was boasting about a record year for its movie studio and a strong start to the company’s dive into the streaming media wars.
In late January, the coronavirus started battering businesses across Disney’s global portfolio when the company shuttered Shanghai Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland.
By mid-March, all of the company’s theme parks were closed, movie theaters went dark, and television and film production was put on hold. Plus, Disney’s ESPN sports network was left with no major live sports to broadcast.
“In total, we estimate that the COVID-19 impacts on our current quarter income from continuing operations before income taxes across all of our businesses was as much as $1.4 billion,” Disney said, adding that $1 billion of that came from losses at theme parks.
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Disney is expected to take a larger hit in the current quarter, which ends in June. Disney does not intend to provide financial guidance for the rest of the year.
SHANGHAI, Jan. 21, 2019 -- Tourists visit Shanghai Disneyland in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 21, 2019. Shanghai Disneyland presented performances and souvenirs to greet the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Ren Long) (Xinhua/ via Getty Images) Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images
One area gaining as audiences shelter at home is Disney+, the streaming service the company launched in November. Disney+ had 54.5 million paying subscribers as of May 4, up from 50 million on April 8.
The direct-to-consumer and international unit, which includes Disney+, is still spending large sums to build the service. The division lost $812 million in the just-ended quarter, less than the analyst forecast of $861 million.
At the parks, experiences and products division, operating income dropped 58% from a year earlier to $639 million.
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Media networks, which include ESPN and broadcaster ABC, reported profit of $2.4 billion. That was a 7% increase from a year earlier, boosted in part by the addition of the FX and National Geographic Networks purchased from 21st Century Fox.
Profit at the movie studio fell 8% from a year earlier to $466 million. Disney released Pixar movie “Onward” just before theaters closed, then quickly moved it to video on demand for home viewers.
Overall revenue for the quarter rose 21% to $18 billion, just ahead of analyst forecasts of $17.8 billion.


huffpost--2020-05-05--Everyone's Writing The Same Coronavirus Email Greeting. Do This Instead.

“ I hope you ’ re staying safe and healthy during this crazy time !
” began an email from a publicist who was following up on a request .
My work inbox today is filled with similar messages from people who don ’ t know me , initially inquiring about my survival during the coronavirus pandemic and then addressing deadlines and other business .
I ’ m not alone in receiving more concern-filled emails from colleagues , acquaintances and strangers right now : For the moment , I ’ ve settled on “ I hope you ’ re doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now ” when I ’ m initiating the first correspondence with someone since the outbreak .
But should I and other professionals be including “ Hope you ’ re doing well ” intros every time ?
Do I sound cold and unfeeling if I don ’ t mention the coronavirus in work correspondence with strangers and acquaintances ?
The pandemic is raising new questions around email etiquette .
Now , asking how you ’ re doing in an email may mean actually wanting to know how you ’ re doing , and if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There are many more important things than how we write email .
But email is one of the things we do .
And we do it a lot , ” Malamud said .
“ Even there , we should be sensitive to the fact that some very routinized ways of writing and communicating are being changed , need to change.
” It ’ s OK to feel fatigued by the constant “ Hope you ’ re doing well.
” “ Most people are feeling like they don ’ t want to engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ If you know something specific is going on in their life about COVID , then you may want to ask that , but as a point of general conversation , I think people are feeling fatigued by it.
” Don ’ t go overboard with expressing concern .
The more distant your relationship , the more acceptable it is for you not to press for information that you wouldn ’ t normally be getting .
“ With people you don ’ t know more [ about ] , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that you probably shouldn ’ t be continuing to ask , ” Orbé-Austin said .
When in doubt , try making the coronavirus an opt-in topic for people who want to engage , while giving others the option not to process COVID-19 with work contacts .
“ Pay attention to cues you ’ re receiving from the engagement back , ” Orbé-Austin said .
But do leave an opening for colleagues to share their struggles .
“ It is getting more important as it replaces the interactions we can ’ t have anymore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Malamud said .
He noted that even in a routine email interaction , a colleague could have some “ very non-routine things they need to communicate.
” Malamud advises offering an opening in your emails that invites colleagues to share if they need your help with deadlines and deliverables .
He does this in emails to his students after he mentions their assignments , writing , “ Please let me know if this is hard for you for whatever reason.
” “ It ’ s nothing rhetorically brilliant .
It just leaves the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person receiving the email will have unusually challenging reasons for being unable to respond to the email the way they normally would , ” he said .
In response to his open-ended request , students have told Malamud about caring for sick relatives , lacking access to computers , and struggles with unemployment impacting their school work .
When people actually tell you how they ’ re doing , Malamud said it ’ s OK to circle back to these conversations “ as necessary , as appropriate.
” That ’ s part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is changing email correspondence , he said .

Nipitphon Na Chiangmai / EyeEm via Getty Images It's best if email check-ins about how people are doing are opt-in conversations.
“I hope you’re staying safe and healthy during this crazy time!” began an email from a publicist who was following up on a request. My work inbox today is filled with similar messages from people who don’t know me, initially inquiring about my survival during the coronavirus pandemic and then addressing deadlines and other business.
I’m not alone in receiving more concern-filled emails from colleagues, acquaintances and strangers right now:
Emails now be like: I hope you are staying safe, sheltered in place, stocked with toilet paper, and healthy during these absolutely unprecedented, wild, chaotic, terrifying times. Just wanted to follow up- — zoom school of clownery '21 (@_chismosa_) March 26, 2020
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Personally, I’m at a loss as to how exactly I should address the current crisis when reaching out by email, even to people I interact with regularly.
For the moment, I’ve settled on “I hope you’re doing as well as can be expected right now” when I’m initiating the first correspondence with someone since the outbreak.
How I used to begin work emails: Hi!
How I begin work emails now: pic.twitter.com/XaDAyNWHQ1 — Hannah Long (@HannahGraceLong) April 22, 2020
But should I and other professionals be including “Hope you’re doing well” intros every time? Do I sound cold and unfeeling if I don’t mention the coronavirus in work correspondence with strangers and acquaintances? The pandemic is raising new questions around email etiquette.
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“Emails before coronavirus were often brusque and demanding and a little bit soulless,” said Randy Malamud, an English professor at Georgia State University and author of the book “Email (Object Lessons).”
Now, asking how you’re doing in an email may mean actually wanting to know how you’re doing, and if you need some flexibility these days.
“There are many more important things than how we write email. But email is one of the things we do. And we do it a lot,” Malamud said. “Even there, we should be sensitive to the fact that some very routinized ways of writing and communicating are being changed, need to change.”
It’s OK to feel fatigued by the constant “Hope you’re doing well.”
At this stage of the pandemic, COVID-19 doesn’t need to be an icebreaker for work email communications, said Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist and executive coach.
“Most people are feeling like they don’t want to engage in this chitchat around COVID,” she said. “If you know something specific is going on in their life about COVID, then you may want to ask that, but as a point of general conversation, I think people are feeling fatigued by it.”
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Recognize that how you communicate via email with another professional depends completely on whether your relationship is close or distant.
“Allow yourself flexibility to be responsive to individual situations. Allow yourself to not do the same rote ‘How are you doing? Hope you’re safe and well,’” said Orbé-Austin.
Don’t go overboard with expressing concern. The more distant your relationship, the more acceptable it is for you not to press for information that you wouldn’t normally be getting. “With people you don’t know more [about], it’s probably a cue to you that you probably shouldn’t be continuing to ask,” Orbé-Austin said.
When in doubt, try making the coronavirus an opt-in topic for people who want to engage, while giving others the option not to process COVID-19 with work contacts. “Pay attention to cues you’re receiving from the engagement back,” Orbé-Austin said.
But do leave an opening for colleagues to share their struggles.
If composing emails was an autopilot activity before the pandemic, you should recognize that it may require more thought and consideration now.
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“It is getting more important as it replaces the interactions we can’t have anymore because we’re isolating,” Malamud said. He noted that even in a routine email interaction, a colleague could have some “very non-routine things they need to communicate.”
Malamud advises offering an opening in your emails that invites colleagues to share if they need your help with deadlines and deliverables. He does this in emails to his students after he mentions their assignments, writing, “Please let me know if this is hard for you for whatever reason.”
“It’s nothing rhetorically brilliant. It just leaves the door open for the possibility that the person receiving the email will have unusually challenging reasons for being unable to respond to the email the way they normally would,” he said. In response to his open-ended request, students have told Malamud about caring for sick relatives, lacking access to computers, and struggles with unemployment impacting their school work.
When people actually tell you how they’re doing, Malamud said it’s OK to circle back to these conversations “as necessary, as appropriate.” That’s part of the new consideration about how the pandemic is changing email correspondence, he said.
Both formulaic emails and clichéd “hope you’re doing well” intros land differently now.
“You didn’t use to have to think about it that much. When someone said, ‘Hope you’re going to have a good weekend,’ it dignifies no response or ‘yep.’ This is different from that,” Malamud said.
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huffpost--2020-05-06--New Trump Administration Aid To Greenland Stirs Fears Of A U.S. Takeover

In hindsight , the visit looked like a scouting mission .
This month , as the coronavirus pandemic raged and much of the Arctic remained in lockdown , the United States announced its biggest diplomatic expansion in Greenland in years .
First , the U.S. Agency for International Development unveiled a new , $ 12.1 million aid package to Greenland .
Days later , the State Department announced plans to open a consulate in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk for the first time since 1953 .
The moves were the latest in a simmering conflict between the U.S. and China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful nations and biggest climate polluters ― over control of a region whose rapidly melting polar ice is destabilizing the planet ’ s ecosystems but also putting previously inaccessible minerals in reach and opening new sea routes .
It ’ s a sign , experts say , that geopolitical jockeying will pick up where it left off once officials deem travel and development work in Greenland safe to resume .
While Greenland remained largely closed off to the outside world for much of its modern history as part of the Danish realm , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during World War II .
Shortly after the Nazis occupied Denmark in April 1940 , the U.S. ― still two years away from abandoning its official neutrality ― invaded Greenland to preserve the territory ’ s independence and keep the Germans from establishing a bulwark that could be used to refuel bombers headed for American cities .
The U.S. offered to buy Greenland for $ 100 million in gold after the war .
When Denmark refused , the U.S. returned control to the Danish , but held onto the Thule Air Base , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key node in its Cold War defense network .
Mounting tensions with Russia over the past decade gave new relevance to the site .
But Greenland captured the Trump administration ’ s attention in 2018 .
As the trade conflict between the U.S. and China escalated from skirmishes to a full-blown tariff war , Beijing announced a new Arctic policy , declaring itself a “ near-Arctic state ” and vowing to expand its presence in the region .
For China , Greenland was valuable for two big reasons .
Its potential for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near-monopoly on the metals used for electronics and batteries .
And , as new trade routes and industrial opportunities opened in the United States ’ backyard , China saw a chance to open a new front in its battle with the U.S. for control of the South China Sea .
Though the vast majority of the island is uninhabited , Greenland was first settled nearly 4,500 years ago when ancient migrants known to anthropologists as “ paleo-Eskimos ” traveled across the land bridge connecting Alaska to Siberia .
Around the year 1200 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to that of Native Americans , arrived in Greenland .
Their descendants are the Kalaallit , the Indigenous group usually identified in English as Greenland Inuits , who today make up nearly 90 % of Greenland ’ s 56,000 inhabitants .
Nordic peoples came later , and eventually established a permanent European colony in the mid-1700s .
While Greenland became part of Denmark in 1814 , it wasn ’ t until the 1950s , after the U.S. first tried to buy the territory , that Denmark started integrating the island as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Danish mainland and the Faroe Islands .
From the 1950s and 1960s , the Danish government implemented a development scheme that forced a rapid urbanization and labor restructuring on nomadic Greenlanders .
The process upended traditional ways of life and installed an administrative class of Danes whose status was preserved with laws that dictated native Greenlanders could only earn up to 85 % of a civil servant ’ s salary .
“ This good news confirms that our work on building a constructive relationship with the United States is fruitful , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement about the U.S. aid package last week .
“ It is positive that the increased cooperation between Greenland and the U.S. is reflected in tangible results in the form of funding for projects in Greenland.
” “ Everyone knows this is over the desperation for minerals and oil , ” Borch Scharnberg said .
“ It ’ s OK to donate money and make a better country , but this is not the way to do it .
No one here is actually thinking about the Greenlanders .
”

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Jens Borch Scharnberg was leery when a powerful empire sent a diplomat to his tiny, wind-swept fjord in one of the most remote places on Earth.
The 41-year-old is the principal of the school in Kangerlussuaq, a quiet Arctic village of about 500 in northwest Greenland. Americans are fairly common there. The U.S. military built the ice-covered island’s biggest airstrip during World War II, and maintains a significant research outfit in a town whose only major road leads to a famous and closely studied glacier.
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But this diplomat’s visit was in October 2019, just two months after news broke that President Donald Trump had suggested buying and annexing Greenland. The idea became the subject of international ridicule, but rattled the autonomous Danish territory, which is ground zero for global warming and has a painful colonial history.
The delegation asked local officials what kinds of resources they needed to improve life. But far from solidarity, Borch Scharnberg saw the Americans as motivated by a desire to consolidate their government’s sphere of influence over attractive, resource-rich hinterlands.
“To me, it was sweet talk,” Borch Scharnberg, a clean-shaven and sandy-haired Dane, said over Skype last week. “It felt very deliberate.”
Ice floes in the Nuuk Fjord in Greenland. picture alliance via Getty Images
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In hindsight, the visit looked like a scouting mission. This month, as the coronavirus pandemic raged and much of the Arctic remained in lockdown, the United States announced its biggest diplomatic expansion in Greenland in years. First, the U.S. Agency for International Development unveiled a new, $12.1 million aid package to Greenland. Days later, the State Department announced plans to open a consulate in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk for the first time since 1953.
“It smells a bit like buying a small share of Greenland,” Borch Scharnberg said. “Suddenly Greenland became very interesting to world powers because of all the talk about who is going to get part of the North Pole and all the oil and mining there.”
The moves were the latest in a simmering conflict between the U.S. and China ― the world’s two most powerful nations and biggest climate polluters ― over control of a region whose rapidly melting polar ice is destabilizing the planet’s ecosystems but also putting previously inaccessible minerals in reach and opening new sea routes. It’s a sign, experts say, that geopolitical jockeying will pick up where it left off once officials deem travel and development work in Greenland safe to resume.
A pilot from the New York Air National Guard lands the ski-equipped National Science Foundation C-130 in Kangerlussuaq. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
“Quite unlike Russia and the People’s Republic, America’s vision for the Arctic is based on transparency, cooperation and democratic values,” Carla Sands, the American ambassador to Denmark, wrote in an April 20 op-ed in the Danish news site Altinget. She accused Russia of “aggressive behavior and increased militarization in the Arctic” and China of promoting “predatory economic interests and authoritarian values” in Greenland.
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Greenlanders, meanwhile, worry that they’re increasingly caught in the middle of a battle for their own home.
“It makes me concerned,” Bibiane Aaju Petersen, 29, a native Greenlander from Kangerlussuaq, said over Facebook Messenger. “It kinda makes it sneaky in a way, like the U.S. might end up controlling Greenland in the future.”
Battleground Of Superpowers
Trump floating the idea of buying Greenland quickly became an international joke. Some mocked the idea as absurd, another point in the constellation of data that the president’s detractors cite as evidence the former reality-TV host doesn’t know what he’s doing in the White House.
Others saw it as a half-baked plan to restore the U.S. to the halcyon days of its 19th century expansionism, when it bought Alaska from Russia, engineered a coup against Hawaii’s royal family, and sent soldiers to conquer the Philippines and Puerto Rico.
The Danish foreign ministry balked at the “completely ridiculous” idea of “selling 50,000 citizens to the United States.” But the Trumpian ham-fistedness belied the fact that U.S. interest in Greenland had been quietly growing for months.
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While Greenland remained largely closed off to the outside world for much of its modern history as part of the Danish realm, the U.S. established a military presence there during World War II. Shortly after the Nazis occupied Denmark in April 1940, the U.S. ― still two years away from abandoning its official neutrality ― invaded Greenland to preserve the territory’s independence and keep the Germans from establishing a bulwark that could be used to refuel bombers headed for American cities. The U.S. offered to buy Greenland for $100 million in gold after the war. When Denmark refused, the U.S. returned control to the Danish, but held onto the Thule Air Base, transforming the northernmost American military outpost into a key node in its Cold War defense network.
Mounting tensions with Russia over the past decade gave new relevance to the site. But Greenland captured the Trump administration’s attention in 2018. As the trade conflict between the U.S. and China escalated from skirmishes to a full-blown tariff war, Beijing announced a new Arctic policy, declaring itself a “near-Arctic state” and vowing to expand its presence in the region. For China, Greenland was valuable for two big reasons. Its potential for mining rare-earth elements threatened China’s near-monopoly on the metals used for electronics and batteries. And, as new trade routes and industrial opportunities opened in the United States’ backyard, China saw a chance to open a new front in its battle with the U.S. for control of the South China Sea.
“The more you will hear about China vs. the U.S. in the South China Sea, the more you may hear about China vs. the U.S. in the Arctic,” Damien Degeorges, a regional analyst and consultant based in Reykjavík, Iceland, predicted to HuffPost in 2018.
In September of that year, the Pentagon broadcast its own plans to “pursue potential strategic investments” in Greenland “vigorously, including investments that may serve dual military and civilian purposes.”
Last May, tensions spilled over into firm rhetoric. At a meeting of Arctic Council countries in Rovaniemi, Finland, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a landmark speech titled “Looking North,” in which he warned: “There are only Arctic States and Non-Arctic States. No third category exists, and claiming otherwise entitles China to exactly nothing.”
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Containers are stacked at a port in Nuuk on July 29, 2017. Cargo ships sailing through the Northwest Passage could potentially cut the distance from East Asia to Western Europe by thousands of miles. ASSOCIATED PRESS
He cautioned that China’s investments in the region followed a pattern seen in South and Southeast Asia. “Beijing attempts to develop critical infrastructure using Chinese money, Chinese companies, and Chinese workers ― in some cases, to establish a permanent Chinese security presence,” he said.
Those concerns are well founded, said Adam Lajeunesse, a scholar of Arctic geopolitics and an assistant professor at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada. When the China Communications Construction Co. bid in 2018 to build new airports in Greenland, fears swirled that the state-owned giant would import enough Chinese workers to do the job to increase Greenland’s population by a fifth.
“You don’t want to import 10,000 Chinese workers who will make slave wages,” said Lajeunesse. “What do you do? They don’t have a solution to that yet. That’s one of the things they may figure out with the assistance of the U.S.”
Another real concern, he said, is China drawing the Greenlandic government into a “debt trap” deal in which the Chinese government builds infrastructure at a cost the host country could never repay, clearing the way for Beijing to seize control of the assets.
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“If the Greenlandic government were to become independent, if that government were beholden to Chinese companies for all or part of its tax revenue, resources and employment, that would give Chinese companies a lot of leverage over Greenlandic policy,” he said.
Colonial Frustrations
China has long pitched itself as a friend of Indigenous peoples seeking to free themselves from Western imperial powers. It’s a narrative that could resonate in Greenland.
Though the vast majority of the island is uninhabited, Greenland was first settled nearly 4,500 years ago when ancient migrants known to anthropologists as “paleo-Eskimos” traveled across the land bridge connecting Alaska to Siberia. Around the year 1200, another wave of migrants whose DNA is closer to that of Native Americans, arrived in Greenland. Their descendants are the Kalaallit, the Indigenous group usually identified in English as Greenland Inuits, who today make up nearly 90% of Greenland’s 56,000 inhabitants.
Nordic peoples came later, and eventually established a permanent European colony in the mid-1700s. While Greenland became part of Denmark in 1814, it wasn’t until the 1950s, after the U.S. first tried to buy the territory, that Denmark started integrating the island as a constituent of a kingdom that also included the Danish mainland and the Faroe Islands. From the 1950s and 1960s, the Danish government implemented a development scheme that forced a rapid urbanization and labor restructuring on nomadic Greenlanders. The process upended traditional ways of life and installed an administrative class of Danes whose status was preserved with laws that dictated native Greenlanders could only earn up to 85% of a civil servant’s salary.
While the population of Danes has decreased since then, the rates of suicide and alcoholism among native Greenlanders, which soared during the mid-20th century, remain persistent problems. Greenland has the highest suicide rate in the world.
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“It smells a bit like buying a small share of Greenland.” - Jens Borch Scharnberg
Greenland voted in 2009 for increased self-rule, distancing itself from Denmark. But the roughly $500 million Denmark gives to Greenland each year makes up more than half of the island’s budget and a quarter of its gross domestic product. The central theme animating Greenlandic politics is seeking independence from Denmark, a process that can only be realized by developing new industries and weaning off of Danish money.
Any “post-colonial feelings” are likely to “fade into the background very quickly when faced with real questions about economic development,” said Lajeunesse.
“Greenland will be quite happy to take money and investment from anywhere,” he said.
And U.S. dominance in the Arctic has long been a bipartisan fixation, meaning Trump’s eventual exit from the White House isn’t likely to affect long-term planning.
Industries are already moving ahead. Greenland plans to auction its first oil and gas leases in 2021. Jewelers are already selling Greenlandic rubies as the “rarest and most sought-after gemstones in the world.” Bloomberg Businessweek, meanwhile, last year dubbed Greenland’s first major rare-earths mine a “treasure island.”
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But foreign aid from someone other than Denmark is another way.
“This good news confirms that our work on building a constructive relationship with the United States is fruitful,” Greenland Premier Kim Kielsen said in a statement about the U.S. aid package last week. “It is positive that the increased cooperation between Greenland and the U.S. is reflected in tangible results in the form of funding for projects in Greenland.”
Some aren’t convinced it’s that benign.


huffpost--2020-05-06--WHO Warns Of More COVID-19 Outbreaks If Countries Open Back Up Too Quickly

ZURICH/GENEVA ( Reuters ) ― The World Health Organization ( WHO ) warned on Wednesday that countries emerging from restrictions to halt the new coronavirus must proceed “ extremely carefully ” or risk a rapid rise in new cases .
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries needed to ensure they had adequate measures to control the spread of the COVID-19 respiratory disease like tracking systems and quarantine provision .
“ The risk of returning to lockdown remains very real if countries do not manage the transition extremely carefully and in a phased approach , ” he said at a virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Van Kerkhove supported his concerns about the disease which has infected 3.71 million globally and killed more than 258,000 people , according to a Reuters tally .
The eurozone economy will contract by a record 7.7 % this year because of the pandemic , while U.S. private employers laid off 20.2 million workers last month as business shut their doors .
Some countries , like Germany , Spain and Italy have started to relax restrictions , while the U.S. President Trump has said his focus is on opening up the country again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they can salvage interrupted competitions , with Germany ’ s Bundesliga getting permission to restart later this month .
WHO official Mike Ryan said it was up to governments and sporting federations to decide how and when to restart , adding the U.N. organizaton would offer risk management advice if needed .
Tedros , who has come under fire mainly from the Trump administration for his handling of the outbreak , said that he would conduct an assessment of the WHO ’ s actions when the pandemic recedes .
“ While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not be divided , ” he said .
Tedros also defended the WHO ’ s record on warning about the potential for human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus , saying it informed the world in the first half of January .
The Geneva-based body has been accused of being “ China-centric ” by top donor the United States which has cut off funding to the body .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo renewed his criticism on China on Wednesday , blaming the country for the deaths the outbreak has caused and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The WHO , which is preparing another mission to China to discover the animal origin of the virus , treated the country no differently to any of its 194 members , Tedros said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
ZURICH/GENEVA (Reuters) ― The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that countries emerging from restrictions to halt the new coronavirus must proceed “extremely carefully” or risk a rapid rise in new cases.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries needed to ensure they had adequate measures to control the spread of the COVID-19 respiratory disease like tracking systems and quarantine provision.
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“The risk of returning to lockdown remains very real if countries do not manage the transition extremely carefully and in a phased approach,” he said at a virtual briefing in Geneva.
WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove supported his concerns about the disease which has infected 3.71 million globally and killed more than 258,000 people, according to a Reuters tally.
“If lockdown measures are lifted too quickly, the virus can take off,” Van Kerkhove told the briefing.
Government-ordered lockdowns have become increasingly unpopular as countries suffer rising unemployment and economic activity grinds to a halt.
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The eurozone economy will contract by a record 7.7% this year because of the pandemic, while U.S. private employers laid off 20.2 million workers last month as business shut their doors.
Some countries, like Germany, Spain and Italy have started to relax restrictions, while the U.S. President Trump has said his focus is on opening up the country again.
Soccer authorities have also started to consider how they can salvage interrupted competitions, with Germany’s Bundesliga getting permission to restart later this month.
WHO official Mike Ryan said it was up to governments and sporting federations to decide how and when to restart, adding the U.N. organizaton would offer risk management advice if needed.
Tedros, who has come under fire mainly from the Trump administration for his handling of the outbreak, said that he would conduct an assessment of the WHO’s actions when the pandemic recedes.
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“While the fire is raging I think our focus should not be divided,” he said.
Tedros also defended the WHO’s record on warning about the potential for human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus, saying it informed the world in the first half of January.
The Geneva-based body has been accused of being “China-centric” by top donor the United States which has cut off funding to the body.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo renewed his criticism on China on Wednesday, blaming the country for the deaths the outbreak has caused and demanding Beijing share information about the outbreak.
The WHO, which is preparing another mission to China to discover the animal origin of the virus, treated the country no differently to any of its 194 members, Tedros said.
“The rule we have in WHO and other UN agencies is that when a member state reports we post as is,” Tedros said.
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huffpost--2020-06-11--Jon Ossoff Wins Democratic Senate Nomination in Georgia

Georgia Democrats selected Jon Ossoff , who narrowly lost the most expensive House race in United States history in 2017 , as their nominee to challenge GOP Sen. David Perdue in November .
Ossoff topped a seven-candidate field that included Teresa Tomlinson , a lawyer and former mayor of Columbus , and Sarah Riggs Amico , a businesswoman who was the Democratic Party ’ s candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018 .
Democrats in the state didn ’ t expect Ossoff to top the 50 % mark necessary to avoid an August runoff , but a strong performance in Atlanta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of the vote .
His victory should allow the party to consolidate behind him earlier than expected .
National Democrats had avoided endorsing in the race after failing to recruit 2018 gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams into the contest , but they are likely to quickly line up behind Ossoff .
Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff appeared to pass the 50 % mark in his primary to move on to the general election without a runoff .
The contest was marred by incredibly long lines to vote in many Black neighborhoods , which led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican leadership was working to suppress the vote .
While President Donald Trump ’ s unpopularity during the coronavirus pandemic and widespread protests over police brutality have combined with longstanding demographic shifts to potentially put the state in play for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in November , defeating Perdue may prove more difficult .
Perdue , a businessman who self-funded his 2014 election , is the cousin of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue , a former Georgia governor .
He ’ s stuck close to Trump on every major issue of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia remain stronger than those of vulnerable incumbent Republicans in states like Arizona and Colorado .
David Perdue also has a financial advantage : He has more than $ 9.3 million on hand , according to campaign finance records , while Ossoff has less than a million in the bank after spending to win the primary .
Still , operatives in both parties and polling indicate the state could be close in November , and a Biden victory would likely help Ossoff cross the finish line .
Neither party ’ s national political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state , a sign that it remains a second-tier contest for now .
Ossoff spent much of the contest airing television ads aimed at the Black voters who make up a majority of the Democratic primary electorate in the state .
Two of his ads highlighted the endorsement of Rep. John Lewis ( D-Ga. ) , a legend of the civil rights movement , for whom the 33-year-old Ossoff once worked .
“ Friends , I ’ m calling on you to support Jon Ossoff and send Donald Trump a message he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the ad .
The race is one of two Senate contests set for Georgia in November .
The other , an all-party contest triggered by the resignation of Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson for health reasons , pits incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler against fellow Republican Rep. Doug Collins and Democrat Raphael Warnock , the pastor of Atlanta ’ s Ebenezer Baptist Church .
If no candidate wins 50 % of the vote on Election Day , the race will head to a January runoff .

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Georgia Democrats selected Jon Ossoff, who narrowly lost the most expensive House race in United States history in 2017, as their nominee to challenge GOP Sen. David Perdue in November.
Ossoff topped a seven-candidate field that included Teresa Tomlinson, a lawyer and former mayor of Columbus, and Sarah Riggs Amico, a businesswoman who was the Democratic Party’s candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018.
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Democrats in the state didn’t expect Ossoff to top the 50% mark necessary to avoid an August runoff, but a strong performance in Atlanta and its suburbs lifted him to a majority of the vote. His victory should allow the party to consolidate behind him earlier than expected.
National Democrats had avoided endorsing in the race after failing to recruit 2018 gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams into the contest, but they are likely to quickly line up behind Ossoff.
Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff appeared to pass the 50% mark in his primary to move on to the general election without a runoff. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
The contest was marred by incredibly long lines to vote in many Black neighborhoods, which led many Democrats to suggest Georgia’s Republican leadership was working to suppress the vote.
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While President Donald Trump’s unpopularity during the coronavirus pandemic and widespread protests over police brutality have combined with longstanding demographic shifts to potentially put the state in play for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in November, defeating Perdue may prove more difficult.
Perdue, a businessman who self-funded his 2014 election, is the cousin of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a former Georgia governor. He’s stuck close to Trump on every major issue of his presidency, but his approval ratings in Georgia remain stronger than those of vulnerable incumbent Republicans in states like Arizona and Colorado.
David Perdue also has a financial advantage: He has more than $9.3 million on hand, according to campaign finance records, while Ossoff has less than a million in the bank after spending to win the primary.
Still, operatives in both parties and polling indicate the state could be close in November, and a Biden victory would likely help Ossoff cross the finish line. Neither party’s national political operations have reserved television ad time in the state, a sign that it remains a second-tier contest for now.
Ossoff spent much of the contest airing television ads aimed at the Black voters who make up a majority of the Democratic primary electorate in the state. Two of his ads highlighted the endorsement of Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a legend of the civil rights movement, for whom the 33-year-old Ossoff once worked.
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“Friends, I’m calling on you to support Jon Ossoff and send Donald Trump a message he will never forget,” Lewis says in the ad.


huffpost--2020-06-11--'This Is Us' Writer Jas Waters Dies At 39

“ This Is Us ” writer Jas Waters has died at the age of 39 in Hollywood , California , prompting an outpouring of grief from former colleagues on the NBC family drama .
“ The entire # ThisIsUs family was devastated to learn of Jas Waters passing , ” the writers said in a statement on Twitter Wednesday .
“ In our time together , Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show .
She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature .
We send our deepest sympathies to her loved ones .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JasFly.
” She died by suicide , according to the coroner ’ s office ( per People ) .
This news took my breath away .
Jas was absolutely brilliant and had so many stories still to tell .
She made an indelible mark on our show and my heart breaks for her loved ones .
RIP @ JasFly https : //t.co/fAZlIjhsIH — Dan Fogelman ( @ Dan_Fogelman ) June 10 , 2020 Waters was a staff writer on “ This Is Us ” in 2017-18 .
She recently wrote an episode for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and served as story editor on the Showtime comedy-drama .
“ This is a devastating loss for those who knew her and lived in her light , ” “ Kidding ” showrunner Dave Holstein told the LA Times .
“ One of my favorite lines of hers is resonating especially loud with me today : Our scars do not mean we are broken .
They are proof we are healed.
” As a journalist , Waters had operated her own entertainment blog and wrote a column for Vibe , People reported .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality series “ The Gossip Game.
” In addition , Waters developed music videos with artists such as Diddy and Common , the LA Times noted .
Waters last wrote on her Twitter account May 8 and had been sharing recipes amid the coronavirus lockdown while ruminating on the impact of the MeToo movement .
It is with extremely heavy hearts that all of us at RMG mourn the life of our client & friend , Jas Waters .
Jas was a talented & gifted writer , an amazing person , & a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Though she is no longer with us , her impact will be felt for years to come .
pic.twitter.com/zA3yiFaRLD — RMG ( @ RainManagement ) June 10 , 2020 If you or someone you know needs help , call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline .
You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free , 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line .
Outside of the U.S. , please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources .

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“This Is Us” writer Jas Waters has died at the age of 39 in Hollywood, California, prompting an outpouring of grief from former colleagues on the NBC family drama.
“The entire #ThisIsUs family was devastated to learn of Jas Waters passing,” the writers said in a statement on Twitter Wednesday. “In our time together, Jas left her mark on us and ALL over the show. She was a brilliant storyteller and a force of nature. We send our deepest sympathies to her loved ones. She was one of us. RIP @JasFly.”
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She died by suicide, according to the coroner’s office (per People).
“This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman said Waters’ legacy on the show was “indelible.”
This news took my breath away. Jas was absolutely brilliant and had so many stories still to tell. She made an indelible mark on our show and my heart breaks for her loved ones. RIP @JasFly https://t.co/fAZlIjhsIH — Dan Fogelman (@Dan_Fogelman) June 10, 2020
Waters was a staff writer on “This Is Us” in 2017-18. She recently wrote an episode for the Jim Carrey show “Kidding” and served as story editor on the Showtime comedy-drama.
“This is a devastating loss for those who knew her and lived in her light,” “Kidding” showrunner Dave Holstein told the LA Times. “One of my favorite lines of hers is resonating especially loud with me today: Our scars do not mean we are broken. They are proof we are healed.”
Waters, from Evanston, Illinois, also received a story credit on the 2019 Taraji P. Henson-Tracy Morgan movie “What Men Want.”
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As a journalist, Waters had operated her own entertainment blog and wrote a column for Vibe, People reported. She also appeared as JasFly on the VH1 reality series “The Gossip Game.”
In addition, Waters developed music videos with artists such as Diddy and Common, the LA Times noted.
Waters last wrote on her Twitter account May 8 and had been sharing recipes amid the coronavirus lockdown while ruminating on the impact of the MeToo movement.
Her management company also posted a tribute.
It is with extremely heavy hearts that all of us at RMG mourn the life of our client & friend, Jas Waters. Jas was a talented & gifted writer, an amazing person, & a sweet soul who will be forever missed. Though she is no longer with us, her impact will be felt for years to come. pic.twitter.com/zA3yiFaRLD — RMG (@RainManagement) June 10, 2020
If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for free, 24-hour support from the Crisis Text Line. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.
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huffpost--2020-06-11--I Bought Half A Pig During The Coronavirus Pandemic. Now What?

I ’ ve always loved filling up the freezer with double batches of soup , quart containers of bone broth and blanched garden vegetables .
When my “ stocking up ” commandeered so much freezer space that there was no room even for ice cubes , I upgraded to semipro squirrel-it-away status and bought a dented upright freezer from the back room of my local appliance store .
It ’ s tucked in a dusty corner of my basement and I make good use of it all year long .
But this year , because of the coronavirus pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submitted a $ 100 deposit for a half a pig – 50 to 70 pounds ’ worth — from Zweber Farms , an organic family farm in Elko , Minnesota .
It was a purchase that required some budgetary decision-making now and for the future , since I ’ ll owe another $ 200 when the meat is ready ( sometime between August and December ) .
There are other challenges , too .
When I pick up my three 12-by-18-inch boxes of processed meat , I ’ ll need to cram them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I still have some space for my autumn garden harvest ( not to mention ice cubes ) .
Then , over the long winter , I ’ ll need to stay up-to-date on my inventory and cook it all wisely and well .
According to the farm , a typical half-pig purchase includes 8 to 10 pounds of pork chops , three roasts , two quarter hams , 10 to 14 pounds of bacon , three pounds of ribs and 15 pounds of ground meat .
The Zwebers knew that many other pig @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result of plant shutdowns .
So , while they usually raise 100 pigs each year , they were considering buying 200 this year .
They asked customers for in-advance commitments before making the financial leap for the additional animals .
It turns out that many people were eager to say yes .
The farm sold out within 72 hours of making the request .
They ’ re now informing new applicants they ’ ll need to wait for their pig until at least spring 2021 .
“ It ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We sold whole and half pigs in the past , but we often had to call people to ask if they were still interested each year , and it took some time to get commitments for all the pigs .
We ’ ve never had a response like this before .
When I tell people how long it might be until delivery , they say , ‘ That ’ s fine ; please just keep me on the waiting list.
’ ” I responded to the farm ’ s post for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m sheltering in place with some committed meat eaters .
Second , I worry that meat costs will skyrocket , and I wanted to lock in a price that , while a stretch , was still within our current budget .
And finally , perhaps most importantly , I have a high degree of trust for this particular farm .
I belong to a group of Twin Cities women in the food industry , Women Who Really Cook , and we ’ d taken a late-summer tour of the Zweber place a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three children , walked through the dairy barns , saw the cows in the pastures and ended our day with wine and cheese under the 200-year-old bur oak tree in their front yard .
Zweber , who has been farming more than 14 years , was my ambassador to the joys of knowing your farmer and shopping close to home .
In my case , the shopping happens at a fourth-generation farm , in operation since in 1906 , that ’ s about an hour ’ s drive from my house .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organic Valley , one of the largest farmer-owned organic cooperatives in the U.S. and one of the world ’ s largest organic brands .
At the end of that visit with my group , many of us stopped by the Zweber farmstand to buy their beef , pork and chicken .
Now , I was ready to buy even more – a freezer full , in fact .
“ My interest in doing this began with becoming aware of the environmental impact of the large-scale meat industry , ” McAliley said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals , so my advice is to appreciate it and cook it lovingly .
Everyone who tasted the hamburgers we made , for example , always commented on how much better they tasted compared to store-bought ground beef.
” McAliley had advice for groups chipping in on a purchase .
“ If you ’ re sharing the meat with others , make sure everyone is ready with empty freezers and can come and pick it up as soon as it ’ s delivered .
When we got the half-cow , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone had to come get their share right away.
” Keeping track of inventory is important , too : “ If I do this again , I ’ ll print out the cut list with the amounts of each and tape it on the freezer door , then cross out cuts as I use them , ” McAliley said .
“ Otherwise , it ’ s hard to dig through a chest freezer to figure out what ’ s left.
” Still , Reid noted , there can be challenges to the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ s in the group and how they get along with one another .
“ Splitting the meat equitably , and allowing for cut preferences , could be a challenge , ” she cautioned .
When asked about advice for those considering a whole animal purchase , Parson said : “ Don ’ t be intimidated !
It should be a great opportunity to support a local farm , eat top-quality meat at a good price and kick your cooking skills up a notch .
Ask your farmers for tips on cooking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the experts.
” If you ’ ve read this far ...

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I’ve always loved filling up the freezer with double batches of soup, quart containers of bone broth and blanched garden vegetables. When my “stocking up” commandeered so much freezer space that there was no room even for ice cubes, I upgraded to semipro squirrel-it-away status and bought a dented upright freezer from the back room of my local appliance store. It’s tucked in a dusty corner of my basement and I make good use of it all year long.
But this year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, is different. In May, I submitted a $100 deposit for a half a pig – 50 to 70 pounds’ worth — from Zweber Farms, an organic family farm in Elko, Minnesota. It was a purchase that required some budgetary decision-making now and for the future, since I’ll owe another $200 when the meat is ready (sometime between August and December).
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There are other challenges, too. When I pick up my three 12-by-18-inch boxes of processed meat, I’ll need to cram them all into the basement freezer and hope I still have some space for my autumn garden harvest (not to mention ice cubes). Then, over the long winter, I’ll need to stay up-to-date on my inventory and cook it all wisely and well. According to the farm, a typical half-pig purchase includes 8 to 10 pounds of pork chops, three roasts, two quarter hams, 10 to 14 pounds of bacon, three pounds of ribs and 15 pounds of ground meat.
Jonnie Zweber Emily and Tim Zweber at their organic family farm in Elko, Minnesota.
Why a pig? Why now? Until meat plants started shutting down as a response to COVID-19 and stores began limiting meat purchases, I’d never considered doing anything like this. Then I ran across a social media posting from the farm.
The Zwebers knew that many other pig farmers would face a glut of animals as a result of plant shutdowns. So, while they usually raise 100 pigs each year, they were considering buying 200 this year. They asked customers for in-advance commitments before making the financial leap for the additional animals. It turns out that many people were eager to say yes. The farm sold out within 72 hours of making the request. They’re now informing new applicants they’ll need to wait for their pig until at least spring 2021.
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“It’s been nuts,” Emily Zweber told HuffPost. “We sold whole and half pigs in the past, but we often had to call people to ask if they were still interested each year, and it took some time to get commitments for all the pigs. We’ve never had a response like this before. When I tell people how long it might be until delivery, they say, ‘That’s fine; please just keep me on the waiting list.’”
Why I considered buying half a pig
I responded to the farm’s post for a few reasons: First, I’m sheltering in place with some committed meat eaters. Second, I worry that meat costs will skyrocket, and I wanted to lock in a price that, while a stretch, was still within our current budget. And finally, perhaps most importantly, I have a high degree of trust for this particular farm.
I belong to a group of Twin Cities women in the food industry, Women Who Really Cook, and we’d taken a late-summer tour of the Zweber place a couple years ago. We met their three children, walked through the dairy barns, saw the cows in the pastures and ended our day with wine and cheese under the 200-year-old bur oak tree in their front yard.
Zweber, who has been farming more than 14 years, was my ambassador to the joys of knowing your farmer and shopping close to home. In my case, the shopping happens at a fourth-generation farm, in operation since in 1906, that’s about an hour’s drive from my house. I know that they’re farmer-owners with Organic Valley, one of the largest farmer-owned organic cooperatives in the U.S. and one of the world’s largest organic brands. At the end of that visit with my group, many of us stopped by the Zweber farmstand to buy their beef, pork and chicken. Now, I was ready to buy even more – a freezer full, in fact.
Filling the freezer
To prepare for my pig’s arrival, I talked with people who’ve already purchased whole animals. Ilke McAliley, from Rock Hill, South Carolina, has joined with friends for cow and pig purchases from Watson Farms Pastured Meats in Chester, South Carolina.
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“My interest in doing this began with becoming aware of the environmental impact of the large-scale meat industry,” McAliley said. “It’s good meat from well-cared-for animals, so my advice is to appreciate it and cook it lovingly. Everyone who tasted the hamburgers we made, for example, always commented on how much better they tasted compared to store-bought ground beef.”
Ilke McAliley Ilke McAliley shared a photo of what was included in the half a cow she purchased: "This was the majority of it; there was a spillover on the kitchen counters, too."
McAliley had advice for groups chipping in on a purchase. “If you’re sharing the meat with others, make sure everyone is ready with empty freezers and can come and pick it up as soon as it’s delivered. When we got the half-cow, for example, it came in seven boxes, so everyone had to come get their share right away.”
Keeping track of inventory is important, too: “If I do this again, I’ll print out the cut list with the amounts of each and tape it on the freezer door, then cross out cuts as I use them,” McAliley said. “Otherwise, it’s hard to dig through a chest freezer to figure out what’s left.”
Laura Reid from Fort Mill, South Carolina, participated with McAliley in the group buy. “The benefits are that you get good quality meat at a decent price,” she said. “Also, getting a whole animal allows you to work with cuts you wouldn’t normally buy, like cow bones, liver and uncured bacon.”
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Still, Reid noted, there can be challenges to the “group buy” concept, depending on who’s in the group and how they get along with one another. “Splitting the meat equitably, and allowing for cut preferences, could be a challenge,” she cautioned.
Finally, Reid said, you must have enough freezer space. “You can fit only about one-sixth of a cow in most refrigerator freezers, assuming they’re mostly empty to begin with.”
Talk to your farmers
When she was living in Indiana and working as editor-in-chief of Edible Michiana, Maya Parson regularly bought half a hog from Blue Heron Farm, a small family farm in Goshen, Indiana, that raises pastured, acorn-fed hogs. “We visited the farm on several occasions,” she said. “We knew the pigs spent their lives in beautiful pastures, eating acorns and sometimes whey from a nearby cheese producer.”
When asked about advice for those considering a whole animal purchase, Parson said: “Don’t be intimidated! It should be a great opportunity to support a local farm, eat top-quality meat at a good price and kick your cooking skills up a notch. Ask your farmers for tips on cooking and storage, because they’re the experts.”
If you’ve read this far ...
Not everyone has the space, money or desire to enter into a whole-animal buying venture. But if you’re interested and want to find out what’s possible in your area, check Eatwild’s directory of 1,400 pasture-based farms that sell beef, pork, lamb, veal, goat, elk, venison, yak, chickens, ducks, rabbits, turkeys, eggs, milk, cheeses and even wild-caught salmon. Another resource, Local Harvest, lists more than 40,000 family farms and farmers’ markets.
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