2 July 2020 — In his recently revised and updated book The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Life, scientist Arthur Firstenberg has made both science and history comprehensible by explaining the importance and significance to life on Earth of a vital consideration that has long been ‘invisible’: electricity.
Robert J. Burrowes,
Indeed, as Firstenberg makes clear, if we want to understand life on Earth, we cannot do so without understanding the role that electricity plays in making life possible, healing it and, if abused, threatening us all.
Firstenberg’s book is unusual on at least two counts. Based on decades of scientific research, he carefully explains each point in language accessible to the non-scientist while documenting his case with exceptional clarity and detail complemented by a 138-page bibliography.
If you want to really understand this issue, and what is at stake, you will be doing yourself a favor by reading this book.
Its goal is to build a “moderately prosperous society” for 1.4 billion people in this Asian nation.
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The Great Hall of the People, Beijing, China, Dec. 2019. | Photo: EFE
(teleSUR)* — The Communist Party of China (CPC) Wednesday [1 July 2020] celebrated its 99th anniversary as the country reaches its goal in building a “moderately prosperous society, amid the pandemics.
(UN News)*— The Security Council on Wednesday [1 July 2020] echoed the Secretary-General’s call for a worldwide ceasefire, to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has already claimed more than half a million lives. The UN chief welcomed the long-awaited move, calling for countries to “redouble their efforts for peace”.
OCHA/Steve Hafez | A widow holds her grandson in a displaced persons camp in northern Idleb Governorate, Syria.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2532 (2020) on Wednesday [1 July 2020], the 15-member peace and security body demanded “a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations, on its agenda.”
(FAO)* — The commune of Bonbon lies at the most western tip of the island of Haiti. It shares its name with the traditional Haitian sweet, ‘bonbon’, a cake made with dark sugarcane syrup and sweet spices. And thanks to 44-year-old Hilarion Célestin and a group of local beekeepers, the area is now well-known for another kind of sweet too: honey.
The world has literally ‘lost it’ over the horrible word capitalism.
Naresh Jotwani
This may seem like an overstatement, but it can be justified easily. All it needs is some clear thinking based on a few words which – unlike capitalism – are rooted in reality.
First of all, any ‘-ism’ cannot be trusted blindly because – over time – it becomes a hindrance to individual growth. Anyone promoting or even naively adopting an ‘-ism’ is likely living or hiding ‘in a box’, which state blocks his or her individual progress.
Simple question: In a society where the basic vocabulary stunts individual progress, can we EVER expect overall well-being? Can one get nectar out of bird feathers?
It is only when we discard ALL ‘-isms’ – including the ever-so-venerable Buddhism! – that we are forced to go back to basics, to reality, and in particular to the reality of suffering. Nothing else is then left to build a world view that makes sense. A new day dawns!
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 1 2020 (IPS)* – The ongoing battle between China and the United States is threatening to paralyze the most powerful body at the United Nations – the 15-member Security Council (UNSC)—which has virtually gone MIA (missing in action) on some of the key politically-sensitive issues of the day.
UN Security Council in session. Credit: United Nations
1 July 2020 (UN Environment)* — As iconic as the islands’ pristine beaches and tropical forests, the 60,000-plus green monkeys of St. Kitts and Nevis are a quintessential part of the Caribbean experience for many visitors.
Learn more about food loss and waste reduction, measurement and policy in times of COVID-19 and beyond.
(FAO)* — Food loss and waste reduction should be seen as a means toward achieving other objectives, including improving food security and nutrition, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering pressure on water and land resources and can increase productivity and economic growth.
The formulation of effective policies toward food loss and waste reduction requires comprehensive information as to how much and where – both geographically and along the supply chain – various foods are lost or wasted.
FAO’s work on measurement and support to countries to take action to reduce food loss and waste is critical to tracking progress made by countries.
The International Labour Organization’s latest analysis of the labour market impact of COVID-19 finds its impact on the world of work was more severe than previously estimated, and offers three scenarios for the second half of 2020.
GENEVA 30 June 2020 (ILO)* – The number of working hours lost across the world in the first half of 2020 was significantly worse than previously estimated, while the highly uncertain recovery in the second half of the year will not be enough to go back to pre-pandemic levels, even in the best scenario, and risks seeing continuing large scale job losses, warns the International Labour Organization (ILO).
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 