Mouthwash Can Inactivate Human Coronavirus in a Lab, but What Does This Really Mean?
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Health + Wellness
Could mouthwash help stop the spread of the new coronavirus? Craig F. Walker / The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Could mouthwash help stop the spread of the new coronavirus?
<p>A study published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.26514" target="_blank">Journal of Medical Virology</a> last month found that some common mouthwashes and nasal rinses could inactivate a type of human coronavirus in the lab. This led the authors to hypothesize that the same products might be an additional line of defense against SARS‐CoV‐2, the virus that causes COVID-19.</p><p>"While we wait for a vaccine to be developed, methods to reduce transmission are needed," research leader Dr. Craig Meyers of Penn State College of Medicine said in a <a href="https://news.psu.edu/story/635101/2020/10/19/research/mouthwashes-oral-rinses-may-inactivate-human-coronaviruses" target="_blank">press release</a>. "The products we tested are readily available and often already part of people's daily routines."</p>
<p>The idea behind the study is that using these products might reduce the amount of coronavirus spread by people who are infected.</p><p>The researchers tested several products including a neti pot, several popular mouthwashes and a one percent baby shampoo solution commonly used by head and neck doctors to rinse the sinuses. They exposed a human coronavirus to the various solutions for 30 seconds, one minute and two minutes. Then, they exposed human cells to the various solutions in order to determine how much of the virus had been inactivated.</p>
<p>The neti pot did not succeed in inactivating any virus, according to the study, but the shampoo solution inactivated more than 99 percent of the virus after 30 seconds and more than 99.9 percent of the virus after two minutes.</p><p>Several common mouthwashes were also very successful at inactivating the virus. Crest Pro Health, Listerine Ultra, CVS Antiseptic Mouthwash and Betadine 5% all inactivated 99.9 to greater than 99.9 percent of the virus after 30 seconds. Listerine Antiseptic was the most effective, inactivating more than 99.9 percent of the virus after 30 seconds.</p>
<p>Outside experts, however, cautioned against a too-enthusiastic response to the findings.</p><p>For one thing, the researchers did not test SARS-CoV-2 itself, which requires extra levels of training and security. Instead, they looked at 229E, a coronavirus that causes human colds, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/health/covid-mouthwash.html" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>. While it has a similar structure to the new coronavirus, it is not guaranteed that the two will always act the same way, Columbia University virologist Angela Rasmussen told The New York Times. However, Meyers pointed out in the press release that a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/222/8/1289/5878067" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">similar study</a> had managed to use mouthwashes to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 itself.</p><p>For another thing, it isn't really possible to test if something will stop the spread of a virus until it is tested on the actual human mouth, which is more complicated than a petri dish. Yale University infectious disease expert Dr. Maricar Malinis told The New York Times that the effectiveness of the products could not be proved without clinical trials on human subjects. This is something the research team is now seeking funding to do, according to <a href="https://fusion.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-mouthwashes-nasal-rinses-virus-transmission-20201021.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Philadelphia Inquirer</a>.</p>
<p>Finally, a mouthwash could never totally prevent an infected person from shedding virus because the virus would continue to replicate in their cells after the rinse.</p><p>"If you have virus in your lungs, you just cough it back up into your mouth," Thomas E. Rams, director of the oral microbiology testing lab at Temple University's Kornberg School of Dentistry, told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "You'd have to be rinsing on such a frequent basis. And what I fear is that some people would think they don't need masks because they gargled with Listerine."</p><p>Meyers said he is not proposing mouthwash as a replacement for measures like masks or social distancing, but rather another line of defense. And he acknowledged that it would only be effective for a limited amount of time.</p><p>"We have an educated guess because we know how long the virus takes to replicate in culture — 6 to 12 hours,'" Meyers told The Philadelphia Inquirer.</p>
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Swimming alongside an animatronic dolphin, a person learns about hydrodynamics. Edge Innovations
Life-sized, ultra-realistic robotic dolphins could help end animal captivity by replacing living creatures in aquariums and theme parks.
<p><a href="https://www.edgefx.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Edge Innovations</a>, a New Zealand company that created of some of Hollywood's most famous animatronic animals from movies like "Free Willy" and "Flipper," has developed robot dolphins that look and act almost identical to their living counterparts. This is "bringing art and technology to life," its <a href="https://www.edgefx.com/" target="_blank">website</a> says.</p><p>Edge hopes its designs will be used in movies and aquatic theme parks instead of living animals. If the idea is expanded, swimmers could dive with life-like robot dolphins, great white sharks, or even Jurrasic-era marine reptiles, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/robot-dolphin-edge-innovations-theme-park-peta-b1048362.html" target="_blank">The Independent</a> reported. </p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/13/robot-dolphins-the-cruelty-free-20m-animal-you-cant-tell-from-the-real-thing" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, the first phase of the prototype's development was sponsored by a Chinese development group that pledged in a statement to use the robotic animals instead of live ones in new aquariums being built.</p><p>Test audiences were unable to tell that the dolphin was not real, The Guardian reported. The model dolphin is controlled remotely by humans and can interact as a natural dolphin would.</p><p>"Everyone wants to know if using an animatronic dolphin is different than using a real dolphin, Roger Holzberg, Edge's creative director of their animatronics program, told <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2020/10/19/could-this-robot-dolphin-replace-captive-animals-in-marine-parks/" target="_blank">Aljazeera</a>. "The truth is, in many ways, they're the same."</p>
<p>But, because it is a robot, Edge's dolphin can also nod yes in response to a child, swim in a tiny tank in a mall or a chlorinated pool, and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/animals-captivity-brain-damage-2647869196.html" target="_self">withstand very close contact that would be harmful to real animals</a>, The Guardian reported.</p><p>"We realized that using animatronics instead of using live animals enabled us to create characters that truly were loveable, that could really deliver on the idea that we won't hurt what we fall in love with," Holzberg told Aljazeera.</p><p>Animatronics could also help bring back audiences turned off by aquatic parks using live animals and turn the industry around, reported <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/tech-conservation-robot-dolphin/the-robot-dolphin-that-could-replace-captive-animals-at-theme-parks-one-day-idUSL1N2H41Q6" target="_blank">Reuters</a>.</p>
<p>"The marine park industry has had falling revenues for over a decade due to ethical concerns and the cost of live animals, yet the public hunger to learn about and experience these animals is still as strong as ever," Holzberg told The Guardian. "We believe that it's time to reimagine this industry and that this approach can be more humane, and more profitable at the same time."</p><p>The cost would be around $26.3 million per animal, four times the amount of a natural dolphin.</p><p>"We have to persuade [potential clients] that it is a profitable business, even more profitable than live animals," Li Wang, a business developer for Edge, told The Guardian. Wang pointed out that the robots do not require the same expensive caretaking or carefully monitored water temperatures as real dolphins do. Edge noted also that the robots will "outlive" their wild counterparts, who typically die within 20 years in captivity, the news report said. Wild dolphins live between 30 to 50 years.</p><p>According to Reuters, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/animal-rights" target="_self">animal rights</a> group PETA is in support and even held an event featuring the prototype dolphin.</p><p>PETA activist Katherine Sullivan told The Independent that the invention could help usher in the end of "cruel 'swim with dolphins' programs, for which young dolphins are traumatically abducted from their ocean homes and frantic mothers, sometimes illegally."</p><p>"In 2020, cutting-edge technology allows us to experience nature without harming it," PETA's UK director, Elisa Allen, told The Guardian.</p>
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This turtle dove is part of Operation Turtle Dove; the European Commission estimates there may be fewer than 5,000 pairs left in the UK. Ian / Flickr / CC by 2.0
By Naomi Larsson
For centuries, the delicate silver dove has been a symbol of love and fidelity.
<p>In Greek mythology, a pair of turtle doves pulled the goddess of love Aphrodite's chariot. For Shakespeare, they signified devotion, while Elvis promised to call his lover "sweet things like turtle dove." In the Twelve Days of Christmas, a pair of them are gifted on the second day, pointing to their strong bond. </p><p>Despite such cultural references, many among Britain's younger generations would not recognize the "turr turring" sound that enraptured people for centuries when the doves arrived to feed and roost during the summer. </p><p>That's because the turtle dove, of which there are four main species, is the fastest declining bird in the UK. Just 50 years ago, there were an estimated <a href="https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/species-explorer/birds/turtle-dove" target="_blank">125,000 pairs</a>, but between 1967-2016 their numbers fell by 98%. Now, there may be fewer than <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zDg9DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=rewilding+book&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiA25m0ldnqAhVLa8AKHdbeAdwQ6AEwAHoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=turtle%20dove&f=false" target="_blank">5,000 pairs</a> left, according to European Commission estimates. Across Europe <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/germany-endangered-turtle-dove-is-2020-bird-of-the-year/a-50789572" target="_blank">numbers have dropped by over a third</a> and the bird now features on the IUCN red list of <a href="https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22690419/154373407#population" target="_blank">threatened species as "vulnerable"</a> and declining.</p><p><span></span>"The sound of the dove is nostalgic," said Isabella Tree, who co-runs the pioneering Knapp Estate rewilding project in south-east England. "It's long summers ahead of you at the end of school. It's freedom and being carefree... and I guess that decline [in the UK and Europe] symbolizes so much as well." </p>
Biodiversity and Habitat Loss
<p>Their near extinction is a symbol of the <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/global-biodiversity-outlook-targets-extinction-summit-new-york-pledge/a-54932895" target="_blank">biodiversity crisis</a> in the UK, largely driven by habitat destruction. Britain is now one of the countries with the most <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/future-of-UK-nature#:~:text=The%20UK%20is%20one%20of,than%20half%20are%20in%20decline" target="_blank">depleted nature</a> in the world according to the World Wildlife Fund. Half its plant and animal species are in decline and more than <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/let-nature-sing-wales/#:~:text=a%20natural%20tragedy.-,Over%2040%20million%20birds%20have%20vanished%20from%20UK%20skies%20in,unaware%20of%20the%20impending%20danger" target="_blank">40 million birds</a> have vanished in just half a century.</p><p>"[Turtle doves] are the canary in the [coal] mine because there are all these other species before it and after it," said Tree. "It's an umbrella for all the other species that are heading that way."</p><p>Turtle doves migrate south through Europe to sub-Saharan Africa between July and September, ending up in dry woodland and farmland areas of countries like Mali and Senegal for winter. </p><p>Droughts in West Africa and the Sahel region are believed to have contributed to the fall in turtle dove species recorded in northern Europe, with low rainfall reducing supplies of the seeds and insects the birds rely on for energy for the long journey home.</p><p>On that journey, they face more threats. As many as <a href="https://www.operationturtledove.org/turtle-doves/ecology-habitat-and-food/#:~:text=Of%20the%20estimated%20population%20of,Management%20Plan%20published%20in%202007" target="_blank">2-3 million birds</a> are hunted as they pass through Europe. EU authorities say hunting is being allowed at unsustainable levels, and conservation organizations across Europe are lobbying governments for better regulation.</p><p>Yet by far the biggest cause of their decline is the damage to the UK and northern European habitats that have long served as their homes during the spring and summer.</p><p>Turtle doves require access to fresh water, bare patches of land to feed on natural weed and wildflower seeds, and thorny scrub in which to nest. Runoff from agricultural nitrates makes fresh water often difficult to find in the British landscape and grasslands and <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/green-spaces-flora-fauna-wild-native-wildflowers-insects-dublin-dessau-wilderness/a-53955388" target="_blank">wildflower meadows</a> are being depleted by farming and urban expansion. </p><p>"I remember as a child it got called wasteland, but scrub habitat is far from waste habitat," said Marc Outten, a landscape conservation area manager at Essex Wildlife Trust in south-eastern England. Its ecological properties include thorny scrub, bare open areas, wildflowers — everything a turtle dove needs. </p>
Conservation and Farming
<p><a href="https://www.operationturtledove.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Operation Turtle Dove,</a> a partnership project of charities including the Essex Wildlife trust, works with landowners and farmers to actively build turtle dove habitat.</p><p>Outten works with <a href="https://www.ebws.org.uk/birdsites/blue-house-farm-ewt-north-fambridge" target="_blank">Blue House Farm</a>, a 660-acre nature reserve in the UK county of Essex, where they have replicated weedy fallow plots. </p><p>"We work on it every year to make sure it's in the condition it needs to be with plants such as clovers and black medic," Outten said. "These plants are native to the landscape and produce the seed the birds feed on." </p><p>The birds eat a wide range of seeds from various plants that would have been abundant 50 or 100 years ago, added Guy Anderson, program manager for species recovery with The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). </p><p>"But it's simply true that with the gradual process of <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/farming-without-pesticides-how-can-we-make-agriculture-greener/a-52216796" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">intensifying our agricultural production</a>, the availability of those seeds has dropped and dropped," said Anderson.</p><p>Part of the project includes supplementary feeding — providing sources of food in the form of seed or grain. Under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme in England, farmers can receive financial support to create a turtle dove habitat. </p><p>Though they haven't recorded an increase in doves across the sites in the four years of working on the project, Outten said they are seeing improvements in how landowners and farmers manage habitat for the birds. </p>A Turtle Dove Haven
<p>The 3,500-acre Knepp Estate in West Sussex is another project taking a different approach and one of the few places where turtle dove numbers are increasing.</p><p>Isabella Tree and her husband Charlie Burrell converted their intensively farmed land into a rewilding project almost 20 years ago. They have let the land return to nature.</p><p>Just one year after they'd finished <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/uks-most-talented-architects-are-not-human/a-35952128" target="_blank">rewilding</a> the southern part of their property, they heard turtle doves for the first time. It's now a breeding hotspot for the birds with an estimated 19 pairs. Knepp is also home to <a href="https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/rewilding/rewilding-projects/knepp-estate" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2% of the UK's population</a> of nightingales. </p><p>Tree is critical of supplementary feeding schemes that, in her view, are short term. She questions the chances of turtle doves getting to feed on scattered seeds before other mammals eat them first.</p><p>"Restoring habitat is going to be the fix," she said. "[The turtle dove] needs those natural wildflower seeds and other things it would be finding as soon as it arrives in the spring."</p><p>She calls for building wildlife corridors to bring back biodiversity: this could be hedgerows that are left to grow much larger than normal, or the rewilding of an entire river system.</p><p>"Until we can actually have a strategy that allows areas of nature to connect together, we're going to have no resilience in the system at all," said Tree. </p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/britain-diodiversity-speciesloss-birds-farming-pollution/a-55121323?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.</em><br/></p><p><br/></p>From Your Site Articles
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CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield attends a hearing of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee reviewing coronavirus response efforts on Sept. 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik-Pool / Getty Images
The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has altered its guidelines that define close contact between people while also releasing a study that showed the novel coronavirus is able to be transmitted in brief interactions, as STAT News reported.
<p>For several months, the CDC had defined close contact as spending more than 15 minutes within six feet of another person. On Wednesday, however, that definition changed to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CDC's new guidelines</a>, which say brief interactions that add up to 15 minutes over the course of a day now count as close contact, as the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-health-infectious-diseases-1fb2e2a5b3fc0dd61f5756277c2d9364" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP</a> reported.</p>
<p>The definition was changed for the CDC's quarantine guidelines, so people who spent 15 minutes or more with an infected person over the course of 24 hours know to self-isolate for 14 days. The guidelines were issued in response to a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6943e1.htm?s_cid=mm6943e1_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM40859&ACSTrackingLabel=MMWR%20Early%20Release%20-%20Vol.%2069%2C%20October%252" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new study</a> conducted by the CDC and the Vermont Department of Health that traced a coronavirus outbreak of six prisoners back to an employee at a Vermont correctional facility, as <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/21/926365995/cdc-reduces-consecutive-minutes-of-covid-19-exposure-needed-to-be-a-close-contac" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NPR</a> reported.</p><p>An investigation of the outbreak used video evidence to piece together the employee's day. It showed that the officer never spent 15 straight minutes with any one prisoner. However, over the course of an eight-hour workday, the employee had 22 interactions totaling 17 minutes with the six incarcerated people, according to STAT News.</p>
<p>Some of the interactions took place while the six incarcerated people were not wearing face masks, according to NPR.</p><p>"This article adds to the scientific knowledge of the risk to contacts of those with COVID-19 and highlights again the importance of wearing face masks to prevent transmission," the CDC said.</p><p>"While a mask provides some limited protection to the wearer, each additional person who wears a mask increases the individual protection for everyone. When more people wear masks, more people are protected," the CDC added, as <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/21/coronavirus-close-contact-cdc/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a> reported.</p><p>In the first news conference that the agency permitted in more than eight weeks, Jay Butler, the CDC's deputy director for infectious diseases, said Wednesday that the nation is "unfortunately seeing a distressing trend, with cases increasing in nearly 75 percent of the country," as The Washington Post reported.</p>
<p>Butler also stressed that even though the public may be tired of all the suggestions from health officials, the importance of wearing masks should not be taken lightly as the weather cools and more and more interactions move inside, which increases the risk of transmission, according to The Washington Post.</p><p>The new guidelines also note that close contact can include if someone coughs or sneezes on you, hugging and kissing, as well as sharing eating utensils with an infected person.</p><p>"As we get more data and understand this COVID we're going to continue to incorporate that in our recommendations," said CDC Director Robert Redfield at the press conference, according to the AP.</p><p>The new guidelines will "mostly impact workplaces, schools and other places where people spend all day together off and on," said Caitlin Rivers, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, to NPR. She added that the expanded definition of close contact has "the potential to significantly increase the number of people who are asked to quarantine."</p>
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A Stop the Money Pipeline protester holds a banner outside JP Morgan headquarters in NYC on Feb. 25, 2020; JP Morgan is a top contributor to the fossil fuel industry. Erik McGregor / LightRocket / Getty Images
By Jessica Corbett
Green groups applauded Sen. Jeff Merkley on Wednesday for introducing a pioneering pair of bills that aim to "protect the long-term health and well-being of the American people and their economy from the catastrophic effects of climate chaos" by preventing banks and international financial institutions from financing fossil fuels.
<p>"How we invest our money reflects our values today and will drive our future tomorrow," the Oregon Democrat <a href="https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-introduces-pair-of-bills-to-protect-american-lives-and-livelihoods-from-climate-chaos-2020" target="_blank">said</a> in a statement about his new legislative proposals, citing a September report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/09/09/while-trump-commission-warns-climate-risk-financial-system-recommendations-fall" target="_blank">warning</a> that the human-caused climate crisis endangers the U.S. financial system.</p><p>"Fossil fuel investments play a key role in accelerating climate chaos, which continues to spiral further and further out of control and claim lives and livelihoods in the process," Merkley added. "It's time to prioritize the interests of the American people and the planet above the wishes of fossil fuel CEOs who want to hold our economy hostage."</p><p>The <a href="https://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20.10.21%20Protecting%20America's%20Economy%20from%20the%20Carbon%20Bubble%20Act%20of%202020.pdf" target="_blank">Protecting America's Economy from the Carbon Bubble Act of 2020 </a> "would help safeguard the economy by prohibiting financial companies from making new investments in fossil fuels," according to his office. The <a href="https://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20.10.21%20Sustainable%20International%20Financial%20Institutions%20Act%20of%202020.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sustainable International Financial Institutions Act of 2020</a> "would elevate that priority to the international stage by ensuring that the United States uses its voice and vote in international financial institutions to divest from fossil fuel investments."</p>
<div id="815e9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="eb5133bc08c84a247e6c577bb4c4ba59"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318967338482364416" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Yes! @SenJeffMerkley just introduced new legislation that would stop banks and other financial institutions from fu… https://t.co/Bk15N9Sewk</div> — Stop the Money Pipeline (@Stop the Money Pipeline)<a href="https://twitter.com/StopMoneyPipe/statuses/1318967338482364416">1603301293.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The legislation was enthusiastically endorsed by members of Stop the Money Pipeline, a coalition of over 130 advocacy organizations that <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/09/climate-movement-takes-aim-wall-street-because-money-only-language-fossil-fuel" target="_blank">launched</a> in January to pressure asset managers, banks, and insurance companies to "stop financing fossil fuels and deforestation and start respecting human rights and Indigenous sovereignty."</p><p>"Sen. Merkley is showing real leadership by introducing the first-ever bills to cut the money pipeline fueling the climate crisis," declared David Arkush, director of Public Citizen's Climate Program, in a coalition statement Wednesday.</p><p>Kelly Martin, director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign, similarly said that "we applaud Sen. Merkley for his leadership in working to cut off the flow of money to dirty and destructive fossil fuels."</p><p>"Investments from major financial institutions are driving the climate crisis and environmental injustice worldwide," Martin added. "In order to tackle this crisis, we need to put a stop to business as usual and reinvest in a clean energy economy that works for all of us."</p>
<div id="f84b7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f6742078b73d4f72ad0cdb0b28c45bf8"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318975843717287936" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">"When there’s an out of control fire, the worst thing you can do is pour more gas on it. It’s time for Congress ste… https://t.co/YfjbtiWeRY</div> — 350 dot org (@350 dot org)<a href="https://twitter.com/350/statuses/1318975843717287936">1603303321.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Sue Stafford and Toby Woll of Mothers Out Front Corporate Responsibility Team called Merkley's legislation "important and necessary" while Nikki Reisch of the Center for International Environmental Law said that "ending financing for fossil fuels should be a no-brainer."</p><p>"As this year has made abundantly clear, fossil fuels are not just terrible for people and the planet, they are terrible investments, too," Reisch continued. "Sen. Merkley's bills would finally require financial institutions to do what they should have long since done on their own: stop bankrolling climate catastrophe."</p><p>While welcoming the senator's bills, campaigners also slammed financial institutions for "driving the destruction of the climate, deforestation, and furthering harms to public health and communities" by "pouring billions into the dying fossil fuel industry," in the words of Osprey Orielle Lake, executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network.</p><p>Lake urged Congress to urgently enact the measures—a call that was echoed by Lukas Ross from Friends of the Earth U.S., who warned that "whether it is Wall Street behemoths or public institutions like the Export-Import Bank, financial institutions are lending the climate over a cliff."</p>
<div id="f35ca" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f0306ad9e315c3763299c349c4056f90"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318969691767930880" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">BREAKING: @SenJeffMerkley just introduced new legislation that would help end the financing of fossil fuels! 👏👏👏 W… https://t.co/831xi0UPfo</div> — Moira Birss (@Moira Birss)<a href="https://twitter.com/moira_kb/statuses/1318969691767930880">1603301854.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>"Public and private banks are squandering over $4 trillion annually subsidizing the destabilization of our global climate by the fossil fuel industry," noted Daphne Wysham at the Center for Sustainable Economy. "Finally, in Sen. Merkley, we have a climate champion willing to stand up to this madness and call for banks to invest in a liveable future."</p><p><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2020/03/18/banking-climate-change-report-reveals-banks-funded-climate-chaos-trillions-paris" target="_blank">According to</a> a report released in March by climate advocacy groups, 35 global banks have collectively poured more than $2.7 trillion into the fossil fuel industry since the Paris climate agreement was finalized in late 2015. The four top spots were all held by U.S. institutions: JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, and Bank of America.</p><p>"Sen. Merkley's new divestment bills are exactly the sort of real climate leadership we need from our elected officials and regulators," said David Turnbull of Oil Change International (OCI). "If banks won't stop funding climate devastation, our government must force their hand, and Sen. Merkley's bills would force the action we need."</p><p>In addition to helping to ensure a habitable planet in the years to come, 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben pointed out that there could be some added benefits for lawmakers. As he put it: "Fighting the climate crisis and saving big money at the same time—a few more laws like this and people may start liking Congress!"</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/10/21/merkley-unveils-pioneering-bills-make-financial-institutions-stop-bankrolling?cd-origin=rss" target="_blank"> Common Dreams</a>.</em></p>
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GMC will begin producing an electric Hummer in 2021. GMC
General Motors is reintroducing the gas-guzzling, military-style vehicle known as The Hummer. This time, it's getting a green makeover as a zero-emissions, fully electric pickup truck, NPR reported.
<p>"The irony is not lost on anyone that this former gas-guzzler is coming back as an electric vehicle," Ivan Drury, <em>Edmunds</em>' senior manager of insights, told NPR. "With that said, by demonstrating that 'big' doesn't necessarily mean inefficient, the Hummer EV also represents a monumental paradigm shift."</p><p>The original Hummer, popular in the 90s and 2000s, was discontinued in 2010. Of note, the new zero-emissions version will still be powerful, and going from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds thanks to its 1,0000-horsepower engine, <a href="https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/10/american-excess-is-back-with-the-1000hp-2022-gmc-hummer-ev-truck/" target="_blank">Ars Technica</a> reported.</p><p>As for size, Ars Technica added that it will measure more than 18 feet long and nearly 8 feet wide (when you include the mirrors), making it almost as big as a Cadillac Escalade.</p>
<p>The 2022 GMC Hummer EV will be available to the public starting in fall 2021. The first wave, called Edition 1, will retail for $112,595, including destination charges. Starting in 2022, later versions will start at $99,995, followed by models that will cost $10,000 less each year until 2024, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/20/gm-unveils-hummer-ev-as-worlds-first-supertruck-for-112600.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNBC</a> reported.</p><p>While the top three vehicles in the country are pickup trucks, the average cost is about $51,000. However, General Motors, believes the target audience is not the average truck driver, but a client who appreciates technological advances.</p><p>"This is all about people who just love the best in automotive innovation, performance, capability and technology," GMC Vice President Duncan Aldred told CNBC. "These are the people who you may have seen buy the exotic sports car type brands. This will be the must-have item."</p>
<p>For example, the truck will be able to travel 350 miles on a single charge. It will also sport a new feature allowing it to drive diagonally in "CrabWalk" mode, <a href="https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2022-gmc-hummer-ev-electric-truck-specs-horsepower-price-features/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CNet</a> reported. </p><p>The new Hummer EV will have competition, including the Ford F-150 EV, scheduled to hit the market about the same time. Tesla's Cybertruck is also slated to start production in 2021, CNet reported. </p><p>"With all of these trucks launching over the next year or two, customers will have to debate whether it's worth rolling the dice and placing a reservation this far out without a test drive," Drury told NPR.</p>
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This Beetle Can Survive Being Run Over by a Car. Could It Lead to Crash-Proof Human Designs?
14h
Animals
A diabolical ironclad beetle. Heather Broccard-Bell / iStock / Getty Images Plus
The aptly named diabolical ironclad beetle (Phloeodes diabolicus) has an exoskeleton so strong, it can survive being pecked by birds and even run over by cars. When early entomologists tried to mount them as specimens, BBC News explained, that exoskeleton would snap or bend their pins.
<p>"This beetle is super tough," Purdue University civil engineer Pablo Zavattieri told <a href="https://apnews.com/article/beetle-armor-stronger-planes-cb50dd9573d65437de4b5209ccd4a2d8" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>.</p><p>Now, in a study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2813-8" target="_blank">Nature</a> Wednesday, Zavattieri and a team of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/scientists" target="_self">scientists</a> have discovered exactly what makes the diabolical ironclad beetle so strong.</p><p>The diabolical ironclad beetle is found in the forests of North America's Pacific coast. It has lost the ability to fly, so its super-strong exoskeleton is evolution's compensation for the fact that it can't flee its predators.</p>
<p>To understand how this exoskeleton works, the researchers first determined how much stress it could take. The answer? Quite a lot. The beetle can withstand a load of around 39,000 times its own body weight. To put that in perspective, it would be the equivalent of a 90 kilogram (approximately 200 pound) person surviving the weight of around 280 doubledecker buses, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/21/scientists-reveal-diabolical-ironclad-beetle-bear-huge-weights" target="_blank">The Guardian explained</a>.</p><p>"We were impressed. Especially given that this beetle does not contain any mineral – just organic components," study coauthor and University of California, Irvine professor David Kisailus told The Guardian.</p>
<p>The team then examined how the beetle was able to withstand such a heavy load. They used electron microscopes and CT scans to look at it up close, The Associated Press explained. The beetle's elytra, which are normally protective casing for wings, had hardened. This is common for flightless beetles, but the diabolical ironclad beetle's elytra were unique. They had a greater number of interlocking sections than those of other beetles, resembling a jigsaw puzzle, The Guardian explained. This helps the elytra to distribute the stress of heavy loads.</p><p>Further, the elytra was protein-rich and made of layers. When stress was put on one join, the layers would peel apart to relieve the pressure.</p><p>"When you pull them apart," Zavattieri told The Associated Press, "it doesn't break catastrophically. It just deforms a little bit. That's crucial for the beetle."</p>
<p>The scientists are hoping to take inspiration from the beetle's strength to improve human designs. In fact, the study was part of a U.S. Air Force-funded project to learn from nature in order to make materials that better resist impact.</p><p>As part of the experiment, the scientists made joints from metal and composite materials based on the beetle's elytra, BBC News explained. Their designs did make the materials stronger.</p><p>"Given that nature has been optimising and performing experiments for hundreds of millions of years, there are abundant resources to provide inspiration for next-generation materials," Kisailus told The Guardian.</p>
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We pet owners know how much you love your pooch. It's your best friend. It gives you pure happiness and comfort when you're together. But there are times that dogs can be very challenging, especially if they are suffering from a certain ailment. As a dog owner, all you want to do is ease whatever pain or discomfort your best friend is feeling.
<p>Like us pet owners, dogs can have a variety of ailments like chronic pain, bowel disease, inflammation, anxiety, and many others. Along with that, there can be many treatment options that you can choose from, one of which is the use of CBD oil or products.</p><p>The use of CBD oil for dogs has been recently a hot topic due to much anecdotal evidence that reveals how much of a miracle CBD oil products can be for dogs. Although it is not a cure to all, it's still amazing to look at the many angles on how the best CBD oil for dogs can help with any typical dog ailment. Let's find out below, including the best products that we have reviewed.</p>
<h3>Editor's Choice</h3><p><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-honestpaws/?s1=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Honest Paws CBD For Dogs</a></p><ul><li>Outstanding Quality</li><li>Tested by Third Party</li><li>Organic Ingredients</li></ul>
<h2>Top 10 Best CBD Oil for Dogs 2020</h2><ol><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-honestpaws/?s1=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Honest Paws Dog Oil</a> - Top Pick</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-treat-honestpaws/?s1=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Honest Paws CBD Dog Treats</a> - Best Treats</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-spruce/?subid=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spruce CBD</a> - Best Subscription</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-pure/?subid=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CBD Pure</a> - Most Affordable</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-cbdfx/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CBDfx</a> - Most Potent</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-joy/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joy Organics</a> - THC-Free</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-med/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Medterra</a> - Best Variety</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-petly/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Petly CBD Oil</a> - Best Organic</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-americanshaman/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CBD American Shaman</a> - Best Flavor</li><li><a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-royal/?campaign=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Royal CBD</a> - Most Sustainable</li></ol><p>Note: Use coupon code "HEALTHCANAL" to get 15%-20% off</p>
<h2>Is CBD Safe for Dogs?</h2><p>It's normal to ask questions on whether or not CBD oil is safe for dogs, especially if it's your first time to introduce CBD oil to your pets.</p><p>At present, CBD oil and products derived from it are considered to be a low-risk option for your dog with very minor adverse effects. Of course, we cannot dismiss the ongoing debates in the veterinary community on how efficient CBD oil is for your dog, but it certainly won't hurt your dog.</p><p>Based on <a href="https://www.healthcanal.com/best-cbd-oil/dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Health Canal's Best CBD For Dogs List</a>, here are our choices.</p>
<h2>Top 10 Best CBD Oil For Dogs</h2><h3>1. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-honestpaws/?s1=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Honest Paws Dog Oil</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ft4YfiVXjKJiaFsXEjBXM_BRvooDJe_V8Tha4aqnXHo_6zgZWA0M6WSBVWUlUzjApciRjxnfHUOm5Ur0MJEQed6Fo2cYWPmSqj_E3JZokqOtLxuhMc0mI5xQFuxG6-prcTL8Oh5KLlIlP8Rs8Q"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Product Options Are Impressive</li><li>Third-Party Lab Tested</li><li>Organic Ingredients</li></ul>
<h4>Cons </h4><ul> <li>A Little Expensive</li></ul><p>Our best pick from our list is the Honest Paws CBD Oil for Dogs. Not only is their CBD oil potent enough to treat whatever ailment or condition your pooch is feeling, they also come in five variations. Depending on what your dog feels or what you think your dog needs, you have a choice from their product list.</p><p>You'll surely love Honest Paws CBD Oil because all of their products are heavily focused on dogs' health and wellness, thus the name Honest Paws. Each product piece has undergone a third-party lab testing for efficacy, purity, and safety. The ingredients used are also organic to ensure the utmost potency along with the product's full-spectrum format.</p><p>Aside from that, you will also enjoy the discount you can get when you subscribe on their monthly delivery. Plus, you can utilize their 30-day money-back guarantee in case you're not happy with the products when they arrive.</p><div></div>
<h3>2. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-treat-honestpaws/?s1=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Honest Paws Dog Treats</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-k9GhYLTbJdkyFnskKoSo2WdZG4ScqEwvbqqMhHCQlEBzyvFuTLOCLFFbBPLJr-mEGDiq_oVPcDKoGPAxadkVIkKPbSf-m4Q3n7YfgF5_flHsoiHTM6PtZcCH3c2YrdBetDXIaQHRQ5vw3woRw"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Product Options Are Impressive</li><li>Third-Party Lab Tested</li><li>Organic Ingredients</li></ul>
<h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>A Little Expensive</li></ul>
<p>Dogs certainly love dog treats! What also makes dog treat time even better is offering CBD oil-infused dog treats. At Honest Paws, they offer not only the best CBD oil for dogs, but also dog treats that are infused with CBD oil goodness. Each pack contains a <a href="https://www.extractlabs.com/cbd-guides/what-does-full-spectrum-mean/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">full-spectrum CBD</a> made from organic ingredients.</p>
<p>Honest Paws offers two types of dog treats in various flavors. If your dog prefers a classic crunch, then the Bites packs are the perfect option. The Bites packs come in two options, Calm Bites and Relief Bites, both of which offer a calming and relieving aid for your dog's joint health. You would also surely tap yourself on the back after de-stressing your pooch in the healthier way possible.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you have a dog who's smaller or on the older side, then you may prefer the Soft Chews Packs that come in three options: Mobility Soft Chews, Wellness Soft Chews, and Calm Soft Chews.</p>
<h3>3. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-spruce/?subid=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Spruce CBD</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/9WWQBPMGDGdqGSlWf86PaVhkpp0J-D6edAQ2rDFPJu7d7b_ch0KkwOUQ1xA4oY22aP6DwW13N75iw91a9fxPvONRphq083ecpM1lLpUD3s8-1nmmJpRhpJGPecM_cCyThs_J0ioQT0YXTWN_9w"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>100% Natural</li><li>Third-Party Lab Tested</li><li>Low THC / Zero High</li></ul><h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>Hefty Price Tag</li></ul><p>What we love about Spruce CBD oil for dogs and other pets is the thoughtful preparation behind every bottle. Did you know that Spruce CBD purposely chose coconut oil as the carrier oil for their CBD oil for dogs because they found out that it is easier for the dog's digestion than the hemp carrier oil? Plus, the taste coconut oil brings about is milder which makes it bearable for dogs. The "no added flavor" also highlights the lovely taste of their oils.</p><p>Although there's not many product options for dogs on the Spruce CBD oil website, still we praise them for coming up with a highly effective CBD oil. Several dog owners have also testified how the Spruce CBD oil made their dog's coat healthier and shinier than ever. What's more, their products are also ultimately safe since there is a very low THC content in every bottle. We truly find Spruce CBD oil for dogs as one of the best CBD oil for dogs on the market these days.</p>
<h3>4. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-pure/?subid=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CBD Pure</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/0dn-En9NYJhM0TjRK05Vn8em6OhSlXSXt_IduCsWPOAOEN3strR0-hmVDnsdiy9B8uNt_OWCAIcod3HGko9FfAWhBIClGsk1rbdIxhAsOfEwQ5usQfJR2fmxDMvRBfieZRi2E2ydwYsaV2dJAw"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Simple Concentration</li><li>Organic and Non-GMO</li><li>Money-Back Guarantee</li></ul><h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>Limited Product Option</li></ul>
<p>If you're looking for a fusion of affordable pricing and simple dosage, then look no further since the CBD Pure oil for dogs is the best choice. Its dosage recommendation is pretty basic. Their 100-milligram bottle can be consumed by getting a 1/2 dropper for every 10 pounds of weight of your dog. Plus, it has a very low THC content and it does not contain overwhelming flavors that usually distract a dog's palate.</p>
<p>Aside from enjoying the simplicity of the CBD Pure oil for dogs, you would also benefit from its affordability. For only around $24, you can get one bottle for your pooch. For added discount, you can purchase either the set of 3 or the set of 6 for a discounted price. Even better, CBD Pure also offers a whopping <a href="https://www.cbdpure.com/guarantee.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">90-day money-back guarantee</a> to give you ease and comfort.</p>
<h3>5. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-cbdfx/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CBDfx</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vtINDF7fAqUGcpBgUiMFPDfRo6cQRTPqoKIEIpZMZKoNMIo6PAn6yg2S-eVnvQpYaLcl-Lb7Jaj94H9cO9fqabM2m8e2gT8SJidguV90dRJ0D_YFO1Hdc4UyybjYHKAay9iXyKvqVmCmopSwfg"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Non-Toxic and All-Natural Ingredients</li><li>Broad-Spectrum Format</li><li>Third-Party Lab Tested</li></ul>
<h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>A Little Expensive</li></ul>
<p>CBDfx is known for their organic CBD oil products, with many other reviewers also tagging them as having the best CBD oil for dogs in terms of most organic product lines. Considering that their oils are non-GMO and broad-spectrum, you can expect only the best effects for your beloved pooch, including pain relief from usual dog inflammation.</p>
<p>The dosage in CBDfx CBD oil is also simple. One drop of oil can be administered for every 20 pounds of weight and just do the math if your dog requires more. The very minimal traces of THC also makes this CBDfx CBD oil a lot safer for your pooch.</p>
<p>When it comes to the product choices, you can easily find one that fits your dog. The oils are the same, with only differences in potency level. They offer three oil options for small breed, medium breed, and large breed. How can that get any better?</p>
<h3>6. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-joy/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joy Organics</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_fTVZxgDEuPU8D8YKCVePFDwrVH6evzMwGAavdTCe6nYMM6N-cdMVQqkdr_CBSWxQV58riF4WVPI8XBgkwbCBAqd-PGo2lrNMRyPL072DP5_GzQ1l0kWTBPI6NlRR_BUDjXWoU7xhjrHMPV9Qw"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Organic</li><li>Broad-Spectrum Format</li><li>Money-Back Guarantee</li></ul>
<h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>Limited Product Options</li></ul>
<p>If you're looking for a CBD oil that's completely free from THC, then the Joy Organics CBD oil that comes in 225 milligrams and 400 milligrams are the best choices for you. These oils are also made from premium hemp obtained through a process of CO2 extraction. Aside from that, Joy Organics also offers free shipping and a money-back guarantee for added ease to your purchase!</p>
<p>At Joy Organics, you also have the option to either use an oil tincture or a dog treat for your dog. Some dogs cannot tolerate oils, so you might want to add the typical CBD oil taste by offering dog treats infused with water-soluble CBD powder. Each chew of the treats is also free from THC and contains 2 milligrams of CBD oil per chunk. For such an affordable price, you wouldn't go wrong with the Joy Organics CBD oil for dogs, especially if you don't want any single hints of THC.</p>
<h3>7. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-med/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Medterra CBD</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/61jTQyLKbkBlJE0kyO2QnPigXxChZMfp0uZ8RYvkNTGJx18i6rxca4YsyPvYfhxFYPqUVE0slDe6-H8XArwIuKSmiGa8BPx8_AUou8BzXlnbcQLgZ9qtjh5IigHZHYqRVSf_RxMq6JgzU4kaIQ"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Wide Variety of Products</li><li>Completely THC-Free</li><li>30-Day Money-Back Guarantee</li></ul>
<h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>A little expensive</li></ul>
<p>Medterra CBD products are guaranteed safe and pure since the brand is also <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority</a>. You can try their best-seller CBD oil tincture in beef flavor. We bet your dog will take so much pleasure from it! The dropper is also easy to use so you can either directly pour it into your dog's mouth or add it onto his food, whichever feels right.</p>
<p>We especially love the product options at Medterra CBD because the choices are straightforward. They also offer for both cats and dogs. Their CBD oil for dogs comes in three flavor variations: chicken, beef, and unflavored. For dogs who can't stand the taste of the typical CBD flavor, just go for the unflavored version. The other flavors are also great, too, for dogs who are quite palate-sensitive. Moreover, there are dog treats available in two variations depending on the typical pet condition you want to treat. For joint pain, there's a Dog Treat for Joint Support while a Dog Treat for Calming Effects is the best choice for de-stressing your anxious pooch.</p>
<h3>8. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-petly/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Petly CBD Oil</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/swKVGHr7KAAUMn_lfzX_qYdIGX3QBT3iMuZ0j8aNijVydH-_2_zn-VrTn-ma6yK3SDiczJLJw80Zg2J6WNrRGbPbrAdfaVI5BBDZrjIICvC_Of0NSLYiZm_pPk2iQ0lCeCZSiYU54lkngDt2pQ"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Non-GMO, Vegan, and Gluten-Free</li><li>Third-Party Lab Tested</li><li>Amazing Bundle Discount Offers</li></ul><h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>Only One Flavor Available</li></ul>
<p>What makes Petly CBD oil products different from other CBD oil products for dogs is its source. Each product is made of Petly's natural proprietary strains of phytocannabinoid-rich hemp plants that are grown in nutrient-rich soil cultivated with 100% organic farming practices. The procedure Petly follows starts by distilling the hemp plants to separate the hemp extract from the ethanol incorporated during the <a href="https://www.coleparmer.com/tech-article/supercritical-co2-extraction-method" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CO2 extraction method</a>. After this, the hemp extract is refined through a proprietary technology to remove all THC traces.</p>
<p>The Petly CBD oil comes in three potency levels to match your dog's size and needs: 125 milligrams, 250 milligrams, and 500 milligrams. For added health benefits, these CBD oils are mixed with MCT coconut oil as the carrier oil. If you're looking for dog treats, you would also find the dog treats sumptuous for your dog's palate since they are beef-flavored. They are also water-soluble, making their bioavailability higher than the oil-based CBD oil dog treats.</p>
<h3>9. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-americanshaman/?source=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CBD American Shaman</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/J_MZvBV75uB22rGwWIRtQB4PDxds2TOYv9to8i5lD6I-cLm3s8AD38DJHqbOt-C0CapXabPxH4ZEo19OS7yfzBxYrBkvwCz-F85x5FaWhAnnFKwb2hUzCCUTRXbqP9DwhTmhpgAfx5Lrqqq0GA"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority</li><li>Variety of CBD Oil Products for Dogs</li><li>Interesting Dog Treat Flavors</li></ul>
<h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>A Little Expensive</li></ul>
<p>Is your dog looking for new flavors and other forms of dog treats for more fun moments? American Shaman apparently has one of the most interesting flavors for CBD oil products for dogs. They have CBD oil tinctures, CBD oil dog treats, water-soluble hemp oils, and doggy nugs. They also offer products for cats and horses. </p>
<p>Since American Shaman has palatable flavor options, your dog will surely enjoy them every now and then. From their interesting flavor choices, you can try their doggy snacks available in peanut butter and turkey flavors, soft treats in beef flavor, and doggy nugs in chicken flavor.</p>
<p>Their CBD oil products for dogs are also high-quality and made from non-GMO hemp plants grown in the U.S. for a much controlled process. Also, these products may be for dogs but they are guaranteed to be tested in independent laboratories for ensured efficacy, purity, and safety.</p>
<h3>10. <a href="https://jglobalhealth.org/product/ecowatch-dog-oil-royal/?campaign=ecowatch-cbd-dogs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Royal CBD </a></h3>
<p><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/77A6P1TEq4kQygHQshDWldyMoTva4C0HxK-7KjL9OWX9jU562hjkT6LtPMDwl4kqmElJ7fzq-JvgnohKiFDK_qF2IPYZ8_nk2zDKhMVTXL6ea0vSj10dvOrUDcRIJSnrp2YK4rOtYNru9ZbXNg"></p>
<h4>Pros</h4><ul><li>Non-GMO and Natural</li><li>Available in Different Sizes and Potencies</li><li>With Save Option</li></ul>
<h4>Cons </h4><ul><li>A Little Expensive</li></ul>
<p>Royal CBD remains consistent with their premium quality regardless of the type of CBD products they offer. Their CBD products for dogs are no exceptions, too! They are made of high quality, organic, and non-GMO ingredients that are considered safe for your beloved pooch!</p>
<p>Because dogs are natural-born carnivores, Royal CBD has made sure that their CBD products for dogs taste meaty. The flavors available in the Royal CBD product line for dogs are chicken and beef, just the regular flavors your pooch will love. Also, because dogs have different sizes and breeds, Royal CBD has put that into consideration by providing different potency levels ranging from 300 milligrams to 1,000 milligrams. That way, you can make adjustments on the dosage depending on your dog's breed and size.</p>
<p>Above all, the products are tested by an independent laboratory for safety and potency. Plus, you can take advantage of the <a href="https://royalcbd.com/return-policy/" target="_blank">30-day money-back guarantee</a> they offer in case you're unhappy with any of their products.</p>
<h3>What Is CBD Oil?
</h3><p>Cannabidiol or CBD oil is one of the 100+ phytocannabinoids found in a cannabis plant and it is said to account for more than 40% of the plant's extract. Unlike the other cannabis compounds like <a href="https://www.livescience.com/24553-what-is-thc.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tetrahydrocannabinol or THC</a>, CBD oil does not cause intoxication or psychoactive experiences. This makes CBD a much preferred and sought-after compound because of its multiple health benefits without the "high" effect.</p>
<p>Because it is known to be a potent compound, many people turn to it for help with anxiety, pain, epilepsy, cancer, and other conditions. Even pets like dogs, cats and more have been found to benefit from the use of CBD oil.</p>
<h3>How Can CBD Help Dogs?
</h3><p>CBD can do wonders when your dog is suffering from a certain kind of pain and anxiety. It contains compounds that can alleviate pain from particular ailments. But of course, we still recommend that you seek medical advice from your pet's veterinarian. Nevertheless, once CBD is utilized along with traditional methods, the possibility of side effects is mitigated.</p>
<p>Below are also some of the typical dog ailments that can be treated by the best CBD oils for dogs:</p>
<ol><li>Anxiety</li><li>Chronic Inflammation</li><li>Autoimmune Disease</li><li>Inflammatory Bowel Disease</li><li>Regular Pain</li></ol>
<p>CBD contains compounds that interact with receptors responsible for certain inflammations in the body. When it comes to anxiety, CBD can also moderate the impulses often manifested as tension, stress, and restlessness. </p>
<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> What is the best CBD product for dogs?</p><p><strong>Answer:</strong> While dog treats can be very mouthwatering for your pooch, CBD oil is still the best form of CBD that your dog can take since the level of potency is high, especially if you're looking for your dog to truly benefit from CBD.</p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> How much CBD should I give to my dog?</p><p><strong>Answer:</strong> We recommend you administer 2 to 5 milligrams of CBD for every 25 pounds of weight on a daily basis. </p>
<p><strong>Question:</strong> When is the best time to give CBD to my dog?</p><p><strong>Answer:</strong> You can give him CBD every day, but special occasions would also count, like if your dog is suffering from a certain discomfort or pain. You can also give him CBD hours before you go to the groomer or to the vet since dogs are most likely anxious during that time.</p>
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World's Largest Solar Farm in Australia Will Also Supply 20% of Singapore's Electricity
21 October
Renewable Energy
Sun Cable hopes to start construction of the world's largest solar farm in 2023. Sun Cable
A large expanse of Australia's deserted Outback will house the world's largest solar farm and generate enough energy to export power to Singapore, as The Guardian reported.
<p><br/></p>
<p>The massive solar farm, which will be visible from space after it's constructed, will lie halfway between Alice Springs and Darwin, two cities in Australia's Northern Territory. The solar farm will occupy more than 46 square miles and cost $20 billion to build, according to <a href="https://www.unilad.co.uk/technology/worlds-largest-solar-farm-to-power-singapore/" target="_blank">Unilad</a>.</p><p>The remote area of the Outback where the solar panels will work is currently a massive cattle ranch, but the owner of the project, Sun Cable, hopes to start construction in 2023 with the aim of exporting energy by 2027. According to Unilad, the solar farm is expected to generate so much energy that not only will it power all of the Northern Territory, but two-thirds of the electricity will be exported via underwater cables that run 2,800 miles to Singapore, a city-state on the tip of the Malay peninsula.</p>
<p>Sun Cable has initiated the project by evaluating its environmental impact and making sure its project complies with regulation from the Northern Territory's Environment Protection Authority, as the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-10-20/newcastle-waters-station-nt-set-for-worlds-biggest-solar-farm/12785256" target="_blank">Australian Broadcasting Corporation</a> (ABC) reported.</p><p>"We'll be using thousands of hectares of land, and we need to closely examine the impact on the ground at the solar farm end," Sun Cable CEO David Griffin said, as ABC reported. "There's a lot of black soil in that country, but that's a bit problematic for us, so we're [planning to build] on a substantial area of soil that's a bit different and a bit friendlier for us to construct on."</p><p>Despite those challenges, Griffin believes the massive cattle farm called Newcastle Waters is an ideal location for the solar farm because it meets several critical requirements.</p><p>"It's on the Adelaide to Darwin rail corridor, which is brilliant for our logistics given the enormous amount of material we'll have to transport to the site," he said to The Guardian. The location is also just 18 miles off the main highway that runs the length of the sparsely populated Northern Territory.</p>
<p>The weather also provides ideal conditions for producing energy.<br></p><p>"It's a bit of a balancing act too, because it's far south enough to get away from the main patch affected by the wet season, so it's a steady solar resource throughout the year," Griffin told The Guardian. "There's plenty of sun and not many clouds."</p><p>The massive project is expected to supply 10 gigawatts of electricity. The sustainable energy will help the remote areas of the Northern Territory, which usually have to use energy from diesel-powered generators. The exported energy will supply 20 percent of Singapore's energy needs, according to Unilad.</p><p>The solar farm, which is three times larger than the world's current largest solar farm in northern China, is also expected to provide thousands of jobs related to construction and hundreds of jobs once construction is done. Griffin told The Guardian that many of the jobs will go to local <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/indigenous-peoples">Indigenous</a> communities.</p>
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Construction on the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric station in 2015. Government of Newfoundland and Labrador / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
By Tara Lohan
In 1999 a cheering crowd watched as a backhoe breached a hydroelectric dam on Maine's Kennebec River. The effort to help restore native fish populations and the river's health was hailed as a success and ignited a nationwide movement that spurred 1,200 dam removals in two decades.
<p>The era of building large dams in the United States, which defined so much of the 20th century, is over. The prime spots for development were cemented decades ago, and the ensuing harm to fish and other wildlife has been well documented. Attention is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/climate/environmentalists-hydropower-dams.html" target="_blank">now focused</a> on removing obsolete dams and retrofitting existing hydroelectric dams to reduce ecological harm and increase energy efficiency.</p><p>Many other countries are in the same boat. Across Europe and North America "big dams stopped being built in developed nations because the best sites for dams were already developed, and environmental and social concerns made the costs unacceptable," found a <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/115/47/11891" target="_blank">2018 study</a> in the <em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em>.</p>
<p>Canada appears to be the exception to that.</p><p>Large dams are still being built across Canada, from Muskrat Falls in Labrador to the generically titled "Site C" in British Columbia, despite <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/inquiry-slams-nalcor-s-c-12-7b-muskrat-falls-hydro-project-as-misguided-57533638" target="_blank">cost overruns</a>, outcry from some <a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/i-dont-see-why-anything-should-be-secret-first-nation-rejected-28-million-in-site-c-dam-deal-court-docs-reveal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">First Nations</a> and even <a href="https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/03/13/UN-Calls-for-Site-C-Review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">environmental concerns</a> from the United Nations.</p><p>Hydroelectric power already supplies 60% of the country's energy. But the dam building isn't just to feed Canada's power needs. It's also become a hot export commodity.</p><p>As U.S. states look to meet new clean energy targets, imported low-carbon hydropower from across the northern border has become a larger part of the conversation — and the grid. New England already gets 17% of its energy from Canadian hydropower, Midwest states around 12% and New York 5%.</p><p>That number is likely to jump.</p><p>A new transmission project to bring 250 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the United States <a href="https://renewablesnow.com/news/minnesota-power-brings-online-250-mw-hydro-wind-transmission-line-702303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">just came online in Minnesota</a>. Two more are in the works for Massachusetts and New York.</p>
<p>Proponents say we need large-scale hydro to grease the wheels of the clean energy transition. Others caution that it comes with a larger environmental cost compared to wind and solar and could open the floodgates for more dam building.</p><p>There's one shared bit of common ground, though: We need to act quickly and wisely to tackle the climate crisis.</p><p>"This is the decade for getting 50% of the way there on renewables, but also proving out the pathway to get to net-zero by mid-century, if not before," says Peter Rothstein, president of the <a href="https://www.necec.org/" target="_blank">Northeast Clean Energy Council</a>.</p><p>How hydro figures into that process is still a complicated issue.</p>
<h3>Clean Energy Demand Surges</h3><p>The Northeast is one place where the energy transition is off and running.</p><p>All six New England states have pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions 80% over 1990 levels by 2050, and some are aiming higher.</p><p>Neighboring New York is also keeping pace. Last year the Empire State committed to achieving an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and 70% renewable electricity by 2030.</p><p>How will those goals be achieved?</p><p>For some, imported Canadian hydropower looks poised to play a big role, and two new projects appear close to breaking ground.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU1MjYxMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNjUyNDkzNH0.WEBhGwZFIFhubp42RzciMPmzWdfDC9o24akvVcl1a40/img.jpg?width=980" id="56920" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c79b6e5712b1b6f73a4d875536a2a4e3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Transmission lines from the Churchill Falls generating station in Labrador. Douglas Spott / CC BY-NC 2.0
<p><a href="https://chpexpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Champlain Hudson Power Express</a>, a 330-mile-long transmission line, would deliver 1,000 megawatts of hydropower from Quebec to the New York metro area and could supply about a million homes — helping to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.</p><p>The project — a joint venture of the province-run Hydro-Québec and Transmission Developers Inc., a subsidiary of the private equity firm Blackstone Group — has already received the necessary permits for construction, but no contracts for the power have been signed.</p><p>Construction, however, could still start next year, with the project scheduled to come online in 2025.</p><p>Massachusetts has an even bigger project in the works. <a href="https://www.necleanenergyconnect.org/project-overview" target="_blank">New England Clean Energy Connect</a> would bring 1,500 megawatts of capacity through a 145-mile-long transmission line running through Maine from Canada to Massachusetts. It too would come from Hydro-Québec, this time working in conjunction with Central Maine Power.</p><p>The project, which is projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 3 million tons a year in New England, has received its necessary permits from the state of Maine but still awaits federal permits from the Department of Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers.</p><p>Opposition groups, including some environmental organizations, are also <a href="https://www.nrcm.org/programs/climate/proposed-cmp-transmission-line-bad-deal-maine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">challenging various aspects of the project</a> in court. And a coalition of First Nations communities that have seen dams built on their ancestral lands have voiced their opposition. (You can read more about that transmission line in <a href="https://therevelator.org/hydropower-necec/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Part I of this series</a>.)</p><p>More could be on the way. Nalcor Energy — the province-run hydro company of Newfoundland and Labrador — is nearing completion on its 824-megawatt <a href="https://muskratfalls.nalcorenergy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Muskrat Falls hydro project</a> on the Churchill (or Grand) River. Costs have just <a href="https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/business/regional-business/muskrat-falls-costs-top-131-billion-503057/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">surpassed $13 billion</a> — twice what was first estimated.</p><p>Some of the energy is already slated to be sent to other parts of Canada and then — hopefully, <a href="https://muskratfalls.nalcorenergy.com/project-overview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">according to Nalcor</a> — to New England.</p>
<h3>Environmental Considerations</h3><p>What's the net impact of these planned projects? That's hard to say. Tallying the environmental benefit or harm from large-scale hydro is complicated.</p><p>One of the biggest metrics of assessing environmental impact is greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p>The first phase of emissions comes just from building its infrastructure. Large-scale hydropower involves the construction of generating stations, and often accompanying dams and reservoirs. And then there are hundreds of miles of transmission lines that need to be constructed to move that power.</p><p>What comes next, once a project comes online, depends on multiple factors. Research has shown that hydropower emissions vary widely based on the location, climate and area of land flooded. Hydro emissions are also highest when a reservoir is first flooded and then decrease in the following years.</p><p>All told, over the life cycle of a project, most hydropower is cleaner than fossil fuels, although not always as clean as wind and solar. A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-017-0032-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">study</a> in <em>Nature Energy</em> on the projected life-cycle emissions of energy sources put solar at 6 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour and wind at 4. The researchers estimated typical hydro at 97, but there's great variation between sites.</p><p>A 2014 <a href="https://www.hydroquebec.com/data/developpement-durable/pdf/comparing-power-generation-options-and-electricity-mixes.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">report</a> prepared by the research group CIRAIG on behalf of Hydro-Québec found the average life-cycle emissions of the company's fleet of 62 generation stations was between 6 and 17 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour.</p><p>Alain Tremblay, Hydro-Québec's lead scientist on greenhouse gas emissions, says tracking from their most recent complex of dams on the Romaine River shows emissions between 5 and 10 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour.</p>
<p>There are other environmental considerations beyond greenhouse gas emissions.</p><p>The nonprofit Natural Resources Council of Maine opposes the New England Clean Energy Connect, in part out of concern about fragmented habitat and critical wildlife populations, including brook trout. The transmission line would require clearing a 53-mile stretch of forest through the North Maine Woods.</p><p>In New York the nonprofit <a href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/" target="_blank">Riverkeeper</a> reversed its earlier support for the Champlain Hudson Power Express and has now <a href="https://www.riverkeeper.org/news-events/news/energy/riverkeeper-statement-regarding-the-champlain-hudson-power-express/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">come out against that project</a>, which would send its electrical cable down the length of the Hudson River.</p><p>"This sets a precedent that the Hudson is a conduit for extension cords from Canada or from anywhere," says John Lipscomb, Riverkeeper's vice president of advocacy. "It should be off limits to that kind of thing."</p><p>The Hudson contains legacy pollution from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) dumped decades ago and other contaminants that could be turned up as the cable is dug in the riverbed. Over the years some of that pollution has been remediated, but not all. And plans to avoid putting cable in the areas of the worst-known contamination aren't sufficient to protect the ecosystem, he says.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU1MjYzNS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNzAyMzAzNX0.8in_ymMRAcp03rlSx96nunmf8TUnwEfoKFPpn1Fhmqc/img.png?width=980" id="926a2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3e71d0055729b3ec7582ade7e2129da6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Atlantic sturgeon were brought to the brink of extension in the 20th century and are now are listed as an endangered species. NOAA
<p>There's also concern that imperiled fish species, like endangered shortnose sturgeon and Atlantic sturgeon, could be harmed by the electrical cable. The river was designated as critical habitat for Atlantic sturgeon, but no <a href="https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/regulators-warned-of-champlain-hudson-power-express-projects-environmental-impact-2020-10-08/" target="_blank">Endangered Species Act review</a> has been initiated to assess if the cable could threaten fish populations.</p><p>"Both of these fishes have nervous systems similar to that of sharks, which are incredibly sensitive to electric signals," says Roger Downs, conservation director of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. "It's a huge experiment to suddenly put an electrical signal down the backbone of this river."</p><p>Lipscomb shares this concern. After all the work that's been done in recent years to help restore the Hudson and its estuary, he says "it's heartbreaking that we still think of this river as a resource."</p><p>Hydropower may be renewable, he says, but from an environmental perspective it isn't sustainable. "Unless a river's value is zero," he says. "If a river has any value as an ecosystem, as a host for life, then hydropower isn't even a consideration."</p>
<h3>Upstream Justice Concerns</h3><p>In 1990 a group of Cree and Inuit protestors paddled the Hudson River to Manhattan to ask New Yorkers to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.3044034/commemorating-25th-anniversary-of-historic-odeyak-voyage-1.3044498" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">oppose a power purchase</a> agreement between the state and Quebec and the construction of a second dam in the James Bay hydroelectric project in northern Quebec.</p><p>They were successful. Now, 30 years later, a different group of First Nations is making a similar plea.</p><p>On October 7 the First Nations of Pessamit, Wemotaci, Pikogan, Lac Simon and Kitcisakik sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy stating their opposition to the Massachusetts transmission line. The groups wrote that one-third of Hydro-Québec's installed power is "produced in our respective ancestral territories from reservoirs, dams, power plants and various other installations, without prior consultation, without our consent and without compensation."</p><p>Over the decades of hydropower buildout in Canada many First Nations communities — but not all — have been consulted on projects and struck agreements with power companies.</p><p>Major hydroelectric projects have altered the flow of rivers and in some cases, the food and cultural resources used by Indigenous communities.</p><p>There are also health concerns.</p><p>A 2016 <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.6b04447" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">study</a> by Harvard University researchers, published in <em>Environmental Science and Technology,</em> found that flooding reservoirs for hydroelectric projects in Canada would increase the risk of mercury poisoning in Indigenous communities at 90% of the dam sites.</p><p>When land is flooded for a reservoir, the microbes in the soil convert naturally occurring mercury into more dangerous methylmercury, which then works its way up the food chain. That puts anyone who relies on local wildlife such as fish, birds and seals at risk. In the northern reaches of Canada, that's largely Indigenous people.</p><p>The researchers looked at how three Inuit communities downstream of Nalcor's Muskrat Falls project would fare. And they found that, on average, risk of exposure for community members would double after the area was flooded. That could translate to higher risks for cardiovascular disease and neurodevelopmental delays for children.</p><p>The more people rely on local food sources, the more harm they're exposed to. And in this remote region where store-bought food is very expensive, that's a serious concern.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU1MjYzOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTA1Mzc0MH0.QuQG5HVESeGCC-l0a561BfaZMDy-FUWAql5aCjCkhOc/img.jpg?width=980" id="c5668" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="055402f58261cdd4c3addaa56347c8f9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Near Happy Valley-Goose Bay on the Churchill (Grand) River downstream from Muskrat Falls. Douglas Sprott / CC BY-NC 2.0
<p>"People have a very high prevalence of economic insecurity and that translates into insecure access to Western foods at the grocery store," says Ryan Calder, a co-author of the study and now an assistant professor of environmental health and policy at Virginia Tech. "Traditional food systems account for a smaller and smaller fraction of overall calories, but a wildly disproportionate fraction of nutrient intake."</p><p>Despite this, he doesn't think their research should be taken as a commentary on whether hydroelectric power itself is good or bad. "We really just criticized [the company's] risk assessment," he says.</p><p>Earlier studies by Nalcor claimed the effect on the Inuit would be negligible as the mercury would quickly dilute in downstream waters.</p><p>"They had no basis for saying there was going to be no impact," says Calder. "It was clear that they were trying to ignore their obligations — if not legal, then certainly moral — to Indigenous people."</p><p>The researchers also found that about half of the other sites they studied would have equal or greater concentrations of methylmercury than Muskrat Falls.</p><p>Roberta Frampton Benefiel of <a href="http://www.grandriverkeeperlabrador.ca/" target="_blank">Grand Riverkeeper Labrador</a>, who lives near the Muskrat Falls project, says she wasn't surprised by Nalcor's position. "Aboriginal people don't count to this government and so we have to make the Aboriginal people count," she says.</p><p>She has spoken to environmental organizations in the United States to help raise awareness about some of the local effects of dam development in Canada.</p><p>"I want people in the United States to understand that when they flip their light switch, if they accept these power lines from Canada, they're poisoning northern communities," she says.</p>
<h3>More Dams?</h3><p>New York and Massachusetts have been eager for hydropower from Canada as long as it doesn't mean the construction of new dams for the transmission projects.</p><p>Hydro-Québec says it has enough reserves for export to New York and Massachusetts without redirecting power from its existing United States or Canadian customers.</p><p>It's nearly finished with the last dam in the complex of four generating stations on the Romaine River, which along with other projects, has added 5,000 megawatts of capacity over the last decade. Although it does has the <a href="https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/ra/Reliability%20Assessments%20DL/NERC_LTRA_2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lowest reserve margin</a> of utilities in the region, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's 2019 assessment.</p><p>In previous years Hydro-Québec did preliminary work to explore the possibility of new dams on the Little Mécatina River, but company spokesperson Lynn St-Laurent says they currently have no plans for new dams and that project is no longer in their strategic plan.</p><p>Gary Sutherland, director of strategic affairs for northeast markets at Hydro-Québec, says that additional energy demand for export could be met with increased energy efficiency in Quebec and more wind projects. Quebec Premier François Legault <a href="https://twitter.com/francoislegault/status/1316155854610001920" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tweeted last week</a> that the province's next addition of capacity, if needed, would be the 200-megawatt <a href="https://energycentral.com/news/quebec-interest-wind-power-projects-back-horizon" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apuiat wind farm</a>.</p><p>Elsewhere in Canada, however, dam building continues.</p><p>Manitoba Hydro and four First Nations are in the process of building the <a href="https://www.enr.com/articles/45695-mega-canadian-hydro-project-moves-forward-despite-surprises-bitter-cold" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keeyask project</a>, a 695-megawatt hydroelectric generating station on the Nelson River.</p><p>British Columbia also continues to muddle along on development at Site C, a 1,100-megawatt dam on the Peace River that has faced mounting problems and protests.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU1MjY0MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNzkxNTIzN30.qQ8Ig5mi290gQcTE_vwWxHVQE2VEHK_kU4C07jHBS0U/img.jpg?width=980" id="f4830" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="60e9b436682d334050473e4f446c730c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Construction of the Site C dam in British Columbia in 2017. Jason Woodhead / CC BY 2.0
<p>This includes, according to a report in <em><a href="https://thenarwhal.ca/topics/site-c-dam-bc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Narwhal</a></em>, legal challenges from "landowners and First Nations who oppose flooding 128 kilometers of the Peace River and its tributaries, putting Indigenous burial grounds, traditional hunting and fishing areas, habitat for more than 100 species vulnerable to extinction and some of Canada's richest farmland under up to 50 meters of water."</p><p>Construction has also <a href="https://vancouversun.com/business/site-c-still-scaling-up-construction-to-meet-important-milestone-while-remains-up-in-the-air" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">uncovered geological issues</a> that could make parts of the foundation unstable, prompting <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/site-c-letter-1.5741443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">numerous calls</a> to stop development.</p><p><a href="https://1694d3a6-ec13-42ea-a8f0-a29cda354660.usrfiles.com/ugd/1694d3_b5baab11560f4bf4a3910e992c608509.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">New research</a> by energy analyst Robert McCullough, who runs a Portland, <a href="https://www.mresearch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oregon-based consulting firm</a>, found that if the project continues its likely to have surplus energy that will need to be sold outside the province at a loss to ratepayers.</p><p>But a poor financial outlook doesn't always mean the end of dam projects in Canada.</p><p>In Labrador Nalcor also has another large project planned — the 2,250-megawatt Gull Island dam, farther upstream from Muskrat Falls, which could be built if there's a buyer for the power.</p><p>It's a prospect Benefiel finds shocking, considering the company's most recent project was so over budget that it prompted a provincial <a href="https://www.muskratfallsinquiry.ca/" target="_blank">Commission of Inquiry</a>, which found that Muskrat Falls put the financial health of the entire province at risk.</p>
<h3>Is Hydro Needed?</h3><p>Considering all the complexities of hydro projects and the related transmission infrastructure, is it necessary to move U.S. states off fossil fuels and toward clean energy goals?</p><p>That depends on who you talk to.</p><p>Despite investment in wind and solar, "hydro has a couple of things going for it," says Rothstein of the Northeast Clean Energy Council. The first is that it's able to compete on costs, and second is the "dispatchability."</p><p>Thanks to decades of dam building, Canadian hydropower is ready to go — pending transmission capacity. It's also seen as less variable than wind and solar, although hydropower does fluctuate by season and by year, depending on precipitation.</p><p>"I think hydro will play a role, but it's not going to be the only resource," says Rothstein. Offshore wind holds the biggest potential for large-scale projects in the region, he says.</p><p>New York has already awarded contracts to procure <a href="https://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-york-awards-record-1700-mw-offshore-wind-contracts/559091/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">1,700 megawatts of offshore wind</a> and in July <a href="https://renewablesnow.com/news/new-york-opens-procurement-round-for-4-gw-of-renewables-707197/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">put out a call</a> to solicit another 2,500 megawatts of offshore wind and 1,500 megawatts of land-based, large-scale renewables.</p><p>Massachusetts is making strides toward wind energy, too. In 2016 Gov. Charlie Baker signed an energy bill requiring the state's utilities to<a href="https://www.wbur.org/earthwhile/2019/05/31/more-offshore-wind-power-massachusetts" target="_blank"> procure 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind</a> and could soon double that.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU1MjY2NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzE5MTUwNX0.qJN9i3xJcDJ9GrKI8cM8v0WIFkWcMGzNFzvn5yz0p54/img.jpg?width=980" id="cc8a4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c558d5f64337d0e12e7603c52be882b2" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
The Block Island Wind Farm off the coast of Rhode Island is the first U.S. offshore wind farm. Dennis Schroeder / NREL / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
<p>All told around a half a dozen major projects now await a green light, pending permitting decisions by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.</p><p>All down the East Coast, "there's a whole constellation of projects close to breaking water," says Rothstein.</p><p>In the past offshore wind has been stymied by NIMBYism, but he says both the public perception of wind has changed and so have costs. New projects being proposed are farther offshore and out of view. And more established, global wind developers are competing for projects, helping to bring down prices.</p><p>Sierra Club's Downs thinks northeast states could meet their goals without imported hydro. Instead he'd like to see more focus on large-scale solar installations in upstate New York on brownfields or fallow farmland, and more offshore wind.</p><p>"And then we need to be doing more and more programs for smaller, community-based wind and solar," he says.</p><p>Whatever mix of low-carbon power is secured, Downs hopes it doesn't turn rivers into transmission corridors and does account for the full environmental and social costs of power generation.</p><p>"We have an obligation to protect cultural rights, Indigenous rights and also the vast Canadian wilderness," says Downs. "We shouldn't be exporting our environmental problems."</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://therevelator.org/hydro-dams-transmission/" target="_blank">The Revelator</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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A new study has revealed that Earth's biggest mass extinction was triggered by volcanic activity that led to ocean acidification. Illustration by Dawid Adam Iurino (PaleoFactory, Sapienza University of Rome) for Jurikova et al (2020)
The excess carbon dioxide emitted by human activity since the start of the industrial revolution has already raised the Earth's temperature by more than one degree Celsius, increased the risk of extreme hurricanes and wildfires and killed off more than half of the corals in the Great Barrier Reef. But geologic history shows that the impacts of greenhouse gases could be much worse.
<p>In fact, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/scientists" target="_self">scientists</a> from <a href="https://news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/great-dying-what-caused-earths-biggest-mass-extinction/?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=twitter&utm_term=univofstandrews&utm_content=research&utm_campaign=research" target="_blank">Scotland's University of Saint Andrews</a> and two major German research centers have for the first time determined a "conclusive picture" of the initial trigger and subsequent processes responsible for Earth's biggest mass <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/extinction" target="_self">extinction</a>. The answer? Massive amounts of carbon dioxide spewed into the atmosphere from a volcanic eruption.</p><p>"We are dealing with a cascading catastrophe in which the rise of CO2 in the atmosphere set off a chain of events that successively extinguished almost all life in the seas," study lead author Dr. Hana Jurikova told <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/mass-extinction-greenhouse-gas-triassic-carbon-dioxide-volcanoes-b1183299.html" target="_blank">The Independent</a>.</p>
<p>The study, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-020-00646-4" target="_blank">Nature Geoscience</a> Monday, sought to understand the mechanisms behind an event known as the "Great Dying," the University of Saint Andrews explained in a press release. This was a period around 252 million years ago between the Permian and Triassic epochs in which 95 percent of marine species were wiped out within tens of thousands of years. It is the closest life on Earth has come to total extinction.</p><p>Scientists have advanced many theories for what caused this turn of events, including a release of methane from the seafloor and volcanic activity, but this is the first time a group has determined the exact cause, the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, one of the research centers involved in the new study, <a href="https://www.geomar.de/en/news/article/ausloeser-fuer-groesstes-massenaussterben-der-erdgeschichte-identifiziert" target="_blank">said</a>.</p>
<p>The extinction process went something like this, as Saint Andrews explained.</p><ol><li>A volcanic eruption in what is now Siberia sent 100,000 billion tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.</li><li>This release led to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/ocean-acidification" target="_self">ocean acidification</a> and warming, which was especially deadly to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/marine-life" target="_self">marine life</a> that requires calcium carbonate for their shells and skeletons.</li><li>The atmospheric warming increased the rates of chemical weathering on land.</li><li>This caused more nutrients to run off into the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/ocean" target="_self">ocean</a>, depleting it of oxygen and perhaps also poisoning it with sulphide.</li></ol><p>"It took several hundreds of thousands to millions of years for the ecosystem to recover from the catastrophe, which profoundly altered the course of evolution of life on Earth," Jurikova said.</p>
<p>The researchers, who also included members of the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, were able to reach their conclusions by examining the shells of fossil brachiopods.</p><p>"These are clam-like organisms that have existed on Earth for more than 500 million years," Jurikova explained in the GEOMAR press release.</p><p>The researchers were able to assess the pH levels in the ocean based on the different isotopes of boron in the fossilized shells. Because oceanic pH levels are tightly linked to atmospheric carbon dioxide, the team could then create a model of the atmosphere at the time.</p><p>"With this technique, we can not only reconstruct the evolution of the atmospheric CO2 concentrations, but also clearly trace it back to volcanic activity," study coauthor Dr. Marcus Gutjahr of GEOMAR said in the press release.</p>
<p>The amount of carbon dioxide released by the Siberian volcano was more than 40 times all the carbon dioxide currently held in fossil fuel reserves, including everything that has been released since the start of the industrial revolution, according to Saint Andrews.</p><p>Still, the researchers told The Independent that the study offered "bleak lessons" for humanity as we face the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/sixth-mass-extinction-accelerating-land-animals-2646147181.html" target="_self">sixth mass extinction</a>.</p><p>"Ancient volcanic eruptions of this kind are not directly comparable to anthropogenic carbon emissions, and in fact all modern fossil fuel reserves are far too insufficient to release as much CO2 over hundreds of years, let alone thousands of years as was released 252 million years ago," Jurikova told The Independent. "But it is astonishing that humanity's CO2 emission rate is currently fourteen times higher than the annual emission rate at the time that marked the greatest biological catastrophe in Earth's history."</p>
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Air Pollution Responsible for Over 6.6 Million Deaths Worldwide in 2020, Study Finds
21 October
Health + Wellness
Rashtrapati Bhavan engulfed in smog, at Rajpath, on Oct. 12, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Biplov Bhuyan / Hindustan Times via Getty Images
An annual comprehensive report on air pollution showed that it was responsible for 6.67 million deaths worldwide, including the premature death of 500,000 babies, with the worst health outcomes occurring in the developing world, according to the State of Global Air, which was released Wednesday.
<p>The <a href="https://www.stateofglobalair.org/sites/default/files/documents/2020-10/soga-2020-report.pdf" target="_blank">State of Global Air 2020</a> looked at the effects of air pollution on health outcomes in 2019 and found that conditions are getting worse, as it moved up from the fifth leading cause of death worldwide to the fourth leading cause. Only high-blood pressure, smoking and poor diet surpass air pollution.</p><p>The State of Global Air 2020 is a joint collaboration produced annually by the Health Effects Institute and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's Global Burden of Disease project.</p>
<p>One reason that air pollution moved up in the list of leading causes of death is that this year's report was able to account for infant death due to air pollution. The report noted that roughly half a million babies died to due to poor air quality, with roughly two-thirds of those deaths due to poor indoor air from burning charcoal, wood and animal dung for cooking, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/21/polluted-air-killing-half-a-million-babies-a-year-across-globe" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>.</p><p>"We don't totally understand what the mechanisms are at this stage, but there is something going on that is causing reductions in baby growth and ultimately birth weight," said Katherine Walker, principal scientist at the Health Effects Institute, as The Guardian reported. "There is an epidemiological link, shown across multiple countries in multiple studies."</p>
<p>India was the worst hit country with 116,000 infant deaths linked to air pollution, while Sub-Saharan Africa saw 236,000 infant deaths due to poor air quality, according to the report, as <a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-10-air-pollution-500k-newborns-global.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Agence-France Presse</a> (AFP) noted. Most of the complications were due to low birth weight and premature birth, which leaves a baby's lungs fragile.</p><p>It is not just babies that need to be protected. Recent studies have also noted that exposure to air pollution for mothers contributes to low birth weight and premature births, according to <a href="https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/air-pollution-contributes-to-more-than-1-16-000-infant-deaths-in-india-reveals-global-study-159013" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tribune in India</a>.</p><p>"An infant's health is critical to the future of every society, and this newest evidence suggests an especially high risk for infants born in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa," said Dan Greenbaum, president of the Health Effects Institute, the AFP reported.</p>
<p>According to the report, the most smog or PM2.5 air pollution for 2019 was in India, followed by Nepal, Niger, Qatar and Nigeria. The report noted that India's air quality has been steadily decreasing since 2010. While most of the 20 most populous countries have decreased air pollution over the last decade, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan have seen air pollution increase, as <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-recorded-highest-air-pollution-exposure-globally-in-2019-report/story-oOH8OTQEf276Sy0vrYMXyH.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Hindustan Times</a> reported.</p><p>Long-term exposure to air pollution contributed to 1.67 million deaths in India last year.</p><p>"Given the high exposure and staggering health burden of air pollution, India must show urgency and recognize air pollution as a regional-scale problem," said Sagnik Dey, associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi, to The Hindustan Times. "The National Clean Air Program should be expanded beyond the urban centers with an air-shed approach prioritizing the local and regional mitigation measures to achieve clean air goals for India."</p><p>Epidemiologists have compared the state of air in developing countries to Victorian London from 150 years ago.</p><p>"This is not the air pollution we see in modern cities [in the rich world] but that which we had 150 years ago in London and other places, where there were coal fires indoors," said Beate Ritz, professor of epidemiology at UCLA, to The Guardian. "Indoor air pollution has not been at the forefront for policymakers, but it should be."</p>
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Coronavirus-sniffing dogs Miina and Kössi (R) are seen in Vantaa, Finland on September 2, 2020. Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva / AFP/ Getty Images
By Teri Schultz
Europe is in a panic over the second wave of COVID-19, with infection rates sky-rocketing and GDP plummeting. Belgium has just announced it will no longer test asymptomatic people, even if they've been in contact with someone who has the disease, because the backlog in processing is overwhelming. Other European countries are also struggling to keep up testing and tracing.
Meanwhile in a small cabin in Helsinki airport, for his preferred payment of a morsel of cat food, rescue dog Kossi needs just a few seconds to tell whether someone has coronavirus.
<div id="bfda0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c60b1a0dedbedbe5e0ce44284aff852f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1308390775328251906" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Covid-19 dogs started their work today at the Helsinki Airport at arrival hall 2B. Dogs have been trained to detect… https://t.co/nw4mrw6eJM</div> — Helsinki Airport (@Helsinki Airport)<a href="https://twitter.com/HelsinkiAirport/statuses/1308390775328251906">1600779644.0</a></blockquote></div><p>If it were left to Kossi and his pals, crowds of potential virus carriers could be cleared in a fraction of the time for a fraction of the cost with none of the physical discomfort that accompanies the current nasal swab test based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.</p>
No Human Nose Needed
<p>A dog can sniff a cloth wiped on a wrist or neck and immediately identify if it comes from someone who has contracted the virus as much as five days before any symptoms appear which would lead a person to go into isolation. "A dog could easily save so so, so many lives," University of Helsinki veterinary researcher Anna Hielm-Bjorkman told DW, who says their testing has shown an accuracy level of nearly 100%.</p><p>It was originally her idea to see whether Kossi, a talented disease-detection dog, could redirect his skills in sniffing out mold, bedbugs and cancer to detecting the new virus just as it started to spread in Europe. "It took him seven minutes to figure out 'okay, this is what you want me to look out for," Hielm-Bjorkman said. "So that totally blew our minds."</p><p>Susanna Paavilainen, the executive director of the Wise Nose scent-detection foundation and the woman who saved Kossi from euthanasia in a Spanish shelter eight years ago, immediately started retraining her dogs to find the coronavirus.</p><p>Miina, who used to track a young girl's blood sugar levels by scent, quickly came on board, along with two others already working in disease detection. In all, they hope to train 15 dogs in the first phase.</p><p>Hielm-Bjorkman said once they discovered the new capabilities, while the normal academic procedure would be to test, publish and get peer-reviewed, their first instinct was to get the dogs into service. "[Researchers] who are actually publishing," she noted wryly, "are not at the airports."</p>Wags, Not Wages
<p>But for that, they needed permission and ideally, some funding. Vantaa Deputy Mayor Timo Aronkyto, who is also responsible for airport security, saw the benefit straight away. "It took me two minutes," he told DW.</p><p>However, his funding options were limited to about $390,000 total for the four-month pilot project aiming to prove that results from the dog tests are at least as accurate as the PCR test. Anyone who tests positive at the voluntary canine site is requested to go to the medical unit for confirmation.</p><p>The interest of Aronkyto, a trained physician, is rooted in both health and wealth. "Our testing at the airport costs more than 1 million [euros] (USD $1.2 million) a month at the moment," he said, explaining he expects that to go up to €3 million (USD. $3.5 million) per month in winter. "These dogs would be much cheaper," he pointed out.</p><p>He's optimistic support will grow as data from the current pilot project accumulates, explaining there is already work underway to change Finnish legislation so eventually sniffer dogs would have the same "authority" as customs dogs.</p><p>Aronkyto anticipates one animal performing both functions in the near future. He plans to continue this level of funding from his city budget into next year but that doesn't train new dogs nor expand the capacity beyond the four that split shifts currently at the airport, even as infection rates rise.</p>Helsinki Hesitates
<p>Notably, however, the Finnish government has not signaled it would like to pick up the program itself, despite a huge surge in publicity and, as Hielm-Bjorkman and Paavilainen emphasize, interest from other countries. Travelers have been eager to participate, waiting in line more than an hour at times.</p><p>Finnish ambassador in Ramallah, Palestine, Paivi Peltokoski, praised the experience after a recent trip but, apparently, her enthusiasm is not overly contagious.</p><div id="d9823" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="61d382f115fe66a44eb793d9ebee3d94"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318564228450615299" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I was tested negative by two #coronadogs upon arrival at the #Helsinki airport in #Finland. Later a medical test ve… https://t.co/cGlWQn8DJb</div> — Päivi Peltokoski (@Päivi Peltokoski)<a href="https://twitter.com/PaiviPeltokoski/statuses/1318564228450615299">1603205184.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"If the government would see this already as something that they would believe in," Hielm-Bjorkman said, she could envision training hundreds of dogs, stationing sniffers at concert halls or sports matches or elderly care homes. She adds there's a need for a "paradigm shift" for both medical professionals and the public.</p><p>Usually it's doctors telling patients if they're sick, she explained, and "here it's a dog handler."</p>
Little Political Will on German Project
<p>This situation is not limited to Finland. In Germany researchers also <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/german-sniffer-dogs-show-promise-at-detecting-coronavirus/a-54300863" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">announced promising results</a> with canines <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-german-military-training-sniffer-dogs/a-54062180" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">detecting COVID-19</a>, but no dogs have been used anywhere so far. And then, says Professor Holger Volk of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, there has been insufficient political will or funding to move the project forward, something he called "very troubling" especially with a resurgent infection rate.</p><p>"When we started this whole project, we we did it because we wanted to help to stop the pandemic," Volk told DW. "It's really has been a very frustrating ride. I have had a lot of naysayers in the whole process. If I wasn't a very determined person, having done a lot of research, I would have probably stopped it."</p><p>He agrees with Hielm-Bjorkman's assessment that "it's just not in the perception of doctors that dogs are able to do this precise work." But he also echoes her faith in the vast potential of their discovery. "If you had a dog who could sniff every day quickly your cohort of workers, for example," he said, "think about the impact. You could continue having a workplace."</p><p>Speaking of workplaces, Susanna Paavilainen is starting to think if Finland doesn't want to unleash the dogs' potential at home, she and Kossi might accept one of the many requests from all over the world to provide training. "We can move because Kossi likes warm weather," she says, petting her star sniffer.</p>From Your Site Articles
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