The Human Imprint

Major drive launched against global foot and mouth disease

After the 2001 foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the UK, no one can be left not being aware of the severe animal welfare and economic implications.  The FAO and the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have launched a global control programme for FMD.  

The report states that "the initiative, presented and supported at a recent OIE/FAO Global Conference on FMD in Asunciòn, Paraguay, provided for the launch of a global programme for the progressive control of FMD. It will be implemented in the framework of the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases, signed by the two partners in 2004". 

Follow the link to find out more and also check out the video.

EU supports fight against malnourishment

Following the post yesterday about the data on agricultural subsidies from The Economist - today I am posting about a recent FAO report that welcomes EU aid and support for countries desperately fighting malnourishment. The report states that:

"At a time when over one billion people are undernourished worldwide, Europe steps up its support to farmers hardest hit by the economical slowdown and high food prices, FAO said today, welcoming a € 75 million ($105 million) donation from the European Union (EU) to help poor countries boost agricultural production. The EU-funded aid package to 13 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Central America, severely affected by high food prices, provides enormous additional backing to the UN's efforts to turn the tide of growing hunger in the world. The package follows a historic €125 million ($170 million) donation from the European Union just one month ago.

"Europe's help comes at a critical moment," said José Maria Sumpsi, FAO's Assistant Director-General of the Technical Cooperation Department. "One out of six persons on this planet is undernourished - more than ever before. Poor countries need all the assistance possible. We are grateful for Europe's unequivocal support," he said. He noted that high and volatile food prices continue to plague developing countries and that hunger is on the rise even more because of the global economic crisis, causing lower income and increasing unemployment in developing countries".

"In order to provide a rapid response to high food prices in developing countries, a €1 billion ‘Food Facility' has been adopted by the European Parliament and Council".

Check out the rest of the report by following the link.

Agricultural subsidies

The Economist reported that the OECD estimates that its member countries spent $265 billion on farm subsidies in 2008. This was slightly more than a fifth of their farmers’ total earnings. The report states that:

"Last year’s increase in food prices ensured that such payments were at their lowest level since records began in the mid-1980s. But handouts still made up more than three-fifths of farmers’ gross incomes in Norway and South Korea between 2006 and 2008. In contrast, they were less than 1% of farm incomes in New Zealand and under 10% in both Australia and America. But the size of America’s farm sector meant that it spent $23.3 billion on subsidies last year. The European Union was by far the biggest subsidiser, forking out $150.4 billion".

Check out the article.

Zambezi hit by killer fish disease

The FAO reports that a killer disease is decimating fish stocks in the Zambezi River Valley. This problem has the potential to threaten food security and the livelihoods of rural populations in an area shared by seven countries.

The article states that: "An alert issued by FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) said the disease, known as Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome, or EUS, is caused by the fungus Aphanomyces invadans, which forms ugly lesions on fish and has a high rate of mortality. It is one of the most serious aquatic diseases affecting finfish.

“If not properly contained there is the risk of the disease spreading to other countries surrounding the Zambezi River as well as river systems in the region,” said Rohana Subasinghe, Senior Fishery Resources Officer. The 1,390,000 km² Zambezi River Basin is home to some 32 million people, of whom 80 percent are dependent on agriculture or fishing and fish farming".  

Follow the links to find out more.

H1N1 update

Last Tuesday BBC News reported that H1N1 deaths have reached more than 700 people around the world since the outbreak began four months ago. This is according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The number of deaths has increased by at least two-thirds from the last official death toll figure of 429, published by the WHO on July 6.

Scientific American reported (21st July) that the first vaccines for H1N1 will start their testing programme in Adelaide Australia where  240 healthy volunteers will assist in the trial. The U.S. FDA have approved the seasonal flu vaccine for this autumn. It won’t protect against the H1N1 virus, but traditional flu still kills about 36,000 people in the U.S. each year. The FDA noted that it “continues to work with manufacturers, international partners and other government agencies to facilitate the availability of a safe and effective vaccine against the 2009 H1N1 virus.” 

On Thursday, the Telegraph reported that 840 people are in hospital suffering from the  H1N1 virus, with 63 people in intensive care. The death toll in England currently stands at 26. An estimated 100,000 cases of H1N1 are suspected in the last seven days in England.

The Health Protection Agency issued a report on the 23rd July that stated the following:

• GP consultation rates have risen sharply over the last week in England. 
• The under-5s and 5-14 year olds are the age groups predominantly affected, with the over 65s continuing to show much lower rates.
• The majority of cases continue to be mild.  The provisional number of deaths related to swine flu is 26.  
• HPA estimates that there were 100,000 new cases of swine flu in England last week (range 60,000 - 140,000).

Monsoon chaos sweeps South Asia

BBC News reports that authorities in the Indian state of Orissa have said that at least 36 people have died in flooding in the past week. Half a million homes have been flooded.  In Pakistan there have been protests amid power outages after heavy rains killed at least 29 people in Karachi. However in Bangladesh, poor monsoon rainfall is causing widespread alarm.  Click on the link to read the full story.

 

US exposure to financial crisis is $23.7 trillion

BBC News reports that the total exposure of the US government to the financial crisis could hit $23.7 trillion (£14.3tn). I can't actually visualise this amount of money!

Click on the link to read the report.

Did a Comet Cause a North American Die-Off around 13,000 Years Ago?

Scientific American reports that researchers have found shock-synthesized hexagonal diamonds on one of California's Channel Islands. They say that this is the strongest evidence yet that a comet exploded in the atmosphere above North America which caused widespread extinctions around 12,900 years ago. Skeptics, however, say the debate is far from over. Follow the link to find out more.

Water footprint and UK water dependency

The Guardian reports that the Food Ethics Council (FEC) and the health and food group Sustain suggest that food and drink products should carry a new label to give consumers more information about their "water footprint" . I have studied and written about water footprint and also the dependency of the UK on water outside our national boundaries. 

The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee  has issued its report "Securing food supplies up to 2050: the challenges faced by the UK" a fascinating read.

Tonnes of British hazardous waste found in Brazilian ports

The Guardian reported last Friday that police in Brazil are investigating how 1,400 tonnes of British hazardous waste, "including nappies, condoms and toilet seats", ended up rotting in three Brazilian ports. Authorities said they wanted Britain to take back the 65 containers some of which contained hospital waste.

Two days later BBC News reported that the UK is working with Brazilian authorities to return more than 1,400 tonnes of the toxic waste to Britain. An inquiry has been launched into how the episode occurred.