globalbriefs


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.


Tiny Baubles Plastic Pollution Flows from Washday to the Sea


Global Gardens New Global Warming Planting Map


The color-coded map of planting zones on the back of seed packets is being updated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reflect climate changes brought on by global warming. The new guide, last updated in 1990, re- flects, for instance, that the coldest day of the year isn’t as frigid as it used to be, so some plants and trees can now sur- vive farther north. Nearly entire states, such as Ohio, Nebraska and Texas, are now classified in warmer zones. The new guide uses better weather data and offers more interactive tech- nology. Gardeners using the online version can enter their Zip code and get the exact average coldest temperature. For the first time, calculations include more detailed factors, such as prevail- ing winds, the presence of nearby bod- ies of water and other local topography. Boston University Biology Profes- sor Richard Primack observes, “There are a lot of things you can grow now that you couldn’t grow before. People don’t think of figs as a crop you can grow in the Boston area. You can do it now.” The changes come too late to make this year’s seed packets, but they will be on next year’s, says George Ball, chairman and CEO of the W. Atlee Burpee seed company.


View the planting zones map at Tinyurl. com/7r5u267.


A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology warns that microscopic plastic debris from washing clothes made of syn- thetic materials like polyester, acrylic and nylon is accumulating in the marine environment and could be entering the food chain. Concentra- tions were greatest near coastal urban areas. Up to 1,900 tiny fibers per garment were released with each wash during the study. Earlier research has shown that plastic particles smaller than one millimeter comprise 80 percent of


environmental plastic and are being eaten by animals and getting into the food chain.


Mark Browne, Ph.D., an ecologist based at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a member of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthe- sis, advises, “Once the plastics had been eaten, they transferred from the animals’ stomachs to their circulation system and actually accumulated in their cells.” The team took samples from 18 beaches around the globe, including sites in Australia, Britain, India, Japan, Oman, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa and the United States. They found no sample that did not contain pieces of the microplastic.


Source: BBC


Oldie Goldies Honoring Elders’ Contributions to Community


May spotlights Older Americans Month and the important role they play in sharing their experience, wisdom and understanding, and passing it all on to younger generations in meaningful ways. Youth that have significant relationships with a grandparent or another elder, for example, report that these relation- ships helped shape their values, goals and life choices, and gave them a sense of identity and roots. Many communities have increased their efforts to provide opportunities for older adults, many that remain physically and socially active through their 80s and beyond. Trends show that people over age 60 account for a growing percentage of participants in community service positions, faith-based organizations, online social networking groups, and arts and recreational activities.


Lifelong participation in social, creative and physical activities has proven health benefits, including retention of mobility, increased muscle mass and improved cognitive abilities. The interactions of seniors with family, friends and neighbors across generations work to enrich the lives of all.


Sources: Administration on Aging (aoa.gov) and ElderCare.gov 20 Boston | NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com


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