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


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. Concentrations were greatest near coastal urban areas. Up to 1,900 tiny fibers per garment were re- leased with each wash during the study. Earlier research has shown that plastic particles smaller than one millimeter comprise 80 percent of envi-


ronmental 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


Go Rio


Natural Wealth Spreadsheet Proposal The British government is setting up a Natural Capital


Committee that will describe the country’s wealth in terms of the quality of its air, water, wildlife and other natural resources. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman


intends to propose that all countries begin “green accounting” to audit the state of their rivers, forests and other landscapes. The United Nations Rio+20 Conference in Brazil this June is expected to unite the participating nations in protecting the world’s environment. Sustainable development goals under consideration in- clude ensuring that all agriculture is sustainable, protecting oceans, setting up an international court on environmental crime, and appoint- ing an ombudsperson to speak on behalf of future generations. The summit, to be attended by 190 nations, will also look at cutting subsidies for fossil fuels and low carbon energy for all. Spelman observes that businesses in Great Britain are already measuring the impact they are having on the environment. She


states, “In the same way, governments can start to take account of dam- age to the environment in order to sustain resources like fresh water for fisheries, forests for clean air and green spaces for tourism. We want our


own government to take account of natural capital and our statisticians to calculate the state of the nation more widely.”


12 Knoxville TNNaturalAwakenings.com


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 genera- tions 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 re- tention of mobility, increased muscle mass and improved cognitive abili- ties. 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


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40