Here’s how to find out if there are nitrates in fruits and vegetables
Jun 18 2021
Here’s how to find out if there are nitrates in fruits and vegetables

It is quite possible to check vegetables and fruits for the content of chemicals “by eye” and without certain laboratory tests. “Be especially careful about off-season vegetables and fruits,” said Georgi Suslyanok, an associate professor in the Department of Biotechnology at Moscow University.

“Naturally grown tomatoes should not be very large. If they look perfect, have a bright unnatural color and when cut, you see white streaks, then they most likely contain nitrates. Pay attention to the stalk – in chemically clean tomatoes it is not large “, stressed the specialist.

According to the expert, you should pay attention not only to the size, color and smell. For example, cucumbers must have seeds, and if they are almost absent, the vegetables are grown with pesticides.

Apples should be looked for in stains and other “small imperfections” because they simply indicate a lack of chemicals in them. And the presence of black dots on the strawberries betrays the content of nitrates. There should be no yellow fibers in the pulp of the watermelon. They are also a sign of nitrates.

Suslyanok advised not to buy vegetables and fruits out of season and, if possible, to give preference to local production.

An EWG study on fruits and vegetables showed which products had the highest pesticide content. Apples have the most chemicals and onions the least.

New research shows that apples on the market are the most contaminated compared to other fruits and vegetables we buy. After apples, peppers and celery are among the most dangerous products on the market.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) study aimed to identify the fruits and vegetables that are most dangerous to eat because of their high content of chemicals. The safest fruits and vegetables for consumption are also determined.

The purest were onions, pineapple and sweet corn. According to experts, they have the lowest content of chemicals.

Researchers claim that 68% of the products studied contain pesticides, as well as some chemicals that are banned for use in agriculture.

Organophosphates have been found in some of the fruits, which can cause problems in the nervous system. Such dangerous residues have also been found in baby food.

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EASPD appoints next Secretary General: Maya Doneva
Jun 18 2021
EASPD appoints next Secretary General: Maya Doneva
EASPD appoints next Secretary General: Maya Doneva In preparation for the upcoming retirement of its current Secretary General, Luk Zelderloo, the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities has publicly announced the appointment of Maya Doneva as its next Secretary General. Ms Doneva will formally succeed Mr Zelderloo on the 1st November 2021, following a brief transition period.

Having worked at both a national level in her native Bulgaria and at a European level, Ms Doneva has 15 years’ experience as a grass roots activist for social inclusion. Ms Doneva is the founder and mentor of the Social Teahouse, a social enterprise which provides long term mentorship and first employment for youngsters raised in institutionalised settings. The Teahouse was one of the first social start-ups in the Balkans and it is currently one of the most awarded enterprises with a social mission in Bulgaria.
 
For the past 4 years, Ms Doneva has been the CEO of Karin Dom, an early intervention center based in Varna, managing a team of more than 60 employees and 20 volunteers. Within this role she has served as an active EASPD member, contributing to our work to represent the voice of social service providers for persons with disabilities at a European level. Alongside her work at Karin Dom, Ms Doneva has been a trainer for the European Youth Forum since 2015 working on a variety of topics related to youth rights.
 
Ms Doneva was selected as the next Secretary General of EASPD following a recruitment process that was implemented by an internal Recruitment Committee, comprising of EASPD Members and chaired by the EASPD President Jim Crowe. Her appointment was confirmed via a unanimous approval by the EASPD Board.

James Crowe, President of EASPD, welcomed the news of the selection of Ms Doneva as the the next Secretary General: “On behalf of the Board of EASPD I am pleased to present Maya to our members and to congratulate her on her appointment. As EASPD has grown, so have the demands on our Secretariat in Brussels, and upon our Secretary General. As we set out on the recruitment path for the new Secretary General, we knew we were looking for a special person. I am confident that in Maya, we have found that person.”
 
Speaking on her appointment Ms Doneva said “It is a great honour and huge responsibility to take over the position of Secretary General of EASPD in these times of post-pandemic recovery. Last year has taught us many valuable lessons, but the most important of all was that we need to be united and together in order to stand for our values and mission. Let’s continue building a better world for the people with disabilities and the services that support them.”

Maya will join the EASPD Secretariat in Brussels on the 1st October and will formally succeed Mr Zelderloo on the 1st November 2021.
 
Supporting Documents: Video message from Maya Doneva
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WAYS TO BE BETTER TOURISTS AFTER THE PANDEMIC
Jun 18 2021
WAYS TO BE BETTER TOURISTS AFTER THE PANDEMIC

Tourism will not return to the old normal soon. Coronavirus gave us sufficient time and reason to reflect on life and if there is something we can contribute to good in the world after he again becomes available as before, is to be more aware and responsible in our decisions as tourists. The end of the pandemic is somewhere, in the future, but no one knows exactly where. While we are waiting for the lockdowns to be cancelled and the borders to be opened, we can rethink the way we travel.

More than 100 countries, alongside international organizations and leading business groups have agreed in March 2021 to adopt harmonized standards for assisting tourists caught up in emergency situations. The Committee for the Development of an International Code for the Protection of Tourists has agreed on the text of the first two Chapters of the Code, containing seven key principles for a landmark legal code aimed at restoring confidence in international travel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of harmonization of protocols, balance, coordination, cooperation and accessibility, are among the seven core principles agreed by the Committee tasked with advancing the “Assistance to International Tourists in Emergency Situations” code. Published by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), it will provide guidance to countries worldwide on how to help tourists affected by emergencies, including but not limited to health emergencies.

“Tourism is a genuine driver of solidarity and development. Let us all fully harness its power to bring people and communities together, abiding by the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. This way tourism can keep delivering better opportunities and sustainable development for millions across the globe.”

Zurab Pololikashvili,

UNWTO Secretary-General,

August 2020

Responsible Tourism was defined in Cape Town in 2002 alongside the World Summit on Sustainable Development. This definition, the Cape Town Declaration is now widely accepted and was been adopted by the World Travel Market in 2007 for World Responsible Tourism Day.

Responsible Tourism is about “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.” Responsible Tourism requires that operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists take responsibility, take action to make tourism more sustainable.

The World Travel Market has adopted the Cape Town Declaration definition of Responsible Tourism for its World Responsible Tourism Day which encourages the industry to take responsibility for making tourism more sustainable and demonstrate their responsibility.

The Cape Town Declaration recognises that Responsible Tourism takes a variety of forms, it is characterised by travel and tourism which:

minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts;

generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;

involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes;

makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world’s diversity;

provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;

provide access for people with disabilities and the disadvantaged;

is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

Behaviour can be more or less responsible and what is responsible in a particular place depends upon environment and culture.

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Russian tourists were pointed out the countries where you can fly on vacation: a complete list
Jun 18 2021
Russian tourists were pointed out the countries where you can fly on vacation: a complete list

Rosaviatsia and tourism officials have been actively warning tourists and tour operators who have started traveling and selling tours for “cargo-passenger” flights. But to guide tourists in which destinations are really open to tourism and which are only for technical flights, the aviation regulator has published a complete list of permitted countries.

But first, officials again warned tourists and travel agencies about the risks of traveling on cargo and passenger flights. “Currently, the Operational Headquarters of the Russian Federation allows flights for tourist purposes outside the Russian Federation only to certain states. Irregular cargo and passenger flights are also allowed in a number of countries for the purpose of transportation of only certain categories of passengers, in particular: foreign citizens, return of compatriots to the Homeland, family reunification, treatment, work, etc. categories “, – stated in Rosaviatsia. However, “in conditions of increased demand, unscrupulous tour operators” sell tours to “officially” closed countries on non-scheduled cargo and passenger flights.

“When purchasing a tour ticket with an air ticket abroad, please take into account that airlines cannot transport organized groups of tourists when performing non-scheduled cargo and passenger flights. It is strongly recommended to refrain from flying abroad on these flights for the purpose of recreation as part of organized tours, “- warned tourists. Airlines, in turn, were intimidated that “in the event of the discovery of the sale of cargo and passenger flights in tour packages, restrictive measures will be taken against the airline.” Rosaviatsia also informed Rostourism about the need to take appropriate measures against unscrupulous tour operators, which include air transportation on non-scheduled cargo and passenger flights.

The official list includes 43 countries, including the currently closed Turkey and Tanzania. Here are all of them, noting at the same time those who are not ready to let Russian tourists for tourism. How many of them are popular tourist destinations – you can count yourself.

1. Austria. Russian tourists for the purpose of tourism in the country are not allowed.

2. Azerbaijan

3. Albania

4. Armenia

5. Belarus

6. Great Britain

7. Hungary. Russian tourists are not yet allowed to enter.

8. Venezuela.

9. Vietnam. The country is closed to tourists.

10. Germany. Russian tourists are denied entry.

11. Greece (only flights Moscow – Athens with a frequency of 2 r / n from 08.02.2021, increase to 4 r / n from 10.06.2021). Tourists are allowed to enter.

12. Egypt (only flights Moscow – Cairo with a frequency of 5 r / n from 27.01.2021, increase to 7 r / n from 10.06.2021).

13. India. Entrance for Russians for tourism is closed.

14. Iceland. Entrance is closed for Russian tourists.

15. Kazakhstan

16. Qatar

17. Kyrgyzstan

18. Cuba with a frequency of 4 r / n to Cuba (Cayo Coco, Santa Clara), Moscow – Varadero with a frequency of 7 r / n from 01.04.2021), tourists are allowed.

19. Lebanon

20. Luxembourg

21. Mauritius – the country does not allow Russian tourists.

22. Maldives (Moscow – Male with a frequency of 8 r / n), tourists can.

23. Malta, tourists from Russia are not allowed yet, negotiations are underway.

24. Morocco (only flights Moscow – Casablanca with a frequency of 2 r / n from 10.06.2021),

25. Mexico (Moscow – Cancun with a frequency of 3 r / n from 25.05.2021), tourists are allowed.

26. United Arab Emirates (Moscow – Dubai with a frequency of 7 r / n, Moscow – Abu Dhabi with a frequency of 2 r / n, Grozny – Dubai with a frequency of 2 r / n, other cities of the Russian Federation with a frequency of 1 r / n from each point Russia from 01.04.2021) + 11 non-scheduled flights to UAE airlines on a reciprocal basis. Tourists can.

27. Portugal (Moscow – Lisbon with a frequency of 3 r / n and St. Petersburg – Lisbon with a frequency of 1 r / n from 25.05.2021). Tourists from Russia are still closed.

28. South Korea

29. Saudi Arabia

30. Serbia

31. Seychelles

32. Syria

33. Singapore, tourists are not allowed.

34. Tajikistan

35. Tanzania (Zanzibar) (flights suspended from 15.04.2021 to 21.06.2021).

36. Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman) (flights are suspended from 15.04.2021 to 21.06.2021, except for Moscow – Istanbul with a frequency of 2 flights per week).

37. Uzbekistan

38. Finland. Tourists from Russia are not allowed.

39. Croatia (flights only Moscow – Zagreb with a frequency of 2 r / n from 10.06.2021), the country allows Russian tourists.

40. Switzerland. Tourists are not allowed.

41. Sri Lanka

42. Ethiopia

43. Japan – for the purpose of tourism Russians are not allowed into the country.

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Turkey has changed the rules of entry for foreign tourists
Jun 18 2021
Turkey has changed the rules of entry for foreign tourists

In an attempt to restore the flow of tourists to its resorts through the wide coverage of foreign tourists, Turkey has changed the rules of entry into the country. Now tourists coming to Turkey from 146 countries will not need a PCR test if there is a complete vaccination against coronavirus infection or an antibody test. What awaits Russian vacationers upon entry in case of opening Turkish resorts?

In accordance with the updated travel rules for coronavirus security measures, the Turkish authorities exempted from mandatory PCR testing tourists who presented a passport of vaccination against covid from 146 countries, including Russia, the United States, Germany, France, Azerbaijan and Spain. It is noted that the vaccine must be received at least 14 days before entry, and if a tourist has already contracted the coronavirus in the last 6 months, it is necessary to present a document confirming the presence of antibodies.

Following the announcement of new travel rules on 1 June, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM) has updated the list of countries from which it is possible to come to Turkey under the new requirements for measures to combat coronavirus. In addition, vaccinated tourists are not subject to quarantine measures.

If a vaccination certificate or antibody document cannot be provided upon entry into Turkey, a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to entry or an antibody test performed no more than 48 hours.

List of countries from which Turkey is ready to receive tourists vaccinated or infected with coronavirus:

1. Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Albania, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,

2. Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Bhutan,

3. Vatican, Venezuela, Vietnam, Hungary,

4. Gabon, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Guinea, Georgia, Germany,

5. Denmark, Djibouti,

6. Zambia and Zimbabwe,

7. Yemen,

8. Jordan, Iraq, Ireland, Spain, Israel, Italy, Iceland, Indonesia,

10. Laos, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Lebanon, Luxembourg,

11. Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Moldova, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Morocco,

12. Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Norway, the Netherlands,

13. Oman, UAE,

14. Panama, Poland, Portugal,

15. Romania, Rwanda, Russia,

16. Sao Tome, Senegal, Seychelles, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Northern Cyprus, Northern Macedonia, El Salvador, United States,

17. Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan,

18. Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,

19. Philippines, Finland, France,

20. Croatia,

21. Montenegro, Chile, Chad, the Czech Republic,

22. Sweden, Switzerland,

23. Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia,

24. South Korea, South Sudan,

25. Jamaica, Japan.

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Muscovites warned of fines for violating anti-Covid measures in parks
Jun 15 2021
Muscovites warned of fines for violating anti-Covid measures in parks

The fine for violating the ban on the use of urban infrastructure in Moscow parks will be four thousand rubles, Evgeny Danchikov, head of the Main Control Directorate of the capital, told RIA Novosti.

On the eve of the city authorities decided to introduce new restrictive measures. In particular, from June 13 to June 20, you can only walk in the parks – you cannot use children’s, sports and entertainment grounds, exercise equipment, gazebos, benches and other objects.

Yesterday, videos appeared on social networks in which Muscovites do not comply with these measures, despite the ban and restrictive tapes.

“In the parks, the observance of the decree of the mayor of Moscow is mandatory. The police, the National Guard and the Association of Administrative and Technical Inspections of Moscow (OATI) are working. Checks are regular, they are ongoing, including using CCTV cameras,” Danchikov stressed.

According to him, even if there is no order on the spot, the violation will be established by surveillance cameras – “a police outfit will be called and the violators will be brought to justice.”

Restrictions in Moscow

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin explained the return of some restrictions by a complex epidemiological situation: the number of new cases of coronavirus jumped to peak values, and many middle-aged people and young people suffer the disease in severe form.

From June 15 to June 19, non-working days were announced with salary retention. During this period, for organizations and individual entrepreneurs, the operating mode is similar to the weekend. Since June 13, employers have been advised to transfer at least 30% of employees to teleworking mode, as well as all employees over 65 years of age and with chronic diseases – with the exception of those who have received vaccinations.

From 13 to 20 June, the work of zoos, food courts, and children’s playrooms was suspended. Bars, cafes and nightclubs during this period cannot host entertainment events and receive visitors from 23:00 to 6:00 (except for the issuance of orders and delivery). City infrastructure facilities cannot be used in the parks of the capital.

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Stress, smoking, lack of B12 and copper: the secret of gray hair
Jun 15 2021
Stress, smoking, lack of B12 and copper: the secret of gray hair

One of the theories why hair turns gray is that with age the body stops producing melanin and the hair becomes gray, silver or white.

Here are some interesting facts about gray hair:

* The appearance of the first gray hairs is determined by genetics, but also by age. Gray hair is the result of aging and its texture changes with age, as does the texture of the skin. Experts call these changes rule 50-50-50. Half of the world’s population under the age of 50 has about 50 percent gray hair.

* Whites turn gray faster than any other race. After them, the yellow race turns gray the fastest, followed by the black. Experts have not yet established why.

* In addition to genetics and age, hair turns gray due to stress. Constant exposure to stress can damage DNA, affecting the cells responsible for pigment production. This is most evident during illness, when patients may “turn white” overnight. Also, due to the stress suffered after chemotherapy, hair can grow in a different color.

* Lifestyle affects the appearance of gray hair, especially due to smoking. Toxic chemicals from smoke damage the DNA of the hair, cause the accumulation of harmful free radicals and affect the production of pigments. In addition to cigarettes, a lack of vitamin B12 and honey can accelerate the appearance of gray hair. That is why the diet should be enriched with carrots and dark chocolate.

* Hair grows for an average of three years and then falls out to make room for a new one. With age, the new hairs that replace the old ones are already gray. The hair does not turn gray, but is white from the root. Each time the hair is renewed, the cells that make up the pigment change and this process becomes more difficult with age, so they just stay white.

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You get vaccinated and play tombola
Jun 3 2021
You get vaccinated and play tombola

The first in the world was Serbia, which gives 25 euros to each of its vaccinated citizens. President Aleksandar Vucic explained that the aim of the initiative is to encourage people. Persons over 16 years of age and those who have already received one or two doses, as well as those who have been vaccinated with at least one dose by May 31, receive a one-time fee of about 3,000 dinars, which is about 5 percent of the average salary for the country.  Vucic announced that public sector employees who are not immunized will not be paid sick leave if they become infected.

State lottery in Poland for vaccinated: To encourage vaccination, the Polish authorities will play a lottery with prizes of up to 1 million zlotys or nearly 223 thousand euros. The raffle will be organized by state companies with the help of a sports tote. One in every 2,000 vaccinated will be able to win 500 zlotys (about 110 euros), and two lucky ones will receive the grand prize money and a hybrid car. There will also be financial incentives for the municipalities that have reached the highest vaccination rate. Nearly 70 percent of Poles have already expressed a desire to be vaccinated, but the government says an incentive is needed to make it happen really quickly.

Vaccines in California will take part in a raffle with high cash prizes: ten people will receive $ 1.5 million each, and another 30 will receive $ 50,000 each.

The state of California is offering $ 116.5 million in cash prizes to people living there who will be vaccinated against COVID-19 by June 15, the Associated Press reported. Governor Gavin Newsom’s initiative aims to increase vaccination before the restrictive measures are lifted on June 15. Ten people who are vaccinated before that date will receive $ 1.5 million each, and another 30 will receive $ 50,000 each. The first two million Californians to be vaccinated as of yesterday will receive $ 50 gift certificates.

All Californians who have been vaccinated since the beginning of the campaign will be able to participate in the grand prizes. Funding for the awards comes from an unprecedented state budget surplus.

Other states also offer incentives to vaccinate against COVID-19. They range from three tickets to baseball games to university scholarships and big cash prizes. Abigail Bugenski has already won $ 1 million in the Ohio state-run lottery, which will have four more draws.

The mayor of Lancaster, California, is offering a raffle for scholarships, including a grand prize of $ 10,000, for teenagers who are being vaccinated against the coronavirus. In this way, the city authorities hope to persuade hesitant young people to get vaccinated.

For the week of April 18-25, vaccinations fell by 56% in Los Angeles County, which includes Lancaster. So far, 15.8% of people between the ages of 16 and 29 have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The special raffle # 10kVaxChallenge, announced on May 3, includes students who are between 16 and 18 years old and who have been fully vaccinated. The deadline is June 30.

The winner will receive $ 10,000. The second in the raffle will take $ 5,000, and the 20 eligible winners will receive a third prize – a $ 50 gift card. Mayor R. Rex Paris told ABC News that he had created the raffle, “so that the youth of our community feel more excited and motivated to participate in the process of defeating the coronavirus.”

 “All members of our community want the pandemic to stay behind us, and teenagers may be even more eager to return to their normal lives. But in order to return to the “normal”, each of us must do his part and get vaccinated. Now that safe and effective vaccines are available for everyone over the age of 16, I want to motivate them to take advantage of this opportunity. ” More and more teenagers have signed up for the vaccine since the raffle was announced.

To participate in the raffle, teens must post a photo of themselves on social media saying they received the second vaccine, tag five of their friends in the post, and use the hashtags “# 10kVaxChallenge” and “#VaccinateLancaster.”

Other states also offer incentives to vaccinate against COVID-19. They range from three tickets to baseball games to university scholarships and big cash prizes. Abigail Bugenski has already won $ 1 million in the Ohio state-run lottery, which will have four more draws.

A $ 1 million reward for five of those vaccinated in Ohio, for example. Ohio authorities have announced a raffle with prizes, including a large sum of $ 1 million, tickets for baseball games and free beer. Five random residents of the state who have received at least one dose will have a chance to grab the grand prize, which will be drawn once a week.

The governor of Ohio wrote on Twitter that the idea may seem like a waste of money, but the real waste at this point is to have vaccines available, but to prefer to die from COVID-19. In recent weeks, the number of vaccinated in the United States has fallen due to skepticism about vaccines and the declining number of cases.

A raffle for an apartment for over a million in Hong Kong for vaccinated – another 20 winners will receive bank cards with 13,000 dollars each.

A new $ 1.4 million apartment will be the grand prize in a special lottery to be held in Hong Kong only among residents fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The aim is to encourage people to become more actively involved in the government’s immunization program.

The grand prize will be provided by a large brokerage house. The remaining 20 winners will receive $ 13,000 bank cards.

In turn, the administration of Hong Kong International Airport has initiated a raffle of 60,000 free plane tickets for its employees and residents of the city, who will receive two doses of the vaccine by the end of September.

The Hong Kong government is concerned about the low immunization rate among the population, especially among young people. In a metropolis with a population of almost 8 million people, 17.6% of residents received the first dose of the vaccine, and only 12.9% received two.

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Donbass is on the verge of an environmental disaster
May 31 2021
Donbass is on the verge of an environmental disaster

Drinking water becomes dangerous

An environmental catastrophe threatens not only Crimea, but the entire territory of Donbass; the territory of central-eastern Ukraine may also be under threat in the future. But if in the case of the occupied peninsula the problems are related to the lack of drinking water, then there is water in the Donbass. Only using it will soon become hazardous to health, according to OBOZREVATEL.

The fact is that the abandoned and not mothballed mines of the war-torn Donbass are filled with toxic underground waters. Back in February, the OSCE noted that the mines that were used to store hazardous waste pose a particular threat to the environment. These are “Alexander-Zapad” in Gorlovka, “Young Communards” in Bunga, flooded by more than 60%. In total, 39 mines were flooded. Most of them were not mothballed by the terrorists.

Even the American television channel NBC News recently reported on the problem of toxicity in groundwater. The liquid filled with heavy metals and other toxic substances threatens to pollute not only drinking water from rivers and wells, but also the soil, making it unsuitable for agriculture. In addition, methane – a dangerous gas from mines – is pushed to the surface, which is fraught with earthquakes and explosions.

Experts interviewed by NBC News assured that Donbass was on the brink of an environmental disaster.

Pollution mainly comes from the Gorlovka, Gorlovka chemical plant, said the chief researcher of the Institute of Telecommunications and the Global Information Space of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Technical Sciences Yevgeny Yakovlev. According to him, we can safely talk about the water-ecological crisis. After all, what is supplied from local sources is just liquid, its quality as drinking water is very doubtful. In addition, the rise of groundwater can lead to possible earthquakes.

The region is really on the brink of disaster, Mikhail Yatsyuk, deputy director of the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, also agreed. According to him, all mines should be in dry conservation, not wet. In addition, it is necessary to constantly pump out water, which no one is doing in the occupied Donbass now.

Meanwhile, water begins to interact with rocks, especially in deep mines, and form water quality. Then it, rising to the surface, begins to interact with groundwater, which are aquifers. And thus, drinking water is polluted.

According to Mikhail Yatsyuk, there are risks of water contaminated with hazardous metals not only for the Seversky Donets, but also for the basin of the main river of Ukraine – the Dnieper. After all, part of the tributaries that form Samara flow into the Dnieper, and their sources are in the Donbass.

Ukraine competes for first place in Europe in air pollution from coal energy

Ukraine produces 72% of all fly ash emissions in Europe, 27% sulfur dioxide and 16% nitrogen oxides

Air pollution statistics from coal energy show the contribution of a small number of European countries. Ukraine, Turkey and the Western Balkans ranked high on all types of pollutants, while EU countries such as Germany and Poland are also among the worst in terms of NOx pollution.

When coal is burned to generate electricity, pollutants are released into the air that pose a threat to human health and cause a large number of premature deaths. Since pollutants sometimes travel thousands of kilometers, air pollution from coal-fired energy is a problem across Europe, regardless of source.

This is stated in a new study by the international think tank EMBER.

Turkey and Ukraine are among the top three polluting countries for all types of air pollution. SO2 emissions from the top ten plants account for 44% of total SO2 emissions from coal-fired energy in Europe. The top ten SO2 ratings include three coal-fired power plants from Turkey and Serbia, two from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one each from Ukraine and North Macedonia. Most of the PM10 pollution from coal energy comes from power plants in Ukraine, eight of which are among the ten most polluting plants for PM10.

Air pollution is a mixture of gaseous and solid particles that pose a threat to human health and cause a large number of premature deaths. Pollutants are released into the atmosphere from a wide variety of sources; including the energy, manufacturing, transport and agriculture sectors. Pollutants include particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

In terms of PM10 emissions from coal-fired power plants, Ukraine is the leader by a wide margin. The main sources of SO2 pollution from coal energy in Europe are Ukraine (27%), Turkey (24%), Serbia (15%) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (11%). Turkey is also the leader with a 20% share of NOx emissions from coal energy, followed by Germany (16%), Ukraine (16%) and Poland (14%).

Nine plants of Ukraine are included in the top thirty of the NOx rating. In the top thirty, Turkey and Germany have six factories each, three from Poland and two from Serbia and Kosovo.

Eight power plants from Ukraine are present in all thirty of the rating: Kurakhovskaya, Burshtynskaya, Tripolskaya, Luganskaya, Uglegorskaya, Slavyanskaya, Ladyzhinskaya and Zaporozhskaya.

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Civil Liberties Committee endorses EU Digital Covid Certificate | News | European Parliament
May 26 2021
Civil Liberties Committee endorses EU Digital Covid Certificate

News | European Parliament


The certificate will facilitate free movement without discrimination and contribute to the EU’s economic recovery.

The Civil Liberties Committee has endorsed the EU digital Covid Certificate package with 52 votes in favour, 13 votes against and 3 abstentions (EU citizens) and with 53 votes in favour, 10 votes against and 5 abstentions (third country nationals).

The EU Digital Covid Certificate will be issued by national authorities and be available in either digital or paper format. A common EU framework will allow member states to issue certificates that will be interoperable, compatible, secure and verifiable across the EU.

More information here

Quote

Chair of the Civil Liberties Committee and rapporteur Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES) said: “The EP started negotiations with very ambitious objectives in mind and has managed to achieve a good compromise through painstaking negotiations. The text voted today will ensure that freedom of movement will be safely restored across the EU as we continue to fight this pandemic, with due respect for the right of our citizens to non-discrimination and data protection.”

Next steps

The text will be tabled for vote at the June I plenary session (7-10 June 2021). It then has to be approved by the Council and be published in the Official Journal. The Regulation is expected to apply from 1 July 2021.

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MEPs reach deal with Council on 2021-2027 EU health programme (EU4Health)
Dec 14 2020
MEPs reach deal with Council on 2021-2027 EU health programme (EU4Health)
  • Set up a European Health Response Mechanism to prepare the EU more effectively
  • A European monitoring, reporting and notification system is needed to overcome shortages of medicines and medical devices
  • Support for digitalisation of healthcare through a European eHealth Record

To close gaps exposed by COVID-19 and ensure that health systems can face future threats to public health, an ambitious EU health programme is needed, say MEPs.

On Friday, Parliament adopted its position on the Commission proposal to step up the EU’s action in the health sector significantly, through the so-called “EU4Health Programme” with 615 votes to 34 and 39 abstentions.

COVID-19 has shown that the EU urgently needs an ambitious programme to ensure that European health systems can face future health threats, so that the EU remains the healthiest region in the world, MEPs say. According to Parliament, this would not have been possible had the budget been reduced to €1.7 billion as proposed by member states. In the recent compromise on the EU’s long-term budget, MEPs convinced them to triple the budget for the programme (€5.1 billion).

Cross-border health threats

EU4Health is intended to prepare the EU more thoroughly for major cross-border health threats and make health systems more resilient. This should enable the EU to face not only future epidemics, but also long-term challenges such as an ageing population and inequalities in health.

MEPs also want to increase cooperation at EU level to be better prepared in case of a health crisis i.e. by supporting the creation of a European Health Response Mechanism. An EU communication portal for the public should also be set up to share information that has been thoroughly checked, to send alerts to European citizens and fight against disinformation. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) should have stronger mandates.

Ensuring medicines and medical devices are available and affordable in all member states

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the many weaknesses of national health systems including their dependence on non-EU countries to supply medicines, medical devices as well as personal protective equipment. The programme should therefore support the development of a European system for monitoring, reporting and notifying shortages of medicines, medical devices, vaccines, diagnostic tools, and other healthcare products. This would prevent the single market from becoming fragmented and ensure that those products are more available and affordable. Their supply chains would also be less dependent on non-EU countries.

To reach the programme’s objectives, the report also proposes greater focus on disease prevention by addressing health risks such as the harmful use of alcohol and tobacco , more robust health systems and digitalised healthcare by creating and applying the European eHealth Record. MEPs also want to achieve universal health coverage including access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and to strengthen the EU’s fight against cancer in synergy with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

To ensure the programme is implemented effectively, MEPs propose setting up a Steering Group consisting of independent public health experts.

Quote

After the vote, Parliament’s rapporteur Cristian-Silviu Buşoi (EPP, RO) said: “The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the need for well-defined and adequately-financed health instruments. We also need to boost innovation and invest more in health in general. It was crucial to increase funding for the EU4Health Programme from €1.7 billion to €5.1 billion in order to be able to deal with future pandemics and health threats, and to make our health systems more resilient.”

Next steps

Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with member states so that the programme can be implemented from the beginning of 2021.

Background

On 28 May 2020, the Commission put forward a new stand-alone EU4Health Programme for 2021-2027 as part of the Recovery Plan. The Health Programme was previously under the initial EU long-term budget 2021-2027 as one element of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).

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