Toma nota.../Take note...

The United States is developing a new policy of approaching the former Soviet republics of Central Asia in response to their manifest concern caused by Chinese and Russian hegemonism. In addition, nurturing new friends in that region can contribute to a more stable Afghanistan and some level of cooperation in the face of the Iranian threat. In fact, Washington views Uzbekistan as an emerging leader in pushing for a peace deal in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, Russia has significant influence in Central Asia through “soft power”. Russia is looked at as a political model by many Central Asian governments and a legislative trend-setter. After the election of Donald Trump, an acute domestic political crisis began in the United States (strong disagreements between him and the Democratic Party), so Central Asian foreign policy direction waned during part of the last three years. That is not so any longer. More recently, Secretary of State Pompeo is conducting a vigorous policy of renewed friendship in the region."

A New Era of Strategic Partnership:
The US Engages to Find Opportunities in Central Asia

Central Asia will generally welcome —and want— U.S. attention, but will want a degree of circumspection. 

Taskent, Feb.14.– U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s early February visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan marks a notable achievement for Central Asia: The United States is keeping an active eye on the region. An increased number of visits to the former Soviet republics has occurred in recent years, with U.S. officials voicing interest in strengthening relations.

It is true that climate change has taken place dramatically over the course of the Earth's 4.5 billion-year history. However, we are witnessing an increasingly rapid change. The kind of changes that would normally happen over hundreds or thousands of years are presently happening in decades. This much faster warming corresponds with levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which have been increasing since the industrial revolution. So, when people talk about climate change today, they mean anthropogenic (man-made) climate change. This is the warming of Earth’s average temperature as a result of human activity. This is the legacy we are leaving to our children and grandchildren with our greed for cheaper resources, he overwhelming machinery of unsustainable progress and our neglect reflected in the phrase "I will not live to see it." The most reprehensible aspect of this negligence is that the most affected by our  decisions today are precisely our own children. This report by Time Health shows us in a nutshell the effects of global warming on their susceptible wellbeing.

How climate change affects kids' health

Global temperatures are continuing to rise—and the health of children is being clobbered in the process. In a sweeping study just published in The Lancet, investigators from 35 institutions—including the World Health Organization, Imperial College London, The University of York, Yale University and Iran University of Medical Sciences—analyzed the planet’s climatological health on 41 indices, such as the rising incidence of floods, wildfires and mosquito-borne diseases; adaptation and mitigation steps being taken to address the problems; and economic resources being devoted to that work. They found that while progress is being made, too many trend lines continue to point downward. We will all pay a price for that, but today’s children will pay the highest.

El hallazgo de enormes masas de residuos en los océanos ha provocado que la opinión pública mundial se vuelva mucho más crítica con el uso del plástico, especialmente de aquellos de un solo uso. Productores y consumidores tratan ahora de encontrar formas de sustituirlos. Estos esfuerzos son especialmente visibles en el caso de los artículos de este material de un solo uso, algunos de los cuales no estarán permitidos en la Unión Europea a partir de 2021.

Es urgente que el resto del mundo siga el ejemplo.

El 80% de la basura que se encuentra en los mares son residuos de plástico  

La solución pasa por la prevención de residuos y la mejora de la gestión de los residuos y el reciclaje

Enero 17.– Los océanos cubren aproximadamente el 70 % de la superficie de nuestro planeta, y existe basura marina prácticamente en todos ellos. La basura marina, y en particular los plásticos, suponen una amenaza no solo para la salud de nuestros mares y costas, sino también para nuestra economía y nuestras comunidades. En su mayor parte es producto de actividades terrestres. ¿Cómo podemos detener el flujo de basura en nuestros mares? El lugar más adecuado para empezar a abordar este problema marino mundial es en tierra firme.

The “phase one” agreement trims tariffs and obliges China to buy more from American farmers. But do not be fooled. It is a modest accord that cannot disguise how the world’s central relationship is at its most perilous juncture since before Richard Nixon and Mao Zedong re-established links five decades ago. The two sides used to think they could both thrive; today each has a vision of success in which the other lot falls behind. A partial dismantling of their bonds is under way. In the 2020s the world will discover just how far this decoupling will go, how much it will cost.

USA vs China: The planet’s biggest break-up is under way 

Jan. 2.– On January 15th, after three years of a bitter trade war, America and China are due to sign a “phase one” deal that trims tariffs and obliges China to buy more from American farmers. Don’t be fooled. This modest accord cannot disguise how the world’s most important relationship is at its most perilous juncture since before Richard Nixon and Mao Zedong re-established links five decades ago.

The threat to the West from China’s high-tech authoritarianism has become all too clear. Everything from its pioneering artificial-intelligence firms to its gulags in Xinjiang spread alarm across the world.