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Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC) director K Ramachandra Rao told TOI that they could not predict the impact of the cyclone on the coastal districts
VISAKHAPATNAM: The cyclonic storm Mahasen, which had formed in the southeast Bay of Bengal, moved northwestwards at a speed of 15 kmph and lay centered about 1,150 km southeast of Chennai on Saturday.
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Cyclone Wind Forecast
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Bangladesh issues warning as cyclone Mahasen approaches
Maritime ports in Bangladesh were Sunday advised to take adequate precautionary measures as cyclone Mahasen originating in the southeast Bay of Bengal, moved slightly towards the northwest.
"Depression which has already turned into cyclonic storm would likely move initially northwestwards during the next 36 hours and recurve thereafter northeastwards towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast," Xinhua cited the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) as saying in a special weather bulletin.
The bulletin said the cyclone was centred about 1,455 km south-southwest of Bangladesh's Chittagong seaport.
It said maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the storm centre has risen from 62 km per hour to 88 km per hour in gusts/squalls.
A BMD meteorologist said caution has been sounded for all ports and all fishing boats have been advised to remain close to the coast.
They were also advised not to venture into the deep sea.
"Depression which has already turned into cyclonic storm would likely move initially northwestwards during the next 36 hours and recurve thereafter northeastwards towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast," Xinhua cited the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) as saying in a special weather bulletin.
The bulletin said the cyclone was centred about 1,455 km south-southwest of Bangladesh's Chittagong seaport.
It said maximum sustained wind speed within 54 km of the storm centre has risen from 62 km per hour to 88 km per hour in gusts/squalls.
A BMD meteorologist said caution has been sounded for all ports and all fishing boats have been advised to remain close to the coast.
They were also advised not to venture into the deep sea.
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Rohingya evacuated from cyclone
Rohingya evacuated from cyclone
- Published: 13 May 2013 at 03.49
- Online news:
YANGON - Myanmar on Sunday began moving people into emergency shelters as a cyclone threatened to batter a violence-wracked region home to tens of thousands of internal refugees.
A Muslim Rohingya child sits outside a tent at the Bawdupha Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp on the outskirts of Sittwe, the capital of Myanmar's western Rakhine state.The cyclone is expected to make landfall somewhere near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border on Thursday morning, according to Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.
It said Mahasen, which was packing winds of up to about 100 kilometres (60 miles) per hour, was likely to intensify into a "severe cyclonic storm" within the next 24 hours, warning ships to be on alert.
The IDPs at particular risk are mostly stateless Rohingya Muslims uprooted by two outbreaks of deadly religious violence since June last year.
"There are people still living in temporary tents. Now we are moving as many of those IDPs as we can to the stronger permanent shelters," Myo Thant, a spokesman for the Rakhine state government, told AFP by telephone.
He said he was unsure of the capacity of the shelters -- which are located in the state capital Sittwe -- but acknowledged that there were not enough to accommodate all of the displaced people.
"The rest will be sent to stay with relatives in villages, and to nearby school buildings," he added.
Local radio issued warnings of the approaching cyclone while loudspeakers relayed messages to people in villages in Rakhine, one of Myanmar's poorest and most remote states.
The alerts revived memories of cyclone Nargis, which devastated Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta in May 2008, killing about 140,000 people.
The UN's disaster assessment agency said preparations were under way to provide shelter for up to 13,000 displaced people in Sittwe, voicing "particular concern" for IDPs living in "poorly constructed camps."
"Many of the camps are located in low-lying coastal areas susceptible to tidal surge," it warned.
Myanmar views its population of roughly 800,000 Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and denies them citizenship.
New York-based Human Rights Watch last month accused Myanmar of "a campaign of ethnic cleansing" against the Rohingya, citing evidence of mass graves and forced displacement affecting tens of thousands.
Thousands of Rohingya have fled the Buddhist-Muslim violence on rickety boats, mostly believed to be heading for Malaysia.
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Cyclone Threatens Burma And Bangladesh
Cyclone Threatens Burma And Bangladesh
Twin tropical storms in the Bay of Bengal have put millions of coastal residents in Burma and Bangladesh on cyclone alert.
Burma
Bangladesh
Interactive Image: Cyclone Mahasen In The Indian Ocean
Millions of people living along the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Burma and Bangladesh are expected to be affected when Cyclone Mahasen makes landfall some time on Thursday.
Officials in Burma have begun evacuating people while the meteorological office in neighbouring Bangladesh is closely monitoring the weather pattern, which is believed to be gathering sufficient strength to be classified a "severe cyclonic storm" in the next 24 hours.About 140,000 refugees from religious violence in Burma living in tented accommodation along the coast are believed to be particularly at risk from Mahasen.
Likewise, millions of people living on the coast of Bangladesh have been warned they are potentially at risk, the country's Met Office has said.
Myo Thant, a government official in Burma - also known as Myanmar - said: "There are still people living in temporary tents [along the coast]. Now we are trying to move as many of those as we can to the stronger permanent shelters."
He added that the permanent shelters would not have sufficient space to house all displaced people, and some people would have to stay with relatives or in school buildings.
Around 30 million of Bangladesh's population of 150 million live along the coast.
Cyclone Mahasen is the result of unusual climactic conditions either side of the equator in the Indian Ocean, the UK Met Office has said. "For the first time since 2009, cyclone twins have developed in the Indian Ocean," it said in a statement.
Two cloud masses had gathered on either side of the equator, each effectively feeding off the other.
Only one of the storms - Mahasen - is expected to hit land.
Both Burma and Bangladesh have experienced severe devastation as a result of cyclones in recent years. In May 2008, cyclone Nargis killed some 140,000 people in Burma.
In November 2007, cyclone Sidr killed 4,000 people in Banglades
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Nanomaterial Hazards and What to Do About Them
Nanomaterial Hazards and What to Do About Them
| OSHA has not issued regulations for most nanomaterials, but that doesn't mean the agency is unconcerned about the hazards of working with these super-tiny particles. |
| So how small is "nano"? A nanometer is one billionth of a meter. A sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. And there are 25,400,000 nanometers in one inch. According to OSHA, nanomaterials can have unique physical, chemical, and biological properties that make them useful in innovative applications like stain-free textiles. However, as nanotechnology moves from the lab to industrial and commercial settings, workers and employers should be aware of the hazards and measures to control exposure. Exposure to NanomaterialsInformation from research and animal studies on nanomaterials has identified both potential safety hazards and health effects. But because nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging field, more information will likely become available about potential health and safety hazards associated with some nanomaterials.One thing we do know for sure is that the hazard potential depends on the particular nanomaterial. For example:
OSHA RecommendationsIn workplaces where workers will be exposed to nanomaterials, OSHA says that employers should provide information and training to their workers. This information and training should include at least the following:
Exposure LimitsFew occupational exposure limits exist specifically for nanomaterials. Certain nanoparticles may be more hazardous than larger particles of the same substance. Therefore, existing occupational exposure limits for a substance may not provide adequate protection from nanoparticles of that substance.However, some specific exposure limits already exist. For example, OSHA recommends that:
Reducing ExposureTo control potential exposures, OSHA recommends that employers use a combination of the engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE, and medical screening and surveillance.Engineering Controls
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WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY THEMES- Think. Eat. Save. Reduce your foodprint.
World Environment Day aims to reduce food waste
Mr. Tulga Buya - Vice Minister of Environment and Green Development for the Government of Mongolia and Achim Steiner - UNEP Executive Director launching the 2013 campaign in host country Mongolia.
The new food-inspired global campaign focuses on the fact that over one billion tons of food are lost or wasted each year, according to UNEP, the UN Environment Programme.
The campaign, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and others, aims to reduce food loss along the entire chain of food production and consumption and specifically targets food wasted by consumers, retailers and the hospitality industry.
"In a world of seven billion people, set to grow to nine billion by 2050, wasting food makes no sense – economically, environmentally and ethically," said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.
Gerry Adams, United Nations.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY THEMES
2012 - Green Economy2011 – Forests
2010 – Biodiversity
2009 – Climate Change
2008 – Low-Carbon Economies
2007 – Melting Ice
2006 – Deserts and Desertification
2005 – Green Citie
2004 – Seas and Oceans: Dead or Alive?
2003 – Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It!
2002 - Give Earth a Chance
2001 - Connect with the World Wide Web of Life
2000 - The Environment Millennium: Time to Act
1999 - Our Earth: Our Future
1998 - For Life on Earth: Save Our Seas
1997 - For Life on Earth
1996 - Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home
1995 - We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment
1994 - One Earth One Family
1993 - Poverty and the Environment: Breaking the Vicious Circle
1992 - Only One Earth, Care and Share
1991 - Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership
1990 - Children and the Environment
1989 - Global Warming; Global Warning
1988 - When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last
1987 - Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof
1986 - A Tree for Peace
1985 - Youth: Population and the Environment
1984 - Desertification
1983 - Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy
1982 - Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)
1981 - Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains
1980 - A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction
1979 - Only One Future for Our Children - Development Without Destruction
1978 - Development Without Destruction
1977 - Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation
1976 - Water: Vital Resource for Life
1975 - Human Settlements
1974 - Only one Earth
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PM’s address at the first session of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
PM’s address at the first session of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
"I am very happy to be with you today. I compliment the Home Minister and his team for their initiative in setting up the National Platform for Disaster Risk Management for providing multi-stakeholder coordinated leadership in the very important area of Disaster Risk reduction. This is in fulfilment of our commitments to the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. We are now one of the eighty countries which have a national platform. I am confident that the Platform will emerge as a very useful forum for exchange of ideas and experiences and will be a great help to our country in building systems for preventing disasters and dealing with their fall-out.Disaster management is an area of vital national importance to our country. As we all know, India is vulnerable to a large range of natural and man-made disasters. Events like earthquakes, floods, droughts, cyclones, landslides and industrial accidents have been a cause of great misery and suffering in our country. In recent years, climate change has posed fresh new challenges that our disaster management strategies should be able to cope with. These are in the form of the increased intensity and frequency of disasters like floods, cyclones and droughts. It is estimated that the chances of future extreme events would be much higher than what they are today because of the changes that continue to occur in our climate patterns. We must therefore ensure that disaster preparedness and development of adequate disaster response mechanisms receive priority attention.
I am very happy that our country has made good progress in these areas in the last few years. We have endeavoured towards a paradigm shift in disaster management, from the relief-centric classical approach of the past to a more holistic approach. We have taken measures to deal with disaster situations in a more institutionalized manner, right from the local level up to the central level.
The Disaster Management Act was legislated in 2005. Subsequently, the National Disaster Management Authority at the national level and State Disaster Management Authorities and District Management Authorities in a majority of States and UTs have been set up, facilitating a more professional and effective approach towards the whole range of activities that are a part of disaster management. This has been accompanied by the establishment of the National Institute of Disaster Management and the National Disaster Response Force at the National level and State Disaster Forces in some States and Union Territories. The funding mechanisms for disaster management have also been institutionalized in the form of the National Disaster Response Fund, State Disaster Response Funds and Capacity Building Grants.
The theme of today’s conference is about making risk reduction an intrinsic part of our development processes by including prevention and mitigation strategies in them. This is indeed a very prudent course of action and would avoid possible losses that could be devastating in nature and could cause significant setbacks to the development of a State or a region. This is also an internationally accepted norm since it is much more cost-effective than simply responding to disasters after they have occurred. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals reflect a global commitment towards reducing risk for overall sustainable development.
The need to consider disaster risk as a developmental issue was emphasised for the first time in our Tenth Five Year Plan which covered the period 2002 to 2007. Both the Tenth and the Eleventh Plans emphasise that our development processes could not be really sustainable without risk mitigation efforts being inbuilt into them. This need has led to a number of Plan schemes in areas such as drought proofing, afforestation and sanitation and provision of drinking water.
The Twelfth Plan carries this process further. It specifically focuses on the new developments that have taken place in the area of disaster risk reduction, including those related to setting up of early warning systems and communications. It also mainstreams Disaster Risk Reduction in some of our major development programmes. For example, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme now includes drought mitigation efforts as an eligible activity allowed to be taken up under the scheme.
I believe that the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction strategies into our development initiatives must necessarily involve actively the local communities. We must, therefore, make full use of our Panchayat Raj institutions to achieve this objective. I would urge you to pay special attention to this very important aspect.
Another area that perhaps needs greater attention relates to arrangements for providing funds to people so that they are able to cope with the losses they suffer due to natural disasters. The current systems, particularly at the National level, lack institutional incentives and do not promote mechanisms such as risk insurance and contingent credit facilities. The development of such ex-ante arrangements is particularly important because they typically serve as a primary source of immediate funding that would reduce human suffering, economic losses and fiscal pressures in the aftermath of natural disasters. I hope to see some good suggestions in this regard emerging from this important conference.
Managing disasters is necessarily a collaborative and complex exercise, involving not only several Departments of the Government at the Centre but also State and local Governments, Civil Society Organizations, local communities and the people at large. I believe that while we have made encouraging progress in recent years in putting in place institutions and mechanisms for disaster prevention and mitigation, we have still a large distance to travel. As you embark on this exercise to find ways and means of strengthening our capacities and capabilities for managing disasters, I wish you all the best in your efforts."
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How Cyclone Mahasen will affect India
How Cyclone Mahasen will affect India
Northeast India to get rain; coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra, West Bengal to be hot and humid
Tropical cyclone Mahasen in the southeast Bay of Bengal may shift in the next 24 hours and head towards Bangladesh in a north-northeast direction. It might make a landing at Chittagong after the next 72 hours. Its effects may be felt the most in the northeastern states of India that might receive heavy to very heavy rain after the next three days.
Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh will be very hot and humid in the coming two days due to the cyclonic system. Similar weather could prevail in Kolkata when the weather system approaches the Bangladesh coast.
Cyclone Mahasen is at its western most limit from where it will head north in the next 12 hours. It will re-curve and head towards Chittagong in Bangladesh some 1,330 km away in a northeast direction. Mahasen’s speed is around 80 kmph, which could slow down when it re-curves. It will subsequently gain speed and could have a speed of around 100-110 kmph when it makes landfall.
Along with Bangladesh, Myanmar will be on high alert as floods could be witnessed up to 40km inland. However, there is a possibility of the storm weakening if it loses most of its energy in the sea itself.
For the next 24 to 48 hours, the weather in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh will be uncomfortable as rain bearing clouds will trap the heat and increase both the temperature and relative humidity. Coastal areas will have moderate winds yet fishermen are being advised not to venture into the deep seas during the next two to three days.
The greenhouse effect will also play out in Kolkata, much closer to the weather system. Moderate rain is expected in coastal areas of Orissa and West Bengal and Kolkata after the next 48 hours.
The effects of the cyclone will be felt the most in the northeast. Rain will continue at many places in northeastern states during the next two to three days. Heavy to very heavy rain could occur at one or two places in the region during the period.
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International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition
International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition
| Worldwide, 870 million people go hungry every day. With the world population projected to exceed nine billion people by 2050, global agricultural output must expand by an estimated 60 percent to meet global food needs. Yet, in many places, deforestation triggered by escalating demand for food, fibre and fuel is degrading ecosystems, diminishing water availability and limiting the collection of fuelwood - all of which reduce food security, especially for the poor. Natural forests are critical for the survival of forest-dwellers, including many indigenous peoples, and they help deliver clean water to agricultural lands by protecting catchments. Farmers increase food security by retaining trees on agricultural land, by encouraging natural regeneration and by planting trees and other forest plants. For most of the year, herders in arid and semi-arid lands depend on trees as a source of fodder for their livestock. Forests, trees and agroforestry systems contribute to food security and nutrition in many ways, but such contributions are usually poorly reflected in national development and food security strategies. Coupled with poor coordination between sectors, the net result is that forests are mostly left out of policy decisions related to food security and nutrition. For additional information, see FAO's publication on Forests for Improved Nutrition and Food Security. The International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition will increase understanding of the crucial role that forests, trees on farms and agroforestry systems can play in improving the food security and nutrition of rural people, especially in developing countries. It will propose ways to integrate this knowledge in policy decisions at the national and international levels. Specifically, the conference objectives are to:
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Contact usforests-foodsecurity@fao.org Fax +39 0657055514 Partners    | ||||
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Forests cover 31% of total land area
- Which countries have the highest forest cover?
- Which countries are the major consumers and producers of forest products?
- How many people depend on drugs derived from forest plants?
- How much deforestation contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions?
- How many countries have less than 10 percent forest cover?
- The annual deforestation rate in the world?
- How many people are employed in the formal forestry sector worldwide?
- The total number of mountain people worldwide?
- What percentage does bioenergy account for energy consumed worldwide?
- Forests cover 31% of total land area
- The world's total forest area is just over 4 billion hectares, which corresponds to an average of 0.6 ha per capita.
- The five most forest-rich countries (the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China) account for more than half of the total forest area.
- Ten countries or areas have no forest at all and an additional 54 have forest on less than 10 percent of their total land area.
People and forests
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- Forests are home to 300 million people around the world.
- More than 1.6 billion people depend to varying degrees on forests for their livelihoods, e.g. fuelwood, medicinal plants and forest foods.
- About 60 million indigenous people are almost wholly dependent on forests.
- Some 350 million people who live within or adjacent to dense forests depend on them to a high degree for subsistence and income.
- In developing countries, about 1.2 billion people rely on agroforestry farming systems that help to sustain agricultural productivity and generate income.
- Mangrove forests, which cover about 15 million hectares worldwide, are essential to the life cycles of the majority of the world's commercial fish species.
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Deforestation and net forest area change
Deforestation and net forest area change
- The rate of deforestation shows signs of decreasing – but is still alarmingly high. Deforestation – mainly the conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land – shows signs of decreasing in several countries but continues at a high rate in others.
- Around 13 million hectares of forest were converted to other uses or lost through natural causes each year in the last decade compared to 16 million hectares per year in the 1990s.
- Both Brazil and Indonesia, which had the highest net loss of forest in the 1990s, have significantly reduced their rate of loss, while in Australia, severe drought and forest fires have exacerbated the loss of forest since 2000.
- Large-scale planting of trees is significantly reducing the net loss of forest area globally
- Afforestation and natural expansion of forests in some countries and regions have reduced the net loss of forest area significantly at the global level.
- The net change in forest area in the period 2000–2010 is estimated at –5.2 million hectares per year (an area about the size of Costa Rica), down from –8.3 million hectares per year in the period 1990–2000.
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Forests and the environment
Forests and the environment
- Forests ensure environmental functions such as biodiversity, water and soil conservation, water supply and climate regulation.
- Mismanagement of woodlands in humid and subhumid tropical countries significantly contributes to soil losses equivalent to a 10 percent loss of agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) per year.
- Deforestation accounts for up to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.
- In arid environments, forests are crucial to food security in dry seasons and years.
- Forests provide habitats to about two-thirds of all species on earth.
- Deforestation of closed tropical rainforests could account for the loss of as many as 100 species a day.
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Bioenergy
Bioenergy
- Brazil has more than 25 percent of the world's above-ground woody biomass.
- About 56 percent of the world's woody biomass is in Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United States of America and Canada, combined.
- Energy from biomass accounts for 15 percent of energy consumed worldwide and up to 90 percent in some developing countries.
Source: FAO; Interactive Wood Energy Statistics; Wood Energy Programme, Forest Products and Economic Division; Rome 2004 - Wood energy accounts for 7 to 9 percent of energy consumed worldwide, and up to 80 percent in some developing countries (93 percent in Burundi, 93 percent in the Dominican Republic, 97 percent in Bhutan, 80 percent in Paraguay, 92 percent in Nepal).
Source: FAO; Interactive Wood Energy Statistics; Wood Energy Programme, Forest Products and Economic Division; Rome 2004 - Woodfuels account for 60 percent of global forest product consumption.
Source: FAO, FAOSTAT, Rome 2004 - More than 2 billion people are dependent on woodfuel for cooking, heating and food preservation; several million people are involved in the production, distribution and sale of fuelwood and charcoal.
Source: UNDP, UNDESA and World Energy Council. 2000. World Energy Assessment, UNDP, New York.
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Mountains
Mountains
The top 20 countries with the highest percentage of mountainous areas are: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Bhutan, Lesotho, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Switzerland, Macedonia, Lebanon, Rwanda, Armenia, Nepal, Georgia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Swaziland, Turkey, Austria, Albania and Slovenia.
Mountains cover about 27 percent of the world's land surface.
All of the world's mountains above 7 000 m are in Asia, and all 14 peaks above 8 000 m are situated in the Greater Himalaya range extending along the southern rim of the Tibet Plateau.
Up to 80 percent of the planet's fresh surface water comes from mountains.
The total number of mountain people is 718 million. Of these, 625 live in developing and transition countries (2000).
About 12 percent of the world's population lives in the mountains, but over 50 percent are directly or indirectly dependent on mountain resources (FAO, 2000).
Some 80 percent of mountain people live below the poverty line.
As many as 245 million rural mountain people in developing and transition countries may be at risk of, or actually experiencing, hunger.
In 1999, 23 of the 27 major armed conflicts in the world were being fought in mountain regions.
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New study highlights role of insects for food and feed consumption
New study highlights role of insects for food and feed consumption | ||
 A woman selling dried caterpillars in Kinshasha, Democratic Republic of the Congo Rome, 13 May 2013 – Forests, trees on farms and agroforestry are critical in the fight against hunger and should be better integrated into food security and land use policies, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today at the International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition in Rome (13-15 May). “Forests contribute to the livelihoods of more than a billion people, including many of the world’s neediest. Forests provide food, fuel for cooking, fodder for animals and income to buy food,” Graziano da Silva said. “Wild animals and insects are often the main protein source for people in forest areas, while leaves, seeds, mushrooms, honey and fruits provide minerals and vitamins, thus ensuring a nutritious diet.” “But forests and agroforestry systems are rarely considered in food security and land use policies. Often, rural people do not have secure access rights to forests and trees, putting their food security in danger. The important contributions forests can make to the food security and nutrition of rural people should be better recognized,” Graziano da Silva said. Frittered critters – wild and farm-raised insects One major and readily available source of nutritious and protein-rich food that comes from forests are insects, according to a new study FAO launched at the forests for food security and nutrition conference. It is estimated that insects form part of the traditional diets of at least 2 billion people. Insect gathering and farming can offer employment and cash income, for now mostly at the household level but also potentially in industrial operations. An astounding array of creatures With about 1 million known species, insects account for more than half of all living organisms classified so far on the planet. According to FAO’s research, done in partnership with Wageningen University in the Netherlands, more than 1900 insect species are consumed by humans worldwide. Globally, the most consumed insects are: beetles (31 percent); caterpillars (18 percent); bees, wasps and ants (14 percent); and grasshoppers, locusts and crickets (13 percent). Many insects are rich in protein and good fats and high in calcium, iron and zinc. Beef has an iron content of 6 mg per 100 g of dry weight, while the iron content of locusts varies between 8 and 20 mg per 100 g of dry weight, depending on the species and the kind of food they themselves consume. First steps for the squeamish “We are not saying that people should be eating bugs,” said Eva Muller, Director of FAO’s Forest Economic Policy and Products Division, which co-authored “Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security”. “We are saying that insects are just one resource provided by forests, and insects are pretty much untapped for their potential for food, and especially for feed,” Muller explained. Farming insects sustainably could help avoid over-harvesting, which could affect more prized species. Some species, such as meal worms, are already produced at commercial levels, since they are used in niche markets such as pet food, for zoos and in recreational fishing. If production were to be further automated, this would eventually bring costs down to a level where industry would profit from substituting fishmeal, for example, with insect meal in livestock feed. The advantage would be an increase in fish supplies available for human consumption. Bugs get bigger on less Because they are cold-blooded, insects don’t use energy from feed to maintain body temperature. On average, insects use just 2 kg of feed to produce 1 kilo of insect meat. Cattle, at the other end of the spectrum, require 8 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of beef. In addition, insects produce a fraction of emissions such as methane, ammonia, climate-warming greenhouse gases and manure, all of which contaminate the environment. In fact, insects can be used to break down waste, assisting in the composting processes that deliver nutrients back to the soil while also diminishing foul odours. Enabling policies lacking However, legislation in most industrialized nations forbids the actual feeding of waste materials and slurry or swill to animals, even though this would be the material that insects normally feed on. Further research would be necessary, especially as regards the raising of insects on waste streams. But it is widely understood by scientists that insects are so biologically different from mammals that it is highly unlikely that insect diseases could be transmitted to humans. Regulations often also bar using insects in food for human consumption, although with a growing number of novel food stores and restaurants cropping up in developed countries, it seems to be largely tolerated. As with other types of food, hygienic production, processing and food preparation will be important to avoid the growth of bacteria and other micro-organisms that could affect human health. Food safety standards can be expanded to include insects and insect-based products, and quality control standards along the production chain will be key to creating consumer confidence in feed and food containing insects or derived from insects. “The private sector is ready to invest in insect farming. We have huge opportunities before us,” said Paul Vantomme, one of the authors of the report. “But until there is clarity in the legal sphere, no major business is going to take the risk to invest funds when the laws remains unclear or actually hinders development of this new sector,” he explained. | ||
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Sub: Cyclonic Storm, MAHASEN over westcentral Bay of Benga
The cyclonic storm MAHASEN over west central Bay of Bengal moved further north-
northeastwards during past 6 hours at a speed of about 16 kmph and lay centred at 1130 hours IST of 15 th May 2013 near latitude 17.0 0 N and longitude 87.5 0 E, about 850 km northwest of Portblair, 600 km south-southwest of Kolkata, 380 km southeast of Paradip and 750 km southwest of Chittagong. It would intensify further and move northeastwards and cross Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Teknaff, close to Chittagong during night of 16 th May 2013
Under the influence of this system, rainfall would occur at many places with isolated heavy rainfall over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during next 24 hrs. Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy falls would occur over Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura on 16 th and 17 th .
Squally winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph would prevail along
Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours. Sea condition will be rough to very rough along and off Andaman & Nicobar Islands during this period.
Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph would prevail along and off north Andhra
Pradesh coast during next 12 hrs, Odisha coast during next 24 hours and West Bengal coast
during next 36 hrs. However, wind speed would increase to 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph along and off West Bengal coast from tomorrow, the 16 thMay morning.Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail over Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura commencing from 16th evening/night for subsequent 24hrs.
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FIGHT HEAT TIPS
FIGHT HEAT TIPS
When the body heats up faster than it can cool itself, mild to severe illnesses may develop. It’s important to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and understand how to prevent, control and respond to their effects.Air temperature, humidity and clothing can increase the risk of developing heat-related illnesses. So can age, sex, weight, physical fitness, nutrition, alcohol or drug use, or pre-existing diseases like diabetes. How can you prevent or control heat-related illnesses?
Anyone with mild or moderate symptoms should be moved to a cool, shaded place with circulating air. They should lie down and, if conscious, be given small sips of cool water at frequent intervals. If symptoms continue, a doctor should be called.
In severe cases of heat illness, a heat stroke may result. The victim’s face is flushed red and their skin is hot and dry with no sweating. They develop a severe headache with deep, rapid breathing. They have a very high fever and may become delirious. They may become unconscious, have convulsions, or lapse into a coma. This condition is fatal unless emergency medical treatment is obtained. Immediately call for medical help. In the meantime, get them out of the hot environment. Loosen clothing and pour water over the entire body. Get air circulating around the body.
Recognizing the warning signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and using preventive and control measures can reduce the frequency and severity of heat illness while increasing worker productivity.
- Drink water - Drink small amounts of water frequently, about a cup every 15-20 minutes. (Alcohol increases the loss of body fluids.)
- Limit exposure time and/or temperature - Try to schedule hot jobs for cooler times of the day or cooler seasons of the year. Take rest breaks in cool areas. Add more workers to reduce workload or reduce the workday.
- Acclimatization - Gradually adapting to heat will reduce the severity of heat stress.
- Engineering controls - Mechanize heavy jobs or increase air movement with fans or coolers.
- Wearing loose, lightweight clothing - Clothing can affect heat buildup.
- Salt tablets should not be used - Taking salt tablets can raise blood pressure, cause stomach ulcers, and seriously affect workers with heart disease.
Anyone with mild or moderate symptoms should be moved to a cool, shaded place with circulating air. They should lie down and, if conscious, be given small sips of cool water at frequent intervals. If symptoms continue, a doctor should be called.
In severe cases of heat illness, a heat stroke may result. The victim’s face is flushed red and their skin is hot and dry with no sweating. They develop a severe headache with deep, rapid breathing. They have a very high fever and may become delirious. They may become unconscious, have convulsions, or lapse into a coma. This condition is fatal unless emergency medical treatment is obtained. Immediately call for medical help. In the meantime, get them out of the hot environment. Loosen clothing and pour water over the entire body. Get air circulating around the body.
Recognizing the warning signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and using preventive and control measures can reduce the frequency and severity of heat illness while increasing worker productivity.
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The Facts on Heat Stroke
Heat Stroke
(Sunstroke, Heat Exhaustion, Thermic Fever, Siriasis)The Facts on Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is also known as sunstroke, thermic fever, or siriasis. It happens when the body's mechanisms for controlling temperature fail. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency needing immediate treatment. While many people feel sick and faint during heat waves, most of these people are suffering from heat exhaustion, a related condition usually less serious than heat stroke.There are two types of heat stroke: classic, non-exertional heat stroke (NEHS) and exertional heat stroke (EHS). Classic heat stroke occurs most commonly in very young or older individuals, who have health risks and are in poor environmental conditions. Exertional heat stroke occurs more often in younger, healthy individuals who participate in strenuous physical activity.
Causes of Heat Stroke
Working or exercising in hot conditions or weather without drinking enough fluids is the main cause of heat stroke. You can get heat stroke by not replacing lost fluids over days or weeks, or you can bring it on in a few hours by exercising strenuously on a hot day without drinking plenty of liquids first.Liquids help to cool us down by allowing the body to produce sweat. However, liquids are also necessary for bodily functions, such as keeping up blood pressure. You can lose large amounts of body fluid in the form of sweat without noticing any effects, but at a certain point the body will reserve the remaining fluid for vital functions and stop sweating. The body's core temperature then shoots up, and cells start dying.
Sweat evaporates more rapidly in dry weather, cooling the body more efficiently than in humid weather. When working in humid conditions, the core temperature rises more rapidly. This is why weather forecasts add a humidity factor or heat index to represent how you will actually feel outdoors.
People with the following conditions are especially prone to heat stroke:
- alcoholism
- chronic illnesses like heart disease
- obesity
- older age
- Parkinson's disease
- uncontrolled diabetes
- use of certain medications such as diuretics and antihistamines
- use of some psychoactive drugs such as alcohol and cocaine
Symptoms and Complications of Heat Stroke
The symptoms of heat stroke are quite different from those of heat exhaustion.Symptoms of heat exhaustion:
- moderately high core temperature (the temperature of the body's internal organs, best measured with a rectal thermometer) of up to 39°C (102°F)
- cool, pale, clammy skin
- muscle cramps
- headache
- nausea
- fatigue and weakness
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- possible fainting, but can be revived
Symptoms of heat stroke:
- extremely high core temperature of up to 41°C (106°F)
- hot, red, dry skin
- rapid pulse
- rapid, shallow breathing
- headache
- confusion, strange behaviour
- possible loss of consciousness
High core temperatures damage the internal organs, especially the brain. The fluid loss can also produce dangerously low blood pressure. Most people who are killed by heat stroke die when their heart stops pumping effectively (circulatory failure). Even people who survive are likely to have permanent brain damage if their core temperature has been over 40.6°C (105°F) for more than an hour or two.
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Human temperature variation effects
Human temperature variation effects
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Hot
Fevers are not to be confused with heat stroke. In fever the person can feel cold at high body temperatures since the body is fooled into thinking it is cold by the infectant microbe affecting the point that the body thermostat is set at. It is literally set higher than usual.
37°C (98.6°F) - Normal internal body temperature (which varies between about 36-37.5°C (96.8-99.5°F)
38°C (100.4°F) - Sweating, feeling very uncomfortable, slightly hungry.
39°C (102.2°F) (Pyrexia) - Severe sweating, flushed and very red. Fast heart rate and breathlessness. There may be exhaustion accompanying this. Children and epileptics may be very likely to get convulsions at this point.
40°C (104°F) - Fainting, dehydration, weakness, vomiting, headache and dizziness may occur as well as profuse sweating.
41°C (105.8°F) - (Medical emergency) - Fainting, vomiting, severe headache, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, delirium and drowsiness can occur. There may also be palpitations and breathlessness.
42°C (107.6°F) - Subject may turn pale or remain flushed and red. They may become comatose, be in severe delirium, vomiting, and convulsions can occur. Blood pressure may be high or low and heart rate will be very fast.
43°C (109.4°F) - Normally death, or there may be serious brain damage, continuous convulsions and shock. Cardio-respiratory collapse will occur.
44°C (111.2°F) or more - Almost certainly death will occur; however, patients have been known to survive up to 46.5°C (115.7°F).
Cold
37°C (98.6°F) - Normal body temperature (which varies between about 36-37.5°C (96.8-99.5°F)
36°C (96.8°F) - Mild to moderate shivering (this drops this low during sleep). May be a normal body temperature.
35°C (95.0°F) - (Hypothermia) is less than 35°C (95.0°F) - Intense shivering, numbness and bluish/grayness of the skin. There is the possibility of heart irritability.
34°C (93.2°F) - Severe shivering, loss of movement of fingers, blueness and confusion. Some behavioural changes may take place.
33°C (91.4°F) - Moderate to severe confusion, sleepiness, depressed reflexes, progressive loss of shivering, slow heart beat, shallow breathing. Shivering may stop. Subject may be unresponsive to certain stimuli.
32°C (89.6°F) - (Medical emergency) Hallucinations, delirium, complete confusion, extreme sleepiness that is progressively becoming comatose. Shivering is absent (subject may even think they are hot). Reflex may be absent or very slight.
31°C (87.8°F) - Comatose, very rarely conscious. No or slight reflexes. Very shallow breathing and slow heart rate. Possibility of serious heart rhythm problems.
28°C (82.4°F) - Severe heart rhythm disturbances are likely and breathing may stop at any time. Patient may appear to be dead.
24-26°C (75.2-78.8°F) or less - Death usually occurs due to irregular heart beat or respiratory arrest; however, some patients have to been known to survive with body temperatures as low as 14.2°C (57.5°F)
Hot
Fevers are not to be confused with heat stroke. In fever the person can feel cold at high body temperatures since the body is fooled into thinking it is cold by the infectant microbe affecting the point that the body thermostat is set at. It is literally set higher than usual.
37°C (98.6°F) - Normal internal body temperature (which varies between about 36-37.5°C (96.8-99.5°F)
38°C (100.4°F) - Sweating, feeling very uncomfortable, slightly hungry.
39°C (102.2°F) (Pyrexia) - Severe sweating, flushed and very red. Fast heart rate and breathlessness. There may be exhaustion accompanying this. Children and epileptics may be very likely to get convulsions at this point.
40°C (104°F) - Fainting, dehydration, weakness, vomiting, headache and dizziness may occur as well as profuse sweating.
41°C (105.8°F) - (Medical emergency) - Fainting, vomiting, severe headache, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, delirium and drowsiness can occur. There may also be palpitations and breathlessness.
42°C (107.6°F) - Subject may turn pale or remain flushed and red. They may become comatose, be in severe delirium, vomiting, and convulsions can occur. Blood pressure may be high or low and heart rate will be very fast.
43°C (109.4°F) - Normally death, or there may be serious brain damage, continuous convulsions and shock. Cardio-respiratory collapse will occur.
44°C (111.2°F) or more - Almost certainly death will occur; however, patients have been known to survive up to 46.5°C (115.7°F).
Cold
37°C (98.6°F) - Normal body temperature (which varies between about 36-37.5°C (96.8-99.5°F)
36°C (96.8°F) - Mild to moderate shivering (this drops this low during sleep). May be a normal body temperature.
35°C (95.0°F) - (Hypothermia) is less than 35°C (95.0°F) - Intense shivering, numbness and bluish/grayness of the skin. There is the possibility of heart irritability.
34°C (93.2°F) - Severe shivering, loss of movement of fingers, blueness and confusion. Some behavioural changes may take place.
33°C (91.4°F) - Moderate to severe confusion, sleepiness, depressed reflexes, progressive loss of shivering, slow heart beat, shallow breathing. Shivering may stop. Subject may be unresponsive to certain stimuli.
32°C (89.6°F) - (Medical emergency) Hallucinations, delirium, complete confusion, extreme sleepiness that is progressively becoming comatose. Shivering is absent (subject may even think they are hot). Reflex may be absent or very slight.
31°C (87.8°F) - Comatose, very rarely conscious. No or slight reflexes. Very shallow breathing and slow heart rate. Possibility of serious heart rhythm problems.
28°C (82.4°F) - Severe heart rhythm disturbances are likely and breathing may stop at any time. Patient may appear to be dead.
24-26°C (75.2-78.8°F) or less - Death usually occurs due to irregular heart beat or respiratory arrest; however, some patients have to been known to survive with body temperatures as low as 14.2°C (57.5°F)
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