‘Neglect’ the Cause of Thousands of Deaths on Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria

Puerto Rico (Sputnik) – A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine Tuesday estimated that some 4,645 people died following the September 2017 landfall of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico – not 64, the official death toll. According to the study, Puerto Rico’s official count of 64 is a “substantial underestimate” and “underscores the inattention of the US government to the frail infrastructure of Puerto Rico.” Researchers came to their conclusion by surveying some 3,299 households across the island and inquiring as to how many people within the home died from injuries and illness sustained as a result of the hurricane….

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Five Books by Women, About Women, for Everyone

(Conversation) – Women’s writing has long been a thorn in the side of the male literary establishment. From fears in the late 18th century that reading novels – particularly written by women – would be emotionally and physically dangerous for women, to the Brontë sisters publishing initially under male pseudonyms, to the dismissal of the genre of romance fiction as beyond the critical pale, there has been a dominant culture which finds the association of women and writing to be dangerous. It has long been something to be controlled, managed…

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The Forgotten History of Memorial Day

United States (Conversation) – In the years following the bitter Civil War, a former Union general took a holiday originated by former Confederates and helped spread it across the entire country. The holiday was Memorial Day, and this year’s commemoration on May 28 marks the 150th anniversary of its official nationwide observance. The annual commemoration was born in the former Confederate States in 1866 and adopted by the United States in 1868. It is a holiday in which the nation honors its military dead. Gen. John A. Logan, who headed…

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Making a Cleaner, Greener, Environmentally Safe Sunscreen

(Conversation) – As the temperatures rise and Americans swarm to the beach, they slather on sunscreen to protect against the sun’s harmful UV radiation that causes skin cancer. As they splash and swim, few give thought to whether the chemicals in the lotions and sprays are safe for marine organisms such as the fish and corals living in these coastal zones. The bad news is that mounting evidence suggests that certain chemicals in these radiation filters are bleaching the corals and killing fish. The good news is that there is…

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Africa’s First Medical Cannabis Dispensary Opening in South Africa

South Africa (TD) – In a milestone moment, the first legal medical cannabis dispensary on the African continent is about to open. The dispensary, which will open on June 1 in the South African city of Durban, will sell imported products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a compound from the cannabis plant which offers a host of therapeutic and medical uses. This is legal, as the country’s Medicines Control Council rescheduled CBD in October 2017, meaning it can be legally possessed and used if acquired by a patient with a prescription. The dispensary does…

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Cuba’s parliament now has three black vice presidents. How come that didn’t that make the news?

(GV) – On April 19, 2018, the Republic of Cuba swore in former university professor Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez as its new president and the 9th Congress of the National Assembly of People’s Power—the country’s supreme body of government power—elected a new Council of State. But the euphoria and uncertainty surrounding a supposed “Cuba without Castros” and related matters have eclipsed another major development: the presence of four Black leaders who will be part of the new government through 2023. Black Cubans make 10% of the population but their representation in circles…

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Our Immigration Debate Needs a Lot More Humanity

US (OtherWords) –  I don’t think I’m alone in believing there’s an intrinsic value to human life. That is, any human, no matter who they are or what they’re like, has worth simply because they’re human. On some basic level, all of us are equal and precious. That’s why many of us would save a human from a burning building before we’d try to save a dog. And why we’d go to extreme lengths to save the human if it’s at all possible. No doubt you have people you love,…

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How Neoliberalism Colonised Feminism – And What You Can do About It

(Conversation) – All of a sudden, everyone wants to claim the feminist label. From Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg to Ivanka Trump, an unprecedented number of high-profile corporate women are publicly declaring themselves feminists. The market is colonising feminist themes, it seems. Indeed, identifying as feminist has not only become a source of pride but also serves as cultural capital for Hollywood stars and music celebrities alike, so much so that the new “f-word” has literally inundated mainstream and social media. Meghan Markle, the UK’s new feminist princess, is just the…

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Primary voters aren’t that different from general election voters

(JR)  – Voters who turn out for primary elections often are characterized as party extremists responsible for nominating candidates with ideologically extreme views. But a new analysis finds that these voters may not be much different from those who participate in general elections — although they do seem to be more interested in politics. Election reform advocates frequently argue that changing the primary process could reduce political polarization. The forthcoming study, from researchers at George Washington University and the University of California, Los Angeles, offers insights about the men and…

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US to Strip Funding from Women’s Health Providers

Washington, DC (HRW) – The Trump Administration yesterday proposed a policy that would ban organizations providing abortion services in the US from receiving federal family planning money, known as Title X funding. This proposed rule is aimed at defunding Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of women’s health care in the country. It will inflict tremendous harm on poor women and women of color in the US, who are more likely to depend on healthcare providers who receive this funding. The proposed rule, introduced by the US Department of Health and Human…

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