To my dear visitors and commenters

Hi, everybody! I've noticed with lots of joy and happiness, that thousands of comments have been written in my posts. It's wonderful that so may people around the world appreciate my work. Therefore, I want to thank you for that and ,at the same time I want to ask you to be this blog's followers. It's fast and easy! Make it be even more visited and spread all over the world! I'm a woman, a teacher of English in Portugal, and I've been away for quite a long time because of my father's health. Unfortunately he died from Covid19 a few months ago. Now I felt it was time to restart my activity in this and other blogs I owe. I've recently created a new one in a partnership with a street photographer, Mr. Daniel Antunes. He's fabulous! https://pandpbydandd.blogspot.com I'd like you to visit it and, who knows, become our followers. The poems, chronicles and thoughts are all mine. Thank you so much! Kisses :-)

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Thursday, June 20, 2013

Singapore smog from Indonesia fire 'could last weeks'

Singapore's prime minister has warned that the haze engulfing the city could last for weeks, as air pollution in the city-state soared to record levels.

Singapore smog, before and after
The pollution standards index peaked at 371 on Thursday, breaking previous records and well above hazardous levels, before falling to about 300.
The haze is caused by illegal forest fires in Indonesia's Sumatra island.
The issue has sparked accusations between the two neighbours over who is responsible for the smog.
Environment officials from the two nations are holding an emergency meeting in Jakarta on Thursday.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister, wrote on his Facebook wall that he would demand "definitive action" from Jakarta.
A couple take a picture of the smog-filled skyline in Singapore on 19 June 2013
"No country or corporation has the right to pollute the air at the expense of Singaporeans' health and wellbeing," he said.
However, Indonesian Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono said that Singapore was "behaving like a child".
"This is not what the Indonesian nation wants, it is because of nature," he said.
'Cloud seeding'
Since the haze arrived, Singapore's buildings have been obscured by the polluted air and the smell of burnt wood has permeated the city-state.
A PSI reading above 200 indicates "very unhealthy" air, while a PSI score above 300 is "hazardous". Readings are being posted on the website of the National Environment Agency.
At a press conference, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the haze could "easily last for several weeks and quite possibly longer until the dry season ends in Sumatra".
Mr Lee asked Singaporeans to "stay indoors where possible and avoid heavy outdoor activities".
He also announced that the Singaporean government will hold daily press conferences on the haze situation.
Air traffic controllers in Singapore have been told to work with extra caution given the poor visibility, while McDonald's has temporarily cancelled its delivery service.
The Singaporean military has also reportedly suspended all outdoor training.
The poor air quality has prompted widespread buying of disposable face masks, leading shops to run out of stock.
Parts of Malaysia have also recorded "hazardous" pollution levels, with over 200 schools in the country's south ordered to shut.
Malaysia's Department of Environment has also banned open burning in some states.
Transboundary pollution
Indonesia's forestry ministry said it intended to use cloud seeding to try to induce rain on Sumatra, AFP news agency reported.
The fires are started to clear land for plantations and generate smoke, particularly in the dry season.
Indonesian officials have suggested that foreign palm oil investors, including Singaporean companies, may bear some responsibility for the fires.
However, several major Singapore-based palm oil companies have denied any involvement.
Singapore's prime minister said the city-state had provided satellite data to Indonesia to help identify who was responsible for the fires.
He added that if any Singaporean companies, or companies with a presence in Singapore played a part in the fires, they would be held responsible.
In 1997 and 1998, many countries in the region were affected by the South East Asian haze, which was caused by smog from Indonesian fires.
The haze led to an agreement on transboundary haze pollution being approved by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2002.
However, Indonesia has yet to ratify the agreement.
Map
From BBC- Sci/Environment

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The wallaby that sleeps in a pillowcase

A suspended pillowcase used to mimic a Mum's pouch, is being used to raise an orphaned baby Wallaby.

Tui the Wallaby being fed in pillowcase
Tui, whose Mum died when he was a few weeks old, is being looked after by a specialist team at Blackpool Zoo.
They feed him milk from a bottle five times a day and he jumps into the pillowcase to sleep.
To make sure he's okay, Keeper Adam Kenyon takes him home with him every evening.
He said: "We use all the latest techniques when hand-rearing animals and encouraging joeys to sleep in suspended pillowcases gives them the same secure feeling that they would get in their mother's pouch.
"Tui is a real character and he follows me around the Wallaby Walkabout whilst I get on with my duties, which is really sweet."
When Tui gets older, the team will settle him back into sleeping in the zoo enclosure with other wallabies and kangaroos.
From CBBC News-Animals

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Cute baby polecat rescued by RSPCA

A baby polecat has been rescued by the RSPCA near Taunton in Somerset, after it became separated from its mum.

Baby polecat rescued by RSPCA
It was spotted by a member of the animal charity who found it, alone in a field, hungry and shaking.
The RSPCA said its usually best to leave young babies where they are because their mum is often nearby.
But in this case the baby polecat had clearly lost its mum and was in danger from a dog living nearby.
The baby polecat is healthy but needs constant feeding and care until he is old enough to fend for himself.
Polecats are part of the weasel family and live in woodland areas.
They nearly became extinct in the UK around 100 years ago because so many were killed by gamekeepers but numbers are now gradually increasing again.
From CBBC


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