World

Skolnik: The Costs Of Unpreparedness

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos

There is a price for everything and, one way or another, the price must always be paid. The economic impact of coronavirus will be exceptional, even if it were to kill only a relatively small number of people. We could save ourselves an enormous amount of economic hardship and ill health if we had invested wisely on a continuous basis in preparedness against emerging diseases. This is a lesson we have foolishly failed to learn from one emerging disease after another, such as SARS and Ebola.

Many Americans don’t understand what we should expect our federal government Read More

FBI Warns Cyber Criminals May Exploit COVID-19 Concerns

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FBI News:

The FBI is reminding the American public to continue exercising smart cyber hygiene in this uncertain time.

Be aware that cyber criminals may exploit concerns surrounding COVID-19 to perpetuate scams designed to steal your money.

By remembering these four tips, you can protect yourself and help stop this criminal activity:

  • Do not open attachments or click links within emails from senders you don’t recognize;
  • Always verify the information being shared originates from a legitimate source;
  • Do not provide your logins, financial data or other personal information in response to an
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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Urges Trump Administration To ‘Put Our National Labs To Work’ On COVID-19 Response

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement urging the Trump administration to do everything possible to engage the researchers and scientists at New Mexico’s national laboratories to find solutions to the coronavirus pandemic:

“Our national labs employ some of the best and brightest minds on Earth, and they have played a leading role in finding solutions to past public health crises. Sandia National Labs trained their high-powered electron microscopes on anthrax spores after Read More

Skolnik: ‘Marshall Plan’ Is Needed To Get States, Counties, Municipalities Financing Needed To Fight COVID-19 Outbreak

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos

Dear Senators and Members of Congress:

I write urgently to you, as a New Mexican who has spent 45 years working on global health and is the author of the leading textbook on that subject. I take account in my comments below of discussions with some of the leading economists and medical scientists who work on global health.

An economic stimulus plan may be warranted. However, no amount of economic stimulus can calm the economy in a crisis that is engendered by a disease outbreak. An economic stimulus may be necessary, but it will never be sufficient.

What is needed at least Read More

Zia Credit Union Warns Community Of COVID-19 Scams

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Zia Credit Union News:

No question about it, the past few weeks have been unsettling as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

We’re seeing things unfold that most of us haven’t experienced before. Entire cities have shut down, people are being quarantined, and credit unions are being forced to find different ways to serve members.

While we’ve seen the best in humanity – from Smith’s setting aside special times to serve the elderly, to local restaurants providing delivery and take out options – we’ve also seen scammers who are exploiting people’s Coronavirus fears.

Here are some scams you should

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AGU: New Research Shows Greenland Lost 600 Billion Tons Of Ice In 2019

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A glacier front in Greenland. New research shows Greenland lost 600 billion tons of ice in 2019. Courtesy/Kristin Laidre

AGU News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the exceptionally warm Arctic summer of 2019, Greenland lost 600 billion tons of ice, enough to raise global sea levels by 2.2 millimeters in two months, according to new research.

On the opposite pole, Antarctica continued to lose mass in the Amundsen Sea Embayment and Antarctic Peninsula but saw some relief in the form of increased snowfall in Queen Maud Land, in the eastern part of the continent.

These new findings and others by glaciologists Read More

2020 Earth Day Week Goes Online April 20-25 With Live Talks, Solutions And Events From Almost All Continents On Earth

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Earth Day News:

Coronavirus? Climate Crisis? Earth Day 50 years?

With so many physical events closing down – we’re stepping up to show that online conferences are the future!

Join us online April 20-25 for the third annual #WeDontHaveTime international climate conference. Let’s explore how businesses, activists, and experts come together to leverage climate engagement and an open climate dialogue to transform our economy, societies, and lives in the coming years.

Earth Day Week April 20-25 is a collaboration between Earth Day Network, Exponential Roadmap and We Don’t Have Read More

Canceled: April Medical Mission Trip To Haiti

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By Katie Fry and Elizabeth Hargreaves:

Dear Los Alamos Community,

Thank you for your continued support of our mission work in Haiti. It is with great sadness that we tell you our trip has been canceled. 

The April clinic will happen with an all Haitian team. All financial donations will be used for this clinic. Online donations are accepted here.

The following is a statement from Executive Director Nathan Ruby:

It is with a heavy heart that we share our decision to cancel the April Medical Mission Trip. Canceling a medical team trip is never made lightly, especially when canceling the second in a Read More

Thompson: The Dual Crisis Of Coronavirus

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By NICHOLAS THOMPSON, Ph.D.
Los Alamos

The Covid-19 coronavirus is an international pandemic. At the current rate, millions of people will get sick and tens of thousands will die, if not more.

As more people get sick, hospitals will become overwhelmed (as we’ve seen in Italy) and the death rate for this and all other diseases will increase due to lack of adequate care.

It’s beyond clear that drastic measures need to be taken. I commend Governor Lujan Grisham for closing schools, but this is not enough. Nationwide, schools, bars, churches, and all non-essential gatherings need to be closed/canceled. Read More

Catch Of The Week: More Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Scams

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Example of a fake covid-19 map website. Courtesy/Becky Rutherford

By BECKY RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos

Covid-19 has hit New Mexico, and yet more covid-19 themed scams have hit the internet.

Be aware, be cautious, and don’t fall for a scam, we all have enough to worry about.

Fake Covid-19 maps drop malware

Everyone wants to find out more information about covid-19, and there are many useful, interactive online maps out there. Be careful, some of these maps are fakes, put up by cyber-criminals, and they will infect your machine with malware. 

According to research from cybersecurity firm, Reason Labs, Read More