Thursday, June 20, 2013
MIXED OYSTER NEWS
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| Oysters. Credit: USFW/Wikimedia |
FROM: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
World Oceans Month Brings Mixed News for Oysters
In World Oceans Month, there's mixed news for the Pacific Northwest oyster industry.
For the past several years, it has struggled with significant losses due to ocean acidification. Oyster larvae have had mortality rates high enough to render production no longer economically feasible.
Now a new study documents why oysters appear so sensitive to increasing acidity, but also offers some hope for the future.
It isn't necessarily a case of acidic water dissolving the oysters' shells, scientists say. It's water high in carbon dioxide altering shell formation rates, energy usage and, ultimately, the growth and survival of young oysters.
"The failure of oyster seed production in Northwest Pacific coastal waters is one of the most graphic examples of ocean acidification effects on important commercial shellfish," said Dave Garrison, program director in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences.
NSF funded the study through its Ocean Acidification Program, part of NSF's Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability programs.
"This research is among the first to identify the links among organism physiology, ocean carbonate chemistry and oyster seed mortality," said Garrison.
Results of the study are online in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, published by the American Geophysical Union.
"From the time eggs are fertilized, Pacific oyster larvae precipitate roughly 90 percent of their body weight as a calcium carbonate shell within 48 hours," said George Waldbusser, an Oregon State University marine ecologist and lead author of the paper.
"Young oysters rely solely on the energy they derive from the egg because they have not yet developed feeding organs."
During exposure to increasing carbon dioxide in acidified water, however, it becomes more energetically expensive for organisms like oysters to build shells.
Adult oysters and other bivalves may grow more slowly when exposed to rising carbon dioxide levels. But larvae in the first two days of life do not have the luxury of delayed growth.
"They must build their first shell quickly on a limited amount of energy--and along with the shell comes the organ to capture external food," said Waldbusser.
"It becomes a death race of sorts. Can the oyster build its shell quickly enough to allow its feeding mechanism to develop before it runs out of energy from the egg?"
The results are important, marine scientists say, because they document for the first time the links among shell formation rate, available energy, and sensitivity to acidification.
The researchers say that the faster the rate of shell formation, the more energy is needed. Oyster embryos building their first shells need "to make a lot of shell on short order," said Waldbusser.
"As the carbon dioxide in seawater increases, but before waters become corrosive, calcium carbonate precipitation requires more energy to maintain higher rates of shell formation during this early stage."
The researchers worked with Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery in Netarts Bay, Ore. They found that on the second day of life, 100 percent of the larval tissue growth was from egg-derived carbon.
"The oyster larvae were still relying on egg-derived energy until they were 11 days old," said Elizabeth Brunner of Oregon State University and a co-author of the paper.
The earliest shell material in the larvae contained the greatest amount of carbon from the surrounding waters.
Increasing amounts of carbon from respiration were incorporated into shells after the first 48 hours, indicating an ability to isolate and control the shell surfaces where calcium carbonate is being deposited.
Waldbusser notes that adult bivalves are well-adapted to growing shell in conditions that are more acidified, and have evolved several mechanisms to do so.
These include use of organic molecules to organize and facilitate the formation of calcium carbonate, pumps that remove acid from the calcifying fluids, and outer shell coatings that protect minerals to some degree from surrounding waters.
Waldbusser said that the results help explain previous findings at the Whiskey Creek Hatchery of larval sensitivity to waters that are high in carbon dioxide but not corrosive to calcium carbonate.
They also explain carryover effects later in larval life of exposure to high carbon dioxide, similar to human neonatal nutrition effects.
The discovery may be good news, scientists say, because there are interventions that can be done at hatcheries that may offset some of the effects of ocean acidification.
Some hatcheries have begun "buffering" water for larvae--essentially adding antacids to incoming waters--including the Whiskey Creek Hatchery and the Taylor Shellfish Farms in Washington.
The study provides a scientific foundation for the target level of buffering.
"You can make sure that eggs have more energy before they enter the larval stage," said Waldbusser, "so a well-balanced adult diet may help larval oysters cope better with the stress of acidified water."
-NSF-
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR JUNE 19, 2013
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force in Kandahar Arrests Taliban Leader
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, June 19, 2013 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and another extremist in Kandahar City, the provincial capital of Afghanistan's Kandahar province, today, military officials reported.
The Taliban leader is responsible for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, facilitates the movement of weapons in Kandahar City and the province's Shah Wali Kot district, and manages weapons caches.
The security force also seized an assault rifle in the operation.
In other Afghanistan operations today:
-- A combined force in Kandahar City arrested a Taliban facilitator who procures improvised explosive devices, weapons and ammunition and distributes them for attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces. He also manages supply routes into Kandahar province. The security force also arrested six other extremists.
-- In Helmand province's Marjah district, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader who controls groups responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also finances local Taliban cells, coordinates ammunition storage and coordinates IED movement and placement. The security force also arrested five other extremists and seized a shotgun.
-- Also in Helmand's Marjah district, a combined force arrested five extremists during a search for Taliban leader who coordinates, directs and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also passes strategic guidance from senior Taliban leadership to low-level fighters and facilitates movement of IEDs and other equipment. The security force also seized an assault rifle, four magazines and ammunition.
In operations yesterday:
-- In Herat province's Shindand district, Afghan special forces soldiers killed two enemy fighters who attacked them during a patrol near a local police checkpoint.
-- Afghan special forces soldiers detained five enemy fighters in Kandahar's Maiwand district. The Afghan forces planned and executed the unilateral operation to deny the enemy a safe haven in Chesmeth village.
EPA AWARDS BROWNFIELD GRANTS TO GREEN BAY
FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
U.S. EPA Awards $600,000 of Brownfield Grants to Green Bay
(Green Bay, Wis. -- June 11, 2013) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Susan Hedman today joined Mayor Jim Schmitt at the former Tillman Nursery site to announce the award of brownfield grants totaling $600,000 to the City of Green Bay, Wisconsin, to assess and clean up contaminated sites.
"These EPA brownfield grants will be used by the City of Green Bay to assess and clean up contaminated properties," said Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman. "The City will use these grants to revitalize blighted areas, stimulate economic development, and create jobs."
"The grants are a great example of local government partnering with the federal government to improve the vitality of our downtown along the Fox and East Rivers, and the Velp Avenue, Webster Avenue and University Avenue corridors," Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt said.
EPA awarded a $400,000 grant to Green Bay for environmental assessments in the downtown area along the Fox and East Rivers, Velp Avenue Corridor and Webster Avenue Corridor so that land can be cleaned up and redeveloped.
EPA also awarded a $200,000 area-wide planning grant to Green Bay for the University Avenue Corridor, which runs approximately four miles from the East River to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The EPA planning grant will help the city create plans for brownfields sites to stimulate additional economic development along the University Avenue Corridor. The University Avenue Corridor includes a Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic, which is expected to open this summer.
The funding announced today builds on a $400,000 grant EPA awarded Green Bay in 2007 to assess former industrial sites along the Fox River. EPA’s 2007 grant helped create hundreds of jobs, prepare 13 acres for reuse and spurred the development of the Green Bay Children’s Museum, Hagemeister Park Restaurant and the Schreiber Foods corporate headquarters that is planned to be completed next year.
U.S. EPA Awards $600,000 of Brownfield Grants to Green Bay
(Green Bay, Wis. -- June 11, 2013) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Susan Hedman today joined Mayor Jim Schmitt at the former Tillman Nursery site to announce the award of brownfield grants totaling $600,000 to the City of Green Bay, Wisconsin, to assess and clean up contaminated sites.
"These EPA brownfield grants will be used by the City of Green Bay to assess and clean up contaminated properties," said Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman. "The City will use these grants to revitalize blighted areas, stimulate economic development, and create jobs."
"The grants are a great example of local government partnering with the federal government to improve the vitality of our downtown along the Fox and East Rivers, and the Velp Avenue, Webster Avenue and University Avenue corridors," Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt said.
EPA awarded a $400,000 grant to Green Bay for environmental assessments in the downtown area along the Fox and East Rivers, Velp Avenue Corridor and Webster Avenue Corridor so that land can be cleaned up and redeveloped.
EPA also awarded a $200,000 area-wide planning grant to Green Bay for the University Avenue Corridor, which runs approximately four miles from the East River to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The EPA planning grant will help the city create plans for brownfields sites to stimulate additional economic development along the University Avenue Corridor. The University Avenue Corridor includes a Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic, which is expected to open this summer.
The funding announced today builds on a $400,000 grant EPA awarded Green Bay in 2007 to assess former industrial sites along the Fox River. EPA’s 2007 grant helped create hundreds of jobs, prepare 13 acres for reuse and spurred the development of the Green Bay Children’s Museum, Hagemeister Park Restaurant and the Schreiber Foods corporate headquarters that is planned to be completed next year.
TENNESSEE SMALL BUSINESS TO BENEFIT FROM EXPORT-IMPORT BANK PARTNERSHIP
FROM: U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
State’s Small Business Exporters, Workers to Benefit from New Ex-Im Partnership with Tennessee SBDC International Trade Center
Washington, D.C. – The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has signed a City/State Partnership with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center with a view to bolstering Tennessee jobs by stimulating Tennessee exports.
"Ex-Im Bank’s partnership with the Tennessee SBDC will help keep ‘Rocky Top’ businesses at the top," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "The partnership will bring foreign markets within reach of Tennessee businesses and support thousands of local small-business jobs."
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) program is headquartered at Middle Tennessee State University and offers 20 locations throughout the state, 14 of which are service centers, five satellite offices, and one an affiliate office. The program is part of the United States Small Business Administration’s largest grant funded service network and provides quality customer service to the small-business community. The Trade Center located at Tennessee State University manages the SBDC Export Assistance Program.
The SBDC Program is designed to provide high-quality business and economic developmental assistance to small businesses in order to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increase productivity, and improve management skills.
Commenting on the importance of the State Partnership with Ex-Im Bank, Patrick Geho, State SBDC executive director said, "From Ex-Im Bank’s Export Credit Insurance to their Global Express Loan, both current Tennessee exporters and new-to-export companies now have the financial keys to access the global marketplace successfully…and we (the SBDC) are committed to helping Tennessee business owners access Ex-Im Bank’s financial programs."
The City/State Partners program seeks to expand access to the Bank's export finance programs to more small and medium-sized business through the help of local, state, and regional economic development and business support organizations.
State’s Small Business Exporters, Workers to Benefit from New Ex-Im Partnership with Tennessee SBDC International Trade Center
Washington, D.C. – The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has signed a City/State Partnership with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (SBDC) International Trade Center with a view to bolstering Tennessee jobs by stimulating Tennessee exports.
"Ex-Im Bank’s partnership with the Tennessee SBDC will help keep ‘Rocky Top’ businesses at the top," said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. "The partnership will bring foreign markets within reach of Tennessee businesses and support thousands of local small-business jobs."
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) program is headquartered at Middle Tennessee State University and offers 20 locations throughout the state, 14 of which are service centers, five satellite offices, and one an affiliate office. The program is part of the United States Small Business Administration’s largest grant funded service network and provides quality customer service to the small-business community. The Trade Center located at Tennessee State University manages the SBDC Export Assistance Program.
The SBDC Program is designed to provide high-quality business and economic developmental assistance to small businesses in order to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increase productivity, and improve management skills.
Commenting on the importance of the State Partnership with Ex-Im Bank, Patrick Geho, State SBDC executive director said, "From Ex-Im Bank’s Export Credit Insurance to their Global Express Loan, both current Tennessee exporters and new-to-export companies now have the financial keys to access the global marketplace successfully…and we (the SBDC) are committed to helping Tennessee business owners access Ex-Im Bank’s financial programs."
The City/State Partners program seeks to expand access to the Bank's export finance programs to more small and medium-sized business through the help of local, state, and regional economic development and business support organizations.
SPACE COMMAND: THE INFRARED SPACE SYSTEMS DIRECTORATE
FROM: U.S. AIR FORCE SPACE COMMAND
SBIRS HEO-3 Shipped
Posted 6/18/2013 Updated 6/18/2013
Infrared Space Systems Directorate
6/18/2013 - LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. -- The third Space Based
Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) payload was shipped
June 12 to the host space vehicle program. The HEO payload is a high-tech
space-based sensor capable of detecting missile launches around the globe.
The payload will be integrated with a host spacecraft and prepared for
launch.
Prior to shipment, HEO-3 passed many significant production milestones. The
payload completed Thermal Vacuum Chamber testing March 30, verifying
performance in simulated space environmental extremes. This testing fully
demonstrated that the sensor's performance met or exceeded its predecessor,
HEO-2.
The Infrared Space Systems Directorate approved shipping the payload June
11, after completing an extensive series of final readiness reviews. HEO-3
is the first major delivery from the SBIRS Follow-on Production contract,
which also includes the third and fourth SBIRS satellites and an additional
HEO payload.
"I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of the joint Air Force
and contractor team, that worked long hours to ensure HEO-3 satisfied all
requirements," said Maj. Eric Neubert, HEO program manager. "The shipment of
this payload meets an important commitment for our production program and
keeps us on track to sustain the unprecedented infrared surveillance
capabilities that we provide to our warfighters and the Nation."
As one of the nation's highest priority space programs, SBIRS delivers
global, persistent, and taskable infrared surveillance capabilities to meet
21st century missile-warning demands and simultaneously supports other
critical missions including: missile defense, technical intelligence, and
battlespace awareness.
The SBIRS development team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate
at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, LAAFB, Calif.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime
contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., as the
payload integrator. The 14th Air Force operates the SBIRS system.
Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic
by sending an e-mail to smcpa.media@us.af.mil
Get the latest Los Angeles Air Force Base News at www.losangeles.af.mil
'Space and Missile Systems Center - Building the Future of Military Space
Today
SBIRS HEO-3 Shipped
Posted 6/18/2013 Updated 6/18/2013
Infrared Space Systems Directorate
6/18/2013 - LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. -- The third Space Based
Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) payload was shipped
June 12 to the host space vehicle program. The HEO payload is a high-tech
space-based sensor capable of detecting missile launches around the globe.
The payload will be integrated with a host spacecraft and prepared for
launch.
Prior to shipment, HEO-3 passed many significant production milestones. The
payload completed Thermal Vacuum Chamber testing March 30, verifying
performance in simulated space environmental extremes. This testing fully
demonstrated that the sensor's performance met or exceeded its predecessor,
HEO-2.
The Infrared Space Systems Directorate approved shipping the payload June
11, after completing an extensive series of final readiness reviews. HEO-3
is the first major delivery from the SBIRS Follow-on Production contract,
which also includes the third and fourth SBIRS satellites and an additional
HEO payload.
"I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of the joint Air Force
and contractor team, that worked long hours to ensure HEO-3 satisfied all
requirements," said Maj. Eric Neubert, HEO program manager. "The shipment of
this payload meets an important commitment for our production program and
keeps us on track to sustain the unprecedented infrared surveillance
capabilities that we provide to our warfighters and the Nation."
As one of the nation's highest priority space programs, SBIRS delivers
global, persistent, and taskable infrared surveillance capabilities to meet
21st century missile-warning demands and simultaneously supports other
critical missions including: missile defense, technical intelligence, and
battlespace awareness.
The SBIRS development team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate
at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, LAAFB, Calif.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime
contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., as the
payload integrator. The 14th Air Force operates the SBIRS system.
Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic
by sending an e-mail to smcpa.media@us.af.mil
Get the latest Los Angeles Air Force Base News at www.losangeles.af.mil
'Space and Missile Systems Center - Building the Future of Military Space
Today
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR JUNE 18, 2013
Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Extremists in Paktia Province
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, June 18, 2013 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed two extremists during a search for a senior Haqqani network leader in the Zurmat district of Afghanistan's Paktia province yesterday, military officials reported.
The Haqqani leader controls a group responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and facilitates the movement of suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices and components.
Also yesterday, Afghan special forces soldiers, advised by coalition forces, detained five enemy fighters in Farah province's Bala Boluk district.
In Helmand province June 15, Afghan and coalition security forces worked together in three operations that resulted in confiscation of Afghan police uniforms and caches of weapons and explosive materials. Four enemy fighters were arrested in connection with the discoveries. They also are suspected of kidnapping local Afghans for ransom.
RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS
The Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) launches a BQM-74 targeting drone during a live-fire missile exercise as part of the at-sea phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2013. More than 1,200 Sailors and Marines are participating in CARAT Thailand. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Patrick Dille (Released) 130608-N-AX577-071
Gunner's Mate Seaman Yoel Martinez, left, from Miami assigned to the weapons department aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), fires a .50-caliber machine gun from the ship while Fire Controlman 3rd Class Aaron Sousa, from Lincoln, Calif., observes under instruction during a live-fire exercise during the at-sea phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2013. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Patrick Dille (Released) 130609-N-AX577-032
DOD COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGES OUTLINED
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Official outlines challenges in securing DOD communications
by Nick Simeone
American Forces Press Service
6/13/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The threat of a cyberattack that would disrupt or deny connectivity is one of many information technology challenges the Defense Department faces, the Pentagon's chief information officer said here June 12.
"There's nothing that we do in DOD from the standpoint of mission security that does not rely on connectivity," Terri Takai told an audience of private-sector leaders and government information technology communities at the FedTalks 2013 conference.
Everyone seems to take connectivity for granted, Takai said, but maintaining it requires security measures, and a cyberattack could circumvent those measures.
"We have to think about how we will operate when that connectivity is disrupted or denied," she said.
It's an enormous challenge. With a budget of $39 billion spread across all four military branches and 40 defense agencies, Takai is charged with providing secure communications for the entire military.
"I support over 3.3 million people," she said. "We're located in 153 countries, and many of those countries are a challenge for being able to get connectivity. And then we're probably in more than 6,000 locations all over the world."
In addition to cyber threats, Takai said, the Defense Department's information technology community also must work through shrinking budgets, challenges posed by nations or groups that DOD partners with, and changing missions.
For example, she said, the Defense Department's shift toward the Asia-Pacific region means fewer U.S assets on the ground and more in the air and at sea. This requires new arrangements for a range of communications, including increased use of satellites, both government and commercial.
"It changes the dynamics of the way we look at how we provide communication capabilities," Takai said, and new partners in the region will have to be included in secure communications networks.
"That's a whole different group of countries to work with," she added, "and for me it's a whole different set of countries to be thinking about, 'How am I going to connect in a very secure way?'"
Official outlines challenges in securing DOD communications
by Nick Simeone
American Forces Press Service
6/13/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The threat of a cyberattack that would disrupt or deny connectivity is one of many information technology challenges the Defense Department faces, the Pentagon's chief information officer said here June 12.
"There's nothing that we do in DOD from the standpoint of mission security that does not rely on connectivity," Terri Takai told an audience of private-sector leaders and government information technology communities at the FedTalks 2013 conference.
Everyone seems to take connectivity for granted, Takai said, but maintaining it requires security measures, and a cyberattack could circumvent those measures.
"We have to think about how we will operate when that connectivity is disrupted or denied," she said.
It's an enormous challenge. With a budget of $39 billion spread across all four military branches and 40 defense agencies, Takai is charged with providing secure communications for the entire military.
"I support over 3.3 million people," she said. "We're located in 153 countries, and many of those countries are a challenge for being able to get connectivity. And then we're probably in more than 6,000 locations all over the world."
In addition to cyber threats, Takai said, the Defense Department's information technology community also must work through shrinking budgets, challenges posed by nations or groups that DOD partners with, and changing missions.
For example, she said, the Defense Department's shift toward the Asia-Pacific region means fewer U.S assets on the ground and more in the air and at sea. This requires new arrangements for a range of communications, including increased use of satellites, both government and commercial.
"It changes the dynamics of the way we look at how we provide communication capabilities," Takai said, and new partners in the region will have to be included in secure communications networks.
"That's a whole different group of countries to work with," she added, "and for me it's a whole different set of countries to be thinking about, 'How am I going to connect in a very secure way?'"
LABOR DEPARTMENT MAKES $2 MILLION AVAILABLE TO REDUCE CHILD LABOR IN AFGHANISTAN
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
$2 million in funding available from US Labor Department to reduce child labor in Afghanistan's home-based carpet production
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $2 million competitive solicitation to fund one or more projects to reduce child labor in the home-based production of carpets in Afghanistan.
One or more qualifying organizations will receive funding to support Afghanistan's efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor in the production of home-based woven carpets. Each organization selected will partner with at least one company whose source of carpets is from home-based production sites. The project(s) will involve the development and implementation of a sustainable social compliance system for that company's carpet supply chain and establishment of an independent monitoring system to verify its compliance with company standards on child labor.
For children working in home-based weaving workplaces, the project(s) will provide remediation services to support their withdrawal. In addition to social compliance, the project(s) will work to collect reliable data on child labor in the carpet supply chain in Afghanistan and will raise awareness on the dangers of child labor in the carpet industry.
Children working in the carpet sector reportedly start as young as six or seven years old and can work up to 12 hours a day. They suffer from a number of poor working conditions, including exposure to dust from the wool and noxious fumes, resulting in respiratory diseases. Little awareness exists in Afghanistan about the hazards faced by children working in the sector.
$2 million in funding available from US Labor Department to reduce child labor in Afghanistan's home-based carpet production
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of International Labor Affairs today announced a $2 million competitive solicitation to fund one or more projects to reduce child labor in the home-based production of carpets in Afghanistan.
One or more qualifying organizations will receive funding to support Afghanistan's efforts to reduce the worst forms of child labor in the production of home-based woven carpets. Each organization selected will partner with at least one company whose source of carpets is from home-based production sites. The project(s) will involve the development and implementation of a sustainable social compliance system for that company's carpet supply chain and establishment of an independent monitoring system to verify its compliance with company standards on child labor.
For children working in home-based weaving workplaces, the project(s) will provide remediation services to support their withdrawal. In addition to social compliance, the project(s) will work to collect reliable data on child labor in the carpet supply chain in Afghanistan and will raise awareness on the dangers of child labor in the carpet industry.
Children working in the carpet sector reportedly start as young as six or seven years old and can work up to 12 hours a day. They suffer from a number of poor working conditions, including exposure to dust from the wool and noxious fumes, resulting in respiratory diseases. Little awareness exists in Afghanistan about the hazards faced by children working in the sector.
NSF DISCUSSES THE FUTURE OF THE WHITEBARK PINE
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| Whitebark Pine. Credit: U.S. Forest Service/ Wikimedia. |
FROM: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Whitebark Pine Trees: Is Their Future at Risk?
There's trouble ahead for the whitebark pine, a mountain tree that's integral to wildlife and water resources in the western United States and Canada.
Over the last decade, some populations of whitebark pines have declined by more than 90 percent. But these declines may be just the beginning.
New research results, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and published today in the Journal of Ecology, suggest that as pine stands are increasingly fragmented by widespread tree death, surviving trees may be hindered in their ability to produce their usually abundant seeds.
"With fewer seeds, you get less regeneration," says ecologist Joshua Rapp, affiliated with NSF's Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site and lead author of the paper.
Whitebark pine populations vary between producing a high number of seed cones some years, and a low number of seed cones other years.
This variation depends on four factors: male pollen cones, female seed cones, wind and proximity.
Each year, pollen from male cones is carried on the air to fertilize female seed cones perched atop nearby trees.
"In low-cone years, less pollen is released, reaching extremely few female cones," says Elizabeth Crone, senior ecologist at the NSF Harvard Forest LTER site and co-author of the paper.
"But as more and more whitebark pines die, every year becomes a low-cone year."
In isolated pockets of trees, the gene pool is also diminished, meaning the seeds produced may be less viable over time.
"For decades, researchers have struggled to understand why many different organisms--trees, fish, corals, insects--from various habitats reproduce synchronously and at certain intervals," says Saran Twombly, program director in NSF's Division of Environmental Biology, which funded the research.
"By combining field data on seed and pollen production for whitebark pines with models that simulate mature cone production, this study helps to answer that question for these pines."
To reach their conclusions, the scientists had to look back in time.
They inspected branches from seven whitebark pine sites in western Montana, counting the scars left by pollen cones and seed cones.
"All the years with a high number of seed cones had one thing in common: a high number of pollen cones," says Rapp. "The success of the seeds seems to depend on the amount of pollen produced."
Whitebark pine seeds are an essential food source for many animals in mountain habitats.
The Clark's Nutcracker, a mountain bird, can store up to 100,000 seeds in underground caches each year. Squirrels also store thousands of seeds underground.
A diminished number of seed cones has an effect on grizzly bears, the scientists say; the bears regularly raid squirrel seed caches to prepare for winter hibernation.
"In the past, low years for whitebark pine cones have led to six times more conflicts between grizzlies and humans, as hungry bears look for food in campgrounds," says Crone.
"Now, concerns about viability of whitebark pine populations are one of the main reasons grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park are still listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act."
Birds, squirrels and bears are not the only species that depend on whitebark pine.
Vast stands of whitebark pine help to maintain the mountain snowpacks that provide water to more than 30 million people in 16 U.S. states each year.
Whitebark pines are often the only trees at the highest elevations. Their branches retain snow as it blows across gusty mountaintops. Their shade moderates snow-melt in the spring, keeping flows down the mountain in check.
A small percentage of whitebark pine trees have outlived the ongoing destruction by pests and disease. These trees are the next area of focus for Crone's team.
"We want to find out whether the surviving trees are still producing cones," Crone says. "They represent the future of whitebark pines."
-NSF-
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