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United Nations Report Warns of Potential Extinction of One Million Plant and Animal Species
The United Nations has issued an assessment sounding the alarm that one million plant and animal species are at risk of extinction due to human-related changes to the Earth’s natural landscapes. This poses a dire threat to ecosystems upon which people all over the world are dependent for survival, according to a New York Times report. The human degradation of the environment has further been exacerbated by global warming, it added. “Biodiversity is caught between the stark, local effects of human action, like deforestation, and the diffuse but steadily worsening global effects like climate change. This report says the combination is more devastating than the sum of its parts,” stated Adam Langley, PhD, an associate professor in Villanova University’s Department of Biology. Consumerism is a driving factor in the rapidly deteriorating situation, Dr. Langley said. “It’s becoming clear that no amount of information can overwhelm the will of the consumer, whether it's the greed of the wealthy or desperation of the poor. Producers and consumers act out of personal interests, not out of their fondness for wildlife.” Government action must lead the way in alleviating the severity of the direction in which biodiversity loss is headed, according to Dr. Langley. “To make the drastic changes we need, the solutions must come from the top. Governments must recognize the enormous subsidy we receive from intact ecosystems in the form of food, fiber, clean water and air. In our world, valuing biodiversity means putting a price on it—and paying the price when we degrade it.” He added, “When I see reports like this, I’m struck that, in the history of Earth, we are the first species that is able for foresee an extinction event. We can predict it in painful detail. Avoiding that demise would be truly unique, but we’ve yet to see if human nature has that capacity.”
Measles is back…and our experts want people to leave the facts about vaccinations to the experts
Last week, America hit a record. Confirmed cases of measles eclipsed 700 cases. The disease that was once considered eradicated is now back and it has public health officials concerned. Dr. Todd Reinhart is the Dean of Sciences and Health Professions at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and he has more than two decades of experience in infectious disease research. He’s a strong proponent of vaccinations and weighed in with his thoughts and perspective. “I’m not shocked,” says Reinhart. “I know there’s been a strong anti-vaccination movement and there’s a lot of misinformation out there.” He believes social media has been largely responsible for this movement to not vaccinate. The publication of the “Wakefield” paper, which suggested that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine might be linked to autism — even though retracted — got a lot of attention. However, that research that vaccinations cause autism has been debunked and even most recently there’s a study out of Denmark that covered 5,000,000 person years and there was no association with immunization and developing autism. Reinhart wants the public to look at the bigger picture and consequences. “It’s important to protect that child but also the broader society. Vaccines have been the strongest public health success story over the last few centuries. Measles is one of the most highly contagious viruses that we know. The odds of your getting it, if you’re exposed to it and you haven’t been immunized, is 90 percent. Part of the concern is for infants who aren’t immunized, the elderly because their immune systems are weaker, and those who are immunocompromised.” But there is also the matter of rights to be considered and that is playing a big part in all of this. “The problem is that individuals’ rights intersect with medicine, public health practice, and collective rights. If my infant, who couldn’t be immunized, contracts it through a carrier who could have been immunized, who has the higher ground because of rights? The problem is that even with clear data and clear information, people have been allowed the right, for the most part, to make the decisions they want,” Reinhart reiterates. If you are looking for answers and facts when it comes to vaccinations – it’s best to visit credible sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or local public health websites. If you need to speak with an expert about this topic for your news coverage – let us help. Dr. Todd Reinhart is Dean of Sciences and Health Professions, Professor, Biology and Health Professions at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He has a degree in cancer biology from Harvard University’s School of Public Health and is an expert in the areas of infectious diseases. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
Notre Dame Fire Marks ‘Dark Day,’ But Beauty Will Emerge, Baylor Architectural Historian Says
In the wake of a massive fire that devasted Paris’ iconic Notre Dame Cathedral on Monday and captured eyes and prompted tears across the globe, a Baylor University expert in architectural history said beauty can emerge from the ashes. Elise King, M.I.D., M.A.,, assistant professor of interior design in Baylor’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, is an architectural and design historian. “Something I find comforting is that when you study architecture and design throughout history, there are numerous examples demonstrating that destruction, chaos and loss can beget inspired beauty. No matter the damage, this will not be the end of Notre Dame’s story,” King said. “Architecture isn’t static; it’s designed to adapt and change. The more significant the structure, the more likely its legacy will continue in some built form,” she said. “Whether it’s reconstruction, preservation and restoration, new construction or, more likely, some combination of strategies, Île de la Cité will not be without its cathedral.” French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that he hopes the 850-year-old building could be rebuilt within five years. “We will rebuild the cathedral and make it even more beautiful,” Macron said, according to a story in The Wall Street Journal. King said that the Notre Dame the world has come to know from pictures or personal visits is not the Notre Dame of the 12th Century. “The beloved gargoyles, for example, were added in the 19th century during Viollet-le-Duc's controversial ‘restoration' of the cathedral,” she said. “There is no doubt that today will be remembered as a dark day in Notre Dame’s history. But already there is light, as groups of Parisians came together tonight to sing ‘Ave Maria’ on the sidewalk in front of the smoldering edifice. And if the damage is severe, I hope the destruction will inspire new and innovative design solutions.” ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
In her most recent column with The Free Lance-Star, University of Mary Washington’s Lynne Richardson extols a witty, pointed and yet optimistic piece about bad bosses, why they might be bad and how there’s even a silver lining to each bad boss’ behavior. Here’s a piece from her open letter. “Dear Bad Boss, Your staff complains about you. You’re a micro-manager. Or maybe you’re a detached manager, showing little interest in your people or the work they do. Or maybe you put such pressure on your employees that they feel stressed all the time and hate coming to work. Of course, because of this, productivity suffers. Maybe you have incredibly high expectations that are unachievable, especially because you either don’t know to hire or you don’t train your folks. There is no possible way for the folks in your organization to reach your ridiculous expectations. Whatever the reason your folks don’t respect you, I want to thank you. Say what? Yes, Bad Boss, I appreciate you being bad. And I have two reasons…” If you like this – read the rest of the article attached below. So, do you have a bad boss? Do you know someone who does? Any chance … you just might be a bad boss? Worry not – our experts can help. Dr. Lynne Richardson is a columnist, mentor and her expertise focuses on leadership management and higher education administration. She is available to speak with media about leadership … and even bad bosses. Simply click on her icon to talk with her and arrange an interview.
Phasing out opioids – can it be done?
It’s a crisis that’s gripped America and has hit epidemic levels. More and more Americans are hooked on prescription painkillers, in fact, in 2017 close to 50,000 people in the United States died due to overdose from pills. And recently, it’s been suggested that perhaps phasing out and replacing these pills with less addictive and dangerous options is the only way to solve this issue? “FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who plans to leave his job at the agency next week, wants companies to develop pain drugs that could eventually allow older opioids to be restricted or to come off the market entirely. “Given the public health crisis we face, and that American families are still being destroyed by the opioids epidemic, I believe that the FDA should treat opioids, as a class, differently from other drugs,” Gottlieb told a Senate appropriations subcommittee on Thursday.” - Denver Post It's a bold statement from a bureaucrat leaving his post – but is it possible? · Will big pharma comply? · Is it a matter of money over morality or are more rigids rules required? · Or is the only aspect left legal and government intervention? There are a lot of questions to be answered and that’s where an expert from Cedarville University help. Dr. Marc Sweeney is the Founding Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Cedarville University and is an expert in the fields of drug abuse, prescription drug abuse and Opioid addiction. Marc is available to speak with media regarding this growing issue. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
Why Operation Varsity Blues has some experts seeing red
It’s a scandal that has all the right ingredients - celebrity, trusted institutions, entitlement, bribery and now stars potentially behind bars. The 50 people charged on March 12 in a college admissions conspiracy include the tennis coach for the Obama family, an investor and friend of Bono and TV celebrities Felicity Huffman from Desperate Housewives and Full House’s Lori Loughlin. They are all wealthy, connected and parents who participated in a scheme that saw cheating on admission tests and bribery of college coaches to get their kids into some of the most elite schools across America. It’s embarrassing for the kids, the parents and the schools. But nonetheless, there will be consequences. This conspiracy was brought down by the FBI after all. However, there is collateral damage that has also been done to America’s academic community. The reputation, importance and value of a degree from a post-secondary institution has been sullied. And undoing this damage will not be easy. Dr. David Rettinger is Director of Academic Integrity at the University of Mary Washington and President of the International Center for Academic Integrity, an organization founded to combat cheating, plagiarism and academic dishonesty in higher education. “With the recent revelations from the indictments in Operation Varsity Blues, the integrity of higher education is once again under attack. As a scholar of student ethics and President of the International Center for Academic Integrity, I encourage both condemnation of this behavior and understanding of the context in which it occurred. Our society is commodifying higher education, focusing on degrees and not learning. I hope that the public discourse about education can focus on authentic learning rather than degrees and qualifications, so that higher education can remain a public good.” Approved quote from Dr. David Rettinger Dr. Rettinger is available to speak with media regarding this scandal as well as the importance of education and how universities and colleges across America will need to work to rebuild trust in the institutions that have been impacted by these events. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
Justice is Not Only Bought, it's Racist!
After reading pieces in the Guardian and other news outlets, I find the assumption many news analysts, reporters, and commentators are making regarding Paul Manafort's sentence tone deaf. Yes, we all know money talks. And we also know that money has the ability to influence the legal outcomes within the U.S. justice system. But what people are not talking about, and should, is that his final sentence handed down by Judge TS Ellis, was rooted in racialized bias. Ok, let's just say, it had racist undertones. I know what many will say, "Race has nothing to do with the case." Well, it actually does. First, Paul Manafort has been essentially convicted of lying to federal officials, obstruction of justice, excessive felonies. And one can not forget about the morally reprehensible acts regarding collaborating with foreign governments bent on toppling the United States. He received 47 months. On the other hand, Judge TS Ellis, in 2009, was the presiding judge in the Representative William J. Jefferson of Louisiana case. Jefferson was indicted on 16 charges of corruption and later convicted. Judge Ellis did not give him 47 months. Jefferson was initially sentenced to 13 years for bribery. At the time, it was considered the longest sentence ever handed down to a member of Congress. This includes not only for the charge of bribery but any other crime. Looking through Ellis' convictions, a trail is visible. This is an old trail that is aligned to nothing but systemic racism.
Turning disability into accessibility
As communities grow and modernize – are we making the proper accommodations for those with disabilities to live a fulfilling, productive, and independent life? It’s a popular topic and one that we are now seeing being advocated more in many areas of everyday life. Accessibility laws and expectations are now ensuring that all aspects of education, business, transit, and health care are made available to everyone. The concept is sound – but how are we as a community developing reasonable accommodations and community resources that allow all people to participate in the community and successfully live their life? Often, it’s not a matter of intentional exclusion, rather the issue simply hasn’t been considered and no plan exists. And there are costs to not having a plan in place. Not addressing these “social determinants of health” (housing, transportation, etc.) affect healthcare outcomes and raise costs of hospitals, social services, and health care. Addressing these issues and improving accessibility may actually increase societal health, decrease long-term societal healthcare costs, and bolster the tax base. But as we move forward there are a lot of questions in the community about how to approach accessibility: What mechanisms are in place to gather input on needs, identify barriers, and consider requests for accommodation? What types of accessibility needs exist of the people who will use different community settings? (Physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional, developmental, etc.)? What types of accessibility barriers exist (architectural, environmental, attitudinal, financial, transportation, etc.)? How much do different accommodations cost? How can community settings partner with people with disabilities and/or health and human service providers? What specific ways can accessibility improve societal health? And that’s where the experts from CARF can help. Christine M. MacDonell is the Managing Director of Medical Rehabilitation and International Aging Services/Medical Rehabilitation at CARF International. She can address the issue of accessibility as it relates to people who have experienced brain injury, stroke, cancer, amputation, and spinal cord injury. Christine is available to speak with media regarding this topic – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.
Baylor Expert on Race, Blackface Featured Nationally
Mia Moody-Ramirez, Ph.D., professor of journalism, public relations and new media at Baylor University, is a nationally recognized expert on mass media representations of minorities, women and other underrepresented groups. Over the past few weeks, Moody-Ramirez has been interviewed and quoted extensively by some of the nation's top media outlets for their stories about race -- specifically the history and cultural significance of blackface. She coauthored the 2018 book From Blackface to Black Twitter: Reflections on Black Humor, Race, Politics, & Gender with Janette L. Dates, Ph.D., educator and critical commentator on the images of African-Americans in media. In a Feb. 10 USA TODAY story about Viriginia's governor and blackface, Moody-Ramirez said, "I think we will see some good come out of these latest revelations. People will be more educated. They can no longer argue they didn't know that it is not appropriate to put on makeup to darken their face or change their hair texture to look like their favorite actor or celebrity . . . They will no longer have that excuse." Other stories include: The Washington Post Northam’s ugly yearbook photo and the racist origins of blackface CNN A not-so-funny story about blackface Arizona Republic He objected to a photo of coal miners who appeared to be in blackface. He never imagined the backlash. The Washington Post The lengthy history of white politicians wearing blackface — and getting a pass OZY Governor Wanted: Predators and Racists Need Not Apply PRI The World How blackface — ‘America’s first cultural export’ — reinforces oppression across the world USA TODAY Blackface in Virginia, other incidents show how deeply rooted anti-black racism is in America
Opioid addiction is gripping America. It’s destroying lives, tearing apart families and devouring resources in policing and healthcare. As medical, mental health and addictions professionals look for solutions, often times accessible and public Opioid Treatment Programs, often known as a Methadone Clinic will open in communities. These clinics bring relief, treatment and support – but they also bring crowds, increased traffic and concern from local residents and the community. These concerns usually find their way to the media, where the attention can quickly turn negative. The solution to avoiding this scrutiny and making sure residents, business owners and community leaders are fully informed about the process, operation and security measures at these clinics are key to their success and integration. Questions such as: How was the site selected? How do you plan to control traffic flow and overcrowding? How will you manage parking and wait times? What are your measures to prevent diversion? Who can I speak to if I have questions or concerns about operations? CARF can speak to best practices, expectations, and requirements for when an opioid treatment program opens. Debbi Witham, Managing Director of Public Policy and is an expert in opioid treatment programs. Debbi is available to speak with media regarding this issue – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.