Female patient gets a check up in India. Photo: World Bank/Curt Carnemark GENEVA–(ENEWSPF)–9 December 2014 – Some 80 per cent of the population across 44 countries lives without any health protection, essentially being deprived of the right to healthcare simply because they cannot afford it, according a new report released[Read More…]
Science
New Study Reaffirms Abortion Is Safe, PPFA Urges Policy Makers to Base Legislation on Science
WASHINGTON, DC –(ENEWSPF)—December 9, 2014. In response to a new study reaffirming that abortion as practiced in America today is safe, Planned Parenthood released the following statement urging elected officials to consider the science when drafting legislation that affects women’s health, most notably medically unnecessary targeted restrictions on abortion providers (TRAP), which have been[Read More…]
Researchers Offer New Insights into Predicting Future Droughts in California
Natural cycles, sea surface temperatures found to be main drivers in ongoing event Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 9, 2014. According to a new NOAA-sponsored study, natural oceanic and atmospheric patterns are the primary drivers behind California’s ongoing drought. A high pressure ridge off the West Coast (typical of historic droughts) prevailed for[Read More…]
HHS Secretary Burwell Issues Declaration Under PREP Act to Support Development of Ebola Vaccines
Important step in effort to develop Ebola vaccines to combat current, future outbreaks Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–December 9, 2014. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell today announced a declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act to facilitate the development and availability of experimental Ebola vaccines. This declaration[Read More…]
Deep-Sea Discovery: Atlantic Coast Ocean Canyons Teeming with Newfound Marine Life and over 40 Species of Vibrant Deep-sea Coral
New Effort Underway to Protect East Coast’s Coral Canyons NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–December 9, 2014 — Recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)-led explorations into deep undersea canyons off the East Coast have uncovered a steady stream of scientific discoveries, including over 40 different species of corals, some potentially brand new ocean[Read More…]
Groups Join State of California in Holding Railroads Responsible for Oil Spills, Disaster Planning
Railroads claim they are not responsible for hazardous fuels they transport across the state A crude oil train near the Richmond, CA, railyard. Chris Jordan-Bloch / Earthjustice San Francisco, CA —(ENEWSPF)–December 9, 2014. On Dec. 5, a coalition of concerned citizen groups, sportfishermen, and environmental organizations joined with the State[Read More…]
Rare Atlantic Coast Shorebird Protected Under Endangered Species Act
Red Knot, Imperiled Long-distance Flyer, Threatened by Loss of Horseshoe Crabs, Habitat and Climate Change PLEASANTVILLE, N.J.—(ENEWSPF)–December 9, 2014. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected the red knot as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The robin-sized shorebird, which twice a year makes an epic 9,000-mile[Read More…]
Mayor Emanuel Announces 50th Building to Join Retrofit Chicago’s Commercial Buildings Initiative
City continues aggressive energy efficiency push with Commercial Buildings Initiative milestone and $1.6 million in additional funding for energy efficiency upgrades in apartment buildings CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–December 8, 2014. Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the 50th building to join Retrofit Chicago’s Commercial Buildings Initiative alongside United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The Commercial[Read More…]
More Than 80 Scientists Urge Federal Protection of Northern Long-eared Bats
WASHINGTON—(ENEWSPF)–December 8, 2014. Some of the world’s leading bat biologists are among more than 80 scientists who sent a letter today calling for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Interior Department to move forward with last year’s proposal to give critically imperiled northern long-eared bats the full protection of[Read More…]
NASA’s Curiosity Rover Finds Clues to How Water Helped Shape Martian Landscape
This illustration depicts a lake of water partially filling Mars’ Gale Crater, receiving runoff from snow melting on the crater’s northern rim. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/MSSS This evenly layered rock photographed by the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover on Aug. 7, 2014, shows a pattern typical[Read More…]
