Posted by Brian on December 31, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Little off normal topic, but important.
“Sexual Harassment claims have seen a tremendous uptick, thanks in part to Hollywood! But, can you weed out potential offenders with a background check? Is there something to help you determine if the people you hire are going to be the ones you need to fire later? The answer is yes… and no…
As a part of your screening process, conducting background checks is very important. The General Duty Clause from OSHA states, in part, that you have the responsibility to provide a safe workplace for your employees and even customers that come in to your workspace. The courts have interpreted that to mean you should do background checks because you “should have known” about someone’s bad behavior!”
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From Hiring Insights News – More on this subject.
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Posted by Brian on December 3, 2017 · 3 Comments
Part of National Defense Authorization Act headed to President’s desk
LISLE, Ill. – The Water Quality Association has voiced its support for a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that authorizes a nationwide health study on the implications of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) such as PFOA on drinking water. The language was authored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
“This is an important step forward in the research needed to track the health effects of PFCs,” said WQA Executive Director Pauli Undesser. “We thank Senator Shaheen for making this a national priority.”
The NDAA is annual legislation that authorizes defense priorities for the fiscal year. The bill has been approved by both the U.S. House and Senate and is now headed to the President’s desk for his signature. Once signed into law, it will mandate the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to conduct the first-ever nationwide study on the impact of those exposed to PFCs in drinking water. However, Congress will also need to appropriate the $7 million to conduct the public health study.Earlier this year, the Environmental Working Group and Northeastern University identified PFCs in the drinking water of 15 million Americans in 27 states. The new research includes an interactive map that identifies where the contamination was identified.
What are (including PFOA and PFOS)?
PFCs are man-made. They are used in a broad range of applications including fire-fighting foams, non-stick coatings, food packaging and many other industries.
What are the potential health effects from PFOA and PFOS?
Studies have found PFOA and PFOS in the blood samples of the general human population and wildlife nationwide. Studies also indicate that continued exposure to low levels of PFOA in drinking water may result in adverse health effects. These chemicals bioaccumulate in living organisms compounding the exposure and potential impacts on human health.
Residents should have their drinking water tested through a certified water-testing laboratory. Homeowners can check with the Water Quality Association at PFOS to find a water quality professional or connect with a certified testing lab through the USEPA (http://water.epa.gov/scitech/drinkingwater/labcert/statecertification.cfm).
This is a copy of a press release from: WQA is a not-for-profit trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. Since 1959, the WQA Gold Seal certification program has been certifying products that contribute to the safe consumption of water. The WQA Gold Seal program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
Note from Keystone Clean Water Team
1. Because this is a chemical associated with a lot of consumer products that use water proofing, non-stick coatings, food containers and wraps, and consumer goods we suggest you not only focus on your water quality, but also the items you are using in your home and office.
We recommend reviewing the following page on our blog:
Posted by Brian on November 21, 2017 · Leave a Comment
“Prehistoric polar forests were built for survival, but were not hardy enough to live in ultra-high concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide. A geologist is studying the tree fossil record in Antarctica from a mass extinction 250 million years ago, looking for clues to how greenhouse gases affected plants — then and now.”
By the trip’s end, the geologists had found fossil fragments of 13 trees. The discovered fossils reveal that the trees are over 260 million years old, meaning that this forest grew at the end of the Permian Period, before the first dinosaurs.
“People have known about the fossils in Antarctica since the 1910-12 Robert Falcon Scott expedition,” said Gulbranson, a paleoecologist and visiting assistant professor in UWM’s Department of Geosciences. “However, most of Antarctica is still unexplored. Sometimes, you might be the first person to ever climb a particular mountain.”
Learn More – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee- Erik Gulbranson,
Featured Course – Restoring Urban Ecosystems
“The geologic record shows us the beginning, middle and end of climate change events,” Gulbranson said. “With further study, we can better understand how greenhouse gases and climate change affect life on Earth.” (Question- Does his statement put the cart before the horse?)
Filed under Carbon Sequestering, Climate, climate change, environmental education, forestry, training, training continuing education · Tagged with ancient forest, Antarctica, carbon dioxide, earth climate, earth history, Erik Gulbranson, geology, greenhouse gases, mass extinction, paleoecologist, tree fossils, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Posted by Brian on November 21, 2017 · Leave a Comment
“The Earth’s magnetic field” surrounds our planet like an invisible force field – protecting life from harmful solar radiation by deflecting charged particles away. Far from being constant, this field is continuously changing. Indeed, our planet’s history includes at least several hundred global magnetic reversals, where north and south magnetic poles swap places. So when’s the next one happening and how will it affect life on Earth?
During a reversal the magnetic field won’t be zero, but will assume a weaker and more complex form. It may fall to 10% of the present-day strength and have magnetic poles at the equator or even the simultaneous existence of multiple “north” and “south” magnetic poles.
Geomagnetic reversals occur a few times every million years on average. However, the interval between reversals is very irregular and can range up to tens of millions of years.
There can also be temporary and incomplete reversals, known as events and excursions, in which the magnetic poles move away from the geographic poles – perhaps even crossing the equator – before returning back to their original locations. The last full reversal, the Brunhes-Matuyama, occurred around 780,000 years ago. A temporary reversal, the Laschamp event, occurred around 41,000 years ago. It lasted less than 1,000 years with the actual change of polarity lasting around 250 years.
Power cut or mass extinction? (Read More)
For the climate group – “The difficulties of predicting the weather beyond a few days are widely known, despite us living within and directly observing the atmosphere. Yet predicting the Earth’s core is a far more difficult prospect, principally because it is buried beneath 3,000km of rock such that our observations are scant and indirect”
Training Profile – “Tracking Carbon“?
Filed under Climate, climate change, environmental education, Environmental Fear, Global Warming, solar energy, training continuing education · Tagged with Brunhes-Matuyama, climate, earth magnetic field, geomagnetic, laschamp event, Ozone, weaker poles, weather
Posted by Brian on November 15, 2017 · Leave a Comment
We always try to help the community, Kingston Rotary is holding a poinsettia sale. There biggest project to date just happened this year, and that is the Forty Fort Park Pavilion. If you are driving down Wyoming Avenue take a look at this structure and the picnic tables etc, that are there. This project cost over $ 50,000, and is completely paid for through grants and our fundraising such as this. Another major project they did over 25 years ago, was the Church Street Park in Kingston. This park was turned over to the borough and is still in use today. They also support many Non profits such as Candy’s Place and WVCA, see Poinsetta order form flyer 2017 and other historic projects in area.
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We need to replenish our treasury so we can continue to do these projects. These poinsettias are beautiful plants, and are grown by a local grower (BUY LOCAL) , so not only are you helping Rotary you are helping a local business. They make a beautiful holiday decoration for your office. You can email your orders, or just print out the sheet and fax or hand to me then next few weeks, As in the past if you order 10 plants or more I will deliver to your place of business.
Details Contact:
Edward W. Stanks Jr., C.P.A.
458 Wyoming Avenue
Kingston, Pa. 18704
Phone: 570-288-9990
Fax: 570-288-2553
Filed under Children's Health, Community Health, fundraiser, Nonprofits · Tagged with fundraiser, Holiday Flowers, Kingston, Kingston Rotary, Pennsylvania, Poinsetta sale, support a 501 c3, wyoming valley
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