US, Netherlands

 

US, Netherlands call for action on decaying Yemeni supertanker

The two countries warn of potential economic, environmental and humanitarian effects if FSO Safer spills or explodes.

A close-up view of the FSO Safer, June 19, 2020

Published On 27 May 202227 May 2022

The United States and the Netherlands have called for international action to address the “imminent threats” of a decrepit oil supertanker holding more than one million barrels of oil off the coast of Yemen.

The two countries issued a joint statement on Friday warning of the potential economic, environmental and humanitarian effects of an oil spill from FSO Safer, which they described as “decaying and unstable”.

“It could leak, spill, or explode at any time, severely disrupting shipping routes in the Gulf region and other industries across the Red Sea region, unleashing an environmental disaster, and worsening the humanitarian crisis in Yemen,” the statement said.

The supertanker has been called a “ticking timebomb” by experts and environmental advocates.

Last month, the United Nations unveiled a plan to offload the oil from the supertanker to a temporary vessel across four months.

“Both the FSO Safer and the temporary vessel would remain in place until all the oil is transferred to the permanent replacement vessel,” the plan reads. “The FSO Safer would then be towed to a yard and sold for salvage.”

The UN said the plan has the backing of the internationally recognised Yemeni government in Aden, and a “memorandum of understanding has been signed” with the Houthi rebels, who control the area where the FSO Safer is located.

On Friday, the US and the Netherlands warned against delaying the plan.

“By October, high winds and volatile currents will make the UN operation more dangerous and increase the risk of the ship breaking apart. In the event of a spill, the cleanup alone is expected to cost $20 billion,” their joint statement read.

Overall funding also appears to be an issue. The scheme would cost $144m, including $80m for the initial emergency operation.

The Netherlands and the US called on governments and the private sector to help finance the effort.

“We urge public and private donors to consider generous contributions to help prevent a leak, spill, or explosion, whose effects would destroy livelihoods, tourism, and commerce in one of the world’s vital shipping lanes,” they said.

They added that a pledging event last month raised nearly half of the amount needed for the emergency operation, but “more is urgently needed to move forward”.

In addition to the environmental threat and danger to international shipping routes, a spill from the supertanker – located west of Ras Issa on the Red Sea – could close the nearby ports of Hodeidah and Saleef, disrupting the flow of vital goods to assistance-dependent Yemen, UN officials have warned.

The US and the Netherlands’ call for action comes amid UN efforts to renew a fragile truce that had brought a halt to the fighting in Yemen since early April. The temporary ceasefire is set to expire at the beginning of June.

“We have sought to consolidate and to reinforce the truce not only because it brings additional stability and security to the people of Yemen, but because it has very practical effects,” US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said earlier this week.

“It has allowed humanitarian aid to reach individuals in parts of Yemen that have not been able to receive adequate aid for far too long.”

Dutch

 

Dutch bank ABN Amro apologises for role in slave trade

Apology comes after study finds some of the bank’s legal predecessors were involved in slavery activities in the past.

ABN AMRO logo is seen at the headquarters in Amsterdam 

Published On 13 Apr 202213 Apr 2022

The third-largest Dutch bank, ABN AMRO, has apologised for its involvement in slavery saying the practice in the 18th and 19th centuries caused “untold suffering”.

The bank is one of the first Dutch private companies to apologise for its role in the Atlantic slave trade amid growing debate about a painful period in the Netherlands’s colonial past.

Research commissioned by ABN AMRO found some of its legal predecessors were involved in “plantation slavery and the trade in products that originated in slavery during the 18th and 19th centuries”.

“Slavery caused untold suffering, and ABN AMRO apologises for the actions and activities of these predecessors,” said in a statement.

One of its predecessors, Hope & Co, “played a pivotal role in the international slave economy of the 18th century”, ABN AMRO said.

“Not only were slavery-related operations a source of much of Hope & Co’s profits, the firm was also actively involved in the day-to-day business of plantations,” it said.

“Hope & Co was the largest financial and commercial company in the Netherlands at the end of the 18th century, and slavery-related operations formed a core part of its business,” said Pepijn Brandon, senior researcher of the Amsterdam-based International Institute of Social History.

“Decisions made in offices in Amsterdam and Rotterdam directly impacted the lives of thousands of enslaved persons,” Brandon said.

Another predecessor, Mees en Zoonen, brokered insurance for slave ships and shipments of goods harvested by enslaved people.

Netherlands - Cuba

 

Cuba stunned by the Netherlands

Cuba’s hopes of reaching the final stages of the World Baseball Classic hanging by a thread after 6-2 loss.

Jonathan Schoop hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to inspire the Netherlands to a 6-2 victory

( OLD POST) 

The Netherlands stunned Cuba 6-2 in the World Baseball Classic’s second round on Friday to move one win from reaching the tournament’s final stage for the first time.

Second baseman Jonathan Schoop earned four runs to put the Dutch through to a game between either Japan, the two-time defending champions, or Taiwan, and leave Cuba’s hopes hanging by a thread.

The win at Tokyo Dome, against one of the tournament favourites and 2006 finalists, was the second big upset recorded by the Netherlands after they shocked South Korea, runners-up in 2009, in the first round.

The Netherlands have never reached the final stage before, while Cuba have to go through repechage play-offs if they want to make it to the championship series starting in San Francisco on March 17.

Steady progress

After missing a big chance at two downs and full bases in the first inning, the Netherlands took a 1-0 lead at the beginning of the second when Curt Smith fired a solo home run off Cuban starter Ismel Jimenez.

Andrelton Simmons then hit a single to get Kalian Sams back home, after the left outfielder had hit a double and advanced to the third base on a sacrifice bunt.Cuba pulled one back with Alfredo Despaigne’s solo home run in the bottom of the second inning, but Schoop stretched the lead to 5-1 by unleashing a three-run homer in the sixth inning.Yulieski Gurriel pulled another run back for Cuba by hitting a solo homer to trail 2-5 in the seventh inning, but Schoop regained the four-run lead with a double to the left.Tension flared up in the bottom of the eighth when first baseman Smith caught Jose Abreu’s foul ball falling down into the photographers’ area. A video replay showed he picked up the ball after failing to catch it.

 Cuban head coach Victor Mesa’s protest was turned down, and with that, their hopes of a comeback faded.

Japan will play Taiwan later on Friday. Two teams from the Asian second round will advance to San Francisco, joining another two sides from the pools being played in Puerto Rico and Arizona.

Netherlands COVID

 

Netherlands to go into tough COVID lockdown from Sunday 

All non-essential shops must close until January 14 and gatherings are limited to two people.

The partial lockdown already in place in the Netherlands has been toughened to combat a surge in Omicron COVID-19 cases 

Published On 18 Dec 202118 Dec 2021

The Netherlands will go into a tough lockdown from Sunday morning to limit a feared COVID-19 surge due to the Omicron variant, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.

Rutte told a news conference on Saturday that all non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, museums and theatres must stay shut until January 14, while schools must close until at least January 9.

Only shops considered essential – such as supermarkets and pharmacies – are exempt from the orders.

The number of guests that people are allowed in their house is also being cut from four to two, except for Christmas Day.

Gatherings outside are also limited to a maximum of two people.

“I stand here tonight in a sombre mood,” Rutte said. “The Netherlands will go back into lockdown from tomorrow. It is inevitable with the fifth wave and with Omicron spreading even faster than we had feared. We must now intervene as a precaution.”

 Rutte said the announcement builds on a partial lockdown already in force that requires bars, restaurants and other public gathering places such as cinemas and theatres to close at 5pm.

A failure to act now would likely lead to “an unmanageable situation in hospitals”, which have already scaled back regular care to make space for COVID-19 patients, Rutte said.

The head of the Dutch outbreak management team, Jaap van Dissel, told the news conference that the Omicron variant would overtake the Delta strain to become dominant in the Netherlands by the end of the year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday the Omicron variant is spreading significantly faster than the Delta strain in countries with documented community transmission, with the number of cases doubling in 1.5 to three days.

The highly mutated variant is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity, the WHO said, but it is unclear if this is due to the virus’s ability to evade immunity, its inherent increased transmissibility or a combination of both.

thyroid gland

Health of the thyroid gland

When it comes to the health of the thyroid gland, it has become a health problem for most people right now. The FDA in the United States regulates Western medicine worldwide, and there is a consensus among these agencies. It is suggested that iodine deficiency be identified as the leading cause of thyroxine swollen health problems or gout and that iodine be added to the salts. Our body needs 59 more of these minerals and you may not know that all of these minerals are deficient and cause any disease. However, the FDA's recognition that iodine deficiency causes thyroid disease should be appreciated.

There are two types of hormones secreted by the thyroid gland called T3 and T4. This deficiency of hormones is called hypothyroidism. Or someone with a dysfunctional thyroid gland. As this hormone decreases, some people increase this hormone. Then it is called hyperthyroidism. This hormone is another hormone responsible for secretion. TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) This hormone only stimulates the thyroid gland when needed. Both hormones T3 and T4 perform the same functions as thyroxine. As the TSH hormone increases, so does the thyroxine hormone. Thus, we can assume that the hormone TSH inhibits the production of thyroxine. But what if the production of the hormone TSH is somehow impaired? Then the thyroid gland begins to function abnormally. Therefore, TSH levels should always be normal. But when our body needs thyroxine, our pituitary gland makes sure to reduce the production of TSH. Accordingly, the thyroid gland is responsible for increasing the production of thyroxine and adding it to the blood.

Every cell in our body has a thyroxine receptor. This shows that all the cells in our body need this hormone. People with this disease know that in some way this hormone is low or high so it is felt all over the body.

When a person notices a decrease in this hormone, doctors prescribe an artificial thyroxine hormone. Most likely this hormone is a hormone similar to T4. Our thyroid produced two glandular hormones but now we get only one hormone. That is the hormone T4. Now we have to go on this journey without T3. But there is one specialty of this hormone. That is, the hormone T4 can become T3. But this process requires the mineral selenium. (Selenium Foods) Find out more about Selenium-containing foods. Now all you have to do is add selenium to your diet if you are taking thyroxine hormone outside, right? If you do, you will feel some relief, even if you have had your thyroid gland removed.
Let's take a look at the complications of thyroxine modification. People with low thyroxine usually have the following symptoms:

 Low physical strength.
    The skin tends to dry out.
    The hair falls out.
    Feels more cold.
    Obesity occurs very rapidly.
    Osteoporosis occurs.

If you have these conditions it means that you often have a decrease in thyroxine. Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed in this way. Also, these people need to take thyroxine externally and should avoid the following foods. This is because these foods inhibit the production of thyroxine. People with hypothyroidism should avoid these foods for the health of the thyroid gland.

    Broccoli (cauliflower green)
    Cabbage
    Cauliflower (white cauliflower)
    eggplant
    Nocol

Do not eat these. ⁇
People with high levels of thyroxine may have these symptoms.

    Increased activity than others.
    Swelling of the neck.
    Increased body temperature.
    Unbearable temperature.
    Weight loss.

People with these symptoms should take the above mentioned foods for the health of the thyroid gland. This is because it inhibits the production of thyroxine.
Nutrients needed to make thyroxine.

    Iodine.
    Selenium.
    Copper.
    Tyrosine amino acid.

These nutritious foods should be taken daily or supplements containing the relevant nutrients should be used.

The location of the neck is a reason why the thyroid gland is not functioning properly. Some people do not have the protruding curves of the neck vertebrae that should normally exist. Instead there is a straight spine. The neck of people with this vertebra is called the Military Neck and the neck is straight. This position is an obstacle to maintaining the health of the thyroid gland. In this case, the thyroid gland does not function properly due to the pressure of the nerves coming out of the spinal cord. You can also take an X-ray of your neck to find out if you have this condition. Another activity that exacerbates this condition is to stay on the phone for hours with your neck lowered. At this point, the nerves are compressed and the tissues are unnecessarily stretched. This also changes the function of the thyroid gland.

If the neck area of ​​the spine is straight, it is best to sleep with a pillow under the neck at night.

We also need to keep the pituitary gland and hypothalamus in good shape. For this you need to eat foods like cheese butter and foods containing omega 3,6,9. Also avoid the following foods,

    Bread flour based dishes.
    Deep fried food.
    Carbonated beverages.
    Foods like barbecue - All foods cooked in a direct fire.
    Artificial meats containing sausages and nitrates.

People with hypothyroidism should stop using cabbage and related foods mentioned above. People with hyperthyroidism can take those foods.
If you have any of the symptoms I mentioned above, do the following test and seek medical advice.

Thyroid Profile

• Free T 3
• Free T4
• TSH   

 Testing only TSH for this health condition is futile. TSH is not a hormone produced by the thyroid gland but a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. But this hormone is needed to stimulate the thyroid gland.

After taking these tests, it is advisable to opt for Hela Wedaka which is a western medicine to manage the relevant symptoms but to cure it completely.

Let me tell you the best way to check your thyroid gland. That is bio resonance technology. This technology is an invention of Russian scientists and now this experimental method has spread all over the world. This technology is used in countries like USA, Germany, Singapore and it gives a proper understanding of all the cells and tissues in the body. Defects not only in the thyroid gland but in all parts of the body can be detected within an hour and a half and you will be able to diagnose it before you get sick. Therefore, doing this test will secure your future as well.

Gallstones and cholesterol

 Gallstones and cholesterol
Have you ever had a doctor say you have gallstones and need to have your gallbladder removed?
How do gallstones form? Are these stones caused by calcium deposits? Is gallbladder removal appropriate? Do you have any questions? Today we dispel this suspicion. Read the full article. Many myths have been shattered to win your life. This article will help you to open your mind and stay healthy.
⁇
Gallbladder and bile ducts
Bile is a highly alkaline fluid produced by our liver to digest the fat in our diet. The pH is around 8.2. The gallbladder is a small vessel that stores bile. The lower gallbladder is located in the center of the liver. The bile turns green. The bile produced by the liver is increased 20 times daily and stored in the gallbladder. To be used after that. If this concentration does not help the bile to form, then the mother of the bile is a stone in the gallbladder.

 What is bile made from?
A very important question. What is bile made of? Bile is made from cholesterol. Cholesterol is broken down into very small particles in the liver. This is called catabolism. The liver knows how to break down cholesterol into the tiny particles our body needs. Vitamin D, cell membrane, hormones, bile are produced from these cholesterol particles. This cholesterol is also produced by the liver. About 75% of the cholesterol in our body is produced by the liver. About 25% of our body gets it through food. So it breaks down this cholesterol and produces bile. The liver normally produces about 1 to 1.5 liters of bile per day. This bile is what helps our body digest the fat in our diet and absorb it. The stomach has an acidic environment. As a result, fat is not digested in the stomach. But an alkaline medium is created here as the bile comes to the eclipse. Due to this it is possible to digest fat during pregnancy. This digestive process also occurs in small intestines. Somehow it is now clear to you that bile is a very important chemical.
But what are these stones?

 ⁇
You may remember I mentioned earlier that bile produced by the liver is stored in the gallbladder. This bile is 20 times more concentrated than the bile produced by the liver. Because of this they try to freeze. It coagulates, not as bile, but as cholesterol, which helps to make bile. Thus, there is a constant thickening of cholesterol in the gallbladder. But there is no problem because the bile produced by the liver breaks down the solid cholesterol back into smaller particles. So no problem. But what happens if the bile produced by the liver is reduced? Can the thickened cholesterol in the gallbladder prevent further thickening? I think you understood something. Now the problem is about the production of bile in the liver. Cholesterol is needed to make bile. Cholesterol is produced in the liver. But what if you use anti-cholesterol statins? You may be suffering from a cholesterol deficiency. This can interfere with bile production. So poor bile production means that cholesterol builds up in the gallbladder. This solidification solidifies to very hard crystals. These cause inflammation of the gallbladder. Swelling. Sometimes the blockage of the bile ducts can lead to a very painful experience. So an ultrasound scan reveals the presence of these stones. Eventually the doctor concludes that the gallbladder should be removed. You agree. That's what happens. You may also feel the need to remove or get rid of the gallbladder because of the pain.
How do you know if you have gallstones?

 The gallbladder is located in the lower part of the center of the liver. This is like a bag. That is why it is called gall bladder or gall bladder. Desire is the bag. So when these gallstones form, the gallbladder swells. This swelling causes pressure on the liver. The liver is located beneath the great diaphragm. Because of this the pressure is felt on the great wall as well. So the nerves going to the great diaphragm are also pushed for the same reason. Several spinal nerves, which extend from the vertebrae in our neck, join together to carry out the communication functions required by the mammary gland. We breathe in and out because this great wall rises and falls. So if there is any pressure on this great wall, it means that the nerves are also being pushed. This push extends to the neck area. The spinal nerves C3 and C5 communicate with the great diaphragm. This nerve is called the phrenic nerve. This nerve compression can cause some pain in your right arm or right shoulder. A person with this condition may suspect that they have gallstones. Some people misunderstand this as a frozen shoulder and try to treat it, but to no avail. The pain continues.
Also, if you feel pain about two inches below the right side of your rib cage, it may indicate gallstones. This pain can be temporarily relieved by pressing with your fingers two inches below the bottom of the rib cage on the left side of your hand. This is just to ease the pain.
What are the other causes of gallstones?
There are other factors that contribute to the thickening of cholesterol.
Excessive insulin production in the pancreas

 Management Constipation
Impaired production in the liver
Eating a low fat diet
Increased consumption of carbohydrates.
Long-term use of statin-type drugs
These factors also cause gallstones. In other words, it causes cholesterol to form in the gallbladder.
What are the other functions of the pit?
The main function of the pit is the process of fat digestion, which we first discussed. In addition, bile breaks down cholesterol. Here cholesterol undergoes recycling. The bile also helps in breaking down the LDL cholesterol in our body and producing HDL cholesterol. But because of our efforts to destroy cholesterol, we are unable to break down LDL cholesterol, a naturally occurring process, and produce HDL cholesterol.
Also, the blood in our body needs to be slightly alkaline. The bile also helps to preserve this alkalinity. We also need to keep in mind that our immune system is activated in an alkaline medium. The blood of a person with cancer tends to become acidic. The follicle is acidic. This weakens the immune system. As a result, the body loses its ability to destroy cancer cells. See how important the gallbladder is to us. How foolish is it to decide to remove the gallbladder without thinking of any of these?
Can gallstones be removed?

 Stones can be removed. There are treatments for this in the indigenous medical system. We can refer to them. The most important thing here is to find out if there is solid cholesterol before the gallstones form. We can do this very successfully with bio-resonance technology. This technology records the condition of all parts of the body and even predicts future illnesses. All you have to do is do this test once a year. This technology is manufactured in Russia and is a very simple and accurate research method that can be done without any harm to the body.