Most of the crew on one massive seafood trawler has tested positive for COVID-19. Other vessels also have cases, despite sweeping measures to try and prevent the spread of coronavirus.
(Image credit: MARION OWEN/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
COVID-19 Outbreak In Pacific Northwest Seafood Industry As Season Ramps Up
Most of the crew on one massive seafood trawler has tested positive for COVID-19. Other vessels also have cases, despite sweeping measures to try and prevent the spread of coronavirus.
(Image credit: MARION OWEN/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Strawberry Moon 2020: Top tips for enjoying tonight’s celestial display
The sky above the UK will be graced by a full moon known as the Strawberry moon tonight.
The nickname derives from the fact this full moon coincides with the start of strawberry picking season in North America.
Sadly, the moon won’t be taking on a pinkish stawberry-coloured hue, but it will be nice and bright – reflecting the sunlight back towards Earth.
For those who won’t be able to see it properly – perhaps due to cloud cover – the Virtual Telescope Project will be livestreaming it over the internet.
June’s full moon is always particularly low in the sky so UK skywatchers will only catch the tail end of it.
Moon rise in London, for example, won’t happen until 9.30, according to the Met Office.
Zoltan Toth-Czifra, founder of Under Lucky Stars, talked to Metro.co.uk about the upcoming Strawberry Moon.
‘This year has been full of astronomical events with the supermoons over the past few months and it doesn’t end there. Tonight the rare Strawberry Moon will rise and be visible each night over this weekend,’ he said.
‘To make sure you catch it, the moon can be seen rising tonight at around 8pm, it will then burn brightly throughout the night. Moons always rise in the east and set in the west – so follow this direction in your search.’
‘Unfortunately unlike its name, the moon won’t be pink in colour! But it will be a breath-taking full moon, so you may even see it cast moon shadows on the ground.
‘This moon is named Strawberry Moon as a reference to the time of harvesting strawberries in North America, originally from Native American tribes who used the moon as an indicator of when the fruit would be ripe.’
He continued: ‘In the current climate, a lower than average level of pollution combined with a good weather forecast means the view will be even clearer. As always, the moon will affect the Earth’s ocean, and the extra gravitational pull means we should brace ourselves for some spectacular tides worldwide.’
Top tips to enjoy tonight’s Strawberry Moon
The team from Under Lucky Stars have got several top tips on stargazing from home with no equipment.
These aren’t just applicable to the Strawberry Moon, but good for any kind of astronomy you want to try.
Allow time
When you decide to stargaze, allow enough time. Your eyes are surrounded by brightness all day, and when they are looking for something they need time to adjust.
Allow at least 30 minutes to see results when you are staring into space and you’ll be seriously impressed by the results.
Turn it offÂ
Before you head into the garden, turn off all the lights in your house.
Artificial brightness from light sources makes it harder to view the stars in the sky, so make your surrounding area as dark as possible.
If you can’t turn it off, wait
Bear in mind that turning off the lights means all the surrounding area. The moon is the brightest thing in the sky at night, and any glare can make it harder to observe the sky.
Choosing moonless nights or ones where the moon is just a sliver is optimum for spotting the most stars.
How Coronavirus Is Threatening Democracy
As the United States moves into the heat of the presidential election season, and as protesters take to the streets to express their outrage at the killing of George Floyd and demand an end to police brutality and systemic racism, European countries are offering a preview of what electoral politics in the midst of a pandemic may look like.Â
So far, ensuring that political activity continues to be both fair and safe has proven to be difficult.
“I don’t see how we can hold rallies, hand out pamphlets, shake hands. … It’s a challenge or even impossible,†an aide to Cédric Villani, a candidate vying to be the mayor of Paris, told HuffPost France.
In early March, even as France moved to shut down schools, restaurants and nonessential businesses, French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that the first round of municipal elections proceed as planned.
“We are following the recommendations of scientists,†Macron said on March 15 as he left his local polling station. “The virus spreads when we spend more than 15 minutes closer than one meter to someone, which is the case at the restaurant, but we can continue shopping for food and stepping out to get some air, and so it was logical to go vote while respecting guidelines.â€
Even so, turnout hit a record low, as many voters stayed away from the polls due to coronavirus fears. Just two days later, France began its nationwide lockdown, largely restricting the public from leaving their homes, and the second round of voting in the municipal elections was postponed.
The elections are currently scheduled to take place on June 28.
“Democracy cannot be confined any longer,†a group of 36 mayors from France’s largest cities argued last month, calling for the elections to go ahead.
Even as France has begun to ease its lockdown restrictions, however, candidates have had to find creative ways to connect with voters, given that traditional campaign tactics like kissing babies and holding rallies don’t square with the scientific guidance against close contact or large gatherings.
“It forces us to think outside the box for communication tools, to imagine a new way of addressing citizens,†Sébastien Barles, a candidate in Marseille, told HuffPost France. He said that local candidates were focusing on creating video messages to educate voters about their platforms, and on targeted mailings.
Still, there’s little substitute for traditional retail politics, and campaigns have been working to develop ways for candidates to connect with voters directly.
In Marseille, Barles said that campaigns have designed “a sort of confessional with plexiglass, behind which citizens can drink a coffee in complete safety while talking to the candidate — a kind of ‘speed dating’ campaign.â€
Campaigns are also using their imagination near Aix-en-Provence, where members of Macron’s party are talking about the possibility of holding gym classes or sports events with voters.
“In small groups, we can definitely imagine doing yoga or muscle relaxation, having political discussions, and why not a cup of coffee,†said Philippe Klein, a local candidate. These kinds of situations offer politicians “a chance to communicate differently,†he said.
Both conservative and liberal candidates argue that the coronavirus restrictions threaten the integrity of the electoral process, however.
“This is the day the government invented the concept of an election without the right to campaign first. A vote without democratic debate,†Danielle Simonnet, a left-wing candidate who is running to be mayor of Paris, said last month when the government announced that the second round of municipal elections would go ahead in June.
Right-wing candidate Rachida Dati, who is also running in the Paris mayoral race, argued recently that the coronavirus pandemic will unfairly suppress turnout among conservative voters, who tend to be older.
“We have been deprived of part of our electorate — a sensitive and vulnerable group — from going out to vote,†Dati said.
Didier Maus, a French constitutional scholar, argues that holding elections during the pandemic represents “a regression of democracy.â€
“When I look at electoral history, it is the history of confrontation. The confrontation of the candidates with the voters, the confrontation of the programs, the confrontation of the people,†Maus told HuffPost France. “We need an exchange, a dialogue.â€
“Why not deconfine democracy at the same time as parks, gardens, pubs?†he said.
Balancing democratic principles with public health is no simple matter, however.Â
In the United Kingdom, the decision to force members of Parliament to return to Westminster to vote in person this week resulted in elected officials standing in a kilometer-long line for a vote that took 40 minutes to complete on Tuesday evening.
One member of Parliament called the situation “batshit.†And it resulted in a health scare when Alok Sharma, the business secretary, appeared to experience coronavirus-like symptoms — though he subsequently tested negative for COVID-19.
In the United States, as well, primary elections in eight states and Washington, D.C., this week resulted in severe delays and confusion at many polling places — offering a preview of the challenges Americans may face during the presidential election in November.
All of the states voting on Tuesday encouraged or expanded mail-in balloting as a safe alternative during the outbreak, and most sharply reduced the number of in-person polling places as officials struggled to recruit workers to run them.
That led to record numbers of mail-in ballots, along with complaints of not receiving requested ballots and questions about where to vote after polling places were consolidated.
“The big story out of Pennsylvania is really voter confusion,†Suzanne Almeida, interim director of government watchdog Common Cause Pennsylvania, told Reuters.
The primaries came amid a partisan brawl over voting by mail, which Democrats support as a safe way to cast a ballot and President Donald Trump condemns as ripe for fraud. Numerous studies have found little evidence of voting fraud tied to mail-in ballots.
The primaries this week may serve as a useful test run, allowing officials to address issues ahead of the presidential election.
Still, the expansion of mail-in voting may mean that the results of the November election will not be known on election night, since some states allow ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
That could mean that it may take days for all the ballots to be counted — and the candidate who appears to be winning on election night might not be the eventual winner once all the votes are tallied, a situation that could feed into claims of voter fraud.
“I’m concerned that we could have a constitutional crisis if we have the same president saying that the election was somehow tainted because people voted by mail,†Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, told The Guardian.
“That could lead to a possible huge crisis in America’s democracy.â€Â
With reporting from HuffPost France, HuffPost U.K. and Reuters.
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Celebrating Pride Month and rallying for racial equality: LGBTQ groups seek ‘to stand in solidarity with the black community’
LGBTQ rights have come a long way in the U.S. But the community still faces threats in the form of legalization, discrimination and even violence.
USA TODAY
Pride Month began Monday. Many in the LGBTQÂ community, however, were unsure how to celebrate without overshadowing the ongoing nationwide protests over racial injustice spurred by the death of George Floyd.
But activist Jay W. Walker told USA TODAY that the struggle against oppression is inseparable from the LGBTQ rights movement.
“The truth is that the movement for black civil rights and the LGBTQ+ movement — the Pride movement — have always exhibited a certain level of intersectionality,†said Walker, the co-founder of Reclaim Pride Coalition, a group that created the Queer Liberation March, first staged last year in New York.
That’s one reason why Reclaim Pride will march again this year, in person — not only for the rights of the LGBTQ community but to elevate and protect black lives.
Pride Month cancellations: How you can still celebrate this month
Many LGBTQ organizations sent out statements in support of protests following the killing of Floyd, a black man who died under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis, pointing out the radical origins of the LGBTQ rights movement.
One such organization, Christopher Street West, the organizers of L.A. Pride, announced Wednesday that it would also hold a solidarity march in response to racial injustice and systemic racism.
Estevan Montemayor, president of CSW Board of Directors, told USA TODAY that it is “our moral imperative … to stand in solidarity with the black community.”
While this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march in Los Angeles, this cannot be a festive occasion, Montemayor said.
The entire LGBTQ community needs to “reflect and think about how we can be educated, good listeners, how we can be good allies, be observant, to be sure that the black community does not have to face the racial injustice, oppression and police brutality that we’re seeing today,” he said.
No go: Indy Pride cancels events in support of protests, will no longer use police at festival
Montemayor pointed to the Stonewall riots, a rallying cry for the gay rights movement, as an example of the impact of people of color on the LGBTQ rights movement. The riots were a series of demonstrations that followed a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York, in June 1969.
Black transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson is hailed as one of the leaders of the riots. Many in the LGBT community cite Johnson as the thrower of the first brick or shot glass that started the uprising, though Johnson had said she didn’t arrive at the bar until rioting was underway.
Earl Fowlkes, president of the Center For Black Equity, a coalition of black gay pride organizers, said the core of Pride’s purpose is the recognition of these riots, and that participants can observe both.
“I think what the situation [with the protests] has done is that we’re looking at what it means to be prideful as a queer community at this time,” Fowlkes said. “We have to examine our own community and the racism that lurks in the LGBTQ community.”
He added, “Racism is a daily occurrence in the LGBTQ community, because it’s reflective of what’s going on in the general community. There’s no difference.”
The idea that Pride Month can’t be observed at the same time as protests for racial equality, Walker said, is part of the “notion that black people aren’t gay, and gay people aren’t black.”
In fact, 39% of LGBTQ adults in the U.S. identify as people of color, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA.
“It ignores the fact that black trans women are among the most vulnerable people in our society as a whole — the average life expectancy of a trans woman of color is 35 years,” he added.
Opinion: Why we owe Pride to black transgender womenÂ
At least 12 transgender people — among them at least three black people — have been killed by violent means in 2020, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Most recently, Tony McDade was shot and killed May 27 by the Tallahassee Police Department in Florida. Just Monday, Iyanna Dior, a black transgender woman, was beaten inside a store in Minneapolis.
“I’m afraid that one day there could be a victim and that victim could be me,” transgender activist Karleigh Chardonnay Merlot told USA TODAY in 2019.
Cathy Renna, interim communications director for the National LGBTQ Task Force, urged the LGBTQ community to use this Pride Month to reflect on their own feelings and educate others on the racial injustices “within the LGBT community” and outside.
“Increasingly, Pride is not a one-day affair. It is not a one-month affair,” Renna said. “And part of that is very intentionally lifting up the issues and voices and stories of those of us in the community who are not more privileged.”
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Mapisa-Nqakula ‘regrets confusion’ after contradictory statements on Khosa case – The Mail & Guardian
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was “not correct†when she told Parliament that an internal defence force investigation into the death of Collins Khosa was ongoing, said a media statement on Friday.
“The minister regrets any confusion that may have been caused,†the statement read.Â
However, the minister has asked the Military Ombud to conduct further investigations. There was also still a police investigation ongoing. “For these reasons, there is not yet a final word on the Khosa incident and any culpability that might be established for his death,†said the statement.
Khosa died after an altercation with members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). In court papers, his family said he was brutally assaulted by the soldiers and police officers and his death was the result. The assault included his being strangled, slammed against a cement wall and a steel gate and hit with the butt of the machine gun, they said.Â
Pretoria high court Judge Hans Fabricius gave a number of orders, including one that Mapisa-Nqakula and Police Minister Bheki Cele must “ensure that internal investigations into the incidents listed below [including Khosa’s] are completed and reports are furnished to this court on or before June 4â€.Â
Last week an affidavit was filed in court by Elvis Hobyana, legal adviser to the SANDF. It attached the “concluded†investigation report from an SANDF board of inquiry, which exonerated the soldiers implicated in Khosa’s death.Â
The report made a number of findings, including that Khosa was “conscious and healthy when the security forces leftâ€, without interviewing his family members. The report, which was attached to public court papers, led to an outcry.
But later — at a media briefing and to Parliament — the minister insisted that the investigation into Khosa’s death was not complete and that she had not yet received the report from the board of inquiry. “As far as I am concerned, there is no report,†News24 reported her as saying to Parliament.
In Friday’s statement, the ministry said: “The board of inquiry was not convened by the minister and does not report to her and thus what was confirmed to the court is that the SANDF completed its internal investigation within the stipulated time frames as per the court’s order.â€
The statement followed a letter from Khosa’s attorneys who pointed to the “totally irreconcilable†differences between what was said in court and what was said to Parliament. “It would appear that the minister has told contradictory statements to Parliament versus her own statements under oath,†said Khosa’s attorney Wikus Steyl.
He added that his clients were considering their rights, including a perjury complaint to the police or a complaint to the public protector for a breach of the Executive Ethics Code. Â
‘Not over til no virus in the world’: WHO warns of coronavirus battle after spike in cases
Some countries have seen “upticks” in COVID-19 cases as lockdowns ease, and populations must continue to protect themselves against the coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) says.
“It’s not over. It’s not over until there is no virus anywhere in the world,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told a UN briefing on Friday in Geneva.
Some countries have seen upticks in COVID-19 cases as lockdowns ease, and populations must protect themselves from the coronavirus while authorities continued testing, Harris said.
The epicentre of the pandemic is in countries of central, south and north America, particularly the United States, she said.
“On ‘upticks’ (in cases), yes we have seen in countries around the world – I’m not talking specifically about Europe – when the lockdowns ease, when the social distancing measures ease, people sometimes interpret this as ‘OK, it’s over’.”
Harris, referring to US demonstrations since the killing of George Floyd 10 days ago, said protesters must take precautions.
“We have certainly seen a lot of passion this week; we’ve seen people who have felt the need to be out and to express their feelings,” she added.
“We ask them to remember still protect yourself and others.”
To avoid infection, the WHO advised people to maintain a distance of at least one metre, frequently wash hands and avoid touching their mouth, nose and eyes, Harris said.
Impossible Foods launches direct-to-consumer site as plant-based sales soar
Dive Brief:
- Impossible Foods is launching a new direct-to-consumer e-commerce website where consumers can buy its plant-based burger and get it delivered straight to their homes in two days with free shipping. Only consumers in the lower 48 states can order online.
- The Impossible Burger will be available in four package sizes: the $49.99 Convenience Pack with four 12-oz. packages;Â the $59.99 Combo Pack that includes two 12-oz. packages and 10 quarter-pound patties;Â the $64.99 five pound bulk Family Pack;Â and the $69.99 Grilling Pack with 20 quarter-pound patties.
- In addition to expanding its reach online, the company is increasing its presence in grocery and expects to grow its retail footprint by more than 50-fold this year.Â
Dive Insight:
For consumers who love the Impossible Burger, it is now even more possible to enjoy the plant-based product from the comfort of home.
The Impossible Burger, which started out in the foodservice sector, has exploded into the retail space since it started in a handful of supermarkets last September. In less than a year, the company has expanded into about 3,000 grocery stores nationwide, and plans to continue that growth.
In addition to its retail expansion, the Impossible Burger is the first of the plant-based burger titans to enter the world of direct-to-consumer with the launch of its site.
The website caters to those interested in buying Impossible in bulk, so newer consumers may not be interested. Even if this launch just targets the brand’s biggest fans, the online offering could make the company stand out among its plant-based competitors, since the other large player, Beyond Meat, doesn’t have a DTC website.
This transition to online retail fits in with the company’s expansion strategy. In March, Impossible Burger closed a $500 million funding round, bringing the plant-based meat giant’s total funding to nearly $1.3 billion. According to the company, a portion of these funds will be used to expand its reach and penetrate the market more deeply — a promise that they seem to be following through on so far.
Another portion of this funding was dedicated to the company’s stated goal of working toward price parity with ground beef. Earlier this year, Impossible Foods cut prices to foodservice distributors by about 15%. Despite that decline in the overall price, the patty packages sold online still work out to $5.83 per patty, a significantly larger price tag than animal protein alternatives.Â
At the same time, the gap in price may lessen in the coming weeks. As meat processing plants become coronavirus hotspots and are forced to shut down, consumers are paying more for poultry, pork and beef at the grocery store. According to IRI’s Inflation Tracker, prices of meat were up 14% the week of May 3 compared to a year before. Should this trend continue, there may be even less of a price difference between animal-based and plant-based options.
Despite currently having a higher price, the market for plant-based meat has continued to grow, especially during the pandemic. Compared with last year, plant-based sales were up 90% in mid-March as consumers stocked pantries and freezers. In the four weeks after that, plant-based food sales grew at a rate of 27% more than 2019 and 35% faster than the food category in general, according to SPINS statistics for the 16 weeks ended April 19.
The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has not only increased the popularity of plant-based options, but it has driven a rise in online retail. Companies including Mondelez have reported unprecedented demand on their online channels for snacks during coronavirus, pushing more companies to deploy DTC shopping.Â
Impossible Burger is looking to capitalize on this trend as it continues to accelerate its expansion into retail in the face of foodservice closures. Direct-to-consumer e-commerce options help companies boost their product penetration while having greater control over the supply chain and not being as beholden to grocers to display their items. Manufacturers can also sell the products at retail price, rather than at wholesale, and reap the benefits of higher margins.Â
However, there are challenges associated with this distribution method. Not only can products be heavy and unwieldy to ship individually rather than on bulk pallets, but companies that are transitioning into e-commerce need to implement new business practices as they interact more directly with customers, from how to handle product returns to issues with last-mile delivery services. E-commerce is also particularly suited for products with strong brand loyalty. Impossible Foods is crusading to convert as many consumers as it can to its plant-based offerings, but definitely has its loyalists.
Despite the challenges that can be associated with an e-commerce strategy, as the war to dominate the plant-based meat segment continues, it would not be surprising if other companies in the space took a similar approach to Impossible and launched their own direct-to-consumer purchasing options in the future.
Charlie Fellowes turns to Prince Of Arran for Sagaro Stakes
Charlie Fellowes believes it would be fitting if his globe-trotting stable star Prince Of Arran could deliver him a first Group-race victory in Britain in the Betway Sagaro Stakes at Newcastle on Saturday.
The Newmarket handler hopes last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up can finally end his wait for a breakthrough Pattern-race victory on home shores in the Group Three contest, which has been switched from Ascot this year.
Unlike many of his rivals the much-travelled seven-year-old has already had one outing this year, when finishing third in a valuable handicap company in Saudi Arabia back in February.
Fellowes said: “It would be very fitting if Prince Of Arran with Stevie Donohue on board could give me my first Group winner in Britain.
“He has had a really good prep and this has been the plan for a long time. The fact it has been delayed a couple of weeks is no problem and we know it is a track he likes, which is important to the horse.
“There is a lot in there with a chance and most are very evenly matched, but we hope it falls right with us. He has been in flying form.”
He added: “This is a prep for the Gold Cup and I know that is a bit close, but he has proven in Australia he can back up quickly.”
Ispolini ended last season on a winning note with victory in the German St Leger and his trainer Charlie Appleby is confident he can continue where he left off.
He said: “Ispolini has not been since winning the German St Leger, but he is in great order at home. His home work is good and I think he is a big player at the weekend.
“It is a sensible race to go for and he will certainly not look out of place. I expect him to be bang up there.”
Royal Line will attempt to fill a rare gap on the CV of John Gosden by giving him a first victory in the two-mile prize.
His jockey Robert Havlin said: ” I won a Group Three on him on the all-weather so we know he likes that surface.
“It is riding pretty slow at Newcastle and that will suit him, as he is a horse that loves deep ground on the grass. I’m looking forward to getting back on him.
“I don’t know what happened at Kempton last time, but at Ascot (Long Distance Cup on Champions Day) he was one of the last horses off the bridle and he probably just got outclassed. This is not that class of race and he goes there with every chance.”
St Leger third Nayef Road is one of three runners in the race for trainer Mark Johnston, who claimed the prize 12 months with subsequent Gold Cup runner-up Dee Ex Bee.
Assistant trainer Charlie Johnston said: “He has had a probably less than ideal first half of the year in that he was trained quite aggressively through February and March with Dubai in mind and was raring to go.
“He had a bit of an easy time through April and now we are trying to get going again, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he improved a little bit for the run.”
Stablemate Mildenberger will be out to make it a hat-trick of wins since the turn of the year having posted victories at Lingfield and Chelmsford before racing was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Johnston went on: “He was having a good winter until we stopped. I think he is better with a lead in these all-weather races. He was making his own running and it was getting tactical and it wasn’t working out for him.
“It’s a shame he missed the marathon final on All-Weather Finals day, but he is good on the all-weather and two miles is ideal for him. He should have a very good chance.”
Completing the Middleham stables’s trio of runners is King’s Advice, who will be looking to bounce back from a below-par effort in Saudi Arabia.
Johnston added: “He was a bit disappointing in Saudi Arabia, but that was us just rolling the dice for £2million which is understandable.
“He is working really well and Joe (Fanning) sat on him about 10 days ago and was very happy. He seems very well.
“He will have a much tougher year than last year as he is now running against the best stayers around, but he is in good form and conditions will suit.”
Alan King expects Rainbow Dreamer to have his work cut out in his bid for a four-timer, but hopes the race will act as a good prep run for a return to the track in next month’s Northumberland Plate.
King said: “We are under no illusions the task he faces as he has got a lot to find on the ratings, but I just thought he could do with a run before going back for the Northumberland Plate as that is his next target.
“He has always been a good horse, but he did break down badly at Ascot once and it has taken us a long time to get him back. He really seems to love racing on a synthetic surface.”