Hello all. This month’s edition is really a bumper one. Thank you to all who submitted their articles – it’s so fantastic to have such an unbelievable bunch of ‘jorno’s’ doing their thing, and something that they love to do, just for us.
I was watching a program (a terrifying one at that) on Artificial Intelligence, and it dawned on me that few people actually know what it is – so here’s the best definition that I could find, and hopefully it will clear up some misinterpretations as to what AI is:
Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
Here are some days this month that may be of interest to some:
July 11 – World population day – we need to think about this big time!
July 14 – Bastille day – for our French friends.
July 16 – World snake day – something I try and steer clear of.
July 26 – International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem (UNESCO) – important.
July 28 – World Nature Conservation Day – very important, some interesting facts below.
July 30 – International Day of Friendship – everyone needs a friend!
The World Nature Conservation Day is an annual event held on July 28. It brings to light the need to try as best we can, to preserve a healthy environment and natural resources, to maintain a stable and healthy world and a healthy society. Attention should be focussed on the momentous task of trying to save plants and animals that face the threat of extinction.
Here are some facts about conservation that many people do not know:
Extinction is happening on a massive scale. About one million species of plants and animals are nearly extinct. More reserves are needed. Only 12,5% of the landmass on earth is dedicated to natural reserves. Expensive invasive species are costing a fortune. The United Kingdom, the United States, India, South Africa, Brazil, and Australia suffer an annual combined loss of $ 316 billion due to invasive species. Wildlife population sizes have greatly declined. The WWF’s Living Planet Report of 2020, states that there has been an average 68% drop in the global population sizes of birds, amphibians, fish, mammals, and reptiles between the years 1970 to 2016. Freshwater species are declining the fastest. Freshwater wildlife species populations are declining disproportionately faster than others, having decreased by an average of 84% between 1970 and 2018.
This is a matter of great concern for every single one of us. I know it’s a continual ‘same old, same old’ banter, but we have to keep plugging away at it until the realisation dawns on world leaders, and the populations around the world as a whole, that something has to be done because if the animals (and plants) go, then we go too!
What is fantastic, is that we have managed to cut through the miasma surrounding the hospital and that is very exciting – a huge game changer. We can also rejoice for a time, because ‘Big Joe’ sits in Thoyondou prison rather than being out on bail until his hearing on the 6/7th July.
The fact that we have not really experienced winter, is fabulous, but we have been plagued by little fly-type pests, aka ‘miggies’! Not only in the 100’s but in the 100 000’s! They are all about town, and solutions to eradicate this plague of pests vary from a good spray of Doom to glasses of red wine covered by perforated clingwrap, to mixtures of vinegar and washing liquid covered the same way, to ultraviolet lights and more. The problem is that for every one taken care of, another million are waiting in the wings! One thing for sure is they have a penchant for wine and make a b-line to commit ‘harakiri’ in one’s glass, en masse! I was too late for this edition to do a little research on these fellas – but I will find out what they are and why they are pestering us all!
I do hope you enjoy the read; it’s been fun putting this edition together. Until next time, be safe and be true.
