helping horseshoes

When the message came in from One Hundred Miles to help out these marine creatures with the prehistoric flair, I jumped at the chance!

Maybe you will, too?

Just go to this link by January 31 and fill in the information... many thanks!

 

Here is the letter I sent.

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Dear Leslie Furr [of the United States Pharmacopeia],
I want to express my strong support for the adoption of Chapter 86, the proposal that would grant competitive status to endotoxin tests that use synthetic horseshoe crab reagents.

Horseshoe crabs have a vital purpose in providing a renewal food source for other coastal species.

More than 360,000 migrating shorebirds use Georgia’s coast as an essential stopover site as they migrate thousands of miles to and from their nesting grounds in the Arctic and wintering grounds in South America. Some threatened species, like the Red Knot and Whimbrel, fly thousands of miles before stopping. When they do, horseshoe crab eggs provide an essential food source that fuels the birds’ migration and mating.

I applaud the work of the Microbiology Expert Committee in developing this new proposal. It will provide a reliable and sustainable source for endotoxin testing material that does not use the blood of a wild animal. Further, based on real-world evidence with medicines already on the market, the recombinant agents have been shown to be as good as, or better, than traditional testing using limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL).

Finally, we would encourage the United States Pharmacopeia to expedite the process of adopting the new chapter to facilitate earlier adoption by companies that want to convert to recombinant reagents prior to November 2024.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Sincerely,
Faustina Smith

so nice to be a marine supporter!

How do I know?

They sent me a note of thanks!!!

(smile!)

 

* * * * *

"Faustina, I am so grateful for this community and the support you provide to protect our ocean.
I’d like to take a moment to say thank you—for caring about marine wildlife, for helping us foster the next generation of explorers, and for keeping wonder running deep.
I’m always excited to welcome the start of a new year—it’s a pivotal moment to map out the goals that we want to achieve and the progress we’re excited to make. Our year-end campaign raised more than $46,000 from 334 donors, meaning we’re starting 2024 strong!
No gift is too small to propel us forward, ensuring our marine sanctuaries and monuments will continue to be celebrated, respected sites for learning and exploration.
It’s thanks to support from folks like you that everyone here at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation can work towards creating a better future for our planet. I can’t wait to see what we achieve this year, and I hope you’ll be a part of our journey.
We’re already diving into the work of this new year, so stay tuned for an exciting announcement coming later this week! Until then, thank you once again for your dedication.
Warmly,
Joel R. Johnson
President and CEO
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation" 

* * * * *

Happy to have been of service, y'all!

being an active, informed, consumer, for benefit of all

This year, I've been especially active with Consumer Reports.

A petition that needs signed to get the ball rolling?

I got you!

An email to my elected Congress members?

I'm on it!

Personal comments requested to save national treasures?

I'll get right on it!

Today, they sent me a thank you, with a list of accomplishments.

How very nice!

 

* * * * *

Dear Faustina,

If you ever doubted the power you have when you sign a Consumer Reports’ petition, or send an email to a lawmaker or a company, just consider what we achieved together in the past few months:

    - Convinced Amazon, Walmart and Target to stop selling dangerous water bead toys – saving countless families from tragedy when these tiny gel beads are accidentally swallowed by toddlers and balloon in their vital organs.
    - Delivered massive consumer support for a proposal to cap credit card late fees at $8, rather than up to $41 – saving struggling Americans $9 billion a year in unnecessary fees if implemented next year.
    - Passed the first-ever state ban on the known carcinogen Red Dye No. 3 in food. This California law is already prompting companies to remove the toxin from food sold nationally – the maker of PEEPS Easter candy has committed to ending its use, and others are considering removing it before the state law goes into effect.
   - Pressured credit bureaus to give you permanent access to FREE weekly credit reports – helping everyone have a stronger financial future, and saving you up to $14 for each time you check your credit record.

Of course these and other victories weren’t easy. They took months and even years of us working tirelessly together – signing petitions and sending emails to lawmakers, testing products for safety and reliability, exposing anti-consumer practices, and pushing industry to change its ways.
We couldn’t do this without you, Faustina. And we have a lot more to do together in 2024.
We are already gearing up in the New Year to pass strong rules and laws that would finally end junk fees on everything from airline flights, hotel stays, cable and internet bills, and bank accounts – saving an average family of four up to $3,200 a year.
We’ll be expanding on work to get more data privacy rights that protect you and your family online; take on the threats and biases from Artificial Intelligence; as well as make sure you have the Right to Repair your expensive electronics yourself or at the shop of your choice, rather than having to go through the manufacturer.
And don’t forget safer food – we’re keeping up the pressure to get dangerous lead and heavy metals out of dark chocolate, and we have new rounds of testing coming out in the New Year that should change the food industry.
Of course, the special interests will try every trick in the book to undermine the things we’ve fought together for – and to block any new reforms. We're nimble, we're tough, and we can multitask like crazy, but to fight on all these fronts we need your support. So this is where we ask for your help.
Consumer Reports was founded by consumers, for consumers. We are a strictly independent nonprofit, and for more than 87 years we have been supported by people like you – through your subscriptions, through your donations, through your continued partnership.
Thank you for all that you do for a more fair, just and safe marketplace. And may you and your family have a Happy New Year!

Regina Schwartz
Consumer Reports

https://www.consumerreports.org/

 

* * * * *

 

Thanks for the acknowledgements, y'all!

(smile!)

turkey, with a side of cambodia

Today, I brought my number of countries supported via Kiva to 36.

Very nice!

I do like their new lending policy!

In all the years - a dozen and counting - that I've been with Nerdfighters on the Kiva crowd-sourcing site, each loan had to be a minimum of $25, or multiples thereof.

Now, the minimum amount lent is set to $5, allowing more flexibility and more lending.

That flexible option has allowed me to help finance two loans.

 

The first that I chose was to Davy, in Cambodia.

Here is the profile on the website.

"Davy is a seller and business owner. 

Since she has been making foods to sell for about 60 month. 

It has gained a good reputation and now has a strong base of loyal customers. 

She started that business to provide for her family. 

She has applied for a loan from Kiva to buy some groceries to make foods to sell. 

This business is offering her community more options and giving her the opportunity to build a better life for her family. 

More competitors and the rainy season are her major challenges.
This loan is special because it provides entrepreneurs with resources to increase income and improve their living conditions."

She sounds like she's running a diner, to allow folks to purchase meals she makes fresh.

I appreciate how valuable a service that is to her community!

 

As I have kept my sanity by such services in my own seaport, I loaned her $20.

Thanks to repayments from several of my Kiva loans, I had a credit of $42.

That was enough to make two good loans, as well as help Kiva in their funding. 

As that fee for the loan to be processed is about $3.50 per loan, that left $15 for me to make a rare second loan.

I chose Yasemin, in Turkey, for that second loan.

Here is her profile.

"Yasemin is 50 years old, married, and has a daughter. 

She started working to support her husband and daughter. She sells food containers and food storage boxes.
She will buy food containers and food storage boxes with the loan she will receive through Kiva.
This loan is special because it supports underserved women in rural parts of Turkey."

Those are all plastic, no doubt the same linear, high density, polyethylenes that I worked with for my doctorate in analytical chemistry, almost thirty years ago.

Good for her, I thought!

So, to help her loan get fully funded, I left a comment on her profile.

"How wonderful that she is selling a reusable product! 

Not only will the foods stored in the plastic containers stay fresh longer, but those foods will also be safe from infestation from bugs or animals. 

That's good for the health of those who eat the food.
- Faustina
Nerdfighters "

 

I do hope both women will soon see their loans fully funded...

and wish them much success in their endeavors!

from OHM to a horseshoe crab

Waiting in my email box this afternoon as this little poem, for me!

"'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the town,
OHM staff were rushing and running around:
Checking the post box, hoping petitions were there;
Fighting for good quality water and air;
Ensuring the payroll was submitted on time;
Sending in their comments before the deadline;
Squinting in winter sun while counting up birds;
Learning to listen well and act on their words;
And the whole time, rememb'ring the reasons they race:
For the future, protection, and love of this place.

Happy holidays from the One Hundred Miles team!" 

How very kind of that organization to think of me, a lowly horseshoe crab!

Keep on protecting this Georgia coast, please!

See you next year!

gift to the church for 2024

Today is the day for pledging funds for the their budget for 2024.

My pledge is lower than in past years.

However, the amount I have promised to Asbury Memorial Church makes them the second largest charitable organization to which I give.

They had been the largest for the past few years.

So, why the decrease this coming year?

I know they will have other fundraisers, just as they have had this year, and every year.

As a retiree, my funds are limited, and I already have other debts (for the repair of my car, for the repairs to my house, for the repairs to my roof) acquired in the past few months that I will be tasked with paying off next year.

Therefore, I found it necessary to decrease my pledge.

Fortunately, this pledge drive will allow them to amend their budget.

Meanwhile, I will feel freer to contribute to the fundraisers that arise.

I call that a win-win for all.

(smile!)

honoring my stepmom on bday75

Happy 75th birthday, Bonnie!

 

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I decided to gift you by giving money to someone else.

 

Yeah, maybe that doesn't sound like a good present, but I know you will be pleased.

 

This is the fellow I chose especially for you.

 

His name is Munkhbat, he's 49 years old, and Kiva describes him as "modest and hard-working".

 

Believe it or not, he's a cobbler.

 

No, not like peach or blackberry! LOL!

 

The man makes shoes.

 

Right?!

 

In this day and age, there are still people out there who craft shoes by hand.

 

He must do quality work, as he sells five pairs of shoes every day from his home in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

 

Pretty amazing!

 

But you know what I like most about this?

 

His favorite part of his business is seeing people wearing his shoes.

 

Very nice.

 

So, to help him buy more materials to make more shoes, I gave him your birthday money.

 

That $25 will go a long way over there!

 

Maybe one day he'll be able to sell his shoes on the internet; one never knows.

 

So, happy birthday to you, dear friend and stepmom!

 

(smile!)