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Environment Matters
Allan Maynard is an environmental scientist with over 45 years of experience. This site is devoted to providing information about environmental matters of concern to all, and to communicating science knowledge directed towards evidence-based decision making.
TEFLON – IS IT SAFE
TEFLON – IS IT SAFE? By Allan Maynard March 4, 2021 This was part of my breakfast a few mornings ago. And yes – it’s in a Teflon frying pan. It’s so easy – a tiny (well maybe not too tiny) dollop of butter, crack the egg in, flip after partial frying and out slides theContinue reading “TEFLON – IS IT SAFE”
SOME POSITIVE NEWS FOR A CHANGE
SOME POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT NEWS FROM 2020 Allan Maynard, MSc. – February 10, 2021 Kenya’s Elephant Baby Boom – – In 2019, I traveled with my daughter’s family to Kenya – a trip that was magical in all meanings of the word. The safari experiences were many. It filled our hearts with joy and optimism. Optimism becauseContinue reading “SOME POSITIVE NEWS FOR A CHANGE”
THE CONSEQUENCES OF INFORMATION DISORDER
THE CONSEQUENCES OF INFORMATION DISORDER Allan Maynard – January 17 2021 “Post-truth is pre-fascism.” Historian Timothy Snyder in his 2017 book, On Tyranny. “If the Leader says of such and such an event, ‘It never happened’—well, it never happened. If he says that ‘two and two are five’—well, two and two are five. This prospect frightensContinue reading “THE CONSEQUENCES OF INFORMATION DISORDER”
IMAGINING A PLASTIC-LESS FUTURE
IMAGINING A PLASTIC-LESS FUTURE Allan Maynard, MSc. – January 5th, 2021 Home efforts are a good start. However – to solve the complex and overwhelming issue of plastic pollution, there is a dire need for solutions based on technology, for more regulation of the plastic and packaging industries and, in the long term, a comprehensiveContinue reading “IMAGINING A PLASTIC-LESS FUTURE”
MICRO-PLASTICS – THE HIDDEN CONSEQUENCE OF PLASTICS USE
Allan Maynard, MSc. November 23rd, 2020 Note – I realize these articles can be unsettling to read especially at a time when we may be looking for more uplifting news. However as a friend noted – the first step in solving a problem is addressing it. I feel obliged to do my small part towards increasingContinue reading “MICRO-PLASTICS – THE HIDDEN CONSEQUENCE OF PLASTICS USE”
THE MYTH OF PLASTIC RECYCLING
Allan Maynard, MSc. – November 9, 2020 THE CRYING INDIAN – If you watched TV during the 1970s and 80s you would likely have seen one of the most iconic ads ever made. A buckskinned, black braided Native American (but called “Indian” in those days) is seen paddling down a pristine river but eventually enters a pollutedContinue reading “THE MYTH OF PLASTIC RECYCLING”
WE ARE DROWNING IN PLASTIC WASTE: THE PLASTICS CONUNDRUM
By Allan Maynard, MSc. – October 26, 2020 ______________________________________________ From National Geographic 06/2018 – a market stall in Zhejiang, China Everyday, we touch hundreds od items that are made of plastic. Plastics have greatly benefited humankind. They help keep planes in the air, make automobiles more fuel efficient, and allow the shipment of clean drinkingContinue reading “WE ARE DROWNING IN PLASTIC WASTE: THE PLASTICS CONUNDRUM”
WILDFIRES – IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE — Sept 23rd 2020
WILDFIRES: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE Allan Maynard, September 23, 2020 In just a matter of a few weeks, California has experienced 6 of the largest wildfires in its modern history creating untold misery for tens of thousands. Moreover, the state has toppled all-time temperature records from the desert to the coast. Millions are sufferingContinue reading “WILDFIRES – IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE — Sept 23rd 2020”
A GREEN RECOVERY – THERE IS NO CHOICE
BY – Allan Maynard – July 24, 2020 The international CoVid-19 crisis demonstrates – in real, fast forward time, stark lessons about the consequences of unsustainable development, the limitations of our economic systems and the critical need for informed, evidence based leadership. We have learned the harsh lesson that our dependence on animal protein has placedContinue reading “A GREEN RECOVERY – THERE IS NO CHOICE”
LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID 19
LIVING WITH COVID — 19 The virus is not going away anytime soon so we have to adjust how we live in order to cope. By Allan Maynard – June 12, 2020 We have been living with the CoVid-19 virus for over 6 months now and it is still a mystery in many ways. WhileContinue reading “LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID 19”
COVID 19 – MYTHS LIES AND PROFOUND BULLSHIT
COVID 19 – MYTHS, LIES AND PROFOUND BULLSHIT Allan Maynard, May 18, 2020 The CoVid 19 pandemic presents one of the clearest examples in modern history regarding the critical need for evidence based decision-making. Unfortunately, the presentation of scientific evidence has often been undermined by deadly denial (see paper – on this web site –Continue reading “COVID 19 – MYTHS LIES AND PROFOUND BULLSHIT”
UPDATE ON TESTING FOR COVID 19
UPDATE ON TESTING FOR COVID-19Allan Maynard – May 8th, 2020 There is a great deal of new information along with political noise about testing for the CoVid 19. For the past 6 weeks, almost all countries have been in various forms of lock-down; in some cases a complete shut down. Understandably there is desire byContinue reading “UPDATE ON TESTING FOR COVID 19”
TODAY IS EARTH DAY
TODAY IS EARTH DAY – IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. By Allan Maynard, April 22nd, 2020 _________________________________________________ Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. By many measures our planet’s environment is having one of its best earth days in decades. The tragic pandemic that is causing so much human misery is also giving Planet Earth aContinue reading “TODAY IS EARTH DAY”
DENIAL DELAY DEADLY
Allan Maynard, MSc. April 17, 2020 It is impossible to escape the daily barrage of news about the CoVid Pandemic unless we were to add an additional dimension to our isolation by turning off all screens and cancelling all publications. In following the news outlets we are seeing examples of informed, decisive leadership. We areContinue reading “DENIAL DELAY DEADLY”
TESTING FOR THE CORONA VIRUS
TESTING FOR THE COVID 19 VIRUS April 2, 2020 – Allan Maynard, MSc. This is a topic of great interest to me because my career was in the field of measurement science – in my case measurements for environmental contaminants. Reliable measurements are required for many aspects of our lives from ensuring safety of foods,Continue reading “TESTING FOR THE CORONA VIRUS”
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