Fertilizer prices

 

Global fertilizer prices have risen to a record high in recent months driven by surging prices for natural gas which accounts for a large proportion of production costs in products such as ammonium nitrate. 

A sharp rise in the cost of conventional fertilizers driven by soaring natural gas prices may accelerate a move towards greener alternatives. 

Sectors along the entire food supply chain in Croatia have contacted us highlighting serious concerns over the unprecedented rise in input costs, the lack of availability of fertilizer and maize, and the rising fuel costs as prime examples. 

Compounding this, we are still dealing with the labor shortage crisis. Arable crops generally take nitrogen out of the soil and conventional fertilizers are used to replenish it. 

We have the potential like transporting slurry - a mixture of farm animal excrement combined with other discharges. It was all done by our ancestors. If you could, create a whole new manufacturing sector in which you make use of slurry, currently regarded as a problematic waste product, as a fertilizer in arable lands in the east, that would be a game-changer. 

Croatia's arable crops such as wheat are largely grown in the drier eastern half of Croatia ( Slavonia) while livestock thrives in wetter western regions. Farmers must reduce the use of mineral fertilizers to achieve the net-zero goal, and survive all this. 

Every one of us, even in cities, can play our part in helping alleviate pressure on the agri-food industry and this can simply be done by reducing our food waste.  

We all buy too much food at times, some of which will end up in recycling.  So by reducing the amount of food we waste we can all contribute and help the planet at the same time. 

Zeljko Serdar, CCRES.

Globalne cijene gnojiva posljednjih su mjeseci porasle na rekordno visoku razinu potaknute porastom cijena prirodnog plina koji čini veliki udio troškova proizvodnje u proizvodima kao što je amonijev nitrat. 

Oštar porast cijene konvencionalnih gnojiva potaknut rastućim cijenama prirodnog plina mogao bi ubrzati kretanje prema zelenijim alternativama. 

Sektori duž cijelog lanca opskrbe hranom u Hrvatskoj kontaktirali su nas, ističući ozbiljnu zabrinutost zbog neviđenog povećanja ulaznih troškova, nedostatka gnojiva i kukuruza te rastućih troškova goriva kao glavne primjere. Uz to, još uvijek se nosimo s krizom nedostatka radne snage. 

Obradive usjeve općenito uzimaju dušik iz tla, a za njegovo nadopunjavanje koriste se konvencionalna gnojiva. Imamo potencijal poput transporta gnojnice - mješavine izmeta domaćih životinja u kombinaciji s drugim ispustima. Sve su to radili naši preci.

 Kad biste mogli, stvoriti potpuno novi proizvodni sektor u kojem koristite gnojnicu, koja se trenutno smatra problematičnim otpadnim proizvodom, kao gnojivo u obradivim površinama na istoku, to bi promijenilo igru. 

Hrvatske ratarske kulture poput pšenice uglavnom se uzgajaju u sušnoj istočnoj polovici Hrvatske (Slavonija), dok stočarstvo uspijeva u vlažnijim zapadnim krajevima. Poljoprivrednici moraju smanjiti upotrebu mineralnih gnojiva kako bi postigli net-zero cilj i sve to preživjeti. 

Svatko od nas, čak i u gradovima, može odigrati svoju ulogu u ublažavanju pritiska na poljoprivredno-prehrambenu industriju, a to se jednostavno može učiniti smanjenjem bacanja hrane. Svi mi ponekad kupujemo previše hrane, od kojih će neka završiti u recikliranju. Dakle, smanjenjem količine hrane koju bacamo, svi možemo pridonijeti i pomoći planetu u isto vrijeme. 

Željko Serdar, CCRES.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution / Global Agenda

We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another. In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before. We do not yet know just how it will unfold, but one thing is clear: the response to it must be integrated and comprehensive, involving all stakeholders of the global polity, from the public and private sectors to academia and civil society.

The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production. The Second used electric power to create mass production. The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production. Now the Fourth Industrial Revolution is building on the Third, the digital revolution that has been occurring since the middle of the last century. It is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.

There are three reasons why today’s transformations represent not merely a prolongation of the Third Industrial Revolution but rather the arrival of a Fourth and distinct one: velocity, scope, and systems impact. The speed of current breakthroughs has no historical precedent. When compared with previous industrial revolutions, the Fourth is evolving at an exponential rather than a linear pace. Moreover, it is disrupting almost every industry in every country. And the breadth and depth of these changes herald the transformation of entire systems of production, management, and governance.

The possibilities of billions of people connected by mobile devices, with unprecedented processing power, storage capacity, and access to knowledge, are unlimited. And these possibilities will be multiplied by emerging technology breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing.

Already, artificial intelligence is all around us, from self-driving cars and drones to virtual assistants and software that translate or invest. Impressive progress has been made in AI in recent years, driven by exponential increases in computing power and by the availability of vast amounts of data, from software used to discover new drugs to algorithms used to predict our cultural interests. Digital fabrication technologies, meanwhile, are interacting with the biological world on a daily basis. Engineers, designers, and architects are combining computational design, additive manufacturing, materials engineering, and synthetic biology to pioneer a symbiosis between microorganisms, our bodies, the products we consume, and even the buildings we inhabit.

Challenges and opportunities

Like the revolutions that preceded it, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world. To date, those who have gained the most from it have been consumers able to afford and access the digital world; technology has made possible new products and services that increase the efficiency and pleasure of our personal lives. Ordering a cab, booking a flight, buying a product, making a payment, listening to music, watching a film, or playing a game—any of these can now be done remotely.

In the future, technological innovation will also lead to a supply-side miracle, with long-term gains in efficiency and productivity. Transportation and communication costs will drop, logistics and global supply chains will become more effective, and the cost of trade will diminish, all of which will open new markets and drive economic growth.

At the same time, as the economists Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee have pointed out, the revolution could yield greater inequality, particularly in its potential to disrupt labor markets. As automation substitutes for labor across the entire economy, the net displacement of workers by machines might exacerbate the gap between returns to capital and returns to labor. On the other hand, it is also possible that the displacement of workers by technology will, in the aggregate, result in a net increase in safe and rewarding jobs.

We cannot foresee at this point which scenario is likely to emerge, and history suggests that the outcome is likely to be some combination of the two. However, I am convinced of one thing—that in the future, talent, more than capital, will represent the critical factor of production. This will give rise to a job market increasingly segregated into “low-skill/low-pay” and “high-skill/high-pay” segments, which in turn will lead to an increase in social tensions.

In addition to being a key economic concern, inequality represents the greatest societal concern associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The largest beneficiaries of innovation tend to be the providers of intellectual and physical capital—the innovators, shareholders, and investors—which explains the rising gap in wealth between those dependent on capital versus labor. Technology is therefore one of the main reasons why incomes have stagnated, or even decreased, for a majority of the population in high-income countries: the demand for highly skilled workers has increased while the demand for workers with less education and lower skills has decreased. The result is a job market with a strong demand at the high and low ends, but a hollowing out of the middle.

Already, artificial intelligence is all around us, from self-driving cars and drones to virtual assistants and software that translate or invest. Impressive progress has been made in AI in recent years, driven by exponential increases in computing power and by the availability of vast amounts of data, from software used to discover new drugs to algorithms used to predict our cultural interests. Digital fabrication technologies, meanwhile, are interacting with the biological world on a daily basis. Engineers, designers, and architects are combining computational design, additive manufacturing, materials engineering, and synthetic biology to pioneer a symbiosis between microorganisms, our bodies, the products we consume, and even the buildings we inhabit.

Challenges and opportunities

Like the revolutions that preceded it, the Fourth Industrial Revolution has the potential to raise global income levels and improve the quality of life for populations around the world. To date, those who have gained the most from it have been consumers able to afford and access the digital world; technology has made possible new products and services that increase the efficiency and pleasure of our personal lives. Ordering a cab, booking a flight, buying a product, making a payment, listening to music, watching a film, or playing a game—any of these can now be done remotely.

In the future, technological innovation will also lead to a supply-side miracle, with long-term gains in efficiency and productivity. Transportation and communication costs will drop, logistics and global supply chains will become more effective, and the cost of trade will diminish, all of which will open new markets and drive economic growth.

At the same time, as the economists Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee have pointed out, the revolution could yield greater inequality, particularly in its potential to disrupt labor markets. As automation substitutes for labor across the entire economy, the net displacement of workers by machines might exacerbate the gap between returns to capital and returns to labor. On the other hand, it is also possible that the displacement of workers by technology will, in the aggregate, result in a net increase in safe and rewarding jobs.

We cannot foresee at this point which scenario is likely to emerge, and history suggests that the outcome is likely to be some combination of the two. However, I am convinced of one thing—that in the future, talent, more than capital, will represent the critical factor of production. This will give rise to a job market increasingly segregated into “low-skill/low-pay” and “high-skill/high-pay” segments, which in turn will lead to an increase in social tensions.

In addition to being a key economic concern, inequality represents the greatest societal concern associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The largest beneficiaries of innovation tend to be the providers of intellectual and physical capital—the innovators, shareholders, and investors—which explains the rising gap in wealth between those dependent on capital versus labor. Technology is therefore one of the main reasons why incomes have stagnated, or even decreased, for a majority of the population in high-income countries: the demand for highly skilled workers has increased while the demand for workers with less education and lower skills has decreased. The result is a job market with a strong demand at the high and low ends, but a hollowing out of the middle.

The impact on government

As the physical, digital, and biological worlds continue to converge, new technologies and platforms will increasingly enable citizens to engage with governments, voice their opinions, coordinate their efforts, and even circumvent the supervision of public authorities. Simultaneously, governments will gain new technological powers to increase their control over populations, based on pervasive surveillance systems and the ability to control digital infrastructure. On the whole, however, governments will increasingly face pressure to change their current approach to public engagement and policymaking, as their central role of conducting policy diminishes owing to new sources of competition and the redistribution and decentralization of power that new technologies make possible.

Ultimately, the ability of government systems and public authorities to adapt will determine their survival. If they prove capable of embracing a world of disruptive change, subjecting their structures to the levels of transparency and efficiency that will enable them to maintain their competitive edge, they will endure. If they cannot evolve, they will face increasing trouble.

This will be particularly true in the realm of regulation. Current systems of public policy and decision-making evolved alongside the Second Industrial Revolution when decision-makers had time to study a specific issue and develop the necessary response or appropriate regulatory framework. The whole process was designed to be linear and mechanistic, following a strict “top-down” approach.

But such an approach is no longer feasible. Given the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s rapid pace of change and broad impacts, legislators and regulators are being challenged to an unprecedented degree and for the most part, are proving unable to cope.

How, then, can they preserve the interest of the consumers and the public at large while continuing to support innovation and technological development? By embracing “agile” governance, just as the private sector has increasingly adopted agile responses to software development and business operations more generally. This means regulators must continuously adapt to a new, fast-changing environment, reinventing themselves so they can truly understand what it is they are regulating. To do so, governments and regulatory agencies will need to collaborate closely with business and civil society.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution will also profoundly impact the nature of national and international security, affecting both the probability and the nature of the conflict. The history of warfare and international security is the history of technological innovation, and today is no exception. Modern conflicts involving states are increasing “hybrid” in nature, combining traditional battlefield techniques with elements previously associated with non-state actors. The distinction between war and peace, combatant and noncombatant, and even violence and nonviolence (think cyberwarfare) is becoming uncomfortably blurry.

As this process takes place and new technologies such as autonomous or biological weapons become easier to use, individuals and small groups will increasingly join states in being capable of causing mass harm. This new vulnerability will lead to new fears. But at the same time, advances in technology will create the potential to reduce the scale or impact of violence, through the development of new modes of protection, for example, or greater precision in targeting.

The impact on people

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, finally, will change not only what we do but also who we are. It will affect our identity and all the issues associated with it: our sense of privacy, our notions of ownership, our consumption patterns, the time we devote to work and leisure, and how we develop our careers, cultivate our skills, meet people, and nurture relationships. It is already changing our health and leading to a “quantified” self, and sooner than we think it may lead to human augmentation. The list is endless because it is bound only by our imagination.

I am a great enthusiast and early adopter of technology, but sometimes I wonder whether the inexorable integration of technology in our lives could diminish some of our quintessential human capacities, such as compassion and cooperation. Our relationship with our smartphones is a case in point. Constant connection may deprive us of one of life’s most important assets: the time to pause, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversation.

One of the greatest individual challenges posed by new information technologies is privacy. We instinctively understand why it is so essential, yet the tracking and sharing of information about us is a crucial part of the new connectivity. Debates about fundamental issues such as the impact on our inner lives of the loss of control over our data will only intensify in the years ahead. Similarly, the revolutions occurring in biotechnology and AI, which are redefining what it means to be human by pushing back the current thresholds of life span, health, cognition, and capabilities, will compel us to redefine our moral and ethical boundaries.

Shaping the future

Neither technology nor the disruption that comes with it is an exogenous force over which humans have no control. All of us are responsible for guiding its evolution, in the decisions we make on a daily basis as citizens, consumers, and investors. We should thus grasp the opportunity and power we have to shape the Fourth Industrial Revolution and direct it toward a future that reflects our common objectives and values.

To do this, however, we must develop a comprehensive and globally shared view of how technology is affecting our lives and reshaping our economic, social, cultural, and human environments. There has never been a time of greater promise, or one of greater potential peril. Today’s decision-makers, however, are too often trapped in traditional, linear thinking, or too absorbed by the multiple crises demanding their attention, to think strategically about the forces of disruption and innovation shaping our future.

In the end, it all comes down to people and values. We need to shape a future that works for all of us by putting people first and empowering them. In its most pessimistic, dehumanized form, the Fourth Industrial Revolution may indeed have the potential to “robotize” humanity and thus deprive us of our hearts and soul. But as a complement to the best parts of human nature—creativity, empathy, stewardship—it can also lift humanity into a new collective and moral consciousness based on a shared sense of destiny. It is incumbent on us all to make sure the latter prevails.

This article was first published in Foreign Affairs.

Image: Zeljko Serdar , CCRES

Author: Klaus Schwab is Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum

Shade Grown Livestock in Agroforestry

The welfare benefits of shade in cattle operations have been documented, yet there are some inconsistencies between studies, particularly in behavior patterns in shaded and unshaded groups. Studies have shown reduced physiological responses to heat stress, performance benefits, and increased use of shade in cattle provided the opportunity to utilize shade in the weather outside of their thermoneutral zone. Common reasons for not providing shade on operations are often related to the cost of the investment paired with the assumed unclear benefits and the questionable need for shade in certain regions. 

Fraser’s framework for animal welfare was discussed, identifying the need for a holistic approach to welfare assessment when evaluating the impacts of shade on overall cattle well-being. Current research focuses on performance indicators in part due to the fact that if the economic value can be found with shade implementation, then the return on investment becomes extremely clear. It is important for stakeholders to expand their vision of animal welfare to include things such as cattle preference, mental state, and opportunity for choice in their environment when evaluating the value of shade to cattle welfare. Future research should focus on quantifying current shade provision across the supply chain, understanding producer perspectives of cattle shade need, including indicators of the affective state into studies, and assessing the economics of shade implementation.

Benefits of Shade Grown Livestock

One visible effect of including trees in pastures is the shady haven which they provide for livestock o­n hot summer days. The benefits of providing protection from the hot rays of the summer sun are obvious. After all, that is why we wear a hat! It easily follows that animals, which are unable to shelter from the direct sun during the heat of the day, will have to expend energy to deal with their discomfort and/or reduce their feeding activity. Their productivity should decline in proportion to the time spent under these unfavorable conditions. Increased livestock production during hot weather is often promoted by agroforestry as o­ne of the benefits of having trees. However, there is very little published research available to either verify or disprove this widely held belief.

Cattle may orient their pasture use to be near sources of shade. But how much does livestock performance really improve when summer shade is provided? This is a harder question to answer than you might think. Millions of cattle are successfully raised in the hot humid summers of the Midwestern and Southeastern states without shade. So, would shade increase their performance? Shade has generally been useful in increasing milk yields of dairy cattle and live weight gains of feedlot cattle in hot climates. This is especially true for European breeds of cattle in areas that are both hot and humid (Blackshaw and Blackshaw 1994). However, high concentrations of high-producing animals consuming relatively high-energy rations are somewhat different than the conditions typical of forage-based cattle production in pastures and rangelands.

Surprisingly few reliable studies of cattle productivity with and without shade have been done under realistic pasture conditions. I could o­nly find two controlled comparisons of cattle grazing in pastures with vs. without shade in the regularly published literature. The greatest effect of shade trees o­n summer weight change in free-ranging cattle was reported for European breeds of cattle in Louisiana (McDaniel and Roark 1956). Averaged over 4 years, cows grazing under scattered pines spent about half an hour more time grazing each day and gained 1.29 lb./head/day compared to cows grazing open pastures, who lost weight during the summer. Unfortunately, no pasture data are provided.

It is not possible, therefore, to completely separate shade effects upon forage quantity and quality from its effect o­n animal thermoregulation. Much more modest increases in summer weight gains were reported for cattle with access to artificial shade structures in Oklahoma (McIlvan and Shoop 1970). During 4 years, weight gains of Hereford cattle were increased 6, 9, 1, and 11% by artificial shades, with the greatest impact of shade seen during hot and humid weather.

Blackshaw and Blackshaw (1994) summarized the literature relating shade to heat stress in cattle. As they explain the situation, cattle receive heat directly from the sun when standing in the open. Dull, dark-colored hair absorbs most sunlight, which is converted to heat. White, shiny coats reflect much of the energy, and less is converted to heat. Shade can be very helpful in reducing heat loading from the sun's rays, especially for dark-colored animals. However, quite a bit of heat can be received after being reflected from bare soil or nearby objects. Shade is not very effective in protecting cattle from reflected radiation. For example, a California study found that 33% of the heat load received by a shaded animal was reflected from the ground and 28% came from the overhead shade material. Total heat load was o­nly reduced by 30% under shade compared to out in the sun.

Metabolic heat generated from the digestion and use of energy contained in food can also be a significant source of heat. Approximately 35-70% of the energy which cattle extract from food is converted to heat. Active animals and those consuming large amounts offered can generate significant amounts of internal heat. Shade has no direct effect on this heat source. So, although shade may reduce the heat loading of cattle, it probably o­nly directly affects less than a quarter of the total heat energy cattle must deal with o­n a sunny day. This reduction may be important under severe heat conditions or when livestock is under stress because of other factors. It is less likely to be crucial for acclimated cattle that are otherwise well-fed, well-watered, and healthy.

Cattle lose heat primarily by transferring it to cooler air, and by evaporation of water from sweat and from moist tissues in the respiratory system. The cooler air temperatures under trees are very helpful in increasing heat transfer from animals. This is probably as important in the general cooling effect of shade as is protection from direct sunlight. It is less effective, however, for naturally well-insulated animals, such as some of the northern European breeds of cattle, which have thick coats of hair. Shade trees do not reduce air temperatures under windy conditions and still air under trees may be more humid as well as cooler than that out in the open pasture. Because of the major role that the evaporation of water plays in heat transfer, heat stress is much greater under humid conditions than under dry heat.

The issue of heat stress is further complicated by both physiological and behavioral adaptations which cattle make to reduce the effects of heat. Heat stress may reduce animal performance in two ways. First, it may depress grazing and food intake. And second, animals may resort to panting or other actions that consume energy. Cattle breeds differ markedly in their ability to tolerate heat. In general, Brahman-type cattle are more heat tolerant than are northern European breeds. However, much heat tolerance is behavioral. Cattle may successfully deal with lack of shade by restricting their grazing and traveling to the cooler hours of the day or night and by standing together in areas of good airflow.

So, where does all this leave agroforestry? There are many sound esthetic, ecological, and economic reasons for including trees in pastures. It makes intuitive sense to most of us that shade should increase comfort and improve animal performance. However, the factual basis for improved livestock production due to shade is very limited. We need to be careful about advocating shade as a means of reducing heat stress. Protection from sunlight o­nly reduces o­ne of several sources of heat which contribute to thermal stress in animals. Livestock has both physiological and behavioral mechanisms they can use to counter environmental stresses. Livestock performance is unlikely to be greatly improved by shade unless heat stress is sufficiently great and of adequate duration to overcome these coping mechanisms. Such conditions are probably less common under traditional range and pasture production systems than we think.

Literature Cited

Blackshaw, J.K., and A W. Blackshaw. 1994. Heat stress in cattle and effect of shade o­n production and behavior: a review. Aust. J. Exp. Agr. 34:285-295.

Cook, J.G., L.L. Irwin, L.D. Bryant, R.A. Riggs, and J.W. Thomas. 1998. Relations of forest cover and condition of elk: a test of the thermal cover hypothesis in summer and winter. Wild. Mono. 141:1-61.

McDaniel, A.H., and C.B. Roark. 1956. Performance and grazing habits of Hereford and Aberdeen-angus cows and calves o­n improved pastures as related to type of shade. J. Anim. Sci. 15:59-63.

McIlvain, E.H., and M.C. Shoop. 1970. Shade for improving cattle gains and rangeland use. J. Range Manage. 24:181-184. 

Ockenfels, R.A., and D.E. Brooks. 1994. Summer diurnal bed sites of coues white-tailed deer. J. Wildlife Manage. 58:70-75.

Vitamin D deficiency

If you shun the sun, suffer from milk allergies, or adhere to a strict vegan diet, you may be at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is produced by the body in response to skin being exposed to sunlight. It also occurs naturally in a few foods -- including some fish, fish liver oils, and egg yolks -- and in fortified dairy and grain products. Vitamin D has several important functions. Perhaps the most vital are regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and facilitating normal immune system function. Getting enough vitamin D is important for the typical growth and development of bones and teeth, as well as improved resistance to certain diseases. 

Vitamin D is involved in the biology of all the cells and tissues in your body, including your immune cells. Your cells need the active form of vitamin D to gain access to the genetic blueprints stored inside

While the American Medical Association considers 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) sufficient, a compelling body of research suggests 40 ng/mL is the cutoff for sufficiency and that 60 to 80 ng/mL is an ideal level for health and disease prevention

Seventy-five percent of American adults and teens are deficient in vitamin D, based on a sufficiency level of 30 ng/mL. Since 30 ng/mL is still on the low end, most are bound to have insufficient levels for optimal health

Avoiding all sun exposure to lower your risk of skin cancer will raise your risk of internal cancers and many other health problems instead. A vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL lowers your risk of cancer by 67%, compared to having a level below 20 ng/ml

A vitamin D level above 60 ng/mL lowers your breast cancer risk by more than 80%, and a level of 40 ng/mL lowers the risk of premature birth by 60%. There’s also a strong inverse relationship between vitamin D and other cancers, including colorectal cancer, which is the third leading cancer killer in the U.S.

Thousands of studies have been done on the health effects of vitamin D, and research shows it is involved in the biology of all the cells and tissues in your body, including your immune cells. Your cells actually need the active form of vitamin D to gain access to the genetic blueprints stored inside. This is one of the reasons why vitamin D has the ability to impact such a wide variety of health problems — from fetal development to cancer.

Conventional Vitamin D Recommendations Are Too Low

Unfortunately, despite being easy and inexpensive to address, vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic around the world. A simple mathematical error may also deter many Americans and Canadians from optimizing their vitamin D. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends a mere 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day for adults.

As pointed out in a 2014 paper,¹ the IOM actually underestimated the need by a factor of 10 due to a simple mathematical error, which has never been corrected. Moreover, the goal of this recommendation is merely bone health, not optimal health and chronic disease prevention.

Similarly, while the American Medical Association considers 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) sufficient, a compelling body of research suggests 40 ng/mL is at the low end of sufficiency,² with 30 ng/mL being the rock bottom for the prevention of common diseases such as heart disease,³ diabetes,⁴ lung disease⁵ and more.⁶ ⁷ ⁸ An ideal level for health and disease prevention is actually between 60 and 80 ng/mL.⁹

Moreover, according to a study in Anticancer Research,¹⁰ it would require 9,600 IUs of vitamin D per day to get a majority (97.5% of the population) to reach 40 ng/mL — a far cry from 600 IUs.

That said, GrassrootsHealth — through its D*Action study — has found a sixfold variability in achieved serum levels,¹¹ meaning one person taking 5,000 IUs of vitamin D per day may achieve a level of just 20 ng/mL while another is able to reach a level of 120 ng/mL taking the same amount. This is why it's so important to get your vitamin D level tested at regular intervals.

According to data published in the Archives of Internal Medicine,¹² 75% of American adults and teens are deficient in vitamin D, based on a sufficiency level of 30 ng/mL. If the sufficiency cutoff were to be moved to 40 or 60 ng/mL, deficiency rates in the U.S. would likely be in the high 90% bracket. Even with a sufficiency level of 30 ng/mL, 97% of African-Americans and 90% of Mexican-Americans are deficient in this crucial nutrient.

Most Vitamin D-deficient People Are at Increased Risk of Cancer

Unfortunately, while many health professionals recommend total sun avoidance to avoid skin cancer, this strategy raises your risk of internal cancers instead — hardly a fair trade! Numerous studies have shown people with higher vitamin D levels have a far lower risk of a wide variety of internal cancers.

Generally speaking, research has shown that once you reach a serum vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL, your risk for cancer diminishes by 67%, compared to having a level of 20 ng/ml or less.¹³ ¹⁴ ¹⁵ ¹⁶ ¹⁷ ¹⁸ ¹⁹ Research shows most cancers occur in people with a vitamin D blood level between 10 and 40 ng/mL, and the optimal level for cancer protection has been identified as being between 40 and 60 ng/mL.²⁰

Vitamin D also increases your chances of surviving cancer if you do get it,²¹ ²² and this includes melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.²³ There's also evidence it can improve treatment outcomes. For example, adding vitamin D to the conventional treatment for pancreatic cancer was found to boost the effectiveness of the treatment.²⁴ It also plays a significant part in protecting you from COVID-19²⁵ and protects you from autoimmune diseases.²⁶ ²⁷

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Colorectal Cancer

In a 2018 study, researchers found an inverse relationship between vitamin D and colorectal cancer,²⁸ which in 2022 is the third leading cancer killer²⁹ in the U.S. The vitamin D levels of 5,700 colorectal cancer patients in the U.S., Europe and Asia were compared to 7,100 cancer-free controls.

Here, a vitamin D level of 12 ng/mL (30 nmol/L) or less was considered a deficiency state; 20 to 25 ng/mL (50 to 62.5 nmol/L) was considered sufficient for bone health. Far higher levels were associated with cancer protection:

People with a vitamin D level of 12 ng/mL or below had a 31% higher risk for colorectal cancer compared to those with levels between 20 and 25 ng/mL

Those with levels between 30 and 35 ng/mL had a 19% reduced risk for colorectal cancer

Those with levels between 35 and 40 ng/mL had a 27% reduced risk

For each 10 ng/mL increase in circulating vitamin D, the risk for colorectal cancer was reduced by 19% in women and 7% in men

Coauthor Marji L. McCullough commented on the results, saying,³⁰ "This study adds new information that agencies can use when reviewing evidence for vitamin D guidance and suggests that the concentrations recommended for bone health may be lower than would be optimal for colorectal cancer prevention."

Another study³¹ published in 2015 found women with vitamin D concentrations of at least 30 ng/mL had a 55% lower risk of colorectal cancer than those who had a blood level below 18 ng/mL. And, a 2019 study showed that high-dose vitamin D benefits patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer.³²

Vitamin D Protects Against Breast Cancer

Several studies also show that higher vitamin D levels are protective against breast cancer specifically, which is a serious concern for most women. For example, in a 2005 study,³³ women with vitamin D levels above 60 ng/mL had an 83% lower risk of breast cancer than those below 20 ng/mL.

More recently, a pooled analysis of two randomized trials and a prospective cohort study again confirmed the link between vitamin D and breast cancer risk.³⁴

The objective was to assess whether there are any benefits to having a vitamin D level above 40 ng/mL, as most studies do not venture into these higher levels. Indeed, mirroring the 2005 findings, women with vitamin D levels at or above 60 ng/mL had an 82% lower incidence rate of breast cancer than those with levels of 20 ng/mL or less.

Pooled data was analyzed in three different ways. First, incidence rates were compared based on vitamin D levels ranging from 20 to 60 ng/mL. Next, statistical analysis using Kaplan-Meier plots were done. Third, multivariate Cox regression was used to examine the association between various vitamin D levels and breast cancer risk. According to the authors:

"Results were similar for the three analyses. First, comparing incidence rates, there was an 82% lower incidence rate of breast cancer for women with 25(OH)D concentrations ≥60 vs <20 ng/mL.

Second, Kaplan-Meier curves for concentrations of <20, 20–39, 40–59 and ≥60 ng/mL were significantly different, with the highest proportion breast cancer-free in the ≥60 ng/ml group (99.3%) and the lowest proportion breast cancer-free in the <20 ng/ml group (96.8%). The proportion with breast cancer was 78% lower for ≥60 vs <20 ng/mL.

Third, multivariate Cox regression revealed that women with 25(OH)D concentrations ≥60 ng/ml had an 80% lower risk of breast cancer than women with concentrations <20 ng/mL, adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, calcium supplement intake, and study of origin … Higher 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with a dose-response decrease in breast cancer risk with concentrations ≥60 ng/mL being most protective."

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Lung Disease

Other recent research³⁵ links vitamin D deficiency to interstitial lung disease (ILD). Here, the vitamin D levels of more than 6,300 individuals of various ethnicities were assessed to evaluate the connection between vitamin D and ILD prevalence and progression. Thirty-three percent had a vitamin D level at or above 30 ng/mL; 35% had levels between 20 and 30 ng/mL and 32% were deficient, having a level at or below 20 ng/mL. According to the authors:

"Compared with those with replete concentrations [at or above 30 ng/mL], participants with 25(OH)D deficiency had greater adjusted high-attenuation areas volume at baseline and increased progression over a median of 4.3 years of follow-up. 25(OH)D deficiency was also associated with increased prevalence of interstitial lung abnormalities 10 years later …

Vitamin D deficiency is independently associated with subclinical ILD and its progression, based on both increased high-attenuation areas and interstitial lung abnormalities, in a community-based population. Further studies are needed to examine whether vitamin D repletion can prevent ILD or slow its progression."

Even when taking other factors into account, such as age, smoking, obesity and inactivity, the results held true. Dr. Erin Michos, associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the study told Medical News Today:³⁶

"We knew that the activated vitamin D hormone has anti-inflammatory properties and helps regulate the immune system, which goes awry in ILD. There was also evidence in the literature that vitamin D plays a role in obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], and we now found that the association exists with this scarring form of lung disease too.

We might now consider adding vitamin D deficiency to the list of factors involved in disease processes, along with the known ILD risk factors such as environmental toxins and smoking."

Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Pregnancy Loss

Vitamin D is perhaps particularly crucial for pregnant women, to protect both their health and the health of their babies. Interestingly, recent research³⁷ ³⁸ suggests vitamin D plays an important role in preventing an adverse immune response against the fetus that might cause her body to reject it as foreign tissue.

As noted by the authors, "It stands to reason that an immunocompetent mother would muster an immune response against the fetus. Nevertheless, in reality this does not occur due to various fetomaternal interactions which induce tolerance … Recently, it has come to light that vitamin D may play an integral part in the induction and regulation of this critical immune tolerance process."

What they discovered is that recurrent pregnancy loss, which affects about 1% of couples trying to conceive, is linked to low vitamin D. In short, vitamin D promotes a favorable environment for pregnancy, in part by regulating immune cell differentiation and the excretion of inflammatory cytokines.

According to the authors, "It seems that vitamin D deficiency sways the balance toward a worse outcome and may play a part in recurrent pregnancy loss." Vitamin D also performs many other important functions during pregnancy, and has been shown to dramatically lower a woman's risk for complications and premature birth.

Vitamin D Significantly Lowers Risk of Preterm Birth

According to findings by Grassrootshealth, there's a clear and definitive correlation between vitamin D levels and time of gestation — up to 40 ng/mL, where the impact plateaus.³⁹

Overall, evidence shows pregnant women with a vitamin D level between 40 and 60 ng/mL have 46% lower preterm birth rate than the general population, while those with a vitamin D level at or above 40 ng/mL by their third trimester have a 59% lower risk for premature birth compared to those with levels below 20 ng/mL.⁴⁰

Among non-Caucasian women (among whom vitamin D deficiency is far more common) the reduction in risk is even more significant. In this group, those who achieved a vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL by their second vitamin D test had a 78% lower preterm birth rate — reducing the preterm birth rate from 18% to 4%! To ignore this astounding improvement in preterm birth rate among African-American would be foolhardy in the extreme.

As noted in a 2015 press release announcing the findings:⁴¹

"The March of Dimes estimates that the annual cost of preterm births in the United States as $12 billion (for 455,918 children). If approximately 50% of preterm births could be prevented in the general population, as this analysis suggests is possible, there could be $6 billion available for other services, and more than 225,000 children and families spared this trauma."

What's more, further analysis revealed that women with a history of preterm birth can lower their risk by a whopping 80% by raising their vitamin D level above 40 ng/mL.⁴² Tragically, despite the overwhelming evidence⁴³ supporting the use of vitamin D to dramatically improve pregnancy outcomes and lower preterm birth rates, health authorities still make no mention of it whatsoever.

On March 27, 2018, in an effort to break the silence, the Organic & Natural Health Association submitted a health claim petition for vitamin D and preterm birth to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,⁴⁴ the key message being that vitamin D supplementation "directly impacts health outcomes and is changing the standards of care, in this case, for pregnant women and a generation of children."

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this post are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. The subscription fee being requested is for access to the articles and information posted on this site, and is not being paid for any individual medical advice.

If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.

1

Nutrients 2014; 6(10): 4472-4475

2

GrassrootsHealth, 71 % Reduction in All Cancer Risk

3

Int J Epidemiol1990;19 (3) 559- 563

4

Diabetes Care 2004;27 (12) 2813- 2818

5

Chest 2005;128 (6) 3792- 3798

6

Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84 (1) 18- 28

7

Am J Prev Med 2007;32 (3) 210- 216

8

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2007;103 (3-5) 708- 711

9

PLOS ONE June 15, 2018

10

Anticancer Research 2011 Feb;31(2):607-11

11

GrassrootsHealth, Vitamin D Response Curve

12

Archives of Internal Medicine 2009;169(6):626-632

13

PLOS ONE 2016; 11 (4): e0152441

14

PR Web April 6, 2016

15

UC San Diego Health April 6, 2016

16

Science World Report April 13, 2016

17

Oncology Nurse Advisor April 22, 2016

18

Tech Times April 11, 2016

19

Chrisbeatcancer.com, Vitamin D

20

GrassrootsHealth March 24, 2021

21

Anticancer Research February 2011: 31(2); 607-611

22

UC San Diego Health System Press Release March 6, 2014

23

Cancer Network March 21, 2016

24

Salk 2022 FAQ on Pancreatic Cancer and Vitamin D

25

Chiropractic Economics January 27, 2022

26

GrassrootsHealth February 17, 2022

27

Frontiers in Endocrinology March 31, 2021

28

Journal of the National Cancer Institute June 14, 2018

29

National Cancer Institute April 22, 2021

30

EurekAlert June 14, 2018

31

Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2015 Aug;8(8):675-82

32

Dana-Farber Can

Croatia's new solar plants with a total capacity of 350 MW by 2030.

           Željko Serdar/Novigrad

Croatia plans new solar plants with total capacity of 350 MW by 2030. In the forthcoming five-year period the average of investments into solar power plants will amount to 150 million kuna per year. This investment on average enables the construction of additional 20 MW of solar capacities annually. Croatian state-owned power utility Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) plans new photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 350 MW by 2030, as in the next five years alone it will invest 750 million kuna ($113.7 million/100 million euro) in solar capacity.

Hrvatska elektroprivreda je u rad pustila petu po redu veliku neintegriranu (samostojeću) sunčanu elektranu. Riječ je o sunčanoj elektrani Kosore Jug priključne snage 2,1 MW, izgrađenoj na južnom dijelu Radne zone Kosore na području grada Vrlike.

U elektranu je na površini od 2,6 hektara ugrađeno gotovo 5.500 fotonaponskih modula. Očekivana godišnja proizvodnja od oko 2,9 GWh bit će dovoljna za zadovoljavanje potrošnje oko tisuću kućanstava. HEP je u ovu elektranu investirao oko 11 milijuna kuna.

Prva sunčana elektrana u portfelju HEPa je Kaštelir, snage 1 MW, koju je HEP u pogonu preuzeo 2019. godine. Elektrana je smještena na lokaciji Sabadin na području općine KaštelirLabinci u Istri.

Godišnja proizvodnja SE Kaštelir iznosi 1,4 do 1,5 GWh električne energije. To je jedina HEPova sunčana elektrana statusu povlaštenog proizvođača sa zajamčenom otkupnom cijenom. Na istoj je lokaciji 2021. godine izgrađena i puštena u rad i druga faza SE Kaštelir.

Sunčana elektrana Marići/HEP

Elektrana snage 2 MW godišnje će proizvoditi oko 2,9 GWh električne energije. Na površini od približno 40.000 četvornih metara instalirano je 9.240 fotonaponskih modula domaćeg proizvođača, tvrtke Solvis iz Varaždina. Vrijednost investicije iznosila je 15 milijuna kuna.

U istri je od prošle godine u pogonu i Sunčana elektrana Marići snage 1 MW. Elektrana je izgrađena na području općine Žminj, a godišnje će proizvoditi oko 1,2 GWh električne energije. Vrijednost investicije iznosila je 9 milijuna kuna. I u ovu se elektranu ugrađeni Solvisovi fotonaponski moduli. U planu je proširenje elektrane za dodatna 2 MW.

2,9

GWh očekivana je godišnja proizvodnja sunčane elektrane Kosore Jug

Do sada najveća HEPova sunčana elektrana izgrađena je na otoku Visu, a u pogon je ušla 2020. godine. Priključna snaga SE Vis je 3,5 MW, a smještena je na lokaciji površine 5,5 hektara, na brdu Griževa glavica u blizini naselja Žena Glava.

U elektrani je instalirano 11.200 fotonaponskih modula, a ugrađeno je pet frekvencijskih pretvarača nazivne snage 720 kW, proizvoda domaćeg proizvođača, tvrtke Končar, u suradnji s kojom je HEP realizirao ovaj projekt. Očekivana prosječna godišnja proizvodnja je oko 5 GWh električne energije čime se mogu podmiriti potrebe oko 1.600 kućanstava.

Izgradnjom sunčane elektrane, otok Vis dobio je vlastiti izvor obnovljive energije i veću sigurnost opskrbe električnom energijom. Vrijednost investicije iznosila je 31,3 milijuna kuna. U tijeku je postavljanje baterijskog spremnika uz sunčanu elektranu.

Sunčana elektrana Kaštelir/HEP

Baterijski spremnik snage 1 MW i kapaciteta 1,44 MWh koristit će se za pružanje usluga uravnoteženja elektroenergetskog sustava te u svrhu očuvanja stabilnosti mreže na otoku.

Sve navedene elektrane dio su HEPova plana da do 2030. godine u sunčanim elektranama ima 350 MW instalirane proizvodne snage.

Pozivamo sve zainteresirane partnere za razvoj i prodaju projekata obnovljivih izvora energije

Hrvatska elektroprivreda nastavlja istraživati mogućnost integracije u svoj proizvodni portfelj projekata obnovljivih izvora energije koji su završeni ili se nalaze u visokom stupnju razvoja.

S tim ciljem, na internetskim stranicama Hrvatske elektroprivrede objavljen je trajni javni poziv zainteresiranim partnerima za izgradnju i prodaju projekata obnovljivih izvora energije na području Hrvatske.

Novi javni poziv je upućen pravnim ili fizičkim osobama zainteresiranim za prodaju projekata: neintegriranih (samostojećih) sunčanih elektrana u razvoju i pogonu (snage uključivo i veće od 5 MW), prodaju projekata vjetroelektrana u pogonu (prednost imaju lokacije s više od 2.500 sati rada godišnje) te prodaju projekata hidroelektrana u razvoju i pogonu (snage uključivo i veće od 1 MW).

Poziv je, također, upućen i jedinicama lokalne samouprave (gradove i općine) zainteresiranim za izgradnju sunčanih elektrana, odnosno pripremu prostornoplanske dokumentacije za projekte sunčanih elektrana na površinama većim od 100.000 m2.

Prednost u odabiru imat će lokacije s većim brojem sunčanih sati i boljim mikrolokacijskim uvjetima.

Sunčana elektrana Vis/HEP

 Hrvatska elektroprivreda d.d (“HEP”) istražuje mogućnost razvoja i izgradnje projekata obnovljivih izvora energije (OIE) u Republici Hrvatskoj te integracije već gotovih ili u visokom stupnju razvoja OIE projekata u svoj proizvodni portfelj. Uvažavajući zacrtane strateške ciljeve i potrebu za diversifikacijom projekata obnovljivih izvora energije, HEP traži:

zainteresirane Partnere za razvoj i prodaju projekata obnovljivih izvora energije na području Republike Hrvatske

Jedinice lokalne samouprave (gradove i općine) zainteresirane za izgradnju sunčanih elektrana čiji će se doprinos u razvoju i izgradnji Projekta očitovati kroz zajedničku pripremu prostorno-planske dokumentacije potrebne plohe za projekte sunčanih elektrana, površine veće od 100.000 m2.

Prednost u odabiru imat će lokacije s većim brojem sunčanih sati i boljim mikrolokacijskim uvjetima. Modeli i načini suradnje, kao i poželjni uvjeti odabira plohe za izgradnju sunčane elektrane, naknadno će biti definirani sporazumima o suradnji s jedinicama lokalne samouprave.

Partnere (pravne ili fizičke osobe) zainteresirane za:

Prodaju projekata neintegriranih (samostojećih) sunčanih elektrana u razvoju, snage uključivo i veće od 5 MW. Prednost u odabiru imat će lokacije s većim brojem sunčanih sati, boljim mikrolokacijskim uvjetima i prostorno-planskom dokumentacijom spremnom za razvoj projekta. U razmatranje će se uzeti Partneri koji imaju minimalno ishođenu lokacijsku dozvolu.

Prodaju projekata vjetroelektrana u razvoju. Prednost pri odabiru imat će Partneri koji imaju ishođenu pravovaljanu građevinsku dozvolu i lokacije s više od 2.500 sati rada godišnje. U razmatranje će se uzeti Partneri koji imaju minimalno ishođenu lokacijsku dozvolu.

Prodaju projekata vjetroelektrana u pogonu. Prednost pri odabiru imat će lokacije s više od 2.500 sati rada godišnje.

Prodaju projekata hidroelektrana u razvoju, snage uključivo i veće od 1 MW. Prednost pri odabiru imat će Partneri koji imaju ishođenu pravovaljanu građevinsku dozvolu. U razmatranje će se uzeti Partneri koji imaju minimalno ishođenu lokacijsku dozvolu.

Prodaju projekata hidroelektrana u pogonu, snage uključivo i veće od 1 MW.

 HEP poziva sve zainteresirane Partnere da na e-mail adresu oglas-projekti@hep.hr pošalju Pismo namjere sa sljedećim podacima:  

Jedinice lokalne samouprave trebaju dostaviti pismo potpisano od strane gradonačelnika ili načelnika s kartografskim prikazom i podacima (katastarska općina, katastarska čestica, površina plohe, očekivano vrijeme izmjene prostorno-planske dokumentacije) predložene lokacije za izgradnju sunčane elektrane.

Partneri (pravne ili fizičke osobe) trebaju dostaviti sljedeće podatke: naziv i nositelj projekta, snaga elektrane, analiza isplativosti za projekte u razvoju, podaci o godišnjoj proizvodnji za projekte u pogonu, lokacija elektrane (kartografski prikaz i broj katastarske čestice), status za projekte u razvoju (navod o posjedovanju građevinske/lokacijske dozvole, navod o statusu rješavanja imovinsko-pravnih odnosa i navod o statusu priključka na elektroenergetsku mrežu) i navod o očekivanoj otkupnoj cijeni projekta.

Pismo namjere mora biti napisano na poslovnom memorandumu s navedenim kontaktnim podacima (adresa, e-mail, broj telefona) odgovorne osobe zainteresiranog Partnera.

HEP će iskaze interesa zainteresiranih Partnera primati trajno, odnosno do opoziva.

Nakon primitka Pisma namjere s osnovnim podacima i obavljene preliminarne evaluacije projekata, HEP će odabranim partnerima uputiti zahtjev za slanjem detaljnijih informacija.

 Više informacija na: 

HRVATSKA ELEKTROPRIVREDA d.d.

Ulica grada Vukovara 37, 10 000  Zagreb  ·  Tel: +385 1 63 22 111 www.hep.hr

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

This civilization would need to be advanced enough but, now I see that people are of no use, so I send a message to the aliens. Stop this madness and wars on Earth. I am not saying this just to save humanity, but I am speaking on behalf of all the animals and plants that surround me. In the event my message is found by an advanced intelligent life form in the universe, they will know precisely where it came from. Desperate times call for desperate measures. 

Generacije ljudi napisale su cijele biblioteke u pokušaju da opravdaju postojanje jednog dobrog Boga koji je stvorio nesavršen svijet. Kada čovjek promatra svoju povijest, kroz količinu ljudske patnje, onakvom kakva doista jest, neumoljivo je prisiljen zaključiti da se nalazi u raljama određenog entiteta koji je potpuno ravnodušan prema ljudskim patnjama i mukama. Sv. Augustin razlikuje moralno zlo ​​- razmišljanje o zlu koje ljudi čine po svom izboru, znajući da čine krivo i prirodno zlo, razmišljanje o katastrofama koje se jednostavno događaju - smrtonosne bolesti i katastrofe. Kroz ljudsku povijest, vidi se da postoji ono, makrosocijalno zlo - zlo toliko veliko da dominira cijelim narodima i društvima u ciklusu koji se ponavlja od davnina.

Pravni argument kako ga je objasnio Robert Canup u svom radu o "Društveno sposobnom psihopatu", dao je primjer kako psihopati imaju utjecaj na ostatak ljudskog društva. Svi znamo da je pravni argument temelj našeg društva. Uvjereni smo da je nešto sofisticirani princip socijalne pravde. A to nešto je zapravo vrlo lukav trik koji su normalnim ljudima nametnuli psihopati, kako bi ih što bolje kontrolirali.

Razmislite malo o tome: pravni argument temelji se na načelu da je onaj koji je najvještiji u korištenju pravne strukture kako bi u nešto uvjerio ljude u isto vrijeme onaj kojem vjerujemo. Taj se ‘pravni argument’ postupno nameće kao dio naše kulture i kada napada naše privatne živote, nismo ni svjesni dinamike koja se tada događa. 

 Ljudska bića su navikla misliti da druga ljudska bića - u najmanju ruku - pokušavaju učiniti pravu stvar, biti dobri, pošteni i pravedni. I tako, vrlo često se ne zaustavljamo ni da se zapitamo je li osoba koja je ušla u naš život zaista dobar čovjek. Kada dođe do sukoba, automatski preuzimamo gore spomenuti ‘pravni argument’ i pretpostavljamo da je u bilo kojem sukobu jedna strana djelomično u pravu, na jedan način, kao što je druga strana djelomično u pravu, na drugi način. Zbog naše navike normi 'pravnog argumenta', čim dođe do sukoba, automatski ćemo pretpostaviti da se istina nalazi negdje između dvije zaraćene strane. 

Evo primjera, razaranje gradova, raketiranje, ubijeni civili, izbjeglički val koji je svakim danom sve veći, sve su to potresne slike koje nam svaki dan stižu iz Ukrajine. Gledam javljanje ruske televizijske kuće iz zračne luke u Hostomelu ispred uništenog najvećeg zrakoplova na svijetu, Antonova AN-225, novinarka, bez imalo srama, u javljanju govori da su cijelo područje uništili Ukrainci, iako je cijeli svijet vidio i zna da je to posljedica Ruskog helikopterskog napada na zračnu luku.

Nekome tko je kriv, laž može donijeti samo kratkotrajnu korist. Kada dobar lažov majstorski iskrivi istinu, nevina osoba će izgledati jako loše, pogotovo ako je nevina osoba iskrena i priznaje svoje greške.

Na kraju, kao i na početku.

Osnovna pretpostavka da se istina nalazi negdje na sredini između dvije zaraćene strane, zapravo uvijek ide u prilog lažljivoj strani. To neminovno rezultira u prednosti onih koji lažu, na sreću samo kratkotrajno, dok sve maske ne padnu. 

Ova civilizacija bi trebala biti dovoljno napredna, ali, sad vidim da ljudi nisu od koristi, pa šaljem poruku vanzemaljcima. Zaustavite ovo ludilo i ratove na Zemlji. Ne govorim ovo samo da bih spasio čovječanstvo, nego govorim u ime svih životinja i biljaka koje me okružuju. U slučaju da moju poruku pronađe napredni inteligentni oblik života u svemiru, oni će točno znati odakle je došla. Očajna vremena zahtijevaju očajničke mjere.