Yemen braces for locust ‘plague’

[Sally]

With a bloody war going on and now this!!!

Yemen braces for locust ‘plague’
SciDev.Net: The ongoing civil war and the need to protect the bee industry make it difficult to use insecticides




Adult desert locusts can withstand extreme heat and drought, and travel up to 150km a day. Photograph: Jim Hollander/EPA
SciDev.Net, part of the Guardian Environment Network

Tuesday 26 April 2016 11.36 EDT

Yemen is bracing itself for a “locust plague” that scientists are unable to stop due to fears that any intervention would also kill bees that are vital to its economy.

The country’s Desert Locust Control Centre issued a warning on 18 April that many desert locusts in the country had reached their flying adult phase, while the remaining juveniles could do likewise in a matter of weeks.

The centre says control efforts this month, especially in the southern coastal province of Shabwah, have largely failed. Yemen is already struggling under the weight of civil war, which has made many affected areas unsafe.

Continue reading at:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/26

 

[waltky]

Food emergency in Yemen...

Amid War, Yemenis Face Dire Food Insecurity
June 21, 2016 - A majority of Yemenis are facing severe food insecurity, according to a new joint assessment by the United Nations and partners.

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) shows that 19 or 22 governorates of Yemen face severe food insecurity, and that over half of the country's population faces "emergency" levels, the fourth level on a five-tier system of food insecurity classification. Fuel shortages and import restrictions have contributed to the food shortages in war-torn Yemen. The country imports nearly 90 percent of its food staples, and fuel imports in March satisfied only 12 percent of its needs.

'One of the worst crises in the world'

“The IPC results clearly show the huge magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen,” said Jamie McGoldrick, U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen. “This is one of the worst crises in the world and is continuing to get worse. Conflict has taken a very heavy toll on the country and its people, exacerbated widespread vulnerability and virtually destroyed household coping mechanisms. As a result, food insecurity, remains unacceptably high.” “With the fluidity of the situation and until a political solution is in place, we will continue to see an increase in the number of people struggling to feed themselves and their families and further deterioration in food security across Yemen,” said Purnima Kashyap, representative and country director of the World Food Program. “We appeal to all parties to ensure unrestricted access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected people.”

Displaced children pose for a photo as they sit in their family's tent at a camp for internally displaced people in the outskirts of Sana'a, Yemen​

The Yemeni government and Houthi rebels have been engaged in a sporadic civil war for many years, but airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition have dramatically increased death tolls and displacement numbers since they began in March 2015. At least 3,500 civilians have been killed since airstrikes began 15 months ago, and more than 2.5 million Yemenis have been internally displaced since 2010, according to the United Nations. The Houthis are supported by former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh and Iran; they control much of the nation, including the capital Sana’a.

Amid War, Yemenis Face Dire Food Insecurity

See also:

United Nations: Highest all-time level of refugees
June 20, 2016 -- The number of refugees around the world is at its highest level ever recorded, the United Nations refugee agency reported.

In the new annual report released to commemorate World Refugee Day, the agency said the number of refugees globally has reached the 65.3 million mark for the first time in history. That number includes refugees, asylum seekers or internally displaced by the end of 2015. The record number was a jump of an additional 5 million people since 2014.

The refugee level is also the highest since World War II, creating a new "climate of xenophobia" that has boosted support for far-right groups and anti-immigrant policies, the U.N. refugee chief said.

Turkey has the largest number of refugees with 2.5 million people, followed by Pakistan and Lebanon. More than half of the world's refuges are escaping Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

The top destinations most refugees sought were Germany and Sweden, according to the report.

United Nations: Highest all-time level of refugees

 

[waltky]

Granny says mebbe dey could train `em to carry lil' bombs an' sniff out jihadis butts...

Locusts to 'sniff out explosives'
Mon, 04 Jul 2016 - Scientists are researching technology they hope will allow locusts to detect explosives using their sense of smell.

They say heat-generating "tattoos" will enable them to be guided into dangerous or remote areas via remote control Neural signals from the locust's brain will then be processed by an on-board low-power processing chip that will decode the information and send a wireless alert back to the authorities. And the result will appear on a simple LED: red for present, green for absent. Baranidharan Raman, associate professor of biomedical engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science Washington University, has studied the way locusts smell for several years. And the Office of Naval Research in the US has now given him a $750,000 (£565,000) grant to continue his research.

A locust with a sensor on it's back to test for dangerous chemicals​

Olfaction, better known as the ability to smell, is considered a primary sensory quality in insects whereas it is more of an aesthetic sense for humans, according to Prof Raman. But locusts have a similar sense of smell to humans in that they can identify a particular smell even when it is mixed in with other odours. Prof Raman said they had "robotic noses" that could be trained to pinpoint and recall a smell such as dangerous chemicals. He told the BBC: "It took only a few hundred milliseconds for the locust's brain to begin tracking a novel odour introduced in its surroundings. The locusts are processing chemical cues in an extremely rapid fashion. "Even the state-of-the-art miniaturised chemical-sensing devices have a handful of sensors. On the other hand, if you look at the insect antennae, where their chemical sensors are located, there are several hundreds of thousands of sensors and of a variety of types," he said.

Meanwhile, Srikanth Singamaneni, associate professor of materials science, who specialises in nanomaterials, will be creating a plasmonic "tattoo" made of a biocompatible silk that will be applied to the locusts' wings to generate mild heat and help steer them towards particular locations by remote control. The tattoos will also be able to collect samples of volatile organic compounds in their proximity for other testing methods. Prof Raman estimates the prototype will be ready for rigorous testing in a year and if successful the locusts could be ready in less than two years. He also believes this new sensor technology could help to detect medical conditions in humans that are currently diagnosed by smell.

Locusts to 'sniff out explosives' - BBC News

 

[irosie91]

With a bloody war going on and now this!!!

Yemen braces for locust ‘plague’
SciDev.Net: The ongoing civil war and the need to protect the bee industry make it difficult to use insecticides




Adult desert locusts can withstand extreme heat and drought, and travel up to 150km a day. Photograph: Jim Hollander/EPA
SciDev.Net, part of the Guardian Environment Network

Tuesday 26 April 2016 11.36 EDT
Yemen is bracing itself for a “locust plague” that scientists are unable to stop due to fears that any intervention would also kill bees that are vital to its economy.

The country’s Desert Locust Control Centre issued a warning on 18 April that many desert locusts in the country had reached their flying adult phase, while the remaining juveniles could do likewise in a matter of weeks.

The centre says control efforts this month, especially in the southern coastal province of Shabwah, have largely failed. Yemen is already struggling under the weight of civil war, which has made many affected areas unsafe.

Continue reading at:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/26

locusts----roasted and dipped in honey (a significant 'industry' in Yemen) make a delicious lunch (so I have
been told) Mexico is now doing LOCUST TACOS
Locusts are available commercially -----Yemen should take advantage of the NEW TACO thing

 

[waltky]

possum loves fried locust...

... with peanut butter an' honey.

 

[irosie91]

possum loves fried locust...

... with peanut butter an' honey.

sounds sorta good too. I think I would prefer it without the peanut butter if I ever decide to indulge

 

[Sally]

possum loves fried locust...

... with peanut butter an' honey.

sounds sorta good too. I think I would prefer it without the peanut butter if I ever decide to indulge

I don't think I am up to eating locusts, but to each his own. In the film Mondo Cane, the last scene had people eating chocolate covered cockroaches at the Four Seasons in New Yorik. However, this would be great if it could be done.

Navy grants $750,000 to develop bomb-sniffing locusts

Navy grants $750,000 to develop bomb-sniffing locusts?

 

[Roudy]

With a bloody war going on and now this!!!

Yemen braces for locust ‘plague’
SciDev.Net: The ongoing civil war and the need to protect the bee industry make it difficult to use insecticides




Adult desert locusts can withstand extreme heat and drought, and travel up to 150km a day. Photograph: Jim Hollander/EPA
SciDev.Net, part of the Guardian Environment Network

Tuesday 26 April 2016 11.36 EDT
Yemen is bracing itself for a “locust plague” that scientists are unable to stop due to fears that any intervention would also kill bees that are vital to its economy.

The country’s Desert Locust Control Centre issued a warning on 18 April that many desert locusts in the country had reached their flying adult phase, while the remaining juveniles could do likewise in a matter of weeks.

The centre says control efforts this month, especially in the southern coastal province of Shabwah, have largely failed. Yemen is already struggling under the weight of civil war, which has made many affected areas unsafe.

Continue reading at:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/26

Speaking of locusts, a friend of mine told me about this yesterday and I thought it was not only interesting but hilarious:

Kosher locust - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kosher locust
Kosher locust

Halakhic texts relating to this article
Torah: Leviticus 11:22
Mishnah: Chullin 59a
Babylonian Talmud: Chullin 65a-66b and Avodah Zarah 37a
Shulchan Aruch: Yoreh De'ah 85
Other rabbinic codes: Exodus Rabbah 13:7
Kosher locusts are varieties of locust deemed permissible for consumption under the laws of kashrut (Jewish dietary law). While the consumption of most insects is considered to be forbidden under the laws of kashrut, the rabbis of the Talmud identified four kosher species of locust. However, the identity of those species is in dispute.

Source in the Torah
The Torah states in Shemini, the 26th weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading:[citation needed]

"Every flying insect that uses four legs for walking shall be avoided by you. The only flying insects with four walking legs you may eat are those with knees extending above their feet, [using these longer legs] to hop on the ground. Among these you may only eat members of the red locust family, the yellow locust family, the spotted gray locust family and the white locust family. All other flying insects with four feet [for walking] must be avoided by you." –Leviticus 11:20-23

 

[irosie91]

roasted and dipped in honey -----YUM

 

[Roudy]

No different than escargot.

 

[irosie91]

No different than escargot.

much better----one need not DIG them out of a shell with a
special little fork

 

[Roudy]

You actually had them? Wow. There's a Vietnamese / Thai infusion gourmet restaurant in my area that serves crickets and African ants. I've always wanted to try it but back off when those that I'm dining with look at me like I'm nuts.

 

[irosie91]

You actually had them? Wow. There's a Vietnamese / Thai infusion gourmet restaurant in my area that serves crickets and African ants. I've always wanted to try it but back off when those that I'm dining with look at me like I'm nuts.

had what----which bug? the escargot or the grasshoppers?----
I saw the escargot ---BEING EATEN------the grasshoppers--
hubby is pretty sure his dad did hoppers----:fried maybe

yes----you are nuts

 

[irosie91]

You actually had them? Wow. There's a Vietnamese / Thai infusion gourmet restaurant in my area that serves crickets and African ants. I've always wanted to try it but back off when those that I'm dining with look at me like I'm nuts.

I read somewhere----(can't remember---where--senior moment)
that MEXICO is making a business of selling packaged
edible hoppers. I do not know if the Mexican variety are
kosher. A BRILLIANT BUSINESS PROPOSAL------
now that sushi makes it to bar mitzvah parties-----
~~~~~ are you ready????~~~~

******KOSHER GRASSHOPPER TACOS!!!!!*****
we will need someone to supervise the cooking and
packaging------and stamp them as such. Should I talk
to Donald Trump?-----perhaps his daughter would be
interested in this business venture-----

 

[Roudy]

You actually had them? Wow. There's a Vietnamese / Thai infusion gourmet restaurant in my area that serves crickets and African ants. I've always wanted to try it but back off when those that I'm dining with look at me like I'm nuts.

I read somewhere----(can't remember---where--senior moment)
that MEXICO is making a business of selling packaged
edible hoppers. I do not know if the Mexican variety are
kosher. A BRILLIANT BUSINESS PROPOSAL------
now that sushi makes it to bar mitzvah parties-----
~~~~~ are you ready????~~~~

******KOSHER GRASSHOPPER TACOS!!!!!*****
we will need someone to supervise the cooking and
packaging------and stamp them as such. Should I talk
to Donald Trump?-----perhaps his daughter would be
interested in this business venture-----

Great idea. I'm not really interested in the Kosher aspect because the only thing I stay away from is pork. It's just that it's interesting that ocean insects such shrimp, crabs, lobster, and my favorite...octopus are not kosher, yet some species of land insects such as locusts are. I assume it has to do with the local population of ancient Egypt including the ancient Hebrews being exposed and having them as part of their diet.

In other words, Jews can have their plague and eat it too! Ha ha ha.

 

[irosie91]

You actually had them? Wow. There's a Vietnamese / Thai infusion gourmet restaurant in my area that serves crickets and African ants. I've always wanted to try it but back off when those that I'm dining with look at me like I'm nuts.

I read somewhere----(can't remember---where--senior moment)
that MEXICO is making a business of selling packaged
edible hoppers. I do not know if the Mexican variety are
kosher. A BRILLIANT BUSINESS PROPOSAL------
now that sushi makes it to bar mitzvah parties-----
~~~~~ are you ready????~~~~

******KOSHER GRASSHOPPER TACOS!!!!!*****
we will need someone to supervise the cooking and
packaging------and stamp them as such. Should I talk
to Donald Trump?-----perhaps his daughter would be
interested in this business venture-----

Great idea. I'm not really interested in the Kosher aspect because the only thing I stay away from is pork. It's just that it's interesting that ocean insects such shrimp, crabs, lobster, and my favorite...octopus are not kosher, yet some species of land insects such as locusts are. I assume it has to do with the local population of ancient Egypt including the ancient Hebrews being exposed and having them as part of their diet.

In other words, Jews can have their plague and eat it too! Ha ha ha.

locusts in YEMEN are a blessing in disguise-----they are STARVING there (I mean the people-----unfortunately the
Locusts are also very hungry----------you eat octopus???
<yuck> as to shrimp---that was a mistake----they do have tiny fins and scales---somewhere---they probably chew cud too----or they may be---plants---like little flowers )
Getting back to the kosher market------there is BIG TIME
trade in things needed for celebrations-----bris --bug tacos,
-----even shiva bug snacks. ----falafel with a grasshopper
center.-------the big question is-----are they pareve?

 

[Roudy]

You actually had them? Wow. There's a Vietnamese / Thai infusion gourmet restaurant in my area that serves crickets and African ants. I've always wanted to try it but back off when those that I'm dining with look at me like I'm nuts.

I read somewhere----(can't remember---where--senior moment)
that MEXICO is making a business of selling packaged
edible hoppers. I do not know if the Mexican variety are
kosher. A BRILLIANT BUSINESS PROPOSAL------
now that sushi makes it to bar mitzvah parties-----
~~~~~ are you ready????~~~~

******KOSHER GRASSHOPPER TACOS!!!!!*****
we will need someone to supervise the cooking and
packaging------and stamp them as such. Should I talk
to Donald Trump?-----perhaps his daughter would be
interested in this business venture-----

Great idea. I'm not really interested in the Kosher aspect because the only thing I stay away from is pork. It's just that it's interesting that ocean insects such shrimp, crabs, lobster, and my favorite...octopus are not kosher, yet some species of land insects such as locusts are. I assume it has to do with the local population of ancient Egypt including the ancient Hebrews being exposed and having them as part of their diet.

In other words, Jews can have their plague and eat it too! Ha ha ha.

locusts in YEMEN are a blessing in disguise-----they are STARVING there (I mean the people-----unfortunately the
Locusts are also very hungry----------you eat octopus???
<yuck> as to shrimp---that was a mistake----they do have tiny fins and scales---somewhere---they probably chew cud too----or they may be---plants---like little flowers )
Getting back to the kosher market------there is BIG TIME
trade in things needed for celebrations-----bris --bug tacos,
-----even shiva bug snacks. ----falafel with a grasshopper
center.-------the big question is-----are they pareve?

I have the tenderized baby octopus done Italian style with olive oil and herbs and spices. I would assume the trick with the locusts is the same with escargot snails, disguise what it is by serving it in a fancy plate with little slots that have them buried in sauce. Ha ha ha.