Blog - Page 131 of 402 - Peninsula 360 Press

Eagle Pass has been invaded, and not by immigrants

Peter Schurmann

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2023.08.18

The once quiet Texas town of Eagle Pass has been overrun by a swarm of agents and officers as part of Governor Greg Abbott's war on immigrants at the southern border of the United States.

This once quiet town is now awash with border agents, police and soldiers, a result of the Texas governor's war on immigrants.

“When you approach Eagle Pass from San Antonio, there’s nothing for miles around… and then you hear the helicopters.”

That's how Ortiz describes the small Texas town that has now become a flashpoint in the ongoing fight over immigration policy. What was once "a town of passage," Ortiz says, has now been overrun, and not by immigrants.

“Everywhere you look you see police, border agents, soldiers,” says Ortiz, who describes setting up his laptop at a local Starbucks to attend a press conference on the situation at the border. “It was full of police and agents. So I had to sit outside,” he explains.

The scene Ortiz describes is the result of Governor Abbott's increasingly brutal policies aimed at stemming the flow of migrants arriving at the southern border, most of whom are women, children, mothers and fathers fleeing dire conditions in their home countries.

Manuel Ortiz, a sociologist, journalist and documentary filmmaker for Ethnic Media Services and Peninsula 360 Press, reports that even those who favor strong border security find Governor Abbot's new policies too extreme.

Ortiz’s photos, taken during a recent trip to the region, paint a bleak picture of the hope and desperation driving migrants on one side and the brutal measures championed by officials including Abbott and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis on the other. Floating spiked barriers, buzzsaws and barbed wire line stretches of the Rio Grande separating Eagle Pass from Piedras Negras on the Mexican side, while around the scorched ground lies the detritus of passing migrants: tattered shoes, empty water bottles.

An exhausted three-year-old boy looks up at a state trooper, while his father and mother, their faces sunburned, crouch in the shade of a tree and assure him that they will bring him food. They wait, hopeful but uncertain.

This is a community with deep, historic ties that transcend the border, Ortiz says, ties that won’t be severed by floating death traps and barbed wire — images one would normally associate with places like the DMZ separating North and South Korea. In fact, he says, Eagle Pass residents are fighting back, with even former Abbot supporters now saying his policies have gone too far.

People like Jessie Fuentes, who runs a kayaking business in Eagle Pass, or Mother Isabel Turcio, director of Casa Frontera Digna in Piedras Negras — which shelters and feeds up to 100 migrants a day — are organizing to protest measures they call inhumane; measures that inflict bodily harm on exhausted and impoverished people who — like generations before them — were seeking refuge, safety and a chance at a better life in the United States.

“This country was built by immigrants,” Ortiz says. “And what Abbot is doing is treating immigrants as enemies. He is waging a war against immigrants, who are the very people who built this country.”

Floating barriers topped with spikes and interspersed with circular saw blades line stretches of the Rio Grande River that separate Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico. The barriers, which were recently linked to the discovery of two bodies, are part of increasingly harsh measures being taken by Texas Gov. Greg Abbot. (Credit: Manuel Ortiz)

Many of the migrants are women, children, mothers and fathers. According to Ortiz, they arrive full of hope, after arduous journeys, believing that once on U.S. soil they will find refuge, which is often not a given, as many are detained and deported within 24 hours, while others face arrest on trespassing charges, are jailed for up to two weeks and then sent back across the border. (Credit: Manuel Ortiz)

“When people cross the river, sometimes they lose their shoes,” Ortiz says. “I saw migrants with only one shoe or no shoes at all. So, I started taking pictures of what people leave behind on the road. Sometimes the shoes are so worn out… migrants find other ones along the way. There are face masks and water bottles. There are a lot of shoes.” (Credit: Manuel Ortiz)

Mother Isabel Turcio runs Casa Frontera Digna Piedras Negras, a shelter that shelters and feeds up to 100 migrants a day. Turcio joined a vigil in Eagle Pass held just 6 or 10 feet from the Rio Grande. Participants placed white flowers in honor of those who died crossing the river. “This is what the border looks like,” Ortiz says. “It’s ugly.” (Credit: Manuel Ortiz)

Eagle Pass residents hold signs reading Rest in Peace, in honor of Felecita Lucrecia, who died trying to cross the border. “It’s a tricky river,” Ortiz says — shallow in parts, but with riptides and places where the depth can suddenly change. Migrants can sometimes succumb to heat stroke while crossing, while Abbot’s barriers are in shallower sections, forcing migrants to cross in deeper water. (Credit: Manuel Ortiz)

Few people in Eagle Pass advocate for open borders, Ortiz says. But there is a “difference between a controlled border and the war zone that exists now.” The army of agents and officers, he adds, are not there to stop drug traffickers, they are there to intimidate children, mothers, fathers… and the aggression is not only against migrants, people in Eagle Pass are also being affected. (Credit: Manuel Ortiz)

This family is from Ecuador, the only migrants Ortiz met from that country. (Most, he says, were Venezuelan.) They told Ortiz they traveled 26 days to reach the U.S. border. The boy is 3 years old. He was so hungry and thirsty, Ortiz explained, adding that the parents told him how U.S. border agents threw water bottles at them as they crossed the river. The empty bottles are visible on the father’s side. Above them stands a Texas State Police officer, watching them as they wait for border agents to arrive. The family was arrested for trespassing, Ortiz says. (Credit: Manuel Ortiz)

This note was originally published on Ethnic Media Services, and you can check it by clicking here.

This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, ayou administeredred by the CaliFornia State Library.

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James Lick High School closed after stabbing that injured 2 students

Peninsula 360 Press

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2023.08.17

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James Lick High School closed after stabbing that injured 2 students

By Bay City News.

James Lick High School in San Jose is closed Thursday after a stabbing that injured two students, police said.

The stabbing was reported around 11:25 a.m. at the school on North White Road. The suspect or suspects fled before officers arrived, and the two students who were stabbed were taken to a hospital, according to San Jose police.

Information about the students' injuries and suspect details were not immediately available.

Police said shortly after noon that the school was on lockdown and people should avoid the area while the investigation is underway.

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40% of Californians were left without Medi-Cal for not renewing, but you still have time

sandra martinez

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2023.08.17

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40% of Californians were left without Medi-Cal for not renewing, but you still have time

More than 15 million residents, approximately 40 percent of Californians, are left without Medi-Cal, losing their free or low-cost health coverage for not renewing, a process that faces problems with language, access to information and difficulty in contacting interested parties, showing an unfavorable scenario that would leave millions of people without medical protection.

The state health insurance program Medi-Cal, generally The plan reviews the eligibility of members every year, but that process was stopped during the pandemic by order of the federal government. However, it was resumed in the spring, asking people to renew their applications to continue with their medical service, with a period of 90 days starting on July 1.

Most of those who lost their Medi-Cal did so because they did not renew even if they were candidates for the service, with misinformation being the most worrying problem. In light of this, Ethnic Media Services organized a press conference with staff from California Department of Health Services and covered california, as well as some organizations involved, with the aim of supporting people who have not yet renewed.

Yingjia Huang, deputy director of health benefits and eligibility at the Department of Health Services, talked about the measures being taken to support those who need to renew their application.

In this regard, he explained that in California 21 percent of the default members have disaffiliated, because they have not returned the yellow envelope package that they are sent. There are already approximately 225 thousand people who have not renewed, but they have until September 30 to send the envelope and process their renewal without problems.

Those who can no longer renew have some alternatives so that they do not run out of their Medi-Cal service. There are options for the whole family and there are agreements with educational centers that facilitate access to this service.

«If you lost coverage in June, you still have 90 days to be reinstated and you have to return the package, please look for the package, we will talk to you, also check your email, we are calling you. We are waiting the remaining months for the cancellation process, while we look for a way for our members not to be left without coverage, we are doing everything we can, we continue to work with our community partners to make this happen.", he said Yingjia Huang expressed concern for people who have not yet submitted their documents.

Jessica Altman, CEO of Covered California, explained the process and the support available to help all communities renew their coverage.

Coverage depends on a number of things, such as a person's employment and income, which is why options are sought for people who want to keep their Medi-Cal, such as support to cover payments and make them lower, or even keep them for free.

Most of those losing Medi-Cal are covered by Covered California, and a third of them found they will pay nothing each month, while 90 percent of people pay $10 or less for their health insurance, thanks to a new program.

The transition from Medi-Cal to Covered California is intended to be easy, but the reality is that there are many problems. Contact must be made with those who do not speak English and support must be provided for different languages. Support is also available on various digital platforms that are available in a few languages and do not take dialects into account so that everyone has access to this information.

«We want all communities to know that we will continue to support everyone, we want everyone to receive information, no matter their language or their situation, so that they have access to the information they need for this process and thus receive all the help.", he pointed out.

Louise McCarthy, CEO of the Community Clinic Association of LA County, explained that her work and the coalition of centers in Los Angeles County are important to the community, with 113 organizations across the county, 400 offices serving 1.89 million people in the city, 60 percent of whom are on Medi-Cal.

Health centres are working to help their patients in every way possible, implementing different ways of reaching out to the community to provide them with information and support them in their renewal process.

This situation is of utmost importance, as there are people who are undergoing treatment for dangerous diseases that cannot be stopped, and losing their membership would put their lives at risk.

«There is a new resource: an additional $60 million to the budget that will support membership in nonprofit organizations. The state wants to distribute that quickly to help organizations and the community, because our vision is for our patients to keep the medical access they already have.", he commented

Rosario Arreola Pro, chief operating officer of the California Rural Indian Health Board, which represents 19 tribal clinics and 59 tribes across California, noted that 30 to 60 percent of patients in tribes are Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

Many people who belong to these groups need medical services, from mental health to dental or specialized services, but now during the determination process, it is estimated that 1 in 5 beneficiaries will lose their service due to changes in jobs or simply for not renewing.

«We are sending messages, we have people in the field, we also have community health workers, including people who send their documents due to lack of time, but we are depending on the registration at the clinic.", he shared Rosario Arreola faced with the worrying situation of not being able to help more people without documentation.

Dr. Seciah Aquino of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California shared her vision with the organization that represents more than 40 percent of the California population, which is around 16 million Latinos.

According to the data shared, of the people who have been discharged, 52.5 percent are Latino, approximately 117,849 people, so Medi-Cal is a way to provide security and it is very important that the community is registered.

«It has been important for us to communicate these logistics, because many know what we are talking about, but do not know how to carry out their procedures or how to make it possible.", he said.

For associations, communication has been key in recent months. They seek to be heard through text messages, emails, letters to their homes and in a personal way with direct contact.

«I come from a public health background, and from that perspective we need to think about systems that will keep people covered. We have seen that at the federal level the support was to keep these people covered through complete systems, in reality, this is an investment, not only in our health but in our economy, when we keep people healthy, we keep our economy healthy.», he stated.

For Mayra Alvarez, president of Children's Partnership, children will be among the most affected sectors if Medi-Cal is lost: 15 million people have this insurance, but 60 percent of children in California are covered by it and, of those, approximately 70 percent are children of color, so keeping the service available is a priority.

During this process, it is estimated that 2.3 million people could lose coverage, so people must first be understood in order to then be able to help them in their process. Only in this way will it be possible to combat those barriers that prevent people from maintaining their health coverage.

«We are here to make sure that you as our partners do not lose communication with our families, we can give you the information so you do not lose your medical service.».

The time is now, do not miss your medical service, at some point you will regret it, go to any of the options that offer full support and do not let more time pass.

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Government of Mexico confirms the death of two Mexicans by fires in Maui

Pamela Cruz

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2023.08.17

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Government of Mexico confirms the death of two Mexicans by fires in Maui

Image: Department of Land and Natural Resources

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico ‒SRE‒, informó sobre el lamentable fallecimiento de dos mexicanos por incendios en Maui, en Hawái, por la que expresó su más sentido pésame a familiares y amistades.

Personal del Consulado General de México en San Francisco que se encuentra en la isla ya está en contacto con las familias para brindarles la asistencia y el acompañamiento necesarios, informaron las autoridades de México.

De igual forma, detallaron que ya están en comunicación con las autoridades locales para confirmar los procedimientos y protocolos a seguir, a partir de la situación de emergencia que todavía permea en la isla.

Personal del Consulado General se encuentra en Maui desde el pasado sábado 12 de agosto, para brindarles atención directa, emitir pasaportes de emergencia y otros documentos de identidad, así como orientarlas y canalizarlas a los recursos que las autoridades estadounidenses responsables están brindando.

También se ha puesto a disposición de la comunidad el teléfono del Centro de Información y Atención a Personas Mexicanas ‒CIAM‒, que opera las 24 horas, los siete días de la semana: +1(520)623-7874.

«El Gobierno de México reitera su compromiso y prioridad de brindar asistencia y protección consular integral a las personas mexicanas en Maui, y transmite sus condolencias a las familias afectadas», precisó la SRE en un comunicado.

Hasta el martes 15 de agosto, el número de muertes confirmadas por las autoridades de Maui fue de 106. La policía local identificó a dos de ellos como Robert Dyckman, de 74 años, y Buddy Jantoc, de 79, ambos de Lahaina.

Otros tres han sido identificados, y la policía dijo que sus nombres se darán a conocer cuando se notifique a sus familias. Para proporcionar muestras de ADN para ayudar en la identificación, los miembros de la familia pueden ir al Centro de Asistencia Familiar, que está abierto todos los días de 10:00 a 20:00 horas en el Centro Comunitario Kahului.

Puesto que continúan los incendios los incendios provocados por el Huracan Dora, en Maui, las autorides mexicanas solicitaron a los connacionales seguir las instrucciones dadas por las autoridades locales, y en caso de requerir asistencia consular, contactar a través la Consulado de México en San Francisco a través de su cuenta de X, Facebook o Instagram, @ConsulmexSFO, al teléfono 650 501 7915, o por medio del correo electrónico consfrancisco@sre.gob.mx.

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Newsom Seeks Constitutional Security Amendment

Pamela Cruz

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2023.08.15

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Newsom Seeks Constitutional Security Amendment

Newsom Proposes Right to Security Amendment — Capture of video Posted on X's account of the California Governor's Office.

The governor's proposal Gavin Newsom de la enmienda del Derecho a la Seguridad a la Constitución de los Estados Unidos que busca garantizar que los representantes electos del pueblo puedan determinar qué leyes de seguridad de armas son apropiadas para sus comunidades, fue presentada como una resolución conjunta en la Legislatura de California.

La Enmienda del Derecho a la Seguridad busca elevar la edad mínima para comprar un arma de 18 a 21 años, exigir verificaciones universales de antecedentes, instituir un período de espera para todas las compras de armas y prohibir los rifles de asalto para los civiles, dejando intacta la Segunda Enmienda.

Además, la enmienda afirmaría que el Congreso, los estados y los gobiernos locales, pueden promulgar leyes de seguridad de armas de sentido común que salven vidas.

«En el tiempo que llevará aprobar nuestra Resolución sobre el derecho a la seguridad que pide una convención constitucional, más estadounidenses perderán la vida a causa de la violencia armada que los que murieron el 11 de septiembre», dijo el gobernador Newsom. «¿Cuántas vidas más deben perderse antes de que actuemos? En California, con la ayuda de la Legislatura, estamos brindando un camino hacia una América más segura».

La senadora Aisha Wahab y el asambleísta Reggie Jones-Sawyer, fueron quienes introdujeron la Resolución Senatorial Conjunta 7 en el Senado del Estado de California, que es el primer paso para la adopción de una enmienda constitucional.

La resolución conjunta exige una convención, también conocida como Convención del Artículo V o convención de enmienda, un método para proponer enmiendas a la Constitución de los Estados Unidos. De aprobarse la resolución, California se convertiría en el primer estado de la nación en convocar dicha convención.

«Como alguien que valora tanto la Segunda Enmienda como que ha experimentado personalmente el impacto de la violencia armada, me enorgullece asociarme con el gobernador Gavin Newsom en la Resolución del derecho a la seguridad», dijo la senadora Wahab.

«Juntos, abogamos por medidas racionales y responsables con respecto a las regulaciones de armas de fuego, defendiendo la memoria de todas las personas que han perdido la vida o se han visto profundamente afectadas por las trágicas consecuencias de la violencia armada», agregó.

Por su parte, Jones-Sawyer refirió que «la propuesta del Derecho a la Seguridad activa una discusión nacional real sobre la violencia armada y da a todos los estadounidenses una voz para determinar si continuamos por un camino que ve a estadounidenses inocentes masacrados por armas de guerra, o si elegimos medidas sensatas de control de armas sin infringir el Segunda Enmienda».

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Authorities ask for help in locating sex offender in Millbrae

Peninsula 360 Press

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2023.08.15

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Authorities ask for help in locating sex offender in Millbrae

sex offender in Millbrae — Photo: San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Account of X

La Oficina del Sheriff del condado de San Mateo ha solicitado la ayuda de la comunidad para localizar a un agresor sexual en Millbrae, que cometió un ataque el pasado domingo.

And it is that, on August 13, 2023, around 7:35 p.m., San Mateo County Sheriff's agents were sent to the Spur Trail along Millbrae Avenue.

Una víctima femenina de 28 años de edad que caminaba por el sendero fue abordada por un sospechoso desconocido, descrito como un hombre hispano de unos 30 años de edad y de pie a unos 5’7″ de altura, se acercó a la víctima por detrás y la manoseó. A continuación, el sospechoso huyó del lugar en una bicicleta de montaña negra, en dirección a South Ashton Avenue.

Photo: San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Account of X

Tras el reporte, inmediatamente se llevó a cabo una búsqueda exhaustiva en la zona para intentar localizar al sospechoso. Lamentablemente, el intento no dio como resultado la detención de éste, informó en un comunicado la Oficina del Sheriff del condado de San Mateo.

Las autoridades señalaron que, en respuesta a este incidente, se han incrementado las patrullas en esta zona.

Este incidente sigue bajo investigación activa, por lo que los agentes buscan activamente cualquier información que pueda ayudar a identificar y localizar al sospechoso.

Si usted tiene cualquier conocimiento relacionado con este incidente, por favor póngase en contacto con la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de San Mateo al 650-363-4008. Además, las pistas anónimas se pueden proporcionar a través de la línea de Anonymous Tip al 1-800-547-2700.

Portrait shared by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office

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Mexican government reinforces consular protection in Eagle Pass, Texas

Pamela Cruz

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2023.08.15

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Mexican government reinforces consular protection in Eagle Pass, Texas

Con la finalidad de reforzar la protección consular en Eagle Pass, Texas, la directora general de Protección y Planeación Estratégica de la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores de México, Vanessa Calva Ruiz, held meetings with US authorities in said border area.

Acompañada de la cónsul de México en Eagle Pass, Vívian Juárez Mondragón, y del equipo del Departamento de Protección del consulado, la funcionaria mexicana se reunió con personal de Homeland Security Investigations, con quienes se abordaron temas de tráfico de personas migrantes, trata de personas y pornografía infantil.

La cancillería mexicana precisó que se llevaron a cabo trabajos con el Instituto Nacional de Migración en Piedras Negras, incluyendo al Grupo Beta y al Departamento de Repatriación Humana, además con el municipio de Piedras Negras, con quienes se compartió información sobre programas y estrategias de protección a personas mexicanas en el exterior, flujos migratorios, repatriaciones de personas vulnerables y menores no acompañados.

Como parte de la coordinación de programas de protección consular y con el fin de intercambiar buenas prácticas, también se sostuvo un encuentro con personal diplomático y local de los consulados de México en Eagle Pass, Del Río y Laredo, destacó la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores de México ‒SRE‒.

Asimismo, destacó que con autoridades de la Patrulla Fronteriza se visitó el Centro de Procesamiento Migratorio FireFly, en el condado de Maverick, y la Estación de Patrulla Fronteriza de Uvalde, Texas, para el procesamiento de menores no acompañados.

Sumado a ello, autoridades mexicanas sostuvieron una reunión de trabajo con el jefe interino de la Patrulla Fronteriza del Sector Del Río, donde se conversó sobre seguridad en la frontera y la situación de la migración fronteriza. Además, se efectuaron recorridos terrestres y en aerobote por la zona de las boyas en el río Bravo.

En su encuentro con el sheriff del condado de Maverick, la directora general Calva Ruiz conversó sobre la Operación «Lone Star» y violencia doméstica. Además de dialogar con el jefe interino de la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza ‒CBP‒ sobre el tránsito de migrantes por los puertos de entrada y el estado que guarda la aplicación CBP One.

Finalmente, dijo, se llevó a cabo una reunión con el concejal del Precinto #2 de la ciudad de Eagle Pass y presidente de la organización EP SAFE.

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Variant EG.5 worries doctors about the increase in COVID cases

sandra martinez

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2023.08.14

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Variant EG.5 worries doctors about the increase in COVID cases

El COVID-19 ha cobrado millones de vidas en todo el mundo, y la carrera de las vacunas se hizo presente por la necesidad de salvar a cuántas personas se pudiera. Hoy, la variante EG.5 está causando alrededor del 17 por ciento de los nuevos casos de la enfermedad en Estados Unidos, al tiempo que la Organización Mundial de la Salud –OMS– la identificó como una nueva variant «de interés».

During a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services, un grupo de especialistas abordó el tema ante el aumento de casos por COVID-19 impulsados por la nueva variante EG.5, que si bien no se ha llegado al número de pacientes correspondientes a la pandemia, las tasas de hospitalización aumentaron 12.5 por ciento en julio en todo el país, según las últimas estimaciones de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos –CDC, por sus siglas en inglés –.

El doctor Benjamin Neuman, profesor de biología y virólogo, compartió información sobre el EG.5: «es una variante que está esparciéndose rápidamente y es el hijo de muchas variantes, básicamente es otra versión del Ómicron. Tiene aproximadamente cien diferencias de la versión original y es necesario mencionar que el virus cambia constantemente. Contando de manera general, existen 30 mutaciones al año, lo que representa demasiadas variantes", he stressed.

En Estados Unidos, solo 17 por ciento de la población ha aceptado la nueva vacuna pese a que sigan apareciendo variantes y nuevos casos todo el tiempo. Para los expertos, es importante aplicarla, ya que el virus cambia de manera constante y el cuerpo debe mantenerse preparado, si los virus se actualizan, el sistema también debería hacerlo para combatirlo.

«De los estudios que tenemos ahora, las nuevas variantes son bastantes parecidas y la vacuna de este año parece funcionar muy bien con todas éstas», puntualizó el profesor neumann.

Por su parte, el doctor Peter Chin-Hong, decano asociado de Campus Regionales y especialista en el tratamiento de enfermedades infecciosas, señaló que si bien es cierto que los casos actuales van en aumento debido a EG.5, no es nada comparado con los años anteriores, debido a que muchos ya contrajo la enfermedad y la mayoría se vacunó por lo menos una vez, lo que hace que la enfermedad sea menos letal.

Aunque la variante EG.5 parece ser una nueva amenaza, hoy se tienen las herramientas para tratarla: medicamentos y procedimientos que al principio no se tenían, permitiendo que los pacientes salgan de un cuadro de riesgo y se estabilicen de manera rápida o, incluso, con un tratamiento adecuado no llegar a ser hospitalizados, y en caso de ser necesario, su alta más rápida.

«La tragedia se puede prevenir, es reconocer que esas molestias de salud pueden ser COVID, porque el tiempo es dinero, y entre más pronto ustedes sepan que tienen la enfermedad es mejor, para poder tomar una acción y no esperar a que sea demasiado tarde».

Para el doctor William Schaffner, profesor de medicina preventiva y enfermedades infecciosas de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Vanderbilt, contar con medicamentos y diversas investigaciones por especialistas de muchas áreas, hoy en día es un gran alivio para la sociedad y no deben preocuparse de más por la variante EG.5.

El especialista recordó que al inicio de la pandemia nos enfrentamos a una enfermedad que no tenía estudios previos para conocer un tratamiento totalmente efectivo a diferencia del escenario actual de esta nueva variante.

Para garantizar que las personas se mantengan a salvo, es necesario cumplir con el esquema de vacunación recomendado, si bien no existe una vacuna específica para combatir la variante EG.5, las vacunas actuales son eficientes y este año, alrededor del mes de septiembre, saldrá la nueva vacuna.

Aunque anteriormente las personas se hayan aplicado una vacuna, deberán actualizarse con la nueva y, de ser necesario, implementar nuevamente las medidas de higiene.

«Esperamos que los agentes terapéuticos estén disponibles para cualquier persona que los necesita. Hoy el desafío será por las diferencias en el acceso a la atención médica, particularmente estamos preocupados por las comunidades que son minorías, estamos hablando de distintos idiomas, razas, etnias y ubicaciones rurales, todas estas cosas seguirán siendo un desafío mientras manejamos el COVID hacia el futuro», expresó el doctor Schaffner.

¿Qué se puede hacer ante la presencia de la nueva variante EG?5?

The EG.5 variant already fue agregada a la lista de monitoreo de la OMS, preocupando a toda la comunidad médica, puesto que is present in Irlanda, Francia, Reino Unido, Japón, China y otros países, dejando el cuestionamiento de qué medidas tomar.

Los especialistas hacen un llamado a no dejar de vacunarse, al ser esta la mejor medida de prevención, existen programas que son gratuitos para poder tener acceso a las vacunas, por lo que los costos no deberían ser un obstáculo para mantenerse al día con las vacunas.

También recomiendan hacerse una prueba antes de visitar a familiares y amigos que representen personas vulnerables como mujeres embarazadas y personas adultas.

Continuing with hygiene measures can reduce the risk of acquiring COVID.

El uso de la mascarilla en lugares cerrados es necesario si quieres cuidarte, más cuando este lugar se encuentra muy concurrido. Para los lugares externos no es necesario utilizarla, mientras logres mantener una distancia considerable entre las demás personas.

La prevención y atención médica ante cualquier sospecha es pieza clave para iniciar un tratamiento a tiempo y no llegar a un hospital cuando ya sea demasiado tarde.

Seguir con los cuidados de prevención será lo haga la diferencia ante la nueva variante EG.5, no se debe minimizar porque ya no es una pandemia, el cuidado y la atención de cada persona es lo que ha disminuido los riesgos de esta enfermedad anteriormente y ahora no debe ser la excepción.

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Without unity, there is no future for Guatemala

Opinion

Ramon Gonzalez Ponciano

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2023.08.14

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Without unity, there is no future for Guatemala

Although the bases of the leftist organizations are inclined towards Bernardo Arevalo, sus dirigencias han tardado mucho en pronunciarse y harían bien en dejar atrás las viejas tendencias sectarias y autoritarias, y llamar a la unidad nacional para no dejar solo a Semilla una vez obtenido el triunfo en las urnas.

Mientras tanto, ni con insultos homofóbicos, ni movilizando la doble moral de los pastores pentecostales, ni repartiendo dinero o bolsas con alimentos, podrá la candidata Sandra Torres displace Bernardo, who leads in the polls.

La autoproclamada «enviada de Dios», rehuyó participar en el debate convocado por la Asociación de Gerentes de Guatemala, y con malas palabras, mentiras, vallas panorámicas y propaganda en las radios, canales de televisión y la prensa, propiedad de la oligarquía, intenta acortar la distancia.

Por si no fuera suficiente, su compañero de fórmula, el pastor Romeo Guerra, tiene una formación intelectual precaria y ha dicho diversas mentiras, una de ellas, que fue parte de un proyecto de la NASA, mismas que han contribuido al hundimiento político de su partido y de su jefa.

La visita del secretario general de la desprestigiada Organización de Estados Americanos ‒OEA‒, Luis Almagro, no salió como ellos esperaban, y el principal compromiso pareciera ser entonces permitir la toma de posesión de Arévalo el próximo 14 de enero de 2024, pero inmediatamente la Corte de Constitucionalidad buscará destituirlo y suprimir la personería jurídica del partido Semilla.

Narcopolíticos, pastores, militares y oligarcas seguirán utilizando el litigio malicioso y la movilización de alcaldes y diputados afines para crear un estado de ingobernabilidad que incluye recurrir a técnicas usadas en tiempos de la contrainsurgencia. De allí la necesidad de sumar todas las fuerzas para lograr que en Guatemala comience una nueva primavera democrática.

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Santa Clara County leads electric car sales

Peninsula 360 Press

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2023.08.12

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By Annalize Freimarck. San Jose Spotlight.

Santa Clara County leads the way in electric car purchases as sales soar across the state.

More than 43 percent of new car purchases recorded in the county this year were zero-emission vehicles, the highest figure in the state, according to 2023 California Energy Commission data. Last year the county's share was 34 percent.

Laura Neish, executive director of 350 Bay Area, a grassroots climate organization, said she’s not surprised the county is leading the way in sales because Silicon Valley is “home to early adopters and tech enthusiasts.”

“The most important thing we can do right now is really accelerate the shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric versions,” Neish told San Jose Spotlight.

Neish is a proud electric car owner and said concerns about long-distance travel shouldn’t stop consumers from buying an electric car. He has driven his Volkswagen ID 4, which has a range of 275 miles per charge, from Santa Rosa to Portland, Oregon, which has more than 600 miles and charges along the way.

The average electric car can travel 100 to more than 400 miles on a single charge, depending on the make and model, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The average U.S. driver drives 37 miles per day and an estimated 13,500 miles per year, according to 2023 data from the Department of Transportation.

The most popular electric car in the county according to the CEC is a Tesla Model Y, which can go up to 330 miles on a single charge. The company has built a network of fast-charging infrastructure along major transportation arteries to support its vehicles.

In June, media outlets reported that Tesla’s network of charging stations is quickly becoming the standard, which would make it an easier and more attractive option for consumers buying any brand of electric vehicle. Currently, one of the deterrents is the lack of charging stations for long-distance road trips.

Teslas account for about 67 percent of new electric car sales in the county, about 12 percent higher than in the rest of the state, where they comprise about 55 percent of sales, according to CEC. The commission said it expects the trend to continue as electric car sales are encouraged.

“There is no compelling reason to think this will stop anytime soon,” CEC spokesperson Toan Lam told San Jose Spotlight.

By 2035, all new cars sold in the state must be electric due to a mandate issued by Newsom's office in 2020. The shift will be gradual: 35 percent of new cars sold in 2026 will be electric, 68 percent in 2030 and 100 percent in 2035.

Last year, San Jose incentivized zero-emission cars in disadvantaged and low-income areas, but also ended a decades-old parking incentive program that allowed electric cars to park for free. San Jose councilmembers voted unanimously to create a policy to eliminate the city’s minimum parking requirements for new developments in an effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The CEC said zero-emission vehicles are part of the solution to reducing emissions in the state, but it also wants to increase city designs that reduce car dependency. The state eliminated parking minimums for new developments near transit stations last year.

Neish said that while the increase in sales is a good start, he wants to see more tax breaks for electric car owners at the state level to boost sales and more legislation aimed at reducing emissions.

“Most cars on the road still burn fuel, and burning fuel creates not only climate change but many dangerous situations for our health,” he said. “Anything we can do to speed that up is a good thing.”

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