Precautions for tick-borne disease extend 'beyond Lyme'

Public release date: 7-Sep-2012
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Contact: Cheryl Dybas
cdybas@nsf.gov
703-292-7734
National Science Foundation

Save the tick that bites you: It may not be the one you think

This year's mild winter and early spring were a bonanza for tick populations in the eastern United States. Reports of tick-borne disease rose fast.

While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, new research results emphasize that it is not the greatest cause for concern in most Southeastern states.

The findings are published today in a paper in the journal Zoonoses and Public Health.

The majority of human-biting ticks in the North--members of the blacklegged tick species--cause Lyme disease, but these same ticks do not commonly bite humans south of mid-Virginia.

Biologist Graham Hickling of the University of Tennessee, co-author of the paper, says many patients in Southeastern states, who become sick from a tick-bite, assume they have Lyme disease, but the odds of that being the case are low.

"Ticks in the eastern U.S. collectively carry more than a dozen agents that can cause human disease," says Hickling.

"Here in Tennessee we regularly collect lone star ticks that test positive for Ehrlichia, [a tick-borne bacterial infection]. Lone stars are an aggressive species that account for most of the human bites that we see in this region. So ehrlichiosis has to be a big concern, yet most people have never heard of it."

In contrast, says Hickling, there have been no confirmed reports to date of the Lyme disease pathogen among the sparse populations of blacklegged ticks found in Tennessee.

"The Southeast is dominated by different tick species than the ones that attack humans in the North," says Ellen Stromdahl, an entomologist at the U.S. Army Public Health Command and lead author of the paper.

"The lone star tick is by far the most abundant tick in the Southeast, and which species of tick bites you is critical because different ticks carry different diseases. In the Southeast you are unlikely to be bitten by the blacklegged ticks that spread Lyme disease," Stromdahl says.

Most bites in the Southeast are from the tick species that spread spotted fever rickettsiosis and ehrlichiosis, but not Lyme disease.

A complicating factor for public health officials is that tick species are on the move, as wildlife populations, forest habitats and weather patterns change across the continent.

This spring the Tennessee Department of Health, for example, reported a 500 percent increase in tick-borne rickettsiosis.

"Identifying health risks in the face of changing climates will be critical in coming years," says Sam Scheiner, National Science Foundation program director for the joint NSF-National Institutes of Health Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) program, which funds Hickling's research.

At NSF, the EEID program is co-funded by the Directorates for Biological Sciences and Geosciences.

"This study will inform public health officials about what diseases are found in which areas," says Scheiner, "so they can minimize human health problems."

Hickling's work is also in collaboration with scientist Jean Tsao of Michigan State University and is part of an EEID project to identify the ecological factors leading to distributions of tick species and pathogens--in particular, where the Lyme disease tick and pathogen are found.

Lyme-infected blacklegged ticks are expanding south through Virginia, and lone star ticks are moving north, the scientists have found.

The bite of the lone star tick can create a bulls-eye rash that appears like that of Lyme disease, but the rash isn't caused by the Lyme bacteria.

The scientists say that this almost certainly leads to misdiagnosis of some patients in mid-Atlantic states, where both tick species are common.

The best way to distinguish Lyme from other tick-borne diseases is to be vigilant for tick bites, and whenever possible save any tick that manages to bite you, the biologists recommend. Store the tick in your freezer or in a vial of alcohol so it can be identified if you become ill.

In the Northeast, Lyme disease awareness campaigns have focused public attention on the nymphal blacklegged tick--which is responsible for most disease transmission and which is tinier than the adult form.

While nymphal blacklegged ticks and nymphal lone star ticks--which also bite humans--can be distinguished, the two are often confused by the public.

In one study, 13 of 20 patients reporting tick bites to physicians were given antibiotics on the assumption that they were at risk for Lyme disease, yet 53 of the 54 ticks removed from those same patients were lone star ticks, which do not spread Lyme disease.

"Where you live determines which tick species is likely to bite you," says Tsao, "and therefore which diseases you're most likely to contract."

The biologists say they are happy that recent treatment recommendations have begun to emphasize the importance of considering the tick species and its infection status as part of the diagnostic process.

Their advice: Stay open-minded about which tick-borne diseases are most common in your area--and save the tick that bites you.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 7-Sep-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Cheryl Dybas
cdybas@nsf.gov
703-292-7734
National Science Foundation

Save the tick that bites you: It may not be the one you think

This year's mild winter and early spring were a bonanza for tick populations in the eastern United States. Reports of tick-borne disease rose fast.

While Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, new research results emphasize that it is not the greatest cause for concern in most Southeastern states.

The findings are published today in a paper in the journal Zoonoses and Public Health.

The majority of human-biting ticks in the North--members of the blacklegged tick species--cause Lyme disease, but these same ticks do not commonly bite humans south of mid-Virginia.

Biologist Graham Hickling of the University of Tennessee, co-author of the paper, says many patients in Southeastern states, who become sick from a tick-bite, assume they have Lyme disease, but the odds of that being the case are low.

"Ticks in the eastern U.S. collectively carry more than a dozen agents that can cause human disease," says Hickling.

"Here in Tennessee we regularly collect lone star ticks that test positive for Ehrlichia, [a tick-borne bacterial infection]. Lone stars are an aggressive species that account for most of the human bites that we see in this region. So ehrlichiosis has to be a big concern, yet most people have never heard of it."

In contrast, says Hickling, there have been no confirmed reports to date of the Lyme disease pathogen among the sparse populations of blacklegged ticks found in Tennessee.

"The Southeast is dominated by different tick species than the ones that attack humans in the North," says Ellen Stromdahl, an entomologist at the U.S. Army Public Health Command and lead author of the paper.

"The lone star tick is by far the most abundant tick in the Southeast, and which species of tick bites you is critical because different ticks carry different diseases. In the Southeast you are unlikely to be bitten by the blacklegged ticks that spread Lyme disease," Stromdahl says.

Most bites in the Southeast are from the tick species that spread spotted fever rickettsiosis and ehrlichiosis, but not Lyme disease.

A complicating factor for public health officials is that tick species are on the move, as wildlife populations, forest habitats and weather patterns change across the continent.

This spring the Tennessee Department of Health, for example, reported a 500 percent increase in tick-borne rickettsiosis.

"Identifying health risks in the face of changing climates will be critical in coming years," says Sam Scheiner, National Science Foundation program director for the joint NSF-National Institutes of Health Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) program, which funds Hickling's research.

At NSF, the EEID program is co-funded by the Directorates for Biological Sciences and Geosciences.

"This study will inform public health officials about what diseases are found in which areas," says Scheiner, "so they can minimize human health problems."

Hickling's work is also in collaboration with scientist Jean Tsao of Michigan State University and is part of an EEID project to identify the ecological factors leading to distributions of tick species and pathogens--in particular, where the Lyme disease tick and pathogen are found.

Lyme-infected blacklegged ticks are expanding south through Virginia, and lone star ticks are moving north, the scientists have found.

The bite of the lone star tick can create a bulls-eye rash that appears like that of Lyme disease, but the rash isn't caused by the Lyme bacteria.

The scientists say that this almost certainly leads to misdiagnosis of some patients in mid-Atlantic states, where both tick species are common.

The best way to distinguish Lyme from other tick-borne diseases is to be vigilant for tick bites, and whenever possible save any tick that manages to bite you, the biologists recommend. Store the tick in your freezer or in a vial of alcohol so it can be identified if you become ill.

In the Northeast, Lyme disease awareness campaigns have focused public attention on the nymphal blacklegged tick--which is responsible for most disease transmission and which is tinier than the adult form.

While nymphal blacklegged ticks and nymphal lone star ticks--which also bite humans--can be distinguished, the two are often confused by the public.

In one study, 13 of 20 patients reporting tick bites to physicians were given antibiotics on the assumption that they were at risk for Lyme disease, yet 53 of the 54 ticks removed from those same patients were lone star ticks, which do not spread Lyme disease.

"Where you live determines which tick species is likely to bite you," says Tsao, "and therefore which diseases you're most likely to contract."

The biologists say they are happy that recent treatment recommendations have begun to emphasize the importance of considering the tick species and its infection status as part of the diagnostic process.

Their advice: Stay open-minded about which tick-borne diseases are most common in your area--and save the tick that bites you.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-09/nsf-pft090712.php

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Reality Check and Tips for the Job Search - Career Corner ...

Today's job market for teachers is very challenging. How much time are you prepared to spend on your job search? A few hours a week? A few minutes a day? Well, those who have been successful with their search tell us that it took 6-8 hours a day for many weeks before they obtained the job offer they were seeking. A job search is like a full-time job, reviewing job posting sites, attending job fairs, making phone calls, filling out applications, mailing resumes, sending e-mail messages and keeping good records. Just finding the teaching opportunities that match with your license will take many hours. This will require research techniques and perseverance to stay on task, focusing on the goal of landing your first teaching position.

You should plan to utilize many resources for your search. The internet is a great place to begin, but don't neglect other sources of information, namely your network. You know how that commercial goes "can you hear me now?" and "you are covered by the network." Well, use this same principle when working with your personal job search network. Stay connected with your network and rely on them for information, resources and referrals. In addition, register to use your university career center job posting system. Also, use commercial web sites like TopSchoolJobs.org for learning about teaching positions across the nation and around the world.

After learning about the job postings you will then need to fill out the teaching application forms. Before submitting your online application or mailing the printed form, print a copy for your records. You can not always depend on the systems to work properly and you don't want to waste time by needing to redo these forms. The copies of these forms will also be helpful when completing the next application.

Every part of this activity takes time. We know of a first year teacher from Ohio who began her search in February, filling out nearly 60 applications (all of them unique). Her search was fairly well targeted to three states. Even though she heard the job search is like a full-time job she told us that she was surprised at how much time she really had to invest into her search. However, thanks to her determination and persistence her efforts paid off and she accepted an offer in early July. Your search may not take six months, but don't be surprised if it takes longer than you assumed.

You too can be successful with your search, but it will require many hours of research, writing, e-mailing, and phone calls to make yourself known to the school districts that are hiring. Stay focused, develop a good plan, implement the plan, and keep your energy high as you persevere towards landing your first teaching position.

--Douglas Reichenberger
Director of Alumni Career Services
Malone University, on behalf of AAEE

Source: http://blogs.edweek.org/topschooljobs/careers/2012/09/reality_check_and_tips_for_the.html

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Long Distance Relationships Have Their Perks - Planet Love Match ...

9/6/2012 11:42 AM

?

Most of what you read about long distance relationships consists of advice for coping with the distance, or warnings about the difficulties of dealing with this sort of relationship. There?s another side of the coin that is often ignored: for certain people, in several appreciable ways, long distance relationships (often abbreviated as LDRs) can actually be better. They aren?t for everyone, and many couples won?t choose to keep their arrangement long distance forever, but, there are definite advantages to the LDR:

More Personal Autonomy

If you are an independent sort, a long distance relationship could be the perfect fit for you. In an LDR, you and your partner maintain separate residences and largely separate lives. Long distance couples get to each keep their apartments the way that they want. There?s no avoiding cooking certain meals because your SO doesn?t like them, or compromises on where to set the thermostat. For those who have strong preferences on how they like their personal space, having a committed SO who lives in another city can be a perfect fit.

Long distance can also work well for someone who works long hours or has a full social schedule. While either of these could eventually cause conflict in a relationship where couples expect to see more of each other, they?re perfect for those whose in-person meetings are rare.

Avoidance of the Day to Day Drag

Long distance relationships allow even long term couples to avoid the drudgery that can drag down even the most romantic relationship. Few long distance couples have to discuss issues like whose turn it is to take out the trash, or whether to order pizza again. The day to day administrative stuff that comes with a live in relationship can sometimes be a bit unromantic, as can dealing with one another?s less charming quirks. Couples in LDRs get to maintain a more idealized ?version of each other for a much longer span of time.

LDRs Mean Travel

Spending weekends away is fun, and so is showing off your city to someone from out of town. Long distance lovers often travel to each other?s towns, and, since they are in a new city, check out the best that that area has to offer. Other times, partners will choose to meet somewhere in the middle, offering a mini-vacation to you both.

LDRs Allow You to Keep Things Novel

Because you don?t see each other as often, the honeymoon phase in an LDR lasts longer. Novelty is a big part of infatuation, and the less frequent interaction keeps it new. Plus, when you only see each other once a month instead of once a week, each meeting is an exciting occasion. You tend to pick more exciting dates because you want to spend your time together wowing each other. LDRs feature a lot more fine dining and amusement park visits and far fewer nights spent eating take-out while going through the NetFlix queue. For those who are big on grand romance, a long distance arrangement definitely has its perks.?

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Source: http://blog.planetlovematch.com/post/Long-Distance-Relationships-Have-Their-Perks.aspx

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500 firefighters battle blaze in California wilderness

David Mcnew / Getty Images North America

U.S. Forest Service firefighters stand near flames at the Williams fire in the Angeles National Forest on Sept. 4, north of Glendora, Calif.

By NBC News staff and wire

A 3,600-acre fire in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles chewed through thick brush in steep terrain that hadn't burned in two decades.

The weather was hot and dry but there were no significant winds to whip or push the fire toward Los Angeles suburbs to the south.

Because of the terrain and warm temperatures, it could take a week to contain the blaze, Incident Commander James Smith of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection told the Associated Press. It had burned about 5 1/2 square miles by late Tuesday.?Containment was at 15 percent early Tuesday, NBCLosAngeles.com reported.

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About 500 firefighters and 21 firefighting aircraft were assigned to the fire. Crews were?protecting structures in the Camp Williams area, where?about 12,000 recreational campers were evacuated during the weekend. Many left camping items and vehicles at the site, and authorities plan to establish a phone number for campers to call so they can collect their property, NBCLosAngeles.com reported.

Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter??

Very dry conditions, with humidity below 10 percent, were forecast for the area all week and temperatures were expected to remain in the 80s and 90s, said National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford.?

The serious fire season in Southern California usually begins with the arrival of the Santa Ana winds, which peak in November and December. The Santa Anas are often linked to the most destructive wildfires, blowing out of the northeast and through mountain canyons and passes, driving flames into foothill suburbs.?

Jet Propulsion Laboratory climatologist William Patzert said the winds were the only factor absent from the current fire situation, because all the other major factors including drought and dense population already exist.?

Previous report: Wildfire in hills near Los Angeles could 'take several days' to contain

Southern California's population in 1950 was 4 million people, Patzert said, but today it is pushing 20 million and many people are living in areas that historically were considered fire corridors, he said.?

"The history of Southern California has been written in fires and other calamities. I think the population density and where we build and how we build has made it more frequent, more costly and more precarious," he said.?

The only thing you need to go with winds, overpopulation and a dry fuel load is ignition, Patzert said. Ninety percent of fires are human-caused, either intentional or accidental, he said.?

"With 20 million people in Southern California, there are always plenty of candidates. We seem to have our unfair share of wacko pyromaniacs," he said.?

Blazes in multiple states threaten houses and cause evacuations.

Brush clearance is one of the few things homeowners can do to help protect their homes, Patzert said. "It stands head and shoulders over everything else. You need a defensible area in a fire zone. It should be mandatory."?

Southern California's fire outlook for the fall and winter remains unclear.?

The NWS Climate Prediction Center issued a three-month outlook that shows no strong science suggesting hot or cold temperatures or high or low precipitation, Wofford said. "The prediction is very non-specific."?

On the San Gabriel Mountains fire front, a burned car was found in the area, but it was unknown if the car caused the fire or was destroyed by it.?

Watch the most-viewed videos on NBCNews.com

The blaze in popular San Gabriel Canyon brought an early halt to Labor Day weekend hiking and camping plans for as many as 12,000 people. But 25 residents of the nearby community of Camp Williams refused to leave.?

Kevin Brown, a gold prospector and Hollywood lighting technician who lives in Camp Williams, said he was scared when a sheriff's deputy knocked on his door Sunday.?

Brown looked at a weather report and decided to ignore the evacuation orders. The fire burned closest to the mobile homes and campsites late Monday, he said.?

"I sat up for hours in my picnic chair and my video camera just taping different sections of the fire raging," he said. "It was crazy, I had this whole fireworks show to myself in the middle of the night."?

Other residents appeared to be nonplussed by the fire.

Susan King-Morgan, 51, and her husband, Chuck Morgan, 68, sat casually on lawn chairs and watched as one helicopter after another dumped water on flames burning along a mountainside about half a mile from Camp Williams, their home for 10 years, the Los Angeles? Times reported. The couple declined to evacuate, as they have done for three previous fires, they said.

In Northern California, several fires broke out Tuesday, including one in Colusa County north of Sacramento that had surged to 1,000 acres and forced the closure of Highway 16. A 200-acre spot fire broke out about three miles away.?

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/05/13681591-500-firefighters-face-steep-dry-terrain-to-battle-blaze-in-california-wilderness?lite

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QUALITY SWIMMING POOLS AND OUTDOOR LIVING ...

Owing a swimming pool offers luxury and lushness in abundance. Pools increase the value of a home being a great source of enjoyment for you and for your family. You can relax as well as have fun whenever you want in your own residential swimming pool. Pools are the best means for refreshment and exercise. Having such a facility installed in your home is a chance of a lifetime. Swimming pools can be built in homes, hotels, spas, resorts and recreation centers for variety of purposes. There are above-ground or in-ground models that can be made from different types of materials. No doubt, building and maintaining a pool can prove to be quite expensive but just think of all the benefits and lavishness that come with it.

There are many companies? now-a-days offering pool building and pool renovations in Houston, Texas. They are the leading builders and designers of the most innovative and aesthetically pleasing custom gunite pools and spas. Their experience and expertise provide residential and commercial owners with amazing pool designs and high quality constructions in reasonable prices. They offer:

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The well-skilled workers with their level of knowledge create such exclusive piece of works that will be unmatched throughout the industry. They offer regular cleaning, maintaining and repairing services for your swimming pools. They have a team of lenders providing pool loans with little or no equity. They are also the experts of changing exterior living spaces of your homes which is underutilized into stunning Outdoor living areas. This area can be utilized according to the space available; exterior living spaces can be a great extension if done with proper planning. They work on a single project at a time offering their entire dedication to the work.

There are so many things that you can do to your outdoor area in order to improve its appearance and make it look more inviting. People love to spend some of their time in seclusion, enjoying a touch of nature. It can be made possible allowing you do many other things like throwing parties, playing with your kids, friends and family get-together and much more. They offer wide range of options for recreating your outdoor living areas, such as:

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With magnificently designed and built outdoor living areas, you can surely spent and enjoy some time from your hectic day in your outdoor structures. Landscaping helps in beautifying swimming pool and the other surrounding areas. Conscious planning and arrangement of your outdoor space will result in titivating ambience. They offer excellent and friendly services providing 100% customer satisfaction. Contact them online and they will cater to all your needs and preferences.

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Source: http://articlebro.com/2012/home-family/home-improvement/quality-swimming-pools-and-outdoor-living-constructions-in-houston/

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Bullfights back on Spanish public TV after ban

A TV camera films during a bullfight in Valladolid, Spain Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012. Bullfights returned live to Spanish state TV Wednesday evening, six years after the fights were banned from the widely watched public channel with the broadcast featuring one of Spain?s most storied bullfighters and giving a boost to a tradition hit hard by declining popularity and a dire economic crisis. The RTVE broadcast from the northern city of Valladolid is a big victory for pro-bullfighting forces that saw bullfighting banned altogether this year in the northeastern region of Catalonia; it?s a defeat for animal rights activists who denounce bullfighting as barbaric. The transmissions were halted in 2006 by Spain?s previous Socialist administration, which said they were costly and coincided with key TV viewing hours for young children. (AP Photo/Israel L. Murillo)

A TV camera films during a bullfight in Valladolid, Spain Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012. Bullfights returned live to Spanish state TV Wednesday evening, six years after the fights were banned from the widely watched public channel with the broadcast featuring one of Spain?s most storied bullfighters and giving a boost to a tradition hit hard by declining popularity and a dire economic crisis. The RTVE broadcast from the northern city of Valladolid is a big victory for pro-bullfighting forces that saw bullfighting banned altogether this year in the northeastern region of Catalonia; it?s a defeat for animal rights activists who denounce bullfighting as barbaric. The transmissions were halted in 2006 by Spain?s previous Socialist administration, which said they were costly and coincided with key TV viewing hours for young children. (AP Photo/Israel L. Murillo)

Bullfighting 'aficionados' enjoy a bullfight in Valladolid, Spain Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012. Bullfights returned live to Spanish state TV Wednesday evening, six years after the fights were banned from the widely watched public channel _ with the broadcast featuring one of Spain?s most storied bullfighters and giving a boost to a tradition hit hard by declining popularity and a dire economic crisis. The RTVE broadcast from the northern city of Valladolid is a big victory for pro-bullfighting forces that saw bullfighting banned altogether this year in the northeastern region of Catalonia; it?s a defeat for animal rights activists who denounce bullfighting as barbaric. The transmissions were halted in 2006 by Spain?s previous Socialist administration, which said they were costly and coincided with key TV viewing hours for young children. (AP Photo/Israel L. Murillo)

A TV camera films during a bullfight in Valladolid, Spain Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012. Bullfights returned live to Spanish state TV Wednesday evening, six years after the fights were banned from the widely watched public channel with the broadcast featuring one of Spain?s most storied bullfighters and giving a boost to a tradition hit hard by declining popularity and a dire economic crisis. The RTVE broadcast from the northern city of Valladolid is a big victory for pro-bullfighting forces that saw bullfighting banned altogether this year in the northeastern region of Catalonia; it?s a defeat for animal rights activists who denounce bullfighting as barbaric. The transmissions were halted in 2006 by Spain?s previous Socialist administration, which said they were costly and coincided with key TV viewing hours for young children. (AP Photo/Israel L. Murillo)

File - In this July 14, 2011 file photo, Spanish bullfighter Julian Lopez 'El Juli' aims his sword to kill a bull during a bullfight in Pamplona, Spain. Bullfights return live to Spanish state TV Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012, six years after the fights were banned from the widely watched public channel with the broadcast featuring one of Spain's most storied bullfighters and giving a boost to a tradition hit hard by declining popularity and a dire economic crisis. Julian Lopez, known by his nickname ?El Juli,? will kill hulking half-ton bulls raised by a renowned breeder. He and other fighters are waiving payments demanded in better economic times for the right to broadcast their battles, a decision that helped Spain's new austerity-minded conservative government in its drive to get the fights back on national TV and promote bullfighting as important cultural heritage. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)

File - In this July 6, 2012 file photo, Spanish mounted bullfighter Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza celebrates beside a dead bull after a horseback bullfight in Pamplona, northern Spain. Spain's state TV will start airing live bullfights again on Sept. 5, 2012 after the new conservative government lifted a six-year ban on the tradition that has been hard hit by declining popularity and the economic crisis. It's a big victory for pro-bullfighting forces who saw fights prohibited this year in the northeastern region of Catalonia. And it's a defeat for animal rights activists who denounce bullfighting as barbaric. The live transmissions were halted in 2006 by Spain's previous Socialist administration, which said they were costly and coincided with youth TV viewing hours. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos, File)

MADRID (AP) ? Bullfights returned live to Spanish state TV with a glittering and music-filled display on Wednesday evening, six years after the fights were banned from the widely watched public channel.

The broadcast featured three of Spain's most famous bullfighters and bulls by a renowned breeder, giving a boost to a tradition hit hard by declining popularity and a dire economic crisis.

Julian Lopez, known by his stage name of "El Juli," killed three hulking half-ton bulls raised by Victoriano del Rio.

He and fellow matador Alejandro Talavante delighted the crowd at northern city Valladolid and were carried out of the bullring on their assistants' shoulders, an honor accorded only to fighters that have thrilled their audiences.

Lopez and the other fighters had waived image rights payments demanded in better economic times to broadcast their battles, a decision that helped Spain's new austerity-minded conservative government in its drive to get the fights back on national TV and promote bullfighting as important cultural heritage.

"I am now conscious of the fact that the future of bullfighting is far more important than my own future," said Lopez.

The RTVE broadcast was a big victory for pro-bullfighting forces that saw bullfighting banned altogether this year in the northeastern region of Catalonia; it's a defeat for animal rights activists who denounce bullfighting as barbaric.

The transmissions were halted in 2006 by Spain's previous Socialist administration, which said they were costly and coincided with key TV viewing hours for young children.

But the Socialists were ousted in November by voters outraged over Spain's nose-diving economy, and the conservative Popular Party that won in a landslide is led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a staunch bullfighting defender.

Bullfighting aficionados hope the revived national broadcasts will spur renewed interest in the fights and reverse the trend of increasingly graying audiences seen in bullfighting rings with more and more empty seats. The tradition has also suffered deep cutbacks over the last several years by Spanish towns and cities that traditionally fund fights during the summer months.

But bullfighting is steeped in history, and the centuries-old events that inspired the likes of Goya, Picasso and Hemingway are also popular in Colombia, Ecuador, France and Mexico.

Wednesday's fight is one of the last of this year's season and RTVE hasn't yet said how many it will air next year, though supporters want frequent broadcasts, especially from the most famous bullrings in Madrid and Seville.

"Hopefully now through Spanish TV our media can once again generate enthusiasm among the people, the masses," said Del Rio, the breeder of the six bulls killed Wednesday by El Juli and two other matadors. Bullfighting, he added, "is something that changes every second, a moment of life, a momentary breath, that I believe will once again take root among the people."

Elite Spanish bullfighters are millionaires who can make more than ?100,000 ($125,000 ) for each appearance. El Juli this year started paying half the cost of bullfight tickets bought by people age 30 and under. For Wednesday's event, he subsidized buses so Madrid fans 30 or under could get there for ?25 ($30) each for the 420-kilometer (260-mile) round trip voyage.

Bullfighting foes who were energized last year after Catalonia became the second Spanish region to ban bullfights are decrying the live broadcasts as a waste of air time for spectacles squeezed by declining interest driven by generational change and hard times.

"It's a step backward from the achievement of removing bullfights from the television schedule," said Aida Gascon, a spokeswoman for the anti-bullfight group AnimaNaturalis.

She called the move a desperation effort to jumpstart interest in a sport that is doomed to fail, claiming "bullfights are followed mostly by tourists who attend once and never return, or by older people from ages 60 to 90. When all those people stop they will not be replaced by younger people."

Alfonso Nasarre, communications director of Spain's state TV, said the decision to include bullfights in the schedule once again was not politically motivated. "Accurate audience data will prove we are right," he said, but he would not confirm that bullfights will form part of the broadcaster's permanent output, saying only that "bullfight- related news will be given a higher priority."

Bullfighting advocates aren't easing up the pressure with their coup of getting the fights back on TV.

Last March they presented a petition with 500,000 signatures to Parliament, demanding that bullfighting be classified as being in the interest of preserving Spanish culture. Rajoy's administration is expected to introduce legislation that would give the events the designation, which would overturn the Catalonia ban and a 1991 bullfighting ban for Spain's Canary Islands.

There is no timeline set for when the legislation will be proposed, but passage is guaranteed because Rajoy's Popular Party has an absolute majority in Parliament, and opposing parties including the Socialists are expected to let members break ranks to vote in favor.

That drives home how Spain's ancient fascination with bulls, using the animals as a test of bravery, is still very much a part of the national identity. Bullfights and related events, such as the annual San Fermin Pamplona bull-runs, are also a multimillion-dollar industry and a major tourist draw.

Despite the six-year halt to live national broadcasts, Spaniards were still able to see bullfights on TV on pay channels and on regional public TV stations that decided to keep up the tradition. RTVE never stopped live coverage of Pamplona bull runs, and showed dramatic footage on its news programs of bullfighters being gored and bulls jumping into grandstands of panicked fans.

Even though Catalonia banned bullfights in rings, regional lawmakers passed separate legislation protecting "correbous," small town fiestas in which flaming balls of wax or fireworks are attached to the horns of bulls. Released in town squares or rings, the frightened bulls charge this way and that, taunted and teased by boisterous crowds.

Spain's bullfighting industry made up of breeders, matadors and promoters "saw themselves corralled by the government before, and now they have a government backing them," said Enrique Guerrero, a communications professor at the University of Navarra.

And with bullfighters giving up demands for payment in return to have their images on TV, Spain's government can defend the broadcasts if it has to as the country endures harsh austerity cuts, unemployment of nearly 25 percent and across the board cutbacks in cherished government programs like national health care and public education.

"They're saying there's no economic reason not to do it because it's cheap," Guerrero said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-09-05-Spain-Bullfighting/id-65845ecbe50046d1b0907450d2eb5bb3

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We need a much healthier attitude to safety risks | CMSE

The term ?health and safety? has
become so pervasive that it?s no wonder ordinary people think some of us are out to?prevent anyone being exposed to any sort of risk.? Life is full of risks and people face different risks every day.? However, by taking the approach of some individuals and organisations that we come across it?s a wonder any of them can build up the courage to leave the house in the morning.

Health and safety legislation was introduced in this country to help address the high number of accidents in the workplace which over the years have resulted in hundreds of deaths and many thousands of very serious injuries.

Let?s be sensible here.? Effective workplace safety and health management is an important aspect of any manager?s activities.? It will help prevent accidents and injuries to employees as well as being a real contributor to business success.? The proactive management of the safety and health of workers or anyone who might be affected by work activity isn?t a joke.? The task of raising awareness of the real and genuine dangers that workers can be exposed to isn?t made any easier when one hears of the overzealous individuals who, in an attempt to make their lives easier, end up making the lives of the professionals working in this area all the more difficult.

As we see it, ?health and safety? is bandied about as an excuse for all sorts of unpopular decisions.? It can be very convenient to put a difficult decision down to some vague ?health and safety? issue rather than outline the real motivation.? There may well be valid reasons to make unpopular decisions, e.g. commercial pressures or fears re legal action, but more often than not they have nothing to do with genuine health and safety concerns.

Last year 54 people lost their lives in workplace accidents and 230 people have been killed since 2008.? So far this year 29 people have been killed in work related accidents.? Apart from these very tragic deaths thousands of people have been injured, many very seriously.? On top of this terrible human toll it?s been estimated that workplace accidents are costing the state up to ?3.5 billion annually.? That?s a substantial sum of money during any economic period but in the current environment it?s completely unsustainable.? Small businesses in particular know the financial impact if an employee suffers a bad workplace accident ? compensation payments, increased insurance premiums, disrupted production and damage to business reputation all add up and can have a drastic effect on the bottom line.

The position of the Health and Safety Authority is clear ? health and safety is not a reason to not do something.? If there are valid risks associated with a workplace activity these risks should be assessed and managed so that the activity can be carried out in a safe way.? Very rarely is the solution to simply not do it.

Martin O?Halloran

Chief Executive
Health and Safety Authority

REF:? HSA.ie

Source: http://www.cmse.ie/blog/we-need-a-much-healthier-attitude-to-safety-risks/

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