This is an extraordinarily significant time in several ways. Virtually everyone knows about Covid-19. However, that’s not the only thing going on. And, for some, the recent non-pandemic news is not all bad.
Europe and Asia
On December 13, 2020, USA’s PBS TV informed viewers that as the arctic’s sea ice melts a shipping shortcut, known as the Northern Sea Route, is opening up in a major way between Asia and Europe.
Skirting the Russian Territory of Siberia, it is 40% shorter than going through the Suez Canal and 60% shorter than the route around the South African Cape of Good Hope.
Expect the quite substantial reductions in time and expenses to economically benefit both regions.
The USA
America is facing events of a less positive kind.
The New York Times posted an article on October 15, 2020 that read, Nearly Half of the U.S. Is in Drought. It May Get Worse. Months earlier USA Today wrote, Megadrought’ emerging in the western US might be worse than any in 1,200 years. Megadroughts are intense droughts lasting a decade or longer.
The country’s ability to feed itself and produce food for export is under attack in other ways too.
On October 23, 2020, National Public Radio website wrote, 1st ‘Murder Hornet’ Nest In U.S. Is Found In Washington State. These Asian Giant Hornets decimate bee colonies so critical to crop pollination.
And on December 7, 2020, CNN published an article with the following headline, Tegu lizards: An invasive species of giant lizard has been making its way through the Southeast. These critters from South America can grow to four feet long; and they devour ground nesting bird eggs, like those of quail and turkeys, as well as fruits and vegetables.
Photo Credits: Northern Sea by Jarr1520, License: CC BY-NC 2.0 ; Dry Faucet by Steve Dorman, License: CC BY-NC 2.0 ; Tegu by S-t-v, License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
