Koala chlamydia vaccine trial raises hope

Australian scientists say they have successfully tested a vaccine aimed at protecting wild koalas from chlamydia.

The disease has ravaged the native marsupial, which is under increasing threat.

Microbiologists in Queensland now hope to protect some of the remaining population after successfully trialling a vaccine developed over five years.

Koala numbers have plummeted in recent years and there are believed to be as few as 43,000 left in the wild.

In some areas, numbers have dropped by as much as 80% in the past 10 years.

The strain of chlamydia that affects koalas can lead to blindness, infertility and death among the animals.

In the trial, microbiologists from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland gave 30 koalas the vaccine while 30 others were left unvaccinated.

All 60 were then fitted with radio collars so they could be monitored in their natural habitat at Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane.

Of the 30 vaccinated, some were already infected with chlamydia, some were healthy and some were showing symptoms of the disease such as eye infections and reproductive tract infections.

Researchers said that seven out of eight koalas suffering from eye infections who received the vaccine showed an improvement.

But in the unvaccinated group, four of six koalas with eye infections saw their conditions worsen.READ MORE-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-29828269

A sid hope cartoon promo

A Steve Mera cartoon promo

STEVE MERA INTERVIEW WITH MARKANTONY RAINES ,GHOSTMAN

Sid hope interviewed by mark antony raines ghostman

THANKS GHOSTMAN ... here goes ..
The Stonehenge festival campaign exists to lobby, Protest, attend meetings, raise awareness, and maintain links with interested parties, to re-establish ‘the peoples free festival’ @ or near
Stonehenge. My inspiration ? Simple ...  the Stonehenge free festival, free festival and new age traveller movement supported a network of travellers, the counter-culture and city folk
who flocked to Stonehenge in their thousands. It still plays an important part in many peoples lives especially those who regularly attend the equinoxes and solstice gatherings @ Stonehenge
and provided a self sufficient alternative community – enough gatherings throughout the country to push a sizable community of the dole and into profit. At the heart of these gatherings
is a culture of anti-materialism, sharing and a passion for freedom and open spaces where middle class idealists mix with the products of unemployment and poverty, young and old, disillusioned
with living in stressful inner cities where housing is poor, job non-existent and families fractured. Free festival’s & gatherings have always attracted the unemployed or those on low incomes
and for many kids provides a first time opportunity to learn about and experience country life. A cheap annual holiday for whom not much else is provided. In an increasingly secular
society Stonehenge holds a mystical significance for many.
 
Formed in Aug 2011 the campaign continues to highlight the need for the festival’s return on a separate site – part of any solution to restore dignity @ Stonehenge and the current overcrowding
and mismanagement of summer solstice Stonehenge. The campaign regularly attends meetings with custodians English Heritage over our right to access and to help to ensure the smooth
running of Stonehenge gatherings. This year the campaign celebrated the 30th anniversary of the original free festival by releasing an anniversary C.D featuring live and studio recorded music
by bands who either appeared @ the festival or the campaign’s annual benefit gigs. Money raised from its proceeds goes to continuing our work and establishing a free festival fund.
The campaign runs an info and merchandise stall, as well as providing sound and light throughout the night for those gathered on the Stonehenge drove and other events. Nothing better illustrates
the struggle between rich and poor than issues surrounding land ownership and who has access to land. Many festival goers prefer to live nomadic or semi nomadic lifestyles, part of an
attempt to escape the ‘rat race’ and live a more self sufficient and spiritual lifestyle. Unfortunately they have been criminalised and effectively outlawed – legislation having abolished the duty on
local authorities to provide adequate sites. Ministers have made it clear that their intention is to push nomadic people into abandoning their way of life in favour of living in houses. For
travellers free gatherings are a refuge. After lobbying M.P’s, archaeologists, the National Trust, E.H, the M.O.D, private landowners, etc, the campaign continues to locate a suitable festival site.
 
I hope this helps .. please let us know if you do anything with it. You can contact me on 07985410448 email: festivalcampaign2012@hotmail.co.uk www.stonehengefestivalcampaign.co.uk or
check out Sid Hope on face book. Cheers !!
 

aftercare advice for after having a new tattoo

Aftercare Advice

• Remove bandage after 1 hour
• Wash tattoo with warm soapy water
• Rinse and pat dry with a towel
• Apply thin coat Bepanthon 3-4 times daily for 2 wks.
• Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, and tanning beds for 2 weeks. DO NOT pick scabs
• DO NOT wear rough scratchy clothes on tattoo
• DO NOT use Vaseline or petroleum based products
• Use common sense

Farmland birds show rapid decline

Farmland birds are at their lowest levels since records began, according to government figures.

Numbers of birds such as grey partridge, turtle dove and the starling are down more than 85% since 1970s.

But there has been an increase in some other bird species, including seabirds.

The figures come from an assessment of wild bird populations in England, which has been compiled by the Department for Environment and covers 118 different bird species.

It includes data on 19 species reliant on the farmed countryside.

Over the last 40 years, indicators used in the report show a decline in farmland birds of 56%, with turtle doves declining the most rapidly - down 96% since 1970.

Other species under pressure include skylarks - down 62% since 1970 - and lapwings which are down by 50%.

Much of this decline is blamed on the rapid change in farmland management in the late 1970s and early 1990s.

Modern intensive farming methods means that fields have become much bigger, and more chemicals are used. With a significant loss of hedgerows, birds have fewer places to nest.-read more-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29728558