StemCell Therapy

2008 film directed by Fernando Meirelles

Blindness is a 2008 English-language thriller film and an adaptation of the 1995 novel of the same name by Portuguese author Jos Saramago about a society suffering an epidemic of blindness. The film was written by Don McKellar and directed by Fernando Meirelles, with Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo as the main characters. Saramago originally refused to sell the rights for a film adaptation, but the producers were able to acquire it with the condition that the film would be set in an unnamed and unrecognizable city. Blindness premiered as the opening film at the Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2008, and the film was released in the United States on October 3, 2008.

A young Japanese professional suddenly goes blind in his car at an intersection, his field of vision turning white. A passerby offers to drive him home, then steals his car. His wife returns home and takes him to an ophthalmologist who can identify nothing wrong and refers him for further evaluation.

The next day, the doctor goes blind, and recognizes that it must be caused by a communicable disease. Around the city, more citizens are struck blind, causing widespread panic, and the government organizes a quarantine for the blind in a derelict asylum. When a hazmat crew arrives to pick up the doctor, his wife lies that she has also gone blind in order to accompany him.

In the asylum, the doctor and his wife are first to arrive and agree they will keep her sight a secret. They are joined by several others, including the driver, the thief, and other patients of the doctor. The "white sickness" has become international, with hundreds of cases reported every day. The government is resorting to increasingly ruthless measures to try to deal with the epidemic, refusing aid to the blind.

As more blinded people are crammed into what has become a concentration camp, overcrowding and lack of outside support cause hygiene and living conditions to degrade. The doctor serves as the representative of his ward, and his sighted wife does what she can to assist her fellow inmates without revealing her ability. Anxiety over the availability of food undermines morale and introduces conflict between the prison's wards, as the soldiers who guard the camp become hostile.

A man with a handgun appoints himself "king" of his ward, and takes control of the food deliveries, first demanding the other wards' valuables, and then for the women to have sex with their men. Several women reluctantly submit to being raped. One of the women is killed by her assailant, and the sighted woman retaliates, killing the "king" with a pair of scissors. In the ensuing chaos, the building catches fire, with many inmates dying. The survivors who escape the building discover that the guards have abandoned their posts, and they venture into the city.

Society has collapsed, with the city's population reduced to an aimless, zombie-like struggle to survive. The sighted woman leads her husband and a few others from their ward in search of food and shelter. She discovers a well-stocked basement storeroom beneath a grocery store, barely escaping with aid from her husband when the throng around her smell the fresh food she is carrying.

The doctor and his wife invite their new "family" to their apartment, where they establish a mutually supportive long-term home. The next day, just as suddenly as his sight had been lost, the driver recovers his sight. They celebrate, their hope restored.

Secondary characters include:

Meirelles chose an international cast. Producer Niv Fichman explained Meirelles' intent: "He was inspired by [Saramago's] great masterwork to create a microcosm of the world. He wanted it cast in a way to represent all of humanity."[12]

The rights to the 1995 novel Blindness were closely guarded by author Jos Saramago.[8] Saramago explained, "I always resisted because it's a violent book about social degradation, rape, and I didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands." Director Fernando Meirelles had wanted to direct a film adaptation in 1997, perceiving it as "an allegory about the fragility of civilization". Saramago originally refused to sell the rights to Meirelles, Whoopi Goldberg, or Gael Garca Bernal.[13] In 1999, producer Niv Fichman and Canadian screenwriter Don McKellar visited Saramago in the Canary Islands; Saramago allowed their visit on condition that they not discuss buying the rights. McKellar explained the changes he intended to make from the novel and what the focus would be, and two days later he and Fichman left Saramago's home with the rights. McKellar believed they had succeeded where others had failed because they properly researched Saramago; he was suspicious of the film industry and had therefore resisted other studios' efforts to obtain the rights through large sums of money alone.[14] Conditions set by Saramago were for the film to be set in a country that would not be recognizable to audiences,[15] and that the canine in the novel, the Dog of Tears, should be a big dog.[16]

Meirelles originally envisioned doing the film in Portuguese similar to the novel's original language, but instead directed the film in English, saying, "If you do it in English you can sell it to the whole world and have a bigger audience."[11] Meirelles set the film in a contemporary large city, seemingly under a totalitarian government, as opposed to the novel that he believed took place in the 1940s (actually, the book is more likely to take place in the 80s or later, as evident by the fact that the characters stumble upon a store with modern appliances like microwave ovens and dishwashers, and referral to AIDS as a feared disease). Meirelles chose to make a contemporary film so audiences could relate to the characters.[16] The director also sought a different allegorical approach. He described the novel as "very allegorical, like a fantasy outside of space, outside the world", and he instead took a naturalistic direction in engaging audiences to make the film less "cold."[17]

Don McKellar said about adapting the story, "None of the characters even have names or a history, which is very untraditional for a Hollywood story. The film, like the novel, directly addresses sight and point of view and asks you to see things from a different perspective." McKellar wrote the script so audiences would see the world through the eyes of the protagonist, the doctor's wife. He sought to have them question the humanity of how she observes but does not act in various situations, including a rape scene. He consulted Saramago about why the wife took so long to act. McKellar noted, "He said she became aware of the responsibility that comes with seeing gradually, first to herself, then to her husband, then to her small family, then her ward, and finally to the world where she has to create a new civilization." The screenwriter wrote out the "actions and circumstances" that would allow the wife to find her responsibility.[7] While the completed script was mostly faithful to the novel, McKellar went through several drafts that were not. One such saw him veer away from the novel by creating names and backstories for all the characters. Another significantly changed the chronology. Only after these abortive attempts did McKellar decide to cut the backstories and focus primarily on the doctor and his wife. He attempted to reconnect with what originally drew him to the novel: what he called its "existential simplicity". The novel defines its characters by little more than their present actions; doing the same for the adaptation became "an interesting exercise" for McKellar.[14]

McKellar attended a summer camp for the blind as part of his research. He wanted to observe how blind people interacted in groups. He discovered that excessive expositional dialogue, usually frowned upon by writers, was essential for the groups. McKellar cut one of the last lines in the novel from his screenplay: "I don't think we did go blind, I think we are blind. Blind but seeing. Blind people who can see, but do not see." McKellar believed viewers would by that point have already grasped the symbolism and didn't want the script to seem heavy-handed. He also toned down the visual cues in his screenplay, such as the "brilliant milky whiteness" of blindness described in the novel. McKellar knew he wanted a stylistically adept director and didn't want to be too prescriptive, preferring only to hint at an approach.[14]

Meirelles chose So Paulo as the primary backdrop for Blindness, though scenes were also filmed in Osasco, Brazil; Guelph, Ontario, Canada; and Montevideo, Uruguay. With all the characters aside from Julianne Moore's character being blind, the cast was trained to simulate blindness. The director also stylized the film to reflect the lack of point of view that the characters would experience. Meirelles said several actors he talked to were intimidated by the concept of playing characters without names: "I offered the film to some actors who said, 'I can't play a character with no name, with no history, with no past. With Gael (Garca Bernal), he said, 'I never think about the past. I just think what my character wants.'"[18]

By September 2006, Fernando Meirelles was attached to Blindness, with the script being adapted by Don McKellar. Blindness, budgeted at $25 million as part of a Brazilian and Canadian co-production, was slated to begin filming in summer 2007 in the towns of So Paulo and Guelph.[19] Filming began in early July in So Paulo and Guelph.[20] Filming also took place in Montevideo, Uruguay.[21] So Paulo served as the primary backdrop for Blindness, being a city mostly unfamiliar to U.S. and European audiences. With its relative obscurity, the director sought So Paulo as the film's generic location. Filming continued through autumn of 2007.[8]

The cast and crew included 700 extras who had to be trained to simulate blindness. Actor Christian Duurvoort from Meirelles' City of God led a series of workshops to coach the cast members. Duurvoort had researched the mannerisms of blind people to understand how they perceive the world and how they make their way through space. Duurvoort not only taught the extras mannerisms, but also to convey the emotional and psychological states of blind people.[8] One technique was reacting to others as a blind person, whose reactions are usually different from those of a sighted person. Meirelles described, "When you're talking to someone, you see a reaction. When you're blind, the response is much flatter. What's the point [in reacting]?"[22]

Meirelles acknowledged the challenge of making a film that would simulate the experience of blindness to the audience. He explained, "When you do a film, everything is related to point of view, to vision. When you have two characters in a dialogue, emotion is expressed by the way people look at each other, through the eyes. Especially in the cut, the edit. You usually cut when someone looks over. Film is all about point of view, and in this film there is none."[22] Similar to the book, blindness in the film serves as a metaphor for human nature's dark side: "prejudice, selfishness, violence and willful indifference."[8]

With only one character's point of view available, Meirelles sought to switch the points-of-view throughout the film, seeing three distinct stylistic sections. The director began with an omniscient vantage point, transited to the intact viewpoint of the doctor's wife, and changed again to the Man with the Black Eye Patch, who connects the quarantined to the outside world with stories. The director concluded the switching with the combination of the perspective of the Doctor's Wife and the narrative of the Man with the Black Eye Patch.[7]

The film also contains visual cues, such as the 1568 painting The Parable of the Blind by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Allusions to other famous artworks are also made. Meirelles described the intent: "It's about image, the film, and vision, so I thought it makes sense to create, not a history of painting, because it's not, but having different ways of seeing things, from Rembrandt to these very contemporary artists. But it's a very subtle thing."[8]

Prior to public release, Meirelles screened Blindness to test audiences. A screening of his first cut in Toronto resulted in ten percent of the audience, nearly 50 people, walking out of the film early. Meirelles ascribed the problem to a rape scene that takes place partway through the film, and edited the scene to be much shorter in the final cut.[23] Meirelles explained his goal, "When I shot and edited these scenes, I did it in a very technical way, I worried about how to light it and so on, and I lost the sense of their brutality. Some women were really angry with the film, and I thought, 'Wow, maybe I crossed the line.' I went back not to please the audience but so they would stay involved until the end of the story."[11] He also found that a New York City test screening expressed concern about a victim in the film failing to take revenge; Meirelles ascribed this as a reflection of what Americans have learned to expect in their cinema.[23]

Focus Features acquired the right to handle international sales for Blindness.[24] Path acquired UK and French rights to distribute the film,[25] and Miramax Films won U.S. distribution rights with its $5 million bid.[26] Blindness premiered as the opening film at the 61st Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2008,[27] where it received a "tepid reception".[28] Straw polls of critics were "unkind" to the film.[29]

Blindness was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2008 as a Special Presentation.[30] The film also opened at the Atlantic Film Festival on September 11, 2008,[31] and had its North American theatrical release on October 3, 2008.

Despite being on a number of critics top 10 lists for 2008, the film has received mixed reviews overall, with a 44% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on 156 reviews, and the average rating is 5.2 out of 10.[32]

Screen International's Cannes screen jury which annually polls a panel of international film critics gave the film a 1.3 average out of 4, placing the film on the lower-tier of all the films screened at competition in 2008.[33] Of the film critics from the Screen International Cannes critics jury, Alberto Crespi of the Italian publication L'Unit, Michel Ciment of French film magazine Positif and Dohoon Kim of South Korean film publication Cine21, all gave the film zero points (out of four).[33]

Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter described Blindness as "provocative but predictable cinema", startling but failing to surprise. Honeycutt criticized the film's two viewpoints: Julianne Moore's character, the only one who can see, is slow to act against atrocities, and the behavior of Danny Glover's character comes off as "slightly pompous". Honeycutt explained, "This philosophical coolness is what most undermines the emotional response to Meirelles' film. His fictional calculations are all so precise and a tone of deadly seriousness swamps the grim action."[34] Justin Chang of Variety described the film: "Blindness emerges onscreen both overdressed and undermotivated, scrupulously hitting the novel's beats yet barely approximating, so to speak, its vision." Chang thought that Julianne Moore gave a strong performance but did not feel that the film captured the impact of Saramago's novel.[35] Roger Ebert called Blindness "one of the most unpleasant, not to say unendurable, films I've ever seen."[36] A. O. Scott of The New York Times stated that, although it "is not a great film, ... it is, nonetheless, full of examples of what good filmmaking looks like."[37]

Stephen Garrett of Esquire complimented Meirelles' unconventional style: "Meirelles [honors] the material by using elegant, artful camera compositions, beguiling sound design and deft touches of digital effects to accentuate the authenticity of his cataclysmic landscape." Despite the praise, Garrett wrote that Meirelles' talent at portraying real-life injustice in City of God and The Constant Gardener did not suit him for directing the "heightened reality" of Saramago's social commentary.[38]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called it "an intelligent, tightly constructed, supremely confident adaptation": "Meirelles, along with screenwriter Don McKellar and cinematographer Cesar Charlone, have created an elegant, gripping and visually outstanding film. It responds to the novel's notes of apocalypse and dystopia, and its disclosure of a spiritual desert within the modern city, but also to its persistent qualities of fable, paradox and even whimsy." [39] "Blindness is a drum-tight drama, with superb, hallucinatory, images of urban collapse. It has a real coil of horror at its centre, yet is lightened with gentleness and humour. It reminded me of George A Romero's Night of the Living Dead, and Peter Shaffer's absurdist stage-play Black Comedy. This is bold, masterly, film-making."[40]

The Boston Globe's Wesley Morris raved about the leading actress: "Julianne Moore is a star for these terrible times. She tends to be at her best when the world is at its worst. And things are pretty bad in "Blindness," a perversely enjoyable, occasionally harrowing adaptation of Jos Saramago's 1995 disaster allegory. [...] "Blindness" is a movie whose sense of crisis feels right on time, even if the happy ending feels like a gratuitous emotional bailout. Meirelles ensures that the obviousness of the symbolism (in the global village the blind need guidance!) doesn't negate the story's power, nor the power of Moore's performance. The more dehumanizing things get, the fiercer she becomes."[41]

The film appeared on some critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2008. Bill White of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer named it the 5th best film of 2008,[42] and Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle named it the 8th best film of 2008.[42]

Meirelles screened the movie privately for Saramago. When the movie ended, Saramago was in tears, and said: "Fernando, I am as happy to have seen this movie as I was the day I finished the book."[43]

The film has been strongly criticized by several organizations representing the blind community. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "The National Federation of the Blind condemns and deplores this film, which will do substantial harm to the blind of America and the world."[44] A press release from the American Council of the Blind said "...it is quite obvious why blind people would be outraged over this movie. Blind people do not behave like uncivilized, animalized creatures."[45] The National Federation of the Blind announced plans to picket theaters in at least 21 states, in the largest protest in the organization's 68-year history.[46] Jos Saramago has described his novel as allegorically depicting "a blindness of rationality". He dismissed the protests, stating that "stupidity doesn't choose between the blind and the non-blind."[47]

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Blindness (2008 film) - Wikipedia

Cataracts are not the only threat to the eyes of a diabetic. Brenda Teele found several other conditions pose a threat, like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Willis Knight Eye Institute ophthalmologists Christopher Shelby, M.D. and Wyche Coleman, M.D. explained the risks.

The biggest issue with our diabetics is making sure the retina is okay, said Shelby.

While theres often talk about cataracts in a diabetic, theres an even bigger threat to their vision. Cataracts are easy meaning that we can cure that. A five ten minute surgery we take the cataract out put a new lens in theyre doing great. The issue is with their retina, Shelby said.

Doctor Shelby says, because of high glucose levels in a diabetic, bleeding and scaring can occur in the back of the eye, And that can lead to further visual damage.

You know it really doesnt matter if you get the cataract out if you still have a lot of retinal problems. Your retina is like the film on the camera and your cataract is like the lens on the camera, said Coleman.

Dr. Wyche Coleman says its a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. One of the things that we see is that even if the sugar gets tightly controlled, the diabetic retinopathy can progress over time, Coleman said.

And so that scaring can pull on the retina causing traction which could eventually lead to retinal detachment, Shelby explained.

A person diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes is encouraged to get an eye exam immediately.

Excerpt from:
Diabetic Retinopathy poses a real threat of blindness if untreated - KTBS

Ricketts wrong on masks

I read with horror the June 18 article about Gov. Pete Ricketts recent threat to withhold funding to local governmental agencies if they require the wearing of face masks in public buildings.

I had hoped that our elected governor would, in this time of national crisis, be acting in the best interests of taxpayers and the electorate. I cannot defend this on any rational or scientific basis.

As a retired M.D., I have spent my life wearing face masks to protect the public. The same people who are denying the usefulness of masks would be horrified and indignant if they walked into an operating room to find their doctors and nurses without face masks. There is no question at all that using masks saves lives, and people who refuse to wear them are putting others at risk for serious illness or death.

I have spent 40 years of my professional life wearing a mask to protect my patients, and now that I am over the age of 60 and therefore at higher risk for serious illness or death, it is appalling that members of the public and our elected governor will not take this simple step to protect me.

The wearing of face masks is simple science and public health. The fact that it has become foolishly and recklessly politicized in this crisis is undermining our recovery and return to normalcy. It shows a profound lack of good judgment and responsibility.

Elizabeth McInerney, Omaha

Poor choices in Senate race

Running for office is exhausting, so is being an elected official. If we expect our elected officials to show good judgment in a time of crisis, then they need to prove through the campaign process that they are up to the job. I appreciate the time, effort and money that Mr. Janicek has put into his campaign; however, with a president who sometimes acts like a racist misogynist, this mistake by Mr. Janisek just shows he is not ready for elected office.

It is too bad because Sen. Sasses graduation speech also showed poor judgment and poor leadership, and he has not shown responsibility for his mistake.

I will be writing in Jane Raybould for the office.

Problem and solution

I am all for people raising their voices at injustice, and I hope we are seeing a true movement to right the wrongs in our country. But I dont think were focusing on the right problem.

Racism is a cancer in our society, and Id like to remind everyone that it isnt restricted to one group or another. (Ive had racism directed at me several times and Im white). Its despicable. Police brutality is terrible, but it isnt restricted to the police either. Id have to say that, statistically speaking, there are fewer bad actors in the police force than in the general population.

If we the people did a better job of policing ourselves, however, maybe we could de-escalate police violence. Maybe if we behaved ourselves, we could defund the police because we no longer need them at their current level. We want to blame the police, but they are not the heart of the problem. We seem to want someone else to solve our problems, wait for them (whoever they are) to act, blame everyone but ourselves. That has to stop. The police departments need to clean up their act, of course, but I also think maybe we owe the police an apology for our own behavior.

We have to take responsibility for our own actions. We have to act as a society to right the wrongs and do our best to bring everyone out of desperate situations. Level society. I dont believe anyone is really sorry for this, but stupid enough to believe the shade of someones skin, their gender, the shape of their eyes or any other external attribute has anything to do with the content of their character. Each of us is either honorable or were not.

The message from kneeling

To Craig M. Barnhart (June 14 Pulse): I genuflect when I enter my church, and kneel during the service. Those being knighted kneel before their king or queen. I knelt when I asked my wife to marry me. None of these, I believe, demonstrates the betrayal or cowardice that you wrote about.

Initially, Kaepernick sat during the anthem, which I did think was disrespectful. Since disrespect was not his goal, he then visited with a military veteran about how to protest with respect; the veteran recommended he kneel.

You may not like it, but it is not disrespectful.

A tainted tax

Former Democrat President Woodrow Wilson was a racist, even by the standards of the early 1900s. Not only did he resegregate the federal government, but he was also a vocal supporter of the KKK.

In 1913, President Wilson signed the Revenue Act into law and thus, the collection of income taxes was born.

Since everything else under the sun can be massaged to be illegitimate due to their racist roots these days, income taxes must be banned.

Evan Trofholz, Columbus, Neb.

Malcolm X Foundations great work

Last weekend, during my weekly video chat with my adult son in Denver, I shared that I was going to participate in a virtual training meeting for non-black allies of Black Lives Matter, live-streamed from the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation. I reminded him of my participation in the Cooperative Urban Teacher Education program in the years just after the period of racial unrest in the late 1960s, and the lifelong influence of that experience on my own commitment to civil rights and social justice causes in Omaha.

My son, though born and raised in Omaha in a household, arts community and church that embraced diversity and inclusion, not only was unaware of the Malcolm X historical site but surprised me by saying, I always admired Malcolm X, but I didnt know he was from Omaha! As we address the issues that have brought our country and community to face the consequences of systemic racism, it is crucial that the citizens of Omaha learn about the legacy of our native son Malcolm X, the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation and the outstanding work it is doing.

The strategy session on Sunday was well-organized, informative and thought-provoking. An opportunity was provided to register for a three-session course to continue our training. The foundation website and Facebook page offer a wealth of resources with background information, history, upcoming events and lectures, and much more. Please research this neglected historical gem, plan a visit to the lovely building and grounds, and take advantage of the events planned to help educate and unify our community.

Example of white blindness

Allen Thomsens June 19 Pulse comments regarding the closing of the 11-Worth restaurant give a perfect window into white blindness. Mr. Thomsen upends his whole argument in his last paragraph. Everyone connected to this restaurant, customers and employees alike, has been irreparably harmed. This is blamed on a stupid, thoughtless Facebook posting, and a menu named after a Civil War general. How in the world has this harmed the demonstrators? (Italics added).

That stupid, thoughtless Facebook post encouraged using lethal force against protesters. Stupid and thoughtless hardly seem strong enough adjectives to describe Tony Juniors comments. And that menu item named after a Civil War general? Mr. Thomsen forgot to mention that the general was the commander of the Confederate Army, a man who used his significant military prowess to try and destroy the very Constitution he had pledged to defend, at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives, and for the sole purpose of protecting the institution that enslaved millions.

How in the world has this harmed the demonstrators, asks Mr. Thomsen. The answer is, in every conceivable way! It is the public and private expression of such contempt for the lives of not only blacks but those of all the marginalized groups in our society.

To describe the customers and employees of 11-Worth being irreparably harmed by the demonstrators is not just laughable, it is obscene. The only harm they have encountered is from Mr. Caniglias unwillingness to apologize for the racist remarks of his son and his own use of a disgusting, racist symbol of oppression on his menu. Tell me, Mr. Caniglia, would you eat in a restaurant that had a dish named after Mussolini on the menu?

Rev. Richard Lane Bailey, Plattsmouth, Neb.

11-Worth closing

The Caniglia family restaurants have been a mainstay in the Omaha community for many years. My wife and I and friends went to the 11-Worth Caf for breakfast on Sunday mornings many times over the past several years, and it was always crowded. We even enjoyed waiting for a table while we chatted with others who were white, black and shades in between. The food was great and in large portions and not expensive. The wait staff was friendly and efficient and also white, black and shades in between.

We were waiting for the coronavirus to slow down before returning and are now very disappointed that we never will.

One never knows if a peaceful protest will actually be peaceful and safe. Just the threat of violence can be damaging to businesses where they occur. So, to protest organizer David Mitchell and your followers, you were successful in winning your feud with the Caniglia family, putting a good and popular restaurant out of business and making a number of good people unemployed. I bet youre proud of yourselves.

Don Sachs, Council Bluffs

See the rest here:
The Public Pulse: Wrong decision on masks; Example of white blindness; 11-Worth closing - Omaha World-Herald

TuesdayJun16,2020at12:01AM

Don, I have read your columns and enjoyed your contributions ever since Comic News was in print. But, wow: todays Forgive the rookies column was such a shocking example of white cluelessness that it took my breath away.

You missed the boat so widely that I urge you to apologize before you become a viral hashtag. Please, at least run this by more Black leaders and friends.

I know you didnt intend this, but please understand that your column is a telling example of blindness and privilege. Do you see how you are speaking for blacks, telling them from your place of safety and privilege how they should respond?

Your point about rookie cops was a valid one. But then you took it too far: You actually advised George Floyds family to forgive and you quoted Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., appropriating him, assuming you knew that he would agree with you! Please do not tell anyone who has been disenfranchised or abused how or when to forgive.

What whites need to be doing right now is listening: shutting up, stepping away from the podium, and listening.

Black voices matter. Black feelings matter.

Heather Henderson, Eugene

Excerpt from:
A telling example of blindness and privilege - Opinion - The Register-Guard

Scotland is experiencing a surge in the spread of toxic Giant Hogweed Britains most dangerous plant.

Giant Hogweed is reportedly thriving in lockdown as a result of mild weather and restrictions on maintenance due to Covid-19.

The invasive species contains a sap which can cause extreme third degree burns and blindness if it has contact with eyes, and can even prove fatal to dogs and other animals.

In Dumfries, crime author Karl Drinkwater spotted and 12ft high stem of the plant while walking with his girlfriend near the River Nith.

He told the Record: It seems like the best approach is just to educate people, and for parents to educate their kids, so that people recognise it and are careful around it.

Volunteers armed with herbicide, weedkiller, help maintain the plant across the country.

If left unkept, the plant can thrive especially along Scotlands rivers and coastal routes.

Stuart Brabbs, from the charity Ayrshire River Trust, has been involved in the strategy to maintain it on the River Ayr but says a lack of funding and the constraints of Covid-19 and Brexit have made the plant more difficult to keep at bay.

Stuart told the Record: Its a dangerous plant if you come into contact with it or even brush against it.

It reacts with the sunlight and can cause severe burns.

If someone goes to cut it or takes a strimme r to it they could run the risk of getting it in their eyes which in some cases can cause blindness.

The seed bank for this plant is enormous and can contain around 50-60 thousand seeds which remain viable in the ground for years.

If you have a control plan and then stop, within a short space of time it will grow rapidly.

This year we have received no funding.

"There has also been a spread at the Tarbolton Landfill where it is spreading out of control since the landfill went into receivership."

Giant Hogweed was introduced to Scotland by horticulturists in the 19th Century but it soon spread out of control.

It can often be referred to as giant cow parsley due to its similarities with parsley stalk.

Stuart added: We felt we were heading towards eradication in Ayrshire but theres only so much a charity can do.

I have started hearing reports for the first time of sightings along to coastline of Troon.

We would encourage everybody to avoid contact with this plant.

I think it is possible that Covid 19 will also impact environmental strategies and charitable organisations like ourselves as funding has been noticeably diverted away from environmental actions towards community initiatives tackling hardship.

He continued: Nationally this is a huge problem until SEPA and the Scottish Government tackle it.

Invasive species is one of the things that causes downgrades in our rivers.

Its spreads fast and it will only get worse.

Stuart also believes complications with funding due to Brexit will leave the control strategies in jeopardy.

He said: We will not be able to apply for European funding and that will leave us to the Scottish and UK Government, Im very concerned about that.

For charities and environmental strategies who tirelessly to control invasive species theres uncertainty.

You can report a sighting of Giant Hogweed here.

Read the original here:
Toxic plant that can cause blindness and third degree burns thriving in Scotland - Daily Record

The national conference will be held virtually on June 25-27, providing the latest in science and research, practical adapting and thriving, and an opportunity to connect with others who are visually impaired

COLUMBIA, Md., June 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The Foundation Fighting Blindness,the world's leading organization searching for treatments and cures for inherited retinal diseases, will host its VISIONS 2020 national conference virtually on June 25-27, 2020. This new approach to the biennial event will be a free virtual experience, providing a wide range of science and research presentations, practical adapting and thriving sessions, and an opportunity to connect individuals who are affected by visual impairments from across the country.

Participants of Virtual VISIONS 2020 are invited to join live for the opening presentation, "Mission Possible! What's Next for Gene Therapy?" presented by Dr. Shannon Boye, associate professor at University of Florida, and Dr. Ben Yerxa, chief executive officer at the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Paul Karos will serve as the keynote speaker presenting, "Building a Life Beyond Retinal Diseases," sharing his story of living with a visual impairment.

Additional Virtual VISIONS 2020 presentations will include:

"Our new virtual approach to VISIONS 2020 will still allow our Fighting Blindness community to come together and learn about the tremendous progress being made by Foundation funded scientists and clinical researchers," says Ben Yerxa, PhD, chief executive officer at the Foundation Fighting Blindness. "We look forward to bringing this one-of-a-kind virtual experience to our community."

Virtual VISIONS 2020 sponsors include Gold Partner & Accessibility Underwriter, Spark Therapeutics; and Silver Partners, Biogen and Genentech; and Bronze Partners, AGTC, Ora Clinical and Janssen.

To register for Virtual VISIONS 2020 or learn more, visit FightingBlindness.org/VISIONS2020.

About the Foundation Fighting BlindnessEstablished in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world's leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $760 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of inherited retinal diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

Media Contacts:Chris Adams Vice President, Marketing & Communicationscadams@fightingblindness.org (410) 423-0585

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/foundation-fighting-blindness-to-host-virtual-visions-2020-conference-301077328.html

SOURCE Foundation Fighting Blindness

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Foundation Fighting Blindness to Host Virtual VISIONS 2020 Conference - Yahoo Finance

Prevent Blindness urges the public to celebrate the 4th of July safely this year and avoid using fireworks.

CHICAGO (PRWEB) June 17, 2020

Every year, thousands of Americans are injured due to fireworks, specifically during the 4th of July holiday period. And, according to a recent study, Assessment of Firework-Related Ocular Injury in the US in JAMA Ophthalmology, more than 34,000 firework-related ocular injuries were seen in U.S. emergency departments during the 19-year study period. Ocular burns were the most frequent type of eye injury from fireworks, and bottle rockets were a common firework type that disproportionally caused serious ocular injury, including ruptured globe.

Prevent Blindness, the nations oldest volunteer eye health and safety non-profit organization, urges all consumers to celebrate the holiday safely without using fireworks. Children are at higher risk for injuries from fireworks. The most recent report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that children 10 to 14 years of age had the highest estimated rate of emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries, while older teens, 15 to 19 years of age, had the second highest estimated rate.

According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, Massachusetts is the only state that bans all consumer fireworks, while Illinois, Ohio and Vermont allow only wire or wood stick sparklers and other novelty items. Across the country, many ordinances vary within each state and between different municipalities.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many public displays of fireworks have been cancelled. For those that are still being held, Prevent Blindness warns that anyone who attends a professional display must still be cautious, as accidents and injuries may also occur due to the erratic or unpredictable nature of fireworks.

Prevent Blindness offers alternative ideas to celebrate the holiday safely:

There are so many ways for families to celebrate Independence Day safely without using fireworks, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. We urge everyone to avoid fireworks and spend the 4th of July with family and friends, instead of in the emergency room.

For more information on the dangers of fireworks, please call Prevent Blindness at (800) 331-2020, or visit http://www.PreventBlindness.org/fireworks.

About Prevent Blindness Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020. Or, visit us on the Web at http://www.preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness.

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Prevent Blindness Warns Public About the Impact of Firework Injuries to Healthy Eyesight - PR Web

A new research report by IMARC Group, titled Vision Care Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2020-2025, estimates that the global vision care market reached a value of US$ 60.9 Billion in 2019. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market value to reach US$ 72.3 Billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 2.8% during 2020-2025. Eyes are a type of sensory organs which provide vision and help human beings to process visual details. It is essential to take care of the eyes as they are sensitive to trauma, inflammation and infection which can further result in blindness. Good vision plays a vital role in performing various activities such as writing, reading and watching TV among others. It also has a significant effect on the several abilities of a person which include developmental learning, communication and work. Poor vision can impact the day-to-day life of an individual and can also give rise to the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Request for a sample copy of this report: https://bit.ly/2YVksqh

Market Drivers/Constraints:

There has been a significant rise in the usage of electronic devices such as personal computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets among other devices. As a result, the prevalence of vision-related problems has increased which acts as one of the major factors driving the growth of the market.

There has been a shift towards contact lenses since they have emerged as a better alternative to eye glasses on account of enhanced comfort and vision. This, in turn, has contributed towards an augmented demand for a better vision care across the globe.

Some of the other factors which are positively influencing the growth of the global vision care market include growing brand awareness, changing lifestyles, rising pollution and increasing consciousness among consumers about the importance of a healthy vision.

However, there are a large number of counterfeit products available in the market which can lead to a further damage to the vision. This is one of the primary obstacles which is impeding the growth of the market.

Buy full report with detailed TOC and list of figures and tables: https://bit.ly/2zR6MnI

Insights on Market Segmentation:

Breakup by Product Type

1. Glass Lenses

2. Contact Lenses

3. Intraocular Lenses

4. Contact Solutions

5. Lasik Equipment

6. Artificial Tears

Based on product type, the market has been segmented into glass lenses, contact lenses, intraocular lenses, contact solutions, Lasik equipments and artificial tears. Currently, glass lenses dominate the market owing to the rising prevalence of eye disorders.

Breakup by Distribution Channel

1. Retail Stores

2. Online Stores

3. Clinics

4. Hospitals

On the basis of distribution channel, the market has been segregated into retail stores, online stores and clinics. Amongst these, retail stores hold the majority of the market share and represent the most popular distribution channel.

Breakup by Region

1. North America

2. Europe

3. Asia Pacific

4. Latin America

5. Middle East and Africa

On a geographical front, North America enjoys the leading position in the global vision care market. This can be attributed to the increasing demand for disposable contact lenses along with the rising cases of glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy across the region. North America is followed by Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa.

Competitive Landscape:

The market is highly fragmented with the presence of numerous small and large manufacturers who compete in terms of prices and quality. Some of the leading players operating in the market are:

Johnson & JohnsonCooperBausch (Valeant Pharmaceuticals)EssilorNovartis AG

About Us

IMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.

IMARCs information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the companys expertise.

Contact Us

IMARC GroupUSA: +1-631-791-1145Email: [emailprotected]Website: https://www.imarcgroup.comFollow us on twitter: @imarcglobal

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COVID-19 Impact on Global Vision Care Market Report 2020, Industry Trends, Share, Size and Forecast Till 2025 - Medic Insider

In a study earlier this year accepted to the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO) 2020, Google researchers investigate the properties of AI software agents that employ self-attention bottlenecks. They claim that these agents not only demonstrate an aptitude for solving challenging vision-based tasks, but that theyre better at tackling slight modifications of the tasks, due to their blindness to details that might confuse them.

Inattentional blindness is the phenomenon that causes a person to miss things in plain sight; its a consequence of selective attention, a mechanism thats believed to enable humans to condense information into a form compact enough for decision-making. Luminaries like Yann LeCunassert it can inspire the design of AI systems that better mimic the elegance and efficiency of biological organisms.

The Google researchers proposed agent AttentionAgent aims to devote most of its attention to task-relevant elements, ignoring distractions. To achieve this, the system segments input images into patches and relies on a self-attention architecture to vote on patches and elect a subset. The elected patches guide AttentionAgents actions as it keeps apprised of changes in the input data, tracking how important factors evolve over time.

In experiments, the team showed that AttentionAgent learned to attend to a range of regions in the images. For instance, they trained it to survive on a level within VizDoom, a digital research environment built on the first-person shooter game Doom, even in environments with walls, floor textures, and signage that it hadnt encountered before. And on the CarRacing game within OpenAIs Gym, a toolkit for developing and comparing reinforcement learning algorithms, AttentionAgent learned to drive during a sunny day and transfer its skills to driving at night, on a rainy day, in a different car, with brighter or darker scenery, and in the presence of visual artifacts. Perhaps more impressively, training in CarRacing required 1,000 times fewer parameters the variables internal to the system that inform its predictions than conventional methods that fail to generalize.

Despite the encouraging results, the researchers note AttentionAgent has serious limitations. It doesnt generalize to cases where dramatic background changes are involved, for example; an agent trained on the CarRacing with a green grass background failed to generalize when the background was replaced with distracting YouTube videos. When the background was replaced with uniform noise, the agent attended to random patches of noise. And while training an agent from scratch with the noisy background enabled it to get around the track, its performance was mediocre.

To motivate future, improved work in selective attention, the researchers released a suite of car racing tasks that involve environmental modifications. Its now available in open source on GitHub. The simplistic method we use to extract information from important patches may be inadequate for more complicated tasks, wrote coauthors Yujin Tang, a research software engineer at Google, and David Ha, a staff research scientist at Google Research in Tokyo. How we can learn more meaningful features, and perhaps even extract symbolic information from the visual input will be an exciting future direction.

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Google builds AI agent that learns to generalize to new environments by ignoring distractions - VentureBeat

The Verify team looked into online rumors that toxic fumes like tear gas can cause blindness if people wear contacts. Our experts say this is false.

Can toxic fumes like tear gas cause blindness if people are wearing contacts?

No. Contacts could soak in the fumes, or act as a reservoir for these fumes, which could cause increased pain and possible damage if kept on the eye for a long period of time. However, there is no evidence that it could cause blindness.

Dr. Lyndon Jones, Centre For Ocular Research and Education at the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Ravi Goel, American Academy of Ophthalmology

After a week of protests, over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, there have been a number of social media rumors popping up as a result. Some on social media have started to make a pretty dramatic claim about the effects of tear gas.

"Do not wear contacts to any protest," wrote one person on Twitter. "When exposed with tear gas, your contacts will burn and glue to your eye, causing you to become permanently blind."

The claim is certainly enough to scare those who might be heading to a protest.

To find the truth, the Verify team reached out to Dr. Lyndon Jones, The Director of the Centre for Ocular Research and Education at the University of Waterloo.

He addressed the rumor head-on.

"Contact lenses dont get glued to your eye," he said. "Thats actually physically impossible. Theres always a layer of tears behind the lens. It might feel thats the case because its so excruciatingly painful."

Jones explained that there are different types of gas that might be used at a protest. Tear gas, which is man-made, is likely the most well-known of the substances, but it's not the only one being used.

During Washington, D.C. protests, reporter Nathan Baca found a canister, labeled as "Oleoresins Capiscum," or OC for short. Johnson said that this is a scientific name for pepper spray, which is a natural substance.

"Pepper Spray, the oil-based one, could potentially be soaked up by the contact lens and then be held against the eye," Johnson said. "So that might make a difference."

Dr. Ravi Goel, the Spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, agreed, saying that these lenses could act as a "reservoir," holding in the fumes. He said that contact lenses can cause serious damage, if left in for a long period of time, after tear gas is released.

"It can be a liability," he said. "If there's a gas or physical trauma."

So we can verify, wearing contacts when hit with tear bad will not cause blindness. However, it could keep the fumes in your eye longer and cause more irritation.

For that reason, it might be a good idea to bring goggles to cover your eyes, or simply wear glasses, if there's a chance of facing these fumes.

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VERIFY: Is it safe to wear contacts to a protest or can tear gas cause blindness? - WUSA9.com

NewsHealthGold 'nanobars' absorb heat of near-infrared light helping to repair damaged retina cells

Thursday, 4th June 2020, 7:00 pm

They are hopeful that their technique could be available on the health service within a decade although they caution that much more work is needed to determine the process is safe and effective first.

Experiments on mice showed the new technique effectively restored sight in mice with macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

It will now be tested on humans in a huge clinical trial.

Golden Eye

We are very excited indeed by our findings, said Daniel Hillier, of the German Primate Center in Gttingen.

"We believe that near-infrared stimulation is an important step towards providing useful vision to blind patients so that they can regain their ability to read or see faces", said Dr Hillier.

The technique involves implanting billions of gold miniscule nanobars into the retina. These capture near-infrared light rays, absorbing their heat and slowly releasing it into the eye.

The heat makes the damaged photoreceptors vibrate and that movement helps them bind with functional genes delivered to the retina at the same time through a separate injection - and sight is restored.

Hope for blind people

"We want to give hope to blind people with these findings and will further intensify our research activities in this area. We have also demonstrated this method in cultured human retinas [in the lab], so the next step is clinical trials, said Dr Hillier.

The good thing is that the core component [the delivery system for the functional genes] is already approved for clinical use. Therefore I expect the human trials to be relatively straightforward, he said.

Macular degeneration is one of the major reasons for visual impairment, with nearly 200 million people affected worldwide. Photoreceptors in the retina are responsible for capturing the light. Diseased photoreceptors lose their sensitivity to light, which can lead to impaired vision or even complete blindness.

The study is published in the journal Science.

Original post:
How billions of tiny gold flecks could help restore vision and treat blindness - inews

By JENERALI ULIMWENGUMore by this Author

A motorist suddenly stops in the midst of a rush-hour traffic jam and starts flailing his arms before his face in obvious panic. Then another driver, then another, then another.

The traffic jam is building behind the first commuter, until somebody from the long line behind the first character moves over to the car causing all the blockage, and discovers in horror that the man they have all been hooting at is blind as an owl, and is totally helpless.

This is the beginning of Blindness, a superb novel by Portuguese winner of the Nobel award for literature, Jose Saramago, now sadly passed, a novel that frequently reminds me of how a sudden affliction can change the way we behave with ourselves and with each other.

In Blindness it soon becomes clear that nearly everyone in that town (no name places, no country, no people names, no dates, no season) is going blind, and in a short time a new order is established where practically everyone is blind, and a new hierarchy and social order establishes itself along the lines of the limitations imposed by the mass blindness.

But this is society, and it shall, perforce, be social; this means it has to adapt to the new realities of sightlessness. Some members of the society are apparently able to see a little better than others, and this gives them a slight advantage, although they pretend to be as blind as any other member; and others develop alternative faculties that set them apart from their peers.

Everyone who has some advantage or other, though blind, finds a way to pull a fast one over the others and to maximise their gains, especially when it comes to accessing goods and services whose supply is becoming strained by the affliction that has struck the whole town. (Instructively, at the very beginning, the person who helps to drive the first blind man home steals the blind mans car).

Government responses are understandably confused, seeing as it is a mighty unusual situation and no one knows how to handle it. Patients are herded into quarantines centres, and the conditions there are unbearable, with excrements and dead bodies clogging the corridors.

Rations are erratic and fought over, and those who can cheat to have extra portions have a field day. Soon there are organised gangs grabbing anything they can loot that is destined for those in the detention centres, who cannot get out because troops have been stationed outside the gate with orders to shoot any escapees.

As conditions worsen, all sorts of systems for the exploitation of the weakest members of the cohort come to the fore, with quarantine inmates forced to trade whatever earthly belongings they have, just to stay alive, until they run out of anything they can trade for a little food. Soon, the age-old sexual exploitation of women shows its ugly head.

Its this last act of abuse perpetrated against the women of the community that spurs an uprising led by the females who throw themselves against the hoodlums who have dominated them using the scourge of blindness that has afflicted their community as cover. The women thus become the spearhead of a popular uprising that overthrows the oppressive system.

Saramagos is a frightening story, but one that is easy to recognise in our present realities imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The fact that even the most distinguished virologists and epidemiologists have so little knowledge as to how this pandemic will eventually play out, makes us all blind.

As devastating as the pandemic will prove to a great many people around the globe, the smart alecks will try to take advantage of this calamitous situation, and the masses, with their usual credulity, will fall victim to all sorts of schemes and stratagems.

A short while ago I was contemplating the messaging put out to the people in Tanzania. Shall we now all come out and celebrate because we have vanquished the virus? Or, shall we continue taking all the precautionary measures to halt its spread?

In Dar es Salaam, I have witnessed people do the two at the same time, and I have wondered what the double messaging could be in aid of.

The blindness in Saramagos novel need not be the physical unseeing such as our gallant ophthalmologists have to deal with.

Blindness can be bestowed on a peopleor, rather, a people can bestow blindness on itselfwith fully functional biological eyes that have been made to see nothing.

Jenerali Ulimwengu is chairman of Raia Mwema newspaper and an advocate of the High Court in Dar es Salaam. E-mail: [emailprotected]

Read more:
Profiteers on the prowl as mass blindness is loosed upon us all - The East African

Molly Burke turned to YouTube when she lost her sight, and subsequently all her friends, at 14 years old.

Early teenage years are tough for anyone, but getting bullied and going blind on top of the hormones, puberty, and general unease sent Burke to a really dark place where she even considered suicide. It was delving deep into the world of YouTube that helped pull her out and find a new path.

"I somehow ended up stumbling upon the beauty lifestyle community and that kind of became my home on YouTube," she told Insider. "Because I found these girls who were all around my age, either 13, 14, or 15, and they were talking about all the things that I've always loved: makeup, fashion, dating all of these things that at 14 felt so important to me. And honestly, at 26, still feel important to me."

She said it was like having friends again, because these were things teenage girls talk to their friends about when they're going shopping or having sleepovers, which Burke was no longer invited to. Her former friends stopped talking to her when bullies started seeing her as an easy target.

"It kind of filled that gap in my life," she said. "I could no longer look in store windows, read magazines, or swatch lipsticks on the back of my own hand at Sephora. But I could listen to them describe the colors of the lipsticks. I could listen to them talk about what clothes were trendy."

These videos were a way for Burke to get into the world of fashion and makeup again, through listening to her new-found best friends and big sisters.

Burke knew she one day wanted to set up her own channel, but she didn't actually do it until she was 20. She said she always wanted to wait until she was at the tail end of her journey through recovery and self-acceptance rather than the beginning.

Even at 16 she had the wisdom to understand she wasn't ready, because if she set up her channel and received unkind comments they would destroy her. She knew she had to be in a place where she was fully secure with who she was.

To this day Burke gets comments saying she's faking her blindness, or suggesting she's been cured and is just continuing the facade for attention all of which are things people would say to her back when she first lost her sight.

"It's something I faced at 14 and it crushed me because it felt so invalidating to the very real pain I was living with," she said. "But because I started at 20 when I worked so hard to get through that period in my life and get to the other side, by the time I was receiving those comments, I just laughed. It didn't bother me at all. I'm like, 'Oh, look at you with your cute little ignorance.'"

Molly Burke uses criticism to fuel her. Molly Burke / YouTube

One Reddit post Burke finds particularly hilarious is dedicated to a conspiracy about how she used to be blind, but she found the cure and is keeping it to herself.

"It was like, 'She knows too much about blindness to have not at one point been blind, but I think she either found a cure or got better,'" she said. "Like blindness is the common cold that you just recover from, or like I'm harboring the cure in my two-bedroom LA apartment. Like I know the cure for blindness but I'm not going to share it."

Comments doubting Burke's disability have inspired her to highlight topics that the online world needs to know more about, such as why her eyes shake, how she can look at the camera, and why the eyes of blind people don't all look the same.

Burke uses the criticism whether it's made in good faith or is blatant trolling to energize her to make more content to educate people. This was a lesson she learned through going to five different schools and getting bullied each time.

"By the time I was in grade 11 and 12, it was just like, 'Instead of letting it tear me down, I'm gonna let it fuel me up,'" she said. "Let it fuel my fire, raise me up, push me forward."

Once Burke had been on YouTube for a while, she received a comment that has stuck with her until today. The fan said they didn't just want to hear her talk about blindness, they wanted to hear about her life, too.

For Burke it was a relief, because before YouTube she already had a successful career as a motivational speaker. She loved educating people, but for over two years she was booked solid speaking about being blind, being bullied, and mental illness.

"I was starting to feel like things were defining me again," she said. "I wanted to have another creative outlet, another way to continue to entertain and educate like I did as a motivational speaker, but about the things that also make up Molly. The other facets of who I am: the girl who loves fashion and makeup, and dogs, and funny dating stories, and yoga, and tea, and bubble baths, and all of these other things. And so that's why I started the channel."

Burke, and her trusty guide dog Gallop, now have a huge following of nearly two million subscribers. She has collaborated with some of YouTube's biggest stars, including Shane Dawson, Colleen Ballinger, and James Charles. To maximize clickbait in the titles and thumbnails, creators often refer to her as a "blind girl," which Burke has no issue with because it helps her spread awareness.

In one recent video, Burke emotionally told a story that she and Gallop face all too often. She'd reached a breaking point and had to talk about how Uber and Lyft drivers often cancel her rides when they see she has a dog with her.

"It was just a boiling point for me where I was noticing how much it was truly affecting me emotionally and how much it was weighing on me," she said. "I really needed to talk about it because at the end of the day, I do what I do in the hopes of creating change."

Burke explained in the video how one experience was a stark reminder that she isn't always treated equally because of her disability. After starring in a commercial and celebrating with her friends, her day was ruined when the ride she had ordered to get her home drove off upon seeing Gallop.

"My guide dog for me isn't a choice," she said in the video. "Gallop isn't a choice. Gallop is my mobility, he is my freedom, he is my independence. The best way I can explain it is Gallop to me is what a wheelchair is to someone who is paralyzed. It is a need, it is not a want."

Burke told Insider she believes people won't care about a cause until they are given a reason to, because there are so many issues in our world to be passionate about. That usually comes with having a family member or close friend who has a disability.

"I want to be that reason," she said. "I want people to feel connected to me enough to be that real human in their lives that makes them care about this community more and helps them understand that more."

Burke loves what she does because it combines her two passions: performing and educating. But she never intended to become the "blind girl of YouTube."

"I wanted to be one of many blind people, one of many disabled people, because their success doesn't take away from my success," she said. "Their success builds the success of our community, gaining representation and breaking barriers to the rest of society. And that's ultimately what I've always wanted."

Burke said if the blind community had more voices on YouTube, it would take a lot of pressure off her. Being a prominent blind person on YouTube means people often mistakenly think she represents the whole blind community.

"That has come with blind people being my biggest supporters and blind people being my biggest haters," she said. "Because the blind people who feel like I'm representing them love me. But the blind people who don't feel like I represent them dislike me because they don't feel like my content is authentic to them."

Burke's experience is just hers, and it shouldn't be taken as the one and only story there is. That's why she always wants to make it clear in her videos and public speaking that she is not all blind people.

"I'm Molly and Molly is blind," she said. "Don't take my experience as the experience of blindness."

Molly Burke doesn't speak for the entire blind community. Chris Sanders

In one example, Burke decided she was going to get laser hair removal on her legs, but she had never shaved before (which is a requirement before the procedure). Her mother, being an "Irish mama who grew up in the sixties," had never been that bothered about hair removal, so when the time came for Burke to ask her about it, she simply took her daughter to get waxed instead.

Burke thought it would be a fun video to film herself shaving her legs for the first time. She didn't expect the backlash she received.

"All these blind girls were like, 'You are making it seem like blind girls don't know how to take care of themselves, this is ridiculous,'" she said. "I was like, I'm sorry, did you ever hear me say that once in a video? Did you ever hear me say I'm the first blind girl ever to shave? Nope. Never said it."

The expectation to represent all blind people is not one Burke asked for, or something she thinks is fair. It's too much pressure for one person.

"I cannot bear that weight because no matter how hard I try, I can never represent every blind experience," she said, "And that's why I always encourage other blind people to make content and to share their perspective."

Another thing that divides the blind community is wheter or not they want to be cured. Burke grew up in the world of the medical model of disability, which is the belief that a cure for your disease or condition is paramount. Essentially it means seeing disability through the lens of an able-bodied person, and assuming that it must be depressing, inconvenient, and terrible.

She was literally the face of a charity whose sole goal was to find a cure for her disease a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina called Retinitis pigmentosa.

She does not think organizations and charities should stop searching for a cure, but she does want to change the way the world sees and talks about it. She's tired of the fundraisers that describe disabilities like blindness as a devastating, life-ending thing with a young girl who will "never pick her own wedding dress" or "see her family smile" because she "lives in darkness."

"If I'm being told that my whole life and then I go blind and there is no cure for me, how the hell am I supposed to feel about myself?" she said. "Depressed, broken, less than, incomplete? Like I need to be fixed or change in order to be whole, in order to be successful, in order to find love and success in life?"

#wef20

A post shared by Molly Burke (@mollyburkeofficial) on Jan 27, 2020 at 12:37pm PSTJan 27, 2020 at 12:37pm PST

Burke now believes in the social model of disability, which means tackling the misconception that the only option to be successful, happy, and whole as a disabled person is through finding a cure.

"That is absolute garbage," she said. "We as disabled people shouldn't be told that inherently we are less than or our life won't be as good because we are disabled."

The way we talk about a cure has a great impact on how we will live our lives, she said.

"It breaks my heart how many disabled people don't live life, they sit and wait for a cure," she said. "That is no way to live."

Burke went through a long journey of feeling angry, broken, and hopeless to reach where she is now: She does not want to be cured. It took around four years of discussions with her disability mentor, with whom she is still very close, to be open to hearing that her life was enough as it is, and how she would be able to live happily without a cure to her blindness.

Part of that journey was accepting that a cure for Retinitis pigmentosa will probably never be found in her lifetime. Even if there is progress, it will probably a very expensive surgery that results in a slight improvement in shadow and light perception, which Burke has decided she does not want to put herself through. Returning someone's full vision is unlikely to ever be on the cards.

She has accepted that and she feels comfortable, happy, successful, and whole knowing that blindness is just one challenge she faces. If she was cured, all her problems wouldn't be gone. Her focus would just be on a different one.

For example, blind people are less likely to get divorced, which is a statistic Burke loves.

"My friend might get divorced and I might get to live my whole life in a happy marriage," she said. "Divorce is a challenge that they have to cope with. I've learned to deal with my challenges to live with them, to accept them, and to make the most of them. And so I'm not going to change my life in the hopes that I won't have challenges anymore, because that's unrealistic."

When Burke told her parents she no longer wanted her sight back, her mom breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Oh thank God."

"She was so relieved because, as a parent, she had felt so much pressure to help me be my best self," Burke said. "And she had always been taught to think that was through a cure."

She wants more able-bodied parents of disabled children to be open to the idea of the social model of disability because it takes away the pressure of needing to "fix" their child.

"It empowers everyone to just say, 'You know what? We can make damn best of this,'" she said. "We can live our best lives, be happy with the beautiful, wonderful child we do have and empower them to feel beautiful and confident the way they are."

Burke doesn't necessarily think anyone alive right now will live to see the world completely shift to this frame of mind, but she hopes to be at least 0.01% of helping bring that change.

Guide dogs cost between $40,000 and $60,000. Chris Sanders

Burke is currently raising money for the MIRA Foundation through merch sales, which is a charity that provides guide dogs to blind people. The organization is having a really tough time right now, she said, because they are not able to train the dogs (which cost between $40,000 and $60,000) during the coronavirus pandemic and they receive no government funding.

"I'm trying to do my part right now to help my community," she said.

Her job is incredibly stressful and overwhelming at times, but she wouldn't change it for the world. She said even when she's feeling the pressure the most, she refuses to stop or slow down.

"I don't want to because I love this so much," she said. "I can be stressed and overwhelmed and overworked in a job that I hate or I can be stressed, overwhelmed and overworked in a job that I'm so passionate about."

That passion certainly comes through because her followers, both blind and sighted, can always find something to relate to. She said a lot of her content, be it swimwear hauls, hair dye attempts, or storytime videos about first dates, ultimately show her viewers "how normal I am."

"I think if you boil my experiences and story down to one thing that is relatable for everybody is that I've overcome challenges again, and again, and again," she said. "And I will continue to, and I encourage everybody else to do the same."

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Why Molly Burke, who accidentally became 'the blind girl of YouTube,' doesn't want her sight back - Insider - INSIDER

Is it legal for police officers to use tear gas on protesters? We break down when the chemical irritant can and can't be used.

For days, people across the nation have marched to protest the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on Floyds neck.

Police forces have responded to these protests with tear gas and other anti-riot measures. Protesters have posted countless photos and videos to social media showing police firing the chemical gas during the demonstrations.

The most common types of chemicals used in these agents today are chloroacetophenone and 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, according to the CDC. Usually, these chemical compounds cause a burning sensation in the eyes, nose and on the skin. Long-lasting exposure or large doses could cause blindness, respiratory failure or death, the CDC says.

Some posts claim tear gas is illegal to use in warfare - so why can police use it against civilians?

So the VERIFY team researched the rules behind tear gas.

THE QUESTION

Is the usage of tear gas a war crime?

THE ANSWER

But law enforcement can still legally use it for riot control purposes. In fact, the same agreement that banned and criminalized tear gas in warfare also specifically allowed for its use by law enforcement.

WHAT WE FOUND

The general use of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases was prohibited by the Geneva Protocol of 1925, shortly after WWI. The text of the protocol was short and did not specify beyond that what gases were banned.

The United States Senate, according to the State Department, did not ratify the treaty at the time. In fact, the United States continued to use tear gas and chemical herbicides in the Vietnam War, arguing that such chemicals were not covered by the Geneva Protocol. But other countries, especially those in the Soviet bloc, argued that the use of tear gas was prohibited by the Geneva Protocol.

A Swedish ambassador at the time argued there was a danger of escalation if nonlethal chemical agents were permitted but also pointed out that the military use of tear gases should be distinguished from their use for riot control, the State Department says.

A broader interpretation of the Geneva Protocol was then adopted and the United States eventually ratified it -- with a few riot-control exceptions -- in 1975.

In 1992, the United Nations held a convention on chemical weaponscalled the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction.

During this meeting, the organization developed a second treaty that was similar to the first, but more explicit in its guidance. The updated agreement prohibited members from using "riot control agents as a method of warfare."

That convention explicitly defined riot control gases as chemicals "which can produce rapidly in humans sensory irritation or disabling physical effects which disappear within a short time following termination of exposure," to avoid the debate that occurred following the Geneva Protocol.

But the issue provoked debate among member states. Jamil Dakwar, a representative from the ACLU, said in an interview with PRI said there was pressure to ban chemical weapons in the leadup to the Chemical Weapons Convention. He said many countries argued they would resort to more lethal methods to control their own citizens if law enforcement could not use these chemicals.

So as a compromise, the agreement again allowed an exception for the use of these chemicals for domestic riot control purposes.

Our expert also explained some of the risks involved when using these chemicals during wartime.

Richard Price, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia and the author of The Chemical Weapons Taboo, told VERIFY in an email that soldiers dont have the luxury of determining if gasses shot at them are tear gases or much more lethal chemical weapons like chlorine, mustard or what have you."

He said any gases on the frontlines could expose a country to false accusations of using illegal chemicals. Such claims could escalate the conflict further.

"The best thing to avoid potentially false accusations of prohibited lethal chemical use (that then spirals to more general use in retaliation) was to just ban them all in the context of battle.

He also explained that the Chemical Weapons Convention decided on the term "riot control" gases rather than non-lethal gases because they can kill, if in sufficient dosage and concentration, such as in a confined area, but that is very rare since they are usually used outdoors, but thats one reason why the CWC doesnt differentiate these as lethal/non-lethal gases, but rather define according to the purpose (riot control).

BOTTOM LINE

Yes, tear gas is banned for use in war. However, the same international provisions that ban it also allow law enforcement to use it domestically.

Its also incorrect to say tear gas is non-lethal. It can be lethal in confined areas, which is one reason its banned in war. Its very rarely lethal when used outdoors.

Though many countries use these chemicals for riot control purposes, their use remains controversial.

See more here:
VERIFY: Tear gas is banned from war, but not banned for use by law enforcement internationally - WUSA9.com

A Maasai man in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, prays next to a mural of George Floyd, painted by the artist Allan Mwangi on June 3. Gordwin Odhiambo/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

A Maasai man in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, prays next to a mural of George Floyd, painted by the artist Allan Mwangi on June 3.

Around the world, people have held vigils, organized protests and painted murals this week to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests taking place across America.

These events are also taking place in countries struggling with their own crises conflict, poverty, the pandemic. America's loud call for justice after the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and many more black Americans has resonated.

In Nigeria, a dozen protesters gathered in front of the U.S. embassy in Abuja with signs that said "Black life matters." In Ghana, the president tweeted a drawing of George Floyd and wrote: "Black people, the world over, are distraught by the killing of an unarmed black man."

And in Syria's war-torn city of Idlib, artist Aziz Asmar says he was moved to create a mural after watching the media coverage around Floyd's death.

"I decided to paint George Floyd on the rubble of a building destroyed by aviation ... to send a message to the world that despite the international negligence and blindness of the killing of civilians in Syria over a period of 10 years, we have a humanitarian duty to sympathize with all the oppressed in the world," he wrote to NPR. "Because we are advocates of peace, we hope that racism and crime will disappear and that the world will enjoy happiness."

Here are more examples of how people around the world are honoring black lives and demanding racial equality.

Members of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organization hold placards in silent protest at the U.S. consulate in Hyderabad, India, on June 4. Noah Seelam/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Palestinian digital artist Munes al-Salihi draws a portrait of George Floyd at his house in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on June 4. Mohammed Abed/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

A woman holds a sign saying "Justice for George Floyd" in Spanish in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 2. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

A man kneels during a protest against police brutality in Mexico City on June 4. Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images hide caption

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PHOTOS: The Global South Shows Solidarity For George Floyd : Goats and Soda - NPR

Scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Rochester aim to use virtual reality to help restore vision for people with stroke-induced blindness. The team of researchers led by Gabriel Diaz, associate professor at RITs Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a method they believe could revolutionize rehabilitation for patients with cortically-induced blindness. The condition afflicts about 1% of the population over age 50.

While there are well-established therapies to help stroke patients regain their motor functions, there are no standardized rehabilitation strategies to restore lost vision. Over the past 10 years, Krystel Huxlin, the James V. Aquavella, M.D. Professor in Ophthalmology at URs Flaum Eye Institute, has found that these patients can regain portions of their vision through targeted exercises that force them to use the blind portions of their visual field. Huxlin and Diaz believe virtual reality could be a key to helping this form of treatment take the next step.

The goal of this work is to build upon Dr. Huxlins methodologies in a few ways, said Diaz, the principal investigator of the grant. One major limitation of the current methodology is that people cannot train as effectively at home if theyre not under the supervision of a researcher whos using an eye tracker. Eye trackers are an emerging technology in the field of virtual reality and were going to develop a training apparatus that could be used at home.

Built-in eye trackers in virtual reality headsets will allow patients to ensure they are fixated on the correct spot and doing the exercises properly. Huxlin said that the eye-tracking technology plus cost savings will make the exercises much more effective at home for patients.

We can do it in the lab right now with a desktop and a desktop-mounted eye tracker, but thats a $40,000 device on top of the computer itself, said Huxlin, a consultant on the project, and close collaborator of Diaz. So, its completely impractical to deploy into a patients home. Its too expensive and even if you were able to afford it, its almost impossible to self-calibrate and use the system on yourself. You have to have another person do the calibration on you.

Virtual reality also has the added benefit of making the exercises multisensory, adding audio cues in addition to visual stimuli. Research suggests that the audio and visual systems are interconnected, so the team will see if sound cues can help accelerate visual rehabilitation. Ross Maddox, assistant professor in URs Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience, is providing expert consultation in this realm.

Preliminary testing is already underway. Catherine Fromm, an RIT imaging science Ph.D. student, has been conducting research on the virtual reality components in Diazs Perception for Movement (PerForM) Lab. Diaz will also seek out undergraduate students to help modify eye tracking equipment for the project.

For more information, visit the NIH website.

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RIT faculty earns NIH grant to use virtual reality to help stroke patients regain lost vision | College of Science - RIT University News Services

First and always foremost, rest in peace, George Floyd. May justice for him and for all Black people be swift and unyielding.

Second and less significantly, this is a piece that reflects my experience. It is not, however, a commentary on Black lives, on George Floyds murder or on the systemic oppression that Black individuals must confront each and every day. It is clear to me, and should be clear to all, that those of us who are not Black should not impose our opinions and perspectives on Black issues, Black oppression and the lived experiences of Black people. We need to amplify those marginalized voices and, for once, shut up and listen.

Our two cents are worth nothing when it is not pennies that Black men and women seek; it is freedom.

Now that weve established those realities, there is a real injustice that I felt obliged to speak on. As the key events within the George Floyd murder continued to be revealed, it was reported that the store that Floyd attempted to use a counterfeit bill at was owned and operated by an Arab man, Mahmoud (Mike) Abumayyaleh. As rumors swirled surrounding Abumayyalehs role in the arrival of the police, many Arab-American journalists began calling out not only Abumayyaleh for engaging with the police, but more broadly the realities of racism among the Arab peoplemy people.

It was later revealed that Abumayyaleh was not the one who called the police, but rather one of his employees did. A spokesman for Abumayyaleh emphasized that store protocol mandates employees call the police when counterfeit bills are used. However, it is impossible to excuse his employees behavior as mere obedience. How could he not have understood the tragic realities of calling the police on a Black man in America, that exposing an individual to a life-threatening situation over 20 fake dollars is not just an unfair tradeits deadly.

Abumayyaleh has since spoken out in grief over the murder, explaining that his employees were following protocol and justifiably blaming the four policemen who committed the murder. The store owner made his remorse clear: By simply following procedure we are putting our communities in dangerwe must stand together to fight institutional racism.

Perhaps Abumayyaleh has known of the risks of law enforcement and systemic racism for a long time, or perhaps he discovered this when his employees called him crying, helpless as those murderers in blue slowly sucked the air out of George Floyds windpipe. At some point, Abumayyaleh realized that following state-authorized instructions to police a Black man within a system founded upon shackled and chained Black bodies is not just a bad ideaits deadly.

Conversations surrounding Abumayyaleh extended beyond his shop and began to address some of the ugly racial realities of the Arab world. Many Arabs are anti-Black. Institutionalized racism in the Middle East does not look like its American counterpart, but it exists. This division is ingrained into Arab culture and is one that has seeped into the Arab people.

I did not see this oppression within my own culture for the longest time, though often it existed right in front me. My privilege as a Arab man allowed me to ignore the realities of racial injustice in my own backyard. However, in the fight for Black freedom, I cannot confront American racial injustice while continuing to ignore the grim racist realities of my own home. The fight must start from within.

We are the children of a generation whose name for Black peopleabdliterally means slave. We are the consequences of a government that built the Kafala system, which leaves the legal status of migrant workers in the hands of their employer.

Many white-passing Arabs are conscious of their own racial prejudice toward their darker-skinned counterparts. Theres a reason that the Sudanese revolution of 2018 was, for many Sudanese protesters, an African revolution. Being marginalized for their skin color for decades left those same Sudanese people frustrated at the state of their Arab identity. Sudanese people, in large part due to the color of their skin, have been often pushed aside in the conversation of Arabhood, and treated as second-class citizens among those who even choose to acknowledge the African country at all. So for those Sudanese people who fled their revolting country in search of monetary freedom elsewhere in the Middle East, they were instead met with racial slurs and an economic system that essentially enslaved them.

The outcome then, tragically, for those Black individuals who entered the Middle East was not so different from the stories of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.

Alem Dechesa fled her native Ethiopia to my home country, Lebanon, in search of work as a maid. What she found was not a financial haven, but a hellish reality. Severely beaten, verbally berated and consistently abused for months, Dechesa took her own life. For many Ethiopians, Dechesas suicide was not a surprise. It was the culmination of the tragic realities that they face everydayas was Floyds murder for many Black people.

These are the racial intersections that are still ignored and that still need to be faced by those who so easily turn the other cheek. We have a responsibility as people of minority groups to support the battle for justice. Arabs experience our ownvery differentset of injustices and discriminations within the United States. Yet when we stand, fists raised, without addressing the racism within our own backgrounds, the validity of our support is compromised.

This is not an easy reality to swallow. Accepting that youve stood idle as institutionalized racism decimated Black bodies around you is difficult to accept. Furthermore, coming to terms with your own racialized and prejudiced roots while simultaneously opposing racism outside your home is perhaps an even more difficult epiphany to have. But if justice is your goal, it is necessary. If we intend to uphold the truth behind our protests, our chants, our actions, then we must bring that energy to fight the systems of racism that exist in our homes, and help elevate the Black bodies who suffered on our soil for so long.

An acknowledgement of not only our privilege but our role in the systemic racism in our own homes is perhaps the most necessary personal action a minority protestor can take. Understanding how racism has benefited you and how it has forced you quiet is the first and most significant step in undoing that silence and freeing our Black brothers and sisters.

We are not for change until we return to the places that raised us, and raise that same clenched fist to those roots that remain corrupted and rotten.

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Reflecting on our roots: on Arabs, racism and ignorance - Miscellany News

Pepper spray as a weapon: Why police use the 'riot-control agent' at protests

Pepper spray has been used a lot recently due to the protests involving the death of George Floyd. So what is it and is it deadly?

USA TODAY

As crowds gather across the country to protest the death of George Floyd, authorities meet them with tear gas and pepper spray in attempt to prevent moreviolence.

While some protests have ended peacefully, others in cities like Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and St. Louis have beenconfronted with a line of police in riot gearfiring tear gas and projectiles into crowds protesting the death of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis.

In some incidents, members of the news media appeared to betargeted, by police and protesters alike. On Saturday night,Branden Hunter, a reporter for the Detroit Free Press, went to an emergency room in Detroit after police administered tear gas during a protest.

It's not the first time these "riot agents"were used by authorities to disperse crowds of protesters and it certainly wont bethe last. If youre planning to join one of these protests, heres what you need to know to protect yourself against tear gas and pepper spray.

Viral photos:A photo page of striking moments from the weeks protests.

Pepper spray is a lachrymatory agent, which means it stimulates the eyes to produce tears.

The main active ingredient in pepper spray is an oil known as oleoresin capsicum, the same agent that provides heat in chili peppers, according to Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician in New York City.

Pepper spray is typically dispersed into the air as an aerosol or as small particles in a liquid spray, according tothe National Capital Poison Center. Pepper sprays and mists can travel 8 to 12 feet, saidSabre, a popular brand of pepper spray. Gel sprays can travel 20% farther.

The chemical irritant can cause a feeling of bubbling or boiling in your eyes, temporary blindness and eye pain. The effects can last 30 to 45 minutes. Glatter said symptoms also may includeburning in the throat, wheezing, dry cough, gagging and difficulty speaking.

People who inhale pepper spray may develop a sudden elevation of blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack, he said. Those with asthma also maybe at higher risk for complications.

Skin exposure can cause pain, redness, swelling and itching, according to the National Capital Poison Center.

Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, medical director at National Capital Poison Center, said that even though pepper spray is technically a natural agent, it can still cause great harm, especially to those with underlying conditions.

"Some people interpret natural as safe, and thats definitely not true," she said.

Johnson-Arbor urgedprotesters who experience the effects of pepper spray for more than an hour to seek medical care.

Glatter saidthe most important thing to remember is not to rub your eyes if you get sprayed because it will spread the compound deeper into the eye.

Immediately blinking allows tears to help flush away some of the oils contained in the pepper spray. He recommendedusing baby shampoo or diluted dish-washing soap with water to remove them.

While many people are seen on television pouring milk on their face after being pepper-sprayed during protests, Glatter said that only helps reduce the burning sensation but doesn't remove any of the oil.

Johnson-Arbor said there is no scientific evidence to prove baby shampoo works against pepper spray. A 2018 study found no difference between baby shampoo or plain water.

"Water overall is the best treatment that people can use," she said.

But a simple8-ouncebottle of water won't do.Johnson-Arbor advised people beprepared with lots of water if they expect authorities to disperse riot agents during a protest.

Tear gas isnt technically a gas, Glatter said. Its a powder that is heated and mixed with a liquid or solvent and released from canisters as an aerosol.

There are different types of tear gas. The two commonly used by law enforcement are 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS) and chloroacetophenone (CN).

Glattersaid tear gas should be considered a nerve agent in that it doesnt just irritate cells, but it also activates specific pain receptors leading to intense and burning pain on all affected areas. It can cause pain and burning in the eyes, mucous membranes, throat, lungs and skin.

Along with pain and tear production, tear gas also causes exaggerated muscle cramping in the eye and sensitivity to light that leads to eye closure, Glatter said.

Tear gas can affect every part of the body. People can experience burning in the nose, nasal mucosal swellingand a running nose. Other effects include difficulty swallowing, drooling and severe burning inside the mouth and on the tongue.

People with asthma or chronic inflammatory lung disease (COPD) are most at risk for severe complications as a result of tear gas. Glatter said tear gas can cause an asthma attack or dangerous swelling in the upper airway that could lead to asphyxiation and even death.

"If you dont experience such devastating airway or respiratory effects, your skin feels like its on fire, he said.

Actual burns and blisters could form as a result. Ingestion of tear gas through the mouth can also lead to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

You get it not a pretty picture, Glatter said.

Johnson-Arbor strongly urges people not to pick up tear gas canisters. She hasseen reports ofprotesters throwing them back at authorities, a practice that canbe dangerous.

Tear gas canisters can detonate, exposing protesters to propellants, solvents and explosives. Johnson-Arbor noted reports of brain injuries in previous years as a result of exploding tear gas canisters.

If the canisters are about to explode, they can also be very hot and cause burn injuries if picked up.

"If a canister lands nearby, then get out of the way," she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionrecommends immediately leavingthe area and getting tofresh air quickly if exposed to tear gasor similarriot control agents.

If the tear gas was released outdoors, the agency advisesseekingthe highest ground possible as the dense vapor cloud travelsclose to the ground. If exposed indoors, people should leave the building as soon as possible.

The CDC says people should quickly take off any clothing that may have tear gas on it. If clothing needs to be pulled over the head, like a shirt or sweater, Glatter said it must be cut off to limitexposure to the eyes or mouth.

People should place all removed clothes in a plastic bag and wash any tear gas from skin as quickly as possible with soap and water. They should not use soap for the eyes. For burning eyes or blurred vision, the CDC recommends risingeyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes.

Glatter said contact lenses should be removed with clean gloves and glasses should be washed with soap and water. Glasses can be used again, but the CDC advises against reusing the contacts, even if theyre not disposable.

While theres no approved antidote for tear gas, Glatter said theres a few home remedies that could help ease the effects after exposure. He said some people use lemon juice or antacids such as Maalox water.

That said, water remains the most available and effective solvent for irrigation in the setting of any type of ocular burn, he said.

Experts saylow level agents such as pepper spray and tear gas dont usually result in permanent or long-lasting health effects, but exposure to higher concentrations can be more harmful.

Glatter said significant damage to the corneal epithelium, the outermost layer of the cornea, could lead to visual impairment. Other complications include laryngospasm, a spasm of the vocal cords, or pulmonary edema, fluid in the lungs, in people with a history of lung disease.

Cases of prolonged exposure could result in first- and second-degree burns and blistering. The CDC recommendedtreating with standard burn management techniques including use of medicated bandages.

Glatter said children as well as those with chronic lung disease, hypersensitivity syndromes and older people with heart and kidney disease are more at risk for severe outcomes of pepper spray or tear gas.

Johnson-Arbor urgedprotesters to be prepared if they anticipate authorities to disperse tear gas or use pepper spray.

They should dress in long sleeves and pants so the agents can't come in contact with skin. They should not wear contact lenses to protests, becausetear gas or pepper sprayparticles can get stuck between the eye and lens and cause damage.

She suggested protesters wear some protective gear such as goggles. While many protesters are seen with cloth masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus, Johnson-Arbor said they won't do much against tear gas or pepper spray.

While they provide some protection, cloth masks have varying degrees of filtration, aren't tight-fittingand not medical grade. There are no studies of how pepper spray or tear gas penetrates cloth masks, and most masks are open on either side.

"Overall, the masks may provide some protection but it won't be enough to avoid exposure overall," Johnson-Arbor said.

Lastly, she advisedpeople to arm themselves with enough waterto thoroughly irrigate their eyes if exposed to pepper spray or tear gas.

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Protesters should know how to protect themselves from tear gas, pepper spray - USA TODAY

Eli Harold, Colin Kaepernick, and Eric Reid of the San Francisco 49ers kneel in protest during the anthem in October, 2016 in New York. (Michael Zagaris / San Francisco 49ers / Getty)

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The question often asked is What happened? What happened to the kneeling protests against racist police violence that were staged during the national anthem by Colin Kaepernick and so many others? What happened to black athletes centering themselves as critical voices of dissent? Were they stifled by Trump? Have they been silenced by the fear that they could be Kaepernicked and denied a right to make a living?Ad Policy

Everyone has theories on the state of athletic political consciousness, but my answer has always been the same: This country is a pressure cooker of racist police violence, and it would just take one incident, probably caught on tape, to see athletes speaking out once again. In other words, the question of whether athletes would make themselves heard would be determined by the police. If they continued with their racist, violent ways, there would be a reaction.

We are seeing one right now following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Its not taking a knee, in the time of a pandemic that has canceled games, but silence for many is clearly not an option. Athletes have taken to social media to express their rage, and even some of the typical bigoted scolds on the sports media landscape have remained mum, at least as of this writing. This eruption of athletic anger matters, because these athletes have massive followings of white fans who will now have to reckon with Floyds murder. These athletes are puncturing the bubble that white people have the luxury of living in: a bubble in which they do not feel fear when they see a police officer. Athletes have a unique ability to reach those people, which is exactly why, since the days of Jack Johnson over a century ago, their platform has been policed so mercilessly.

One example is former NBA player Stephen Jackson. Captain Jack knew Floyd and bore a striking resemblance to the manhe and Floyd called each other twin. Jackson spoke out in a series of posts, in one saying, Either you side with whats right or you condone whats wrong you cant love me and not love my people.

Many others, including Kaepernick and LeBron James, shared a widely circulated photo of (now fired) Officer Derek Chauvin on one knee, in the process of killing George Floyd, counterposed with Kaepernick peacefully protesting, also of course on one knee. James also posted a story on Instagram about Floyds murder with the caption, Were hunted.

Hall of Fame WNBA player Lisa Leslie weighed in, tweeting,

If anybody that follows me is not outraged about these senseless attacks on BLACK MEN, please stop following me! If your spirit is not disturbed, please stop following me! This inflicted Pain but it will never inflict FEAR sorry, we[]re not made like that!Current Issue

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Also of note (its only of note because so few white athletes have spoken out as part of the #BlackLivesMatter struggle), J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans said in a press conference, Ive seen the video, and I think its disgusting. I think that theres no explanation. I mean, to me, it doesnt make any sense. I just dont see how a man in handcuffs on the ground, who is clearly detained and clearly saying, in distress I dont understand how that situation cant be remedied in a way that doesnt end in his death. I think that it needs to be addressed. Strongly, obviously.

Then there is Tyrone Tai Carter, a retired NFL player and Super Bowl champion who was at the front lines of the Minneapolis protests/police riot. As professor Louis Moore pointed out to me, this is a major break from the role black athletes have played in the past, when they were used to quiet down protests. Instead, there was Tai Carter saying, No justice, no peace.

Its unknown whether their anguish will break through the white bubble. We are living in highly polarized times. Income inequality has never been worse, and the powers that bemost specifically, a certain (allegedly) billionaire presidenthave ruthlessly used racism to keep people divided while the rich loot this country and continue the greatest transfer of wealth the world has ever seen without a coup or revolution. Its not just the white folks who bring automatic weapons to state capitol buildings while police yawn. Its the white people who turn a blind eye and confuse being a non-racist with being an anti-racist. I agree with the argument that it is the responsibility of white people to educate and confront other white people on their bigotry. But if athletes can move the needle a fraction toward anti-racism, that is critical work, and it should be utilized and treasured.

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The Critical Role of Athletes in Fighting White Blindness - The Nation

How can doctors diagnose and treat 425 million worldwide diabetes patients? That number keeps going up and up, projected to reach 700 million by 2045. There are millions more with undiagnosed prediabetes. Add more millions with undiagnosed hypertension. All these people are destined to lives defined by cardiovascular problems and complications that include debilitating conditions like blindness. Diabetes is swamping health care systems worldwide. Let us be clear: whatever we have been doing to fight the problem, it is not working.

But now, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is offering new possibilities. Using new technologies, data science, vast quantities of medical images, and computer algorithms, it is possible to fight diseases differently. The medical model of a patient and a doctor is outdated. We need to put AI on our health care team and use analytical methods to predict problems before they occur and to help doctors and patients make better decisions.

Computer-assisted retinal analysis (CARA) is one such technology. Developed by DIAGNOS, a Montreal-based company, CARA uses retina scans to detect early warning signs of big health problems. And CARA can do it on a scale that will make a big difference in fighting the diabetes epidemics.

The retina, the back part of the eye, is the only area of the body where doctors can easily see the condition of arteries and veins without invasive procedures. Early detection of atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) in the retinas of diabetes patients signals a warning that the same problem is occurring in coronary arteries. This is why the retina is called, the window to the heart.

Prevention is always better than cure. But this is easier said than done in many parts of the world where highly trained retinal specialists are in short supply. We are more fortunate in North America, but retinal checkups are mainly the purview of ophthalmologists focused on your eyes, not your cardiovascular system.

Type 2 diabetes has become a worldwide epidemic and an expensive problem for every health care system. Type 2 diabetes is not just a singular disease. Rather, by triggering atherosclerosis, it decreases blood supply to many parts of the body with catastrophic results. For example, longstanding diabetes increases the risk of blindness, heart attack, and kidney failure, which may require renal dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Doctors can only treat so many patients. So this problem is an example of where we can leverage technology to screen of millions of people. CARA can scan an eye in two seconds. Furthermore, it can scan hundreds of patients for hours without getting tired or making errors. We need to use AI to detect retina changes and prevent diabetes averting countless cases of blindness and other problems, improving lives, and saving dollars.

Andre Larente, president of DIAGNOS, recently remarked, CARA can now look at a patients retina, discover the presence of hypertension and predict a chance of stroke in 12 to 24 months. Given that CARA can do this across very large populations of patients, at low cost, its easy to see the appeal of this technology from a health care and economic perspective, not to mention the incentive to individual patients to reduce their risk profile.

Theres no doubt that the capacities of artificial intelligence are changing the way we can fight illness, and companies like DIAGNOS are important partners in medical practice. The key is in scaling up. CARA has accumulated a vast database of retinal photos of patients worldwide. This data can be used for predictive modeling. So the next step will be in getting this data into the hands of those who can take steps to stop the progression of illness, change conditions leading to disease, and prevent these avoidable health problems in the first place.

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, aka Ken Walker, is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Harvard Medical School. You can reach him online at his website, docgiff.com, or via email at info@ docgiff.com.

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The Doctor Game: Artificial intelligence to help avert blindness - The Westerly Sun