global briefs
Animal Rescue
Heave Ho
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Cruise Line Abandons Plastic Bottles As a result of its partnership with Just Goods, Inc., the Norwegian Cruise Line will replace single-use plastic bottles across its fleet by January 1, 2020, beginning with the Norwegian Encore. The company’s ships will feature JUST, which is 100 percent spring water in a plant-based carton made of 82 percent renewable materials from trees grown in responsibly managed forests. The cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic. It’s refillable and recyclable. Just Goods, located in Glen Falls, New York, has a global presence with bottling facilities in New York, Northern Ireland and Australia, allowing the company to meet demand around the world without shipping water from a single production source. It plans to replace more than 6 million single-use plastic bottles every year. CEO Ira Laufer says, “The company is pushing the boundaries of what’s always been done because it knows we all need to do better.”
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler has signed a directive reducing the animal testing that the agency has long required on such animals as dogs, birds, rats and fish to gauge the toxicity of chemicals before they can be bought, sold or used in the environment. The agency also authorized $4.25 million in funding for five universities to research the development and use of alternative test methods and strategies that reduce, refine or replace vertebrate animal testing. He says, “Today’s memo directs the agency to aggressively reduce animal testing, including reducing mammal study requests and funding 30 percent by 2025 and completely eliminating them by 2035.” Any mammal studies requested or funded by the EPA after 2035 will require administrator approval on a case-by-case basis. It directs leadership and staff in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention and the Office of Research and Development to prioritize and direct existing resources toward measurable impacts in the reduction of animal testing while ensuring protection of human health and the environment.
January 2020 Events
Mirabai Devi is an international spiritual teacher, facilitator for healing, author and the founder of Mirabai Devi Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to her mission of raising world consciousness through the awakening and healing of humanity.
Mirabai Devi offers Private Sessions, Lightworker Training, Public Events and Workshops and Personal Retreats in the Sarasota area. To schedule a private session in person, Skype, or by phone, or a private retreat call or email: 760-216-1029 • info@mirabaidevi.org 28
Sarasota/Manatee Edition
www.nasrq.com
Mirabai Devi will visit Sarasota from January 7th - 22nd. Mirabai will also be offering private sessions during her time in Sarasota. Friday, January 10th FREE public event, An Evening with Mirabai Devi Saturday, January 11th Increasing Your Light Vibration in the Next Decade with Mirabai Devi - 2:00pm $35 pre-register or at the door To Register: www.tinyurl.com/unitywave Saturday, January 18th For the Deeper Work with Mirabai Devi - 6:30pm $100 pre-register or at the door To Register: www.tinyurl.com/unitywave All three events will be held at the Cosmic Center of Spiritual Light, 5041 Ringwood Meadow, Bldg G-2, Sarasota
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Government Order Reduces Animal Testing