Life in South Sudan: A Glimpse into Resilience and Hope

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, gained its independence from Sudan in July 2011. Despite its rich cultural heritage and vast natural resources, the country has faced immense challenges that have significantly impacted daily life. From the ongoing civil conflict to economic struggles and humanitarian crises, life in South Sudan is marked by both adversity and resilience.

The Most Devastating Fires Of 2020

The World's Worst Fires of 2020

Strange Weather And Natural Disasters Of 2020

The Weirdest Natural Disasters of 2020

2020 was one of the most devastating on record, not just because of the pandemic but also because of the wide range of natural disasters that shook the world. These included devastating bush fires in Australia and California, one of the worst Atlantic hurricane seasons in history, and several volcanoes, flash floods, and earthquakes. There was also a fair share of weird and wonderful occurrences. Let’s look at some of the weirdest natural disasters of 2020:

The Snow Goes Green In Antarctica

Parts of snow-covered Antarctica turned green this year in a response to climate change. Warmer temperatures and melting snow resulted in blooms of algae which resulted in massive green patches forming across the winter wonderland. These algal blooms expanded at such a high rate and became so prolific that they were even visible from space.

Locusts Swam Africa and Asia

Locust swarms are not just something that happened in Biblical days. 2020 saw millions of desert locusts swam over India and East Africa. Making their way from East Africa, through Pakistan and onto the Indian states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the locusts caused severe damage to crops. Although not a direct threat to humans, locusts are some of the most destructive creatures in the world, capable of devouring large sections of crops and grasses.

The swarms were one of the worst pest attacks in over two decades and caused destruction in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, South Sudan, and Yemen. Somalia called a state of national emergency in the wake of the infestation with food security under serious threat. Again, this natural disaster has been attributed to climate change and an increase in temperatures and unusually heavy rains which have made the locusts breed and swarm in numbers. If you’re looking for better news, register here.

A Bomb Cyclone In Canada

While Atlantic Canada is known for some hectic storms, Newfoundland was hit by a record-setting bomb cyclone on the 17^th of January 2020. The cyclone brought with it the highest daily snowfall on record, covering St John’s in 30 inches of snow.

Bomb cyclones are storms that intensify very quickly, generally causing massive wind spirals at their base. This was the case in Canada where winds of 97 mph caused snowdrifts to form, some reaching 15 feet high. Vehicles, roads, and homes were buried in snow and a small avalanche even caused devastation in one resident’s home.

Midwest US Experiences Sahara Sandstorm

Africa’s Sahara Desert is no stranger to sandstorms and every sorry often plumes of air, laden with sand travel across the ocean during hurricane season. These sandstorms have even been known to reach the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast in the summer months. However, in June of 2020 a particularly dense dust plume made its way over to Puerto Rico, and even reached as far as parts of Midwest, United States, causing hazy skies over parts of Nebraska. This was one of the most magnificent Sahara dust events recorded in decades.

What Is The Best Mask For Smoke?

N95 Smoke Mask

A good smoke mask protects against poor air quality, but not all face masks are effective at preventing smoke inhalation. Experts say it's best for those who don't want to inhale harmful pollutants, no matter what mask you wear.     

There are a variety of respirators, but the one that works best against brush fire smoke is the N-series. If you need more protection, an N95 respirator provides adequate protection for most people.  Overall, the N99 Smoke Mask is a good choice, good enough to shield you in the event of a conflagration or something. Overall, it is important to be aware of the different types of smoke masks available to you, and you should not miss them.    

There are hundreds of vendors selling smoke filters and masks, mainly in Asia, but there are also in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Africa. One of the best I have personally encountered is the N95 Smoke Mask, which is available from a number of vendors in the United States, Canada, and Australia.     

As you can see, a gas mask alone is not an ideal solution when it comes to protecting a person from smoke and fire, but it can be very effective in combination with other smoke filters and masks to improve their effectiveness. There are washable smoke masks that have two valves that prevent moisture from accumulating on the mask and are ideal for people who do a lot of physical activity. Last but not least, gas masks have a built-in respirator, which can make them particularly effective when they are protected from the smoke. 

Fabric masks are not recommended to prevent smoke and dust, as they tend to have poor filtration according to the California Department of Health.  They are not there to protect children from smoke or dust and, worse, the particles in the bushfire smoke can cause respiratory problems if they are "too fine.     Certified N95 masks are designed for children as they can filter out smoke and ash particles and improve air quality for adults.      

If you are looking for a highly efficient disposable mask, the face mask is a good choice for you. You will also find N99 masks that filter out 99% of particles, and you must bear this in mind when looking for a mask with a high level of protection, such as the N95 mask or the N100 mask.        

You cannot simply wear a surgical paper mask or a cloth mask and protect yourself from the fine particles. If you don't have a proper mask, a dust mask is better than nothing, even if it's not airtight. Smoky air penetrates when you breathe and destroys the whole purpose. While you are trying to filter out the hazardous chemicals and particulate smoke, if the mask is not airtight, you can still get some of the particles in, so that larger particles can be in the air. The gap between the skin and the mask can cause you to be between the gaps between you and the mask.