Trump’s PEPFAR Cuts Could Cause Millions of AIDS Deaths
PNC _ Friday, 04-07-2025
SEVILLE, SPAIN | Planet & Commerce
In a searing and emotional warning delivered at the UN International Development Funding Summit in Seville, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima described the abrupt U.S. cuts to HIV/AIDS aid as a “seismic shift” that could result in millions of preventable infections and deaths by 2029.
Speaking candidly to The Guardian, Byanyima said she was “shaken, appalled, and disgusted” by Donald Trump’s decision to cancel funding for PEPFAR — the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — a globally celebrated program originally launched by George W. Bush in 2003.
“It is a deadly funding crisis,” she said. “We now face an additional 6 million HIV infections and 4 million AIDS-related deaths by the end of the decade if nothing changes.”
U.S. Withdrawal Hits Hardest Where It Hurts Most
PEPFAR historically accounted for 60% of UNAIDS’ budget, enabling widespread treatment, prevention services, testing, community outreach, and critical support programs in low- and middle-income countries — especially across Africa. But earlier this year, President Trump abruptly halted funding, leaving a vague waiver that experts say has had no tangible effect on the ground.
Byanyima, who has led UNAIDS since 2019 and is one of the most prominent voices in global health, said the decision had devastated operations, triggering clinic closures, layoffs, and a collapse in prevention services, which are vital to curbing new infections.
“This drop in funding is nothing for a G7 country. But it is everything for millions of vulnerable people,” she said. “And yet so much more is spent on wars.”
A Personal Toll: “I Needed Therapy to Cope”
Byanyima, a Ugandan aeronautical engineer and former politician, said witnessing the humanitarian fallout has been the most painful experience of her career. She even considered resigning as the global response to AIDS was pushed off-course.
“I had to have therapy to stay strong. I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “Dedicated people lost jobs, loyal support disappeared, and research halted.”
She added that vulnerable communities, including young girls, LGBTQ+ individuals, and sex workers, have already been abandoned in some regions — and deaths have begun to mount.
“What vanished first was prevention. Then support services. Now even cutting-edge research is being lost.”
A Crisis Beyond Aid: Debt, Inequity, and Injustice
The aid crisis, Byanyima said, is forcing a hard look at the financial inequalities faced by African nations. She highlighted how illicit capital outflows, crippling debt interest rates, and unfair risk ratings are draining resources from the Global South to the North.
“Africa is not begging. Countries are innovating, trying to fill the gaps in smart ways,” she said.
“But the truth is: the current aid model is broken. It’s unpredictable, unstable, and too exposed to political shifts.”
She called for a new system based on solidarity and justice, advocating for debt relief, tax equity, and an end to exploitative financial flows.
“More money has flowed from South to North than the reverse — and that’s unacceptable.”
A Preventable Crisis: Lessons From the Past
Byanyima drew parallels to the early days of the AIDS pandemic, when 12 million people died needlessly because antiretroviral treatments were hoarded by pharmaceutical companies.
“We didn’t share ARVs then, and people died. Now we’re watching it happen again,” she warned.
UNAIDS data shows that new infections are already rising, particularly in regions hardest hit by the loss of U.S. support. While some countries are attempting to adapt, the scale of the crisis means that millions may fall through the cracks before new funding sources are secured.
“Health is a human right. No one should die when prevention exists,” Byanyima said.
“But of course, many will — and already are.”
ICE Raids Turn LA’s Fashion District Into Ghost Town
PNC _ Friday, 04-07-2025
LOS ANGELES | Planet & Commerce
The vibrant, chaotic pulse of Santee Alley, long hailed as the commercial heart of Los Angeles' Fashion District, has gone quiet. Once packed with shoppers, street vendors, and booming speakers blasting music from shopfronts, the stretch now looks more like an abandoned industrial corridor than a buzzing retail hub.
The change is not due to weather, pandemic lockdowns, or wildfires — it's the result of a renewed wave of immigration enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump administration. These crackdowns, concentrated in immigrant-heavy areas of LA, have not only swept up hundreds of people but also devastated local businesses, transforming busy shopping zones into economic wastelands.
“This is unprecedented. The impact is worse than the pandemic,” said Anthony Rodriguez, president of the LA Fashion District Business Improvement District.
Fear Replaces Foot Traffic in Immigrant Business Hubs
In early June, ICE launched aggressive workplace raids throughout southern California. A major operation in the Fashion District saw dozens of workers detained at a clothing store, sparking protests, National Guard deployment, and even a federal lawsuit by the Trump administration against Los Angeles over its sanctuary city policies.
According to Deportation Data Project figures, 722 people were detained in LA between June 1 and June 10. Alarmingly, more than 400 were detained solely for immigration violations, with only 30% identified as convicted criminals. By comparison, in the same period in 2024, only 103 individuals were detained, most of them with criminal records.
Even the rumor of ICE agents in the area is enough to shut down commerce, Rodriguez said.
“People hear a whisper of ICE, and entire blocks close. Even if nothing’s happening.”
With daily visitors down 45%, the Fashion District is suffering what many merchants are calling an economic freefall.
Retailers Report Crippling Losses
Christopher Perez, a shop owner in Santee Alley, said his store — staffed entirely by legal residents and citizens — has seen a 50% drop in sales. He blames fear, not legality.
“People are afraid to even show up. That’s the problem,” he said.
Nearby, Vilma Medina, a jewelry vendor on historic Olvera Street, said her sales have plummeted by 80%.
“There are days I sell just $10,” she said. “Even with fewer kiosks open, the customers are gone.”
Medina has dipped into her personal savings, hoping to stay afloat, as she did during the Covid pandemic and the 2025 wildfires.
“We were all waiting for summer — it’s usually the best time for families and tourists,” she said. “Instead, it’s dead.”
Undocumented Workers Say They Can't Afford to Stop
Despite the heightened risk, many undocumented workers continue operating — quietly, cautiously, and out of necessity.
Urbano, a 63-year-old street vendor, has lived in Los Angeles without legal status since immigrating from Mexico 43 years ago. He runs a taco truck and says he can’t afford to stay home.
“If I don’t work, who pays the rent? Who pays the bills? The taxes?” he asked.
“I pay taxes. Imagine that.”
His story reflects that of millions of undocumented immigrants who not only work but contribute significantly to the economy.
Economic Fallout: Billions at Risk in California
According to a Bay Area Council Economic Institute report, California’s 2.3 million undocumented residents contribute over $23 billion annually in taxes. If mass deportation occurred, the state’s GDP would decline by $278 billion — an economic collapse equivalent to losing the entire economies of Nevada or Oregon.
“That’s 9% of California’s GDP,” said Abby Raisz, the institute’s research director.
“Undocumented workers make up 8% of our labor force. Their removal would devastate industries and ripple through the entire economy.”
Lt. Gov Eleni Kounalakis echoed these concerns, recognizing the economic contributions of immigrant labor and cautioning against policy decisions driven by fear rather than fact.
The Future of Santee Alley: Resilience in Uncertainty
Despite the trauma and loss, Rodriguez remains hopeful. He’s working to secure financial support for merchants and vendors impacted by the enforcement wave.
“This is a resilient community. We’ll bounce back,” he said, standing before closed shops and empty sidewalks.
“It’ll be tough, but we’re not giving up.”
Still, many wonder whether that resilience alone will be enough to undo the damage caused by a policy environment where entire communities can be emptied not by deportations — but by fear.
Snowfall of Plastic: Antarctica’s Hidden Pollution Revealed
PNC _ Friday, 04-07-2025
Exploring the Unseen: A Global Mission to Trace Microplastics in Earth's Remotest Corners
In the frozen silence of Antarctica, polar explorer Alan Chambers found himself not in search of uncharted land or personal glory—but something far more insidious: microplastics. In January 2024, Chambers, accompanied by fellow Royal Marine Dave Thomas, completed a grueling 715-mile (1,151 km) unassisted expedition from the Hercules Inlet on the Antarctic coast to the geographic South Pole. But beyond surviving frostbite-inducing -35°C temperatures, high winds, and whiteout conditions, Chambers carried a unique burden: snow samples packed to detect the planet’s invisible enemy.
That mission marked the beginning of a groundbreaking partnership between Chambers and top scientists at Columbia University’s Climate School, focused on tracing the global spread of microplastics and nanoplastics—even in regions untouched by human activity. Dubbed Mission Spiritus, the multi-year project is not only one of physical endurance but scientific urgency, aiming to highlight the alarming reach of plastic pollution in even the most pristine environments.
“We’re just the Earth’s gardeners,” Chambers said in a video interview. “We collect the data; the scientists do the brainy bit.” That "brainy bit" is already yielding shocking insights, with microplastics and black carbon detected in some of the world’s most isolated snow—raising questions about windborne plastic contamination and its long-term impact on ecosystems and human health.
An Antarctic Awakening: Plastic in Pristine Snow
Microplastics are defined as plastic particles smaller than 5mm, while nanoplastics measure less than one micrometer—making them virtually invisible but no less dangerous. These pollutants originate from the breakdown of larger plastic materials and are now believed to enter ecosystems via air currents, eventually landing in the most unlikely places, such as Antarctica.
Chambers, awarded an MBE for his service and leadership, has led over 70 expeditions across the globe. But it was a life-changing question posed by a wealthy client during a private trip to Antarctica that sparked the idea behind Mission Spiritus: “What are you doing in your life that will still matter 300 years from now?”
Inspired, Chambers reached out to Columbia University’s Professor Maureen Raymo, an expert in Earth and climate sciences. Their collaboration was born not just out of friendship but from the shared urgency of understanding how deep plastic has infiltrated the natural world. "How often does a friend say, ‘I’m walking to the South Pole — is there any scientific use for it?’” Raymo remarked.
Her team trained Chambers to collect and store snow samples using rigorous protocols. Transported like a live organ, those samples are now being analyzed under sterile lab conditions, with early results showing not only traces of microplastics but also elevated levels of black carbon—a byproduct of fuel combustion.
“Is it snowing plastic in Antarctica?” Chambers asked grimly. The implications, according to Raymo, could shift global environmental policy. “This data is the first of its kind—a continental-scale transect of plastic and black carbon contamination,” she confirmed.
Expanding the Frontiers: From Ice to Sand, Sea to Soil
Following Antarctica, Chambers and his team moved on to the Empty Quarter desert in Oman, collecting 52 geotagged sand samples during a 26-day expedition through one of the most inhospitable terrains on Earth. Half the journey was on foot, the rest on camels and off-road vehicles. Again, the samples were carefully logged, stored, and delivered to Columbia scientists for analysis.
Next up are the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, where Chambers’ team will collect lake water and sediment to compare with samples collected over a decade ago. “We want to study the time-varying trends in plastic pollution,” said Raymo. The mission also includes future plans to collect data from Chile’s Atacama Desert, the Comoros Islands, Canada’s Northwest Passage, and Australia’s Gibson Desert—pending an additional $1 million in funding.
These ambitious efforts serve not only to gather data but to raise global awareness. Chambers' stature as a public speaker and philanthropist helps amplify the mission’s core message: plastic is ubiquitous, and though not inherently evil, our failure to manage and recycle it responsibly is leading to planet-wide contamination.
“Spiritus is Latin for breath,” Chambers explained. “Our goal is to help the Earth breathe freely again, without needing a life support system.”
From Silent Snowfields to Global Policy
While scientists continue to assess the long-term health impact of nanoplastics—known to interfere with hormones and possibly linked to cancers—Mission Spiritus is already redefining how the world views remote pollution. As Chambers puts it, this is “adventure with purpose”—not just about conquering landscapes, but confronting global environmental crises.
“What we do today may not yield immediate results,” he reflected, “but it’s our duty to lay the groundwork for a cleaner, healthier world for generations to come.”
By pairing the daring spirit of exploration with rigorous scientific inquiry, Chambers and Columbia University’s team are uncovering answers from the ice, sand, and sea—proof that even the world’s most untouched places are no longer free from human influence.