Tag: 3BL

Recently, Chemours’ CEO Denise Dignam sat down for an interview at the Chemours Discovery Hub, where she discussed how chemistry is the foundation of modern and next-generation technologies. In the exclusive interview, she shared how chemistry and material science are driving innovation that helps power AI, cool data centers, and strengthen national supply chains. 

Made possible in partnership with the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the conversation with Denise also covered the company’s commitment to responsible manufacturing practices and specifically Responsible Care^®, an ACC program raising the bar for health, safety, and environmental stewardship across the chemical industry.

For over 35 years, companies practicing Responsible Care have worked to significantly enhance their environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) performance. Since 2017, Responsible Care manufacturing companies have recorded:

• 35% fewer distribution incidents
• 22% fewer Tier 1 process safety events
• 24% reduction in worker injury rate

Programs like Responsible Care have made significant, positive changes for the safety and sustainability of chemical operations. Today, Responsible Care companies have a 4 times better safety rate than the U.S. manufacturing sector as a whole. And all over 150 ACC members implement Responsible Care practices. 

At Chemours, we practice Responsible Care through our unwavering commitment to responsibly manufacture our trusted chemistries. Watch now and explore how chemistry is central to the world’s most important breakthroughs. 

For the third year in a row, Entergy has partnered with the New Orleans Association of Black Journalists to support its mission of inspiring Black students to pursue careers in journalism and communications. As the presenting sponsor of the annual scholarship brunch. Entergy helped NOABJ double the number of scholarships awarded to students in Louisiana.

The event also celebrated industry legends who paved the way for journalists and communications professionals in the Greater New Orleans area.

A highlight was the presentation of the Unsung Hero Award by Deanna Rodriguez, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, and Martin Jackson, line superintendent for Entergy Louisiana. Presented annually, this award recognizes media professionals who work hard behind the scenes to make a difference in our community. This year, Willie Wilson, a distinguished 30-year photojournalist and WWL-TV’s first full-time Black photographer, received the award.

“Entergy is proud to once again serve as the presenting sponsor of the New Orleans Association of Black Journalists Jazz Brunch,” said Rodriguez. “We’re honored to support NOABJ’s mission to empower the next generation of journalists and to recognize Willie Wilson with the 2025 Unsung Hero Award.”

View original content here.

Originally published on TriplePundit

By Taylor Haelterman

This story about Hurricane Katrina is part of The Solutions Effect, a monthly newsletter covering the best of solutions journalism in the sustainability and social impact space. If you aren’t already getting this newsletter, you can sign up here.

Two decades ago, Americans were horrified by the response to Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it left behind. It was a wake-up call that rang around the nation, sounding the alarm that the current level of disaster preparedness was vastly inadequate. People across the country demanded action. Policies changed. Levees were rebuilt. Warning systems advanced. And we have not forgotten Katrina.

Still, 85 percent of Americans are familiar with the disaster, according to a USA Today poll. That includes 75 percent of those aged 18 to 34, some of whom were born after it occurred. As the country looks back at 2005, solutions journalists are investigating whether the changes we’ve made since are making an impact.

$14 billion levees

The failure of the city’s levee system led to much of the damage dealt by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Sections of the 125 miles of flood barricades built around the city by the United States Army Corps of Engineers were too small or erected with serious engineering mistakes. The levees failed in six places. Water rushed over the top or broke the walls entirely, igniting a humanitarian crisis.

Afterward, the U.S. government doubled down, footing a $14.4 billion bill to build a new network of levees across the city. Over the next 10 years, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed nearly 200 miles of flood barriers known as one of the most sophisticated systems across the globe, and it held during Hurricane Issac in 2012 and Hurricane Ida in 2021, Grist reports.

Still, experts worry the upgraded levees might not live up to the original promise to protect against a “hundred-year storm,” a term used to describe rare and powerful storms with a 1 percent chance of forming each year. Hurricane Katrina was widely considered a 100-year storm, and these events are growing more common. Dozens of hundred-year flooding events swept through communities across the United States last year alone. Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread damage across Florida and devastating floods in western North Carolina last year, and the catastrophic flooding in Texas this summer were considered once-in-1,000-year events.

Therein lies the problem for New Orleans’ levees. As the city slowly sinks, the Gulf of Mexico steadily rises, and storms become more severe, the barriers struggle to keep up — even after factoring in climate change and sea-level rise from the start. The Corps told Grist the levees will protect the city from 100-year storms through 2057 as long as it can afford to keep lifting them every few years. Though the New Orleans branch of the organization announced it didn’t have the funds to inspect them this year due to federal budget cuts, it later received funding from the St. Louis branch to do so. While imperfect, the system will still reduce the damage from more-than-100-year storms, and it demonstrates what can be done to get out in front of a disaster instead of acting afterward. Read more.

Earlier warnings

When Hurricane Katrina was first tracked, it was never expected to hit Louisiana or grow from Category 1 to Category 5 intensity. The devastation that followed left the country hyperaware of the gaps in our ability to forecast storms, and therefore, our ability to prepare for and respond to them. Since then, the systems for predicting the path and strength of a hurricane have improved dramatically, Science News reports.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) created the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program in response to Hurricane Katrina and other storms in 2004 and 2005. It brought together agencies and labs across the nation to make more accurate, reliable forecasts that give communities time to prepare. Now, scientists use satellites to observe weather data multiple times a day, and more powerful computers accompanied by a better understanding of the science behind storms allow for more accurate predictions. Researchers also collect and use real-time storm data, which helps anticipate rapid changes in direction and strength.

As a result, tracking errors have shrunk by about half — sometimes shrinking by well over 50 percent — even days in advance of a storm reaching land. That means storm path estimates are very unlikely to shift by 200 miles in just 12 hours, like they did in the case of Katrina. The Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program is still working toward even earlier forecasts, but federal funding and staff cuts currently leave much of its work uncertain. While a four-day warning doesn’t allow much time for damage prevention like raising New Orleans’ levees, it is enough time to take action that saves lives, like evacuations and delivering emergency generators to hospitals. Read more.

A federal law protecting pets

Millions of Americans have pets, and when disaster strikes, they’re often left with a horrible decision. First responders don’t always allow people to evacuate with their pets. Even if they do, many emergency shelters and hotels don’t allow pets. And Hurricane Katrina was no different, Atmos reports. Roughly a quarter of a million cats and dogs were displaced or died during the storm. While the vast majority of Americans plan to evacuate with their pets, many have had to leave them behind and return to the disaster site before it’s considered safe to try and rescue them. A 2015 study found that pets are the biggest reason people refuse evacuation orders.

That’s why the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 was passed. It ensures that state and local emergency managers include pets in emergency preparedness plans and federal agencies help pet owners and their pets. It also lets the federal government reimburse state and local governments for the cost of sheltering pets. “People consider their pets to be family,” Ashley Farmer, a pet disaster response researcher at Illinois State University, told Atmos. “If you include pets in disaster planning, you will ultimately also save human lives.”

Though experts say the act made an important impact, its implementation is left up to state and local governments. Some still essentially leave pets out of their emergency plans with statements like “people are responsible for their pets.” Read more.

Learning from emergency management mistakes

Emergency management and response failed in different areas at all levels of government during Katrina, Eric Kevin Stern, crisis and emergency management specialist and professor, argues in an article for The Conversation. Communication between agencies was ineffective. The state had to request a disaster declaration before the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could move in. Evacuees were trapped in the Superdome with no power and few supplies, and people who couldn’t evacuate in time were stranded on their roofs.

In the aftermath, policies changed. The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 mandates that FEMA chief administrators have knowledge and experience in emergency management and leadership, something then-FEMA Administrator Michael Brown lacked. The National Incident Management System was widely adopted after the storm, allowing all levels of government, local organizations, and the private sector to communicate and work together, replacing the communication and coordination chaos that erupted when systems broke down after Katrina. FEMA was also permitted to start working before a storm arrives and before a disaster declaration is requested, so survivors aren’t left waiting for help, like when political tensions reportedly delayed former President George W. Bush’s approval of New Orleans’ request.

Today, the federal government is discussing reducing or dismantling FEMA, placing more emergency management responsibility on local and state governments instead. But states and cities vary in their readiness to do so, and experts warn many are simply unprepared and lack the necessary funds. If more responsibility is shifted to states, we must remember the lessons learned from Katrina and ensure they have the ability to effectively coordinate and respond to disasters, Stern concludes. Read more.

That message rings especially true as New Orleans continues to grapple with the social, economic, and environmental effects of the hurricane 20 years later.

Dive deeper into this solution:
After Katrina, green infrastructure aims to supplement the rebuilt — but still vulnerable — levees, Smart Cities Dive
One of Hurricane Katrina’s most important lessons isn’t about storm preparations – it’s about injustice, The Conversation
After Hurricane Katrina, moms built new lives by building homes, The 19th

Image credit: Jocelyn Augustino/Wikimedia Commons

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

When it comes to your health, preventive care is a great way to take control of your journey and stay on track. Taking the time to visit the doctor — and reminding loved ones to do the same — might mean a little extra effort, but it also means reassurance. And, it could mean saving a life.

To help you remember to schedule preventive care appointments, think about doing it on the same memorable day every year — a birthday, an anniversary, Groundhog Day. Tying these appointments to a special day will serve as an extra reminder. Here are a few important appointments to make every year and recommended ages to start visiting the doctor.

Wellness exams — Yearly wellness exams play an important part in staying healthy. While an individual’s health should provide a guidepost for annual checkups, it’s recommended to start scheduling these around age 30 — no later than early 40s.¹

Colonoscopies — People with low risk for colon cancer should start scheduling annual colonoscopies after blowing out the candles on their 45^th birthday cake.² For anyone with a family history of colorectal cancer, it’s advisable to start earlier. Talk to a doctor to decide when to start getting these exams.

Skin cancer checks — Think about planning annual trips to the dermatologist starting around age 18.³ Keep risk factors in mind when deciding what age to start annual skin cancer screenings. Medical history, on a personal level and among family members, is important to consider, along with the consequences of frequent sun exposure.

Gynecological exams — While it’s recommended to visit the gynecologist for the first time between 13 and 15 years old,⁴ these appointments don’t need to be annual until later. By age 21,⁵ begin scheduling yearly gynecological exams for pap smears, pelvic exams and other important tests.

Breast exams — People at average risk for breast cancer should start adding breast exams to their gynecological checkups at age 40.⁶ Don’t forget to perform self-exams once a month,⁷ which can detect any changes before visiting a doctor — but don’t think of a self-exam as a substitute for your annual exams. Other important tests include mammograms, which are a crucial tool in early detection of changes in the breast tissue, including cancer.

Prostate exams — Men should typically start getting annual prostate exams around age 50⁸ and no later than 55.⁹ Those at high risk, including African Americans and men with a family history of prostate cancer, should consider making these appointments at an earlier age, starting in their 40s.

Testicular cancer checks — It’s recommended to start self-exams at age 15,¹⁰ and no later than early 20s.¹¹ After beginning to perform self-exams once a month, ask a doctor for a medical exam once a year.

Feeling good is great, but don’t forget to keep up these regular appointments even if everything seems just fine. Visit Aflac.com/WellnessBenefits to learn how Aflac offers encouragement to visit the doctor’s office.

¹“What to Expect at Your Annual Wellness Exam” (2023) Accessed on Sept. 26, 2025 www.health.cleveland.org

²“Screening for Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | CDC” (2025) Accessed on June 2, 2025 www.cdc.gov

³“Skin Cancer Screening: Medline Plus Medical Test” (2022) Accessed on Sept. 26, 2025 www.medlineplus.gov

⁴“What Is a Gynecologist? What They Do and When To See One” (2025) Accessed on Sept. 26, 2025 www.my.cleveland.org

⁵“Gyn Care 101: What to know about about seeing a gynecologist – Harvard Health” (2022). Accessed on June 2, 2025 www.health.harvard.edu

⁶“ACS Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines | American Cancer Society” (2023) Accessed on June 2, 2025 www.cancer.org

⁷NCBF team (2025) Breast Self-Exam. Accessed on June 2, 2025 www.nationalbreastcancer.org

⁸“American Cancer Society Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection” (2023) Accessed June 2, 2025 www.cancer.org

⁹Christian Pavlovich (2025) “Prostate Cancer: Age-Specific Screening Guidelines” Accessed June 2, 2025 www.hopkinsmedicine.org

¹⁰uclahealth (2023) “How (and why) you should perform testicular self-exams” Accessed June 2, 2025 www.uclahealth.org

¹¹“How to Check for Testicular Cancer | St. Vincent’s Medical Center” (2024) Accessed June 2, 2025 www.stvincents.org

Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for insurance.

Aflac | Aflac New York | WWHQ 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2500982 

Exp. 10/26
 

Published by Action Against Hunger. 

Contact media@actionagainsthunger.org for inquiries. 

In a year marked by shrinking aid budgets and growing humanitarian fatigue, Action Against Hunger’s 2025 Gala stood out as a beacon of compassion and commitment. Under the theme “Whatever It Takes,” more than 400 philanthropists, business leaders, and humanitarians, united in New York City to reaffirm their shared resolve to end hunger in our lifetime.

The evening—filled with music, storytelling, and solidarity—raised over $2.1 million for the Standing Strong Against Hunger Campaign. These vital funds will support Action Against Hunger’s programs across more than 55 countries, helping us treat and prevent malnutrition through our proven, community-based model that achieves a 90% recovery rate among severely malnourished children.

A Night of Hope

Dr. Charles E. Owubah, CEO of Action Against Hunger, sparked the evening with good news: there are nearly 100 million fewer children living in extreme poverty than there were a decade ago.

“I wish you could feel the joy – and relief! – that parents feel when we tell them their child will be okay,” Owubah said. “So, give yourself permission to feel hopeful.”

He gave an overview of a successful climate adaptation project that is improving the lives of farmers in Zambia, an example of what the evening’s fundraising efforts can accomplish. “We can create a world where every life is well nourished…if we maintain our belief in what is possible,” Owubah concluded.

The night was emceed by Emmy Award-winning journalist Mo Rocca, correspondent of CBS News Sunday Morning. Rocca guided the evening with humor and heart, inspiring guests while highlighting the urgency of Action Against Hunger’s mission.

Honoring Changemakers

Alecia Moore (P!nk) received the Humanitarian Award in recognition of her extensive advocacy for children and families. The Grammy Award-winning artist, activist, producer, author, and philanthropist has consistently used her global platform to fight for the most vulnerable.

“When we lift others, we rise too,” Moore proclaimed.

Moore has long championed disaster relief and the ongoing fight against hunger. As a UNICEF Ambassador and No Kid Hungry National Champion, Moore defines real leadership, reminding us that art and activism can be stronger together. She has helped raise millions of dollars to promote food security and has put a spotlight on the stories of those too often left unheard.

“I’ve had mothers teach me more about courage than any stage I’ve ever stood on. Women who face impossible odds every single day but still find a way to make something from nothing.” Moore argued, “They shouldn’t have to be heroes to feed their kids.”

Moore shared advice given to her by her father: when seeking happiness, help others. “When we feed the hungry, we don’t just fill plates; we fill futures; we fill hearts; and we fill our own,” she explained. In a heartfelt moment, she passed that advice on to her own kids, who were in attendance. “If you every find yourself searching for meaning or the secret to happiness, look for someone to help. Okay, babies?”

Dancliff Mbura, Advocacy, Communication, and Partnership Manager for Action Against Hunger Kenya, was recognized for his leadership in advancing sustainable, community-driven solutions.

Reflecting on his childhood and career in Kenya, Mbura shared a story that brought the room to silence—the story of Josephine, a mother whose twin daughters, Dipsy and Dirsen, overcame severe malnutrition through Action Against Hunger’s programs. With support, Josephine was able to start a business that now supports her family and keeps them healthy long-term.

“This is what your support makes possible,” Mbura said. “It’s about saving lives and restoring hope.”

Navyn Salem, Founder and CEO of Edesia Nutrition, received the Impact Award for producing life-saving therapeutic foods that have reached more than 27 million children around the world.

“There are many problems in this world we cannot solve,” Salem said. “Malnutrition is not one of them.”

She called for renewed urgency to prevent hunger before it begins. “We shouldn’t be saving lives; we should be preventing malnutrition in the first place.”

Standing Strong Against Hunger

“We can’t change the world in one big dramatic act, but we can change someone’s world,” said Moore. “With one meal, one donation, one act of care.”

By the end of the night, attendees had exceeded the $1.5 million target and raised $2.1 million—a powerful testament to collective action on behalf of the 673 million people who go to bed hungry each night.

Funds from the Standing Strong Against Hunger Campaign will help close urgent funding gaps and sustain programs reaching more than 26 million people annually. And as Mbura reminded the audience, “Behind every statistic is a human story.”

At Action Against Hunger, we remain steadfast in our mission to do “Whatever It Takes”—from emergency response on the frontlines to innovative long-term solutions—to end hunger, for everyone, for good.

***

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Edwin Jimenez knows a thing or two about staying physically fit.

“I grew up on a farm-style ranch in California, and I helped the workers in the fields,” he remembered. “After that I spent 22 years in the Marines, where fitness is required. I’ve always been in good shape.”

Even after retiring from the military and moving to a civil service career, you could find him at the gym after work. So it took him by surprise when a routine checkup revealed a problem.

“My high blood pressure came on kind of quickly,” he said. “The doctors put me on medication, and I thought that would take care of it.”

But it didn’t.

Jimenez’s blood pressure remained stubbornly high. Doctors tried combinations and different doses of medication for years, but any improvement in his blood pressure proved temporary.

As time passed, side effects from the drugs and his rising blood pressure took a toll on his health. The muscular ex-Marine who worked the treadmill and lifted weights, even in retirement, now didn’t have the energy to get off the couch.

“Even with medication, my blood pressure at times was as high as 185 over 99. It was out of control. I was regularly lightheaded and had no energy. So they sent me to Dr. Kaynak.”

Medicare now covers renal denervation 

Dr. Evren Kaynak is the Cardiovascular Services Medical Director at Onvida Health in Yuma, Arizona. He recommended a minimally invasive medical procedure called renal denervation (RDN) to treat Jimenez’s hypertension, using the Symplicity Spyral renal denervation system from Medtronic.

“For decades, the only ways to treat high blood pressure involved diet and lifestyle changes and medication,” said Dr. Kaynak. “But RDN is giving us another option. It has opened a new door to treat hypertension. The potential to help people is vast.”

With the Symplicity blood pressure procedure, doctors use precisely tuned radiofrequency energy to ablate nerves in the kidneys, which calm the excessive activity of the nerves near the kidney.¹ That in turn helps lower blood pressure for many patients. The Symplicity blood pressure procedure is a one-time event, leaves no permanent implant behind, and studies have found it safe and effective in lowering blood pressure, especially for patients who can’t control it with medication alone.^2,3

Dr. Kanyak performed Arizona’s first Symplicity blood pressure procedure in September, 2024 — Edwin Jimenez was the patient.

“When word got out, people began calling us from all around the western United States,” said Dr. Kaynak. “They wanted to know more about the procedure. And then their second question was often ‘does my insurance cover it?’”

Jimenez’s military benefits covered the cost of his treatment. But since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Medtronic Symplicity Spyral RDN system in late 2023, Medicare and most insurance companies have not established coverage. People with uncontrolled hypertension interested in RDN often had to be approved on a case-by-case basis. That changed on Oct. 28, 2025, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it would cover Symplicity.

“This decision means millions of people will have access to a breakthrough technology that treats one of the most significant health problems in the world today—uncontrolled high blood pressure,” said Dr. Jason Fontana, Vice President of Global Marketing in the Coronary and Renal Denervation Operating Unit at Medtronic. “The potential to improve many, many more lives is really incredible, and it’s exciting to be moving ahead.”

Under the CMS coverage policy, patients experiencing a blood pressure higher than 140 systolic and 90 diastolic and have been on a drug therapy and lifestyle modification regimen for at least six weeks could qualify for Medicare coverage of RDN. 
 

Wide impact 

Medicare is health insurance coverage for Americans 65 and older. It’s the largest public health insurer in the U.S. and covers nearly 70 million Americans (roughly 1 in 5). Dr. Kaynak expects an influx of patients in the wake of the Medicare decision to cover the Symplicity procedure.

“We’re already working on pathways to identify patients as quickly as possible who could benefit,” said Dr. Kaynak. “And we’re reaching out to local providers to make sure they’re aware of the procedure. We expect this decision from Medicare to help a lot more people receive the benefits of RDN. Just like it helped Edwin.”

It’s been a year since Edwin Jimenez underwent RDN. After years of fighting his high blood pressure, it’s now under control.*

“I feel great,” Jimenez added. “I have energy again. I’m more productive. My wife says I’m not as grumpy. I’ve got my life back.”

*Results may vary. Adverse events may include pain and bruising. Talk to your doctor to see if the Symplicity Spyral™ procedure is right for you. Additional safety information can be found at BeyondHBP.com.

 

¹ Coates P, Tunev S, Trudel J, Hettrick DA. Time, temperature, power, and impedance considerations for radiofrequency catheter renal denervation. Cardiovasc Revasc Med. September 2022;42:171–177.

² Kandzari DE, Townsend RR, Kario K, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Renal Denervation in Patients Taking Antihypertensive Medications. J Am Coll Cardiol. November 7, 2023;82(19):1809–1823.

³ Böhm M, Kario K, Kandzari DE, et al. Efficacy of catheter-based renal denervation in the absence of antihypertensive medications (SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED Pivotal): a multicentre, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Lancet. May 2, 2020;395(10234):1444-1451.

Key Points

• Marathon Petroleum employees joined forces with community and business partners for a major cleanup effort along the Ohio River.
• Volunteers collected dozens of large bags of trash and debris from riverbanks in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, and Kenova, West Virginia.
• The annual Ohio River Sweep extends the entire length of the river, which borders six states and stretches hundreds of miles.

It’s a big job that extends hundreds of miles, and teams from Marathon Petroleum rolled up their sleeves alongside community members to do their part, one bag at a time, at the 2025 Ohio River Sweep.

Dozens of volunteers from our Catlettsburg refinery and MPLX Kenova Plant, along with our marine, terminal and pipeline operations, joined Marathon Petroleum interns/co-ops, contractors and local business partners to clean up two sites along the Ohio River. By the end of the day, the group had filled 80 large bags with trash and debris collected from riverbanks in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, and Virginia Point in Kenova, West Virginia.

“This is what community looks like,” said Carla Mings, Environmental Engineer at Marathon Petroleum, who helped organize the company’s participation in this year’s river cleanup. “We live here, we work here, and we take pride in keeping the river that runs through our backyard clean and healthy.”

Hosted by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and its nonprofit arm, Foundation for Ohio River Education (F.O.R.E.), the Ohio River Sweep unites volunteers from six states each year to clean up hundreds of miles of shoreline. The nonprofit organization provides gloves, trash bags and T-shirts to help make each cleanup a success.

“ORSANCO’s Ohio River Sweep litter cleanup program is a massive effort, and it simply isn’t possible without strong partnerships, dedicated volunteers and generous sponsors,” said Rachel Toney, Program Coordinator at ORSANCO’s Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE). “As a long-time sponsor and cleanup host, Marathon Petroleum brings incredible energy and enthusiasm to this work year after year. Their teams lead by example, reminding us what true stewardship of our shared waterways looks like.”

Marathon Petroleum and the Ceredo Kenova Rotary provided boxed lunches to fuel the volunteers, while Rollins Funeral Home supplied water. Other supporting companies included Braskem, AOC, AEP West Virginia, and Kentucky Power.

For Marathon teams, the day was about more than collecting litter. It was about teamwork, connection and satisfaction in making a difference close to home.

“We take a lot of pride in being part of something that makes a visible difference,” said Sheila Fraley, Community Relations Representative at Marathon Petroleum. “It makes you grateful to work for an organization and live in a community that cares about the place we call home, so events like these are more than worth it.”

In its How Energy Works video series, SLB’s experts make energy technology easy to understand.

This installment explores the potential of geothermal energy. It explains how heat stored deep within the Earth can be harnessed to generate clean, reliable power — and why it’s one of the most consistent sources of renewable energy available today.

Watch the video here.

EMERYVILLE, Calif., October 29, 2025 /3BL/ – SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is pleased to announce that a newly developed certification standard for Responsible Advanced/Chemical/Molecular Recycling is now available for public review.

The Certification Standard for Responsible Advanced/Chemical/Molecular Recycling (SCS-004) has been developed to establish a credible basis for independently assessing and certifying the environmentally and socially responsible production of recycled materials and to bring transparency to advanced/chemical/molecular recycling operations.

The Standard, which was developed with the input of 11 chemical companies—including Alterra, Braven Environmental, Brightmark, Eastman Chemical Company, GreenMantra Technologies, and LyondellBasell—is primarily applicable to recyclers handling polymers (e.g., plastics, textiles, elastomers) and to different advanced, chemical, and molecular recycling technologies, such as pyrolysis, solvolysis, depolymerization, and gasification.

The standard is based on the Responsible Production Guidelines to Ensure Progressive Advanced / Chemical / Molecular Recycling Operations White Paper, published in May 2024 by the US Plastics Pact, and builds upon standardization work initiated by the Ocean Plastic Leadership Network (OPLN) in 2024.

A webinar will be held to introduce the Standard at 10AM PST on November 18, 2025. Registration is available here.

The public is welcome to comment on the new standard until December 01, 2025. To view the draft and submit comments, please reach out to standards@scsstandards.org, or please visit Certification Standard for Responsible Advanced, Chemical and Molecular (ACM) Recycling | SCS Standards.

About SCS Standards

SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is an organization committed to the development of standards that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Standards are developed in alignment with best practices and guidelines provided by internationally recognized bodies to ensure a robust, transparent, and collaborative approach. SCS Standards and Assurance Systems is the official standards development body for Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. For more information, visit www.SCSstandards.org. 

Media Contact

Victoria Norman
Executive Director
Send an email

Guest post courtesy of Direct Relief

FedEx-Supported Preparedness Efforts Activated as Hurricane Melissa Intensifies in the Caribbean

Direct Relief is closely monitoring Hurricane Melissa. The storm is forecast to bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and life-threatening flash floods and landslides across southern Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and potentially the Yucatan Peninsula.

Through its annual Hurricane Preparedness Program, made possible by long-standing support from FedEx, Direct Relief has pre-positioned 11 Hurricane Preparedness Packs throughout the Caribbean. These large-scale caches of medicine are strategically located in countries within the storm’s projected path. Each contains more than 200 essential medical items—such as treatments for chronic diseases, antibiotics, antifungal medications, and wound-care supplies—sufficient to care for 3,000 people for 30 days.

Direct Relief is coordinating with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), national ministries of health, and local partners to enable rapid delivery of medicines and supplies as conditions evolve. The organization continues to monitor and stands ready to respond to serve communities across the Caribbean.

For additional information on Direct Relief’s preparedness efforts, see: As 2025 Hurricane Season Nears, Direct Relief Expands Disaster Response Strategy

Emergency Operations Underway Following Devastating Mexico Floods

From October 6–9, heavy rainfall from successive tropical systems triggered catastrophic flooding and landslides across Mexico’s central and eastern states, including Hidalgo, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and Veracruz. Preliminary reports indicated widespread damage to roads, bridges, and more than 50 health facilities, along with the destruction or severe damage of up to 100,000 homes. Authorities have reported 76 deaths, with at least 31 people still missing, and 112 communities entirely cut off. These figures are expected to rise as access improves, and assessments continue.

With support from FedEx, Direct Relief has dispatched urgently needed medical aid, including 110 Emergency Medical Backpacks and five Emergency Health Kits (EHKs) prepared specifically for rapid disaster response. Each EHK contains essential medicines and supplies—such as antibiotics, chronic disease treatments, and wound-care materials—sufficient to sustain care for up to 3,000 people for 30 days.

Direct Relief’s team in Mexico continues to coordinate with national and state health authorities, as well as humanitarian partners operating in affected areas, to ensure timely delivery of medical assistance where it’s needed most.

Direct Relief is a registered charity in Mexico and has an office and staff on the ground. For more information about Direct Relief’s response in Mexico, see: After Deadly Mexico Floods, a Medical Brigade Provides Care

Direct Relief Responds to Catastrophic Flooding in Southwestern Alaska

Relief and recovery efforts are underway across southwestern Alaska’s Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, following catastrophic flooding caused by the remnants of Typhoon Halong from October 11–12. The storm brought hurricane-force winds and record-breaking storm surge, devastating the coastal communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok and damaging homes and critical infrastructure. More than 1,400 residents were displaced, with recovery expected to take up to 18 months due to the region’s remoteness and the onset of winter.

In response and supported by FedEx, Direct Relief delivered Emergency Medical Backpacks stocked with first-aid essentials for triage care in shelters and disaster settings, as well as hygiene kits to serve 5,000 displaced residents. The shipment was sent to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, which is overseeing distribution of relief items and financial assistance for affected families, including those relocated to Anchorage.

Direct Relief also provided Alaska Native Heritage Center with a $50,000 grant to support emergency operating costs.

Since 2008, Direct Relief has delivered more than $5 million in essential medicines and supplies to healthcare providers across Alaska. For more information about Direct Relief’s response to the historic flooding in Alaska, see: Direct Relief Dispatches Medical Aid, $50,000 in Emergency Funds for Typhoon-Devastated Communities in Alaska

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