Earl Grey Posted January 13, 2020 https://www.rappler.com/nation/249138-phivolcs-advisory-taal-volcano-status-january-13-2020 So my whole area in the city of Metro Manila is covered in ash, and I'm headed out to buy some of those N95 masks. Not sure which song to play sardonically as I deal with some of the more bemusing things that start 2020 for me now, but here are a couple describing where I am (The Ring of Fire) and the phenomenon itself. One good thing to take from this country's culture is people love to use humor to deal with serious events going on, from martial law to SARS to typhoons to now volcanic eruptions. 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted January 13, 2020 Okay . Our bushfire crisis seems to have settled down now , so ..... over to you E.G. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted January 13, 2020 " Phivolcs says 'weak' lava fountains emerged from the Taal Volcano ... " ^ THAT is a 'weak' lava fountain ? ! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 13, 2020 12 minutes ago, Nungali said: Okay . Our bushfire crisis seems to have settled down now , so ..... over to you E.G. 9 minutes ago, Nungali said: " Phivolcs says 'weak' lava fountains emerged from the Taal Volcano ... " ^ THAT is a 'weak' lava fountain ? ! Remember the government here loves downplaying crises because it makes them look incompetent when they can’t handle it. Sadly, it consistently shows exactly how incompetent they are when they disregard it... 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted January 13, 2020 (edited) Like the kangaroo Island mayor saying although there is a big bushfire there .... 'we are open for business ! ' - tourism biz he meant - 'there is even a big cruise ship docking tomorrow' . next day or so ; tourists evacuated - 'luxury' resort ; Good luck ! Keep us informed . Edited January 13, 2020 by Nungali 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 13, 2020 (edited) More in pictures here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/philippines-alert-volcano-spews-ash-steam-lava-200113050738645.html Edited January 13, 2020 by Earl Grey 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moment Posted January 13, 2020 7 hours ago, Earl Grey said: More in pictures here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/philippines-alert-volcano-spews-ash-steam-lava-200113050738645.html Be safe! 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted January 13, 2020 Thats a fuckin scary thing to look at out your window ! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) Edited January 14, 2020 by Taomeow 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 14, 2020 25 minutes ago, Taomeow said: Hey, this is pretty good! When I can head to Chinatown or procure the ingredients, I'll make this! Thank you! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 14, 2020 Aaaand it can get worse potentially. https://www.rappler.com/nation/249263-phivolcs-advisory-taal-volcano-status-january-14-2020 My area has less ashes in the air, but we did have a little rain too. Can’t buy masks because they are all sold out, and only one area, Manila proper (as opposed to the greater Metropolitan area), has the city government handed out masks to residents. So while some don’t cover their faces because they don’t know and don’t care (as the government has avoided advising cautions), others simply can’t buy masks and prefer to hide in malls. Five years ago, I worked for a clean air NGO that is funded by the Asian Development Bank, and all the visitors from Germany to even China noted that there’s a degree of avoidance that the government from the state level to the city level where they avoid being accountable or avoid the subject entirely. The air is bad enough with PM2.5, but with the haze and ashes? If I had a chance to move my dogs and cats elsewhere, I would. If the gods of wealth smile upon me, then I will move and set up mechanisms in place to help the stray dogs and cats who don’t even have the benefit of shelter from the air problems here. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walker Posted January 14, 2020 That's a very cold herbal formula, hope you don't have to take it for too long! Then again... better'n not being able to breathe. In Beijing a few of my friends built these. Very effective, very cheap. You said you can't get masks, but maybe you can find those HEPA filters at a local hardware store and attach them to the fans I'm guessing you've already got due to the climate you live in. While they won't help you while you're outdoors, they'll vastly improve the air quality indoors (if you keep the windows shut). I had a different kind of inexpensive HEPA filter in my home in Beijing and highly recommend it. The difference is really noticeable! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moment Posted January 14, 2020 Can you get your hands on silk, honeycombed cardboard and charcoal? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 14, 2020 9 minutes ago, moment said: Can you get your hands on silk, honeycombed cardboard and charcoal? Charcoal and silk, yes; honeycombed cardboard--probably not as easily. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moment Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) 29 minutes ago, Earl Grey said: Charcoal and silk, yes; honeycombed cardboard--probably not as easily. Coffee filters, duct tape? Also, to be clear, it needs to be activated charcoal and not barbecue charcoal. Edited January 14, 2020 by moment Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 14, 2020 12 minutes ago, moment said: Coffee filters, duct tape? Also, to be clear, it needs to be activated charcoal and not barbecue charcoal. activated is easy to get here. Coffee filters and duct tape too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moment Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) 42 minutes ago, Earl Grey said: activated is easy to get here. Coffee filters and duct tape too. Cool! coat the inside of the coffee filters lightly with a non-toxic, breathable, sticky substance (honey, syrup, etc). Sprinkle the activated charcoal lightly and evenly over the sticky substance. Bind the edges of two filters together with the duct tape (charcoal inward). Press the filters tightly to your nose and face and breathe deeply to check for airflow (if not enough, lighten the load). Then bind the edges of the filters to the inside of a silk scarf, bandana, etc..(the duct tape probably won't work on the silk, you may have to sew it). Fit tightly to your nose and mouth. Make several of them. Check every few hours, when the filter starts turning medium to dark brown, discard and replace. Take care and be well Edited January 14, 2020 by moment 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taomeow Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, Walker said: In Beijing a few of my friends built these. Very effective, very cheap. Which reminded me -- old-fashioned masks were made out of cheesecloth, and in school they taught us how to make them. They are reusable and washable multiple times, so you only need to make a couple. Edited January 14, 2020 by Taomeow 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 15, 2020 So it can get worse.... 24,000 evacuees, more earthquakes coming, and so on... https://www.rappler.com/nation/249357-phivolcs-advisory-taal-volcano-status-january-15-2020 But at least people are rescuing the poor pets left behind by some residents. I'll never go anywhere without my dogs either. https://www.rappler.com/nation/249361-video-volunteers-rescue-pets-taal-volcano-eruption-january-2020 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moment Posted January 15, 2020 3 hours ago, Earl Grey said: So it can get worse.... 24,000 evacuees, more earthquakes coming, and so on... https://www.rappler.com/nation/249357-phivolcs-advisory-taal-volcano-status-january-15-2020 But at least people are rescuing the poor pets left behind by some residents. I'll never go anywhere without my dogs either. https://www.rappler.com/nation/249361-video-volunteers-rescue-pets-taal-volcano-eruption-january-2020 Jesus H! Take care! I am glad that you and your dogs have each other. I think about you several times a day now. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
silent thunder Posted January 15, 2020 Wow, it's staggering... between our recent local wild fires (now all out), the apocalypthic burning of Oz and your volcanic eruptions, I'm vividly reminded that even when we have our inner life together and do all we can to train diligently and cultivate vitality and peace internally, the outer life can disassemble so quickly... we are so small in the framework of life... yet our minds and hearts can expand so. ironies abound lately. holding space for you all in mind and heart. Be well friend. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 15, 2020 If anyone would like to donate or volunteer to help evacuees, farmers, and animals, I will provide resources later. Rappler's link should have some information too for the animals at least. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Earl Grey Posted January 15, 2020 https://www.npr.org/2020/01/15/796541789/in-philippines-volcano-is-quieter-but-officials-renew-warnings-for-people-to-lea some American media coverage now... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zerostao Posted January 15, 2020 (edited) the majestic sublime awesomeness of nature gets our attention sometimes Edited January 15, 2020 by zerostao 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
