This message is from Sabine and Thomas:
A ceremony to say goodbye to our beloved Che is planned for Saturday, April 28. A boat leaves from Panajachel to Santiago at 11 or 11.30 am on the embarquadero to Santiago.
A bank account has been established to help Miki and Che's brother Martin with the enormous costs. Any help is appreciated:
INDUSTRIAL BANK
Account No. 059-002026-3
Account Name: PETER MARTIN Tiney Reanda
Also, you can send your photos and memories of CHE to: [email protected]
Thanks for your help and support in the name of Miki and Martin.
For more information, please call 7762 2432 (Sabine and Thomas).
Sadly, Che the son of Miki of the Deli (sorry, but I do not know last names) was killed last Saturday in a small airplane crash near La Aurora airport and the zoo.
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Traditional energy guzzling incandescent bulbs are being phased out world-wide in favor of energy efficient compact florescent light bulbs or CFL's. Many people are starting to use these bulbs around the Lake. But the CFL's are not without their dangers as they contain mercury. If broken, they expose people and the environment to the poisonous metal. Touching or breathing mercury can cause headache, skin irritation, disorientation, imbalance and potentially serious health problems. Countries, including Guatemala, are struggling with developing safe ways to dispose of the bulbs.
AMSCLAE (Autoridad para el Manejo Sustentable de la Cuenca del Lago de Atitlán y su Entorno) has issued a warning to Lake residents about the use and disposal of CFL bulbs because mercury in the Lake is more dangerous than cyanobacteria. This is from their Facebook page (in Spanish then English):
Los focos o lámparas ahorradoras son PELIGROSAS si se rompen.
ATENCION: tengan cuidado y vean las orientaciones siguientes:
Este tipo de focos que son llamados de ahorro de energía o focos de bajo consumo, en caso de romperse nos exponen a un serio peligro. Tanto que todo el mundo deberá salir de esa habitación ¡por lo menos durante 15 minutos! y evitar machucar los vidrios rotos.
Atención a las lámparas de bajo consumo: si alguna se rompe deben seguir las instrucciones del Ministerio de Salud británico para que juntos evitemos los graves daños causados por el mercurio.
Aviso del Ministerio de Salud británico sobre las lámparas de ahorro de energía
Porque contienen mercurio, que es venenoso y causa jaqueca, desorientación, desequilibrios y diferentes problemas de salud cuando es inhalado.
A muchas personas con alergias les causa problemas de piel y otras dolencias graves tocando apenas esta substancia o bien al inhalarla.
Además de eso, el Ministerio alertó sobre no limpiar los restos del foco roto con la aspiradora, ya que desparramaría la contaminación para otros lugares de la casa al volver a usar la aspiradora nuevamente.
Los focos se deberán limpiar con una escoba común y recogedor usando guantes de goma para protegerse del contacto con los vidrios y el mercurio. Los desechos deben ser mantenidos en una bolsa sellada y colocados luego afuera de la casa junto con las baterías desechadas. AMSCLAE les indicará la ubicación de los basureros para baterías y focos ahorradores, por el momento hay un centro de acopio en las instalaciones de AMSCLAE.
El mercurio es peligroso, más venenoso que el plomo o el arsénico.
El mercurio en el lago es más peligros que la cianobacteria.
Pase la información a sus familiares, amigos, empleados y conocidos.
English version:
The lights or lamps-saving are dangerous if they break.
Caution: be careful and see the following guidelines for this type of light that is called energy saving or pockets of low consumption. Broken bulbs expose us to a serious danger. So much that everyone should leave the room at least for 15 minutes! and avoid mashing the broken glass.
Attention to low consumption lamps: if any break, follow the instructions of the British Ministry of Health to avoid serious damage caused by mercury.
Notice of the British Ministry of Health on energy saving lamps because they contain mercury, which is poisonous and causes headaches, disorientation, imbalances and different health problems when it is inhaled.
Just touching or inhaling this substance can cause skin problems and other serious ailments for people with allergies.
In addition, the Ministry warned to not use a vacuum cleaner to clean up debris from the broken bulbs because it disperses the contamination to other places in the house to return to use the vacuum cleaner again.
The broken bulb must be cleaned up with a common broom and pan using rubber gloves to protect yourself from contact with the glass and mercury. Wastes should be placed in a bag, then sealed and placed outside the house along with discarded batteries. AMSCLAE will indicate the location of dumps for batteries and bulbs, for the moment there is a collection in the facilities of AMSCLAE Center.
Mercury is dangerous, more poisonous than lead or arsenic.
Mercury in the Lake is more dangerous than the cyanobacteria.
Pass this information to families, friends, employees and acquaintances.
AMSCLAE
web site: http://www.amsclae.gob.gt/
on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amsclae
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AMSCLAE/videos
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SEEKING RENTAL
Couple looking to rent a house in Santa Cruz from December 2012 for 4 months. Anything out there?
[email protected]
[email protected]