[Paisleychick-lj] Walking in the ecological reserve

[Beatrice M's blog]

[![][1]][2]   
[Skyscrapers behind the pampas grass field][3]   
Originally uploaded by [blmurch][4]. 

On Wednesday, Kragen and I went on a long walk. We (rather I) thought it would take around 2 hours. It took more like 5. Kragen recently found out about the [Ecological Reserve][5] by the Rio de la Plata. I had known about it, but neither one of us visited it while we were in Buenos Aires earlier. I don't understand why. It's a park east past the [Puerto Madero barrio][6], which is being built up, as you can see in the accompanying photo.   
  
This ecological reserve was sad to walk through. It's nice that they are trying, but there is so much damage done already, I hope it can be reversed. The river is so polluted, there were signs everywhere saying that going in the water is prohibited, that there are [large dead fish][7] washed up on shore. It was really a sad sight to see. I wonder what is killing them. There were birds in the ponds making their homes and having babies, which was wonderful to see. But, then you turn around and see the city making "progress" and [the factory][8] spewing god knows what. I took [some photos][9] of our long walk, which left us both exhausted when we returned to the apartment. We made it home before the bulk of the rainstorm came down. There has been an awful lot of rain and lightening and thunder this week. Spring showers, I guess.  
  
The following bit of news is a copy & paste from my [health] filter on lj, where I just started to write about what I'm eating, how I am exercising and feeling every day. If you'd like to read it, then you can get an account at [livejournal][10] (if you don't already have one) and I'll put you on the filter after you [let me know you want in][11]. I just made that entry from Oct 2 public and it went out via RSS, which I wasn't expecting. Live and learn.  
  
Looks like [scientists in Australia have found *a* biological cause for diabetes II][12]. Here's a link to [their press release][13]

> The team has identified an enzyme in diabetics as the active agent that blocks the production of insulin, which is a hormone that helps the pancreas convert blood-sugar into energy.  
  
Current treatments try to control insulin levels but do not address the reasons why insulin production is failing.  
  
But the team's leader, Trevor Biden, says the next step will be to work with pharmaceutical companies to develop a drug to block the enzyme, known as PKCepsilon, allowing cells in the pancreas to function normally.

  


   [1]: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1379/1481439891_a1b8c571cb_m.jpg
   [2]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/1481439891/ (photo sharing)
   [3]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/1481439891/
   [4]: http://www.flickr.com/people/blmurch/
   [5]: http://www.porlareserva.org.ar/DatosReserva.htm
   [6]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Madero
   [7]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/1481423813/in/set-72157602254846544/
   [8]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/1481364649/in/set-72157602254846544/
   [9]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/sets/72157602254846544/
   [10]: http://www.livejournal.com/
   [11]: http://paisleychick.livejournal.com/316233.html
   [12]: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/04/2050657.htm
   [13]: http://www.garvan.org.au/media-centre/media-release-archive/2007/solving-a-critical-part-of-the-insulin-puzzle.html

URL: http://paisleychick.livejournal.com/317632.html