The global recession and tight credit conditions have cast a chill on the solar-power industry after years of breakneck growth, and could usher in long-term changes in the industry.

Banks have curtailed financing for major solar projects, and Spain -- the world's second-largest solar-power market after Germany -- has slashed subsidies for the industry, leading to sharply lower demand for solar cells. Sales of the tiny chips that convert the sun's rays into electricity are expected to drop by at least 20% this year.

MAY 10, 2009, 2:00 P.M. ET

By HENRY PULIZZI

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Saturday pressed lawmakers to send him credit-card reform legislation by Memorial Day, May 25, saying consumers need stricter protections against unfair interest-rate hikes and penalties.

"There is no time for delay," Mr. Obama said in his weekly address. "We need a durable and successful flow of credit in our economy, but we can't tolerate profits that depend upon misleading working families. Those days are over."

"Worried well' overload gives taste of pandemic scenario

Publication: CIDRAP News
Author: Maryn McKenna * Contributing Writer
Date: 08 May 2009

With the global outbreak of novel H1N1 influenza (swine flu) entering its fourth week, physicians at emergency rooms, clinics, and hospitals around the United States say they are overwhelmed with "worried well" who have as much as doubled their patient loads.

May 8, 2009

Boston, MA -- As part of a series about Americans' response to the H1N1 flu outbreak, the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the Harvard School of Public Health has released a national poll which finds that many Americans have taken steps to protect themselves and their families against the disease. The polling was done on May 5-6, 2009.

Americans' Response

Updated: 2009-05-08 10:02
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2009-05/08/content_7757010.htm

GENEVA – Up to 2 billion people could be infected by swine flu if the current outbreak turns into a pandemic lasting two years, the World Health Organization said Thursday. WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda said the historical record of flu pandemics indicates one-third of the world's population gets infected in such outbreaks. Independent experts agreed that the estimate was possible but pointed out that many would not show any symptoms.

From the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

Influenza A (H1N1) Outbreak Update
May 8, 2009

Håkan Brodin, Stephen Hodge
Swedish National Institute of Public Health, (SNIPH) 2008

Available online at: http://www.fhi.se/PageFiles/4375/R200841_Health_Impact_200812.pdf?epslanguage=en

This report is a guidance for quantitative (or numerical) analysis of health impact assessments (HIAs), when such analysis is needed. It is intended to be a complement to other guidance, published by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health (SNIPH), and is based on accepted methods from health technology assessment (HTA).

Eleanor D. Kinney, JD, MPH Hall Render Professor of Law - Co-Director, William S. and Christine S. Hall Center for Law and Health
Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis
RUTGERS LAW REVIEW [Vol. 60:2 – 2008]

Available online PDF [45p.] at: http://www.pegasus.rutgers.edu/~review/vol60n2/Kinney_Macro_web.pdf

Also at: http://indylaw.indiana.edu/instructors/Kinney/Articles/Rutgers_Law_Review_2009.pdf

Daniel D. Reidpath1*, Chantal M. Morel2, Jeffrey W. Mecaskey3, Pascale Allotey1
1 Centre for Public Health Research, Brunel University, Uxbridge, United Kingdom,
2 LSE Health, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom,
3 Save the Children UK, London, United Kingdom
PLoS Med 6(4): e1000062. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000062 - April 28, 2009

Available online at: http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000062

It appears that the U.S. and Mexico are emerging out of their concern regarding 2009 H1N1 hitting as a rapidly spreading lethal outbreak this spring. We now have over 1000 confirmed cases and very possibly thousands of infections worldwide. These infections will still increase.