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On this day, 100 years ago, Isaac Stern was born in Kremenets, Poland (now Ukraine). At the age of 14 months, Stern and his family emigrated to the United States and settled in San Francisco. Stern made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony at the age of 15, playing the Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto №3 in B minor with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by Pierre Monteux.
Isaac Stern’s career is vast and legendary, but I’d like to point out two things before sharing some of his performances and recordings. First, he was instrumental — pardon the pun — in saving Carnegie Hall from demolition. It is hard to imagine that such an incredible New York City landmark was ever under consideration for demolition, but such was the case in 1957 when the New York Philharmonic moved to Lincoln Center. Stern gathered the world’s most famous musicians to petition and successfully convinced the city give the hall landmark status. Because of his efforts, Stern was made the first president of the Carnegie Hall Corporation in 1960 and remained its president until his death in 2001.
Second, in 1979, Stern was the first major Western artist invited to tour China after the Cultural Revolution. This extraordinary visit and concert tour was captured in the Oscar-winning documentary, From Mao to Mozart. His visit changed the lives of young Chinese musicians and helped inspire an intense devotion throughout the country in having children study music.
From Mao to Mozart (1979)
In 1979, as China re-opened its doors to the West, virtuoso Isaac Stern received an unprecedented invitation from its…
Isaac Stern, Life’s Virtuoso is an excellent documentary on Stern. | <urn:uuid:692f3b12-c8e5-4f0f-9003-49964c8529b2> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://lvphil.org/2020/07/the-music-plays-on-isaac-stern-donato-writes-about-the-violinist-by-donato-cabrera-jul-2020-medium/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224647810.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20230601110845-20230601140845-00055.warc.gz | en | 0.969536 | 360 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1909
Pordenone used this quick exploratory sketch to map out the initial design for his fresco of the Crucifixion painted in 1520–21 on the inner wall of the facade of Cremona cathedral. In order to incorporate changes to the composition, the sheet was cut at the right, where the artist inserted the rectangular piece with the horseman.
The Cremona frescoes are remarkable for their violent expressivity, which borrowed elements from northern painting and prints.
At the beginning of the sixteenth century, Venice's mainland possessions, called the terraferma, stretched westward from Udine nearly all the way to Milan and included Padua, Vicenza, Verona, Brescia, and Bergamo. These Venetian strongholds ensured a continuous food supply and safeguarded trading routes to the north. Even though Venice's enemies combined to form the League of Cambrai and defeated the city in 1509, much of the mainland territory was recovered within a decade.
Venice's political independence and unified territories allowed artists considerable mobility. Some preferred to return to their native cities in Lombardy, Friuli, or the Veneto, where they established flourishing workshops. Distinctive local traditions—such as the realism of the Lombard painters of Bergamo and Brescia—also endured. The Veneto area in particular served as a country retreat for Venice's patrician families, who erected idyllic villas in the classical tradition designed by Andrea Palladio. | <urn:uuid:7ada764f-0103-4fa8-88ce-f683ec85bde4> | CC-MAIN-2015-35 | http://www.themorgan.org/collection/drawings/142516?id=771 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-35/segments/1440645315227.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20150827031515-00347-ip-10-171-96-226.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932869 | 320 | 3.71875 | 4 |
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Fremont, CA: Data seems to be the main actor in the digital revolution that has been going on for decades. After focusing on processing speed for years, organizations have realized that the most valuable asset in this digital age is user-generated data. The industry then started restructuring their models accordingly to benefit from every single piece of information generated by every individual user.
Organizations that are data-centric adopted the idea of big data. Three main obstacles, which prevented the data-centered ecosystem from emerging sooner were the high storage cost, the difficulty of processing large volumes of data, and insufficiency of the user-generated data that companies have immediate access to, were rapidly solved with the birth of purpose-specific data management techniques. Distributed memory-based processing followed suit, announced the start of the data-driven era. Big data is the only path for significant corporations to overcome continuous exponential drop of data-storage costs accompanied by a constant exponential rise of the amounts of data. The open-source Hadoop ecosystem had become a crowded space filled with aspiring startups and promising technologies working on big data products.
Small companies that work with data still rely on trusted SQL-centered software. Data is getting more valuable. Scalability is the first reason that generated the need for big data in the first place. After development and improvement open-source big data technologies offer much more than old-school servers on every level. With distributed computing, more work could be done in less time. With these advantages, not using big data technology becomes a pointless fight that prevents an organization from generating more value from your most valuable resource. With cloud-based services, adopting significant data architecture is easy with no hardware hurdles.
Check Out: Top Big Data Solution Companies | <urn:uuid:1b5782af-6bfc-400f-9b07-09654cfe50ed> | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | https://www.apacciooutlook.com/news/big-data-the-driving-force-taking-businesses-forward-nwid-6422.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038476606.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20210418103545-20210418133545-00334.warc.gz | en | 0.945906 | 363 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental health disorder, impacting an estimated 301 million individuals around the world. Generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder are among the anxiety disorders studied.
Effective treatment options for anxiety disorders include medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy among others. However, many patients opt not to take medications, do not respond to them, or cannot obtain treatment due to a lack of access. Additionally, seeking help for mental health conditions, unfortunately, carries a stigma that many want to avoid.
Mindfulness interventions are increasing in popularity and may provide a viable alternative treatment or co-treatment option. This study examines the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) compared to escitalopram (generic Lexapro) in reducing anxiety levels. | <urn:uuid:1e1c2f1b-3003-4c0d-9b58-449ced061287> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.yogaresearchandbeyond.com/managing-anxiety-mindfulness-lexapro/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679099892.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20231128151412-20231128181412-00283.warc.gz | en | 0.926189 | 161 | 3.296875 | 3 |
Tea Tree Oil – The botanical name is melaleuca alternifolia and the oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the shrub like tree.
The country of origin for Tea Tree oil as it exists in nature is Australia, however it is now also farm produced in China and South America. The Tea Tree is a small tree or shrub with needle-like leaves. It is also down under referred to as Ti-tree. Tea Tree can grow up to 20 feet in height and thrives wonderfully in wet marshy areas, though it is now cultivated on plantations. The Tea Tree is a very robust plant and is ready for a cutting harvest every two years.
Common uses for Tea Tree essential oil include it’s best known trait as a very powerful immune stimulant. In addition to being a strong antioxidant it can help to fight all categories of infectious organisms including Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses. and there is evidence that a Tea Tree oil massage prior to a surgical procedure may help to fortify the body and reduce post-operative shock. In vapor therapy, Tea Tree oil can help with colds, measles, sinusitis and viral infections. For skin and hair, Tea Tree has been used to combat acne, oily skin, head lice and dandruff. As essential oils have become more accepted by the public, the use of Tea Tree has increased significantly. This can be readily evidenced by the commercial products now using Tea Tree essential oil.
The oil has a thin consistency is a transparent light pale yellow color with a middle not that is considered medium to strong for perfumery.
Tea Tree essential oil blends particularly well with Cinnamon Leaf, Clary sage, Clove Leaf, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, Rosewood, Rosemary and Sandalwood.
Tee Tree essential oil is described as having a fresh, Antiseptic and medicinal aroma with minty and spicy side notes.
The aboriginal people of Australia have used Tea tree oil for centuries. Tea tree has a long history of use within the field of aromatherapy. During the Second World War the producers and cutters of Tea Tree were exempt from military service until a large enough surplus of essential oil had been accumulated. The oil was highly valued and was issued to each armed services person as part of their kit in order to treat tropical infections and infected battle wounds. There are so many medicinal uses for Tea Tree Oil that there are entire book volumes just about this one oil.
See the Cautions in the Safety section. Tea Tree essential oil can potentially cause dermal sensitization in some people. Do not take internally | <urn:uuid:ce82b302-ca4c-40d2-9be6-ad96d3b830e6> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://www.creationsoap.com/teatresoil5o.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187824675.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20171021081004-20171021101004-00775.warc.gz | en | 0.970603 | 538 | 2.53125 | 3 |
When we think of Chaucer's poetry, we are immediately reminded of its broad comedy, subtle irony and gentle satire. We are struck by the tolerant humour colouring his lines. We come to agree with Aldous Huxley's comment that Chaucer has none of that strong ethical bias which is usually present in the English mind.It is all the more striking if we call to mind the nature of most of the work written by Chaucer's contemporaries. The aura of Christianity dominated all the works of the Medieval age. Indeed literature was often the medium for the propagation of the Christian religion and ideals of virtue and good conduct. Chaucer, alone among his contemporaries, refused to treat art as a medium of propaganda.
Chaucer's broad vision
Chaucer did not possess, or did not want to present in his art, a religious temperament like Wycliff or Langland. His vision of life is not restricted by a narrow moral bias. His lively sense of humour refused to be depressed at the sight of the evil and ugly. He looked upon the world and its sorrows and evil with a tolerant eye. The little and bigger frailites of human nature amused him. They did not whip up intense moral indignation in his heart as they did in Langland or Wycliff. He sees life in its totality, taking all the aspects it presented. His vision, essentially comic, embraced a wide spectrum of life. His superiority over his contemporaries lies in his broad vision of life.
Chaucer's vision is, consequently, free, of cynicism. Not expecting perfection from human nature, and quite willing to take the good alongwith the bad in his stride Chaucer presents in his work a genial kindliness as well as a shrewd insight into human nature.
Chaucer has a comprehensive vision of the world. He was aware, like all realists, that the world is composed of all kinds of people, most of whom are a mixture of the good and the bad. There are not only black and white aspects of life, but all shades of grey are to be found in it. Furthermore, the healthy, unhealthy, ethical and unethical, bad and good were not to be found in clear cut contrasts in life. All opposites and contradictions were often to be found in a surprising and inextricable combination. Chaucer saw this and endeavoured to present life in all its true colours.
To this end he requests,
"I beg to you, in courtesy, not to condemn me as unmannerly, if I speak painly and with no concealings."
He wishes to avoid "things invented and phrases new" in the presentation of his character's dealings. He had nothing of the frowning moralist or the zealous reformer. He saw life and presented it as it was. He left it to others to seek morals from it. He broke free from the bondage of tradition and convention. His poetry is that of a realist, a humanist, and has none of the moral prejudice which characterises other medieval English poets.
"Here is God's plenty" : life in all its aspects
The pilgrims of The Prologue come from a wide spectrum of the society of Chaucer's time. They not only belong to different professions; they are also of every shade of moral stature. The high and the low, the good and the vicious, the virtuous and the lecherous, all act their parts on this worldly stage. The dishonest Miller and the fun-loving and somewhat coarse Wife of Bath mingle with the studious Oxford Clerk and the sophisticated and prim Prioress. The chivalrous and virtuous Knight and the poor, good Parson rub shoulders with the worldly Monk, the corrupt Friar and the wicked Summoner and the digesting Pardoner. The Doctor's avarice is matched by the dubious dealings of the Man of Law. Indeed, we find that the wicked and the vicious far outnumber the virtuous characters. Against the Knight, the Parson and the Ploughman, are ranged a whole galaxy of vice and wickedness of all hues and shades.
Chaucer's sympathetic attitude
What is noteworthy, however, is that Chaucer looks upon all characters of dubious moral stature with a free and sympathetic attitude. He is not horror struck at the existence of such depravity and baseness. He is tolerant and willing to be amused by all the knavery. However wicked some of the characters, Chaucer does not rant in moral indignation at them. Indeed, he does not even show any sharp aversion towards them. He seems to be quite grateful that he has been given the opportunity of deriving some pleasure from having met such knaves and rascals. He shows no hate towards any of them. Though he is fully aware of their moral shortcomings, he does not rail at them in disgust.
An artist's consciousness of life's complexity
Chaucer sees life in its totality. He has the artists's awareness of the complex quality of life. The good and the bad do not form two wholly separate areas. Most men are a mixture of the two. With the artist's instinct, Chaucer identifies himself with average human beings. He is willing to accept human fraility and laugh at it sympathetically. He has keen insight into the tortuous working of the human mind and the complexity of human behaviour.
Chaucer is not a social reformer
The folly and depravity of his fellow human beings did not shock Chaucer. The decidedly immoral conduct of many of the characters in The Prologue does not drive Chaucer into a frenzy of horrified moral indignation. He does not aim at social reformation. He saw the vice inherent in human beings but does not attack it violently. But, one might ask, is not Chaucer satiric and ironic, and is not satire and irony the beloved weapons of a social reformer ? Chaucer's satire and irony, however, are of a benign and tolerant nature. His primary aim is not reformation, but a realistic portrayal of humanity. His satire and irony are facets of his essentially comic vision of life. If one chooses to derive morals from his portraiture, one is quite welcome to. That brings us to the consideration of whether Chaucer's poetry is immoral.
Chaucer's consciousness of high moral standard
When we say that Chaucer's poetry did not show a strong ethical bias, it does not imply that it is immoral. It is unfortunate that some critics have charged him with being immoral. Arnold refuses to give him the position of a classic because he lacks "high seriousness". But surely poetry does not always have to be solemn and grave and serious, with explicit moral teaching. Arnold's contention betrays his own strong ethical bias.
Undoubtedly, Chaucer's poetry is not of the same order as that of Dante. It is of different kind. But it would be wholly incorrect to say that Chaucer's poetry is immoral. We cannot seek the morality of grave philosopher or religious thinker in Chaucer. His view is free and tolerant, broad enough to include the tragic beauty of the Knight tale, the pathetic loveliness of the Prioress' tale, and the bawdy and boisterously funny stories of the Reeve and the Miller. His vision is one of sympathy and charitableness. It is also quite clear that he did not respect vice and wickedness. His ironic treatment exposes folly as folly. His tolerance does not imply that he condoned vice and evil. His regard and appreciation for the knight, the Parson, the Ploughman and the oxford Clerk is obvious. Equally apparent is his disrespect for the Pardoner, Summoner, Monk and other wicked characters. His poetry implies his respect and love of honour, virtue and unselfishness. Nowhere does it seem that Chaucer advocates vice or wickedness as things to be followed.
It is clear that Chaucer did not set out to reform society. He certainly does not show a strong ethical bias. His vision was too broad, too tolerant and benign to allow strong moral sermonising. Human fraility existed, and Chaucer accepted it. He did not feel the necessity to don a judge's cap and condemn wickedness and evil. His poetry presented a picture of life in its totality and reality. Such a reproduction of reality might have been dry, morose, and bitter. It might have bred disgust and hatred for life and men. But Chaucer, without flattering his model, placed it in an atmosphere which is good to breath, as Legouis so aptly comments. ‘No one can read him and not be glad to be in the world'. However, it is quite a different thing to say that Chaucer was immoral. That he was not. | <urn:uuid:d63ff9db-0678-43a2-88ae-d0d37fa6b4bc> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://neoenglishsystem.blogspot.com/2010/09/chaucer-has-none-of-that-strong-ethical.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719033.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00342-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973523 | 1,791 | 2.953125 | 3 |
With so much research being conducted on the aging brain, it comes as no surprise to discover that music has a potent and positive impact on the lives of seniors. Along with improving memory, research has shown that listening to music leads to better general health. And it isn’t only mental prowess that’s improved by music but the overall quality of life for older adults everywhere.
Seniors who listen to music gain significant benefits like improved sleep, faster recovery times and less pain. But the benefits of music extend into all areas of a senior’s life. Activities such as listening to or making music, can color the way that older adults view their lives, adding to their perceptions of wellbeing.
Benefits of music
Multiple studies have shown that music is a magic ingredient with the power to enhance the quality of life for older people. The measurable benefits include:
- Less stress
- Enhanced memory
- Psychological benefits
- Better health
Music has the ability to stimulate the brain, enhance cognitive function, boost mobility and increase coordination. Exposure to music encourages movement and physical activity such as dancing. Older people also can participate in social occasions such as music events or group music lessons to alleviate loneliness and encourage interaction.
There are several ways that older adults can include music in their day-to-day lives. With technology, many genres of music are available to download and favorite tracks can be compiled into a personalized playlist for everyday listening.
Learning to play
One of the best ways to stay sharp in old age is to learn to play a musical instrument. While all musical involvement is beneficial, learning to play an instrument has been shown to build self-esteem and grow confidence.
What is surprising to discover is that musical training benefits not only the mind but the body as well. Playing music has the added therapeutic benefits for seniors of lowering blood pressure and slowing the heart rate. The good news is that it’s never too late to start learning an instrument.
Studies have shown that even at 60, 70 or 80 years old, seniors can achieve significant advantages from musical training and each type of instrument comes with its own unique benefits.
Learning to play the piano, guitar or violin boosts hand agility and coordination. The popular woodwind instruments such as the saxophone or clarinet also benefit breathing by increasing lung capacity. Playing an instrument develops fine motor skills while improving concentration and muscle memory.
Choosing an instrument
When purchasing an instrument, the new music student should consider the ones most suitable for first time users. Unlike a piano, smaller instruments are portable and easy to handle in class or when practicing. Two of the most well-liked are the clarinet and the saxophone.
The clarinet is a popular wind instrument for the beginner. When choosing one, care must be taken to ensure that the clarinet is well-balanced allowing the user to maintain good posture and hold it comfortably at the correct angle. The clarinet is also the lighter of these two instruments to hold.
The saxophone is another favorite wind instrument considered suitable for beginners and although there are three types – alto, tenor and baritone — the alto saxophone is the most suitable for those just starting out. An alto sax needs slightly less lung power and has a smaller key scale, which many find easier to use.
Both the clarinet and the saxophone have accessories – for example, neck straps — that allow the instrument to be adapted for the individual’s needs.
Music’s forte as a mood booster is undisputed and it helps seniors overcome stress, enrich social ties, and promote self-esteem. But it’s when older adults embrace music by learning to play an instrument that all the benefits of music are magnified.
Karen Weeks created ElderWellness.net as a resource for seniors who wish to keep their minds, bodies, and spirits well.
Photo by Sandie Pollard on Unsplash. | <urn:uuid:005db9f6-181f-465a-8caf-fa33b667a047> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://angeltreepublishing.com/wellness/music-seniors-valuable-ingredient-healthy-positive-life/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487653461.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20210619233720-20210620023720-00622.warc.gz | en | 0.949751 | 804 | 3.171875 | 3 |
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 16th President of the United States, born (d: 1865); Only in a world that thinks that being Gay is an abnormal condition does the suggestion that a revered president might have been primarily Gay become an issue. C.A. Tripp went farther than any earlier study to present the greatest amount of evidence and the strongest argument currently available that Lincoln’s primary erotic response was that of a homosexual man in his posthumously published book, The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln.
Over the years, a number of other writers and scholars had argued that Lincoln was homosexual, but Tripp objected to the evidence, finding it unconvincing. He then set out to collect as much information as he could on Lincoln and explore the 16th president’s sexuality in all its dimensions and complexity. What he created was neither a work of sexual or biological reductionism, but a full-fledged character study and a significant effort to understand a complicated man, that placed Lincoln’s sexuality into a larger, more significant framework.
There are, as usual, the dismissals of his evidence as “misreadings” of the customs of another time. And yet the evidence of the relationship Lincoln had with his wife Mary is as obscure and subject to interpretation as are his relationships with the important men in his life and there is no problem accepting those vagueries. As any modern Gay man will attest, Lincoln may have functioned as a heterosexual, but his marriage does not preclude an intense homosexual drive.
From 1862 to 1863, President Lincoln was accompanied by a bodyguard from the Pennsylvania Bucktail Brigade named Captain David Derickson. Unlike Lincoln’s earlier male friend, Joshua Speed, Derickson was a prodigious father, marrying twice and siring ten children. Like Speed, however, Derickson became a close friend of the president and also shared his bed while Mary Todd was away from Washington. According to an 1895 regimental history written by one of Derickson’s fellow officers:
“Captain Derickson, in particular, advanced so far in the President’s confidence and esteem that, in Mrs. Lincoln’s absence, he frequently spent the night at his cottage, sleeping in the same bed with him, and — it is said — making use of His Excellency’s night-shirt!”
Another source, the well-connected wife of Lincoln’s naval adjundant, wrote in her diary: “Tish says, ‘there is a Bucktail Soldier here devoted to the President, drives with him, & when Mrs L. is not home, sleeps with him.’ What stuff!” Derickson’s association with Lincoln ended with his promotion and transfer in 1863.
Sadly, Tripp died in May 2003, and we will never know how he would have defended his study of the sexual orientation of Abraham Lincoln. But any Gay man reading of Lincoln’s seduction of a 44-year old captain of the Pennsylvania Bucktails in the fall of 1862, will have little trouble with the remaining arguments. But it does give a whole new meaning to the term “rail-splitter” doncha think? | <urn:uuid:63718277-4c0a-4083-a952-1cec3db8b38b> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://www.whitecraneinstitute.org/tdih_event/1809-02-12 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400220495.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20200924194925-20200924224925-00777.warc.gz | en | 0.979492 | 663 | 3.15625 | 3 |
ommunication is basic to all human communities and, according to McEldowney (1990:13), can be broadly defined as the process by which information is exchanged. She indicates that there are many ways in which communication takes placethrough spoken language, through written language, through signs, through sound, through gesture, through facial expression and so on. It is, however, language which is the central concern of this study.
In her various writings, an examination of syntactic features in text enables McEldowney to identify, for instance, language which instructs people to do things, language which narrates a series of events and language which describes things, people, needs, thoughts, ideas, philosophies. She then goes on to consider text from the point of view of how the grammatical features chosen deviate from the "the norm" she has established together with features like choice of lexis, the degree of personal involvement of the writer, the degree of abstraction of concepts expressed and the like. This enables her to identify three central types of language which she typifies as social language, figurative language typical of imaginative creation, and neutral, expository, transactional language (1994:2).
a translator needs to understand the internal and external structures operating within and around a work of art.
The Language types of the study:
As indicated, human communication is motivated by a need to accumulate and impart information. The more cohesive and coherent a text produced for this purpose, the more comprehensible it will be. In this respect, as referred to above with regard to McEldowney's work, it is possible to establish norms as to the way in which information is communicated and, in general terms, the more closely a piece of writing adheres to those norms the more immediately comprehensible it is.
Such immediate comprehensibility is related to the impersonal nature of the language which is conventionally used to communicate what the writer regards to be factual information. A text written in this way, which cannot be attributed to a particular writer and which does not give rise to a debate about meaning (see Text 1 below), is unlikely to attract the attention of a student of stylistics. The text is appreciated in terms of the reader's interest in the informational content and the explicitness with which it is expressed. As suggested previously, however, there are thousands of deviations from the norm, ranging from le criteaux of the streets to the greatest works of literature and once the norms are flouted, a study of stylistics becomes the focus of attention.
A central aim of this study is the teaching of translation to potential translators and interpreters whose reading comprehension skills in English still need more practice. An important by-product of learning to translate is the enhancement of their reading skills with regard to English text. With this in mind, we note that transactional language is central for learners of English as foreign language. In this respect McEldowney (1996/7:4) argues that, as transactional language is predictable in both form and vocabulary, it is most immediately learnable and that once it is learned, transactional language can be the medium for learning less predictable forms of the language.
Now, let us turn to an illustration of the features which are related to the two types of language with which we are concerned.
The purpose of the following text is to impart information about Charlemagne in a straightforward way
Eleven centuries ago one man ruled most of Western Europe. Charlemagne could hardly read or write, yet he built up a vast empire. Charlemagne was a Frank, one of the people who had invaded the Roman Empire when it collapsed in the 5th century and who then settled in northern France. He was a great warrior. When he became king in AD 768, his territory was small and threatened by its French neighbours. Charlemagne soon overcame them and invaded northern Italy. (Children's Illustrated Encyclopaedia, 1991: 107).
As already indicated, the purpose of this text is to convey facts, language being used merely as a carrier of factual information. Such text can be seen as committed to the organisation of the real world (Beaugrande & Dressler, 1981:160). Expectations of what readers can extract from this text are more or less definedthree events in Charlemagne's life, three events in the settlement of the Franks, descriptive information about Charlemagne, and the situation in Western Europe eleven centuries ago. This information is conveyed in linguistic forms (Clusters of particular verb forms, verb types, sentence patterns and textual organisation of information are matched with particular communicative purposes) identified by McEldowney (1996/7) as typical of these purposes.
The three dynamic, past tense verb forms became, overcame, invaded for instance, indicate a sequence of events related to Charlemagne becoming king and extending his empire. Three similar forms, collapsed, invaded, settled indicate another sequence related to the collapse of the Roman Empire and the invasion of the Franks which historically preceded Charlemagne's rise to fame.
We note that, with regard to this latter sequence, the events are not related in the order in which they actually happened. This is clearly marked, however, by the use of had and when to indicate that the collapse of the Roman Empire happened before the invasion. There are also the sequence markers then and soon to double-mark the order in which the events occurred. The verbs in these sequences occur in typical clausal patterns, maintaining the predominant subject/verb/complement order of English sentences. In this text we find SV (A)it / collapsed / in the 5th century and who /settled / in northern France and SVOCharlemagne / overcame / them and (he) / invaded / northern Italy. The sentences are relatively balanced in length.
The features just illustrated are those which McEldowney indicated to be the norm for expressing the communicative purpose of "narrative." She also indicates that it is normal for such sequences of happenings to be padded out by descriptive language using, for instance, the past tense form of stative verbs like was in sentences of the form SVCCharlemagne / was / a Frank and his territory / was / small.
Text 1 cannot be attributed to any particular writer because it does not use any special features that enable us to identify its writer. The pattern illustrated is one that, according to McEldowney (1990), re-occurs with great frequency throughout educational texts and general information texts written in English.
Let us now examine a piece of literary text to illustrate some of the ways in which it differs from transactional language.
As we have seen, the transactional mode, as illustrated by the Charlemagne text, is neutral with regard to person, culture and style. This lessens the complexity of decoding the information involved. The same cannot be said, however, of literary text which, by its very nature, depends on personal interpretation. For instance, Text 2 below, like the Charlemagne text above, involves narrative sequence with descriptive comment. Virginia Woolf has, however, chosen to communicate the events in a much more complex manner.
(6) Macalister's boy took one of the fish and cut a square out of its side to bait his hook with. The mutilated body (it was alive still) was thrown back into the sea.
(7) "Mrs. Ramsy!" Lily cried, "Mrs. Ramsy!" but nothing happened. The pain increased. That anguish could reduce one to touch a pitch of imbecility, she thought! Anyhow the old man had not heard her. He remained benignant, calmif one chose to think itsublime. Heaven be praised, no one heard her cry that ignominious cry, stop pain. Stop! She had not obviously taken leave of her senses. She remained a skimpy old maid, holding a paint brush on the lawn. (Woolf, Triad Grafton Edition: 195).
There is much greater linguistic variety illustrated in the extract from To the Lighthouse. For instance, initially, in (6) the sequence of happenings is related in much the same way as in Charlemagne text. The dynamic past tense verb forms took and cut in straightforward SVO clauses outline two steps in the order they happened. This narration by the writer of what the boy did to the fish is then mingled with Lily's stream of consciousness in (7) as she reacts to the boy's actions. The writer does not intervene with expressions like she thought or she felt nor does she challenge Lily's own estimation of herself as a skimpy old maid.
This move from outlining the events which triggered Lily's feelings through the writer's eye to Lily's mental turmoil, the two linked by the description of the fish as mutilated body (it was alive still), is much more effective in depicting Lily's feelings. The reader is much more caught up in her feelings of horror and panic than would be the case if the writer had continued in the manner of the Charlemagne textMacalister's boy took one of the fish and cut a square out of its side to bait his hook. The fish was still alive when he threw it back into the sea. Lily was horrified by this.
An awareness of the intensity of Lily's feelings of abandonment is developed in a similar way. The use of direct speech in "Mrs. Ramsy!" "Mrs. Ramsy!" as Lily calls for help, blends immediately into the indirect style but nothing happeneda move from outside reality to inner turmoil. This has a greater intensity than would a narration of the steps in the manner of the Charlemagne textLily called out for Mrs. Ramsy but no one responded. The tumultuous emotions swarming in Lily's head sweep the reader along as short abrupt comments are inserted into a framework of much longer sentences... but nothing happened. The pain increased. And ...stop pain, stop!
This variety of form requires much more effort on the part of the reader in the search for meaning than was the case with the much more uniform type of expression illustrated by the Charlemagne text. It also contributes to uniqueness with regard to Virginia Woolf's style. Though other writers may use similar effects, the exact effect made by the complexity of her narration here is not likely to be exactly reproduced by another writer.
Speaking of transactional text, Beaugrande & Dressler (1981: 5) say that cause, enablement and reason have forward directionality, that is, the earlier event or situation causes, enables or provides the reason for the later one. This is quite clear with regard to the straightforward, chronological development of the Charlemagne text. The Woolf text in this respect, however, relies on a repetition of the same idea, that of Lily losing her mind at the horror of the boy's action with regard to the fish. When speaking of Woolf's style in this respect, Marsh (1998: 169) speaks of the chaotic detail of incidents that chime and fill the air with vibrations.
Thus, it can be seen that, with regard to the two types of language which are the subject of this study, it is the purpose of the writer that determines the different characteristics that enable us to distinguish transactional language from literary language and enable us to identify individual literary styles. At one extreme we have a concern with the communication of facts in a conventional, familiar manner. Meaning is communicated in a systematic and predictable way. At the other extreme we find unique pieces of art. Each literary style presents a unique syntactic pattern; speaking of how the writer organises the world that is the literary text, Freeman (1975: 20) says that each reflects cognitive preferences, a way of seeing the world; perhaps more importantly, it reflects the fundamental principles of artistic design. The way an individual writer's work coheres is marked by a combination of features. A literary style can thus be established for particular writers so that we can refer to Virginia Woolf's style, James Joyce's style, Jane Austin's style, Charles Dickens's style and so on.
The Reader/Translator and the Text
It was implicit in our description of the features of transactional and literary text above that it is the way a whole piece of text hangs together that is important. Beaugrande and Dressler (1981: 13, 35) as well as Halliday (1985: 4-6, 48) seem to agree that language should be viewed as a system which is a set of elements functioning together each of which has a function contributing to workings of the whole.
When considering a piece of text from the point of view of the reader, Beaugrande (1980:35) proposes that the text itself be viewed as a system and this view is repeated by Halliday (1985:48) who says that every text provides a context for itself. He says a text hangs together as a result of its internal coherence which comes about from the set of linguistic resources that every language has for linking one part of a text to another. He stresses the importance of the reader's internal expectations in maintaining the flow and understanding of text.
To a large extent, it is the degree of familiarity with the way a text is put together that determines the ease and manner of discovering its meaning. Where emphasis is on real-world meaning and information has been imparted in a systematic and predictable way, readers have a relatively straightforward task. They are able to bring their experience of world knowledge and their experience of similar text to bear in extracting the information involved. In conveying fact, the writer does not present information in a very difficult and ambiguous form... nor force the reader to revise his expectations (Beaugrand, 1978:47). Most readers will decode the same basic information and most translators will pass it on with little distortion.
In contrast, as we have seen above, literary writers commonly construct text in such a way that readers cannot interpret it on relying on their knowledge of "normal" practice with regard to coherence. A unique production elicits its own unique framework. Creative writers are successful when they rely on virtual experience using their own personal choice of grammatical form and lexis. In the process, the writer commonly surprises the reader. There is a gap in expectation in that readers are themselves committed to a predetermined manner of interpreting things (Beaugrande, 1978:44). Not only do poetic devices like metaphor and alliteration demand a personal response, but, sometimes, the normally expected rules and conventions of linguistic coherence are completely shattered. Readers are often forced into at least provisionally accepting the author's views as a point of reference (Beaugrande: ibid) and then are much more personally involved in completing the "jigsaw" than is the case where the extraction of fact from a transactional text is involved.
Though they may disregard the expectation of their readers, creative writers do, however, create their own coherence or artistic pattern. We may study the manner in which each unique piece has been constructed when trying to describe a writer's style. It is the wholeness of the resulting form that conveys artistic meaning. In the interpretation of each artistic creation, both reader and translator must bring their personal life experience to bear. As a result, individual readers and individual translators may well come to different conclusions as to what a particular piece of text means.
As suggested above, transactional language is open to paraphrase. There is no need for translator to take over the source to improve and civilise it in the way suggested by Fitzgerald as cited by Bassnet (1980:xv) when discussing Persian texts. Translators do not need to violate the source text or attempt to create an original text. This is because, with a transactional source text, the meaning is controlled by the writer of the text and is easily decipherable by the translator. An understanding of the internal structure of a transactional source is sufficient to provide a reliable transactional translation in which the majority of the information is preserved. There is no debate over the primacy of content over form or vice versa.
With literary language, however, paraphrase and translation become more problematic. Leech & Short (1981: 25) refer to the fact that the New Critics (a major critical movement of the 1930's and 1940's in America) rejected the idea that a poem conveys a message, preferring to see it as an autonomous verbal artifact. T.S. Eliot, for instance, recommended that a poem should be dealt with as a poem and not a piece of biographical evidence or historical material, something that had been the centre of earlier literary criticism. Leech & Short (ibid) cite Macleish who says that a poem should not mean but be and Tolstoy's affirmation that one of the significant facts about a true work of art is that its content in its entirety can be expressed only by itself. We cannot separate meaning from form. If we imagine that we can separate meaning from form in a literary text, we will discover little meaning. Steiner (1975:24) states that Western art and literature are a set of variations on definitive themes. Further, he goes on to explain that Dada (an anarchical school of literary and artistic movement begun in 1916) believes that, to trigger new themes, language should be re-arranged. Hence, the anarchic bitterness of the later-comer and impeccable of Dada when it proclaims that no new impulses of feeling or recognition will arise until language is demolished. According to Gray (1984:79) the purpose of Dada was a nihilistic revolt against all bourgeois ideas of rationality, meaning, form, and order. Its artists and poets arrange objects and words into meaningless and illogical patterns.
In conveying a message through language, a writer tries to make the communication as effective as possible. In this process there are many choices to make both syntactically and semantically. The choice will depend on the writer's purpose. It is possible to identify a conventional way of putting text together as a means of passing on factual information. From such transactional language, meaning can be extracted and passed on without any damage to content and coherence.
For a translator transferring a literary text, it is not enough to grasp the internal structure of the text. Bassnet (1980:37) believes that a translator needs to understand the internal and external structures operating within and around a work of art. In identifying the difficulty of passing on meaning of the unique ensemble of the original phonetic-syntactic context (Stiener, 1975:352) believes we need a translation which gives language life beyond the moment and place of immediate utterance or transcription (ibid:28)
In the early stages of learning a language and in the early stages of learning to translate it, the aim is to minimise the amount of negotiation involved in order to ensure maximum accuracy.
Learners need to go on to develop skill with more and more complex transactional language and, at an appropriate time, begin to develop their interactive skills beyond those involved in the basic information cycle. Further, each individual has a set of complex intentions with regard to communication and needs to be able to express these in a manner acceptable to whatever situation is involved. This quite involves a more beyond the "norm" represented by transactional language. Individuals need to become dexterous recipients and producers of language beyond the norm if they are to survive in the "real" world and communicate in an acceptable way in whatever situation they find themselves. The final achievement is an interpreter who can work effectively in very controversial situations or a translator who can produce a poem that is as great a piece of art in a target language as it is in the source language.
Bassnet, S. (1980): Translation Studies, Methuen, London
Beaugrande, R. (1978):Factors in a Theory of Poetic Translating, Van Gorcum, Assen, The Netherlands
Beaugrande, R. (1980): Text, Discourse and Process, Longman, London
Beaugrande, R. & Dressler,W. (1981): Introduction to Text Linguistics, Longman, London
Freeman, D.C. (1975): "Style and Structure in Literature" in The New Style, Fowler, R. (Ed), Basil Blackwell, Oxford
Gray, M. (1984): A Dictionary of Literary Terms, Longman, York Halliday, M & Hasan, R (1985): "Language, Context and Text: Aspects of Language" in A Social Semiotic Perspective. OUP, Oxford
Halliday, M. (1985): An Introduction to Functional Grammar, Edward Arnold, London
Leech, G. & Short, M. (1981): Style in Fiction, Longman, London
Marsh, N. (1998): Analysing Texts: Virginia Woolf, the Novel, St Martins Press, New York
McEldowney, P.L (1990): Grammar and Communication in Learning, MD 339, Unit 2, "Communicative Purposes," University of Manchester, Manchester
McEldowney, P.L. (1994): Tests in English Language Skills: Rationale: Part One: "Principles," CENTRA, Chorley
McEldowney, P.L. (1996/7): Language and Learning, Part Two, "An Integrated Learning Cycle," Oldham LEA, Oldham
Steiner, G. (1975): After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation, OUP, Oxford
Kindersley (Pub.) (1991): Children's Illustrated Encyclopaedia, Dorling Kindersley, London
Woolf, V.: To the Lighthouse, Triad Grafton Books, London | <urn:uuid:28715eac-b7ca-41a2-a759-463e66abbe43> | CC-MAIN-2015-11 | http://www.bokorlang.com/journal/26liter.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-11/segments/1424936463181.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20150226074103-00040-ip-10-28-5-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947453 | 4,480 | 3.21875 | 3 |
A federal or state agency can be created in a variety of ways, by:
- Agency action;
- Executive order[i].
Most agencies have their source in legislative enactments. Courts refer to agencies as creatures of the legislature which act pursuant to specific grants of authority conferred by their creator.
Congress, state legislatures, and municipal corporations can create administrative agencies[ii]. Similarly, the executive can also create administrative agencies such as investigative agencies under statutes so providing. Sometimes, in the field of labor relations, federal statutes creating administrative agencies have a parallel in state statutes.
[i] Bruggeman v. South Dakota Chem. Dependency Counselor Certification Bd., 1997 SD 132 (S.D. 1997)
[ii] Ronald A. Coco, Inc. v. St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 78 N.M. 97 (N.M. 1967) | <urn:uuid:c8190a47-e034-4bfc-a3c7-728f6af7fbb2> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://administrativelaw.uslegal.com/administrative-agencies/creation-and-establishment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224643462.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20230528015553-20230528045553-00740.warc.gz | en | 0.910213 | 191 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Researchers now understand why up to 40% of people poisoned with carbon monoxide mysteriously develop permanent brain damage weeks later. Changes to a protein found throughout the brain trigger a disastrous immune response. This knowledge could lead to new treatments for this common type of poisoning.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas, and more people die each year from inhaling it than from any other poison. Carbon monoxide sticks to oxygen-toting hemoglobin molecules inside blood cells much better than oxygen molecules do, which means the blood can't ferry oxygen to the brain and other organs. Doctors treat patients with pure oxygen and can remove carbon monoxide from the bloodstream within hours, but many people still develop permanent brain damage similar to Parkinson's disease. Until now, doctors couldn't explain why or how.
Through experiments with rats, Stephen Thom, an emergency-medicine physician at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and his team tracked biochemical changes in the brain after carbon monoxide exposure. They found that when carbon monoxide deprives the brain of oxygen, a common protein in the insulating sheaths around neurons--myelin basic protein (MBP)--becomes altered. The chemically modified MBP then triggers immune responses throughout the brain. But the immune system doesn't know when to stop. After clearing away much of the altered MBP within a few weeks, immune cells continue to fight against normal MBP, "creating the potential risk of permanent, ongoing brain damage," says Thom.
To confirm that MBP is at the heart of the delayed brain damage, the team engineered a group of rats incapable of developing antibodies against MBP and exposed them to carbon monoxide. None of the rats developed delayed brain damage, and they performed normally in a maze test designed to measure cognitive and motor skills, the team reports online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Thom now hopes to investigate the possibility of preventing permanent brain damage through the use of immunosuppressant drugs.
The study is a tour de force, says Lindell Weaver, a critical-care physician at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He adds that the findings could have implications for treating other diseases and injuries that deprive the brain of oxygen. | <urn:uuid:d08179dd-bd83-41b6-ba4f-9fd6bcb1a5c4> | CC-MAIN-2014-49 | http://news.sciencemag.org/2004/08/carbon-monoxides-two-pronged-attack | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-49/segments/1416400380355.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20141119123300-00238-ip-10-235-23-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935039 | 454 | 3.75 | 4 |
It is just a 1/5th scale prototype for now, but by 2018, the "Phantom Swift", developed by Boeing, could conceivably used by the US Army. At the beginning of this year, Darpa, the American government agency responsible for defense technology innovations, launched the beginning of a call for tenders for the creation of a VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft to highly detailed specifications.
The aircraft must be capable of flying at a top speed of 700 km/h (>430 mph), carry a payload of over 5,000 kgs (11,000 lbs), and able to hover. In other words, an improved Boeing-Bell V-22 Osprey type aircraft.
Four manufacturers have taken up the challenge, but the American aircraft manufacturer’s engineers, based in Philadelphia, in the northeast of the United States, are the best placed, for the time being. They have just received an additional financial injection of more than $ 9 million from Darpa, and now have an additional 14 months to refine their project.
Perry Ziegenbein, “Phantom Swift” Chief Engineer - Boeing : (Interview in the video).
For this experimental aircraft project, Darpa has an overall budget of $ 130 million. Eventually, the Phantom Swift, currently designed to be remotely controlled, will measure thirteen metres (42.5 ft.) long with a fifteen metre (>49 ft.) wingspan. Boeing does not, however, rule out the possibility of including an onboard piloted version. First test flights are planned for the end of 2017. | <urn:uuid:bb79a1f5-dc97-486a-ba9c-12fae01d1d38> | CC-MAIN-2019-04 | https://www.aeronewstv.com/en/industry/research-innovation/2052-boeing-is-working-on-a-vtol-aircraft-for-the-pentagon.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583879117.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20190123003356-20190123025356-00134.warc.gz | en | 0.953797 | 330 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Imagine having to undergo hours of treatment every day, just to help your body process the foods you’ve eaten.
That’s a painful reality for some children, like 16-year old Heather Rayser of northern California.
For the last nine years, Heather has had to use saline and a mixture of medicines fed through a permanent tube in her abdomen, to flush out her digestive system.
It is a process that takes hours every day and is often very painful. “I really can’t go anywhere or do much because my treatments take so long,” said Heather.
But thanks to an innovative procedure, doctors at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are offering Heather new hope.
For the first time, Dr. Steven Teich is implanting a small device in the lower back of pediatric patients, which stimulates the sacral nerve and allows the body to function more normally.
He's director of the Surgical Neuromodulation Program at Nationwide Children’s.
“Our success rate so far has been about 90 percent,” said Dr. Teich. “For many patients, it’s making a tremendous difference and allowing them to be like everybody else,” he said.
Sacral nerve stimulation, sometimes called sacral neuromodulation, is used to help patients desperate to control their bowels or bladder, when other treatment options have failed.
During the procedure, surgeons implant a device which addresses communication problems between the brain and the nerves that control bowel and bladder function.
If the nerves are not communicating properly, the muscles may not function properly, which leads to incontinence.
“The implanted device delivers mild electrical impulses to the pelvic nerves,” said Dr. Teich. "The pelvic nerves then begin to tell the muscles when to contract, ultimately helping control the ability to urinate or have a bowel movement.”
The first stage of therapy is a test phase, involving the temporary placement of an electrical stimulator.
If the patient shows significant improvement in bowel or bladder control during the test phase, the surgeon implants a permanent electrical stimulator, which Heather had implanted in May.
The Rayser family is now anxiously waiting to see if the device is the answer Heather has been hoping for to allow her to go back to school and finally be a normal teenager.
“To see everything Heather’s physically and mentally had to endure these nine years has been very difficult,” said Heather’s mom, Kellie Rayser. “I don’t expect a miracle to happen overnight, but my dream for her is that she’ll be able to cut back on the time and pain her treatments cause her and live like a normal teenager.”
“For the first time that patients like Heather can remember, they don’t have a colostomy and can be just like everyone else,” said Dr. Teich, also surgical director of Nationwide Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Professor of Clinical Surgery at OSU College of Medicine.
For the average patient, it can take six months to a year after the device is implanted for the colon to begin functioning normally.
The patient can feel the stimulator working, but it does not cause discomfort. Every five years, patients need to have the batteries in their stimulators replaced.
Dr. Teich is also part of a new Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction at Nationwide Children’s, the first known center in the world to perform sacral nerve stimulation for patients with the birth defect, imperforate anus.
Sacral nerve stimulation is only considered for patients meeting specific criteria, and only after traditional treatment methods have been explored.
“Our success rate so far has been that 90 percent of the kids are completely better and can function without washouts or catheters,” said Dr. Teich.
“This raises the bar for kids who think they are going to have to spend the rest of their lives with severe urine or bowel problems. Families are relieved that there is another option for them.” | <urn:uuid:09073646-2db6-4dbc-b5cd-864681eb9391> | CC-MAIN-2015-48 | http://m.wfmz.com/lifestyle/life-lessons-small-implant-can-bring-large-impact-for-teen/27224166 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398471441.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205431-00251-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946041 | 857 | 2.59375 | 3 |
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- Historical overview
- Basic concepts of chemical reactions
- Classifying chemical reactions
- Classification by types of reactants
- Classification by reaction outcome
Chemical reaction, a process in which one or more substances, the reactants, are converted to one or more different substances, the products. Substances are either chemical elements or compounds. A chemical reaction rearranges the constituent atoms of the reactants to create different substances as products.
What are the basics of chemical reactions?
What happens to chemical bonds when a chemical reaction takes place?
How are chemical reactions classified?
Chemical reactions are an integral part of technology, of culture, and indeed of life itself. Burning fuels, smelting iron, making glass and pottery, brewing beer, and making wine and cheese are among many examples of activities incorporating chemical reactions that have been known and used for thousands of years. Chemical reactions abound in the geology of Earth, in the atmosphere and oceans, and in a vast array of complicated processes that occur in all living systems.
Chemical reactions must be distinguished from physical changes. Physical changes include changes of state, such as ice melting to water and water evaporating to vapour. If a physical change occurs, the physical properties of a substance will change, but its chemical identity will remain the same. No matter what its physical state, water (H2O) is the same compound, with each molecule composed of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. However, if water, as ice, liquid, or vapour, encounters sodium metal (Na), the atoms will be redistributed to give the new substances molecular hydrogen (H2) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). By this, we know that a chemical change or reaction has occurred.
The concept of a chemical reaction dates back about 250 years. It had its origins in early experiments that classified substances as elements and compounds and in theories that explained these processes. Development of the concept of a chemical reaction had a primary role in defining the science of chemistry as it is known today.
The first substantive studies in this area were on gases. The identification of oxygen in the 18th century by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele and English clergyman Joseph Priestley had particular significance. The influence of French chemist Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier was especially notable, in that his insights confirmed the importance of quantitative measurements of chemical processes. In his book Traité élémentaire de chimie (1789; Elementary Treatise on Chemistry), Lavoisier identified 33 “elements”—substances not broken down into simpler entities. Among his many discoveries, Lavoisier accurately measured the weight gained when elements were oxidized, and he ascribed the result to the combining of the element with oxygen. The concept of chemical reactions involving the combination of elements clearly emerged from his writing, and his approach led others to pursue experimental chemistry as a quantitative science.
The other occurrence of historical significance concerning chemical reactions was the development of atomic theory. For this, much credit goes to English chemist John Dalton, who postulated his atomic theory early in the 19th century. Dalton maintained that matter is composed of small, indivisible particles, that the particles, or atoms, of each element were unique, and that chemical reactions were involved in rearranging atoms to form new substances. This view of chemical reactions accurately defines the current subject. Dalton’s theory provided a basis for understanding the results of earlier experimentalists, including the law of conservation of matter (matter is neither created nor destroyed) and the law of constant composition (all samples of a substance have identical elemental compositions).
Thus, experiment and theory, the two cornerstones of chemical science in the modern world, together defined the concept of chemical reactions. Today experimental chemistry provides innumerable examples, and theoretical chemistry allows an understanding of their meaning.
Basic concepts of chemical reactions
When making a new substance from other substances, chemists say either that they carry out a synthesis or that they synthesize the new material. Reactants are converted to products, and the process is symbolized by a chemical equation. For example, iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) combine to form iron sulfide (FeS). Fe(s) + S(s) → FeS(s) The plus sign indicates that iron reacts with sulfur. The arrow signifies that the reaction “forms” or “yields” iron sulfide, the product. The state of matter of reactants and products is designated with the symbols (s) for solids, (l) for liquids, and (g) for gases. | <urn:uuid:99fb22ce-87b3-4822-9101-dbb6415c3c3b> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-reaction/media/1/108802/159285 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195527531.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20190722051628-20190722073628-00213.warc.gz | en | 0.942676 | 984 | 3.96875 | 4 |
Broccoli and broccoli sprouts are shining stars in the cruciferous vegetable family, and there are some very compelling reasons that this amazing vegetable actually has been scientifically proven to prevent and kill cancer cells, reduce tumors, and prevent their spread. Broccoli contains some very powerful bioactive phytochemicals (naturally occurring compounds) that fight cancer, arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and more. Broccoli has been shown in scientific studies to:
- Protect cells from DNA damage
- Detox the body
- Kill cancer cells
- Antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial action
- Powerful anti-inflammatory
- Inhibit cancer cell growth and spread
These actions are carried out through broccoli’s copious amounts of fiber, sulforaphane, glucoraphanin, phenolic compounds, Diindolylmethane (DIM), beta carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamins C, E, and K, folate, and minerals. Cruciferous vegetables contain health-promoting/disease-fighting substances known as glucosinolates, which are naturally-occuring sulfur-containing chemicals. These potent chemicals also explain why cruciferous vegetables have a uniquely pungent aroma and slightly bitter flavor.
Sulforaphane stands out as one most powerful cancer-fighting ingredients in broccoli by supporting proper DNA replication and function of your cells, helping them to reproduce healthy cells. (Cell mutations are often the beginnings of cancer.) Sulforaphane also encourages cell death in colon, bladder, prostate, breast, lung, brain, thyroid, tongue, and skin cancers; as well as oral, pharynx, esophageal, colon and kidney cancers. Sulforaphane is effective against most all cancers. In fact, just three servings a week of broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, or other cruciferous vegetables can reduce overall cancer risk by over 60%.
Sulforaphane also helps to reduce (by as much as 73%) dangerous free radicals which can also wreak havoc on various body systems and cells, which protects DNA and healthy cell replication. Sulforaphane—unlike toxic chemotherapy—can actually induce cancer cell death, without harming healthy cells. In fact, it strengthens healthy cell reproduction. Sulforaphane also enhances the ability of certain anti-cancer and chemotherapy medications such as cisplatin, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, 5-flourouracil, while limiting their toxic effects on normal, healthy cells. Sulforaphane also contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds which not only fight cancer, but diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, allergies, and more.
Glucoraphanin is a type of glucosinolate, contained in all cruciferous vegetables. Glucosinolates are considered to be a part of the defense mechanism of the broccoli plant and also becomes a defense mechanism in our bodies, when we consume it. Glucoraphanin, in particular, is a glucosinolate precursor to sulforaphane that helps to block cancer cells from forming or multiplying. What’s more, broccoli sprouts contain up to twenty times more of this bioactive compound, and are a delicious addition to any salad, sandwich or smoothie.
Phenolic Compounds in broccoli stops damage from free radicals, and reduces inflammation–two things that are very difficult to avoid in our environment. These out-of-control free radicals along with inflammation, are the beginnings of many serious disease processes, including cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, Alzheimer’s and more. Phenolic compounds are also very effective against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
Diindolymethane or DIM for short, has multiple benefits in our bodies, including boosting the immune system, making it more effective at killing cancer cells, and helping to fight cancers—especially those that have to do with our sex hormones, such as prostate, breast and ovarian cancers. DIM is a metabolite of indole 3 carbinol. DIM helps to prevent excess estrogen from converting into another more dangerous form of estrogen, which is causative factor in breast cancer. Incidences of breast cancer, and other estrogen-related cancers are generally quite low in many Asian cultures that embrace diets high in cruciferous vegetables.
In a 2008 study published in Pharmaceutical Research, scientists found that low doses of DIM induced a protein that helps to kill cancer cells, and reduce new cancer cell growth in prostate cancer. In another study reported in the April 22, 2008 edition of Pharmaceutical Research, scientists found low doses of DIM induced production of a protein in prostate cancer cells which weakens and kills cancer cells and stops their spread.
For some, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables may taste bitter and not be very well liked. However, an excellent—and even more potent—alternative to broccoli, is broccoli sprouts. Three-day-old broccoli sprouts can contain up to 50 times the amount of cancer-preventing compounds as mature broccoli. Broccoli sprouts can easily be grown at home, and enjoyed raw. Their mild taste makes them easily compatible on a variety of foods, including salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and sprinkled as a garnish on eggs, soup, etc. Another delicious and more concentrated choice is ‘broccolini’, which is basically baby broccoli. It also has a more mild taste, and tender-crisp texture, making it perfect for light steaming (no more than 5 minutes), which boosts the sulforaphane content, and other phytochemicals in the broccoli.
One other method for maximizing the cancer-fighting potential in broccoli is to combine it with mustard seed, daikon radish, wasabi, arugula or cabbage—especially the red/purple type. The American Institute for Cancer Research reports that:
“participants [who] ate a broccoli supplement…and ate a second food with myrosinase, their blood and urine levels of sulforaphane were significantly higher than those who did not eat the food.”
Broccoli’s super healthy benefits extend far behind its cancer prevention, providing more than one reason to eat this (or its cruciferous relatives) most every day. Besides being a powerful cancer fighter, broccoli:
- Fights Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and liver cancer by lowering triglyceride levels.
- Improves digestion, adds fiber for a healthy gut, provides optimal nutrients for a healthy microbiome.
- Detoxifies the body
- Reduces inflammation
- Carotenoids support healthy eyes
- Flavonoids fight allergies
- Protects skin from sun damage
- Reduces and maintains healthy blood sugar levels, preventing diabetes
- Supports heart health, maintaining healthy arterial walls
So yes, your mom was right when she told you to “Eat your broccoli!” Enjoy it often and protect your health! | <urn:uuid:0bebdace-f6a9-4560-a028-4de5af8cfa45> | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | http://thenutritionwatchdog.com/five-ingredients-in-broccoli-that-fight-cancer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917124297.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031204-00534-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93633 | 1,458 | 3.09375 | 3 |
At the word bees or beekeeper everyone automatically thinks of honey. It seems to be the first thing that comes to mind. Actually, honey, in addition to pollen, propolis, royal jelly, wax and bee venom is just one of the products, which is produced by bees.
The great value that bees give to humanity is the pollination, an immensely important process for the global survival of the flora and fauna. It is pleasure to look at a mountain landscape colored by an endless amount of various flowers.
Beekeeping in the Val di Funes definitely not only begins with the foundation of the Beekeeper Association about 100 years ago. In the past many farms had a beehive but one of the most common problems was the aggressiveness of bee colonies. So being a beekeeper was quite a risk that not everyone wanted to take.
Previously, the largest value was attributed to the honey, and the pollination was just a natural process and therefore taken for granted. Fortunately today, more and more people are starting to change their point of view. Finally, the importance of beekeeping is better understood.
Hiking hints in the Valle Isarco/Eisacktal
Here you may find some thematic adventure hiking trails | <urn:uuid:2145bc5e-78fa-4f17-8422-25158eb36a6b> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.villnoess.com/en/culinary-delights-and-culture/val-di-funesvillnoess-valley-products/alpine-honey/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371665328.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20200407022841-20200407053341-00054.warc.gz | en | 0.968508 | 252 | 2.796875 | 3 |
In his 1891 inaugural address, Northwestern University President Henry Wade Rogers issued a call for a new library building as part of his ambitious plans to transform Northwestern into a modern university. The library, then located on the third floor of University Hall, had outgrown its space; there was no more room for the growing collection of books and periodicals, nor adequate space for research and study.
Rogers persuaded one of the Universitys founders, Orrington Lunt (1815-1897), to make a gift of $50,000 towards a new library. In addition to helping found the University, Lunt had been a long-time financial supporter and had served as President of its Board of Trustees. By 1893 the University was able to match Lunts gift with $50,000 in contributions and funds from its operating budget. William Augustus Otis (1855-1929) was chosen as architect and construction began in the summer of 1893. Otis had studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, had worked in partnership with Chicago architect William Le Baron Jenney, and was becoming known for his residential and library buildings.
Otis designed a three-story structure in the Italian Renaissance style with exterior walls of Bedford limestone and a red tile roof. The stacks and the reading room, located on the first floor, were designed to house 100,000 volumes and seat 140 students. The second floor held office space and a lecture room seating 500. The smaller third floor, occupying only the center portion of the building, housed the language departments. The basement provided more storage space and bathrooms. Ida Josephine Burgess, who had recently crafted murals for the womans reception room in the Illinois State Building at the Worlds Columbian Exposition, decorated the reading room, the book room (the stacks) and the entrance hall. Lunt Library modern features included large windows for natural lighting during the day and both gas and electric lights for the evening. A book lift and speaking tube connected the floors of the building. Specially designed book shelves and tables for the stacks and reading room were among the buildings other amenities.
On September 27, 1894 the new library was opened and formally named after its primary benefactor. Educators from throughout Chicago and the United States were invited to attend ceremonies that were held in the new librarys lecture hall and at the First Methodist Church in Evanston. Students were given a half-day off in celebration. At the afternoon dedication ceremony in the assembly hall, Orrington Lunt officially presented the building to the University, accompanied by speeches and a dedication ode written and read by Emily Huntington Miller.
Over the years the use of the building varied. Not long after its opening, the University Guild began using rooms on the second floor for meeting and exhibit space. Until 1915, the Guild held its regular meetings and special programs in the library, and the Guilds art collection, including objects and murals from the Columbian Exposition, were displayed there. As the librarys collection grew, especially after the turn of the century, most of the available rooms in the building were used for book storage.
By the 1920s it was clear that the University had once again outgrown its library. Under the leadership of University President Walter Dill Scott and University Librarian Theodore W. Koch, the new Charles Deering Library was built; it opened in 1933 and Lunt Library became Lunt Hall, Northwesterns Administration Building. The second floor lecture room was partitioned into offices for the University President and other administrators. During the succeeding years, the building also housed the offices of the registrar and the Deans of Men and Women, and the alumni, publicity and business office.
From 1942 through 1945, as part of campus-wide mobilization during World War II, the building served as a barracks and dining hall for sailors in training at the Naval Radio Operators School in the Technological Institute. By 1950 Lunt was being used by the Mathematics Department and the School of Commerce and had a student cafeteria in the basement. From 1958 until 1970, it housed the Naval Science Department and the offices of the Naval ROTC. In the late 1960s Lunt became the focus of campus protests by students and faculty who objected to what they perceived as the Universitys support of the military and the war in Vietnam. The NROTC offices were subsequently moved to other facilities. Today, Lunt Hall is occupied by the Department of Mathematics.
Architect: William Augustus Otis
Named for: Orrington Lunt, president of Board of Trustees | <urn:uuid:217eacd4-bbd3-4b01-b93b-d5d39bc5cfab> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | http://digital.library.northwestern.edu/architecture/building.php?bid=11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719155.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00443-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980745 | 925 | 3.109375 | 3 |
The Texas landscape produces challenges when it comes to growing flowers as the summer climate is hot and dry. This requires planting flower varieties that are drought resistance and hardy in hot temperatures. Texas native and wildflower perennials will provide lush foliage and eye appealing flowers in the home landscape. Planting perennials give the added benefit of growing back each spring for continued enjoyment.
The yarrow plant, Achillea millefolium, is a perennial herb that grows to a height of one foot. The plant produces fern-like foliage that blooms white, pink or red flowers in the spring and fall months and can be found growing wild in grasslands or open forests. The white blooming variety is considered a weed. Yarrow grows well in an area that has full to partial shade sunlight conditions.
The blue shade, Ruellia "sqarrosa", is an ever-blooming perennial plant that grows to a height of 8 inches. The plant is often used as a ground cover as it spreads quickly through vines. Blue shade has velvet textured foliage and produces many lavender colored blooms when grown in full sun light conditions. Cut the plant back every 30 days to prevent over-growth and stimulate new blossoms.
The summer phlox plant, Phlox paniculata, is a hardy perennial that grows to a height of three feet. The plant produces magenta-pink colored fragrant flowers that bloom during the summer months. Summer phlox grows well in full sun or partial shade light conditions and requires heavy watering at the ground level during the hot summer months.
The hardy ageratum plant, Eupatorium coelestinum, is a strong growing plant that is native to Texas. The plant grows to a height of two feet and considered invasive when not controlled. Hardy ageratum is a fall blooming plant that produces blue-violet flowers. Plant the hardy ageratum in an area that has full sun to part shade light and a soil that retains moisture.
The obedient plant, Physostegia virginiana, is a perennial that grows up to four feet in height. The plant has a non-branched stem and produces 10-inch-tall spikes with pink, purple or white flowers that produce no scent. Obedient plant blooms in late summer to early fall and lasts for approximately six weeks. Plant the obedient plant in an area that has full sun light conditions.
The ox-eye daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, is a hardy plant that grows up to a height of three feet, but more commonly are one foot tall. Ox-eye daisy is found growing wild and has a daisy-like flower appearance. The plant blooms in the spring months and produces single stemmed white flowers in the summer months. Plant the ox-eye daisy in an area that has full sun to partial shade light. | <urn:uuid:3a355697-67cc-4f2c-89ea-5aef2807a519> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://www.gardenguides.com/92659-hardy-flowers-texas.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500835505.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021355-00324-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923194 | 598 | 3.078125 | 3 |
British history should be rewritten to make it “more inclusive”, says Trevor Phillips, the head of the new human rights and equality commission.
He said Muslims were also part of the national story and “sometimes we have to go back into the tapestry and insert some threads that were lost”.
He quoted the example of the Spanish Armada, which was held up by the Turks at the request of Queen Elizabeth I.
“It was the Turks who saved us,” Mr Phillips told a Labour fringe meeting.
Mr Phillips said he had also been persuaded of the need for a written constitution, saying the UK needed to be “more explicit in our understanding about how we treat each other”.
He said population changes and immigration were happening at unprecedented rate and there was “no going back”.
So it was no longer enough to assume people would inherit the values which bound the country together.
Speaking at an event organised by The Smith Institute, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Young Foundation, he said it was important that new arrivals learned English.
Must be ‘native’ and ‘right for us’
But he also stressed the importance of celebrating Britain’s “human rights culture” and said the government had to be more specific about what it meant to be British—rather than simply stressing values such as “freedom” which were universal.
“We have to have a more explicit set of understandings which we can all share about how we treat each other and we talk to each other and they have to be based on real values.
“I think the prime minister is right to talk about values but I think what is important is not the abstract values. Freedom is shared by all sorts of people.”
If there was a written constitution it would have to be “an expression which is native and right for us”.
He also stressed the importance of a national story in forging a shared sense of identity.
“I think we have to rewrite, redevelop, our national story so that it is inclusive.
“And what I mean by that in practice is this: not that we have to re-write what we are but sometimes we have to go back into the tapestry and insert some threads that were lost.”
He said the abolition of the slave trade, for example, could be retold as being part of the English radical tradition.
“Part of the job of heritage is to cognitize—give physical existence—to that national story.
“And if there is a practical thing, I would say it is that we need to revisit some parts of that national heritage. to rewrite some parts of that national story to tell the whole story.
“When we talk about the Armada it’s only now that we are beginning to realise that part of it is Muslims,” Mr Phillips told the meeting.
“It was the Turks who saved us, because they held up Armada at the request of Elizabeth I.
“Now let’s rewrite that story, let’s use our heritage to rewrite that story so it is truly inclusive.
“That’s the reason for this so we have an identity which brings us together, which binds us in the stormy times that we are going to have in the next century.” | <urn:uuid:60cdeece-d6e3-488c-8b7e-0d34c4a66fca> | CC-MAIN-2016-40 | http://www.amren.com/news/2007/09/british_history/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-40/segments/1474738659833.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20160924173739-00309-ip-10-143-35-109.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979598 | 709 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Another World Food Day is here. The event celebrated annually on October 16 is a movement for stakeholders in agriculture to think about the state of sustainable farming and how to adequately feed the world's hungry billion. This year, the event is commemorated with critical focus on sustainable agriculture through cooperatives to feed the world in the throes of climate change. It enabled stakeholders rethink agriculture from problem to solution with a view to achieving the right to food in a climate-constrained world.
Empirically, agricultural activities account for one third of total green house gas (GHG) emissions, the lion's share of which comes from industrial agriculture. But farmers are also among the first to feel the impacts of climate change, as harvests fail due to increasingly extreme weather. This presupposes agriculture is both culprit and victim of climate change. We need to urgently change the way we produce and consume food if we are to nourish the world's growing population while respecting nature. If we continue to squeeze the maximum out of the earth's resources, more people will face hunger and the future of mankind and the planet will be at risk.
The benefit of investing in sustainable food production systems is twofold: GHG emission reductions would slow down human contribution to climate change (mitigation) and would also increase the capacity of agriculture to cope with it (adaptation). Food produced via industrialised methods contributes considerably to GHG emissions through synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, methane from farm animals, as well as large-scale land clearing and deforestation.
We must therefore apply ecological principles to reduce emissions, but also to increase agriculture's resistance to changing weather conditions, like erratic rains, droughts and floods. Ecological production systems are more diverse and support biodiversity which increases their capacity to respond to erratic climate compared to monocropped systems which characterise industrial agriculture.
Agribusiness argues that increasing food supply via the intensification of production is the solution to the food crisis, but this fails to go to the heart of the matter. In fact, despite global population growth, today we produce 17 percent more calories per day per person than 30 years ago. The world's poorest go hungry despite 30% of food being wasted in rich countries where obesity is already a major health threat.
We can only eradicate hunger if we tackle its root causes, namely inequality and exclusion. For this we need to pay special attention to small producers, many of whom are women. They not only provide food to the majority of people worldwide, but are also those most at risk of food insecurity. This fact makes the theme for this years' world food day more fundamental. It is through cooperatives and like organisations that farmers possess the power to determine the manners, methods and outputs of their production.
What then is the role of cooperatives in this crusade? The answer is simple. Aagricultural cooperatives have a major role to play in this regard: not only can they help give farmers access to the resources they need for production, but also to markets where they can move their products. What's more, agricultural cooperatives give farmers the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process, giving them greater access to land ownership and greater negotiating powers. In this way, agricultural cooperatives ultimately help to reduce poverty, ensure greater food security and eradicate hunger across the globe.
Agricultural and food cooperatives are already a major tool against poverty and hunger but they could do much more. It is time to strengthen these organisations and facilitate their expansion while creating a favourable business, legal, policy and social climate in which they can thrive. It goes without saying that cooperatives need government and governments need cooperatives. Whereas government regulation of cooperatives is important, it is equally important that cooperatives have the autonomy to govern and manage themselves. | <urn:uuid:56110f1f-1215-4cbc-a372-fbcef375084c> | CC-MAIN-2015-18 | http://allafrica.com/stories/201210170590.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-18/segments/1429246649234.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20150417045729-00050-ip-10-235-10-82.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950033 | 767 | 3.75 | 4 |
Authentication class to facilitate logging in users. It is assumed that there is a primary field that a user can be retrieved by, and a single password field upon which they authenticate with.
Given the appropriate parameters (lookup field,lookup value) the desired record is fetched from the database and the authentication method is executed.
Currently this method only really works when you are looking up by the class id, although there are plans to make this more flexible.
Given a login capable object, attempt to authenticate the user represented by the object.
-Verify that the object is an instance -Check the password and ensure it is correct -Check the status and make sure the user is permitted to login
If any criteria fail the appropriate exception is thrown and should be caught and handled properly
If all of these criteria are met the lastlogin field is updated to represent this successful login
Returns true if the 'password' stored in the params hash matches that of the current record, false for failed match or throws an exception otherwise.
BadPasswordException is thrown if the password is invalid
Generate a random string that is 8 characters long. This is useful for assigning random passwords to new users, after which you require them to change it after first login. | <urn:uuid:e4706d48-1d81-4cc8-b8be-b2c13f03beee> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://search.cpan.org/~damjanp/RWDE-573/lib/RWDE/LoginUser.pm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399522.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00173-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90076 | 257 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Paddling with two people is the way most canoers head out on the lake, and sometimes it’s hard to find a canoe being paddled by just one person. This is because people assume that it’s harder to paddle a canoe solo. However, it doesn’t have to be hard at all.
To successfully solo canoe, the canoer must kneel in the middle of the canoe and keep his or her knees in to control balance. To stop from spinning in circles, a canoer must make smooth, even strokes on both sides of the canoe, alternating sides.
Keeping these essentials in mind, a canoer can make a trip alone. It may be difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it, you may find it easier than canoeing with a partner.
How to Paddle Solo
The solo canoe trip is a serious undertaking. To learn how to successfully make an expedition all by yourself, we must start with the basics.
There will be 4 basic things to learn. These are:
- Body Position
- Hand Position
- “The Lean”
1. Body Position
Body positioning is critical whether you are paddling solo or tandem in a canoe. There are always 3 tips to keep in mind, despite whatever position you choose.
In almost all these positions you will be kneeling, so it’s important to have knee pads in the bottom of your canoe.
- Keep your knees low and/or down so that your torso moves your hips and your lower half. (Doing this gives you better balance, control, and power.)
- Maintain mobility. You want to make sure you can move, especially to heel the canoe when you steer around corners.
- No matter what position you choose, make sure that you are comfortable. Comfort is key.
The classic position or the Canadian Style is the most popular position for solo canoers. You kneel in the hull of the but, close to the middle. The bow seat gives support and kneeling in the hull allows you to get close to the canoe and the water, which gives you better control.
This position is related to the Classic because you kneel in the hull but instead of sitting back on your heels you are up off your knees. This provides you with a better forward reach and a more powerful stroke.
In this position, you also kneel but you spread your knees across the canoe. This provides good control across the canoe and helps it track straighter. This position is best when you will be cross stroking to move through the water.
Also, known as the Spread Two Point High Kneel, this position requires you to be up off your knees with your legs spread. This position is great for smaller canoes and helps with control in the wind and rough waves.
Sitting Cross Leg
This position allows you to sit on the seat of the canoe, in the stern. Remember to keep your knees lowered past the gunwale if you can. Your legs should still be spread and your ankles should be tucked and crossed underneath the seat.
Although kneeling on the bottom of the boat provides more power and balance, you still get good power and balance when sitting on the seat.
Let out, Leg Down
You are also sitting on the seat in this position but with your paddling knee down in a kneeling position. The other leg should be stretched out in the canoe. This helps move the canoe along powerfully. This does limit balance and control but increases power.
This is the position for max power and speed. This is a difficult technique to perfect and you need strong legs to do it. You don’t have great balance or control but the speed is undeniable. This is much like the Leg Out, Leg Down but instead of having your leg down it is up at a right angle like you’re proposing.
This position has the paddler facing the side of the canoe with your knees to whatever side you’re paddling and your legs and feet tucked underneath you. This isn’t a very popular position and is difficult to perfect.
Also, known as the “Gunwale Kneel”, it is the same as the transverse position but instead of both knees on the floor of the canoe, the paddling knee is up at a 90-degree angle. Again, this isn’t a very popular position but is mainly used in racing circumstances.
This position is just fun or used for resting your knees. It is done by just laying down on the bottom of the canoe and pushing the paddle across either side. This position is great if you want to watch the sky or even take a nap. Just don’t forget to keep your paddle in your canoe if you plan on falling asleep.
2. Hand Position
In case you are unaware of how to properly hold a canoe paddle, here is a video on how to do so.
Having your bottom hand higher on the shaft helps extend your reach. This gives you more leverage when steering which gives more effort and efficiency.
You always want to swing your paddle out to the front of the boat. This will keep you going in the right direction. Dragging it back to the front after a backstroke will get you spinning in circles.
In rough wind and water, you’ll want to extend your reach because that helps keep you in control. Leaning forward also increases leverage and shifts the weight forward which reduces the wind effect.
3. “The Lean”
“The Lean” is an essential part of canoeing solo. This is why kneeling on the bottom of a canoe is such a prime position for solo canoers. Kneeling in the canoe allows you to lean to the side that you’re paddling on.
This allows one end of the canoe to be raised from the water and opens it up to become like a sail to a gust of wind. Kneeling in the center of your canoe helps keep the canoe centered, but as you lean and turn with the canoe it helps create smoothes turns and glides through the water.
A slight lean to the paddle side lifts the bow and stern out of the water which creates a shorter waterline and a more manageable canoe for a soloist to handle.
Although paddling can be as simple as one stroke on one side and one stroke on the other, turning and steering and dealing with rough water requires a bit more technique.
These strokes allow for different techniques that can help with sharp turns, quicker speeds, more power, and better efficiency.
The J Stroke
The J Stroke is the most popular canoe stroke. It is a corrective stroke but can be used for a quick forward stroke or a cross-forward stroke combination to get yourself moving.
- To begin the J Stroke reach the paddle forward until your bottom arm is fully extended.
- Dip the paddle into the water until the blade is fully submerged.
- Pull the paddle back until your lower hand is slightly behind your torso.
- Rotate the paddle ninety degrees so that the face of the blade is parallel with the side of the canoe.
- Push the blade out away from the canoe and pulling the top of the paddle in the opposite direction.
- Pull the blade of the paddle out and repeat the steps.
Usually, because the J Stroke is a corrective stroke, you may only need to use this stroke once or twice every three or four strokes to keep the canoe in a straight line.
The J Stroke can be a little difficult to perfect so here are some tips on achieving a great J Stroke.
- For Better Power – Plant the paddle blade in the water with the shaft vertical. Then, pull the paddle back in a straight line.
- For Better Transition – As the paddle passes your body, twist your hands down and out. Remember your thumb at the top of your hand points toward the water, the blade rotates and then lies parallel to the direction you’re going.
- For Better Correction – You should use your bottom hand to pry the blade away from the boat. To tame a bow drift you can rudder your canoe in the water, otherwise, you might need a harder push.
- For Better Return – If you need more correction just drag the blade tip through the water for a few inches as you bring your paddle forward.
Here’s a video about how to do the J Stroke properly.
The Sweep Stroke
The Forward Sweep Stroke is used by solo paddlers to turn the boat to the offside. First, plant your blade in the water as far forward as you can and with the shaft as horizontal as possible. This means your control hand is in front of your stomach and the shaft arm is fully extended. Then, sweep a wide arc out to the side of the canoe and stop just before the blade hits the stern. You will use torso rotation for this move.
The Reverse Sweep Stroke is used by solo paddlers to spin the canoe. The reverse is the same technique as the forward sweep stroke. Plant your paddle as far back in the water as you can while keeping the shaft as horizontal as possible. So again, your control hand will be in front of your stomach and your shaft hand will be towards the stern.
Make sure to turn your torso aggressively with both these strokes to keep your hands with your field of vision. Keep your hands low and maintain a 180-degree sweep. Your torso should do all the work and your arms should stay in a fairly fixed position.
The Draw Stroke
The draw stroke is meant to pull your canoe sideways towards your paddle side. Your thumb should point towards the stern. Reach outwards while leaning your canoe towards the paddle and catch the blade to keep the paddle as vertical as possible, then pull your canoe towards the paddle.
If you draw forward from the center the canoe will turn the bow of the canoe towards the paddle, and it works the same for a draw stroke for the rear.
Here’s the step by step instructions for this stroke along with a video about how to do it.
- Rotate your torso so your chest and soldiers are facing the direction you want to go.
- Reach your paddle out to the side about a foot or so away from the boat. Keep it parallel with your hips with the face of the blade facing you.
- Draw your hip and paddle together by pulling the boat towards you.
- Stop about 2/3 inches away from the canoe.
- Then recover the blade. You could slice the blade back toward the back of the boat or roll your wrists forward while keeping the paddle submerged and slice the blade through the water back to the original position.
The Pry Stroke
The pry stroke pushes the canoe away from the paddle side. The easiest way to perform this stroke by placing the shaft of the paddle against the side of the gunwales. Then, lean the canoe towards the paddle side and slice the paddle into the water at and angle.
For this stroke, you can use the weight of your body to increase power. Like the draw stroke, the pry stroke will push your bow or stern away from the paddle. The Pry Stroke is the opposite of the Draw Stroke.
The C Stroke
The C stroke is great for a solo canoer in a tandem canoe. This stroke is actually a combination of three different strokes which allows more control of over the canoe when paddling on one side of the boat. It’s called a C Stroke because you make a C under the water.
The C stroke is a combination of the forward stroke, the draw stroke, and the pry stroke. You start with a dry stroke then blend it into a forward stroke (which is just a regular stroke), and then finish with a pry stroke. This stroke will turn the canoe towards the paddle, then move the boat away from the paddle side and then push the bow towards the paddle side.
Stationary Bow Draw
A Stationary Bow Draw is a stroke that only works when you have forward momentum. This stroke helps a solo paddler to turn the canoe to the on-side.
Place the paddle just ahead of your knee with the shaft help as vertical as possible and with your torso rotated to face the paddle. Both arms should stay lightly bent with the shaft arm’s elbow kept close to your body and your control hand should be held in front of your forehead.
Then turn your control hand slightly so that your thumbs point toward your forehead. The face of the paddle should now face the bow of your canoe. Hold fast and don’t let go of the paddle or you can capsize.
Much like the Stationary Bow Draw, the Cross Bow Draw is a stroke primarily used by a solo paddler to turn the boat on its offside. This stroke involves lifting the paddle over the canoe to your offside and then planting it deeply in the water as vertical as possible (about a foot and a half away from the canoe in front of your knees). This position does require you to rotate your torso aggressively.
From this position, you’ll twist the paddle so the face faces the bow of the canoe. Your control thumb so it’s facing away from you. This helps you catch a lot of water when you’re moving forward. This again creates a great deal of force so don’t let go of your paddle.
Pro Tip: Use the Wind
Trying to maintain control of your canoe with heavy wind can get frustrating. If this happens, you can give in and use the wind to help gain control. The light end of the canoe, usually the bow, will always swing downwind in gusts. So the easiest way to head in the direction you want is to safely turn around in the canoe.
This makes the bow the heavy end and will keep it from being controlled by the wind. This allows you to put more effort into your strokes because steering will be easier. Then, once you can you can turn back around and start paddling normally.
When the bow end of the boat is directed by wind, this is called weathercocking. If you don’t feel comfortable about turning around and the wind is coming from your offside, you can use more aggressive J Strokes to keep your course.
If the wind is coming from your onside you can use regular forward strokes or sweep strokes to keep running straight,
Solo canoeing really isn’t difficult. It is just like any other canoeing activity, you just need practice. Make sure that before you head out on your own you have plenty of food and water, the right safety equipment, and let someone know where you are going and how long you’ll be there so that if something happens some will know where you are. Don’t overthink it! Just practice and be safe, and you’ll have a great time. | <urn:uuid:7efc71ba-2ff2-4346-9cff-38ecb8ccb789> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://outdoortroop.com/how-to-paddle-a-canoe-solo-without-going-around-in-circles/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400265461.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20200927054550-20200927084550-00387.warc.gz | en | 0.927286 | 3,094 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Alexis Bernal writes in The Hill that saving the giant sequoia isn’t just about climate change.
- While climate change is contributing to a longer and drier wildfire season, failed government policies are making the problem worse.
- Instead of adopting a hands on, active forest management gameplan, governments out west have taken a hands off approach which has created forest floors with greater fuel load.
- In order to address this problem, governments should reduce barriers that limit conservation efforts, empower private property owners, and adopt a more hands on approach to forest management.
Read the full article here. | <urn:uuid:6a7fb21a-0066-4e6c-9e8f-caacb8b7749c> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://c3newsmag.com/battle-of-the-giants-why-saving-giant-sequoia-isnt-just-about-climate-change/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656104375714.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20220704111005-20220704141005-00487.warc.gz | en | 0.931611 | 124 | 2.9375 | 3 |
A bit of a departure from the usual electronics/software based post, but a writing about learning nonetheless.
This week wrapped out the school year for us and our kids. Our kindergartner had quite the gainful first year of “official” school. Rather than trying to finish up our science study on The Brain and The Senses, we instead built solar ovens as the last lesson. They’re always the next year to pick back up where we left off.
The “lab instructions” that I put together in <15 minutes the night before basically called out materials including a box, black construction paper, plastic food wrap, and aluminum foil and directions on assembly. Following was a basic “what do you expect” and “what happens” fill-in when shining the sunlight into the “oven”.
It was ~77F outside in the sun. The oven’s interior temp got up to near 100F within minutes, not bad for no consideration of insulation or other potential optimizations. The kids were quite impressed that the cheese started melting. They also couldn’t wait until next day to “toast” marshmallows.
The casual conversations into the evening afterwards was vindication that it was worthwhile to do this really, really basic experiment. –The same experiment I read and followed along years ago IIRC from a Fox Kids Club magazine..yes I’m dating myself here.
AJ started scheming up other ways to make “ovens”, after understanding how the one he just built conceptually operates. One of his ideas for another “solar” oven was using a light bulb, which I had to nudge that it wouldn’t be a direct solar design as it would need electricity. It is interesting that he mentioned using a light bulb: it must be intuitive that bulbs generate heat, so much so that there used to be a commercially available toy built on that premise. However, in his short years of life he’s probably only ever seen CFL and LED bulbs in use, as incandescents have fallen out of favor due to higher energy usage, working against the A/C trying to keep the rooms cool.
This kind of creativity and ingenuity isn’t necessarily a directly teachable thing, but kinda builds from within from exposure and otherwise nurturing experience. Its such an important trait that we impart on our future leaders and innovators that we can’t lose sight of. But I sometimes think in our (the parents and educators) quests of trying to get our kids to eventually learn the most advanced skills they can absorb in their young learning years, its quite easy for ingenuity to fall out the wayside.
STEM is a big catchy thing these days for various reasons, and if/when done correctly I believe the attention can yield great results that everyone will appreciate. When discussions turn quickly into action plans like putting every kid starting from pre-k in front of a computer with a software IDE, maybe we should step back and consider its not all “what” they’re learning, but “how” and “why” counts as well.
And with that, SCHOOL’S OUT …FOR SUMMER! Maybe I’ll have a few spare moments to finally build out more of the Embedded Systems 101 workshop. | <urn:uuid:9c10d708-b68a-4640-91d7-a8edb80a37fa> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | http://learnatjoes.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794865411.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20180523024534-20180523044534-00259.warc.gz | en | 0.964888 | 696 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Aging is an inevitable process in most multicellular organism that is regulated by both genetic and environmental factors. Multiple pathways have been discovered using the nematode species Caenorhabditis elegans which were then shown to be conserved in other higher eukaryotes. Simultaneously gene expression profiling using C. elegans during aging, revealed the identification of age-dependent gene expression alterations that characterize the nematode’s ageing process. Following this, multiple studies led to the construction of genetic and molecular networks that includes well-known aging regulators.
In this paper by Aktypi et al (2021), the authors used a novel approach that revealed candidates which were never been linked to ageing before, thus suggesting promising potential targets/ageing regulators. More specifically, they have combined microarray gene expression profiling of the wild type animals during ageing with network analysis of the differentially expressed genes to detect regulatory genes that have importance in C. elegans ageing, an approach that has not been applied before for the detection of ageing regulators.
Aktypi, F. et al. (2021) Network analysis in aged C. elegans reveals candidate regulatory genes of ageing. Biogerontology. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-021-09920-3)
Network analysis in aged C. elegans reveals candidate regulatory genes of ageing
By Avijit Mallick in news on . | <urn:uuid:f4bcf1f0-2ea5-4c7a-bf62-3a4093dee98b> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | http://www.briggsae.org/?p=627 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945433.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20230326044821-20230326074821-00162.warc.gz | en | 0.910252 | 382 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Resource Documents: Wildlife (248 items)
Documents presented here are not the product of nor are they necessarily endorsed by National Wind Watch. These resource documents are provided to assist anyone wishing to research the issue of industrial wind power and the impacts of its development. The information should be evaluated by each reader to come to their own conclusions about the many areas of debate.
Living in habitats affected by wind turbines may result in an increase in corticosterone levels in ground dwelling animals
Author: Łopucki, Rafał; et al.
Environmental changes and disturbance factors caused by wind turbines may act as potential stressors for natural populations of both flying and ground dwelling animal species. The physiological stress response results in release of glucocorticoid hormones. We studied two rodent species of the agricultural landscape (the common vole Microtus arvalis and the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius) and tested the hypothesis that living in habitats affected by wind turbines results in an increase in corticosterone levels. Rodents were trapped at sites near wind turbines and in control areas. Faeces samples were collected from traps where the targeted animals were caught. For the analysis of corticosterone concentrations in the faeces, we used ELISA tests with antibodies for this hormone. The common vole showed a distinct physiological response − the individuals living near the wind turbines had a higher level of corticosterone. The striped field mouse did not show a similar response. We pointed out the main factors increasing corticosterone levels in voles and features of the studied species that may determine the differences in their reaction including: the width of the ecological niche, spatial mobility, and predation pressure. This is the first study suggesting impact of wind farms on physiological stress reactions in wild rodent populations. Such knowledge may be helpful in making environmental decisions when planning the development of wind energy and may contribute to optimization of conservation actions for wildlife.
Rafał Łopucki, Center for Interdisciplinary Research, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland
Daniel Klich, Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Warsaw University of Life Sciences–SGGW, Poland
Agnieszka Ścibiorc, Dorota Gołębiowska, Laboratory of Oxidative Stress, Center for Interdisciplinary Research, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
Kajetan Perzanowski, Institute of Landscape Architecture,John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
Ecological Indicators 84 (2018) 165–171. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.08.052
Author: Millon, Lara; et al.
Previous studies have mainly focused on bat mortality through collision by wind turbines, and very few studies have assessed the indirect impacts on bat activity and on foraging habitat availability. Also, there is a global lack of knowledge on the vulnerability of tropical bat fauna due to wind energy production, even though it is well known that windpower can affect bat communities and biodiversity hotspots are widespread in the tropics. We present one of the first studies to quantify the indirect impact of wind farms on insectivorous bats in tropical hotspots of biodiversity. Bat activity was compared between wind farm sites and control sites, via ultrasound recordings at stationary points. The activity of bent winged bats (Miniopterus spp.) and wattled bats (Chalinolobus spp.) were both significantly lower at wind turbine sites. The result of the study demonstrates a large effect on bat habitat use at wind turbines sites compared to control sites. Bat activity was 20 times higher at control sites compared to wind turbine sites, which suggests that habitat loss is an important impact to consider in wind farm planning. We strongly recommend that the loss of the foraging habitat loss is considered in mitigation hierarchy (avoiding, reducing, offsetting) when compensating for negative impacts of wind farms.
Lara Millon, Célia Colin, Fabrice Brescia, IAC (Institut Agronomique néo-Calédonien), Equipe ARBOREAL (Agriculture Biodiversité et Valorisation) Païta, New Caledonia
Christian Kerbiriou, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, UMR 7204 MNHN-CNRS, France, and Station de Biologie Marine, Concarneau, France
Ecological Engineering 112 (2018) 51–54. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.12.024
Download original document: “Wind turbines impact bat activity, leading to high losses of habitat use in a biodiversity hotspot”
Author: Naylor, Lauren
As climate change continues to be a salient topic in both the scientific and political realms, investigations into how we can best address climate change have become increasingly popular and, in some cases, controversial. In the U.S, energy production is a primary contributor to overall emission rates, with as much as 40% of all carbon emissions produced by the electric sector alone.
With a projected growth of 39% in U.S. electricity demands by 2030, high emission rates will continue to be an issue unless drastic policy and infrastructure changes are implemented (DOE 2008).
One strategy for abatement lies in increasing our use of renewable resources for energy productions. There are various forms of renewable energy, but for the purposes of this study, I focus specifically on wind. While wind energy provides a viable solution for emission reductions, it comes at an environmental cost, particularly for birds.
As wind energy grows in popularity, its environmental impacts are becoming more apparent. Recent studies indicate that wind power has negative effects on proximate wildlife. These impacts can be direct – collision fatalities – and indirect – habitat loss (Fargione et al. 2012; Glen et al. 2013).
Negative impacts associated with operational wind farms include collision mortalities from towers or transmission lines and barotrauma for bats. Habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as avoidance behavior, are also consequences resulting from wind farm construction and related infrastructure.
The potential harm towards protected and migratory bird species are an urgent concern, especially for wind farms located along migratory flyways. In terms of mortality, wind turbines kill an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 birds, annually (Smallwood 2013). The high speed at which the fan wings move and the concentration of turbines create a gauntlet of hazards for birds to fly through. For example, Texas’s Gulf Wind Farm in Kenedy County sits within two critical Central Flyway migratory paths and is ranked as the second-worst located wind farm in the US (American Bird Conservancy 2016). Exacerbating these issues is the fact that the height of most wind turbines aligns with the altitude many bird species fly at (Bowden 2015). Birds of prey – raptors – are of particular concern because of their slow reproductive cycles and long lifespans relative to other bird species (Kuvlesky 2007).
In response to the potential negative impacts of wind turbines and farms, my research explores direct impacts on raptors, stakeholder perceptions of these impacts, and plausible solutions. Specifically, I evaluate wildlife rehabilitation as a post-development mitigation strategy for birds of prey. The results of my research enable stakeholders to better understand the negative impacts of wind farms on birds of prey by providing data on bird injury frequency and severity as well as the types of environmental compensation and indemnities that can be provided in exchange for increased wind development.
In 2016, I sought to determine the number of raptors directly injured by turbines, the frequency of rescue after injury, the types of injuries received, and the level of recovery most often attained. Using a multi-step study framework – literature review, survey research methods, and post-survey interviews – I integrated biological and social sciences data through the analysis of peer-reviewed literature and local knowledge (i.e., information gained from surveys and interviews). This integrative process enables researchers, practitioners, and the public to see a more comprehensive picture of the problem and potential solutions.
Questionnaires were sent out to raptor rehabilitation centers in the six states that contain the largest percentage of wind development (Texas, Oregon, Washington, California, Iowa and Minnesota) (Fischlein et al. 2012). This provided a new source of data by addressing local rehabbers, and thereby exploring a local aspect of the human dimension that is often overlooked. Both the pre-survey literature review and post-survey interviews served to provide additional context.
The sample population consisted of rehabilitation centers and individuals with a state certification for wildlife rehabilitation (N = 76). The questionnaire focused on collecting important information regarding injury type, species treated, and rehabbers’ opinions regarding mitigation options. Of the questionnaires returned (N = 24; 32% response rate), data revealed that the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), great horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), American kestrel (Falco sparverius), and red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) were the most commonly treated species across states. The majority of respondents reported wing or neurological injuries. Figure 1 displays the breakdown of all injury types as cumulatively reported, without separating out for state or birds with multiple injuries.
Wing injuries typically consist of compound fractures or open lacerations. Neurological injuries included ataxia (loss of body movement control) and non-ambulatory injuries, i.e., unable to walk. Beak injuries were least common. The category for “other” injuries included reports of malnutrition, electrocution, poisoning, and gunshot wounds, among others.
According to a post-survey interview with Luke Hart, the Executive Director of the Raptor Advocacy, Rehabilitation, and Education (RARE) group in Iowa, non-life threatening wing injuries at his center have a recovery and re-release rate of 30-40%. Figure 2 demonstrates the outcomes of different injury types of all centers surveyed, and emphasizes the low survival rate associated with neurological injuries. This figure provides a similar re-release rate for wing, foot, neurological, and miscellaneous injuries.
Interestingly, while 73% of rehabbers stated they were within 100 miles of a wind farm, only 40% believed they treat birds with injuries from wind turbine collisions. Rehabbers expressed low expectations that the birds they treat sustain injuries from turbine collisions; the highest estimate from rehabbers was 20%. Concerning rehabbers’ opinions on mitigation options, 87% called for pre-development mitigation options as opposed to post-development mitigation or restitution. Examples of pre-development strategies included changing blade design or initial wind farm layout, while payment of fines was the example used for post-development mitigation. 100% preferred that wind farms minimize their impact on wildlife instead of simply providing restitution.
So What Does That Mean for Birds & Wind?
The data collected via surveys provide a quantitative account of the types of injuries sustained and number of birds that can be re-released after injury. The data collected from interviews helped to provide context for the answers provided through the surveys, and offered added insight into the hurdles facing rehabilitation as a mitigation strategy. Post-survey interviews were conducted with experts in the field, from both rehabilitation and advocacy groups. Questions were tailored to the expertise of each individual interviewed, but in general asked for opinions regarding the extent of the impact that wind energy is having and what type of solutions should be pursued.
To represent the local rehabilitation centers, we interviewed Mr. Luke Hart, Executive Director of RARE. This organization takes in close to 200+ birds a year from eastern Iowa and Illinois. To represent advocacy groups, we interviewed Dr. Michael Hutchins, Director of the American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC) Bird-Smart Wind Energy Campaign. This group aims to improve company decision- making and push for better regulations that mitigate bird and bat deaths caused by commercial wind energy. Dr. Hutchins claims that many conservation organizations have embraced wind energy without asking enough questions, and this campaign aims to ask those tough questions.
Mr. Hart helped to explain the low percentage of rehabbers reporting birds treated for injuries sustained by wind turbine collisions, clarifying that, in most cases, it is hard for rehabbers to tell exactly what happened to the birds when they are brought in. This, in turn, makes it difficult for survey respondents to say with certainty if raptors sustained wind turbine-related injuries. He also cited the low likelihood of those birds ever making it to a rehab center as a likely explanation. When asked about his opinions on the likelihood of recovery, Mr. Hart was not overly optimistic. Turbines have what Mr. Hart calls a “slice-and- dice” effect. He believes that a collision would result in either immediate death, or a traumatic injury that is unable to be treated.
To emphasize this low likelihood of immediate survival post-collision, some states have laws in place that dictate how particular injuries must be treated. The loss of a wing or leg, for example, would result in the animal being euthanized (USFWS Form 3-200-10b). Therefore, even if the animal survives the collision, the type of injuries that are likely to be sustained may still result in death via euthanasia. Dr. Hutchins similarly expressed concern that turbine-related injuries would be too extensive. He believes most birds die on impact, and that those that survive would both be difficult to find and to treat. The combination of uncertainty of causation with injuries and the low threshold for survival post-collision help to explain the absence of wind-farm related injuries in adjacent rehabilitation centers.
Alongside the issues associated with the lack of recovery potential for birds injured by wind farms, Dr. Hutchins’ interview helped to shed light on the political and social components of the conflict between commercial wind energy development and wildlife. He revealed yet another obstacle to the use of rehabilitation as a form of post-development mitigation, lack of publicly available information. It is difficult to get a full picture of the number of birds that are injured or killed each year due to collisions with wind turbines because the mortality data is not readily accessible.
According to Dr. Hutchins, the lack of transparency between wind facilities and the public presents a major problem. He cites the lawsuit that Pacificorp brought against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2014. This lawsuit was intended to block the release of information regarding bird deaths at Pacicorp facilities, which Dr. Hutchins sees as evidence of this lack of transparency (Cappiello 2014). He states that the collection of the mortality data also presents a possible bias, as paid consultants collect data for the industry, as opposed to independent researchers. This data is not required to be collected in most states, as the protocols are voluntary. With policies such as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act imposing fines on companies that cause deaths of protected species, companies are not likely to be willing to report injured birds if they think it might result in fines or other sanctions. At the same time, however, these policies are not heavily enforced. With only two prosecutions against wind companies for violations of these policies, the track record for protecting species is not particularly strong. Policies initially thought to help preserve wildlife are encouraging opaqueness from wind facilities and discouraging companies from implementing mitigation policies and practices. This represents an unfortunate consequence and ineffective public policy, wherein mutually beneficial resolutions are needed for real-world progress, both for renewable energy development and avian wildlife conservation.
Policy and Mitigation Implications
As alluded to above, mitigation-focused regulations are likely to play a role in future commercial wind farms operate siting. The creation of siting regulations could provide a viable form of pre-development mitigation. Disturbance-based siting, for example, encourages development in areas that have already been fragmented, and thereby help preserve areas of higher quality habitat (Kiesecker et. al 2011; Fargione et al. 2012). Post-development mitigation options mostly include structural changes to turbines, wind farm layouts, and operational adjustments, or compensation that could be provided in exchange for increased wind development. Our rehabilitation strategy aimed to add to these options.
When asked for their opinions on how serious of a threat they believed wind farms posed to raptors, both Mr. Hart and Dr. Hutchins believed it to be non-trivial. The losses are cumulative, and when all the anthropogenic influences are added up they become significant. The turbines are not the only danger, as the associated infrastructure (power lines, communication towers, etc.) also kill birds through collisions and electrocution. Regarding mitigation techniques, Mr. Hart felt that reducing the “slice-and-dice” effect of wind turbines by changing their design would be the most effective way to minimize both the rate and severity of injuries. He would also like to see energy companies conducting more extensive impact studies pre-development to establish baseline information alongside a more thorough understanding of potential impacts. Dr. Hutchins added a preference for siting regulations that would move wind facilities out of areas with high bird abundance, e.g., migratory flyways. These sentiments were in line with the 87% of rehabbers who voiced a preference for pre-development mitigation techniques.
Results of this study suggest injuries sustained from collisions with wind turbines are unlikely to have a high rehabilitation success rate. Raptors either die on impact or suffer irreparable traumatic injury that results in euthanasia. This low success rate suggests that the use of rehabilitation as a form of post-development mitigation would be ineffective. In addition, we determined that the current state of communication and cooperation between commercial wind energy facilities and wildlife agencies and practitioners is not favorable for the creation of this type of program.
For successful rehabilitation, companies would need to be more willing to report injured birds and allow their collection. The lack of incentive for companies to report injured birds is a serious obstacle. Amongst local rehabbers, pre-development mitigation strategies were preferred, and minimization of impacts to wildlife is favored over restitution.
Integrating the scientific literature, professional expertise, and local knowledge offers a unique perspective of a complex issue. By assessing the knowledge of local rehabbers, who are on the front lines and deal directly with injured birds, we were able to gain a fuller understanding of recovery rates from collisions.
By identifying the probability for low survival rates, we were then able to conclude that preventative measures are better taken before injuries are incurred. This enabled us to establish an informed platform when we began talking with experts in the field, who were better able to explain to us the reasoning behind some of the obstacles we recorded. They then offered their own professional opinions about future solutions. Overall, predevelopment mitigation strategies are preferred (e.g. siting, blade design, etc.).
Implications for Future Research
This project served as a pilot study, intending to identify gaps in the current research and highlight further research needs. Findings suggest that, as it stands, rehabilitation is not a viable mitigation option due to the severity of injuries sustained and the lack of industry cooperation.
To remedy some of these obstacles, further study is needed to explore alternative viable solutions. Design options that reduce the severity of injuries, bladeless technologies, and the creation of proper siting regulations are all possible resolutions. This study demonstrates the usefulness of using local knowledge to understand large-scale problems.
Follow-up research could include using this form of local knowledge to inform stakeholder preferences for pre-development mitigation strategies. Importantly, developing cooperative and transparent relations with companies would facilitate the collection of more accurate mortality data and strengthen understanding of the problem and potential solutions. Findings suggest that there is much uncertainty surrounding the extent of wind energy impacts on birds of prey, as well as the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.
Lauren C. Naylor, Columbia University
Applied Biodiversity Science (Texas A&M University), Perspectives Series, No. 7, Fall 2017
Download original document: “Gone with the Wind: Implications of Wind Development for Raptor Populations”
Author: Hutchins, Michael
Wind energy is known to many as a “green” solution to climate change. But wind energy is really just another form of industrial development, and we can’t ignore its costs and consequences to wildlife and their habitats. As Director of ABC’s Bird-Smart Wind Energy Campaign, I often encounter several common misconceptions about wind development. Read on to learn more about the real impact of unchecked wind energy development on birds and other wildlife.
Myth 1: Wind turbines are “green” energy with little or no impact on the environment.
Any form of energy production, including renewable energy, has environmental impacts. The construction of large-scale, commercial wind energy facilities takes up entire landscapes, which reduces wildlife habitat. And the maintenance roads and other support infrastructure necessary also alter habitats and affect wildlife, often in very deleterious, subtle ways. If not properly sited, operated, and regulated, renewable energy can be very harmful to wildlife and natural habitats.
Myth 2: We shouldn’t be concerned about wind energy because it doesn’t take nearly the same toll on birds as feral cats, building collisions, pesticides, and other threats.
There are two things to remember here. First, wind turbines’ impacts are far from trivial. And the impacts of all human-caused mortality are cumulative, making comparisons irrelevant and misleading.
Wind turbines and their associated infrastructure – primarily power lines and towers – are one of the fastest-growing threats to birds in the United States and Canada. At the end of 2016, there were more than 52,000 commercial-scale wind turbines operating in the United States, and tens of thousands more are currently planned or under construction. Research shows that hundreds of thousands of birds and bats die every year when they accidentally collide with the fast-spinning turbine blades. That number grows with each turbine built.
Myth 3: Power lines and towers are a separate issue.
Power lines and towers are clearly part of the equation, because they’re necessary to carry power to the grid. As a result of large-scale, commercial wind and solar development, hundreds of miles of new power lines and towers are being built to transport energy across the United States, putting birds at risk of collisions and electrocutions. The generation of energy and its transportation go hand in hand – and both present risks to wildlife. Tens of millions of birds are killed every year when they collide with towers with or are electrocuted by electrical lines.
Myth 4: The wind industry is mitigating for bird and bat deaths.
As far as birds are concerned, only two mitigation methods have been proven to be successful: building wind energy facilities away from large concentrations of birds, and slowing or stopping the movement of turbine blades (known in the industry as “curtailment”). Unfortunately, neither of these approaches is working. Turbines are going up virtually everywhere, and curtailment is unpopular with wind companies because it cuts into their profit margins.
Some companies say they use radar to detect birds and bats and then temporarily shut down a turbine’s blades. But these technologies are expensive and appear to be seldom used – and their efficacy in preventing bird and bat deaths has not been thoroughly tested.
Northern Long-eared Bat/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
One way to make wind turbines safe for birds and bats, such as this Northern Long-eared Bat, is to build them far from large concentrations of these animals. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Myth 5: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and state wildlife agencies are regulating the wind industry to minimize its impacts on wildlife.
We have at least three federal laws designed to protect our native birds and bats from purposeful or accidental harm: the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Enforcement of these laws has been sporadic at best, especially with regard to the wind industry. To make matters worse, federal guidelines governing wind energy development are voluntary, not mandatory, and few developers at present are obtaining the “take” permits necessary to kill protected species.
Meanwhile, state and local regulation of the wind industry varies widely. Some states, such as Oklahoma, have virtually no regulations at all. Others, like Hawai‘i, have more-stringent policies. Wind energy has developed so rapidly that it has gotten way out ahead of the regulatory framework.
Myth 6: Wind companies conduct scientifically rigorous studies before and after new facilities are built to assess the risks wind turbines pose to birds – and are transparent in what they find.
Federal guidelines currently allow wind companies to hire consultants to prepare reports assessing a proposed facility’s risk for wildlife. It’s important to note that these are not independent, third-party scientists; they are individuals who are being paid by wind companies to do this work. Unsurprisingly, I have yet to encounter any pre-construction study that recommends moving a proposed project because of elevated risks to wildlife.
There is also the problem of hidden data. The wind industry treats information on bird and bat mortality as a proprietary trade secret. Some wind energy developers have even sued to hide these data from the public. Hawai‘i is currently the only state that requires the collection of mortality data by independent, third-party experts, and makes the information available to the public on request.
Myth 7: Offshore wind development is less destructive than onshore wind development.
There’s no indication that turbines placed in the open ocean or in the Great Lakes are any safer for birds than land-based turbines. A whole suite of different organisms could be impacted by offshore wind development and underwater cables, including migrating marine birds, waterfowl, cetaceans, fish, and other ocean-dwelling wildlife. And it’s going to be more difficult to gauge the impact: risk assessments are often based on visual observations, which can be difficult, if not impossible, during rough weather, when birds may be at highest risk. What’s more, birds that collide with the turbine blades will fall into open water and be lost.
Myth 8: We can build wind turbines in and around the Great Lakes with little or no impact on wildlife.
The best way to reduce the impacts of wind energy on birds and bats is to keep turbines away from large concentrations of these animals. Major migratory routes, stopover habitat, and key breeding or foraging areas should all be off-limits for wind development. Yet all of these are found in and around the Great Lakes, which is home to one of the world’s densest concentrations of migratory birds and bats.
Here at ABC, we oppose wind turbine construction in the Great Lakes and within at least five miles of its shorelines. We base our position on recent advanced radar studies conducted by the FWS on all five of the Great Lakes. All of the studies clearly show vast numbers of birds and bats flying over the lakes or along their shorelines, many within the rotor-swept areas of wind turbines. The FWS currently recommends that no turbines be built within three miles of the Great Lakes shorelines, while the Nature Conservancy recommends five miles. However, these are just recommendations, and some wind developers are disregarding them.
Myth 9: When it comes to combating climate change, there are no workable alternatives to industrial-scale wind energy.
There are many other ways we can address climate change besides building these huge structures in ecologically sensitive areas. We can preserve wetlands and forests to sequester carbon dioxide; we can be more energy-efficient; and we can reduce our use of fossil fuels and rely less on domestic animals (a major source of greenhouse gases) as a protein source, for starters. One of the best options is distributed solar in our already built environment – parking lots, buildings, and roads.
Myth 10: Climate change is the top threat to wildlife today; we can ignore all other threats because they pale in comparison.
Birds and other wildlife confront many threats, and they add up. One recent analysis of 8,000 species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species found that climate change is not the most immediate threat to wildlife today; that distinction went to the traditional threats of over-exploitation (overfishing, hunting, and so on) and habitat loss from agriculture. The authors concluded that “efforts to address climate change do not overshadow more immediate priorities for the survival of the world’s flora and fauna.”
We support wind energy development that’s done in ways that do not threaten our irreplaceable and ecologically important wildlife. To make that happen, wind energy development must be regulated more effectively. We must address climate change, to be sure – but the point is that we could be doing it so much better.
Michael Hutchins, Director of American Bird Conservancy’s Bird-Smart Wind Energy Campaign, earned his Ph.D. in animal behavior at the University of Washington. Prior to ABC, Michael was Director/William Conway Endowed Chair, Department of Conservation and Science, at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for 15 years, and Executive Director/CEO at The Wildlife Society for seven years. He has authored over 220 articles and books on various topics in wildlife science, management, and conservation, and has traveled to over 30 countries to pursue his passion for conservation.
Originally published December 06, 2017, at abcbirds.org. | <urn:uuid:3280e77d-441e-48a1-bb6b-5990b916f45a> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/category/issues/impacts/wildlife/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267863259.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20180619232009-20180620012009-00185.warc.gz | en | 0.936704 | 6,108 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Understanding and meeting the needs of students who have disabilities can be challenging both for parents at home and teachers in the classroom. To ensure that all children receive an education that meets their individual needs, it is important that parents are aware of their rights under the law.
The first step parents may take if they feel that their child is not being given proper instruction or accommodations is to contact the school’s special education administrator to request an evaluation. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, public schools are required to provide “free appropriate” education to all students who qualify as having a disability. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), public schools must provide a “free appropriate public education” to all students who qualify as having disabilities.
IEPs are required for all students receiving special education services under IDEA, while Section 504 requires accommodations but not necessarily an IEP. Regardless of which law is applicable, parents have the right to request an evaluation to determine if their child qualifies as having or being suspected of having a disability that inhibits his or her access to educational resources.
With resources available through federal laws such as these, children with disabilities can receive equal opportunities in education and be provided necessary adaptations in order to learn effectively.
Voice output devices for students with disabilities
Have you ever wondered how you can provide the best communication for students who use assistive technology like voice output devices? These devices give students access to information in a way that is different from students without disabilities. Here are some quick actions and tips that will help you communicate well with any student using an assistive device:
1) Accept the Use of Assistive Devices: Accepting and supporting the use of these technologies communicates respect, inclusion, and acceptance. Rejecting them might discourage the student from using them again in your class.
2) Allow Time to Adjust: Most students will need time to adjust their devices before they begin working so allow them to do so before class begins.
3) Make Follow-up Adjustments If Necessary: If the student has not done their own follow-up or needs additional adjustment, offer to help them with that after class is over. This shows respect for most students who are able to learn how to adjust their own assistive technology.
4) Use Your Best Communication Skills: Speak clearly and directly to the student using an assistive technology device and give them time to respond. You might say, “I will wait until you finish” or “take your time.”.
Overall, keep in mind that these tools from Hearth Australia can be a great asset for many students, but it is important that you treat every student with respect and help them use the different tools that are available to them. | <urn:uuid:c9de8bb4-d955-40eb-abe7-7da137a7bb48> | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | https://souviatea.com/devices-for-communicating-with-students-who-use-assistive-technology/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964358705.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20211129104236-20211129134236-00256.warc.gz | en | 0.964137 | 563 | 3.71875 | 4 |
Publisher(s): National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education & Families; Harvard Family Research Project; Wallace Foundation
Funder(s): Wallace Foundation
Related Organization(s): Harvard Family Research Project
View Report (22 pages; 1.43MB; PDF)
Area of Focus: Out-of-School Time
The report provides six strategies for collecting and using information to strengthen citywide OST systems and highlights specific examples of how municipal leaders across the country have implemented each strategy.
Key Findings and/or Recommendations
=Collect attendance and participation information to support access, enrollment, and quality improvements.
=Conduct market research to assess family, youth, and community needs.
=Use geographic information system (GIS) technology to identify service gaps and improve access.
=Develop, adapt, and implement a citywide program quality assessment tool.
=Conduct and support program and city-level evaluation efforts.
=Develop common, system-wide outcome measures/indicators.
Subjects/Keywords: After-School; Data Collection; Out-of-School Time; OST
+ Successful strategy
© Foundation Center
All Rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:7a342652-5430-4ce1-a960-dc9b96208fbc> | CC-MAIN-2015-06 | http://foundationcenter.org/educationexcellence/report.jhtml?id=fdc132700016 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-06/segments/1422121934081.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20150124175214-00011-ip-10-180-212-252.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.772552 | 242 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Curriculum: Science year plan 2020-21
What qualification will I get?
Students will receive GCSE Combined Science with two grades.
Students taking separate science will receive GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics.
How will I be assessed?
Students will sit two external examinations in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Students taking separate science will sit two external examinations in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics which are greater in length.
This course can lead to A Level Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics, PE, Psychology.
A range of vocational courses such as animal husbandry, nursing, mechanics or engineering.
A large variety of careers including; Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Veterinary Science, Laboratory work, Forensic Science, Pharmacy, Archaeology, Environmental work, Chemical Industry, Research, and many others. | <urn:uuid:edfdc354-1099-4582-97f1-495c8c6d5267> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://www.blackpoolaspireacademy.co.uk/curriculum/science | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623488556133.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20210624141035-20210624171035-00443.warc.gz | en | 0.874753 | 175 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Giving the tin man a heart
Scientists have used an electricity to induce oscillations in a droplet of gallium and could be used to power robots
A droplet of gallium can be made to beat like a heart, paving the way for its use in reconfigurable electronics and artificial muscles, and for powering robots.
Fluid motion is used in biological organisms and mechanical systems to transport materials, absorb shocks and apply pressure. Existing mechanical devices, however, rely on mechanical flow controllers that are inferior to those used in biological systems.
Now, a team of scientists from the University of Wollongong in Australia has used an electric current to induce a ‘heartbeat’ in tiny droplets of gallium placed inside a graphite ring. By changing the voltage across the ring, the researchers were able to alter the surface tension of the droplet, making it oscillate like a beating heart. This could lead to new fluid-based timers and actuators.
This article was first published by Springer Nature. Read the original article here. | <urn:uuid:c3e9b618-e03e-4b9f-b2c2-3c646521ff02> | CC-MAIN-2018-51 | https://gluons2galaxies.com/giving-the-tin-man-a-heart | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-51/segments/1544376829812.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20181218204638-20181218230621-00072.warc.gz | en | 0.928626 | 216 | 3.53125 | 4 |
In years past, teachers silently instilled fear in their young students by displaying the wooden “paddle” on the classroom wall, as a reminder of the standard punishment for misbehavior. Today the paddle has been replaced with a “time-out” chair, a pass to the school office or a telephone call home. On the home front, however, the debate still rages as to whether spanking is proper punishment for children or is instead an abusive form of discipline.
- State laws and state administrative regulations vary as to the appropriate forms of punishment in different settings, including schools, day care centers and homes
- Student handbooks and staff rules may define what forms of punishment are allowed in the school setting
- Parents should thoroughly review with day care providers the forms of discipline which the parents will and will not authorize
State Laws and Regulations Are Often General Rather Than Specific
In general, state laws and state administrative regulations provide only general guidance as to whether corporal punishment (i.e. spanking) is prohibited in a given setting or as to certain persons. As yet, state laws do not tightly restrict a parent’s ability to discipline their children by spanking. However, if the spanking is of a duration, means or force that is unreasonable under the circumstances, local child welfare agencies may define it as abusive according to their administrative regulations.
Many factors will be considered by child welfare agencies who are investigating allegations of abuse. The child’s age, size and general health, and whether the child has developmental or other disabilities will be considered. Any time that the “punishment” leaves bruises, welts, scars or open wounds is cause for alarm. If an object is used for the spanking, its characteristics and type will be considered. Even if the “spanking” is done with an open hand, if it is done for an extended duration or repeatedly, or with such force that the child is left with marks, bruises or broken skin, the agency will likely be concerned and may reach conclude that the parent has abused the child.
A parent may find himself or herself on the defensive once the agency opens an investigation of alleged child abuse. The identity of the person who made the report to the agency will not be revealed, and the agency will likely interview the child, the parents, and other witnesses such as the reporting witness, teachers, day care providers and grandparents. A parent should, if possible, seek the representation of an attorney during this investigative process to help safeguard the parent’s rights and to keep check on the agency’s procedures.
If the child welfare agency has concluded that the parent has abused or neglected a child, it is essential that the parent immediately seek representation by an attorney. Once such an “indicated finding” has been made, there is a very limited window of time in which the parent can seek a review, by the agency and then by the courts, of that finding. Such an indicated finding will remain on a person’s record and may prevent the parent from working in many areas including day care, education and health care.
School Handbooks May Define Permissible Forms of Punishment
Parents are often concerned about the forms of discipline to which their students may be subjected in the event of misconduct. Consult the current version of your school’s student discipline handbook to review these parameters. If your student reports that some teachers are using corporal punishment but the handbook prohibits it, contact your school principal and request a personal meeting. Parents will want to weigh carefully the decision to involve an attorney in their communication with the school. The school-parent relationship is a delicate one, and free communication from the school to the parent may cease abruptly if an attorney becomes involved.
Some smaller schools might not have written student handbooks or policies. In such cases, it will be helpful to review with your school’s teachers and administrators the expected and permissible means of student discipline. | <urn:uuid:d9d55d24-5327-47dc-a9f8-3d46952a6381> | CC-MAIN-2015-18 | http://family-law.lawyers.com/child-abuse-and-neglect/spare-the-rod-is-spanking-child-abuse.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-18/segments/1430456773322.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20150501050613-00029-ip-10-235-10-82.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95799 | 812 | 3.109375 | 3 |
For more information, please contact:
Indigenous leaders from Africa, Americas to report on their sometimes deadly battle to guard tropical forests, vital resource for slowing carbon emissions
Armed with evidence of their ability to protect forests, biodiversity, and to slow climate change, Indigenous Peoples from around the world call on governments to live up to commitments
As national governments proclaim new strategies to combat climate change at the Bonn UNFCCC Climate Negotiations, indigenous people and local communities from tropical forest nations will gather at a side event to highlight the need of an inclusive and fair climate agreement that recognizes and supports their crucial contributions to climate change mitigation so that they can continue to do what they have been proven to do best: protect the globe’s carbon-sequestering forests from destruction.
Granting land rights to indigenous peoples is one of the most successful forest conservation strategies. In many areas, indigenous lands have lower deforestation rates than even national parks and protected areas. Yet globally, indigenous peoples receive little support and are often threatened by outside actors from extractive and agricultural industries, who raid indigenous land for timber and other resources.
From Africa to Southeast Asia to the Americas, indigenous peoples are facing similar challenges. And they have unique solutions that, if given more weight, would benefit not only their communities but also the planet.
As global leaders debate land use, forests, food security and other climate-related issues, it will be critical to include the voices of indigenous peoples who manage, protect and live on the lands and forests in question. The world cannot prevent climate change without their support.
- A unique side event will bring together indigenous and local communities’ representatives from Africa and Central America to highlight the important contributions their peoples have made and continue to make to mitigate climate change using traditional knowledge and low-impact forest management techniques. Interviews can be arranged with leaders from any tropical forest region (Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia) in Bonn or remotely.
- June 09, 2015 at 16:45 – 18:15.
- World Conference Center Bonn, Berlin Hall
- Speakers include the following:
o Victor Lopez Illescas
Guatemalan organization Ut’z Ch’e and representing Mesoamerican Alliance of People and Forests (AMPB)
o Hindou Oumarou
Network of Indigenous People and Local Communities for Forest Ecosystems Management of Democratic Republic of the Congo (REPALEF for its acronym in French)
- For more information, to request interviews or attend press briefings, please contact: | <urn:uuid:8ac23cc8-d253-4a8d-b2d4-a28d64dd415b> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://ifnotusthenwho.me/media-advisory-interview-opportunities-side-event-at-bonn-climate-change-conference/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947473824.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20240222193722-20240222223722-00720.warc.gz | en | 0.927839 | 521 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Just thirty miles from Baku lies an important site of ancient petroglyphs, Gobustan, added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007. Quarry workers discovered the rock carvings here by accident in the 1930s. Since then, the carvings depicting men, women, animals and artifacts have been the focus of much study and speculation.
Thor Heyerdahl famously proposed that the carvings of boats show that the Scandic people of Norway descended from the prehistoric residents of this area, though his theory hasn’t been proven. The record left by these ancient people does attest to a far vaster Caspian Sea, and gives insight into details of daily life such as hunting and recreation, culture and economy.
PUBLISHED: July 19, 2013 | <urn:uuid:ac8ebfa4-1f8a-44c8-b740-d1b89fa1359a> | CC-MAIN-2019-47 | https://www.mircorp.com/favorite_places/gobustan/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-47/segments/1573496670535.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20191120083921-20191120111921-00307.warc.gz | en | 0.959538 | 163 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Whether it is “Incognito Mode” or “Private Browsing,” most Internet browsers offer a privacy mode which changes how your browser behaves. But a lot of people don’t know that there is such a mode, let alone why you might use it.
The good news is that incognito mode is easy to activate in any browser, and there are good reasons to want to protect your privacy. But anyone who wants to use this mode needs to first understand that “private mode” is not as private as that label may claim.
Private Browsing and its Benefits
So what is private mode? When you normally browse the Internet, your browser saves your history and cookies whenever you visit a webpage. This can be convenient. If you visit a particular website once and want to come back to it later, then your browser can bring up the website without you having to type in the exact URL.
But sometimes that is not a good thing. If someone else manages to gain access to your computer, they can see your browser history for themselves. And if you have saved passwords to important websites on that browser, then they could gain access to those websites as well.
Private mode prevents your browser from saving your history and will often not save other data such as Downloads and Cookies. With private browsing you can feel a bit more secure that your history and information will be protected, (They are deleted once you close the browser, so there is nothing to be protected.)
Every browser has a guide for how to activate private mode, but doing it is rather straightforward. For Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, all you have to do is find the browser’s menu and select a button which will say either “New Incognito Window” or “New Private Window.”
Mobile phones also have a private browsing feature, though it is easier to activate with an iPhone rather than an Android. An iPhone requires doing nothing more than heading to your browser’s Settings and checking a tab for “Incognito mode.” This method will work for some Android phones, but it can vary from device to device and browser to browser.
Not quite so private
Private browsing can help protect your private information to some degree, but it is not perfect. In fact, it will not protect you from some of the big online privacy threats you may be worried about because while your browser cannot track you when you are in privacy mode, other things can.
These other things include the websites themselves, your Internet provider, and even keyloggers. Search engines can remember your search history (and yes, they will know who you are if you are logged in, even in Private mode). If you are using a work computer, then your employer will be able to track down your browsing history as well.
But that does not mean that private mode is useless. If you are using the Internet on a computer which is not your own, then you should use privacy mode. That way anyone else who logs in later cannot find what you did.
And sometimes you may be searching for something which may be potentially embarrassing. This could include looking for treatment for some medical condition or other personal problems.
While there are other methods which could better protect your privacy such as Tor or a VPN, privacy mode is easy to use and offers adequate protection for most situations you might encounter. | <urn:uuid:50ca74cc-4e77-4925-852b-25412c845bbe> | CC-MAIN-2018-39 | https://www.maketecheasier.com/incongito-mode-answer-privacy-concern/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-39/segments/1537267156224.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20180919122227-20180919142227-00190.warc.gz | en | 0.942094 | 695 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Władysław Malecki belonged to the most outstanding representatives of the Polish artistic colony in Munich. His work is dominated by landscapes, created either as independent compositions or combined with staffage. The Council of Storks is one of the artist’s best works. It depicts a dark landscape of forests and swamps. The sun shining on the horizon illuminates the surface of the water. A flock of graceful storks, harmoniously incorporated into the landscape stands between three massive willows. In line with the principles of ‘stimmung’ or scenes endowed with a special intimate atmosphere, the evening setting and a coherent palette of colours with a single dominant hue let the artist seamlessly combine all the elements of the composition. 19th century critics agreed that the landscape with storks was a Polish landscape. The birds, shown in their natural habitat, symbolize the constant laws of nature and the repetitive rhythm of changing seasons of the year. | <urn:uuid:b57c04f3-7c56-4499-b88b-1b8744013d91> | CC-MAIN-2018-47 | https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/a-gathering-of-storks/_AFK_t_J8oTsQw?hl=en | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-47/segments/1542039743732.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20181117185331-20181117211331-00128.warc.gz | en | 0.93219 | 193 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Vision is one of your most important faculties, so you should be mindful about protecting your eyes. When possible, wear sunglasses, goggles, or safety glasses to avoid injury. Visit an eye doctor regularly, eat nutrient-rich foods, and get ample sleep to ensure eye health. Avoid eye strain caused by TV and computer monitors, as well as reading in dim lighting, and rest your eyes regularly to avoid fatigue.
Method One of Three:
Shielding Your EyesEdit
1Invest in good-quality sunglasses. Too much sun exposure can damage your eyes at any time of year, even through cloud cover. Protect yourself with sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat. Glass lenses are more durable, scratch-resistant, and more expensive than polycarbonate lenses, but both options offer the possibility of precise UV protection; while prices may vary between designer brands and discount stores models, what matters most is the protection level that the glasses offer. Read the label and look for glasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays; UV light can cause cataracts and destroy your retinas.
- To ensure full UV protection, make sure that your sunglasses fit properly.
2Wear safety glasses or goggles. When doing anything that may result in you getting particles, fumes, or debris in your eyes, be sure to wear protective glasses or goggles. Such activities could include home repairs, yardwork, woodworking, or other similar endeavors. Most eye injuries are entirely preventable, so it is worth the effort to protect your eyes from harm.
3Play safely. There are reportedly over 200,000 sports-related eye injuries a year in the U.S., many of which could be prevented with proper eyewear. Wear safety glasses when playing intensive games like baseball, ball hockey, basketball, and squash. Do your best to stay alert and vigilant with all sports activity, and avoid unnecessary risks.
4Avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing your eyes too often can cause them damage in several ways. Since your hands carry a large number of germs, rubbing your eyes can cause the direct transfer of these germs and lead to infections like conjunctivitis. It can also exacerbate pre-existing eye conditions like progressive myopia and glaucoma. Aggressive rubbing can damage your cornea as well. If your eyes itch due to allergies, rubbing them can make the reaction more severe.
- See an eye doctor if your eyes itch often, or if they itch too much to resist rubbing. You may have allergies or another treatable condition.
Method Two of Three:
Keeping Your Eyes HealthyEdit
1Get an eye exam done at least every 2 years. As an adult, you should visit an eye doctor every couple of years to ensure good eye health. If you don't already see an eye doctor, ask your family doctor for a referral, or ask friends and family for recommendations. If you experience conditions like vision loss, pain, or irritation, make an appointment immediately; many eye conditions are treatable if addressed early. Eye doctors will test for disease and measure your visual acuity; they may give you a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, or recommend corrective eye surgery depending on the condition of your eyesight.
2Use eye drops properly. Whether you use artificial tears to relieve dry eyes or medicated drops prescribed by an eye doctor, eye drops are an important part of treating and protecting your vision. While many people have trouble inserting eye drops, it is important to know how to do it properly to ensure that your eyes receive the necessary care. To correctly put in eye drops:
- Wash your hands and remove contact lenses, if necessary.
- Lie down or tilt your head back and keep your eye open, concentrating on a spot on the ceiling.
- Place your finger about an inch under your eye and pull downwards, creating a small pocket under your eyeball.
- Use your free hand to hold the eyedrop bottle (or eyedropper) downwards over the pocket above your lower eyelid.
- Squeeze the bottle or eyedropper lightly to insert one drop.
- Remove your hand from your face, gently close your eye, and wait for the drop to be absorbed.
3Get the right nutrition. Diet is an important part of staying healthy, and eye health is no exception. Try to eat foods containing vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, zeaxanthin, and lutein to promote vision health. Foods rich in these nutrients include:
- brussel sprouts
- sunflower seeds
4Get more sleep. Your eye health is greatly affected by whether or not you get enough sleep. In the short term, fatigue can cause eye strain, dry eyes, eye spasms, and blurred vision. In the long-term, lack of sleep can lead to damage to the optic nerve, which can cause pain and impaired vision. To prevent these issues, improve your sleep by:
- going to sleep and getting up at the same time every day
- getting outside more during the day
- exercising regularly during daytime hours
- limiting caffeine and nicotine
Method Three of Three:
Avoiding Eye StrainEdit
1Watch less TV. Proximity to a TV screen will not cause long-term damage to your eyes, but prolonged viewing of television can still be harmful. Watching a lot of TV (more than four hours a day) can cause eye strain and fatigue, which in turn can cause blurred vision. Exposure to TV should be limited, particularly for young children.
- Sitting too close to the TV may be an indicator, and not a cause, of vision problems in children.
2Adjust your computer monitor. It is important to protect your eyes from eye strain when at the computer, particularly if your job requires you to be looking at a computer screen for the bulk of the day. If possible, upgrade your computer screen to an LCD model, which is easier on the eyes than older models. Adjust your computer display settings to reduce eye strain – adjust the brightness to match the brightness of your surrounding work area, and adjust text size to make reading more comfortable. Look up from your screen or get up from your desk as often as possible to give your eyes a break.
3Be careful when reading. Always make sure to read in good lighting; reading in dim lighting can cause eye strain over time. Purchase a reading lamp or gooseneck lamp to better adjust your lighting when reading. Be sure to take frequent breaks to rest your eyes.Advertisement
QuestionIs an LED or LCD better for my eyes?Community Answer
- The item to consider with both is the brightness level of the screen rather than the display technology, ensuring that it's not PWM (Pulse Width Modulation), which is used to vary brightness and can cause stress in some users. The screen should be as bright as the surroundings; too bright or too dark would cause eye strain.
QuestionDoes watching mobile phones cause damage to our eyes?Community Answer
- Mobile devices are safe to use in moderation. Just don't keep the brightness any higher than you need to see comfortably, don't keep the phone closer to your face than you need to, and if you use your phone at night, consider using an app like f.lux to reduce the blue light on your device (which is the harshest light for your eyes as well as the type most likely to disrupt your sleep if you're exposed to it before bed). Be sure to take regular breaks from any type of device usage.
QuestionHow much time per day is safe to watch TV or use a mobile phone?Community Answer
- The blue light that electronic devices (as well as LED and fluorescent lights) emit disproportionately large amounts of is harsh on the eyes, and large amounts of exposure to it may, over the course of years or decades, lead to faster degeneration of the eyes. A cutoff for how much exposure is 'safe' has not yet been determined, but there are a things you can do to minimize the stress of these devices on your eyes. 1. The brightness of your screen should generally match the brightness of your surroundings - if you're sitting in a dark room, you want the brightness as low as possible while being able to see things clearly. 2. On most devices you can change the color settings to reduce the blue light relative to red and green, or install an app like f.lux to do it for you - or you can get a pair of tinted computer glasses, which will filter it out. 3. Don't have the screen closer to your face than necessary. 4. Take regular breaks to rest your eyes and exercise your distance vision.
QuestionSome regular eyeglasses are blue. Does blue light not affect the eye?Community Answer
- If you're talking about frames, blue-colored objects are harmless to look at. If you're talking about lenses, regular eyeglasses are normally clear and colorless, not blue. If your lenses did have a significant blue tint, then they would make the light that reaches your eyes a little more blue, though the effect would probably be minuscule compared to actual sources of blue light. Blue light shining from electronic devices, LED lights, and the like can stress the eyes and disrupt sleep.
About This Article
One way to protect your eyes is to wear glasses with lenses that block blue light to reduce eye strain from looking at computer screens for long periods of time. When you have to stare at a screen for hours a day, try to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes, as this will help vary the muscles you use in your eyes. You can also protect your eyes by turning your screen brightness down to match the light in your workplace. When you're outside, wear sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays from the sun. If your eyes ever feel itchy or uncomfortable, try your best to avoid rubbing them, since your hands are usually covered in germs and putting them on your eyes can lead to infections.
- ↑ https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/sun
- ↑ http://www.sunglasspicks.com/material-tints-and-coatings/
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/how-to-pick-good-sunglasses#1
- ↑ http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/hygiene-tips/how-to-care-for-your-eyes1.htm
- ↑ http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/hygiene-tips/how-to-care-for-your-eyes1.htm
- ↑ http://www.visioneyeinstitute.com.au/article/dangers-rubbing-eyes/
- ↑ http://visionsource.com/blog/rubbing-your-eyes-can-do-more-harm-than-good/
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/vision-basics
- ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/resources/applying-eye-drops.htm
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/nutrition-world-3/foods-eye-health
- ↑ http://www.ehnpc.com/blog/detail/2012/11/20/how-lack-of-sleep-affects-your-vision.html
- ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-talk-tv-eyesight/
- ↑ http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/irritated.htm
- ↑ http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/hygiene-tips/how-to-care-for-your-eyes2.htm
- ↑ http://eyewiki.aao.org/Solar_Retinopathy
Reader Success Stories
WA"This helped me so much, because I have been using my phone 6 hours a day, and my eyes got problematic. Now I know how to protect my eyes."..." more
II"This helps a lot! I had to do a homework poster about healthy eyes and I learned so much. My teacher was pleased!"
A"I'm finding this for a long time. It's really useful!"
A"I loved the images. " | <urn:uuid:0bbcba5c-f82c-49e3-a9b6-b2529ab568da> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | https://m.wikihow.com/Protect-Your-Eyes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195525659.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20190718145614-20190718171614-00273.warc.gz | en | 0.920609 | 2,570 | 3.125 | 3 |
Source: Oral History as told by Ken Saunders
All Native North American Peoples attach special significance to the eagle, and its feathers.
The eagle flies higher and sees well than any other bird. Its perspective is therefore different from those of us held close to the earth.
Our Creator also has a different perspective of what occurs below in this world of physical things in which human kind resides.
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The eagle spends more time in the element of father sky than the other birds and father sky is the element of the spirit.
The eagle is a symbol of truth, power and freedom, as it roams the sky. Its wings represent the balance needed between male and female, each one dependant upon strengths and abilities of the other.
The eagle was given the honor of carrying the prayers of man between the world of earth and the world of spirit where our creator and the grandfathers reside.
Therefore, when one holds the eagle feather, one must speak the truth in as positive a way as one can, for the ear of our creator is that much closer to the feather of the eagle.
We honor the feather of the eagle, with great care, showing it respect, honesty, and truth, at all times.
To be given an eagle feather is the highest honor that can be awarded within aboriginal cultures.
A woman who is on her moon-time (menstrual time) must not touch the feather.
It should be hung up within one’s home, not placed in drawers, cupboards , etc.
Under both US and Canadian law, a permit is required from the conservation authorities for one to possess one legally. It must be used for traditional or teaching purposes. | <urn:uuid:abd46df0-eb54-4043-90c4-f7acda2be0e5> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://www.petandwildlife.com/significance-and-care-of-the-eagle-feather/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500215.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20230205032040-20230205062040-00180.warc.gz | en | 0.949729 | 374 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Under this alarming heading, “The Disappearance of England,” the Gaulois recently published an article by M. Guy Dorval on the erosion of the English coasts. The writer refers to the predictions of certain British men of science that England will one day disappear altogether beneath the waves, and imagines that we British folk are seized by a popular panic. Our neighbours are trembling for the fate of the entente cordiale, which would speedily vanish with vanishing England; but they have been assured by some of their savants that the rate of erosion is only one kilometre in a thousand years, and that the danger of total extinction is somewhat remote. Professor Stanislas Meunier, however, declares that our “panic” is based on scientific facts. He tells us that the cliffs of Brighton are now one kilometre farther away from the French coast than in the days of Queen Elizabeth, and that those of Kent are six kilometres farther away than in the Roman period. He compares our island to a large piece of sugar in water, but we may rest assured that before we disappear beneath the waves the period which must elapse would be greater than the longest civilizations known in history. So we may hope to be able to sing “Rule Britannia” for many a long year.
Coast erosion is, however, a serious problem, and has caused the destruction of many a fair town and noble forest that now lie beneath the seas, and the crumbling cliffs on our eastern shore threaten to destroy many a village church and smiling pasture. Fishermen tell you that when storms rage and the waves swell they have heard the bells chiming in the towers long covered by the seas, and nigh the picturesque village of Bosham we were told of a stretch of sea that was called the Park. This as late as the days of Henry VIII was a favourite royal hunting forest, wherein stags and fawns and does disported themselves; now fish are the only prey that can be slain therein.
The Royal Commission on coast erosion relieves our minds somewhat by assuring us that although the sea gains upon the land in many places, the land gains upon the sea in others, and that the loss and gain are more or less balanced. As a matter of area this is true. Most of the land that has been rescued from the pitiless sea is below high-water mark, and is protected by artificial banks. This work of reclaiming land can, of course, only be accomplished in sheltered places, for example, in the great flat bordering the Wash, which flat is formed by the deposit of the rivers of the Fenland, and the seaward face of this region is gradually being pushed forward by the careful processes of enclosure. You can see the various old sea walls which have been constructed from Roman times onward. Some accretions of land have occurred where the sea piles up masses of shingle, unless foolish people cart away the shingle in such quantities that the waves again assert themselves. Sometimes sand silts up as at Southport in Lancashire, where there is the second longest pier in England, a mile in length, from the end of which it is said that on a clear day with a powerful telescope you may perchance see the sea, that a distinguished traveller accustomed to the deserts of Sahara once found it, and that the name Southport is altogether a misnomer, as it is in the north and there is no port at all. | <urn:uuid:3fb566b9-2499-485b-871a-75d81fe47a43> | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/14742/8.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463608956.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20170527152350-20170527172350-00248.warc.gz | en | 0.970088 | 706 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Visualizing gender differences in religious commitment around the world
Gender gap in weekly worship service attendance differs between Muslim-majority and Christian-majority countries.
Mapping the Latino Electorate by Congressional District
A record 25.2 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in the 2014 midterm elections. See how the share of Latino voters varies by congressional district.
Mapping the Latino Electorate by State
A record 25.2 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in the 2014 midterm elections. See how the share of Latino voters varies by state.
Worldwide Abortion Policies
Analysis of United Nations data shows only six of 196 countries do not allow women to receive abortions under any circumstances.
How America’s Source of Immigrants Has Changed in the States, 1850 – 2013
Explore the top countries of origin for immigrants in each state from 1850 to 2013.
International Opinion About Greatest Global Threats
Across the nations surveyed, the level of concern about different international issues varies considerably by region and country, and in some places multiple issues vie for the top spot.
World Population by Income
How Many Live on How Much, and Where
Same-Sex Marriage State-by-State
To date, courts, legislatures and voters have legalized gay marriage in 37 states and the District of Columbia, while 13 states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. This interactive shows the change in each state’s policy over time.
Unauthorized Immigrants in the U.S., 2012
See how the unauthorized immigrant population varies state-by-state, how it has changed since 2009 and which states have the highest and lowest shares of unauthorized immigrants with our interactive maps.
Religion and Morality in Latin America
Even though Catholic Church teaching forbids behaviors like suicide and homosexuality, Protestants across Latin America are more likely than Catholics to see many issues as morally unacceptable. | <urn:uuid:e73d0ddd-3a82-4d30-8b9d-427e7cd314b9> | CC-MAIN-2016-18 | http://www.pewresearch.org/category/interactives/audio/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-18/segments/1461860106452.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20160428161506-00046-ip-10-239-7-51.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.905401 | 377 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Advances in biochemistry and molecular genetics have led to the
discovery of such a large number of metabolic diseases of the nervous
system that it taxes the mind just to remember their names. As the
causes and mechanisms of the diseases included in this chapter (and
in several that follow) are increasingly being expressed in terms
of molecular genetics, it seems appropriate, by way of introduction,
to consider briefly some basic facts pertaining to the genetics
of neurologic disease. A complete account of this subject may be
found in the four-volume text edited by Scriver and colleagues.
The reader is referred to the continuously updated Online
Mendelian Inheritance in Man, a catalog of genetic disorders
developed by V.A. McKusick and his colleagues and the National Center
for Biotechnology Information (queried through: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=omim).
The biochemistry of every human organism is, of course, unique.
Constitutional predispositions to disease lie in the variations
of DNA of the chromosomes of each cell. Knowledge of the molecular
basis of these diatheses may ultimately provide the means of diagnosis,
prevention, and perhaps treatment of many human diseases.
The diseases grouped in this chapter and the next represent four
particular categories of genetic abnormality: (1) monogenic disorders
determined by a single mutant gene that follow a mendelian pattern
of inheritance; (2) multifactorial disorders, again following a
mendelian pattern of inheritance but in which intrinsic (i.e., genetic)
factors interact with exogenous environmental ones—susceptibility
to these agents probably depend on single nucleotide polymorphisms
within normal genes; (3) nonmendelian chromosomal aberrations, characterized
by an excess, a lack, or a structural alteration of one or more
of the 23 pairs of chromosomes (these are considered in the next
chapter, with the developmental disorders); and (4) mitochondrial
transmission of disease in a nonmendelian, mainly maternal pattern.
As stated in the monograph of Scriver and colleagues, 6 to 8
percent of diseases in hospitalized children are attributable to
single-gene defects and 0.4 to 2.5 percent to a chromosomal abnormality.
Another 22 to 31 percent have a disease thought to be gene-influenced.
In the general population, when multifactorial inheritance of late-onset
diseases is included, the latter figure has been estimated to rise
to approximately 60 percent. Mitochondrial inheritance of mutations
is much less frequent.
The nervous system is more frequently affected by a genetic abnormality
than any other organ system, probably because of the large number
of genes implicated in its development (an estimated one-third of
the human genome). Approximately one-third of all inherited diseases
are neurologic in some respect; if one adds the inherited diseases
affecting the musculature, skeleton, eye, and ear, the number rises
to 80 to 90 percent.
Although only a minority of inherited diseases is identified
as an enzymopathy, this group represents the most direct translation
of mendelian disorders to primary defects in proteins. These constitute
only one-third of the known recessive (autosomal and X-linked) disorders.
Most of the enzymopathies ... | <urn:uuid:50702a5f-74f2-4424-bd44-68663d105ad0> | CC-MAIN-2018-09 | http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?bookid=354§ionid=40236350 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891812327.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20180219032249-20180219052249-00180.warc.gz | en | 0.918554 | 724 | 3.0625 | 3 |
When you visit the dentist for a checkup and cleaning, your teeth aren’t the only thing the dental team is examining. Because healthy gums are an important component of overall oral health, they require care as well. Your gums support the structure of your teeth, and gum disease can lead to tooth loss, bone degradation, and other health issues, including cardiovascular problems. By checking your gums, your dentist can catch gum disease in the early stages so that it can be treated. You can also keep your gums healthy by paying attention to these warning signs of gum disease:
- Redness, inflammation, and puffiness
- Bleeding that happens when you brush or floss
- A receding gumline
- Bad breath
- The feeling that your teeth are moving
- Teeth that are sensitive to heat and cold
If you have any of these symptoms, does that mean it’s too late to regain your oral health? Not at all. To prevent gum disease, schedule regular dental appointments so that the dentist can catch even minor signs like slight gum recession. The dentist will also perform dental x-rays to check for damage to teeth or roots. You can also learn to manage your stress, cut back on sugary drinks and foods, and practice good oral hygiene. Talk to your dentist about proper gum care and discuss any medication changes.
As gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, it creates inflammation around the teeth. The gums pull away from the teeth and form areas of infection called deep pockets. Plaque spreads and grows below the gum line, and bacterial contaminants begin to break down the bone and tissue holding your teeth in place. However, even if you have severe gum disease, your dentist can help. At the dental office, the team can perform scaling and root cleaning, in order to clean these deep pockets, removing microbes and tartar stuck to the roots of your teeth. Sometimes, the dentist will refer you to a periodontist or prescribe antibiotics to address bacterial infection. Ultimately, the dental team can work with you to help preserve your healthy, pink gums.
If you’re ready to find a team committed to your beautiful smile and healthy gums, Belmont Dental Group is ready to meet you! We cover all kinds of dental care, going beyond basic teeth cleaning to include services from periodontics to cosmetic dentistry to emergency care, and we believe in helping our patients be partners in their own dental health. Call our dental office today at (617) 484-2431 or contact us through our website for a consultation. | <urn:uuid:417d781c-bbe8-411a-b106-43671969b35a> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.belmontdental.com/blog/6-warning-signs-of-gum-disease/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511351.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20231004020329-20231004050329-00423.warc.gz | en | 0.938604 | 530 | 2.890625 | 3 |
I hope you and your children have a wonderful weekend! Just a reminder, tomorrow is a Teachers' Institute Day and Monday is Columbus Day, so we won't have school tomorrow or Monday. I told the kids they could read at least twenty minutes a day, practice math facts, and practice writing stories at home (we're starting with writing a sentence and drawing a picture to go along with it).
This week the kids practiced forming words with digraphs sh, wh, th, ck, and ch. We worked on addition and number skills using white boards, markers, erasers, dice, number grids, number lines, and water bottles with dice in them. We worked on IXL. So far this year, we have worked on these lessons on IXL: A.1, A.2, A.3, A.12, B.1, B.2, B.3, C.1, C.2, C.3, D.1, D.2, and D.3. If the kids haven't finished those and want to get more practice at home, they can complete those lessons to 100 %.
Students read books, they took A.R. quizzes, they listened to me finish reading Magic Tree House Book #1 and started listening to me read a Scooby Doo chapter book where we're trying to figure out the mystery, and practiced writing words and sentences. We did a science experiment by creating a star gazer and learned about making good vs. bad choices in social studies. Students continued writing and illustrating their stories.
Have a great weekend! Mrs. Z | <urn:uuid:21bb1d43-afe4-4d81-b80b-de2ac704b137> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://mrszimmermannsfirstgradeclass.weebly.com/blog/first-grade-happenings | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347419593.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20200601180335-20200601210335-00489.warc.gz | en | 0.959506 | 332 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Rapid population growth in Douglas County, an area of approximately 750 square miles in west-central Nevada, has led to concern about the present and future effects of development on ground water. This report describes the results of two nonparametric statistical procedures applied to detect trends in concentrations of chloride, dissolved solids, and nitrate in ground water. The water-quality data consist of analytical results from ground-water samples collected and analyzed by the U. S. Geological Survey and ground-water-quality data provided by the Nevada Bureau of Health Protection Services for the Carson Valley and Topaz Lake areas of Douglas County, Nevada. For purposes of this study, statistical significance, expressed as the p-value, was set at 0.1. The Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxan rank-sum test detected increasing step-trends for nitrate in one of seven residential areas and for dissolved-solids concentrations throughout the study area. Decreasing step-trends for chloride and dissolved-solids concentrations were detected in the west Carson Valley area. Kendall's Tau detected monotonic trends for increasing nitrate concentrations at four domestic wells and for increasing dissolved-solids concentrations at two domestic wells. No other statistically significant trends were indicated by either test. Land-use relations to areas where increasing trends were detected suggest that the density of individual wastewater-treatment systems may exceed the capacity of soils to treat wastewater leachate.
Additional publication details
USGS Numbered Series
Trends in chloride, dissolved-solids, and nitrate concentrations in ground water, Carson Valley and Topaz Lake Areas, Douglas County, Nevada, 1959-88
Water-Resources Investigations Report
U.S. Geological Survey ;
Information Services [distributor], | <urn:uuid:9eef2581-ed15-46ca-b322-0b2eb7ec9cca> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wri954254 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982967784.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823200927-00218-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906619 | 355 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Poetry Criticism assembles critical responses to the writings of the world's most renowned poets and provides supplementary biographical context and bibliographic material to guide the reader to a greater understanding of the genre and its creators. Each entry includes a set of previously published reviews, essays and other critical responses from sources that include scholarly books and journals, literary magazines, interviews, letters and diaries, carefully selected to create a representative history and cross-section of critical responses.
Although poets and poetry are also covered in other titles from the Gale Literature Criticism series, Poetry Criticism offers a greater focus on understanding poetry than is possible in the broader, survey-oriented entries in those series. Clear, accessible introductory essays followed by carefully selected critical responses allow end-users to engage with a variety of scholarly views and conversations about poets and their works. Students writing papers or class presentations, instructors preparing their syllabi, or anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the genre will find this a highly useful resource.
Each volume of this reference provides substantial critical essays and biographical information on four to eight major poets from all eras. Entries provide an introductory biographical sketch, an author portrait, a primary bibliography, annotated full text and excerpted criticism of the poets' works, and sources for additional reading. When available, comments from the poets themselves are included.
John Ashbery 1927- (American poet and critic).
Bruce Dawe 1930- (Australian poet, short-story writer, and children’s writer).
Louise Glück 1943- (American poet and essayist). | <urn:uuid:23ed83e1-4bd9-41df-bd02-f1a08fca95c4> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.cengage.com/search/productOverview.do?N=197&Ntk=P_EPI&Ntt=70077660781157906112373373531365541347&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320368.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624235551-20170625015551-00215.warc.gz | en | 0.926457 | 321 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Irrespective of their cultures and nationalities, people all over the world drink tea. It is as universal a drink as water. Each year, Canadians drink more than 7 billion cups of tea. That includes a few cups of tea I drink each day.
Legend has it that tea was first discovered in 2737 B.C. by Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, when a tea leaf accidentally fell into the bowl of hot water he was drinking. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there to witness this historical event. But that is what legends are all about – a nonhistorical or unverifiable story handed down by tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical.
Tea is an all-natural beverage, containing no additives, no artificial flavors or colors. Tea is a drink made by infusing leaves of the tea plant in hot water. Tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis, a warm-weather evergreen. If taken without milk or sugar, tea has no calories. It is a good way to increase fluid intake, with some taste and style.
It has vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Research indicates that naturally-occurring flavonoids found in tea have very effective antioxidant properties. Drinking tea is a natural and pleasant way to increase dietary exposure to antioxidants. Antioxidant-rich foods may play a role in reducing the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and stroke.
We hear about antioxidants all the time. Why do we need antioxidants?
Our body has naturally occurring but cell-damaging free radical molecules. Damage by free radicals over time is believed to contribute to the development of many chronic diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize these cell-damaging free radical molecules.
Tea is grown around the world in estates or tea gardens, resulting in flavourful variations. Like wines, many teas take their names from the district in which they are grown, and each district is known for producing teas with unique flavour and character.
While there are more than 1500 varieties of tea available worldwide, all teas can be divided into four basic types: black, green, oolong and white tea.
The way the fresh tea leaves are processed and their level of contact with oxygen (oxidation) determine the types of tea. During oxidation, the tea leaves experience natural chemical reactions that result in distinctive taste and colour characteristics.
Herbal teas do not come from Camellia sinensis, but are an infusion of leaves, roots, bark, seeds or flowers of other plants.
Black Tea is the most commonly used in North American tea bags. Black tea is made from fully oxidized leaves, which produce a hearty deep rich flavour in a coloured amber brew. A few examples of black teas are: Ceylon, Darjeeling, Earl Grey and English Breakfast. For teas that require oxidation, the leaves are left on their own in a climate-controlled room where they turn progressively darker.
Green Tea is most popular in Asia. Green tea is not oxidized. It is immediately steamed or heated to prevent oxidation and then rolled and dried. It has a delicate taste, light green colour and is very refreshing. Varieties of green tea include: Jasmine, Spider Leg, Mattcha, and Tencha.
Oolong Tea combines the taste and colour qualities of black and green teas. It is a very popular tea in China. The name oolong literally translates as “Black Dragon”. Oolong tea leaves are partly oxidized and extremely flavourful and highly aromatic. Oolong teas are consumed without milk and sugar. Varieties of oolong tea include: Formosa Oolong and Black Dragon.
White Tea has mild flavour and natural sweetness. It is made entirely from leaf buds that are covered with whitish hairs. The new buds are plucked before they open, withered and then dried slowly at low temperatures. Unlike other tea processing methods, the leaf buds are not rolled and slightly oxidized
In my next article, we will discuss health benefits of tea. Until then, brew your tea well, put your feet up, smile and enjoy.
Start reading the preview of my book A Doctor's Journey for free on Amazon. Available on Kindle for $2.99! | <urn:uuid:4220700f-2dde-4311-b76d-d54253b374ea> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://nbharwani.com/2010/medicine-hat-news/for-me-anytime-is-tea-time-part-1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600401582033.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20200927215009-20200928005009-00149.warc.gz | en | 0.946974 | 877 | 2.65625 | 3 |
by Staff Writers
Beijing (XNA) Dec 05, 2008
China will select future astronauts from the ranks of scientists rather than military pilots, a top-level engineer for the country's manned space program said here on Thursday.
"China's manned space project will start setting up space laboratories and stations after 2012, and by that time scientists will be needed for a large number of experiments in space," said Zhang Jianqi, deputy chief commander of China's manned space project.
Scientists from the two Special Administrative Regions (SAR), Hong Kong and Macao, can compete to be astronauts, according to Zhang.
So far, most Chinese astronauts have been former People's Liberation Army pilots.
China plans to launch the Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 missions before 2012. The three missions are expected to solve the problem of spacecraft rendezvous and docking and prepare for the establishment of space labs, according to Zhang.
Zhang also said scientists and engineers, including those from Hong Kong and Macao, could apply for carrying out experiments on Shenzhou-8 as the unmanned spacecraft still had the space for more experiments.
A delegation to Hong Kong and Macao, led by Zhang, is scheduled to start a six-day visit on Friday.
The delegation includes three Shenzhou-7 astronauts - Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng - and Zhou Jianping, chief designer of the manned space project. The delegation is scheduled to meet local people to share the mainland's space accomplishment.
An exhibit on the Shenzhou-7 voyage will also be held in Hong Kong and Macao.
Delegations from the Shenzhou-5 and Shenzhou-6 missions, which took place in 2003 and 2005, have also been invited by the SAR governments to pay visits.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
the missing link The Chinese Space Program - News, Policy and Technology
China News from SinoDaily.com
|The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement| | <urn:uuid:8e9bfd28-f886-459a-9ab7-218058968075> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_Future_Astronauts_Will_Be_Scientists_999.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187824325.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20171020192317-20171020212317-00723.warc.gz | en | 0.926346 | 525 | 2.59375 | 3 |
The Black Sea more closely resembled mixed paint on an artist’s palette than the normally black surface of deep water when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image on June 20, 2006. Swirls of color ranging from deep olive green to bright turquoise were created by a massive phytoplankton bloom that covered the entire surface of the sea. The sea was able to support such a large bloom largely because of its unique structure.
Many of Europe’s largest rivers, including the Danube, the Dnister, and the Dnipro (also called Dnieper) dump fresh water into the sea. The sea’s only source of salty water, on the other hand, is the narrow Bosporus Strait, which connects it to the Mediterranean Sea through the Sea of Marmara. The salty water is denser than the fresh water, and so it sinks to the bottom, leaving a layer of relatively fresh water on top. The density barrier between salt and fresh water is great enough that the two layers do not mix. As a result, when fresh water enters the sea from rivers, it only mixes with the relatively fresh water in the top 150 meters of the sea. This means that fertilizers and runoff carried in the river water remain concentrated in the top of the sea where they nourish the tiny plants (phytoplankton) that grow on or near the surface.
In the spring of 2006, floods on the Danube River swept over broad stretches of farmland. The floods likely washed sediment, fertilizers, and animal waste into the Danube and the Black Sea. The extra iron, phosphates, and nitrates in the flood debris may be supporting the extensive bloom seen here. Such blooms can be both beneficial, because they provide food for fish, and dangerous, because decaying plant matter saps oxygen out of the water. If enough phytoplankton from a large bloom die and decay, the water may become so oxygen poor that fish can no longer survive in it. The result is a dead zone where little can survive.
Dead zones normally happen near the mouths of large rivers where fertilizers and agricultural waste are concentrated in the ocean. The Black Sea is one of the world’s largest dead zones, though its dead zone is related to its stratification as much as to fertilizer run-off. When plants and other organic matter sink to the floor of the sea, they decay in the salty layer of water. Since the denser salt water does not mix with the fresher water at the surface, there is no way to replenish the oxygen used during the decay process. As a result, the lower layer of the Black Sea is totally oxygen-free.
The large image provided above has a resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The image is available in additional resolutions from the MODIS Rapid Response Team. | <urn:uuid:a4e0f30a-593b-4dba-902e-9fa50d79a886> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/16739/phytoplankton-blooms-in-the-black-sea | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514575596.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20190922160018-20190922182018-00124.warc.gz | en | 0.938112 | 601 | 4.21875 | 4 |
By Dr Oliver Tearle
‘Hop-Frog’, like many of Edgar Allan Poe’s best stories, carries the force of parable. It is a curious mixture of revenge, horror, and spectacle, about a dwarf who exacts spectacular brutal vengeance on a cruel monarch. The story was first published in March 1849; by the end of the year, Poe would be dead.
You can read ‘Hop-Frog’, on which we now offer a few words of analysis, here.
‘Hop-Frog’: plot summary
In summary, ‘Hop-Frog’ is about a king who keeps a jester who is also a ‘dwarf’ and a ‘cripple’, who has been given the name Hop-Frog on account of his unusual way of walking which was actually ‘something between a leap and a wriggle’ (owing to his disability).
Hop-Frog, and Trippetta, a young dwarfish girl noted for her dancing, had been given to the king as presents by one of his conquering generals, who had brought them back from a ‘barbarous’ part of the world the king’s generals had invaded.
Hop-Frog and Trippetta have grown close, thanks to their shared status as slaves at the royal court, and look out for each other. One day the king orders a masquerade to be put on for his amusement, and forces Hop-Frog to drink wine and be ‘merry’. When Trippetta begs with the king to leave her friend alone, the king violently pushes her to the floor, and then furiously throws wine in her face.
Hop-Frog becomes quietly angry at this, and hatches a plan for revenge on the king and his fat, evil ministers. He persuades the king and his seven ministers to take part in a ‘jest’ which Hop-Frog calls ‘the Eight Chained Ourang-Outangs’. To prepare them for this jest, Hop-Frog gets the men tarred and coated with flax to suggest the fur of the orangutan, and then chains them up.
Hop-Frog then has them chained to the ceiling, and proceeds to clamber up and pretend to examine them with his torch.
He then announces that this has been his revenge on the king for striking his friend Trippetta, a defenceless girl, before setting the king and his seven councillors alight with the torch. Thanks to the tar and flax, they burn quickly, with the assorted guests unable to come to their aid, able only to look on in horror as the king and his men burn to death.
Hop-Frog announces that this was his last jest, and then escapes through the sky-light. Everyone assumes that Trippetta had been his accomplice, and that the two of them fled to their native land, for they were never seen again.
‘Hop-Frog’ shares a number of links with Poe’s other classic stories. The ourang-outangs recall the orangutan in ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’, while Hop-Frog’s dislike of wine echoes Poe’s own love-hate relationship with the drink, which probably fed into his portrayal of the drunken sadism of the narrator of ‘The Black Cat’, one of Poe’s most unsettling stories. But what is the meaning of ‘Hop-Frog’? How should we analyse it?
The story is normally interpreted as being Poe’s revenge on his critics – or, more specifically, on those who were spreading gossip about Poe. But the story would have limited appeal if this is where its meaning began and ended.
As it is, ‘Hop-Frog’ can be analysed as a story about tyranny, slavery, and revolution. ‘Hop-Frog’ was published in 1849, one year after the Revolutions of 1848. Although these occurred in Europe rather than America, such ideas spread across the Atlantic. 1848 was also the year that Marx and Engels published The Communist Manifesto, whose rousing final words inspired the slogan, ‘Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains.’ Chains play a symbolic role in ‘Hop-Frog’: the title character’s metaphorical chains keeping him in bondage and servitude are replaced by the literal chains he places around his oppressors.
The punishment he exacts on the king and his ministers incorporates the historical act of tarring and feathering, which has strong suggestions of mob rule, and reinforces the idea of Hop-Frog’s revenge being a sort of one-man (or, assuming Trippetta’s involvement, one-man and one-woman) revolution, in which the tyrannical ruling class is overthrown.
Of course, such an interpretation cannot be taken any further: we cannot say that Hop-Frog is performing a revolution per se (after all, he clears off once he’s had his revenge), but the idea that Poe draws on revolutionary ideas in this story is tenable, even if it doesn’t tell the full story. The fire – specifically, the act of burning alive the king and his corrupt politicians – carries connotations of hellfire and damnation.
However we read it – and we may choose to sit back and see ‘Hop-Frog’ as simply a tale about the little man (literally, in the case of the poorly served hero) triumphing over his evil oppressors and earning his freedom in a literal blaze of glory. It’s not Poe’s most famous or best-loved story, but it’s an enjoyable tale, albeit one that doesn’t require the same analytical scrutiny as ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ or ‘A Descent into the Maelstrom’.
The author of this article, Dr Oliver Tearle, is a literary critic and lecturer in English at Loughborough University. He is the author of, among others, The Secret Library: A Book-Lovers’ Journey Through Curiosities of History and The Great War, The Waste Land and the Modernist Long Poem. | <urn:uuid:55c285d1-07a0-437f-a92e-4885fba7c56a> | CC-MAIN-2021-10 | https://interestingliterature.com/2017/06/a-summary-and-analysis-of-edgar-allan-poes-hop-frog/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178358798.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20210227084805-20210227114805-00329.warc.gz | en | 0.97283 | 1,344 | 3.484375 | 3 |
In July 2011, then Prime Minister Naoto Kan ordered stress tests on all Japan’s 50 nuclear reactors to assess their safety. By May 2012, they were all idled and for the first time in 40 years the nation was not generating a single kWh from nuclear energy.
Controversially, on June 16, 2012, Kan’s successor, Yoshihiko Noda, approved the restart of two reactors. This sparked mass protests that involved a million demonstrators through a summer that saw Japan’s largest civil protests since the turbulent 1960s.
Noda faced strong opposition to his plans to hasten the restart of reactors due to widespread safety concerns. Haruki Madarame, chairman of the Nuclear Safety Commission, reinforced those anxieties when he announced in March 2012 that the stress tests were not sufficient to ensure the operational safety of reactors. The government then hastily cobbled together a provisional set of safety guidelines. As it turned out, the two reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture that had been restarted met only 20 out of the new 30 safety criteria. Furthermore, the power they generated was unnecessary even during one of the hottest summers in memory.
This April, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) began assessing whether the two Oi reactors meet new safety standards slated to go into effect in July. There are three active fault lines near the Oi plant on the Sea of Japan coast, but it will not have a remote command center ready until 2015 and its raised sea wall will not be completed until March 2014. The new safety guidelines also require that utilities equip reactors with filtered venting systems to reduce radioactive releases in the event of an emergency, but they are granted a five-year grace period before these must be in place.
Consequently, the reactors are now operating based on the hope that these countermeasures will prove unnecessary; Fukushima demonstrates the folly of wishing risk away.
The findings of three major investigations into the Fukushima accident were released in 2012, detailing the absence of a culture of safety in the nuclear industry in Japan and cozy, collusive relations between regulators and the utilities that compromised safety.
All three investigations assert that the meltdowns were preventable, and they all refuted the claims made by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco), the operator of the Fukushima No. 1 plant, that the massive tsunami was an inconceivable event that caused the three reactor meltdowns and hydrogen explosions there.
In fact, tsunami risks should have come as no surprise to Tepco, as the Tohoku coastline has been battered by major ones in 1611, 1677, 1793, 1896 and 1933. Indeed, there are tsunami stones dotting the Tohoku coastline warning future generations to heed the perils. Tepco’s own researchers warned about the tsunami risk in Fukushima, and clearly the one triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, was no black swan, once in a 1,000-year event. But the utilities and the government ignored the risks and sited reactors in tsunami-risk zones.
The Diet investigation concludes that what’s termed “regulatory capture” — regulators regulating in favor of the regulated — was at the heart of the nuclear accident, and it blasts the absence of a culture of safety. Moreover, it outlines an institutionalized culture of collusion, complacency and deceit involving regulators and utilities that explains why Fukushima in particular, and the nuclear industry in general, settled for inadequate safeguards.
Finally, in October 2012, Tepco admitted it erred in not adopting stricter safety measures and confessed that it could have prevented the nuclear crisis had it done so. Refuting its own whitewash report issued in mid-2012, Tepco now acknowledges that it downplayed tsunami risk and opposed adoption of international safety standards. It also admits that employees were not properly trained to operate emergency equipment and lacked crisis-management skills.
The utility further concedes that it did not manage risk properly because it feared that any measures to improve safety at the Fukushima plant, or to conduct evacuation drills, would stoke the anti-nuclear movement, interfere with operations, raise costs and create legal and political problems.
These mea culpas are an extraordinary development that highlights shortcomings of the so-called nuclear village — a term commonly used in Japan to refer to nuclear advocates, and beneficiaries, in the utilities, regulatory agencies, the Diet, big business, the media and academia.
Just as it appeared in mid-September 2012 that Noda’s Cabinet had officially sanctioned the phasing out of nuclear energy, major business lobbies publically protested and persuaded the Cabinet to reverse course. Against steep odds, the nuclear village ensured that Fukushima did not become a game-changing event.
The election of the pro-nuclear Liberal Democratic Party to power in December 2012 was not about energy policy, but has revived prospects for the nuclear village; citizens may favor phasing out nuclear energy, but they will not get to decide. Hitachi, Toshiba and Mitsubishi tie-ups with General Electric, Westinghouse and Areva mean that Japan stands at the nexus of the global nuclear-energy industry. The recent award of a $22 billion contract by Turkey to a Japanese-led consortium indicates how high the stakes are, explaining why domestic firms’ nuclear-policy preferences are fully reflected in government policy.
If Japan terminated nuclear power, the pain would extend beyond the utilities and vendors; lenders and investors, including Japan’s major banks and insurance firms, would also face huge losses. Pulling the plug on nuclear power could also drive some of Japan’s 10 utilities into insolvency. In addition, there have been strident voices from the political right calling for the retention of nuclear energy because it leaves available the nuclear-weapons option. Washington, too, has warned Tokyo that phasing out nuclear energy would harm bilateral relations because it would raise concerns about Japan’s large stockpiles of plutonium and uncomfortable questions about the consistency of U.S. nuclear non-proliferation efforts targeting Iran and North Korea.
The NRA established in September 2012 has conducted on-site inspections indicating that some reactors are sited on active fault lines, but has not made a decision about shutting them down permanently. It has, however, moved to close the problem-plagued Monju fast-breeder reactor, a non-commercial experimental facility that sits atop an active fault line.
Additionally, the NRA has signaled its intention to not approve restarting a reactor at the Tsuruga plant in Fukui, and there are several other candidates for closure; Tepco’s Kashiwazaki plant with six reactors is sited near an active fault line as proven in the 2007 earthquake there, but the utility’s business plan depends on restarting this facility. There are some tough calls ahead.
There has also been no conclusion declared as to whether or not seismic damage compromised cooling-system pipes at the Fukushima plant in the interval before the tsunami hit. This is an important issue because if the earthquake caused the meltdowns, all Japan’s reactors would require extensive safety upgrades that would further undermine their financial viability. In any event, The Economist magazine has concluded that nuclear power is simply not economically feasible.
The NRA is set to adopt stricter safety regulations in July, but the key will be the implementation and monitoring of compliance. Problematically, there are only nine inspectors overseeing the 3,000 workers engaged in decontamination and decommissioning efforts at Fukushima, a bungled operation that has been left to the discretion of Tepco.
The utility decided against bringing in outside experts and failed to anticipate the problem of what to do with massive volumes of radioactive waste water that are accumulating at the plant. The improvised responses have proved inadequate, while the touted “solution” involves dumping the toxic water into the ocean. The Tokyo-based New York Times reporter Martin Fackler concludes that Tepco is “lurching from one problem to the next without a coherent strategy … a cautionary tale about the continued dangers of leaving decisions about nuclear safety to industry insiders” (NYT 4/29/2013).
Despite this and other red flags on nuclear safety, the political pressures on the NRA to resume business as usual are intensifying.
Proponents of nuclear power have long argued that it is safe, cheap and reliable. The 150,000 residents who remain displaced from the vicinity of Tepco’s Fukushima plant, along with local farmers and fishermen, must wonder about that claim. So too should all Japan’s taxpayers, as the nationalization of Tepco in July 2012 means we now own its vast liabilities.
One year ago the Wall Street Journal estimated that taxpayers were already $45 billion in the hole, and at the end of 2012 the utility requested a further ¥697 billion (ca $8.2 billion) from the government to cover rising compensation payments.
The Fukushima plant looks to be a bottomless pit, with the tab set to grow as decontamination and decommissioning will take decades. And, how much will it cost to deal with all the radioactive waste accumulated at Japan’s 50 other reactors and where will that be stored?
Jeff Kingston is Director of Asian Studies, Temple University Japan. | <urn:uuid:bd72b1ac-f699-4154-b2ec-d0617df7b224> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/05/26/commentary/is-it-safe-ruling-party-pushes-nuclear-village-agenda/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549429485.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20170727202516-20170727222516-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.957049 | 1,909 | 2.859375 | 3 |
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Windows 8 Using HTML5 and JS, Part 4: Controls
with expert Peter Thorsteinson
In this course we will review a few of the many HTML5 elements that are available to us when we develop Windows 8 apps. We will also explore the WinJS controls that build on top of the elementary HTML5 markup traditionally used in web development. These WinJS controls are more powerful and flexible. Some of the WinJS controls we will explore include: AppBar, FlipView, Flyout, Repeater, SearchBox, TimePicker, and Tooltip. Finally we will look at the new WinJS 2.0 controls.
Advanced | 2h 3m | February 13, 2014Course Outline | <urn:uuid:291a5a00-b565-4612-9899-4e8efe1ff0a2> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://www.learnnowonline.com/trailer/8ai4/windows-8-using-html5-and-js-controls | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400213006.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20200924002749-20200924032749-00074.warc.gz | en | 0.933147 | 152 | 2.546875 | 3 |
The Fraser Institute is out with its new yearly assessment of Economic Freedom in North America. Fraser, based in British Columbia, Canada, ranks both nations and states internationally and in North America for their economic freedom, measuring factors such as tax rates, government spending, and labor laws.
Fraser found that the top five states for economic freedom are Florida, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The worst five are West Virginia, Alaska, California, and Vermont, with New York placing last.
What practical effect does economic freedom have on people’s lives? If there is no measurable benefit, then the concept of “freedom” might seem too academic or theoretical to matter much.
With the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s state employment report for October on Nov. 20, it’s possible to look at the best and worst states as far as their job performance during a particularly trying time.
The freest five states have a combined population of 67.2 million people, with 24.3 million workers in the private sector as of October. Some 62.1 million people live in the least-free five states, with 22 million working in the private sector.
Over the past 12 months, the freest five states have seen a 4.4% contraction in their private sector employment. Tennessee saw the smallest loss of jobs at 3.5%, while New Hampshire experienced the largest loss at 7.9%. The overall loss among the five top states for freedom was 4.4%.
Among the states with high taxes, big governments, and onerous labor laws, New York took the biggest hit to employment with an 11.7% loss, followed closely by Vermont with 10.5%. The loss in private sector employment in the five least-free states was 9.2% since October 2019.
Put another way, had the bottom five states for economic freedom had the same employment performance as the freest five states, they’d have almost 1.2 million more people employed today in the private sector. About 700,000 of those jobs would be in California and about 400,000 in New York.
It’s also the case that states with lower economic freedom ranking were predisposed to taking a more robust government approach to slowing or preventing the spread of COVID-19. Perhaps, defenders of such an approach might claim, 1.2 million more unemployed people would be worth the lives saved via lockdowns and restrictions in commercial activity. The data doesn’t support that.
As of Nov. 20, there have been 53,430 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the five states with the lowest economic freedom rankings compared to 46,162 in the five top states. As a share of the population, deaths in the least free states total 0.086% compared to 0.069% in the freest five states — proportionately, 25% higher in the states that took a more aggressive approach to the pandemic, in line with their philosophy of governance.
As a share of the population working in the private sector, fatalities have totaled up to 0.24% in the least-free states versus 0.19% in the most-free, with deaths being about 28% higher per person employed in the private sector in the least-free states.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and California Gov. Gavin Newsom may be praised for their heavy-handed approach to the COVID-19 pandemic — but their response will be difficult to sustain over the long haul if their economies fail to support the tax revenues their bloated governments demand. | <urn:uuid:45fd7726-4c4a-4e8c-ba38-fd380c304f32> | CC-MAIN-2021-17 | https://thecannononline.com/states-with-more-economic-freedom-lost-fewer-jobs-during-the-pandemic/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038072180.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20210413092418-20210413122418-00610.warc.gz | en | 0.967224 | 736 | 2.5625 | 3 |
The state of Alabama falls into zones 7 and 8 of the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone Map. These areas have average annual minimum temperatures of 0 to 20 degrees F. Several types of geraniums grow well in Alabama. Plant them in May in zone 7 or in April in zone 8.
Cranesbill geranium (Geranium sanguineum) thrives in zones 3 to 8. It grows to a height of 12 to 18 inches and spreads over a distance of 18 inches during spring and summer. Fine hairs cover the leaves and flower stems. The leaves have a circular outline and a width of 1 to 2 inches. They often release a pleasant scent and turn reddish with frost. The reddish-purple to pale pink flowers bloom in midsummer. Each flower has five petals and measures 1 to 1 1/2 inches.
Strawberry geranium (Saxifraga stolonifera) grows in zones 7 to 9, and thrives in Alabama. It grows rapidly to reach a height of 6 to 8 inches. Each grayish-green leaf has a heart shape, white veins on its top surface and red veins on its underside. Fine hairs cover the leaves, measuring 2 to 4 inches. The flowers develop on slender stems that grow to a length of 1 to 2 feet. The white flowers have five petals each.
Grayleaf cranesbill (Geranium cinereum) thrives in zones 4 to 9. It grows to a height of 4 to 6 inches and spreads over a distance of 10 to 12 inches. Because of its height, it works well as a groundcover. It has gray-green leaves that form mounds. It develops saucer-shaped flowers that bloom in summer and come in various colors, including pink, white and magenta. | <urn:uuid:7f75fd0f-31c4-4158-8d0a-f8e8b0ea2999> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | http://agriviet.net/21868-geraniums-in-alabama/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464049275181.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524002115-00021-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935445 | 377 | 3 | 3 |
O"le*in (?), n. [L. oleum oil: cf. F. ol'eine.] Physiol. Chem.
A fat, liquid at ordinary temperatures, but solidifying at temperatures below 0° C., found abundantly in both the animal and vegetable kingdoms (see Palmitin). It dissolves solid fats, especially at 30-40° C. Chemically, olein is a glyceride of oleic acid; and, as three molecules of the acid are united to one molecule of glyceryl to form the fat, it is technically known as triolein. It is also called elain.
© Webster 1913. | <urn:uuid:5ae7328c-67fd-485e-b456-a1d43acbbe24> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | https://everything2.com/title/Olein | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187823168.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20171018233539-20171019013539-00165.warc.gz | en | 0.926522 | 138 | 2.578125 | 3 |
On this day in Tudor history, 14th May 1571, the "Creeping Parliament" was held in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Why was it called the "Creeping Parliament" and why were there actually two Parliaments meeting?
What was going on and what happened next?
Find out more...
On this day in Tudor history, 14th May 1538, the French ambassador, Louis de Perreau, Sieur de Castillon, wrote a dispatch regarding King Henry VIII having been dangerously ill due to a problem with one of his legs.
Henry VIII was plagued with problems from his legs, leg ulcers, from at least 1528 right up until his death. But what do we know about his problems and what are the theories regarding the cause?
On this day in history, 14th May 1635, Helena Gorges (née Snakenborg), Lady Gorges, was buried in Salisbury Cathedral.
But who was this lady and how did a Swedish royal maid-of-honour end up being buried in England?
On this day in 1536, 14th May, while her predecessor and former mistress was in the Tower of London waiting for her trial, Jane Seymour was moved to be closer to the king and was treated like a queen.
Find out more about this, and Eustace Chapuys' rather unflattering description... | <urn:uuid:bd030430-84eb-4066-ac6e-e8b8441f0a3a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.tudorsociety.com/14-may-the-creeping-parliament/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100056.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20231129041834-20231129071834-00241.warc.gz | en | 0.984861 | 285 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Nearly a century ago, the idea of “urban resilience” – helping cities prepare for, withstand and bounce back from disasters – had yet to be conceived. For good reason; at the time, only 10% of people around the world lived in cities.
Today, more than half of the world’s population resides in urban centres, a number expected to grow to 75% by 2050. Upwards of 60% of that growth is likely to be in Asia, where many cities are in low-lying coastal areas, subject to floods, typhoons, and other natural and climate-driven disasters. These types of shocks and stresses are but a snapshot of those facing Asia in the 21st century. Because while we have had rapid economic growth across East Asia, economic and social inequalities abound – from under-electrification to challenges of the informal economy, impacting the livelihoods of billions of vulnerable people.
That is why cities should invest in making their urban centres more resilient. We already see this type of action in East Asia. In Asia, the Rockefeller Foundation is helping more than a dozen Asian cities in four countries build their resilience to rapid urbanization and climate change. Challenges vary city by city – from drainage and flood management, emergency response, ecosystem strengthening, citizens’ awareness and disease control. But one thing is shared: the recognition that if we don’t take action now, the poor and vulnerable will bear the greatest consequences. Many don’t have the savings or the insurance to bounce back from today’s shocks and stresses.
Based on our learnings from the region, the Rockefeller Foundation is launching a wider effort to help 100 cities build urban resilience around the world by leveraging innovative financing to create citywide resilience plans, hiring a Chief Resilience Officer, and creating a network to share what works.
Author: Ashvin Dayal Managing Director, The Rockefeller Foundation.
Image: Aerial view of Yangon, Myanmar REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun | <urn:uuid:6735978b-714b-480d-9197-0a279916619e> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2013/06/boosting-urban-resilience-in-east-asia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195526888.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20190721040545-20190721062545-00138.warc.gz | en | 0.929216 | 404 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Describes life in the rain forests of the world and how people survive there.
- LCC: GF895
- Dewey Decimal: 304.2/3/09152
- Language: eng
- Physical Description: 24 p. : col. ill. ; 19 cm.
- Human geography -- Tropics -- Juvenile literature
- Rain forests -- Juvenile literature
- Human geography -- Tropics
- Rain forests
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- BN.com by title or by ISBN - Barnes & Noble has a wide selection of new and used books | <urn:uuid:bb09f13b-8a22-4ce6-89c7-73dc276bc978> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://isbndb.com/d/book/peoples_of_the_rain_forest_a01.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549436330.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170728042439-20170728062439-00389.warc.gz | en | 0.767964 | 282 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Commonly Misspelled Words
You'll practice spelling these often misspelled vocabulary words.
Phrasal Verb "Get Over" Multiple Meaning
Practice inferring the meaning of common phrasal verbs
Week 5 Vocabulary: Nouns
Spell the correct vocabulary word when given the definition
Unit 4 Discourse and Skills Bingo
Test your knowledge of Discourse and Skills terminology.
Unit 5 Lexis I: Have U Herd
Test your knowledge of lexical terminology focused on the word 'head'.
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. Pick the correct homophone for each sentence to earn a new member for your band.
Служба речи у реченици
Зависни и независни чланови реченице
Answer the questions
Find the homophone of the given words to win and complete the game!
Animal Spelling Game
See if you can find the correct spellings for these animals, birds, and insects! | <urn:uuid:26374ebf-5d3f-43b1-ad3b-8a8516125c2b> | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | https://www.wisc-online.com/arcade/games/humanities/linguistics?gameTypes=HANGMAN_HAVEUHERD_SQUIDHUNT_BINGO | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703587074.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20210125154534-20210125184534-00204.warc.gz | en | 0.782319 | 256 | 3.515625 | 4 |
Homeobox DNA polymorphisms (restriction fragment length polymorphisms, RFLPs) were first found in 13 individuals, and then in 121 subterranean mole rats of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel. Spalacidae are adapted morphologically to life underground apparently since Oligocene times, 30 million years ago. The superspecies S. ehrenbergi comprises four chromosomal species (2n = 52, 54, 58, and 60) displaying active speciation and dynamic adaptive radiation into four climatic regimes. A Hox‐1.1 and ‐1.5 polymorphism was found with EcoRI, where three of four individuals of the species 2n = 60 were lacking the diagnostic locus‐specific band present in all other nine individuals tested in the first stage. Next we found monomorphism in 121 animals in Hox‐2.1 digested with five six‐base recognition endonucleases (EcoRI, HindIII, BstEII, KpnI, BamHI, and one four‐base enzyme, TaqI). However, we found in the same 121 animals from 13 populations of the four species in Hox‐3.1 species‐specific TaqI polymorphism in two populations of 2n = 54, and HindIII polymorphism in five populations, three of 2n = 54 and two of 2n = 58. The homeobox polymorphisms found display significant correlations with the burrow microclimates of mole rats. Furthermore, they are significantly correlated primarily with diverse morphological variables, and secondarily with protein (allozyme) and DNA polymorphisms, but very little with physiological and behavioral variables. We suggest that in subterranean mole rats, the variation in microclimatic factors, particularly in more unpredictable xeric regions, may maintain genetic polymorphisms by diversifying selection in the developmental control homeobox genes Hox‐1.1, ‐1.5, and Hox‐3.1, affecting regulatory morphogenetic processes in evolution. By contrast, the Hox‐2.1 monomorphism suggests strong purifying selection for conservation across the superspecies over long periods of evolutionary times. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology | <urn:uuid:14d8176a-6ad0-43bb-94d1-ea7f5c248054> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://cris.haifa.ac.il/en/publications/homeobox-dna-polymorphisms-rflps-in-subterranean-mammals-of-the-s | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030337480.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20221004054641-20221004084641-00316.warc.gz | en | 0.88178 | 476 | 2.625 | 3 |
Through the looking glass: Social media may not be corrupting today’s youth as much as some of us would like to believe… at least, according to teens themselves.
In a recent survey of US teens ages 13 to 17, Pew Research Center identified several positive outcomes that teens associate with social media use. For example, 81 percent of teens said social media makes them feel more connected to their friends and 69 percent believe it helps teens interact with a more diverse group of people.
Similarly, 68 percent said social media makes them feel as if they have people who support them through tough times. Teens also overwhelmingly said social media makes them feel included, confident, authentic and outgoing versus excluded, insecure, fake and reserved.
Conversely, the percentage of teens that see the negatives in social media is substantially less.
According to the survey, only 45 percent of teens said they feel overwhelmed by the drama on social media. As for content, 43 percent said they feel pressure to only post stuff that reflects them in a positive light while 37 percent said they feel pressure to post content that will generate a lot of likes and comments.
It's interesting to get teens' takes on social media as it's all they've grown up with. Some of us who are a bit older and were around before social media may have vastly different opinions on the phenomenon and its impact on society.
Lead image courtesy View Apart, Shutterstock | <urn:uuid:62a0fd70-7e1f-415f-9166-c5f98043474d> | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | https://www.techspot.com/news/77624-teens-feel-social-media-positives-outweigh-negatives.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578532929.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20190421215917-20190422001917-00189.warc.gz | en | 0.967777 | 287 | 2.859375 | 3 |
The Civic Centre in Braamfontein houses the City of Johannesburg metropolitan municipality government. (Image: Media Club South Africa)
Local government in South Africa administers cities and smaller regions. These are known as municipalities. There are three categories of municipality.
Metropolitan municipalities – defined as category A – govern the major city regions.
District municipalities, category C, are for wider areas outside the cities, like counties in the US and UK.
Districts are further divided into local municipalities, category B.
Chapter 7 of the Constitution explains the different categories:
- Category A – Metropolitan: A municipality that has exclusive municipal executive and legislative authority in its area.
- Category B – Local: A municipality that shares municipal executive and legislative authority in its area with a category C municipality within whose area it falls.
- Category C – District: A municipality that has municipal executive and legislative authority in an area that includes more than one municipality.
Map of South Africa’s municipalities. Shaded areas indicate district municipalities, each subdivided into the local municipalities they govern. The eight city or metropolitan municipalities are in shades of red, and named. (Image adapted from Wikimedia Commons)
The country has 278 municipalities: eight metropolitan, 44 district and 226 local.
Metropoles have a choice between two types of government: the mayoral executive system where the mayor has the authority, or the collective executive committee system.
Compiled by Mary Alexander and SouthAfrica.info reporter
Updated: 6 November 2015
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The Rationalist Society supports Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief. But freedom implies informed choice. If someone is not familiar with alternative belief systems, how can they freely choose which religion or belief system to follow?
This is why the RSA supports the provision of General Religious Education in schools - so students have genuine freedom of choice. Religion has been a significant factor in the history of humankind, for good or for ill, and still motivates both the ‘better angels of our nature’ and its darker side.
In Victoria, ACCESS Ministries are responsible for 96% of Special Religious Instruction (SRI) in schools. The syllabus they use has been shown to fail both educationally and theologically; it certainly does not provide students with an understanding of a range of alternative belief systems. It is, rather, an overt attempt to ‘make disciples’ of children, particularly of primary age school children. For the most part, parents are blissfully unaware of this insidious phenomenon.
The debate over the place of religion in Australian schools has a long and rancorous history. In Victoria, the Education Act of 1872 enshrined three principles: that government education should be free, compulsory and secular. Churches have been fighting back ever since.
In the 1950s they had a major win. Following intense lobbying, SRI was allowed during school hours (previously it was only allowed outside school hours). This made it much easier for churches to administer SRI by staggering volunteer time over the whole school day.
In 2005, the Bracks Government sought to update the Education Act by, amongst other things, giving schools authority over whether or not to offer SRI. Once again, the churches fought back furiously, and won: until recently Victorian Education Department policy was that schools had no choice – if an SRI volunteer was available, they were obliged to provide a time slot during the school day.
Over recent times however, Departmental policy has changed in two regards. Firstly, the previous ‘opt out’ system has been replaced with an ‘opt in’ system. That is, parents must positively state they want their child to attend SRI, whereas previously it was assumed the child would attend unless the parent specifically wrote to the school to say no. Secondly, it seems schools can now decide whether or not to offer SRI, even if a volunteer is available. While the first change was expressed in an updated departmental form, the second change is not widely known and has not been put in writing.
Why parents should be concerned
In 2004 the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation published a paper called The Evangelisation of Children. Authors of this paper included Wendy Strachan of Scripture Union (Australia), and Graham McDonald, founder of the Australian Christian Heritage Foundation. This paper calls for a world-wide effort to disciple children “no matter how diverse their family or faith background”, recognising that children are “a neglected mission field … more open and receptive to the gospel than at any other time in their lives”. It urges overcoming ‘barriers’ like families who “may resist the involvement of their children in Christian programmes because the family either embraces another religion or has no religion” (pp 4 to 9).
In a series of recommendations that would make a corporate planner blush with envy, the paper goes on to recommend strategies for making disciples of children by:
- partnering with governments, businesses and NGOs
- creating a critical mass of organisations to influence mass media operators
- using curriculum, as a resource, as the “servant of evangelisation”
- using sport and music, branding and marketing, technology and social media to push the message (pp 15-21)
This is all based on a set of unwavering beliefs, including that:
- children “belong to the creator God”
- God is able to sort out the messiness of children’s lives as they “confess their sins”.
- God is an “unseen all-powerful friend who listens to their prayers and answers them”.
And on it goes. Now you might be thinking this is not actually happening in laid back, secular Australia, but not so. The syllabus used by ACCESS Ministries is the embodiment of these recommendations. Professor Marion Maddox, an expert in theology and education, considers the syllabus presents a literalist version of Christianity that “is unequivocally evangelical”, that “relentlessly pushes … students towards cultivating an individual faith” and that urges the view that “being (or becoming) a Christian is the only acceptable life choice.”
Welcome to the Education Culture Wars.
Dr Meredith Doig
President, Rationalist Society of Australia Inc.
12 January 2014 | <urn:uuid:eabc3561-c567-495b-94d6-2e26ea42e0d8> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://www.rationalist.com.au/welcome-to-the-education-culture-wars/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232254731.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20190519081519-20190519103519-00258.warc.gz | en | 0.958465 | 987 | 2.65625 | 3 |
When finding some math worksheets to occupy my six year old daughter on her day off of school, I discovered a Christmas brain teaser for elementary students (in pdf format):
Find a route [between twelve cities] for Santa to follow that is as short as possible. After you have found a route, compare it to others to see if they found a shorter route.
Of course, you will immediately recognize this as the TSP. The “solution” is amusing:
Try to view this question as open-ended, or your student(s) might be working on it for days. …And if someone figures out the best answer to this question, please let me know and I’ll add it here.
Finding the optimal solution to a twelve city TSP is indeed pretty hard. So hard, in fact, that the folks at math-drills.com couldn’t find the solution. I have confidence that my readers can find the optimal solution in less than a day. But please spend Christmas with your families enjoying holiday cheer. | <urn:uuid:e1ada2d2-6179-455f-afb7-44fea6b662c9> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | https://punkrockor.com/2010/12/23/a-christmas-brain-teaser/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676590069.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20180718060927-20180718080927-00545.warc.gz | en | 0.951372 | 218 | 2.625 | 3 |
Chronic stress is when you are constantly under stress for a long period of time. This level of stress leads to health problems. It is important that we learn to reduce stress because of these health issues. This issues include a number of chronic health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, over weight, hyper-tension, numerous eating disorders, etc. Before these health issues set in we should learn to deal with stress. For excellent tips on how to manage stress, please review the article below.
From Huffington Post
Chronic Stress Can Be Bad For Our Health.
Chronic stress can be detrimental to our health, and has been linked to the development of a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease. But as a country, we’re beginning to wake up to the scary effects of too much stress — and starting to consider how we can live with less. On Wednesday, the Forum at the Harvard School of Public Health, in collaboration with the Huffington Post, hosted “Managing Stress: Protecting Your Health,” a panel discussion about stress and health, and the ways in which well-being, mindfulness, exercise and nutrition can contribute to healthier, more sustainable lifestyles.
For the full article please go here.
Chronic stress does have to rule our lives. We can learn to live with less. We can learn to identify our stress triggers. We can learn to effectively deal with stress.
Do you enjoy studying stress management techniques? Then you might be interested in viewing our webpage. | <urn:uuid:6ff28467-e1f0-4d31-b222-f0a361ec3682> | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | http://www.aihcp.org/blog/chronic-stress-causes-health-problems/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501172775.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104612-00280-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943959 | 308 | 2.828125 | 3 |
February 2, 2005
Impact of human beings on the environment
This morning I attended a ‘Virtual Tour’ of the Metro Wastewater Treatment Facility in St. Paul, MN. It was fascinating to see how much wastewater is treated per day and the impact it makes on the environment. Did you know that the Metro Plant treats approximately 200 MILLION gallons per day? That’s 73 billion gallons per year! Before the treatment plants, that was going directly into the river. When I think about the impact of human beings on the environment I have to keep the big picture in perspective. That is:
1. That prior to human beings living here, Nature took care of itself and water was as clean or dirty as Natural events allowed. Basically water in the ground, rivers and lakes was as clean as it would be by natural processes of the environment, like filtering through the rock, rain, runoff, evaporation, etc.
2. As population increased in any one location, pollution of the water and air increased and has reached critical pollution levels during our history. At one point in Germany the Rhein River was classified as “Dead” with no life forms. Other rivers, like the Mississippi and the St. Louis River also have reached critical states because of the presence of human beings. Our impact created a situation that needed to be cleaned up.
3. After human beings made a mess, efforts have been evolving to increase cleanup to achieve water quality levels prior to our interference with the natural processes of the environment, thus reducing our impact on the environment. As population increases in any one area the methods of water treatment have to evolve to keep up with the demand.
4. Our wastewater treatment success is measurably better than it used to be when we were just dumping our wastewater and other contaminants directly into the rivers and lakes. But it has to continue to improve, because we have not eliminated our impact on nature as manufacturing other business and residential use of chemicals and water increases and as population increases.
We should all care about the environment because as I stated before, as human beings, this planet is our home. We don’t want to pollute our homes or we will destroy ourselves, as we are capable of doing. The example of the Rhein River is a good one. It’s funny, but sad that another word in German that sounds the same, ‘Rein’ means ‘clean, pure; not mixed with anything else, but we managed to convert that to ‘dead.’ We have to care enough to reduce our impact on the environment or it will impact us in a negative way eventually. Our impact is cumulative and the untreated problems get worse with the higher concentrations of human beings.
Also as I said before, RESPECT and care for all living things is a spiritual attribute, just as we respect and care for our own lives. A lack of respect and care for all living things is spiritually hypocritical because all life is connected. We eventually kill ourselves by our own actions and attitudes. It’s saying we care but doing the opposite.
Just out of curiosity, I did a quick search on the internet to find out more about the history of wastewater treatment in Minnesota. Here are some very interesting links. Also, it’s interesting to me to ask, that since my house was built in 1936 and the wastewater treatment plant in St. Paul wasn’t built until 1938, what happened to the waste from the first residents of my house? I’m guessing it went straight into the river.
History of Stormwater and Wastewater Drainage Systems in Minneapolis
What happens outside of the Twin-Cities Metro area
Minnesota’s efforts toward the 1970s cleanup of the St. Louis River
Wastewater treatment history of Mankato, since 1994
The Rhein River pollution continues even today. The (German Rhein, English Rhine, French Rhin, Dutch Rijn) is one of the longest rivers in Europe. Its name is derived from the Celtic word "renos" (meaning "raging flow"). Together with the Danube it formed most of the northern frontier of the Roman Empire and since those days has been a vital navigable waterway, carrying trade and goods deep inland.
Wastewater treatment is only one aspect of reducing our impact on the earth. My hope is that you care about the environment and are willing to cross all political and ideological boundaries to reduce our impact. After all, we are the cause of our pollution.
Posted by carl1236 at February 2, 2005 5:34 PM | Love your Neighbor
like your ideas
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Oregon Coast Science Experts: What is Sea Foam?
(Oregon Coast) – It's been the talk of the town lately – or talk of the towns - along the Oregon coast. Huge amounts of sea foam have made quite the splash around the region, especially during and just after the recent storms. (Above: foamy Lincoln City).
But just what is sea foam?
What it isn't is a form of pollution – it's exactly the opposite, in fact. It does create a kind of shocked reaction in people that haven't seen sea foam before, and this in turn causes them to ask locals about something the locals don't understand is even being questioned in the first place. Oregonians are very used to it.
Dr. Bill Hanshumaker, with the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, said that essentially foam in the ocean is created by tiny little phytoplankton that have died and how their skeletons change the surface tension of the water. The more phytoplankton, the more dead ones you have. The more skeletons of phytoplankton you have out there, the more surface tension and the more bubbles you have in the form of sea foam.
Phytoplankton are tiny one-celled organisms that are essentially the bottom of the food chain, kind of like microscopic plants. Whales eat gobs of them, and they also in turn create all that sea foam the Oregon coast is known for. (Above: photo of diatoms under a microscope courtesy Seaside Aquarium).
It's a lot like soap bubbles, Hanshumaker explains. In fact, just like it – except the materials are different, and almost as clean.
“It's very much the way that soap bubbles are created by changing surface tension and allowing air to be trapped between layers of fluid,” Hanshumaker said.
The critical ingredient in foam – on an even tinier level - is the cytoplasm of phytoplankton, a kind of fatty material that holds them together.This is inside the phytoplankton cell. These cytoplasm bits wind up gluing the skeletons together, forming layers that trap the air inside the fluid known as the ocean, and thus creating the bubbles.
This is the cause of all the foam you see on the Oregon coast – and other beaches around the world – whether it's a lot of foam or just a little bit. Almost all the time, except for unusually calm days, you'll see sea foam.
In stormy weather, however, that's when it can get really spectacular, showing up in huge masses of sudsy stuff that can look like snow.
The more wind, however, the more foam you're apt to see. But a few other elements can send these big phytoplankton events into overdrive, like a phytoplankton bloom – which is sort of a mass birth of the little critters.
“First you have upwelling, which is cold water causing a lot of nutrients coming up,” Hanshumaker said. “When there's a lot nutrients in the water, you have a phytoplankton bloom, diatoms, dinoflagellates – a huge population. Then you have the wind and storms which breaks apart cells, the cell fat tends to glue the skeletons together and trap the air, causing them to pile up in suds-like masses.”
Upwellings in the ocean can change their habits from year to year, causing foam to be a bit different each year. Last year, for instance, winds shifted back and forth from southwest to northwest. This causes foam clumps and spectacular foam events to be rather episodic – meaning on and off. If you have winds more continually from the northwest, this keeps the upwellings around and thus the sea foam sightings as well, Hanshumaker said.
Diatoms tend to be more prevalent in this part of the Pacific Ocean than dinoflagellates. Dinoflagellates are actually the form of phytoplankton that cause glowing sand to happen on the beaches at night (more about glowing sand here). So if you see a lot of sea foam happening, and there hasn't been any rain in the last 24 hours to kill off the dinoflagellates, you're chances of seeing glowing sand is increased some.
Diatoms tend to really let you know when there's a lot of them. All of a sudden, especially in winter and spring, you start to see brown foam in the surf, often on the beaches too. This is caused by huge amounts of diatoms.
This tends to happen up around Seaside, Gearhart and Warrenton in such a heavy-handed way it alarms tourists. Because of the Columbia River, nutrient levels can be so good for diatoms they appear in such large, dark clumps of brown foam that it looks like oil on the beaches, or some brown sludge even. The waves in Seaside can be quite brown at times.
But it's a good thing. In fact, it's the sign of a healthy ocean. The Seaside Aquarium and local tourism officials are forced to field lots of questions about it from tourists and post many signs on the subject as it really freaks people out.
In fact, on many occasions on beaches you'll see dark, brown streaks or spots, or even black spots. That usually is not oil – except maybe on some of the few beaches where driving is allowed, like Pacific City, Gearhart or Warrenton.
Another interesting factoid about these forms of sea foam: what they look like under a microscope.
“Dinoflagellates look like a soap bubble with a tail, or a hook,” Hanshumaker said. “Diatoms have a more symmetrical structure.”
Below, more Oregon coast and photos of sea foam.
Brown waves at Seaside.
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This is our challenge: to move a world of almost 8 billion people, most involved in an economic system with tremendous inequality, a clear imperative to expand, and a chronic tendency to stagnate, toward some real rapprochement with earth. This is a monumental challenge. If nothing else, the Anthropocene idea is the truth of the moment encapsulated as a geological epoch. Yet it explains little of the cause.
The question is how to explore social evolution in order to give insight appropriate to the historical moment. Engage for a moment in an exercise to reveal the complexity of social evolution. Begin with what we know about exponential growth—that it starts out slowly and finishes very rapidly. We are on the upper neck of an exponential flight but the structure and dynamic of this trajectory were in place long before the twentieth century and even long before the present world system (capitalism) took hold. We have to ask ourselves where we mark the inflection point where we entered this present phase of our social evolution. It is important to go beyond the Capitalocene if we are to understand how we ultimately landed where we are.
Let me offer two stylized economic systems in order to highlight something about the complexity of our social evolution as it pertains to this matter. The first is a hunting-and-gathering economic system where homo sapiens lived as minimalists, surplus did not exist, feedback loops prevented expansion, and humans were mostly independent and self-reliant (most could quite literally fend for themselves). Each human had an expansive knowledge of the more-than-human world, and they used that knowledge to garner their material necessities (food, shelter, clothing). One can argue that it was an economic system embedded in the rhythm and dynamic of the more-than-human world and did not have feedback loops of expansion.
Juxtapose this with a second stylized system—call it global capitalism. In this system, humans are not minimalists; they are existentially interdependent (think about assembly line work, global supply chains, and global markets) and are involved in a system dynamic that is expansionary, where surplus takes the form of profit and feeds an endless process of capital accumulation, exploitation, and crisis. There exists a very real duality between this economic system and the more-than-human world that is so pronounced that the economy literally functions as if it is a supra-material system (a system disconnected from earth).
It is not a change in the DNA of homo sapiens that delineates these two entirely distinct systems. The exercise of comparing them highlights the fact that humans are contextual, and so too is their relationship to the more-than-human world. This is a foundational aspect of human social evolution. Context is defined within an economic system. We did not move directly from hunting and gathering to global capitalism, and a cursory look at history reveals that we didn’t have some ideal copasetic relationship with the more-than-human world before the present world system took hold.
If we look at population dynamics and the incidence of ecological collapse, it is clear that the cultivation of annual grains, and the civilizations that rose and fell as a result, mark an inflection point. The transition from hunting and gathering to grain agriculture was a monumental change in our social/economic evolution where the structure and dynamic of economic life became something distinctively different.1 Our economic trajectory was recalibrated with this transition, and so too was our relationship to the more-than-human world. Surplus and expansion; hierarchy; profound material interdependence around the focal point of grain production; and powerful feedback loops between population, grain (energy) production, and division of labor created a structural duality between humans and earth embodied in the agricultural system. The cultivation of grains was not simply a change in the way we secured food but an entirely distinct economic trajectory, an alteration in our social evolution where the economic system became self-referential and expansionary—a distinct whole. Let’s call it an economic superorganism.
The changes in economic order ushered in by capitalism were a matter of degree but not of kind. Capitalism changed the form of surplus and expansion but not the fact of their existence; it altered human-to-human relationships but did not change the fact of enhanced material interdependence (nor the presence of hierarchy); and it drove the wedge of duality between humans and the more-than-human world ever deeper but did not create that duality. An economic inclination established with grain agriculture takes an exaggerated form with capitalism and is magnified further when capitalism is married to fossil fuel. Our economic system is quite literally both a supra-material system (functioning as if it is removed from Earth) and a profoundly earthly matter as our crossing of planetary boundaries demonstrates. From the perspective of social evolution, it is fair to say that capitalism is a system within a system. It is the legacy and apogee of a system change that took hold beginning some 10,000 years ago. 2
We do need a story rooted in social evolution, but unfortunately, there is a complexity that does not relieve us of the problem of seemingly inevitable consequences (determinism), nor an inclination toward techno-fixes, nor grappling with the nagging problem of the necessity of limits and simplicity. In fact, the long arc of social evolution (one that takes us beyond the Capitalocene) leaves us to ponder whether we humans can alter this long-lived system dynamic. It appears that our cultural and institutional inclinations have been accommodating to the impulse established when we made the transition to grain agriculture. Certainly, it is easy to imagine capitalism as a particular institutional variant of surplus and expansion that began with grain agriculture.3
If we take social evolution where it leads, we might entertain the notion that the economic superorganism might be considered a distinct whole in the matrix of our social evolution. Here social evolution takes on a significance that matches the idea of the Anthropocene as a geological epoch. Perhaps more importantly, the idea of the economic superorganism expresses a deeply rooted materialism that is sure to make us uncomfortable because it conjures up determinism. This necessarily leads us to ask this question: Can we change the trajectory of our social evolution now embodied in the present variant of the economic superorganism? We are moved by this question from hubris to humility.
It is inadequate to approach the war between economy and earth solely as a subset of the accumulation of capital and its problem of inequality and exploitation. If we do that, our quest for equality will draw the lines of what is possible ecologically, and we will end up with some vaguely sustainable socialism. That is better than unsustainable capitalism, but we must ask ourselves whether there is real rapprochement with earth in this.
If we are to stop ourselves from crossing a great divide where we lose our now precarious foothold on an earth once abundant with more-than-human life and more-than-human impulses, we must focus on the necessity of limits, the downsizing of the human presence on earth. In short, we are forced to contend with the cumulative impact of humans on earth that began with grain agriculture. We are forced to think more clearly about what it means to take our place as one of many species that inhabit the earth. This focus will expand our strategies for enhancing human well-being to include, for example, the necessities of conservation of the wild and the downsizing of the human population.
1. John Gowdy and Lisi Krall, “The Ultrasocial Origins of the Anthropocene,” Ecological Economics 9 (2013): 137–147.
2. Lisi Krall, “The Economic Legacy of the Holocene,” The Ecological Citizen 2 (2018): 67–76.
3. Lisi Krall, The Great Divide (book manuscript in progress).
Teaser photo credit: By Carlos E. Solivérez – fotografía propia, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1435127 | <urn:uuid:03ca59a0-2370-4bb6-81ec-770e897d3b53> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://www.resilience.org/stories/2021-02-19/the-early-roots-of-a-modern-crisis/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103036363.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20220626010644-20220626040644-00527.warc.gz | en | 0.939446 | 1,652 | 2.65625 | 3 |
What is arachnoiditis?
Arachnoiditis is a rare neurological condition marked by inflammation of the arachnoid. The arachnoid is a lining that surrounds the central nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. In most cases, patients seeking pain management services for arachnoiditis have the condition along the spinal cord. | <urn:uuid:dbf56849-bd4d-4b12-98cb-712ab64cd52b> | CC-MAIN-2018-47 | http://instituteforchronicpain.org/common-conditions/arachnoiditis/itemlist/tag/arachnoiditis | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-47/segments/1542039746465.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20181120150950-20181120172950-00147.warc.gz | en | 0.909872 | 79 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Joseph Chamberlain (July 8, 1836–July 2, 1914) was an influential British businessman, politician, and statesman.
In his early years Chamberlain was a radically minded Liberal Party member, a campaigner for educational reform, and President of the Board of Trade. He later became a Liberal Unionist in alliance with the Conservative Party and was appointed Colonial Secretary. At the end of his career he led the tariff reform campaign. Despite never becoming Prime Minister, he is regarded as one of the most important British politicians of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, as well as a colorful character and renowned orator. As Colonial Secretary, he became known as the "Empire Builder." As Mayor of Birmingham, he pursued policies known as municipal socialism, bringing gas and water supply and garbage disposal under Council ownership. He built libraries, schools, public swimming pools, created parks and was the driving force behind the University of Birmingham, serving as its first Chancellor. The University is a member of the elite Russell Group, an association of the leading 20 research schools in the United Kingdom.
Several monuments honor his legacy in the City of Birmingham. Throughout his political career, Chamberlain was motivated by his Unitarian belief in human dignity and independence and wanted above all to improve the quality of life for the non-elite, opposing privilege based on birth or inherited power.
Two of his sons, Sir Austen Chamberlain winner of the 1925 Nobel Peace Prize and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1919 to 1921) and the future Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain followed him into public service.
Chamberlain was born in Camberwell in London to a successful shoemaker and manufacturer also named Joseph (1796–1874). He was educated at University College School (then still in Euston) between 1850 and 1852, in which he excelled academically, achieving prizes in French and mathematics. The elder Chamberlain was not able to send all his children into higher education, and at the age of 16, Joseph was apprenticed to the Cordwainers' Company and worked for the family business in the making of quality leather shoes. At 18 he was sent to Birmingham to join his uncle's screwmaking business, Nettlefolds (later part of Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds), in which his father had invested. In partnership with Joseph Nettlefold, Chamberlain helped the company become a commercial success. When he retired from the firm in 1874, the company was exporting its products to the United States, Europe, India, Japan, Canada and Australia.
In 1860, Chamberlain met and fell in love with Harriet Kenrick, the daughter of a Unitarian family from Birmingham. They married in July 1861. Beatrice was born in May 1862. Having had a premonition that she would die in childbirth, Harriet gave birth to a son, Joseph Austen, the future Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary in October 1863. Three days later, she died. Gripped with grief, Chamberlain devoted himself to the growing fortunes of Nettlefold and Chamberlain, whilst raising Beatrice and Austen with the Kenrick parents-in-law.
In 1868, Chamberlain married Harriet's cousin, Florence Kenrick, who bore him four children: Arthur Neville in 1869, Ida in 1870, Hilda in 1871, and Ethel in 1873. In 1875, the fifth child was born but mother and child died the next day.
Chamberlain's Unitarian church held a long tradition of social action. His father taught slum children and was active in Unitarian circles. For him, religion was 'the life within the life'. By the mid-1860s, he had become involved in the Liberal party The growth of the Victorian Era industrial cities left thousands of people disenfranchised by existing electoral law. In 1866, Lord John Russell's Liberal administration introduced a Reform Bill, aiming to create 400,000 new voters. Conservatives opposed the Bill for disrupting the social order, while Radicals criticized it for failing to concede the secret ballot or household suffrage. The Bill was defeated and Lord Derby formed a minority Conservative administration. On August 27, 1866, 250,000 people, one of whom was Chamberlain, marched in Birmingham in support of electoral reform. Subsequently, the Conservative government passed a Reform Bill in 1867, nearly doubling the electorate. Chamberlain campaigned on behalf of the Liberal Party in the 1867 election, when the Liberals took power.
That year, Chamberlain helped found the Birmingham Education League which lobbied for more schools in urban areas, where almost half of all school-aged children did not attend school. Chamberlain championed free, compulsory, secular, public education and pointed to the success that the United States and Prussia owed to public education. By 1869, the Birmingham League had evolved into the National Education League, which, by 1870, had more than one hundred branches, mostly in cities and drawing from trades unions and working men's organizations. Chamberlain was also prominent in the local campaign supporting Gladstone's Irish Church Disestablishment Bill against the House of Lords' obstructionism. Chamberlain seconded the motion in support of disestablishment at a debate held at Birmingham town hall, when he attacked the hereditary powers of the House of Lords. He was elected to Birmingham Council November 1869.
The Liberal government put forward proposals for an Elementary Education Bill in January 1870. Chamberlain and many nonconformists opposed the Bills provision of state funding for Church schools, and on 9 March 1870, a delegation from the League, headed by Chamberlain, met with the Prime Minister to voice their objections. During the Bill's second reading, Gladstone agreed to remove church schools from rate-payer to government control. Liberal MPs, exasperated by the compromises in the legislation, voted against the government but the Bill passed with support from the Conservatives. Chamberlain campaigned against the Act, and in particular clause 25, which gave school boards the power to pay the fees of poor children at voluntary schools, which theoretically allowed them to fund church schools. In 1873 a Liberal majority was elected to the Birmingham School Board, with Chamberlain as chairman. Eventually, a compromise was reached with the church component of the School Board agreeing to make payments from rate-payer's money only to schools linked with industrial education.
In November 1873 Chamberlain was elected Mayor of Birmingham. As Mayor, he promoted many civic improvements, creating parks, building schools, libraries and swimming pools combining public and private funding. Many of the city's residents lived in poverty depending on well water, much of which was polluted. One of the reforms that Chamberlain initiated was establishing a city-wide water supply under Council control. The gas supply was at the time controlled by two rival companies, which caused disruption in the service. Chamberlain forcibly purchased both companies and established a municipal gas service. With the city's gas and water supply under municipal control, Chamberlain undertook other schemes with the intention of improving the quality of life in Birmingham. Next he cleared the slums from the city center, rehousing residents in the suburbs. He personally contributed £10,000 to the cost himself. The scheme was expensive but greatly reduced the death-rate in the city The mayoralty helped give Chamberlain stature as a figure of both local and national renown, with contemporaries commenting upon his youthfulness and prominent dress - he wore a black velvet coat, a jaunty eyeglass, and a red neck-tie drawn through a ring. His allies in Birmingham included the Quaker philanthropist, George Cadbury and the advocate of the civic gospel, George Dawson (1821-1876). Voluntary service, public duty, poverty elimination, access to education and local control over services, were central concerns. These men believed that well-run cities that made provision for all citizens could resemble the type of communities in which God desires people to live.
In the 1874 general election, Chamberlain made his first attempt to enter the House of Commons on behalf of a Sheffield offshoot of the Liberal Party. He came third. During the election, he was accused of republicanism and atheism by opponents, who threw dead cats at him on the speaking platform. Then in 1876 a Birmingham seat became vacant, and he was returned unopposed. Almost immediately, Chamberlain began to organize the Radical component in the House of Commons, where he gave his maiden speech during a debate on education on August 4, 1876. On May 31, 1877, Gladstone addressed approximately 30,000 people in Birmingham to found the National Liberal Federation, an alliance of radical Liberals of which Chamberlain served as President. The Federation was designed to tighten party discipline and provide the Liberal Party with the apparatus for fighting the Conservatives in elections, whose party organization was undergoing effective reform. The Federation soon gave him enhanced influence within the Liberal Party as well as a nationwide platform to promote Radicalism .
Oddly for a radical, Chamberlain was not anti-imperialist, although he was critical of Benjamin Disraeli's handling of foreign affairs, arguing that the Conservative government's forward policy diverted attention from the requirements of domestic reform. He was eager to see the protection of British overseas interests, but placed greater emphasis on a conception of justice in the pursuit of such interests. In the 1880 general election, he joined the Liberal denunciations of the Conservative Party’s foreign policy. The National Liberal Federation played an important part in ensuring a Liberal victory, so when Gladstone formed the new government Chamberlain was in a good position to be rewarded with a cabinet position, even though he had only been in the British Parliament for four years.
Gladstone invited Chamberlain on to assume the Presidency of the Board of Trade. Until 1833, Chamberlain was able to achieve little in this office because the Cabinet was preoccupied with difficulties concerning Ireland, Transvaal and Egypt. However, he was able to introduce the Grain Cargoes Bill, for the safer transportation of grain, an Electric Lighting Bill which enabled municipal bodies to establish electricity supplies and a Seaman's Wages Bill, which ensured a fairer system of payment. After 1883, Chamberlain’s period at the Board of Trade was more productive. A Bankruptcy Bill established a Bankruptcy Department at the Board of Trade responsible for enquiring into failed business deals.
In Cabinet, Ireland was of special interest to Chamberlain. When a Home Rule Bill came up for debate, Chamberlain opposed this, reasoning that Ireland's separation from the United Kingdom would lead to the eventual break up of the Empire. Instead of Home Rule, Chamberlain wanted to strengthen local government so that the Irish would have a greater say in the running of their communities. Chamberlain was always supportive of communities exercising a large degree of self governance. In April 1881, Gladstone's government introduced the Irish Land Act, but in response, Parnell, leading the Irish nationalists, encouraged tenants to withhold rents. As a result, Parnell and other leaders, including John Dillon, were imprisoned in Kilmainham Gaol on October 13, 1881. Keen that there should be no more concessions, Chamberlain supported their imprisonment, and used their incarceration to bargain with them in 1882 in an attempt to reconcile them to the government. In the ensuing 'Kilmainham Treaty', the government agreed to release Parnell in return for his cooperation in making the Land Act work. Having brokered the agreement, many including Parnell believed that Chamberlain would be offered a new post but instead Gladstone kept him at the Board of Trade, where his inability to introduce more creative legislation at the Board of Trade was the cause of much frustration. However, he saw the Board of Trade as little more than a stepping stone for the attainment for higher office, seeing the post as a platform for the promotion of Radicalism. Early into the Gladstone ministry, Chamberlain suggested without success that the franchise should be extended, with the Prime Minister arguing that the matter should be deferred until the end of the Parliament's lifespan. In 1884, the parliament passed a major measure of franchise reform, the Reform Act, which gave hundreds of thousands of rural laborers the vote. Chamberlain sought to capture the newly enfranchised voters, and threw himself into a campaign of Radicalism. This took many forms, including public meetings, speeches and notably, articles written in the Fortnightly Review by Chamberlain’s close associates, including Jesse Collings and John Morley. Chamberlain earned a reputation for provocative speeches during the period, especially during debate surrounding the 1884 County Franchise Bill, which was opposed by Conservatives, who argued that the Bill gave the Liberals an unfair electoral advantage. The Conservative leader was prepared to use the powers of the House of Lords in order to block the Bill, much to Chamberlain’s dismay. In July 1885, the Radical Programme, the first campaign handbook in British political history was published, with the preface written by Chamberlain himself. It called for land reform, more direct taxation, free public education, the disestablishment of the Church, universal male suffrage, and more protection for trade unions. Chamberlain resigned from the government on May 20, 1885 when the Cabinet rejected his scheme for the creation of National Councils in England, Scotland and Wales and when a proposed Land Purchase Bill had no provision for the reform of Irish local government. The resignation was not made public, however, on June 9, Gladstone's government itself resigned following a Conservative amendment to the Budget that was passed with the support of the Irish Parliamentary Party.
In the 1885 general election, Chamberlain campaigned on the agenda of the Radical Programme in particular taking up the cause of rural laborers, offering to make smallholdings available to them via funds from local authorities. His campaign proved to be immensely popular, with large crowds gathering to listen to his espousal of the Radical Programme. Two future Prime Ministers, Ramsay MacDonald and David Lloyd George were enthralled by his espousal of Radical policies. The Conservatives denounced Chamberlain as an anarchist, with some even comparing him to Dick Turpin. In October, Chamberlain and William E. Gladstone sought to close ranks and eliminate a number of differences between their respective electoral programs in a meeting at Hawarden. The meeting, although good natured, was largely unproductive.
Gladstone was determined to settle the Irish question by a program of Irish Home Rule. Whilst maintaining a low profile publicly, Chamberlain privately damned Gladstone and the concept of Home Rule to colleagues, believing that maintaining the Conservatives in power for a further year would make the Irish question easier to settle. In January 1886, a Radical-inspired amendment was moved by Collings in the House of Commons which was carried by 79 votes. The Liberals took power, although tellingly, Hartington, Goschen and 18 Liberals had voted with the Conservatives. Gladstone assembled his third administration and offered Chamberlain the Admiralty, a suggestion Chamberlain declined. Gladstone rejected Chamberlain's preference for the Colonial Office and eventually appointed him President of the Local Government Board, a suitable post considering Chamberlain's connections with municipal government. Chamberlain's renewed scheme for National Councils was not discussed in Cabinet, and only on March 13 were Gladstone's proposals for Ireland revealed. A Land Purchase Bill would accompany a Home Rule Bill, and Chamberlain argued that the details of the latter should be made known in order for a fair judgment to be made on the former. When Gladstone stated his intention to give Ireland a separate Parliament with full powers to deal with Irish affairs, Chamberlain resolved to resign, writing to inform Gladstone of his decision two days later. His resignation was made public on March 27, 1886.
Chamberlain was now isolated but on April 9 he spoke against the Irish Home Rule Bill. He was then instrumental in forming the Liberal Unionist Association, originally an ad hoc alliance to demonstrate the unity of anti-Home Rulers. Chamberlain also founded the National Radical Union to rival the National Liberal Federation, which had since slipped from his grasp since many members supported Home Rule. During its second reading on June 8, the Home Rule Bill was defeated by 30 votes, with 93 Liberals, including Chamberlain and Hartington, voting against the government.
A general election was called. Chamberlain now found new allies among both Liberal and Conservatives who supported the Union with Ireland but given Conservative opposition to his radical policies cooperation with them was limited to the Irish question. When a Conservative-Liberal Unionist government was returned, Chamberlain stayed outside, not wishing to alienate his Radical support base. When he took his seat in the new parliament, he was denounced as a "Judas" and a "traitor" from the Liberal benches. Chamberlain refrained from reaching a broader settlement. In January, 1887 Chamberlain took part in a series of Round Table Conferences in which the participants sought to reach an agreement over the Liberal Party’s Irish policy. Chamberlain hoped that an accord would enable him to place a claim to the future leadership of the party. Although a preliminary agreement was reached, Gladstone was unwilling to compromise further, and negotiations withered by March. In August 1887, the PM, Lord Salisbury invited Chamberlain to lead the British delegation in a Joint Commission to resolve a fisheries dispute between the United States and Newfoundland. Chamberlain had grown increasingly disillusioned with politics, but the trip to the United States renewed his enthusiasm, and enhanced his standing vis-à-vis Gladstone. In November, Chamberlain met 23-year-old Mary Endicott, the daughter of U.S. President Grover Cleveland's Secretary of War, William C. Endicott, at a reception at the British legation. Before he left the United States in March 1888, Chamberlain, at age 51, proposed to Mary, whom he married in November 1888. In Mary, Chamberlain found a suitable partner and a faithful supporter of his political ambitions. A portrait of Chamberlain by John Singer Sargent is held by the National Portrait Gallery in London; his portrait of Mary is at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
Meanwhile, the Salisbury ministry was in the process of implementing a number of reforms that satisfied Chamberlain, in that Radicalism was making progress, surprisingly under a Conservative banner. Between 1888 and 1889, democratic County Councils were established in Great Britain. By 1891, measures for the provision of smallholdings had been made, and to Chamberlain's delight, the extension of free, compulsory education to the entire country. Chamberlain's son, Austen also entered the House of Commons having been returned unopposed for East Worcestershire in March 1892. With Gladstone returned to power and singularly unwilling to see Chamberlain back with the Liberal Party and the Liberal Unionists reduced to 47 seats nationwide, a closer relationship with the Conservatives was increasingly necessary. Chamberlain now assumed the leadership of the Liberal Unionists in the House of Commons.
In February 1893, Gladstone again introduced a Home Rule Bill, which despite Chamberlain's opposition passed the House of Commons. The upper house rejected the Bill by a huge margin. With his party split, Gladstone prepared to dissolve Parliament on the issue of the House of Lords' veto, but was compelled to resign in March 1894 by his colleagues, being replaced by Lord Rosebery. Whilst Rosebery put Home Rule on ice, Chamberlain continued to build bridges with the Conservatives, and spoke warily about socialism and the Independent Labour Party, which had one member in the House of Commons. Chamberlain warned of the dangers of socialism in his 1895 play The Game of Politics, characterizing its proponents as the instigators of class conflict. In response to the socialist challenge, he sought to divert the energy of collectivism and use it for the good of Unionism, and continued to propose reforms to the Conservatives. In his 'Memorandum of a Programme for Social Reform' sent to Salisbury in 1894, Chamberlain made a number of suggestions, including old age pensions, the provision of loans to the working class for the purchase of houses, an amendment to the Artisans' Dwellings Act to encourage street improvements, compensation for industrial accidents, cheaper train fares for workers, tighter border controls and shorter working hours. Salisbury was generally sympathetic to the proposals, although somewhat guarded, yet his constructive response demonstrated how far Chamberlain and the Conservative leadership had come in settling the monumental differences that had separated them in the 1880s. On June 21, the Liberal Government was defeated on a motion that criticized the Secretary of State for War, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, for shortages of cordite. Salisbury was invited to form a government, and prepared to include Chamberlain in his Cabinet.
Having agreed to a set of policies, the Conservatives and Liberal Unionists formed a government on June 24, 1895. Salisbury offered four Cabinet posts to Liberal Unionists, including Chamberlain. He was offered any post except the Foreign Office or Leadership of the House of Commons. Instead of choosing a Treasury post of the Home Office, as many expected, he again asked for, and this time was given, the Colonial Office. Amidst European competition for territory and popular sentiment surrounding imperialism, Chamberlain saw the potential of using the Colonial Office as a platform for global prominence. Opportunities were present for the expansion of the British Empire and the reordering of imperial trade and resources. Furthermore, the Colonial Office would provide Chamberlain with the chance of pursuing the ambition of fostering closer relations between Britain and the settler colonies, aiming for the remolding of the empire on federal lines into a family of Anglo-Saxon nations.
With the empire at its zenith, Chamberlain's responsibilities at the department were vast, governing over ten million square miles of territory and 50 million people of exceptional diversity. Believing that positive government action could bind the empire's peoples closer to the crown, Chamberlain stated confidently that "I believe that the British race is the greatest of the governing races that the world has ever seen…It is not enough to occupy great spaces of the world's surface unless you can make the best of them. It is the duty of a landlord to develop his estate." Accordingly, Chamberlain advocated investment in the tropics of Africa, the West Indies and other underdeveloped possessions, a policy which earned him the nickname 'Joseph Africanus' among the press.
He was instrumental in recognizing the need to treat the "new" tropical diseases being brought back by travelers and sailors from the colonies, helping to establish the London School of Tropical Medicine, the world's first centre for the discipline.
While in office, Chamberlain had interactions with M. K. Gandhi at the beginning of his political career. Although Chamberlain appears to have agreed with Gandhi that the treatment of the Indians was inappropriate, he was unwilling to take direct action against discriminatory legislation.
In December, 1895 an incident in Southern Africa led to a Select Committee enquiry into Chamberlain's complicity in an illegal raid by the Cape Colony's private army into the Transvaal. Masterminded by Cecil Rhodes, leader of the colony, the raid's aim was to provoke an Uitlander revolt against Afrikaner domination, resulting in a British take over of South Africa . Chamberlain was sympathetic to this aim but opposed the raid because it breached the Charter of Rhodes' British South Africa Company, and because he did not think that the timing was right. The raid went ahead. When it was alleged that Chamberlain was implicated by cables, an enquiry was held. He was exonerated but the BSAC had to pay compensation to the Boer government.
In July 1885, the United States demanded that Britain submit a border dispute between British Guyana and Venezuela to impartial arbitration, at the request of the Venezuelan government. Chamberlain favored a belligerent approach but Salisbury did not want to provoke the U.S. War seemed to be a real possibility. Agreeing to arbitration by two British, two American and a Russian judge, the matter was eventually resolved with Britain gaining territory but not as much as she claimed. Gold had been discovered in the disputed area. Chamberlain visited the United States in the autumn of 1896 to negotiate with the U.S. Department of State. The discussions were conducted cordially, thereby improving Anglo-American relations, resulting in Britain's pro-U.S. neutrality during the Spanish-American War of 1898.
Chamberlain believed that West Africa had huge economic potential, and shared Salisbury's suspicions of the French, who were manifestly Britain's principal rival in the region. Demonstrating his expansionist credentials, Chamberlain sanctioned the conquest of the Ashanti in 1895, with Colonel Sir Francis Scott successfully occupying Kumasi and annexing the territory to the Gold Coast. Using the emergency funds of the colonies of Lagos, Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast, he ordered the construction of a railway for the newly conquered area. This strategy, however, conflicted with the interests of the Royal Niger Company, which possessed title rights to large stretches of the Niger but which had yet to assume its governing responsibilities in much of the territory. This allowed the French to expand from Dahomey into Bussa in the Niger. Under pressure from Chamberlain, Salisbury sanctioned Sir Edward Monson, leading the British delegation in Paris, to be more assertive in negotiations. The subsequent concessions made by the French encouraged Chamberlain, who arranged for a military force, led by Frederick Lugard, to occupy areas claimed by Britain, thereby undermining French claims in the region. In the risky 'chequerboard' strategy, Lugard's forces occupied territories claimed by the French to counterbalance the establishment of French garrisons in British territory. At times, French and British troops were stationed merely a few yards from each other, heightening the risk of war. In March 1898, the French proposed to settle the issue—Bussa was returned to Britain, and the French were limited to the town of Bona. Chamberlain had successfully imposed British control over the Niger and the inland territories of Sokoto, later fusing them together as Nigeria. He had also demonstrated his ability to influence and alter Salisbury's foreign policy, thereby enhancing his presence in international negotiations.
China had become a testing ground for a new imperial policy which used trade and treaties rather than conquest to extend British interests. In 1897, Britain's dominance in China was threatened when Germany seized Kiaochow and Russia occupied Port Arthur. Some feared a partition of China among the colonial powers, which undermine the country's value as a market for British goods. Salisbury and Chamberlain both recognized the value of maintaining China's integrity. Salisbury preferred a local agreement with Russia to reduce her concern for France in the Mediterranean, while Chamberlain preferred an understanding with another power, using the dramatic term 'alliance'. He first suggested Japan to counterbalance Russia. When the issue was put before the Cabinet early in 1898, Salisbury hoped to keep Port Arthur open to trade by cooperating with the Russians in granting a loan to the Chinese government. Arguing that British naval power could not stop Russia, Chamberlain favored a coordinated policy with the United States and Japan, in which the three powers would demand that any concessions extracted from China by Russia should be shared among the other powers. The Cabinet agreed to the occupation of Weihaiwei, technically leased to Britain, as compensation. Chamberlain saw this as an empty gesture, and contemplated an understanding with Germany, an Anglo-German alliance.
March 29, 1898 Chamberlain met the German Ambassador Count Paul von Hatzfeldt in London for a strictly unofficial conversation about colonial matters and the subject of China. Chamberlain assured von Hatzfeldt by assuring him that Britain and Germany had common interests and that despite some disagreements a defensive alliance should be formulated between the two countries, with specific regards to China. When reported to Berlin, this met with a skeptical response. Cooperation with China was thought more desirable than that of Britain, which had been cited as a potential enemy in recent calls to strengthen the German navy. Hatzfeldt was instructed to ask for colonial concessions from Chamberlain as a precursor to warmer relationships, since Germany wanted to expand its modest overseas empire. Having won nothing concrete, Chamberlain rejected the proposal, thereby terminating the first talks for an Anglo-German alliance.
An 1888 treaty established an Anglo-US-German tripartite protectorate over Samoa, and when King Malietoa Laupepa died in 1898, a contest over the succession ensued, resulting in a civil war. Germany, who supported one of the candidates, wanted the U.S. and Britain to withdraw from Samoa in return for compensation elsewhere, leaving it clear to impose its will. The German candidate, Mataafa, was strongly opposed by the Americans and the British, and civil war broke out. Salisbury rejected a German suggestion that they ask the United States to withdraw from Samoa. Initially, smarting from the dismissal of his alliance proposal with Germany, Chamberlain turned down the suggestion. Then, Salisbury took leave to attend to his ill wife in July 1899. By November, despite his earlier reluctance, Chamberlain reached an agreement with Germany in which Britain withdrew from Samoa in return for Tonga and the Solomon Islands, and the dropping of German claims to British territory in West Africa.
That month, Kaiser Wilhelm II spoke positively about relations with Britain. Chamberlain argued that Britain, Germany and the United States should combine to check France and Russia. Germany's Foreign Secretary, Berhard von Bülow (1849-1929) remained unconvinced that Britain could be much help in the event of a war with Russia, but agreed to make some favorable comments about Britain in the Reichstag in return for Chamberlain offering complimentary remarks about Germany in public. On November 30, Chamberlain grandiloquently spoke about how the new alliance between the Teutonic and Anglo-Saxon races would become an influence for good in the world: "a new Triple Alliance between the Teutonic race and the two great trans-Atlantic branches of the Anglo-Saxon race which would become a potent influence on the future of the world." However, On December 11, when von Bülow spoke in the Reichstag in support of the Second Navy Bill, and made no reference to an understanding with Britain, instead portraying her as a declining nation jealous of Germany. Chamberlain was startled. The German Ambassador was assured by Chamberlain that the Foreign Secretary’s motivation was to fend off opponents in the Reichstag. However, Chamberlain's second attempt to formulate an Anglo-German agreement had been publicly rebuked.
The growing wealth of the Transvaal was the cause of concern to the British government, and in particular, to Chamberlain. Having long wished for the federation of South Africa under the British crown, it appeared that the commercial attraction of the Transvaal would ensure that any future union of Southern African states would be as a Boer-dominated republic outside the British Empire. Chamberlain sought to use the disenfranchised Uitlanders in the Transvaal and Orange Free State as a means by which to bring British domination over the Boer republics. By successfully pushing for Uitlanders' civil rights, British influence in the governance of the Boer republics would markedly increase, thereby warding off the prospect of Afrikaner supremacy in South Africa. Twinned with the strategy of championing the Uitlanders was the steady exertion of military pressure. In April 1897, Chamberlain asked the Cabinet to increase the British garrison in South Africa by three to four thousand men – consequently, the quantity of British forces in the area grew over the next two years. By now, British public opinion fully supported a war in support of the Uitlanders, allowing Chamberlain to successfully press for further troop reinforcements. By the beginning of October 1899, nearly 20,000 British troops were based in the Cape and Natal, with thousands more en route. On October 9, the Transvaal sent an ultimatum demanding that British troops be withdrawn from her frontiers, and that any forces destined for South Africa be turned back. When the British government rejected the ultimatum, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State declared war on October 12.
The early months of the war were disastrous for Britain. Chamberlain was prominent in stiffening the country's resolve amidst the British Army's early defeats by making a number of speeches to reassure the public. Furthermore, he worked to strengthen bonds between Britain and the self-governing colonies, gratefully taking receipt of imperial contingents from Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In particular, the contributions of mounted men from the settler colonies helped fill the British Army's shortfall in mounted infantry, vital in fighting the mobile Boers. Showing further sensitivity to the colonies, Chamberlain steered the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act through the House of Commons, hoping that the newly established federation would adopt a positive attitude towards imperial trade and fighting the war. Chamberlain was the government's foremost figure in the defense of the war's conduct, facing a barrage of abuse from prominent anti-war personalities, including David Lloyd George, a former admirer of the Colonial Secretary. In January 1900 the government faced a vote of censure in the House of Commons over the handling of the war, and Chamberlain conducted the defense. On February 5, Chamberlain spoke effectively in the House of Commons for over an hour whilst referring to very few notes. He defended the war, espoused the virtues of a South African federation and promoted the empire, whilst speaking with a confidentiality which earned him a sympathetic hearing. The vote of censure was subsequently defeated by 213 votes. British fortunes changed after January 1900 with the appointment of Lord Roberts to command British forces in South Africa, who succeeded in annexing the Transvaal September 3, 1900.
An election was called, during which, with Salisbury ill, Chamberlain dominated the Unionist campaign. Salisbury did not speak at all, and Balfour made few public appearances. Fostering a cult of personality, Chamberlain began to refer to himself in the third person as 'the Colonial Secretary', and he ensured that the Boer War featured as the campaign's single issue, arguing that a Liberal victory would lead to defeat in the war in South Africa. Controversy ensued over the use of the phrase "Every seat lost to the government is a seat sold to the Boers" as the Unionists waged a personalized campaign against Liberal critics of the war. Some Liberals also resorted to sharp campaigning practices, with Lloyd George in particular accusing the Chamberlain family of profiteering. Their companies were selling goods to the military. The Unionists won a huge majority in the House of Commons. The mandate was not as comprehensive as Chamberlain had hoped, but satisfactory enough to allow him to pursue his vision for the empire and to strengthen his position in the Unionist alliance. During the campaign, he supported Winston Churchill's candidacy.
Under pressure from Balfour and Queen Victoria, the ailing Salisbury surrendered the seals of the Foreign Office on October 23, whilst remaining as Prime Minister. Chamberlain's importance within the Unionist government grew further still and while the new Foreign Secretary was settling into his post, he took the opportunity to take the lead in British foreign affairs and attempt, yet again, to formulate an agreement with Germany. Victoria herself was now ill. Chamberlain became the last Cabinet minister to see her, when, on January 10 he informed her of the latest events in South Africa. On January 20, Wilhelm II arrived in England to be close to his dying grandmother, a gesture that was to win the affection of his English relatives. On January 22, Queen Victoria died. Amidst the bereavement, the Wilhelm II's regard for Britain increased markedly, making an Anglo-German alliance appear more likely. Wilhelm II was inclined to accept Chamberlain's proposal and sent a telegram to Berlin urging a positive response. The Kaiser neglected to see Chamberlain during his fortnight in England, but did speak about the prospect of a future Anglo-German alliance at Marlborough House on the eve of his departure.
By March, serious talks were in place but the Foreign Secretary, Lord Lansdowne (1845-1927) was now involved, and Chamberlain's role was sidelines. A five-year Anglo-German defensive alliance was proposed, to be ratified by Parliament and the Reichstag. However, Britain's participation would have been reduced to that of a junior partner, which Salisbury opposed. If the Prime Minister's intervention had not signaled the death knell of the alliance conversations, then a public announcement by Chamberlain certainly did. On October 25, 1901, Chamberlain defended the British Army's tactics in South Africa against criticism by the European press, arguing that the conduct of British soldiers was much more respectable than the behavior of troops in the Franco-Prussian War, a statement directed at Germany. The German press was outraged, and when Berhard von Bülow demanded an apology, Chamberlain was unrepentant. With this public dispute, Chamberlain's hopes of an Anglo-German alliance, were finally dashed. Facing denunciation from von Bülow and a torrent of abuse from German newspapers, Chamberlain's credit soared, with the Times commenting that 'Mr. Chamberlain…is at this moment the most popular and trusted man in England.'
Meanwhile, Chamberlain had been negotiating with the French Ambassador with the aim of settling colonial differences. With Chamberlain still seeking to end Britain's diplomatic isolation and the negotiations with Germany having been terminated, a settlement with France was increasingly attractive. Chamberlain had contributed to laying the cornerstone of the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale that would come to full fruition in 1904.
The occupation of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State in 1900 did not subdue the Boers, who waged a guerrilla campaign throughout 1901 until the end of the war in May 1902. The revelation of concentration camps increased pressure on Chamberlain and the government to intervene more effectively—and humanely—in the running of the war. Chamberlain originally questioned the wisdom of establishing the camps. Although he refused to criticize the military in public, he outlined to Milner the importance of making the camps as habitable as possible, asking the Governor-General of the Cape whether he considered medical provisions to be adequate. Chamberlain also stipulated that unhealthy camps should be evacuated, overruling the army where necessary. By 1902, the death rate in the camps had halved, and was soon to drop below the usual mortality rate in rural South Africa. Despite the concerns of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks Beach, at the spiraling costs of the war, Chamberlain maintained his insistence that the Boers be made to surrender unconditionally, and was supported by Salisbury. Whilst Kitchener, commanding British forces in South Africa, was eager to make peace with the Boers, Milner was content to wait until the Boers sought peace terms themselves. In April 1902, Chamberlain insisted upon the loss of independence of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State to Boer negotiators, a term that was accepted. However, the Boers insisted that Cape Afrikaner rebels be given amnesty and that Britain pay the Boer republics' war debts. Chamberlain overrode Milner's objections to accept the proposal, arguing that the financial costs of continuing the war justified the expenditure to relieve the debts of the Boer republics.
Salisbury, in declining health, finally contemplated resignation. The Prime Minister was keen that Balfour, his nephew should succeed him, but realized that Chamberlain's followers felt that the Colonial Secretary had a legitimate claim to the premiership. Chamberlain was the most popular figure in the government. Chamberlain himself was less concerned, assuring Balfour's Private Secretary in February 1902 that 'I have my own work to do and…I shall be quite willing to serve under Balfour.' July 7, 1902, Chamberlain was traveling in a cab from the Colonial Office to the Athenaeum Club when the horse drawing the cab slipped, Chamberlain was thrown out of his seat, and a pane of glass crashed onto his head, causing a deep three-and-a-half inch gash. Dazed, and having lost a pint of blood, Chamberlain was taken to Charing Cross Hospital. Refusing an anesthetic, he had three stitches and left hospital the next day, with a black silk scarf characteristically concealing his bandages. Returning to his house, Chamberlain's doctors told him to stay in bed for two weeks. On July 11, Salisbury went to Buckingham Palace without notifying his Cabinet colleagues and resigned, with the King inviting Balfour to form a new government later that day. Before accepting, Balfour visited Chamberlain's home at Prince's Gardens to consult the Colonial Secretary, who was informed of Salisbury's resignation. Chamberlain was satisfied to acquiesce in the King's choice, for although he had harbored ambitions to occupy Downing Street, he was content with the prominence presented by his post at the Colonial Office, in which he was regarded informally as the 'First Minister of the Empire'.
Chamberlain again clashed with the government over a new Education Bill, which proposed to abolish Britain's 2,568 school boards that were established under W.E. Forster's 1870 Act, bodies that were popular with Nonconformists and Radicals. In their place, Local Education Authorities would administer a state centered system of primary, secondary and technical schools. More controversially, the Bill would use ratepayer's money to support voluntary, Church of England schools. Chamberlain was anxious about the Bill's proposals, aware that they would estrange Nonconformists, Radicals and many Liberal Unionists from the government. However, Chamberlain was in no position to oppose the Bill, owing his position at the head of the empire's governance to the support provided by the Conservatives. Chamberlain warned Robert Morant about the probability of Nonconformist dissent, asking why voluntary schools could not receive funds from the state rather than the rates. In response, Morant argued that the Boer War had drained the Exchequer of finances.
The controversy over the Education Bill imperiled the Liberal Unionist wing of the government, with the prospect of Nonconformist voters switching allegiance to the Liberal Party. Chamberlain sought to stem the feared exodus by securing a major concession – local authorities would be given the discretion over the issue of rate aid to voluntary schools, yet even this was renounced before the guillotining of the Bill and its passage through Parliament in December 1902. Nonconformist opposition followed. Many withheld their rates, and were either imprisoned or had property seized.
December 26, 1902 to February 25, 1903 Chamberlain toured South Africa, seeking to promote Anglo-Afrikaner conciliation and the colonial contribution to the British Empire, and endeavored to personally encounter people in the newly unified South Africa, including those who had so recently been his enemies during the Boer War. During his visit, Chamberlain became convinced that the Boer territories required a period of government under the British crown before being granted self-governance within the empire. In the Cape, Chamberlain found that the Afrikaner Bond was more affable regarding his visit than many members of the English speaking Progressive Party, now under the leadership of Jameson, who called Chamberlain 'the callous devil from Birmingham.' Chamberlain successfully persuaded the Prime Minister, John Gordon Sprigg, to hold elections as soon as possible, a positive step considering the hostile nature of the Cape Parliament since 1899. During the tour, Chamberlain and his wife had visited 29 towns, with the Colonial Secretary delivering 64 speeches and receiving 84 deputations. Chamberlain's visit had contributed somewhat to the reconciliation of the British and the Boers, and had demonstrated the importance Chamberlain placed on South Africa to the British Empire.
Chamberlain made no secret of his desire to see an imperial federation formed on the model of Bismarckian Germany to allow Britain to maintain its global role amidst the growing economic challenge of the United States and Germany. He argued that with the empire consolidated as a single entity, Britain would automatically remain a great power, able to exert its influence in a world where the United States, Germany and Russia were expected to dominate. Essential for Chamberlain's objective was to have a system of preferential trade with the empire, necessitating tariffs on foreign imports coming into the empire. Tariff reform also had domestic objectives, for Chamberlain felt that finances could be generated from tariffs for a scheme of old-age pensions and other social improvements. Such a program would help Chamberlain secure the Unionist's hold on the West Midlands, and enhance Chamberlain's power inside the government still further. Chamberlain prepared to break the Free Trade consensus that had dominated British economics since the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, to be replaced by imperial preference.
In July, the Colonial Conference was convened in London, and whilst it rejected Chamberlain's suggestion that an Imperial Council should be established, it passed a resolution endorsing Imperial Preference. Chamberlain was increasingly confident that his proposals were gathering pace, and he brought the matter before the Cabinet in advance of embarking on his tour of South Africa in December 1902. Problematically for Chamberlain, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, C.T. Ritchie, under the guidance of leading economists such as Sir William Ashley, was vigorously opposed to any scheme of Imperial Preference. Although Ritchie made his opinions known, the Cabinet was generally favorable towards Chamberlain's proposal when it was raised on October 21. In November, the Cabinet agreed, at Chamberlain's prompting, to remit the corn tax in favor of the self governing colonies in the upcoming budget. Having thought that he had gained the agreement of the Cabinet, Chamberlain went to South Africa, whilst Ritchie worked to reverse the Cabinet's earlier decision. In March 1903, before Chamberlain's return, Ritchie asked Balfour to schedule a meeting in order to put the budget before the Cabinet. Balfour refused, and warned Chamberlain, using Austen as an intermediary, of Ritchie's continuing opposition.
Chamberlain was shocked to find on March 17 that the majority of the Cabinet was in agreement with Ritchie, and that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had reversed the decision reached last November. [[[Balfour]] chose not to take sides, but did not oppose Ritchie for fear of losing his Chancellor on the eve of the presentation of the budget. Chamberlain accepted that there was not enough time to debate the matter in Cabinet before the budget, and allowed Ritchie to have his way. Consequently, the Chancellor presented a Free Trade orientated budget to the House of Commons on April 23, during which Chamberlain was completely silent. Whilst Chamberlain had been surprised by the Cabinet's u-turn, the Colonial Secretary prepared to surprise his colleagues in return. On May 15, at the heart of his power base, in Birmingham, Chamberlain insisted that the greatness of the empire could be preserved by introducing a system of Imperial Preference, a matter he hoped would dominate the next general election. His impromptu speech stunned Balfour and the Cabinet, the Prime Minister having just publicly insisted that it was not yet time to implement a policy of Imperial Preference. Furthermore, on May 28, Chamberlain reiterated his challenge to Free Trade orthodoxy in the House of Commons, amidst cheering from many Unionists. Balfour, caught between Free Traders supportive of Ritchie and Tariff Reformers supportive of Chamberlain, hoped to calm the situation by devoting the summer to the question. In public, Balfour professed support for neither side, a stance which attracted much criticism from the opposition Liberal Party.
Balfour successfully stemmed debate on the subject whilst the Board of Trade compiled statistics on the matter. A Cabinet meeting convened August 13 failed to reach an agreement, and a final decision was postponed until September 14. Balfour hoped that Chamberlain would moderate his espousal of tariff reform in order to satisfy the majority of the Cabinet, and particularly the other prominent Liberal Unionist, Devonshire. The Prime Minister was content with the prospect of losing die-hard Free Traders, and prepared a memorandum which contained a number of radical, reforming economic views. September 9, Chamberlain sent a letter of resignation to Balfour, explaining his wish to campaign publicly for Imperial Preference outside the Cabinet. An hour before the Cabinet meeting on September 14, Chamberlain and Balfour reached an agreement, in which Chamberlain would resign and rally public support for Imperial Preference if the Cabinet could not be persuaded to adopt the new policy. Balfour agreed to promote Austen Chamberlain to the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer, who would then speak for his father inside the Cabinet. If the campaign was successful, Balfour could lead the Unionists onto safe electoral ground and give full backing to Imperial Preference at the next general election. When the Cabinet meeting began, having failed to persuade the Cabinet to back his proposals, Chamberlain announced his resignation, but Balfour did not mention his letter to the Cabinet, impressing on many members the belief that Chamberlain was not serious about resigning. The Prime Minister then forced the resignations of Ritchie and Lord Balfour of Burleigh for having submitted memoranda advocating Free Trade. Other resignations followed. When Balfour announced these resignations he included Chamberlain's as well. As a result, the Unionist government lost its most popular public figure and it’s Chancellor, leaving it bereft of heavyweight front-line politicians.
Chamberlain reasserted his authority over the Liberal Unionists and also increased his standing with the Conservative Party when the National Union of Conservative Associations declared majority support for tariff reform. With firm support from provincial Unionism and most of the press, Chamberlain hurled himself into the crusade for tariff reform with unbridled enthusiasm, addressing vast crowds and extolling the virtues of Empire and Imperial Preference, campaigning with the slogan 'Tariff Reform Means Work for All'. On October 6, 1903, Chamberlain opened the campaign with a speech at Glasgow. The newly formed Tariff Reform League received vast funding, allowing it to wage an advanced democratic campaign involving the printing and distribution of large numbers of leaflets and even the playing of Chamberlain's recorded messages to public meetings via gramophone. The most prominent aspect of the campaign was Chamberlain himself, who addressed meetings at all the main industrial centers. At Liverpool on October 27, he was escorted to the Conservative Working Men's Association by mounted police amidst wild cheering. Aiming to enlist the support of the working class, Chamberlain assured his audience that tariff reform ensured low unemployment.
Whilst Chamberlain toured the country, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Herbert Asquith stalked him by preaching the virtues of Free Trade in the same venues that Chamberlain had appeared a few evenings before. To Balfour's benefit, the campaign for tariff reform underwent a brief intermission as Chamberlain's health began to fail. Suffering from gout and neuralgia, Chamberlain took a two month holiday in February 1904. By now, Chamberlain accepted that the Unionists were likely to lose the general election, and criticized Balfour for delaying the inevitable. He wrote to his son Neville that 'The Free Traders are common enemies. We must clear them out of the party & let them disappear.' Chamberlain's attempt in this respect amounted to vigorous local action, and by the end of 1904, the Tariff Reform League's numerous branches were challenging the Conservative National Union. Chamberlain also attempted to secure the Tariff Reform League's representation inside Conservative Central Office. Chamberlain continued to campaign for tariff reform with a zeal and energy remarkable for a man of nearly seventy. Reconciliation appeared imminent when Balfour agreed to call a general election after the 1906 Colonial Conference, in which tariff reform would be discussed. However, threatened by a backbench revolt, Balfour rescinded the agreement and called for party unity. Chamberlain ignored this and intensified his campaign in November 1905, leading directly to Balfour's resignation on 4 December. The Liberal Party leader, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, subsequently took office and dissolved Parliament.
With the Unionists divided and out of favor with many of their former supporters, the Liberal Party won the 1906 general election by a landslide, with the shattered Unionists reduced to just 157 seats in the House of Commons. Whilst Balfour lost his seat in East Manchester, Chamberlain and his followers increased their majorities in the West Midlands. With approximately 102 of the remaining Unionist M.P.'s supportive of Chamberlain, it appeared that he was a favorite to take over the leadership of the Unionists, or at least win a major concession in favor of tariff reform. Although in opposition, it appeared that Chamberlain had successfully pinned the Unionists to the cause of tariff reform, and that Balfour would be compelled to accede to Chamberlain's future demands.
In 1906, Chamberlain celebrated his seventieth birthday and Birmingham was enlivened for a number of days by official luncheons, public addresses, parades, bands and an influx of thousands of congratulatory telegrams. On July 10th, tens of thousands of people crowded into the city while Chamberlain made a passionate speech promoting the virtues of Radicalism and imperialism. On July 13, while dressing in preparation for dinner, he collapsed. His wife, Mary, found the door locked and called out, receiving the weakened having suffered a seriously debilitating stroke that paralyzed his right side. In one swipe, Chamberlain's political career, then at its height, was effectively put to an end.
Although unaffected in mind, Chamberlain's sight had deteriorated, compelling him to wear spectacles instead of his monocle. Furthermore, his ability to read had diminished, leaving Mary with the responsibility of reading him newspapers and letters. He lost the ability to write with his right hand, and his speech altered noticeably. He made his first visit to the House of Commons since his stroke on February 16, 1910, to be sworn in after the recent general election. When Chamberlain arrived, leaning on a stick and Austen's arm, the House was almost empty, and onlookers were shocked to see the decline in Chamberlain's condition as he slowly recited the oath. Having shaken hands with the Speaker, Chamberlain was paired with an absentee from the other side, before departing.
June 30, he suffered a mild heart attack and soon became bedridden. On July 2, he appeared headed for a slight recovery, and Mary read to him the Times article detailing the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Aware of the impending conflagration, Chamberlain stopped his wife from reading on. Later in the afternoon, he suffered a more serious heart attack, and surrounded by his family, he died in his wife's arms.
Telegrams of condolence arrived from across the world.
The offer of an official burial at Westminster Abbey was refused, and a Unitarian funeral ceremony was planned in Birmingham. On July 5, Chamberlain's body was taken to Paddington Station and sent to Birmingham by train. The next day, the coffin was carried through Birmingham's crowded streets to Key Hill Cemetery, where Chamberlain was laid to rest.
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2010–11 Israeli–Palestinian peace talks
Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority have been taking place since September 2010 as part of the peace process, between United States President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The ultimate aim of the direct negotiations is reaching an official "final status settlement" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by implementing a two-state solution, with Israel remaining a Jewish state, and the establishment of a state for the Palestinian people.
In early 2010, Benjamin Netanyahu, imposed a ten month moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank as gesture for the Palestinian Authority, after previously publicly declaring his support for a future Palestinian state, however he insisted that the Palestinians would need to make reciprocal gestures of their own. The Palestinian Authority rejected the gesture as insufficient. Nine month later, direct negotiations between Israel and the PA relaunched, after nearly two years stalemate.
In early September, a coalition of 13 Palestinian factions began a campaign of attacks against Israeli civilians, including a series of drive-by shootings and rocket attacks on Israeli towns, in an attempt to derail and torpedo the ongoing negotiations.
Direct talks broke down in late September 2010 when an Israeli partial moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank expired and Netanyahu refused to extend the freeze unless the Palestinian Authority recognized Israel as a Jewish State, while the Palestinian leadership refused to continue negotiating unless Israel extended the moratorium. The proposal was rejected by the Palestinian leadership, that stressed that the topic on the Jewishness of the state has nothing to do with the building freeze. The decision of Netanyahu on the freeze was criticized by European countries and the United States.
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the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Direct negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government have continued for many decades and remain a complicated issue to resolve.
When President Barack Obama took office in January 2009, he has made peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a top priority of his administration, appointing former Senator George Mitchell as his peace envoy.
In March 2009 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Israel. She said that Israeli settlements and demolition of Arab homes in East Jerusalem were "unhelpful" to the peace process. Clinton also voiced support for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu supports Palestinian self-government but did not explicitly endorse US and Palestinian visions for Palestinian statehood. Upon the arrival of President Obama administration's special envoy, George Mitchell, Netanyahu stated that any resumption of negotiations with the Palestinians will be conditional on the Palestinians recognizing Israel as a Jewish state. So far the Palestinian leadership has rejected a US-backed proposal extending a settlement freeze in exchange for recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, as this issue had not been sufficiently clarified by Israel at that time.
On June 4, 2009 Obama delivered a speech at the Cairo University in Egypt in which Obama addressed the Muslim world. The speech called for a "new beginning" in relations between the Islamic world and the United States. With respect to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the President stated that "the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states" and called upon both Israel and the Palestinians to resume negotiations. In addition, during the speech Obama added that "The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements" as it "undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop."
On June 14, in what was understood as a response Obama's Cairo speech, Netanyahu gave a speech at Bar-Ilan University in which he endorsed, for the first time, a "Demilitarized Palestinian State", after two months of refusing to commit to anything other than a self-ruling autonomy when coming into office. Netanyahu also stated that he would accept a Palestinian state if Jerusalem were to remain the united capital of Israel but open to all religions, the Palestinians would have no military, and the Palestinians would give up their demand for a right of return. He also claimed the right for a "natural growth" in the existing Jewish settlements in the West Bank while their permanent status is up to further negotiation. In general, the address was viewed as a significant turnaround from his previously hawkish positions against the peace process.
On July 12, 2009, Mahmoud Abbas told Egyptian media that he would not cede any part of the West Bank to Israel, that he would demand territorial contiguity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and that he would never waive the Palestinian right of return. In a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama, Abbas demanded that any peace deal be based strictly on the 1967 borders and the Arab Peace Initiative. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat rejected any "middle ground solutions", saying that the Palestinians would reject any deal between the U.S. and Israel that would allow any construction to continue in Israeli settlements.
On 23 August 2009, Netanyahu announced in his weekly cabinet meeting that negotiations with the Palestinians will begin in September 2009 and will be officially launched on his visit to New York, after he had accepted an invitation from President Barack Obama for a "Triple Summit" there. He added that there is progress with special envoy George Mitchell, though there is no full agreement on everything, and there will be more rounds of meetings until September. On the same day, a spokesman for PA President Mahmoud Abbas said there would be no negotiations so long as Israel continued West Bank settlement construction.
On 20 September 2009, the White House announced that it will host a three-way meeting between President Obama, Prime Minister Netanyahu and PA President Mahmoud Abbas, within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly, "in an effort to lay the groundwork for renewed negotiations on Mideast peace." The meeting took place on 22 September, in New York. Afterwards, Netanyahu said that he agreed with Abbas during the meeting that peace talks should be relaunched as soon as possible.
2010-2011 Israel-Palestinian peace talks
On 25 November 2009, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, imposed a 10-month construction freeze on all of its settlements in the West Bank. Calling it "a painful step that will encourage the peace process" and urged the Palestinians to respond. Israel's decision was widely seen as due to pressure from the Obama administration, which urged the sides to seize the opportunity to resume talks. The Palestinian Authority rejected the gesture as being insignificant due to the limited construction on some pre-approved housing units, failure to extend the freeze to East Jerusalem, and failure to dismantle already-built settlement outposts illegal under Israeli law. The Palestinians refused to enter negotiations, despite Israeli appeals to do so.
A partial freeze on construction in East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed in 1980, and regards as its sovereign territory, was imposed under the observation of U.S. consular officials, though not acknowledged by the Israeli government. On 19 July, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu froze a major construction project in Pisgat Ze'ev as a "diplomatic gesture" to the United States. However, some construction continued, and the Obama administration voiced disappointment over the matter, stating that it viewed construction there as a violation of the settlement freeze. On 10 March 2010, Israel approved the construction of 1,600 apartments in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden, sparking a diplomatic crisis between Israel and the United States.
On 10 May 2010, Israel joined the OECD. Previously, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad had written to the organization, urging it to suspend Israel's application, and before the vote, called numerous OECD heads of state to lobby against Israeli membership. Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki also wrote to OECD members that accepting Israel would legitimize its "racist" and "dangerous" policies towards Palestinians.
On 31 May 2010, relations between Israel and the Palestinians were further strained when Israel carried out the Gaza flotilla raid. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that "Israel has committed a massacre", and declared a three-day mourning period. Palestinian official Mustafa Barghouti said that the attack would lead to the international boycott growing in strength, and called Israel "the most despicable state in the world". Prime Minister Salam Fayyad also criticized the attack.
On 8 July 2010, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the Arab League that the Palestinian Authority would abandon peace talks and attack Israel if the Arab states would invade, saying "if you want war, and if all of you will fight Israel, we are in favor. But the Palestinians will not fight alone because they don't have the ability to do it".
A renewed effort to negotiate peace was initiated by the Obama administration by getting the parties involved to agree to direct talks for the first time in a long while. U.S. President Barack Obama was successful in obtaining support for direct talks from Egypt and Jordan. The Egyptian and Jordanian governments managed to persuade the Palestinian leadership to accept Israel's settlement freeze and enter direct talks nine months after the start of the freeze. The aim of the talks was to forge the framework of a final agreement within one year on a two-state solution, although general expectations of a success were fairly low.
On September 2, after ten months and seven rounds of indirect talks that began in November 2009, U.S.-brokered direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority began in Washington D.C. On September 14 a second round of Middle East peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority concluded in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas stated that during the talks, the Palestinian Authority and Israel agreed on the principle of a land swap, with Israel exchanging small parts of its own territory in exchange for border settlement blocs. The issue of the ratio of land Israel would give to the Palestinians in exchange for keeping border settlement blocs was an issue of dispute, with the Palestinians demanding that the ratio be 1:1, and Israel offering less.
During the direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Hamas and Hezbollah reaffirmed to threat peace talks if both sides were matriculated towards any possible agreement. A Hamas-led coalition of 13 Palestinian militant groups initiated a violent campaign to disrupt peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. A series of attacks killed and wounded eight Israelis, including two pregnant women, between August and September 2010. Israeli and Palestinian Authority security forces responded with raids that resulted in the deaths and arrests of militants involved in the attacks. Rocket and mortar attacks from the Hamas-run Gaza Strip also increased in September.
On September 21, 2010 Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad stormed out of a meeting in New York, which was held as part of the ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meetings, and canceled a scheduled joint press conference with the Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon following Ayalon's demand that the meeting summary refer to the notion of "two states for two peoples", meaning Israel as a Jewish state alongside a Palestinian state, rather than a Palestinian state alongside a bi-national Israel. Ayalon later commented on the event, stating: "What I say is that if the Palestinians are not willing to talk about two states for two peoples, let alone a Jewish state for Israel, then there's nothing to talk about", and that "if the Palestinians think that they can create one Palestinian state and one dual-nationality state, this will not happen".
President Obama indicated in a speech to the United Nations he held on September 23, 2010 that he was hopeful of a diplomatic peace within one year. Contrary to popular belief, Israel did not boycott the speech, but did not attend due to the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
As the Israeli 10-month freeze on settlement construction was nearing its expiration date on September 26, Mahmoud Abbas stated that he would abandon the negotiations if settlement construction was renewed. He said "Israel has a moratorium for 10 months and it should be extended for three to four months more to give peace a chance." In the view of the Palestinian Authority leadership, Israeli construction of settlements constitutes Israel's imposition of "facts on the ground" in the West Bank, and is a violation of international law. See generally, International law and Israeli settlements
On September 22, the Knesset passed a law requiring a public referendum and the votes of at least 60 Knesset members ahead of any withdrawal from East Jerusalem or the Golan Heights. The law was criticized by the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League.
On September 25, a day before the Israeli settlement freeze's expiration, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claimed in the United Nations General Assembly that Israeli settlements were a key issue, stating that "Israel must choose between peace and the continuation of settlements". The United States pushed Israel to extend the settlement freeze.
Despite Palestinian and international pressure to extend the Israeli 10 month moratorium in construction of new Israeli settlement homes in the West Bank, on September 26 the ten-month settlement freeze expired at 22.00 (GMT). Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on West Bank settlers to "show restraint" following the end of the freeze. Several Israeli right-wing politicians called for a swift resumption of construction, and backed settlers' plans to resume building as soon as possible.
Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli Foreign Minister and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, rebuffed claims that the renewal of West Bank settlement construction was a provocative move meant to torpedo the peace talks. Lieberman said the Palestinians failed to accept the gesture of the moratorium for nine months and "now they are pressuring Israel to continue the very freeze they rejected." Lieberman said Israel was ready to enter peace talks with no preconditions. Lieberman also ruled out that a Palestinian state will be established in the coming of two years.
The rejection to extend the moratorium was harshly criticized worldwide. Abbas stated that Netanyahu cannot be trusted as a 'genuine' peace negotiator if the freeze is not extended.
On October 2, 2010 the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that peace negotiations will not continue until Israel imposes a new freeze for the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, thus putting an de facto halt to the current Israel-Palestine peace negotiations.
On October 4, 2010, Netanyahu stated that the Israelis were working behind the scenes with the United States to resolve the issues and resume talks. Israeli sources had said that this would involve a 60 day extension of the freeze. Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren said that the United States had offered Israel "incentives" for an extension of the freeze.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath accepted a US proposal to extend the West Bank settlement freeze by another two months. Sha'ath said the Palestinians accept such a limited extension provided the two sides can reach an agreement on the borders between Israel and a future Palestine in those two months.
After a meeting in Libya on 8 October 2010, the Arab League leaders announce their support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's decision to stop peace talks with Israel over the expiration of the 10 month Israeli moratorium on construction in the West Bank. The Arab League also stated that it would give the United States another month to persuade Israel to renew the settlement moratorium and that "The committee will convene again in a month to study the alternatives".
On 11 October 2010, during a speech at the opening of the third session of the 18th Knesset, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a settlement freeze if the Palestinian Authority would declare its recognition of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. The Palestinian Authority quickly rejected Netanyahu's proposal and stated that the issue of the Jewishness of the state has nothing to do with the matter. The proposal was immediately rejected by the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian President Abbas said that "We will never sign an agreement recognizing a Jewish state", and Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that Palestinian President Abbas stressed that he would never sign an agreement recognizing Israel as a Jewish state". Speaking on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat stated on October 11 that the PA "forcefully reject all these Israeli games. The racist demands of Netanyahu cannot be tied to the request to cease building in the settlements for the purpose of establishing a state." Palestinian negotiators announced that their recognition of the Jewish state would undermine the rights of Israeli-Arabs, and eliminate the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees to Israel proper.
On 13 October 2010 Yasser Abed Rabbo, the secretary general of the PLO, stated in a press statement that the PLO would recognize Israel as a "Jewish state" in exchange for a sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders which would include East Jerusalem stating that "Any formulation the Americans present – even asking us to call Israel the 'Chinese State' – we will agree to it, as long as we receive the 1967 borders. We have recognized Israel in the past, but Israel has not recognized the Palestinian state." Abed Rabbo's statements were immediately disowned by the Palestinian political factions, mainly because his remark were viewed as conceding the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees to Israel proper. The Fatah movement called for Abed Rabbo's immediate resignation. Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath dismissed Abed Rabbo's statements and claimed that "Abed Rabbo's statements don't represent the views of the PLO or Fatah movement or President Abbas". In addition, the Hamas government in Gaza called for the immediate resignation of Abed Rabbo.
In November 2010, the U.S. government offered Israel a package of incentives in exchange for an agreement by the Israeli government to a 90-day freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank excluding East Jerusalem. The centerpiece of the deal was a military aid package worth $3 billion, including delivery of 20 additional F-35s,various missile and layered defense systems, and an explicit acceptance of the legitimacy of existing security needs and a commitment not to redefine them. In addition to security provisions, the proposed incentive package also included a U.S. promise to veto any U.N. Security Council resolution relating to the peace process during the agreed upon negotiating period and a guarantee that the U.S. would not ask Israel to extend the 90-day moratorium when it expired. The Security Cabinet of Israel considered the offer. Former Ambassador Dan Kurtzer, commenting on the deal said: "But now, the administration says it is prepared to pay off Israel to freeze only some of its settlement activity, and only temporarily. For the first time in memory, the United States is poised to reward Israel for its bad behavior." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the U.S. freeze proposal, as it did not include East Jerusalem, while Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat reiterated demands for unconditional recognition of the 1967 borders, and for withdrawal from all of East Jerusalem.
On December 2, a Palestinian official announced that Washington had officially informed the PA that Israel had refused to agree to a new settlement freeze.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak tried to restart negotiations by imposing a de facto settlement freeze by blocking building plans in the West Bank settlements. Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman threatened to sue Barak.
According to Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, a senior Palestinian negotiator who spoke at a conference hosted by the Brookings Institution's Doha Center, the Palestinian leadesrship used the cessation of direct talks to adopt a new strategy with the goal of declaring an independent state of Palestine. The initial step of this strategy was to ask the international community to recognize an independent Palestine along 1967 borders, to which the achieved some success in late 2010 and early 2011. Several Latin American countries recognized the State of Palestine, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Uruguay. This was met with fierce opposition from Israel, which claimed that early recognition was a violation of the Road Map.
In January 2011, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman proposed an interim peace deal, in which a Palestinian state would be established initially on 50% of the West Bank, with final borders to be negotiated at a later date. The proposal was rejected by the Palestinians, with Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat claiming that Lieberman's plan represented Prime Minister Netanyahu's position as well, stating "the Israeli government is not headed towards peace, because it is not interested in peace, and this plan is proof of that".
In February 2011, Israel offered to ease economic and security restrictions against the Palestinians, which reportedly included allowing additional Arab construction in East Jerusalem, giving the Palestinian Authority security control in seven West Bank cities, and discussing a proposed Palestinian Authority gas field alongside an Israeli one off the coast of Gaza, on condition that the Palestinian Authority resume direct talks. The proposal was agreed to by Middle East Quartet chief Tony Blair, and rejected by the Palestinians. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the Israeli proposal "just a trick and procrastination", stating that "what Netanyahu should do, if he wants to build confidence, is immediately stop settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and recognize a Palestinian state on the territories occupied in 1967", called on Western nations to "stop dealing with Israel as if it is above the law", and "reach a historic decision that will recognize a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital", and urged the Quartet to force Israel to halt settlement construction "including in Jerusalem". The following day, Israel approved the construction of 13 additional Jewish homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.
Shortly afterward, the Palestinian Authority announced an initiative to United Nations to recognize Hebron and Bethlehem as world heritage sites rather than Jewish heritage sites to prevent "Judaization". PA officials told local media that they hoped such recognition would stop the growth of Jewish settlements in the cities. Turkey assisted the initiative by providing archived Ottoman documents showing various sites in the two cities under Muslim rule. Researchers from Lebanon and Italy have also supported the initiative.
On 12 February 2011, Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat announced his resignation over the Palestine Papers scandal, which purportedly showed that he had agreed to wide-ranging concessions to Israel on the issues of Jerusalem, refugees, borders, and Israeli security, while still insisting that the documents were false.
On 18 February 2011, the United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council Resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice indicated in her remarks that the purpose of the U.S. veto was to demonstrate the Obama administration's intention that "the only way to reach that common goal [of peace] is through direct negotiations." This was met with mixed reactions by the Israeli and Palestinian leadership, as Netanyahu stated Israel's appreciation of the veto, while the Palestinian Authority condemned the U.S. for its "bias".
In March 2011, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly considered a temporary peace deal that would see a Palestinian state established within provisional borders, with future borders negotiated at a later date, due to the Palestinians' refusal to negotiate. On March 3, the Palestinians rejected the idea, with official Saleh Ra'fat saying that the PLO's position is unchangeable, and President Abbas calling it "unacceptable".
Following the impasse in negotiations, the Palestinian Authority announced that unless a deal was reached by September 2011, it would unilaterally declare independence, seek recognition by the United Nations, and apply for membership in the organization. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas claimed that this new state would be ready to negotiate all the core issues, and that a key focus would be finding a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194. The Palestinian Authority subsequently refused to reenter negotiations or reconsider its plans for a declaration of statehood until Israel froze all settlement construction and agreed to a solution based on the 1967 borders. PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo claimed that the new Palestinian state would not tolerate an Israeli military and civilian presence on its land, and would seek UN intervention.
In April 2011, Fatah and Hamas signed a unity agreement, and announced plans to form a joint government. Israel responded by temporarily freezing the transfer of customs funds Israel collects for the Palestinian Authority, but released them following guarantees that the money would not go to Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the Palestinian Authority that it would have to choose between peace with Israel or peace with Hamas.
Abbas accepted a French offer to host peace talks by July 2011. A few days later, US Republican congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced plans to introduce legislation that would withhold US contributions to any UN entity that recognizes a Palestinian state or upgrades the status of the PLO observer mission. She claimed that this was in order to "oppose efforts by the Palestinian leadership to evade a negotiated settlement with Israel."
In July 2011, the Quartet on the Middle East convened, but did not come out with a statement. Israeli officials disclosed that the Quartet was unable to reach a statement following the Palestinians' refusal to accept clauses in the planned statement calling on the Palestinian Authority to withdraw its plans for a unilateral declaration of independence in September, to halt all demands from Israel once a two-state solution was reached, end incitement against Israel, or recognize it as a Jewish state.
In May 2012, Abbas reiterated his readiness to engage with the Israelis if they propose "anything promising or positive".
|This section requires expansion. (January 2011)|
The reactions of the Israeli public
In May 2011, a poll of 500 Israelis, commissioned by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, found that 77% opposed going back to pre-'67 lines; that 85% and 75%, respectively, supported keeping all of Jerusalem under Israeli control within the framework of any peace agreement and opposed transferring the Temple Mount to Palestinian control, even if the Western Wall were to remain in Israeli hands; that 84% believed Israel must maintain control of the Jordan Valley, even in the framework of a final peace agreement; that 60% believed that defensible borders would ensure security more than a peace agreement would; and 82% considered security concerns more important than a peace deal.
The reactions of the Palestinian public
A 2011 poll found that 61% of Palestinians opposed and 34% supported the idea of "two states for two peoples." Some 66% agreed with the two-state solution, but only as a first step to the elimination of Israel. Though quotes in the Hamas Charter urging the elimination of Israel were found to be highly supported, most Palestinians supported idea of peace talks over violence.
On 29 October 2010, tens of thousands of Islamic Jihad supporters participated in a demonstration in Gaza City's Kuteiba Square against the negotiations and making peace with Israel. The rally was organized by Islamic Jihad and enjoyed the participation of its rival, Hamas. Demonstrators shouted "Death to America and Death to Israel". Islamic Jihad chief Ramadan Shallah sent a recorded message saying that "Israel will not bring peace to the region, it will only bring war and destruction and therefore, the slogan of all should be that Israel must be wiped out of existence," and "The choice of negotiation has reached deadlock, and we are wondering why is there such an insistence by the Palestinian Authority on negotiation with the enemy [i.e., Israel]". Another leader, Mohammad al-Hindi, called for an end to the Palestinian Authority, and said, "Jihad is the fate of this nation. There is no other option but this one". Other Islamic Jihad officials said the turnout was a "referendum by the Palestinian people rejecting peace-making with Israel." Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya said, "There is only the choice of Jihad and nothing else".
- 2010 Palestinian militancy campaign
- Peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- 2013 Israeli–Palestinian peace talks
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|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in 2010.| | <urn:uuid:c280efd0-580e-4ea1-ad3e-4c38756845af> | CC-MAIN-2015-14 | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_negotiations_between_Israel_and_the_Palestinians_(2010-2011) | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-14/segments/1427131299360.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20150323172139-00259-ip-10-168-14-71.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927471 | 8,748 | 2.90625 | 3 |
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Resource hub: British values
Schools have a duty to promote British values
All schools are expected to promote British values as part of the requirement to provide for the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils.
Guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) says that British values include:
- The rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
We've brought together information to help you meet this requirement.
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Evidence-led training courses that make it easy to upskill staff, anytime, anywhere.
CPD Toolkit is the most effective way to virtually deliver evidence-led training and support the professional development of your staff. Downloadable courses and online 5-minute summaries provide flexibility for training, whether staff are participating as skeleton staff in-school, via video call or individually at their own pace.
The Key has taken great care in publishing this article. However, some of the article's content and information may come from or link to third party sources whose quality, relevance, accuracy, completeness, currency and reliability we do not guarantee. Accordingly, we will not be held liable for any use of or reliance placed on this article's content or the links or downloads it provides. This article may contain information sourced from public sector bodies and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. | <urn:uuid:5f88afc1-3989-464c-afd6-d1a95b053de4> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/curriculum-and-learning/british-values/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655902496.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20200710015901-20200710045901-00287.warc.gz | en | 0.932118 | 305 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Perú: Drought in Peru Andes proves fatal for alpacas, potato crops
PUNO, Peru – A drought in the Peruvian Andes has ravaged alpaca flocks and withered potato crops, forcing the government to declare a state of emergency on Saturday for 60 days in more than 100 districts.
An Andean woman walks next to Alpacas in the Quechua community of Lagunillas in Puno, southern Peru, on December 2, 2022. The harsh drought in the Peruvian Andes has caused the death of animals such as alpacas and affected crops and the economy of local communities. It has forced the Peruvian government to declare a 60-day emergency in 111 districts of the region. Juan Carlos CISNEROS / AFP
Hardest hit are rural communities in the Arequipa and Puno departments in Peru’s southern region, where the government decreed a state of emergency “due to imminent danger from water shortage.”
The national weather service, Senamhi, described the drought as one of the worst in the past half century, exacerbated by the offshore La Nina weather phenomenon in the central Pacific Ocean.
“November 2022 was one of the driest (months) in the last 58 years in various weather stations in the Andean region,” Senamhi reported.
Andean hamlets for Quechua- and Aymara-speaking indigenous groups have faced critical losses of crops and livestock herds.
“For lack of forage and water, the alpacas are dying. My alpacas have died,” Isabel Bellido, an alpaca farmer, told AFP from her mountain home in Lagunillas near Puno, a regional capital at 4,200 meters (12,550 feet) in elevation some 850 kilometers (530 miles) southeast of Lima.
Carlos Pacheco, a veterinarian and expert in llamas and alpacas, said a worst-case scenario would be for the drought to endure.
“The animals are already underweight, and there is no pasture,” he said.
At high altitude in the Andes, temperatures can drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus four degrees Fahrenheit), and cause mass deaths of sheep and alpacas, vital to the subsistence of dwellers in mountain hamlets.
– Divine supplication –
In the winter of 2015, an estimated 170,000 alpacas died from extreme cold and drought in Peru.
Local press reports say hundreds of alpaca crias, or babies, and lambs have already died this year.
Shallow lakes have dried up, leaving only scattered puddles, as in the case of the Parihuanas Lagoon near Lagunillas.
In the neighboring Santa Lucia district, the Collpacocha Lagoon has completely disappeared, leaving only a cracked mud lake bed.
Near Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable inland sea in the world at 3,812 meters in elevation, the inhabitants of the Aymara-speaking village of Ichu appeal to a higher authority to end the drought.
They have taken out the venerated Catholic figure of Our Lady of the Cloud in a procession through the fields to plead for the first time in years for holy intervention to bring rain.
“We’ve planted our crops in the customary way but the potatoes aren’t sprouting because of the intense heat. It is worrisome,” said Daniel Ccama, a community leader in Ichu.
“Let the rains come Father Jesus. Don’t punish us father,” the procession participants chanted in their native Aymara. | <urn:uuid:644fec58-341b-41ab-9ad3-5641b8f76306> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://argenpapa.com.ar/noticia/12780-peru-drought-in-peru-andes-proves-fatal-for-alpacas-potato-crops | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945248.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20230324051147-20230324081147-00153.warc.gz | en | 0.911863 | 811 | 2.984375 | 3 |
An important article, regarding Lung Health, was published this week on the US Department of Labor Blog. We offer it below in it’s entirety and hope that you will read this important information. The original post can be found here
Lung Health — A Workers Issue by Secretary of Labor Tom Perez
Workers should never have to worry that the air they breathe on the job will slowly destroy their lungs. Yet in too many cases, that risk is still all too real at U.S. workplaces.
Occupational lung disease is slow, debilitating and lethal. A construction worker, stone cutter, foundry worker or coal miner inhales tiny bits of dust that penetrate the lungs and slowly causes them to scar over. It may be decades before health problems develop, from shortness of breath to dependency on oxygen tanks. After a lifetime of hard work, instead of a comfortable retirement, so many workers confront a grim reality: although occupational lung diseases are preventable, they are often incurable.
During Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, we recognize that lung health is a workers’ issue − and that diseases like silicosis, pneumoconiosis (black lung), chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer still devastate the lives of too many workers and their families every year.
At the Labor Department, we are making progress toward reducing and preventing the occupational risks of cancer and other lung ailments. Occupationally caused lung disease is preventable − reducing the amount of dust in the air by wetting it down or vacuuming it up. Proper use of respirators can prevent workers from inhaling whatever dust is left in the air. OSHA has also proposed rules to better protect workers from the hazards of beryllium and silica.
OSHA’s silica proposal is the product of more than 75 years of work by the department, ever since Secretary Frances Perkins raised the issue of silicosis way back in the 1930s. We have gone to great lengths to gather stakeholder comments, even holding 14 days of public hearings in 2014, and we are working hard on a final rule that incorporates that input and protects workers’ lungs.
Similarly, the beryllium proposal would dramatically lower the amount of beryllium allowed in the air that workers breathe. The current allowable amount was based on research from the 1940s, before the risks of long-term exposure were understood.
We know the beryllium and silica rules will make a huge difference when they are finalized, and our work on black lung disease can serve as a model for successful rulemaking in this space. Black lung is a chronic, irreversible occupational lung disease, linked to more than 76,000 deaths since 1968 and caused by the inhalation of dangerous levels of respirable coal dust by miners. Decades of work culminated in a final regulation that limits miners’ exposure to the dust.
When I visited West Virginia with Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Joe Main to announce the rule in April of 2014, I was moved by the stories of miners who could no longer play ball with their grandkids, who struggled just to walk to the end of the driveway to get the mail, who must spend their lives tethered to an oxygen tank. But because of our rule, we are seeing meaningful progress. In fact, since it went into effect over a year ago, coal mine sampling data indicate a 99 percent compliance rate by the mining industry. The next and critical phase of the rule will implement improved monitoring and include a cutting edge, real-time monitoring device developed in partnership with industry.
Tens of thousands of people have died from lung disease contracted at work. Many more have their lives diminished by its devastating symptoms. To honor them, and to prevent others from meeting the same fate, the Department of Labor will continue doing everything possible to reduce dangerous dust in the air that American workers breathe. | <urn:uuid:4746d5a2-305a-4d83-8ef8-4a1a189d5923> | CC-MAIN-2019-13 | https://www.cleanairco.com/news-and-events/lung-health-a-workers-issue/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-13/segments/1552912202635.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20190322054710-20190322080710-00270.warc.gz | en | 0.9643 | 792 | 2.59375 | 3 |
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Permeable pavement is a porous urban surface which catches precipitation and surface runoff, storing it in the reservoir while slowly allowing it to infiltrate into the soil below. This study will evaluate how well different types of permeable pavement reduces the amount of pollutants and runoff volume.
Urbanization of the landscape has an appreciable negative impact on the quantity and quality of runoff water entering our lakes and streams (Davis, 2005; Wang and others, 2001; Williamson, 1993). By replacing natural land covers (like grasslands and forests) with impervious surfaces (like parking lots and streets), we lose the water retaining role of the soil and vegetation. Increased runoff from impervious surfaces causes dangerous floods, severe erosion damage to our stream channels, diminished recharge of groundwater, and degraded habitat for our fisheries. These same impervious surfaces can transport the many pollutants deposited in urban areas, such as nutrients, sediment, bacteria, pesticides, and chloride. In the worst cases, the amount of pollutants in urban runoff are high enough to prevent us from being able to swim or fish in our local waters.
Efforts to reduce the impacts of urban runoff have been happening for some time at federal, state, and local levels. The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law that regulates the quality of the nation’s water bodies. The CWA, through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, establishes pollution limits for anyone discharging into streams and lakes, including cities. In Wisconsin, NPDES permits are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) which identify performance standards and limits for things like peak flow, runoff volume, phosphorus, and total suspended solids. As part of their permit, each city must prepare a management plan to meet these prescribed limits by implementing best management practices (BMPs). BMPs are practices, treatments, and technologies that can alleviate one or more if these negative effects. Permeable pavement is one of these BMPs that is believed to improve water quality and reduce the impacts of urban runoff.
What is Permeable Pavement?Permeable pavement is a porous urban surface composed of open pore pavers, concrete, or asphalt with an underlying stone reservoir. Permeable pavement catches precipitation and surface runoff, storing it in the reservoir while slowly allowing it to infiltrate into the soil below or discharge via a drain tile. The most common uses of permeable pavement are parking lots, low-traffic roads, sidewalks, and driveways.
What are the Potential Benefits of Permeable Pavement?General hydrologic benefits
Concerns People Have About Using Permeable PavementHere are some of the concerns and questions about permeable pavement:
Durability – Will permeable pavement last as long as traditional pavement?
Upkeep and maintenance – Permeable pavement can clog with sediment and pollutants, reducing its permeability and beneficial productivity.
Water quality – How much pollutant reduction can be expected? Of particular interest, low reductions have been observed for nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen). This concern has two implications:
Temperature – What temperature reductions can be expected with permeable pavement?
Residence time – How long does the runoff need to stay in the storage layer to adequately treat the runoff?
Model accuracy – How well can existing urban runoff models predict the water quality benefits of permeable pavement?
Purpose of this study
We hope to determine the levels of volume and pollutant reduction achieved by permeable pavement by testing three different types of pavement (fig. 2). The following are the specific objectives:
A small portion of green space, adjacent to the overflow parking lot serving the Madison Streets Division’s East Office, in Madison, Wis., has been designated as the study location (fig. 3 and 4). The white study area shown in figure 4 is split equally into three smaller study plots, each receiving similar volumes of runoff from the adjacent parking lot. These plots will test three types of pavement: permeable pavers, permeable concrete, and permeable asphalt (fig. 5). Each plot is equipped with instrumentation to measure reductions in runoff volume (water quantity) and pollutants (water quality).
Measuring Water Quantity
Runoff from the parking lot flows toward an existing curb cut, which is equipped with a calibrated flume. Runoff enters the flume and drains into a concrete structure that divides the runoff into three equal portions, each draining to one of the three test plots (fig. 5). The runoff either infiltrates into the permeable subsurface or exits the plot as overflow runoff. Each test plot is lined with an impermeable membrane, which captures and routes infiltrated runoff through a buried drain tile (fig. 6). Runoff that does not infiltrate into the permeable surface is captured by an overflow surface grate. The test plots are constructed to prevent cross-contamination from adjacent test plots and surrounding soils.
Both the drain tile and surface grate are routed into a monitoring facility, where the volume of infiltrated and overflow runoff is captured separately (fig. 7). The monitoring facility accurately measures all inputs and outputs of water using calibrated flumes.
Measuring Water Quality
Water-quality samples will be collected from seven locations:
Water-quality samples will be tested at the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene, a certified USGS analytical laboratory. Samples will be tested for concentrations of the following pollutants:
Ancillary data will also be collected, including, but not limited to: precipitation, sand/salt application during winter months, runoff temperature at depth, and a record of maintenance.
This permeable pavement test site will be operated and maintained through 2018.
Davis, A.P., 2005, Green engineering principles promote low-impact development: Environmental Science and Technology, A-pages, v. 39, no. 16, p. 338A–344A.
Houle, K., Roseen, R., Ballestero, T., Briggs, J., and Houle, J., 2009, Examinations of Pervious Concrete and Porous Asphalt Pavements Performance for Stormwater Management in Northern Climates: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009: p. 1–18.
Roseen, R., Ballestero, T., Houle, J., Briggs, J., and Houle, K., 2012, Water Quality and Hydrologic Performance of a Porous Asphalt Pavement as a Storm-Water Treatment Strategy in a Cold Climate: Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 138, no. 1, p. 81–89.
Wang, L., Lyons, J., Kanehl, P., and Bannerman, R., 2001, Impacts of urbanization on stream habitat and fish across multiple spatial scales: Environmental Management, v. 28, no. 2, p. 255–266.
Williamson, R. B., 1993, Urban runoff data book: a manual for the preliminary evaluation of urban stormwater impacts on water quality. Water Quality Centre, Ecosystems Division, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
Below are publications associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project. | <urn:uuid:7a6d3cb3-c774-400b-bb17-63aa5f7c3563> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://www.usgs.gov/centers/upper-midwest-water-science-center/science/evaluating-potential-benefits-permeable-pavement | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320300289.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20220117031001-20220117061001-00317.warc.gz | en | 0.897111 | 1,573 | 3.65625 | 4 |
Created: 12/11/2013 12:20 PM KAALtv.com
As more and more people adopt bicycles in urban areas to avoid terrible car traffic, give the environment a break, and get a workout during their commute, bicycle commuting is also becoming more dangerous. Heavy traffic on the roads combined with poor separation and safety measures for bikers can turn some roads into extreme hazard zones, making cyclists think twice about what should be routine trips.
That's why eyes in a growing number of cities are turning to protected bike lanes, which shelter cyclists from traffic with the use of dividers like curbs, posts, bollards, or lanes of parked traffic, along with using special lights just for bikers. In Chicago, the Dearborn Street bike lane was just named Number One in the US for 2013, a remarkable achievement -- although some cyclists say the city can still do better.
Since this experiment with a protected lane has worked so well, it's safe to bet that Chicago concrete contractors will be hearing from the city as it works on more bicycle safety projects to make the city more pleasant for its two-wheelers.View original post. | <urn:uuid:8b39f499-90fd-4030-9ca2-e006da2d1d04> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S3244494.shtml?cat=12577 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609533689.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005213-00553-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962131 | 234 | 2.84375 | 3 |
What is Red Light Therapy?
Though it is has been in existence for nearly six decades and used in other applications, such as by astronauts to grow plants in space, red light therapy is now being explored as a non-invasive way to treat a number of skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis.
Unlike other forms of phototherapy, which rely on blue or UV rays, red light therapy
(also known as or photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy – LLLT ), uses light
waves in the red and infrared spectrum. This frequency stimulates cellular energy
production and promotes healing without damaging the skin or cells.
According to a study published in the Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery
journal, red light therapy has been used in medical applications to reduce pain and
inflammation as well as promote tissue regeneration in treating scars and wounds.
After reviewing the improvements shown in these medical applications, dermatologists
started using it for cosmetic purposes, including reducing wrinkles, fine lines and
treating inflammatory acne. While there are other forms of phototherapy already in use for treating psoriasis and eczema, researchers are wondering if there are medical benefits to using red light therapy for these conditions.
How is it Different From Blue Light Therapy?
One of the biggest differences between the two types of phototherapy is wave
frequency. UV light has a much faster frequency than red and infrared light, which has a much
longer, slower wave that puts it at the visible end of the light spectrum.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, traditional phototherapy is prescribed
by a doctor and typically requires exposing skin to UV light. There are two types of UV
light: UVA, which is ineffective in the treatment of psoriasis unless it’s combined with
psoralen, a light-sensitive medication, and UVB, which is the primary type of light used
in prescription phototherapy. Both types of light also occur naturally in sunlight.
A similar approach is used in the treatment of eczema, according to the National
Eczema Foundation, which notes that existing UV therapy is effective in relieving
symptoms in about 70 percent of patients.
Red light therapy differs in that the wavelengths are absorbed by the skin in an attempt
to stimulate regenerative effects at the cellular level. This is a different approach than
UV light, which is used to slow the growth of affected skin cells. Depending on the
actual frequency, the light can be used to target the skin or absorb deeper into the body,
which is why it’s sometimes used to treat joint pain and aid in muscle recovery.
The Future of Light Therapy for Eczema and Psoriasis: Could Red Light Therapy Become a Doctor-Recommended Treatment Option?
There are known side effects of UV light therapy, including the possibility of a
sunburn-like reaction, blistering, premature aging and increased risk of skin cancer. The
side effects are typically weighed against the effectiveness of the treatment for psoriasis
At this time, there is limited research on the side effects of red light therapy for eczema and psoriasis.
Red light therapy has not received Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment
of eczema or psoriasis. You might see red light therapy treatments available through wellness centers, gyms, and spas, but it is not intended to treat eczema or psoriasis.
Could red light therapy be a treatment option for eczema or psoriasis? That’s a discussion for you and your physician or dermatologist. Currently, it is not, but with more research, it could become a light therapy option to treat eczema or psoriasis.
Please note: We do not endorse or recommend any treatments, services or diagnosis, whether specifically or generally. Professional health advice should be sought in relation to all health and treatment decisions. | <urn:uuid:e528d5cb-e1bc-47c4-b954-cd4f4c688f4b> | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | https://mg217.com/blog/what-is-red-light-therapy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964358786.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20211129164711-20211129194711-00498.warc.gz | en | 0.938335 | 817 | 2.6875 | 3 |
The importance of teaching the narrative of the Bible
I recently came across a Key Stage 3 RE textbook about the Bible, which is popular in the independent sector. The opening two pages offered an informative, useful overview of the creation story in Genesis 1. However, my optimism about the book began to diminish as I turned the page to find a double page spread on fossil fuels, over-fishing and environmental pressure groups – the rationale being that it provided an ‘application’ of the creation story.
This approach of alternating a double page about a Bible story with a double page on a contemporary issue continued throughout the book. The biblical account of the Fall of Humanity was followed by an article from a local newspaper about vandalism. The Ten Commandments led into a study of prisons, capital punishment and human rights. The story of King David sleeping with Bathsheba and murdering her husband Uriah preceded modern abuses of power such as Robert Maxwell’s embezzlement of company money and Harold Shipman’s murders. The Israelites worship of idols was simply followed by a full-page photo of David and Victoria Beckham with the accompanying title, ‘Why are we fascinated by celebrities?’
Using Bible stories as a departure point for exploring a vaguely linked modern social issue disrupts any sense of biblical narrative and misrepresents both the Bible, by presenting it as merely an ethical handbook for modern day living, and also Christians as those who simply cherry pick Bible passages, in order to find answers to complex moral questions. Furthermore, by making a religious story or idea the route into a moral issue, or lens through which a moral issue is looked at, there is a danger that pupils are subtly directed towards specific attitudes, values or ideas about it. This use of religion as part of a character formation agenda understandably leaves RE vulnerable to serious criticisms.
Underlying this approach, there also seems to be a simplistic and damaging conflation of relevance with both that which is modern, and also that which pupils already know and experience. Yet, if the same pupils can learn about forces in Physics, compounds in chemistry, river processes in Geography and the feudal system in History without lengthy detours to supposedly more engaging modern issues, do they really need such an approach in order to engage with something as provocative as religion?
When studying the Old Testament at Key Stage 3, pupils should explore the characters, events and narrative and build a cumulative understanding of recurring concepts like covenant, sacrifice, sin, faith and the nature of God and humanity. They should consider the historical, social and religious context in which the texts were written and understood, and how understandings of them have been challenged, critiqued and changed through history.
This is not to say that a well-judged analogy or contemporary reference isn’t a valuable teaching tool in helping to build a bridge between a pupil’s experience and new, unfamiliar ideas. However, this is different to building a bridge from religion to a tenuously related modern issue, thereby limiting the time spent studying religious material, and potential depth of engagement with it. In this second approach, the focus on modern issues seems a sort of apology for the subject matter, leading to poor pupil perception of the subject’s relative rigour and value.
The study of religion is relevant to young people because it broadens the horizons of their knowledge through access to a rich landscape of unfamiliar, challenging ideas. It is relevant because knowledge of religion is necessary in order to understand our history, culture and language. It is relevant because religion remains a powerful force in the modern world. It is relevant because it helps us to understand the lives of human beings, the majority of whom are religious.
RE teachers are fortunate; what more provocative, timeless and truly relevant subject matter we could be given to teach about than religion, I do not know. We need intelligent and creative thinking about how to teach young people about it, not to teach them about something else instead. It is at the peril of the subject and of young people’s ability to make sense of the world they inhabit, that we disregard this very thing that makes RE both distinctive and valuable. | <urn:uuid:6bed0e93-7052-4c32-ad5d-88f6898c4011> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | https://www.tes.com/news/blog/importance-teaching-narrative-bible-0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988718866.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183838-00064-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960628 | 847 | 3.375 | 3 |
University of Utah
5:30 pm social hour
7:00 pm presentation
Laird Thompson will explore the tectonic history of the Coos Bay Basin in southwestern Oregon and what it can tell us about the larger tectonic history of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The Coos Bay Basin overlies the southwestern margin of ‘Siletzia’, an accreted mass of marine basalt that forms the basement rock beneath western Oregon and Washington. Fault and fracture patterns within the Coos Bay Basin are visible in rock outcrops, lidar, gravity, and geologic maps. These patterns record four phases of tectonic deformation associated with the clockwise rotation of Oregon and the northward transport of Siletzia. This talk will build on material presented by Ray Wells in his visit to COGS in May of 2018.
Central Oregon Geoscience Society
P.O. Box 2154, Bend, Oregon 97709 | <urn:uuid:24003dd0-a195-4db7-86ad-cb2762397932> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://www.cogeosoc.org/event-4592780 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474544.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20240224180245-20240224210245-00766.warc.gz | en | 0.880765 | 196 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Instead, periodontitis and gingivitis are almost like separate diseases, and gingivitis may never actually develop into periodontitis, but new research may help us develop new tests to tell the difference.
Understanding the Difference: Gingivitis vs. Periodontitis
Both gingivitis and periodontitis are forms of gum disease. Gingivitis is a relatively minor form that can be harmless if properly controlled. Gingivitis is characterized by swelling gums, tender gums, red gums, and bleeding gums. If left untreated, it can lead to gum recession, but is rarely associated with tooth loss.
Periodontitis, on the other hand, is a form of gum disease characterized by an aggressive attack on the spaces between the gums and the teeth. The pockets around the teeth become deeper and deeper as bacteria and then your body’s immune system attack gums, bones, and the periodontal ligaments that hold your teeth in place. Teeth become loose, and, if they’re not treated, they can be lost.
Completely Different Ecologies
As we often see people with gingivitis develop periodontitis if their gum disease isn’t treated, it’s natural to presume that untreated gingivitis naturally worsens into periodontitis. But that doesn’t explain why for some people the progression seems to happen very quickly, while for other people the progression takes a long time or, possibly, never happens at all.
There are explanations for why this happens, though. One of the explanations recently received support from researchers who traveled from many countries to study oral infections in Malawi. They discovered that periodontitis and gingivitis actually have completely different ecologies. That is, they are made up of different populations of oral bacteria, which create different environments and exploiting different resources. These researchers have identified certain types of bacteria that were found in people with periodontitis, but not in those with gingivitis. They claim that it’s these different species that are responsible for the change, and that tests for these bacteria could help detect and treat periodontitis.
But Maybe It’s Not That Simple
It would be nice to believe that it’s exposure to certain types of bacteria that causes periodontitis rather than gingivitis. That would make control of periodontitis as simple as infection control. Stop the spread of these certain bacteria and we can stop the spread of gum disease. Unfortunately, it’s probably not going to be that easy.
There are many questions remaining about periodontitis. Like for example, why some relatively harmless bacteria sometimes have a symbiotic relationship with some very dangerous ones. And why some people’s bodies have a pyrrhic response to gum disease, destroying as much or more bone than the bacteria themselves. And what makes some people’s mouths hospitable to these bad bacteria in the first place. These questions remain unanswered, and they mean that it will likely be a long time before we are able to have a good test for periodontitis before we see its damaging effects.
Perio Protect Can Help Combat Gum Disease
Fortunately, when periodontitis surfaces, Perio Protect can help eliminate it. Perio Protect uses a special system to deliver antibacterial medication even below the gum line. This is a noninvasive way to keep gum disease under control so you can save yourself the discomfort of an invasive gum procedure–and save your teeth. It’s an excellent supplement to your regular oral hygiene and dentist visits.
If you are currently battling gum disease and want to learn more about the benefits of Perio Protect in Columbus, OH, please call (614) 848-5001 today for an appointment with dentist Mike Firouzian at the Center for Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. | <urn:uuid:5e6e5379-b757-4501-a3d1-d9fadf34be96> | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | https://www.columbuscosmeticdental.com/blog/periodontitis-isnt-just-advanced-gum-disease/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550247479101.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20190215183319-20190215205319-00483.warc.gz | en | 0.934213 | 798 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Watercress is a trailing perennial vegetable of European origin with dark green peppery leaves. Plants usually grow in water. If you're fortunate enough to have a stream running through your garden, you can grow watercress on the bank. You can also grow it indoors in pots set in a tray of water. Watercress adds a kick to salad recipes and makes a popular garnish. It's full of vitamin C and minerals.
Common Name: Watercress
Scientific Name: Nasturtium officinale
Hardiness: Hardy (may survive first frost)
In the next section, we'll show you how to grow your own watercress. | <urn:uuid:80a35522-7c30-4040-bf26-d49bd97ef546> | CC-MAIN-2016-07 | http://home.howstuffworks.com/watercress.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-07/segments/1454701162035.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20160205193922-00233-ip-10-236-182-209.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918476 | 137 | 2.984375 | 3 |
New Documents on the Two Koreas and the Third World
The North Korea International Documentation Project has recently obtained and translated more than sixty documents from Romanian and Hungarian archives on the struggle between North Korea and South Korea to gain diplomatic recognition from countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The documents are being made available to students, researchers, and interested readers through a collection entitled The Two Koreas and the Third World on the Wilson Center Digital Archive as part of a broader project on the history of inter-Korean relations supported by the ROK Ministry of Unification.
The inter-Korean struggle took on global dimensions in the late 1970s and early 1980s following the failure of the inter-Korean dialogue (see the collections on the Inter-Korean Dialogue, 1971-1972 and the Demise of Detente in Korea, 1973-1975 for further information). Both Koreas sought allies and supporters across the globe and particularly among countries active in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). In exchange for diplomatic recognition, North Korea and South Korea often provided economic aid, technical assistance, and military support to countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Some of the key findings revealed in the documents include:
- Pakistan sought to purchase arms and other weapons from North Korea, while the DPRK attempted to use a summit meeting between Kim Il Sung and Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq to obtain support for North Korea vis-a-vis South Korea in the Non-Aligned Movement;
- North Korea not only liaisoned closely with Eygpt on developments in the Arab-Israeli Conflict, but the DPRK also trained Egyptian pilots during the October 1973 War or the Yom Kippur War;
- South Korea and North Korea competed for diplomatic recognition and support from Iran;
- Military delegations from countries such as Uganda and Libya visited North Korea, requesting that the DPRK train and arm soldiers;
- North Korea's training programs in and support for Ethiopia allegedly frustrated the Soviet Union, whose own assistance to Ethiopia was being overshadowed by that of the DPRK;
- South Korea provided doctors to Gabon for free, while North Korea, attempting to counter ROK maneuvers, offered to build a statue of Gabonese President Omar Bongo;
- The Central African Empire veered back and forth between North Korea and South Korea, attempting to extract as much economic aid and technical assistance as possible from both countries.
- DPRK Vice-President Gang Ryang-uk visited Nigeria, Iran, India, and Bangladesh, while Vice-President Pak Seong-cheol paid visits to Pakistan, Iraq, and Syria;
To explore the documents, click here to be redirected to the collection The Two Koreas and the Third World on the Wilson Center Digital Archive.
The translation of these documents and others has been generously supported by the ROK Ministry of Unification. | <urn:uuid:261afba4-0cb6-41ed-a8de-80a22dc5ea0c> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://wilsoncenter.org/article/new-documents-the-two-koreas-and-the-third-world | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500812662.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021332-00413-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929742 | 589 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Versioning is for editing in a multi-user environment. Replication is for replicating your data in a multi-database environment. They are two very different things.
In a multi-user environment the versioning is used to enable handling of conflicts where two (or more) editors may have edited the same feature. It gives the abililty to choose the correct edit when pushing those changes back to the default live version - what everyone else sees. Versions are not a copy of the data, rather the database keeps track of edits (creation, edit, deletion) and when these edits are posted, they are reconciled and updated in the default live version.
Replication is used to copy your data out to other databases - these may be in other locations, or just on the other side of a firewall. If users need to edit features in a replica then usually versioning is used to handle those edits, particularly as edits may also be coming in from other locations.
In our office we use both replication and versioning. Versioning because we have 10-20 users in the organisation that edit features across hundreds of feature classes. Replication because we push all our data through to a cloud server environment which is then made available on the web or in apps over the internet. Some editing also takes place via these apps, and are replicated back to our internal server environment.
Both versioning and replication require ArcGIS Standard or Advanced licenses. | <urn:uuid:ebbd7edc-1d5a-4a09-8484-686662020437> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/212509/what-is-diffrent-between-version-replica-in-arcgis-geodatabase | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030334514.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20220925035541-20220925065541-00134.warc.gz | en | 0.917993 | 296 | 2.5625 | 3 |
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. vifabio collects the most important internet sources together for you.
You will find more biological web resources in our Internet Guide - a catalogue of annotated and evaluated internet sites.
The database provides detailed information on 670 agroforestry tree species in order to help field workers and researchers in selecting appropriate species for agroforestry systems and technologies. For each species, the database includes information on identity, ecology and distribution, propagation and management, functional uses, pests and diseases and a bibliography. ... [Information of the supplier]
The Forest Plots Database was designed to provide a permanent repository for forest inventory data. The objectives of the database are: to enable network participants to access and manage their data online in a secure environment; to integrate and standardize forest plot data, to promote data sharing among the scientific community; and, to provide access to publicly available forest inventory data. The database is a web-accessible secure repository, collected as part of the RAINFOR, AFRITRON and TROBIT networks. If you are interested in becoming a user and having access to publicly available plots of the Forest Plots Database please email the admin. ... [Information of the supplier, modified]
The Forestry Compendium is a unique global compilation of knowledge on forestry. Being a dynamic multimedia encyclopaedia, the Compendium has a comprehensive, worldwide coverage on tropical, subtropical, temperate and boreal tree species of major economic importance, and lesser-known species of local importance. It now also covers in detail many of the pests that damage these trees. It is a reference tool, which provides a basis for informed selection of woody species for a variety of uses, including for trials in plantation, agroforestry and natural forest systems. ... [Information of the supplier, modified]
The release of Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 6 (RFK6) represents another significant milestone in the development of this information system for identifying and learning about plants in Australian tropical rainforests. Each edition of the system since 1971 has made significant advances in the coverage of plant groups, the numbers of species included, the effectiveness of the identification system, and in the utilisation of current technology. The aim of this new edition is to make identifications possible and easier, and make taxonomic information accessible to the wider scientific community and the population as a whole. Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 6 includes 2553 species in 175 families, and has attempted to include all flowering plant species present in rainforest of northern Australia in the following life forms: trees, shrubs, vines, forbs, grasses and sedges, epiphytes, palms and pandans. Some species are not yet included, primarily due to lack of specimens for coding features. Several new features have been added in response to user feedback and to facilitate the identification of the additional life forms. ... [Information of the supplier]
The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program of the U.S. Forest Service provides the information needed to assess America's forests. As the Nation's continuous forest census, our program projects how forests are likely to appear 10 to 50 years from now. This enables us to evaluate whether current forest management practices are sustainable in the long run and to assess whether current policies will allow the next generation to enjoy America's forests as we do today. ... [Information of the supplier]
...mangrove ecosystems; (2) To disseminate worldwide the information stored in the Database; (3) To focus on the functioning...
...-Ökosysteme zu erstellen; (2) die Informationen aus der Datenbank weltweit zugänglich zu machen; (3) den Blick auf die...
The Environmental Data Explorer is the authoritative source for data sets used by UNEP and its partners in the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) report and other integrated environment assessments. Its online database holds more than 500 different variables, as national, subregional, regional and global statistics or as geospatial data sets (maps), covering themes like Freshwater, Population, Forests, Emissions, Climate, Disasters, Health and GDP. Display them on-the-fly as maps, graphs, data tables or download the data in different formats. ... [Information of the supplier] | <urn:uuid:e5212bc5-aed2-4738-ac98-df8a7d6acaa1> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | http://www.vifabio.de/iyof2011/?v0=577.3%20OR%20577.34%20OR%20578.73%20OR%20581.73%20OR%20591.73%20OR%20333.75&o2=OR&f2=2&v2=2011%5E0.3&fq=ftype:B5&search=1&lang=en | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267864337.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20180622010629-20180622030629-00353.warc.gz | en | 0.881182 | 916 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Creating bar graphs
A vertical or horizontal bar graph is used to display discrete data in separate columns. Bar graphs compare amounts to each other and can suggest trends in the data. They have the advantage of being visually strong, and if you add additional series, they make it easy to compare the multiple columns representing data values to each other.
- Click the View menu, point to Graphs, then click Create.
Click the Graph type drop-down arrow and select the Bar type.
The procedure for vertical and horizontal bar graphs is similar. The main difference is that, for vertical bar graphs, the Value field's values are distributed along the x (horizontal) axis, and for horizontal, bars are distributed along the y (vertical) axis.
- Click the Layer/Table drop-down arrow and choose the layer or table containing the data values that are to be graphed.
Click the Value field drop-down arrow and choose the data field to graph.
The wizard shows the initial version of the graph.
The bars of the graph are initially in the order of the data values in the source table. Change the order of the bars based on another field using the X field parameter.
For example, you have a table with both economic (GDP) and demographic (population) fields. If you set Value field to the GDP and leave X field as the default, <None>, the bars are sorted based on the order of the data values of the GDP in the table. But if you then set X field to a population field and the type to Ascending, the bars are sorted with the least populous country on the left side of the graph and subsequent bars for countries with increasing population.
- Specify a different field with which to label the bars in the graph in X label field, commonly a text (string) field.
- Set properties of the label axes in the Vertical axis and Horizontal axis drop-down menus.
- By default, the values of the input data are added to the legend of the graph. Uncheck the Add to legend check boxto disable this.
Check the Show labels (marks) check box to see the bars in the graph labeled with their actual values.
This is useful when there are bars of similar values, where the small difference in bar height may not be easily seen.
Use the Color and Bar style controls to change the appearance of the bars in the graph.
There are 13 bar styles available for you to choose; however, you might want to exercise some caution when choosing a style other than the default rectangle style. Styles such as the pyramid, inverted arrow, or bevel can be distracting and make it difficult to interpret the information presented in the graph. The term "chart junk" is often associated with distracting or difficult-to-interpret styles used on graphs.
Tufte, E. R., The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Graphics Press, 1983.
If you have more than one series, click the Multiple bar type control to change how the bars for those series display together.
The bars for different series can be displayed in several ways: side by side or stacked on top of each other.
- Use the Bar size (%) control to make the bars wider or thinner to your preference.
- Click Show border to draw a perimeter box around each bar in the graph.
- Click Next to proceed to the general properties page to complete your graph. | <urn:uuid:3f0b5db9-f902-40b1-a43a-c858c3d452df> | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/0033/00330000000m000000.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550247486480.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20190218114622-20190218140622-00104.warc.gz | en | 0.856223 | 704 | 3.59375 | 4 |
Salvia Apiana is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, being found mainly in the coastal sage scrub habitat of Southern California and Baja California, on the western edges of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. White sage is considered sacred by many Native Americans; it is used to make smudge sticks, that is used "to smoke" a space. White sage is believed to cleanse a space of any evil spirits or 'negative' energies that may be present. This power is said to be released from the plant by the burning of the leaves, which are typically bundled into a wand or stick. In addition to being practiced among many Native American tribes the practice of burning white sage for smudging has also been adopted by several modern spiritual/magical traditions. | <urn:uuid:9d8d7500-8963-42b9-af9f-e81f08b2cd88> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | https://themysticdream.com/products/white-sage-bundle-medium | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794864968.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20180522205620-20180522225620-00429.warc.gz | en | 0.958999 | 156 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Heart attack damage to the heart is typically permanent. However, researchers have invented a new procedure for fixing the cardiac muscle after a heart attack by transporting gene silencers directly to the heart muscle. The gene silencers tone down the genes that promote healing.
In a new study that involves pigs, a pig’s heart closely resembles a human’s heart, and the new treatment showed an increase in cardiac function and cell growth post-heart attack.
The Significance of the Study
The heart may mend itself and repair its tissue, but at a sloth’s pace, which is why it usually can’t fix the significant damage caused by a heart attack. Therefore, scar tissue grows after a heart attack instead of functional muscle tissue.
In five years after the first heart attack, 20% of those 45 and older will have another heart attack.
The Hippo Signalling Pathway
The Hippo signalling pathway controls cell growth and cell death in people and animals, and it is in control of organ size. So, for example, it will become more active when people have a heart attack, stopping the heart from healing.
Yet, briefly shutting off the Hippo signalling pathway in mice with hearts that mimic human heart attacks will let them recover, and their hearts start pumping blood again.
People who suffer from a heart attack have minimal therapy options. As of now, it has been next to impossible to repair heart muscles in humans following heart failure, no matter the amount of knowledge and technology.
The Pig’s Heart
Pig hearts are a great model for examining the human heart.
A study done through the Texas Heart Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, and Science Translational Medicine looked at two groups of pig’s heart function after a heart attack.
The researchers had given the first group gene therapy to turn off the Hippo signalling pathway, and the other group was left active.
They discovered that the pigs who received the therapy had more heart functionality than those who didn’t.
The pigs that were given the therapy had a 14.3% increase in their circulation of the left ventricle. Also, there was some heart muscle growth. They also were shown to have much less scarring than untreated pigs.
Human Trials for Gene Therapy Heart Study
The pigs who received the gene therapy increased their heart function and showed that their cardiomyocytes worked again. They also had less scarring, and they had formed new blood vessels.
In addition, the gene therapy was shown to be safe since the pigs tolerated the treatment very well.
The trials bring researchers one step closer to trying gene therapy in human studies. | <urn:uuid:af580300-cf0a-42b7-971c-5f5afb6cc41d> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://minddebris.com/heart-attack/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320300722.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20220118032342-20220118062342-00529.warc.gz | en | 0.959661 | 548 | 3.328125 | 3 |
According to a recent report by University Of Minnesota’s Minnesota Population Center’s Integrated Public Use Microdata Series, a career as a truck driver is among the most popular nationwide, and has been since the late 1970s. Using data from the Current Population Survey, the project, referred to as IPUMS-CPS, is dedicated to integrating and disseminating data, with goals to collect and preserve data and documentation.
After the report was published, National Public Radio’s program Planet Money looked over the data and wondered, what’s with all the truck drivers? There are a few reasons, they discovered.
The first reason is that, as an occupation, driving a truck has not fallen prey to the biggest trends affecting U.S. jobs: globalization and automation. While driving may eventually become automated, it still requires a human being behind the wheel to get from point A to point B. But it’s also a question of when a truck driver isn’t a truck driver: In other words, for the sake of brevity, the government lumps all truck drivers into one category. So a truck driver could be a delivery driver for UPS or a grocery delivery service, rather than a long-haul or intermodal truck driver.
If, after considering these facts, you still question how there could be so many truck drivers, especially in light of the current driver shortage, you’re not alone. Yahoo Finance points out several questionable conclusions in the NPR report. NPR’s analysis eliminates several categories, namely “salespersons not elsewhere classified” which includes retail workers; it also neglects to consider part-time workers. If part-time workers had been included, schoolteachers become one of the most common jobs in many states; overall, retail salespeople and cashiers were actually the two largest occupations in the U.S. in 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Despite arriving at questionable conclusions, the report does benefit the industry by casting a favorable light on the driving trucks as a viable and popular career choice. And with demand for truck drivers forecast to nearly double over the next decade—from 1.44 million on the road in 2014 to 2.76 million in 2022, according to BLS—every bit of good PR helps. | <urn:uuid:dc57f5ae-5825-44b4-b7cb-83a58ed66b89> | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | https://calhountrucklines.com/whats-with-all-the-truck-drivers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703527224.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20210121163356-20210121193356-00453.warc.gz | en | 0.967028 | 479 | 2.59375 | 3 |
When Galaxies Collide
Astronomers have used the Hubble Space Telescope to work out when precisely our Milky Way Galaxy will crash into its neighbor, Andromeda. The pair are being pulled together by their mutual gravity and the scientists expect them to begin to merge in about four billion years’ time. A further two billion years on and they will appear as a single entity.
Our Sun’s position will be disturbed but the star and its planets are in little danger of being destroyed. Viewed from Earth, however, the night sky should look fairly spectacular. That is assuming, of course, that a human species is still around billions of years into the future to look upwards. | <urn:uuid:072e1f94-5e85-4b2a-818d-9b07a7ac6c23> | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | https://metanexus.net/when-galaxies-collide/?shared=email&msg=fail | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578716619.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20190425094105-20190425120105-00224.warc.gz | en | 0.964017 | 138 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Garnet- and sillimanite-bearing quartzofeldspathic gneiss and granofels form a septum at McClures Beach between the tonalite (Kgd) of Tomales Point and the granodiorite and granite of Inverness Ridge (Kgr) (Ross, 1977, 1978 referenced in Clark and Blake). There are text-book examples of cross-cutting relationships on bedrock exposures exposed in the beach south of the path down to the beach and abundant examples of large boulders with a wide variety of examples running from granitics to gneisses and almost everything in between. These tend to be best exposed during the winter period.
The Granitics (from Clark and Blake)
(Kgd) Tonalite of Tomales Point -- Hornblende-biotite tonalite that contains dark diorite inclusions forms the basement of Tomales Point. This rock is lithologically similar to the tonalite that crops out at Bodega Head about 10 km to the north, and both are probably part of the same granitic mass (Ross, 1978). K-Ar dating of hornblende in the tonalite of Bodega Head yields an age of 94.3 Ma (Late Cretaceous) (Evernden and Kistler, 1970; recalculated using new constants in Dalrymple, 1979).Other McClures Beach items of interest
(Kgr) Granodiorite and granite of Inverness Ridge -- Granodiorite and granite are exposed along Inverness Ridge, where dikes and masses of aplite and alaskite are locally abundant. The granodiorite has 2 to 12 percent biotite and hornblende, about 30 percent quartz, 25 to 35 percent K-feldspar, and the remainder plagioclase. Chemically, it is about 70 percent Si02, 15 percent Al203, 2.6 percent Fe0, 2.8 percent Ca0, 3.3 percent Na20, and 3.4 percent K20 (from Ross in Clark and others, 1984; and Ross, 1984). K-Ar dating of biotite in this granodiorite gives an age of 82.0 Ma (Late Cretaceous) (Curtis and others, 1958; recalculated using new constants in Dalrymple, 1979), and fisson-track dating of sphene from this rock yields ages of 82.7 ± 6.9 and 86.8 ± 7.4 Ma (Late Cretaceous) (Naeser and Ross, 1976).
The Quaternary dune deposits are visible from the path to the beach. Slope modifications by gopher activity is very evident as is the impact on erosion being generated by the expanding Tule Elk population in this area. Winter wave concentration of black sands can be common on the beach. The sands here apppear to be almost entirely locally derived and can contrast dramatically to the Franciscan chert-rich beaches to the south.Back to Pt Reyes Metamorphics Page
Back to Pt Reyes Granitics Page
Back to the Pt Reyes Geology Homepage | <urn:uuid:8029274f-bf22-42ea-bc77-9d7d290ee7f4> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://www.marin.edu/~jim/ring/ptreyes/mcclures.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500811391.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021331-00432-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.887071 | 656 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Vertigo, nausea, headache, fatigue, confusion. For years someone close to me has experienced severe and periodic bouts of these symptoms. It’s clear something is wrong and yet, despite countless tests and visits with specialists in cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology, pulmonology, otolaryngology, and immunology, no one has been able to figure out what that something is. At one of his last appointments – to the great disappointment of this patient and (perhaps even more so) his worried and frustrated wife – my loved one was gently told that he may have to face the very real possibility that he’ll never get a definitive diagnosis.
Unfortunately, this patient is far from alone: Plenty of people are living with mysterious symptoms that affect their quality of life (or worse), and it’s not uncommon for patients with rare diseases to have waited years for their diagnosis. With this in mind, the National Institutes of Health launched in 2008 its Undiagnosed Diseases Program, a pilot program designed to “provide answers to patients with mysterious conditions that have long eluded diagnosis” and “advance medical knowledge about rare and common diseases.” (Since that time, 600 children and adults have been evaluated, and approximately 100 patients were given a diagnosis.)
Now, the program is being expanded into the Undiagnosed Diseases Network, with the NIH announcing last week that six medical centers – including Stanford – will be joining and contributing local medical expertise. The NIH will work with experts from these centers (including Euan Ashley, MD, PhD, Stanford’s principal investigator) to, as described in a release, “select from the most difficult-to-solve medical cases and together develop effective approaches to diagnose them.” The physicians will “collect and share high-quality clinical and laboratory data, including genomic information, clinical observations and documentation of environmental exposures,” and they’ll “benefit from common protocols designed to improve the level of diagnosis and care for patients with undiagnosed diseases.”
In our online story on the network and the $7.2 million grant that Stanford received, Matthew Wheeler, MD, medical director for the grant, notes that “Stanford was chosen for our informatics expertise, our experience with clinical interpretation of whole-exome and whole-genome data, and our scientific potential to follow up any lead.” As my colleague Erin Digitale further explained:
The team will use cutting-edge genomics and medical phenotyping techniques to diagnose patients, and will also aim to understand the underlying biology of patients’ conditions so they can generate targets for new therapies, Wheeler said. “We aim to make a deep dive into each patient’s biology,” he added.
By the summer of 2017, each new clinical site is expected to see 50 or more patients per year. Referring clinicians can submit applications on behalf of undiagnosed patients on the program website.
Previously: Using crowdsourcing to diagnose medical mysteries, New search engine designed to help physicians and the public in diagnosing rare diseases and The road to diagnosis: How to be insistent, persistent and consistent
Photo by Adrian Clark | <urn:uuid:4016e645-f76c-44b2-9116-8699d3586cfe> | CC-MAIN-2015-35 | http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2014/07/08/nih-network-designed-to-diagnose-develop-possible-treatments-for-rare-unidentified-diseases/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-35/segments/1440645359523.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20150827031559-00086-ip-10-171-96-226.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953516 | 665 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Last modified: 2009-04-24 by ivan sache
Keywords: macedonia | makedonija | the former yugoslav republic of macedonia | fyrom | europe | sun: 8 rays (yellow) | law | construction sheet | anthem | constitution | grcev (miroslav) |
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Flag of Macedonia - Image by Željko Heimer, 26 June 2005Flag adopted 5 October 1995, coat of arms adopted 31 December 1946.
Colour approximate specifications (as given in Album des Pavillons [pay00]):
Since its creation as a state in 1945, the Republic of Macedonia has
used three flags.
The first flag dates back to 1945 and the People's Republic of Macedonia, part of the People's Federative Republic of Yugoslavia; it is red with a red five-pointed star outlined in yellow in the canton.
The "Sun of Vergina" flag, dated 1992, is red with a yellow 16-pointed sun, that Greece claimed is the "Sun of Vergina", found on the sarcophagus believed to belong to Philip, King of Macedonia.
After the controversy with Greece, the flag was replaced in 1995 by the present one, called the "Macedonian Sun", again yellow on red. The (then) biggest opposition party VMRO-DPMNE did not accept this change and continued to use the old flag, which was flown in every municipality with a VMRO-DPMNE majority in its councils, till the local election in 1998.
Jovan Jonovski (President of the Macedonian Heraldry Society), 24 June 2004
These days, top themes in Macedonian medias are expecting NATO membership and a possible veto from Greece. In that context, unofficially, was mentioned that one of the measures that Macedonian government would take as a response will be the return of the previous flag (1992-1995) as the national flag.
Valentin Poposki, 11 February 2008
In his book Znaci i ornamenti (Muzej na sovremena umetnost, Skopje 2005), Pr. Grcev (b. 1955, Professor of Urban Planning at the
Faculty of Architecture of Skoplje) provides his original flag proposal and the construction sheet. The flag was designed to be in proportions 5:8 (being a nice approximation of the Golden section Φ, according to Grcev, with the mesh of 10 x 16 squares (let's call this length A) providing for the design elements - the central disk was to
be circumscribing the central four such squares (i.e. having diameter
of A*sqrt(2) ) while the eight yellow rays were to be triangles - the vertical rays with apexes in the centre of the flag and bases 2 Along, the horizontal rays with apexes one A away from the centre in opposite direction and bases also 2 A long. The diagonal rays had
apexes in opposite corners of a rectangle 2 A wide and 1.25 A high (i.e. having diagonals matching the diagonals of the flag!) while
having base 3 A long along the top and bottom edges and touching the
host and fly edges - so that the flag diagonals from the division
lines between red and yellow there.
Apparently the Parliament (or probably some of its committees) decided to amend the overall proportions and added the red ring around the sun disk.
Željko Heimer, 12 February 2009
On 20 September 1995, Nova Makedonija writes that the Republic of Macedonia will have a new national flag as soon as 5 October, when
the Parliament session on the issue is to take place. The paper states
two options for the flag, both having red color as a background and a
golden-yellow symbol as a central figure. The first solution for the
symbol would be a rising or setting half-sun, while the second will
be a sun with rays going horizontally, vertically or diagonally
across the flag.
The paper also says that parties included in Parliament are already discussing the possible look of the new flag.
Sources close to the Macedonian Parliament presidency say that
next Thursday or Friday, a procedure is to begin at Parliament to
adopt a new flag. Along with the flag, the Parlament will discuss
about the already forgotten law on a national coat of arms.
The dynamics of activities at the session has not yet been precisely determined, but the procedure will be designed so that it is completed before the 30-day deadline, defined in last week's agreement Macedonia signed with Greece in New York.
As days are numbered, the 16-sun-rays flag that represented Macedonia since August 1992 will be replaced in a short procedure. Meaning, the proposal to pass a new law on the flag, as a first stage, will be presented at the same time with the definite version of the suggested law, which is a third stage. In this way, the Parliament will skip over the usual practice to debate over a draft law. Thus shortened, the procedure will enable the Parliament to get the entire matter completed in a single day. Under the current procedural regulations, however, a Parliament session cannot be scheduled before 15 days after the procedure has been started.
As far as the procedure goes, there are announcements that the Government will not be the one to come up with a suggested solution, but the proposal is to come from a group of parliamentarians. The intention is to have a group of members of Parliament including elements from all the parliamentary groups. The suggestion will first of all be discussed by the Constitutional Commission and will then be proceeded to the Parliament. Another option is to have the Parliament signatories proposing a solution determined by the Constitutional Commission.
The basis for deciding on the new flag, sources inform, will be
the suggestions that were chosen during the open competition three
years ago, when independent national symbols were designed for the
first time. The following six ideas were then bought out: MAKO
by Dimko Krstevski, Phoenix 92 by Kostadin Tancev, 5222
by Branko Kostovski, A-OPULSI 68 by Ilija Spasovski,
Makedonija 992 by Aco Mitrevski and 08002 by Milivoj
Over 100 ideas entered the competition in 1992, with the red and golden-yellow colors as predominating features. The most frequently suggested symbol was the sun, drawn in all kinds of stylized shapes. Upon a proposal of the jury, the Constitutional Commission members voted by a majority of votes in favor of the suggested red flag with a many-rayed sun in the middle. It is these two elements that have led many spectators to believe the new flag will also have red color as a basic one and again a golden sun as a center symbol, only this time in quite a different shape than the current one. Some even point out to three suggestions as the most serious candidates.
The opening of the procedure for replacement of the national flag
will also be used to decide on a national
coat of arms. The previous Parliament
failed to provide the required 80 votes in favor to adopt this
symbol. The matter then stopped at an argument between the
Constitutional Commission and the
VMRO-DPMNE parliamentarian group. The
Commission's suggestion was to have a golden many-rayed sun in the
middle (an application of it's suggestion for the flag), whereas the
VMRO-DPMNE deputies insisted on a lion as a central figure. Neither
suggestion was given the necessary two-thirds majority of votes and
the issue was dropped and left for better times in the future.
It should be pointed out here, however, that the SDSM member of Parliament Nikola Popovski did initiate a procedure on the coat of arms as early as last spring. His idea was to keep the old coat of arms but without the five-pointed star. Some say that his suggestion will be in the race along with the most successful ideas of the 1992 open competition. Unofficial sources even say that the new flag symbol will also appear on the national coat of arms.
As A1 TV informs, calling on its sources, the new symbol on the Macedonian flag most probably will be a sun with eight sunrays on a red base. Meantime, there are two possible variants for the flag, the difference being the length of the sunrays. Proposers of the new symbol are a group of delegates of the election coalition Alliance for Macedonia and their number may be over 80 parliamentarians.
Source: MIC reports, 20 September 1995 (searchable database), retrieved by Andrej Brodnik, 21 September 1995
According to Constitutions: What they tell us about national flags and coats of arms [vap00], the national flag, arms and anthem of Macedonia are prescribed in the Constitution as follows:
The state symbols of the Republic of Macedonia are the coat of arms, the flag and the national anthem. The coat of arms, the flag and the national anthem of the Republic of Macedonia are adopted by law by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of Assembly Representatives.
Ivan Sache, 5 March 2002
This Act establishes the flag of the Republic of Macedonia.
The flag of the Republic of Macedonia is red with a golden-yellow sun. The sun has eight rays, emerging from the sun disk, thickening towards the end. The sun rays are crossing diagonally, horizontally and vertically.
The diameter of the sun-disk is equal to one-seventh of the length of the flag.
The centre of the sun coincides with the intersection of the diagonals of the flag.
The ratio between the width and the length of the flag is one to two.
The design illustration of the flag of the Republic of Macedonia is a constitutent part of this Act.
On the day this Act comes into effect the Act on the Flag of the Republic of Macedonia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No 50/92) ceases to exist.
This Act comes into effect on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia.
Unoffical translation of Decree 08-3359/1, as published in Služben vesnik na Republika Makedonija (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia), 6 October 1995.
Jos Poels, 21 November 1995
Construction sheet of the flag of Macedonia - Reconstruction after the law by Željko Heimer, 26 June 2005
Using a flag sheet of 140 x 280 units, so not to have
fractions in dimension numbers, the overall dimensions and the sun
disk diameter being 1/7 of the length (i.e. 40 units) are the only
explicitly prescribed by the Law, the others have to be assumed from
the drawing, so all others are reconstructions.
Unfortunately, the law does not say anything about the width of the fimbriation around the disk, nor on the points where the sunrays end nor where they come to the flag edge.
Apparently, the lines forming the edges of the sun rays that touch the hoist and fly edges do go through the sun disk center, while the remaining four lines crossing the top and four at bottom do not pass through the center, but rather touching concentric circles smaller then the sun disk.
The width of the vertical rays at the edges, as well as the ose of the horizontal ray at their edges is 1/10 of the legth, i.e. 28 units. While the horizontal rays imaginary prolonged end in the center of the flag, the vertical rays end touching an imaginary circle with diameter half that of the sun dimaeter, i.e. 20 units.
The diagonal sun rays have one edge matching the flag diagonals, while the other imaginary prolonged ends touching an other imaginary circle with diameter 1/8 of the sun disk diameter, i.e. five units. The width of the diagonal sun rays along the top and the bottom edges of the flag is 1.5 times the width of the vertical edges, i.e. 42 units.
Finally, the diameter of the imaginary circle forming the outer edge of the red fimbriation around the sun disk is 50 units.
Željko Heimer, 26 June 2005
The first two stanza of the Macedonian national anthem (Denes nad Makedonija - Today in Macedonia) say:
Today on Macedonia, is born
the new sun of liberty
The Macedonians fight
for their own rights!
The Macedonians fight
for their own rights!
For now on, the flag flies
(that) of the Kručevo Republic
Goce Delčev, Pitu Guli
Dame Gruev, Sandanski!
Goce Delčev, Pitu Guli
Dame Gruev, Sandanski!
According to Vele Samak, the anthem was composed and created in 1944 or 1943 by Vlado Maleski, a poet from Struga. It was adopted as an anthem of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia when it was established after the Second World War. Later the song was selected to be the anthem of the newly established independent Republic of Macedonia.
Source: Balkan Info website
Ivan Sache, 28 February 2002
The town of Delčevo was named after
the Macedonian revolutionary Goce Delčev, who was one of the leaders
of the Ilinden uprising against the
Pitu Guli (1865-1903), a military leader (duke) in Kručevo led a band of rebels ocassionally since 1885. He was later the main military leader of the Ilinden uprising.
Dame (Damjan) Gruev (1871-1906) was a close Goce Delčev's coworker. Imprisoned by the Turks in 1900, he was one of the leaders of the Ilinden uprising, killed in Turkish pursuit.
Jane Sandanski (1872-1915) was a Macedonian liberation fighter. Active in fight against the Vrhovists, he cooperated much with the Young Turks and led a military group that helped the Young Turkish Revolution in Istanbul. In 1909, he was appointed leader of the National Federative Party, established that year. After the Balkan Wars, he fought for favourous solution of the Macedonian question and was killed by deceit by the Vhrovists.
Željko Heimer, 13 March 2002
The biggest Macedonian flag ever has been made for the
football match between Macedonia and England, played
in Skopje on 6 September 2006. The flag is 28 m x 50 m long and weights
about 200 kg.
It is a cloth flag, which could be flown if there were a big enough pole. It was ordered by Skopska Pivara (Skopje Brewery) as a gift for the fans. There were photos of it in the daily newspapers, as it was lying across the southern part of the stadium in Skopje.
Valentin Poposki, 7 September 2006 | <urn:uuid:72aaf413-7217-4c60-a779-25ad5e62ccd9> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://flagsvancouver.com/fotw/flags/mk.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818688208.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922041015-20170922061015-00645.warc.gz | en | 0.94297 | 3,189 | 2.796875 | 3 |
- Locating and Inserting Clip Art
- Inserting a Picture
- Inserting a Picture Screen Shot
- Adding an Artistic Style to a Picture
- Adding a Quick Style to a Picture
- Applying a Shape to a Picture
- Applying a Border to a Picture
- Applying Picture Effects
- Modifying Picture Size
- Compressing a Picture
- Correcting a Picture
- Recoloring a Picture
- Cropping and Rotating a Picture
- Removing a Picture Background
- Creating WordArt Text
- Formatting WordArt Text
- Applying WordArt Text Effects
- Modifying WordArt Text Position
- Creating SmartArt Graphics
- Formatting a SmartArt Graphic
- Modifying a SmartArt Graphic
- Adding Pictures to a SmartArt Graphic
- Creating an Organization Chart
- Inserting and Creating a Chart
- Changing a Chart Layout and Style
- Changing Chart Labels
- Formatting Line and Bar Charts
- Editing Chart Data
- Saving a Chart Template
Removing a Picture Background
Sometimes you want to use an element from a picture instead of the entire picture. With the Remove Background command (New!), you can specify the element you want in a picture, and then remove the background. You can use automatic background removal or you can manually draw lines to specify which parts of the picture background you want to keep and which to remove.
Remove a Picture Background
- Click the picture you want to change.
- Click the Format tab under Picture Tools.
- Click the Remove Background button.
- Drag the handles on the marquee lines to specify the part of the picture you want to keep. The area outside the marquee gets removed.
- To manually specify which areas to keep and which areas to remove, do the following:
Mark Areas to Keep. Click the button, and then draw lines to specify which parts of the picture you do not want automatically removed.
Mark Areas to Remove. Click the button, and then draw lines to specify which parts of the picture you do want removed in addition to those automatically marked.
Delete Mark. Click the button, and then click marked lines to remove them.
- Click the Keep Changes button to close and keep the removal or click the Discard All Changes button to close and cancel the automatic removal. | <urn:uuid:d5400ba8-c760-4317-9059-7e08e37652c6> | CC-MAIN-2018-47 | http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1617556&seqNum=15 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-47/segments/1542039742253.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20181114170648-20181114192648-00167.warc.gz | en | 0.760148 | 478 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Soon after the Republic was declared, Corsica became embroiled in civil strife. One faction of Corsicans wanted to join the new Republic, and the other faction wanted an independent Corsica. The Bonaparte family had always been pro-French, and they were leaders of the pro-Republic faction. Napoleon himself was a member of the Jacobin club in Corsica, which favored a constitutional monarchy. Ultimately fearing for their lives, the Bonapartes fled to France in June 1793.
Napoleon finally returned to military duty in 1793, now in the Republic's army, and became a captain. His task was to help suppress the anti-Republic insurrections sweeping the French countryside. Also, various European armies were violating the French border during the revolutionary period of confusion. Under General Carteaux, Napoleon served as an artillery captain in the Siege of Toulon, in which France recaptured Toulon from British pro-Royalist forces on September 22, 1793. Nappoleon handled his artillery units so well in this battle that he was promoted to Brigadier-General, and caught the eye of Maximilien Robespierre, who in 1794 made Napoleon the commandant of artillery in the French Army in Italy, which was controlled by Austria at the time.
In the month of "Thermidor" (July) 1794, the more moderate factions of revolutionaries brought down and executed Robespierre. Napoleon, whose promotion by Robespierre had established his reputation as the dictator's protégé, was temporarily thrown in jail for being a Jacobin. However, because he was so valuable as a military commander, Napoleon was released in September, though he was not given the Italian command, as many still feared he was ambitious and dangerous. Napoleon went to Paris to complain to the authorities.
Fearing dictatorship such as produced Robespierre's "Reign of Terror," the new French government set up the Directory, a five-person executive council. Paul Francois Barras, a member of the Directory, had control of the army, and sought to use it to restore order against the resurgent royalist forces that were threatening to attack the National Assembly. On October 8, 1795, Barras made Napoleon second-in-command of the Army of the Interior. Napoleon defeated the royalists, preserved order in Paris, and saved the Directory's government. The Directory was profoundly grateful to Napoleon.
At a party at Barras' home, Napoleon met Marie Josèphe Rose de Beauharnais. Later, she would be called Josephine. They married on March 9, 1796.
By 1795, the anti-French coalition was dissolving, and only Austria and England remained at war with France. Napoleon convinced the Directory to let him attack Austria's position in Northern Italy, and on March 2, 1796, the Directory, still owing its existence to him, made him commander of the Army of Italy. Using lightning attacks and the advantage of surprise, Napoleon first defeated Austria's allies in the region (Piedmont and Sardinia). On May 10, Napoleon inflicted an embarrassing defeat on the Austrians at the Battle of Lodi. Soon the various republics of Italy, from Naples to Rome, surrendered to French control.
The Italian campaign was not over, however: the Austrians came back with 60,000 reinforcements to attack the now-weary French army. Yet the French, under Napoleon's leadership, still managed to win, at the Battle of Arcole (November 15-17, 1796) and at the Battle of Rivoli (January 14, 1797). Napoleon then marched to Vienna, the Austrian capital, and forced Emperor Francis II to sign the Treaty of Campo Formio on October 17, 1797.
The Italian Campaign had numerous important results. First, it created a growing sense of French pride in its military capability as a nation. Second, it fanned the flames of Napoleon's personal lifelong ambition for world conquest and greatly increased his power and popularity in France. Third, the campaign toppled numerous old Italian governments, replacing them with a "Cisalpine Republic". Fourth, Napoleon's conquests in this period, as always, did bring a small degree of peace to Europe, if only for a short while. It was not long, however, before the fighting would begin again. Fifth, the end of the campaign marked Napoleon's first clear acts of political autonomy and power over and against the Directory. He negotiated the Treaty of Campo Formio with the Austrians without the Directory's consent; he again took the political initiative when the Directory couldn't afford to pay the Campaign's troops, and Napoleon appropriated their pay from the territories they occupied. (This also increased Napoleon's popularity among the masses.) Napoleon's most flagrant defiance of the Directory, however, was in his refusal to respect the original purpose of the Italian Campaign itself: the French government's plan behind the campaign had been not to keep the Italian territories it won, but rather to hold them temporarily hostage, giving them back to Austria only in return for control of Belgium; Napoleon, however, countermanded the Directory yet again by demanding Belgium without giving back the Italian territory.
Napoleon was getting out of the Directory's control, and the Directory knew that as well as anyone. However, they had no choice but to welcome him home as a hero, even as he disobeyed their orders and radically undermined their authority. The force of Napoleon's popularity was already apparent.
It wasn't in 1814 that he abdicated this throne. He abdicated his throne in 1815
To the comment above.
Actually - Napoleon did sign an abdication on April 4, 1814, after the Allies ganged up on him and invaded France successfully. In 1815 he was sent to St.Helena after he had escaped from Elba and was defeated at Waterloo.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
The article makes a massive and typical blunder in stating Napoleon fought 'the British army' at Waterloo. In fact Wellington's army was made up of various nationalities; British, Dutch, Belgian, various German states. Of the 68,000 strong army of Wellington, just over 24,000 were actually British.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful | <urn:uuid:ac17133c-84aa-41b0-8d95-c8da25230a90> | CC-MAIN-2015-06 | http://www.sparknotes.com/biography/napoleon/section2.rhtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-06/segments/1422120928902.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20150124173528-00050-ip-10-180-212-252.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981981 | 1,285 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Imagine a world where your thoughts are a whirlwind, your emotions are a rollercoaster ride, and understanding the world around you feels like deciphering a cryptic code. Welcome to the complex realms of autism and bipolar disorder. While these two conditions may seem worlds apart, they share more similarities than meets the eye.
Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, and bipolar disorder, a mood disorder, both have a profound impact on individuals’ lives and often present challenges in diagnosis. The overlapping symptoms, impaired social interactions, communication difficulties, sensory sensitivities, and restricted interests and repetitive behaviors can blur the lines between these conditions. Without accurate diagnosis, individuals may suffer from misinterpretation of their symptoms, hindered treatment options, and unaddressed co-occurring conditions.
Understanding the striking similarities and subtle differences between autism and bipolar disorder is crucial for healthcare professionals, families, and individuals themselves. By unraveling the complexities of these conditions, we can pave the way for accurate diagnoses, tailored treatment approaches, and enhanced quality of life for those affected.
In this article, we will explore the intricacies of autism and bipolar disorder, shedding light on the key similarities and misdiagnoses that often occur. We will dive into the diagnostic challenges faced by healthcare providers, the potential misinterpretation of symptoms, and the importance of understanding the diagnostic criteria. Additionally, we will examine factors that differentiate autism and bipolar disorder, such as age of onset, course of illness, response to medication, and the presence of co-occurring conditions.
Join us on this journey of exploration and understanding as we delve into the world of autism and bipolar disorder, unraveling their intricacies and unveiling the pathways to accurate diagnosis and effective treatment approaches. By gaining insight into these conditions, we can cultivate empathy, compassion, and a collective effort to enhance the lives of individuals navigating the complex terrain of autism and bipolar disorder.
Autism and Bipolar: Key Similarities
Autism and bipolar disorder may appear to be distinct conditions, but upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that they share several crucial similarities. Understanding these shared characteristics is essential for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Let’s explore the key similarities between autism and bipolar disorder.
One of the primary challenges in distinguishing between autism and bipolar disorder lies in the overlapping nature of their symptoms. Individuals with both conditions may experience difficulties in emotion regulation, leading to mood swings, irritability, and impulsivity. Additionally, they may exhibit similar behavioral patterns, such as difficulty with transitions, meltdowns, and repetitive behaviors.
Impaired Social Interactions
Both autism and bipolar disorder can manifest significant impairments in social interactions. Those with autism often struggle with understanding nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions or body language, and may find it challenging to engage in reciprocal conversations. Similarly, individuals with bipolar disorder may experience disrupted social functioning during depressive episodes, where they may isolate themselves or struggle to maintain relationships.
Challenges with Communication
Communication difficulties are a common thread that runs through both autism and bipolar disorder. Individuals with autism may have delayed or atypical language development, struggle with pragmatic language skills, and exhibit echolalia (repeating words or phrases). On the other hand, those with bipolar disorder may experience verbal communication challenges during manic or depressive episodes, characterized by rapid speech or diminished verbal expression, respectively.
Individuals with both autism and bipolar disorder often experience sensitivities to sensory stimuli. They may be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to sounds, lights, textures, or smells. These sensory issues can lead to discomfort, anxiety, or even trigger meltdowns in both conditions.
Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behaviors
Another shared feature between autism and bipolar disorder is the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Individuals with autism may exhibit intense fixations on specific topics or engage in repetitive movements, such as hand-flapping or rocking. Similarly, individuals experiencing a manic episode of bipolar disorder may display heightened energy levels and engage in impulsive, goal-directed activities.
Recognizing these similarities allows professionals to assess the full spectrum of symptoms and provide more accurate diagnoses. It is crucial to consider the context, duration, and frequency of these shared characteristics while differentiating between autism and bipolar disorder. By doing so, healthcare providers can provide tailored treatment plans that address the unique needs of individuals with these conditions.
Can Autism be Misdiagnosed as Bipolar?
Diagnostic challenges and the potential for misdiagnosis are not uncommon when it comes to differentiating between autism and bipolar disorder. The overlap in symptoms and the complexity of these conditions can contribute to confusion and misinterpretation. Let’s explore some factors that can lead to the misdiagnosis of autism as bipolar disorder.
Both autism and bipolar disorder present diagnostic challenges due to their heterogeneous nature and the variability of symptom presentation across individuals. Healthcare providers can face difficulty distinguishing between the two conditions, as some symptoms can be shared or may exhibit comorbidity. This complexity increases the risk of misdiagnosis and subsequent inappropriate treatment.
Misinterpretation of Symptoms
There is a risk of misinterpreting symptoms in individuals with autism, particularly during manic or depressive episodes. Some behaviors associated with autism, such as repetitive movements or intense focus on specific interests, may be mistakenly attributed to the cycling moods of bipolar disorder. Similarly, communication challenges in autism, such as difficulties in expressing emotions or understanding social cues, can be misconstrued as symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Understanding the Diagnostic Criteria
Appropriate diagnosis requires a comprehensive understanding of the diagnostic criteria for autism and bipolar disorder. Clinicians need to consider the individual’s history, developmental milestones, and the presence of specific indicators outlined in diagnostic manuals, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Failure to consider the unique features and nuances of these criteria can lead to misdiagnosis.
Differential diagnosis plays a crucial role in distinguishing between autism and bipolar disorder. It involves a thorough evaluation and consideration of all potential diagnoses that may explain an individual’s symptoms. This process requires careful examination of the observed behaviors, patterns of symptom manifestation, and the longitudinal course of illness. Undertaking an accurate differential diagnosis can help in distinguishing between the two conditions and identifying any co-occurring disorders.
Despite the challenges and potential for misdiagnosis, it is essential to ensure accurate identification of individuals with autism or bipolar disorder. Accurate diagnosis allows for tailored treatment approaches, appropriate support systems, and improved outcomes for individuals and their families. Collaboration between healthcare professionals, psychologists, educators, and caregivers is vital in navigating the complex diagnostic process and reducing the likelihood of misdiagnosis.
By continuing to expand knowledge and awareness of the unique characteristics of autism and bipolar disorder, the healthcare community can strive for greater accuracy in diagnosis and ultimately provide better care for individuals affected by these conditions.
Autism and Bipolar: Differentiating Factors
While there are significant similarities between autism and bipolar disorder, several distinguishing factors can aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Understanding these differentiating factors is crucial for healthcare professionals to provide appropriate interventions and support. Let’s explore some key factors that help differentiate between autism and bipolar disorder.
Age of Onset
Age of onset is an important factor when distinguishing between autism and bipolar disorder. Autism typically presents in early childhood, often before the age of three. Parents may notice developmental delays, social communication challenges, or repetitive behaviors in their child. In contrast, bipolar disorder usually appears during adolescence or early adulthood, with the first manic or depressive episode occurring between the ages of 15 to 24 years.
Course of Illness
The trajectory of illness can also provide insight into differentiating between autism and bipolar disorder. Autism tends to be a lifelong condition, with symptoms persisting into adulthood. Although individuals may learn coping strategies and make progress in managing the challenges associated with autism, the core symptoms generally persist. Bipolar disorder, on the other hand, is characterized by episodic mood disturbances, with periods of mania, depression, and relative stability in between.
Response to Medication
Another differentiating factor lies in the response to medication. Individuals with autism typically do not show significant improvements in their autism-related symptoms with mood-stabilizing medications commonly used in bipolar disorder treatment. However, they may benefit from medication to address comorbid conditions like anxiety or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In contrast, individuals with bipolar disorder often respond well to mood-stabilizing medications, which help regulate their moods and manage manic or depressive episodes.
Assessing the presence of co-occurring conditions can also aid in differentiation. Autism is frequently accompanied by other conditions, such as intellectual disability, ADHD, or epilepsy. These comorbidities often require additional interventions and support. Bipolar disorder, while it can co-occur with other mental health conditions like anxiety or substance use disorder, is primarily characterized by significant mood swings between depressive and manic episodes.
Understanding these differentiating factors allows healthcare providers to make informed decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment. It is crucial to take into account the individual’s developmental history, symptom presentation, response to medications, and the presence of any additional conditions. By considering these factors holistically, healthcare professionals can create tailored treatment plans that address the specific needs and challenges associated with autism and bipolar disorder.
Accurate differentiation between autism and bipolar disorder not only helps individuals receive appropriate treatment but also facilitates access to educational support, interventions, and community resources. By recognizing and respecting the unique characteristics of each condition, we can enhance the overall well-being and quality of life for individuals navigating the complex landscape of autism and bipolar disorder.
Effective Treatment Approaches
Addressing the needs of individuals with autism and bipolar disorder requires a comprehensive approach that considers the unique challenges and characteristics of each condition. Collaborative and multidisciplinary interventions can significantly enhance outcomes and improve the quality of life for individuals and their families. Let’s explore some effective treatment approaches for autism and bipolar disorder.
A multidisciplinary approach involves a team of professionals from various disciplines working together to address the diverse needs of individuals with autism and bipolar disorder. This may include psychologists, psychiatrists, speech-language therapists, occupational therapists, special educators, and social workers. By pooling their expertise, this approach allows for comprehensive assessment, individualized treatment planning, and ongoing support.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is an evidence-based intervention that is widely used for individuals with autism. ABA focuses on analyzing and modifying behaviors through systematic assessment and the application of behavior principles. It aims to enhance communication, improve social skills, reduce challenging behaviors, and promote adaptive behaviors. ABA interventions are highly individualized, targeting specific goals and utilizing reinforcement strategies.
Pharmacotherapy plays a vital role in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants are commonly prescribed to help stabilize mood, manage manic or depressive symptoms, and prevent future episodes. However, it is essential to carefully monitor the individual’s response to medication and adjust the treatment plan as necessary, considering any comorbidities or potential side effects.
Psychoeducation and Family Support
Psychoeducation and family support are crucial for both autism and bipolar disorder. Educating individuals, families, and caregivers about the conditions, their symptoms, and available interventions can empower them to make informed decisions and actively participate in the treatment process. Additionally, support groups and community resources can provide valuable emotional support, guidance, and a sense of belonging.
In addition to these specific treatment approaches, it is important to consider the individual’s unique needs, strengths, and challenges when designing interventions. Tailoring the treatment plan to address the specific goals and aspirations of the individual can optimize outcomes and improve quality of life.
Accurate diagnosis and differentiated treatment approaches are essential for individuals with autism and bipolar disorder. By understanding the similarities and distinguishing factors between these conditions, healthcare professionals can effectively navigate the diagnostic challenges and provide appropriate interventions.
Enhancing quality of life for individuals with autism and bipolar disorder requires collaboration, comprehensive assessment, and a holistic approach. Through the multidisciplinary team, interventions like ABA, carefully selected medications, psychoeducation, and family support, individuals can receive the necessary resources and interventions to promote their development, well-being, and overall success.
As awareness and understanding of these conditions continue to grow, we can collectively work towards reducing misdiagnoses, improving access to interventions, and fostering a compassionate and inclusive society for individuals with autism and bipolar disorder. By supporting and empowering individuals and their families, we can make a positive impact and help unlock their full potential.
Importance of Accurate Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis of autism and bipolar disorder is of paramount importance for individuals, families, and healthcare providers. It lays the foundation for appropriate interventions, enables access to support services, and enhances the overall well-being of those affected. Let’s explore the significance of accurate diagnosis and its impact on individuals with autism and bipolar disorder.
Early Intervention and Support
An accurate diagnosis allows for early intervention strategies to be implemented, particularly for autism. Early intervention programs, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavior interventions, can significantly improve developmental outcomes and help individuals with autism reach their full potential. For bipolar disorder, accurate diagnosis enables prompt initiation of treatment, which can help manage symptoms and prevent further episodes.
Individualized Treatment Planning
Accurate diagnosis ensures that treatment plans are tailored specifically to the individual’s needs. Each condition requires distinct interventions and support strategies. By diagnosing autism or bipolar disorder correctly, healthcare professionals can develop treatment plans that target the core symptoms, address comorbidities, and optimize outcomes. This individualized approach increases the likelihood of success in managing symptoms and improving overall functioning.
Reducing Stigma and Enhancing Understanding
Accurate diagnosis fosters a better understanding of autism and bipolar disorder, leading to reduced stigma and misconceptions. By recognizing the unique characteristics of each condition, society can develop greater empathy and support for individuals with autism or bipolar disorder. Accurate diagnosis helps dispel misunderstandings and promotes acceptance, creating an environment that encourages inclusion and reduces barriers for individuals seeking care and support.
Enhancing Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism and Bipolar
Accurate diagnosis serves as a stepping stone towards enhancing the quality of life for individuals with autism and bipolar disorder. Through appropriate interventions, support services, and a compassionate society, we can create an environment that promotes their well-being and helps them thrive.
By providing individuals with autism the necessary tools and support, we can empower them to navigate social interactions, communicate effectively, and build meaningful relationships. A comprehensive treatment plan that includes ABA therapy, speech and language interventions, sensory integration techniques, and social skills training can significantly improve their quality of life.
For individuals with bipolar disorder, accurate diagnosis ensures access to appropriate medications, therapy, and coping strategies. With the right treatment approach, individuals can achieve better mood regulation, reduce manic or depressive episodes, and enjoy improved overall functioning. Psychoeducation and family support also play a crucial role, equipping individuals and their families with the knowledge and skills to manage the challenges associated with bipolar disorder.
Ultimately, accurate diagnosis for both autism and bipolar disorder is instrumental in supporting individuals’ goals, aspirations, and overall development. By understanding the unique needs of each condition, we can foster a compassionate society that promotes inclusivity, reduces stigma, and provides the necessary resources for individuals to lead fulfilling lives.
In conclusion, accurate diagnosis is essential for individuals with autism and bipolar disorder. It enables early intervention, individualized treatment planning, and reduces stigma. By recognizing and addressing the unique characteristics and challenges associated with each condition, we can enhance the quality of life for individuals with autism and bipolar disorder, fostering a society that promotes acceptance, understanding, and support.In conclusion, autism and bipolar disorder may share significant similarities, but a careful examination of the overlapping symptoms, diagnostic challenges, differentiating factors, and effective treatment approaches is crucial for accurate diagnosis and appropriate interventions. Accurate diagnosis enables early intervention, individualized treatment planning, and access to support services that can significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals with these conditions.
Recognizing the similarities and distinguishing factors between autism and bipolar disorder is essential for healthcare professionals, families, and individuals themselves. By understanding the complexities of these conditions, we can pave the way for accurate diagnoses, tailored treatment approaches, and improved outcomes.
Accurate diagnosis also plays a role in reducing stigma and misconceptions surrounding autism and bipolar disorder. By promoting understanding and empathy, we can create a society that supports and embraces individuals with these conditions.
Collaboration between multidisciplinary teams, including psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, educators, and support networks, is critical in navigating the complexities of diagnosis and treatment. Through a comprehensive and holistic approach, individuals can receive the necessary interventions, medications, therapies, and psychoeducation that address their unique needs and challenges.
Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the overall well-being and quality of life for individuals with autism and bipolar disorder. By providing accurate diagnoses, tailored interventions, and a compassionate and inclusive environment, we can empower individuals to reach their full potential, navigate social interactions, communicate effectively, manage their emotions, and lead fulfilling lives.
As awareness and understanding continue to grow, it is our collective responsibility to advocate for accurate diagnoses, reduce misdiagnoses, and foster acceptance and support for individuals with autism and bipolar disorder. By working together, we can create a more inclusive society that embraces diversity and offers equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their neurodevelopmental conditions. | <urn:uuid:65cd9f19-c59c-4e27-88b5-2148443ffece> | CC-MAIN-2024-10 | https://neurolaunch.com/autism-and-bipolar/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-10/segments/1707947474445.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20240223185223-20240223215223-00246.warc.gz | en | 0.924618 | 3,586 | 3.03125 | 3 |
This report notes that there is an incomplete picture of family life in Britain. The scale of the contribution that the UK's 14 million grandparents are making is not fully known. This interim report uses new British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey data to begin to build a more comprehensive picture of Britain's grandparent population; looking at how it has changed over the last decade, and what financial implications becoming a grandparent might involve.
One of a series of leaflets written by experienced child psychotherapists to give insight into the child’s feelings and view of the world and help parents, and those who work with children, to make sense of their behaviour. For grandparents and the extended family to help them understand the importance of wider family relationships for children and their parents.
Booklet aimed at young people and giving them basic information regarding family law in Scotland and the rights and responsibilities parents and other carers have.
Research findings which examine the use of childcare for both the baby and toddler cohorts of the Growing Up in Scotland study (GUS) longitudinal research project, and how cost, type, mix of formal and informal provision, duration and childcare preferences vary according to parents’ socio-economic circumstances.
Differences in attitudes towards employment and childcare are also explored. | <urn:uuid:c1b35098-b200-43a1-95a3-a419b2e2ab11> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://lx.iriss.org.uk/category/learning-exchange/families-children-and-young-people/family-members/grandparents?page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818689572.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20170923070853-20170923090853-00618.warc.gz | en | 0.942011 | 257 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Design for Oxidation Resistance
Alloys intended for use in high-temperature environments rely on the formation of a continuous, compact, slow-growing oxide layer for oxidation and hot corrosion resistance. This article focuses on the issues related to high-temperature oxidation of superalloys used in gas turbine engine applications. It discusses general methodologies to evaluate oxidation resistance of materials. The article describes the performance characteristics of superalloys, single-crystal superalloys and other high-temperature materials such as refractory metals and ceramics. It discusses hot corrosion of superalloys and airfoil degradation due to deposits resulting from ingested particles or sand. The article concludes with a discussion on the limitations of testing techniques and life prediction. | <urn:uuid:3301a1cf-dbdc-4539-9f47-82a853eb9495> | CC-MAIN-2019-09 | https://dl.asminternational.org/books/book/59/chapter-abstract/688204/Design-for-Oxidation-Resistance?redirectedFrom=fulltext | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-09/segments/1550247481249.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20190216230700-20190217012700-00097.warc.gz | en | 0.872108 | 150 | 3.203125 | 3 |
We probably all know the situation. There is something on the coffee table. A mobile phone, a good book or a nice candle holder. A one- year-old comes approaching with big wide eyes and arms stretched out to grab whatever is there to grab. With a big grin he holds our mobile phone, book or the candle holder in his tiny and sticky hand. We already see it drop or go into his mouth. We don’t want either, so we take it off him and put it back on the table. Right back within his reach. This time we see the child approach again and we try and stop him right away. “No!“ maybe followed by a “You can‘t have that.“ or “This is not for your tiny fingers.“ But the child won‘t listen. The object is too interesting. The child is too curious. So the game can continue forever. Or we simply put the objects out of reach.
This is the first lesson in simplicity our children teach us: Don‘t have stuff lying around that you do not want to have in kid‘s reach. While the children grow and we will at some point run out of places high or hidden enough for the child to get to we will learn a much more rewarding lesson: Don‘t have stuff lying around at all. Ever.
There are a few lessons in simpler living in between. Your children might teach you some of those. Some you will have to discover for yourself. Here are a few we have learned over the past three years:
1. Everything in its place
Have a place for everything. Too often when we clean up we end up with a pile of little things we don‘t know where to put. Even if it is just a drawer you create especially for “random stuff“ – this helps you to have surfaces clean and tidy. And you don‘t end up looking for those things all the time because you know they must be (somewhere) in this random stuff drawer.
2. Touch objects only once
Often we go to the bathroom and on our way back through the hallway we see something that belongs to the kid‘s room. We pick it up and bring it into the kitchen where we leave it because we find something that needs to be put in the drawer in the bedroom… someone might eventually at some point take it. Or not. This is probably how one of our friends ended up with car keys in the fridge (true story!)
So instead if you grab an object go all the way to where it belongs and place it there. You might end up walking around a bit more? Maybe you end up picking up more things on your way and so end up having less stuff lying around and fewer times to walk around the flat.
If you want your children to clean up after themselves and place things where they belong – do so yourself. Do it slowly and carefully. Don‘t just quickly throw the cloth from the table into the sink. Don‘t kick your shoes off and push them near the shelf. Make an effort to carefully carry the things to where they belong. Your children are watching you. But they need to see every movement. They can‘t follow if you are too quick. They will try and be quick too and might leave things in the way or even break them. And no matter how many times you repeat and repeat and repeat… they will end up doing what you do, not what you tell them to do.
4. Simply HAVE less stuff
Once you get into the habit of putting things back where they belong, of tidying up and clearing the surfaces you might soon realize that you don‘t look at or use the things you have now put into the cupboard or drawer that often anymore. You might forget about them altogether. If so – you could just get rid of them. At some point this tidiness might even lead you to not buying things anymore.
5. The simple toy story
We dare to say that most children in the western world have far too many toys in their room. Small babies are surrounded by stuffed animals, balls and blinking mobiles. The older they get the more toys move into their play space. Often it‘s well intended to encourage and nurture the child‘s both happiness and development. But the truth is – they don‘t need that much. Often they don‘t need anything at all. This is why we have started The toy revolution. Of course kids like shiny and blinking toys. But we like chocolate or this 5th cup of coffee too. Do we need it ? Children are explorers. They are creative by nature. They make the most wonderful toys out of a spoon and a cup, a twig or a ball and a blanket. If you are gifted with too many toys and can‘t bring yourself to give them away – keep them in a box. Limit the amount of toys in the play area to keep it simple and clear. It‘s nice to have „something in the back“ that your children might „forget about“ for a while. Don‘t be scared of kid‘s boredom. It doesn‘t exist. And even if they do get a little bored every now and then – THAT is encouraging. Challenging.
6. Simplify your schedule
Being busy is a motto of today. We are all busy and we are always on the go. There is stuff to do, people to see, schedules to fill… and then you have kids. The choice is yours – will you keep up with the world, filling your diary with stuff to do, or will you simply let a day go by sometimes? Separate the things you need to do, the things you want to do and the things that you do because… if you have no good reason, maybe skip it? Give yourself and your kids a break. Sure, it’s nice to have all those coffees with friends, but why should your toddler behave through all those adult conversations? Schedule less. Try to just be with your kids. There will be time for coffees and lunches with friends. There will never be another childhood for your kids.
7. Simplify your kids’ schedule
And then there is the baby gym, swimming classes, piano lessons, and other stuff that is never too early to start with… or is it? Your child probably has enough exercise as is (see one of our many posts on movement if you have doubts ), and playground seems like a social enough place. Resist the urge to fill your toddlers days with scheduled program. Let him play freely and just watch what happens. There will be time for filling his diary with ‘stuff-to-do’. Let your kids be. Let yourself be. And enjoy every moment of it – it will be gone to soon, when the time comes for filling in the schedules.
We could go on and on. But we want to keep this post simple. There may be follow ups. There will surely be more lessons to be learned. More stuff to be thrown out. We’ll keep you posted.
What do you do to keep your life as a family simple and sane and your house clean? Tell us, we are always keen on another lesson in simplicity!
Anna & Nadine | <urn:uuid:791b0b77-84eb-44e3-a828-edc9a7c736b9> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | http://mamas-in-the-making.com/tag/clarity/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232257396.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20190523204120-20190523230120-00448.warc.gz | en | 0.963992 | 1,526 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Rambo Tribble writes "An article in Current Biology (abstract) details the finding that minute particles of plastic waste are affecting marine worms, potentially having grave impacts on marine biodiversity (PDF) and leading to the accumulation of toxins in marine animals. 'The team found that the tiny bits of plastic, which measure 1mm or smaller, transferred pollutants and additive chemicals — such as flame-retardants — into the guts of lugworms (Arenicola marina). This process results in the chemical reaching the creatures' tissue, causing a range of biological effects such as thermal stress and the inability to consume as much sediment.' Unfortunately, policymakers have routinely treated such wastes as benign. The BBC provides more approachable coverage of the findings." | <urn:uuid:e3de6e32-79ae-4eb7-bc70-fb2d6650a179> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | https://science.slashdot.org/story/13/12/04/030257/plastic-waste-threatens-marine-diversity?sbsrc=science | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794867041.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20180525043910-20180525063910-00019.warc.gz | en | 0.931193 | 148 | 2.671875 | 3 |
By Dennis Thompson Jr. Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH
Most kids with ADHD have problems sleeping. As a parent, you can create an environment in which sleep may come more easily.
Many children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, have problems getting good quality sleep. The disorder makes it difficult for children to fall asleep and then sleep deeply, especially if they are affected by other sleep conditions, such as snoring and sleep apnea.
Studies estimate that between half and three-quarters of children with ADHD experience sleep problems.
These problems can include:
Snoring and Sleep Apnea – Habitual snoring is three times more common in people with ADHD than in those with other psychiatric disorders.Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, which is when a person stops breathing for very short periods of time while asleep. Sleep apnea disturbs restful sleep, often without the person being aware of it.
Restless Leg Syndrome – As many as one in four children with ADHD will experience this condition, in which their legs move and jerk to relieve perceived discomfort.
Periodic Limb Movement Syndrome – This is a condition similar to restless leg syndrome, but it involves the arms as well as the legs.
Difficulty Falling Asleep – In one study, between 71 and 84 percent of children with ADHD had a hard time falling asleep.
Difficulty Staying Asleep – In the same study, between 27 and 49 percent of children with ADHD tossed and turned in bed, and between 25 and 36 percent woke frequently during the night.
10 Tips for Better Sleep Parents can do a lot to help a child with ADHD get a better night’s rest:
1. Create a Bedtime Ritual – Ritualized behavior can send a strong signal to the brain that it is time to go to sleep. Create a simple ritual for your child’s bedtime, so it can be followed even if you’re not around.
2. Make Calming Down Part of that Ritual – Have your child do a relaxing activity prior to bedtime. “Spend about 20 minutes or half an hour in bed with them, reading to them or listening to music — doing something to soothe the child and help him sleep,” says Constance Wood, PhD, a practicing psychologist in Houston. That old standby, a glass of warm milk, may help.
3. Unplug Before Bedtime – Television and video games can rev up a kid who should be calming down. Turn off all the electronics well before bedtime.
4. Create an Environment Conducive to Sleep – Make sure the bedroom is cool, dark, quiet, and free of any distractions that might impede or disturb sleep. Put away toys and dim the lights.
5. Reserve the Bedroom and the Bed Mainly for Sleeping – Remove most toys, games, and other distractions from your child’s bedroom, and make sure playtime occurs in common areas of your home. Don’t let your child play in bed or spend a lot of time in the bedroom — this reinforces that both are reserved for sleeping.
6. Encourage Self-Soothing – Providing a special blanket or stuffed toy for your child to hold while going to sleep can be soothing. The less a child needs your presence, the more easily she will be able to get back to sleep on her own if she wakes up in the middle of the night.
7. Enforce a Consistent Sleeping and Waking Schedule – Make sure your child stays awake during the day, so he’ll be sleepy at bedtime. Regular bedtimes and waking times can help a young body establish a rhythm.
8. Cut Out Caffeine and Sugar – Caffeine and sugar are in a lot of foods, and both are stimulating and can keep your child up late. Read labels and make sure foods and drinks your child has in the evening are caffeine-free and contain very little sugar.
9. Treat Medical Issues – Consult your doctor regarding medical problems like allergies or asthma that could be contributing to snoring, sleep apnea, or other sleep disorders.
10. Praise Successful Sleep – Give your child praise when she makes it through the night with few or no sleep disturbances. This will help reinforce the importance of sleeping quietly through the night. Sleeplessness is a common problem for children with ADHD, but not an insurmountable one. Parents involved in their children’s lives should be able to help teach how to successfully nod off night after night. | <urn:uuid:4f3770cc-e986-423c-85f3-0d8c97d7e857> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://addvocacycoach.com/blog/page/3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886102393.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20170816191044-20170816211044-00446.warc.gz | en | 0.95044 | 941 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Arlington Coalition on Transportation
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The Arlington Coalition on Transportation (ACT) is a citizens group formed to oppose the construction of Interstate 66 through Arlington, Virginia. The focal activity of ACT was the conduct of a lawsuit filed against the Virginia Department of Transportation in 1971 in district court. This small citizen's group, founded by Jim and Emelia Govan, actually defeated the powerful Virginia Highway Commission, as the agency was then known. After considerable further legal and technical struggles, a compromise solution was reached to create a scaled-down highway segment, including a transit element.
Early history of the I-66 conflict
In the year 1956 the Virginia Highway Commission (later the Virginia Department of Transportation) proposed Interstate 66 to link Washington, D.C. to the planned Interstate 81, a total project length of 76 miles. The citizens of Arlington were concerned about the impacts of this project through their county, especially with regard to air quality, noise and community disruption. In 1971, ACT was the plaintiff in an action against the Virginia Highway Commission, having filed a suit in the U.S. district court. ACT won this case after a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Arlington Coalition on Transportation v. Volpe, 458 F.2d 1323 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1000 (1972). The court paid special attention to the plaintiff's expert calculations and testimony projecting that air quality levels would violate Federal ambient air quality standards as set forth in the Clean Air Act and violate United States Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines for ambient noise.
The Washington Post, which paid little attention to the conflict, suddenly became a supporter of Arlington Coalition on Transportation after their stunning victory in the Fourth Circuit. Studies of air quality and noise continued under the direction of ESL Inc., who this time were working directly for the Virginia Department of Transportation under the agreement reached between plaintiff and defendant. These studies, part of the court-mandated environmental impact statement, led to further highway design mitigation, particularly related to acoustical impacts.
The conflict continued into the mid-1970s, until Secretary of Transportation William T. Coleman intervened to mediate the dispute and arrived at the "Coleman Decision," which amounted to a reduced four-lane highway with a Washington Metro element.
Events to current times
The four lane version of Interstate 66 was completed through Arlington in the year 1982. Tinkering with variations of High occupancy vehicle lanes occurred in the 1980s, and in 1999 Virginia Governor Gilmore announced a plan to widen both directions of I-66 within the Beltway. Soon thereafter a new organization, Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation, was formed to oppose further widening of I-66. This successor group to ACT questions the break in precedent from the intent of the "Coleman Decision", the lack of integrated transportation planning in the corridor, and further environmental impacts to Arlington.
- Bill Peterson, For the Govans, the Road to Victory Is Unpaved, The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Aug 21, 1975
- C. Michael Hogan and Harry Seidman, Air Quality and Acoustics Analysis of proposed I-66 through Arlington, Virginia, ESL Inc. Technical Document T1026, Sunnyvale, Calif. (1971)
- Jim and Emilia Govan, Oral Histories, Arlington County Library
- Mirriam A. Rollin, President of Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation, Comments at the Richmond Hearing at the Commonwealth Transportation Board of Virginia Oct. 5, 2000
- Virginia Highway Commission, Design Plans for Interstate 66, (1970)
- Stephen J. Lyntona, Long Road: Bitter Fight Against I-66 Now History I-66's Final Shape A Tribute To Its Opponents' Tenacity, The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Dec 22, 1982
- Jack Eisen, Citizen Groups Attack Plans for Freeway, The Washington Post, Times Herald, Washington, D.C., Sep 7, 1972
- Redirected from Wikipedia article on Interstate 66 regarding federal origins and future plans for I-66
- Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation blog | <urn:uuid:84b94a5d-3bc9-45df-a745-3ca66935477f> | CC-MAIN-2016-44 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_Coalition_on_Transportation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988718423.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183838-00363-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928421 | 886 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Manufactured Brick Tiles from South-Africa, our clay bricks are fired in a clamp kiln, through a process that is unique to Africa.
Extremely durable, clay face bricks are cut into 9mm slices, these we call brick tiles or brick slips, that is then used for cladding.
When the clamp kiln is unpacked, the various colors are classified and sorted into a pre-determined color range, ranging through purple, dark red, and then to yellow, brown and even red borders with black streaks inside.
Face bricks similar in color range are stacked into a tile cutting machine where several diamond blades will cut the bricks into brick tiles. With this process, we exposes the earthy beauty colors hidden inside the face bricks.
No brick tile is identical to the other, however a certain range of bricks tiles will render a arm age of similar colors, rendering a cone of a kind tiled wall with an aesthetic and unique, earthy appearance
Artificial firing conditions, will not render face bricks with such color variety, making clay brick tiles from South-Africa unique in texture and appearance.
Our brick tiles are lightweight chemically inert, acoustically sound and strong, so they will last a lifetime.
Organic brick tiles contain zero toxins or harmful leachates and are eco friendly to use inside the home or office
The color of fired clay bricks is influenced by the physical, chemical and mineral content of the raw materials, the firing temperature, and the atmosphere in the kiln.
For example, red bricks are the result of high iron content, white or yellow bricks contain less iron oxides.
Most bricks burn to various red hues; as the temperature is increased the color moves through dark red, purple, and then to brown or grey at around 1,300 °C (2,372 °F).
Fired clay bricks from South Africa are extremely durable and can withstand the most severe climatic conditions for more than 10,000 years.
Our ancient civilizations inhabited various wide river basins, some were suitable for the accumulation of alluvial sediments that was used to manufacture bricks. The art of building with bricks were developed in that time.
Our need to build highly durable high-rise structures was the motivation for fired brick manufacturing.
Clay bricks have been widely preferred as a building material because of their high compressive strength, durability, fire and weathering resistance, and thermal and sound insulation. Therefore, fired bricks were more favorable than sun-dried bricks.
The irony is, that modern face bricks are no more durable than clay bricks made in Roman times, only more expensive.
The picture below illustrates all the essential stages of the brick manufacturing process. Today, all these traditional principles are followed as indicated although modern equipment is used.
The use of unfired clay bricks used in the construction of dwellings can be dated back to about 7500 BC. Primitive people for thousands of years built their shelters with anything they could lay their hands on to try and protect them from the elements, like stone, rock, branches, palm tree leaves, mud, and clay.
Fired clay bricks can be called man-made rock as it has the same properties as a natural (primitive) rock. Fired clay bricks are formed from clay and then fired up to at least 1000° C. This process returns the weathered clay into the natural rock it was derived from. These bricks will again take a couple of million years to weather back into clay.
The Sumerians were the most advanced group of people in the ancient world and lived in Mesopotamia, a land between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers surrounded by dessert. They were intelligent and educated in that they were the pioneers in civilizing the world. They were the first civilization able to count in a decimal format. They were the first to “invent” the hour, 60 minutes, and 60 seconds, as well as dividing a circle into 360 deg.
Living in a huge desert, like most people of that time, there was little rock and stone available and houses were made from mud and clay mined from the river banks. Every year in the rainy season, the rivers will flood the flood plains and the houses’ walls would “melt” back to mud. About 2600 BC this problem was solved by firing the clay. The clay brick, as we know it today, 4600 years later, is still made in the same way. It must have been an incredible moment in evolution for that era where every chore had to be repeated daily, like hunting for food and putting up a shelter. After the discovery, the shelter problem was solved by not having to rebuild your house yearly. It was able to stand forever!
In Europe, where wood and timber were abundantly available, most people built their houses with wood. In 1666, the city of London burnt down completely, because of the narrow streets and the dry wood the houses were built from. After this disaster, London was rebuilt, but only stone and rock were allowed. Fired clay bricks were introduced because of the slow supply of stone and rock. At that time, the London town fathers made an extra income for the city by charging the people a levy on each brick they built with, much like the levy we pay on electricity today. Manufacturers then commenced making larger units to pay fewer levies. Bricks became too large to handle by hand and the product size reverted to the size we still use today.
Standard clay brick size – length 222mm width 106mm height 73mm
Why? – so that an average man can easily pick it up and handle it with one hand.
Built-in with mortar – 235 x 106 x 85mm.
Brick length is 2 x width and 3 x thickness – why? – so that you can build in a bond to ensure wall strength.
Clay Bricks were also the origin for the following:
Standardization: The first item ever to be made in a mould and not just shaped by hand.
Production lines: standardizing articles to be the same in size, color and weight led to mass production.
Trademarking: Brickmakers were the first to mark each brick with their mark or name before it was fired. This system started when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt and each individual was forced to make a certain quantity of bricks every day. The only way to distinguish between different manufacturers was to count each slave’s daily production and they only counted bricks with names or marks on them.
(With recognition and appreciation to Dr. B van Graan for history and relevant info) | <urn:uuid:8102569b-4d00-4764-b83b-9df5523412c9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://bricktileshop.co.za/about-us/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100800.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20231209040008-20231209070008-00154.warc.gz | en | 0.971243 | 1,356 | 3.328125 | 3 |
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