pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 44
985k
| source
stringlengths 37
43
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki
| 0.840202
| 0.840202
|
Home > Press Room > News and Press Releases > Press Releases
Undersecretary Amendola on the last day of his mission to Australia
Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Vincenzo Amendola, is completing his institutional mission to Australia in Melbourne today, after his visit to Sydney. This morning the Italian high official participated in the Intercomites meeting, where he took the opportunity to highlight "the excellent cooperation between the Embassy, the Consulates and the Comites in Australia, which has made it possible to organise important joint actions, including informative workshops for young Italians residing in the Country on student work visas and on the new Italian immigration." Mr Amendola was then invited to inaugurate "Per Australia" by Italian writer Alice Pasquini at the Italian Museum.
In the afternoon, Mr Amendola had cordial talks with Telmo Languiller, President of the legislative assembly of the State of Victoria, highlighting the excellent relations between Italy and Australia and focusing on the great contribution of the Italian community to the political, social and economic life of Victoria.
At the end of the day, Mr Amendola met with Rhonda Barro, President of Co.As.It. of Melbourne, and with the president and the members of the "Veneto Club". During the meeting, he greeted the Italian community highlighting the long-standing friendship between Italy and Australia: "We have followed the same course throughout the years, which has brought us closer together thanks to a common spirit and ideals inspired by a commmon model of democracy, inclusion and multiculturalism."
Sottosegretario Amendola
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507375
|
__label__wiki
| 0.682667
| 0.682667
|
ENB Vol. 12 No. 580 – Bonn Climate Change Conference – June 2013 – Summary & Analysis
Jay Owen June 17, 2013 Earth Systems Science
Earth Negotiations Bulletin
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
A Reporting Service for Environment and Development Negotiations
IISD coverage
Volume 12 Number 580 – Monday, 17 June 2013
SUMMARY OF THE BONN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
The Bonn Climate Change Conference, which took place in Germany from 3-14 June 2013, comprised the 38th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). The resumed second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2) also convened. Approximately 1480 government delegates, 900 observers and 30 media representatives attended the meeting.
SBI 38 was characterized by an agenda dispute concerning a proposal by the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine to introduce a new item on legal and procedural issues related to decision-making under the Conference of the Parties (COP) and Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP). Underlying the proposal was their dissatisfaction with the decision-making process at the UN Climate Change Conference in Doha in 2012. While recognizing the importance of the issue, other parties opposed considering it as a new SBI agenda item. Instead, a proposal was made to consider the issue as part of the SBI agenda item on arrangements for intergovernmental meetings. This was unacceptable to the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus. As no solution to the dispute was found, the SBI was unable to launch substantive work in Bonn. Many were disappointed with the outcome and concerned about the implications for COP 19 and CMP 9 to be held in Warsaw in November 2013.
SBSTA 38 had a busy agenda and swiftly began working through it. The various SBSTA negotiating groups were allocated more negotiating time slots than usual given that no substantive negotiations formally took place under the SBI. SBSTA 38 achieved what many saw as good progress, inter alia, on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries and the role of conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), and several methodological issues.
The resumed ADP 2 was structured around workshops and roundtables on Workstream 1 (2015 agreement) and Workstream 2 (pre-2020 ambition). No agreement was reached on establishing one or more contact groups to move part of the work to a more formal setting. Many, however, felt that switching to a negotiating mode will be important to ensure that the ADP makes progress in future sessions.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNFCCC AND THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
The international political response to climate change began with the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992, which sets out a framework for action aimed at stabilizing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to avoid “dangerous anthropogenic interference” with the climate system. The Convention, which entered into force on 21 March 1994, now has 195 parties.
In December 1997, delegates to the third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 3) in Kyoto, Japan, agreed to a Protocol to the UNFCCC that committed industrialized countries and countries in transition to a market economy to achieve emission reduction targets. These countries, known as Annex I parties under the UNFCCC, agreed to reduce their overall emissions of six GHGs by an average of 5% below 1990 levels in 2008-2012 (first commitment period), with specific targets varying from country to country. The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005 and now has 192 parties.
LONG-TERM NEGOTIATIONS IN 2005-2009: Convening in Montreal, Canada, at the end of 2005, the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 1) decided to establish the Ad Hoc Working Group on Annex I Parties’ Further Commitments under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) in accordance with Protocol Article 3.9, which mandates consideration of Annex I parties’ further commitments at least seven years before the end of the first commitment period. COP 11 created a process to consider long-term cooperation under the Convention through a series of four workshops known as “the Convention Dialogue.”
In December 2007, COP 13 and CMP 3 in Bali, Indonesia, resulted in agreement on the Bali Roadmap on long-term issues. COP 13 adopted the Bali Action Plan and established the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA) with a mandate to focus on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and a shared vision for long-term cooperative action. Negotiations on Annex I parties’ further commitments continued under the AWG-KP. The deadline for concluding the two-track negotiations was in Copenhagen in 2009. In preparation, both AWGs held several negotiating sessions in 2008-2009.
COPENHAGEN: The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, took place in December 2009. The high-profile event was marked by disputes over transparency and process. During the high-level segment, informal negotiations took place in a group consisting of major economies and representatives of regional and other negotiating groups. Late in the evening of 18 December these talks resulted in a political agreement: the “Copenhagen Accord,” which was then presented to the COP plenary for adoption. After 13 hours of debate, delegates ultimately agreed to “take note” of the Copenhagen Accord. In 2010, over 140 countries indicated support for the Accord. More than 80 countries also provided information on their national mitigation targets or actions. Parties also agreed to extend the mandates of the AWG-LCA and AWG-KP until COP 16 and CMP 6 in 2010.
CANCUN: The UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, took place in December 2010, where parties finalized the Cancun Agreements. Under the Convention track, Decision 1/CP.16 recognized the need for deep cuts in global emissions in order to limit the global average temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Parties agreed to keep the global long-term goal under regular review and consider strengthening it during a review by 2015, including in relation to a proposed 1.5°C target. They took note of emission reduction targets and nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) communicated by developed and developing countries, respectively (FCCC/SB/2011/INF.1/Rev.1 and FCCC/AWGLCA/2011/INF.1, both issued after Cancun). Decision 1/CP.16 also addressed other aspects of mitigation, such as: measuring, reporting and verification (MRV); and REDD+.
The Cancun Agreements also established several new institutions and processes, including the Cancun Adaptation Framework and the Adaptation Committee, and the Technology Mechanism, which includes the Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and Network. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was created and designated as an operating entity of the Convention’s financial mechanism governed by a 24-member board. Parties agreed to set up a Transitional Committee tasked with the Fund’s design and a Standing Committee to assist the COP with respect to the financial mechanism. Parties also recognized the commitment by developed countries to provide US$30 billion of fast-start finance in 2010-2012, and to jointly mobilize US$100 billion per year by 2020.
Under the Protocol track, the CMP urged Annex I parties to raise the level of ambition towards achieving aggregate emission reductions consistent with the range identified in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and adopted Decision 2/CMP.6 on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF). The mandates of the two AWGs were extended for another year.
DURBAN: The UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, took place from 28 November to 11 December 2011. The Durban outcomes cover a wide range of topics, notably the establishment of a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, a decision on long-term cooperative action under the Convention and agreement on the operationalization of the GCF. Parties also agreed to launch the new ADP with a mandate “to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force under the Convention applicable to all Parties.” The ADP is scheduled to complete these negotiations by 2015. The new instrument should enter into effect from 2020 onwards. In addition, the ADP was also mandated to explore actions to close the pre-2020 ambition gap in relation to the 2°C target.
DOHA: The UN Climate Change Conference in Doha took place from 26 November to 8 December 2012. The conference resulted in a package of decisions, referred to as the “Doha Climate Gateway.” These include amendments to the Kyoto Protocol to establish its second commitment period and agreement to terminate the AWG-KP’s work in Doha. The parties also agreed to terminate the AWG-LCA and negotiations under the Bali Action Plan. A number of issues requiring further consideration were transferred under the SBI and SBSTA, such as: the 2013-15 review of the global goal; developed and developing country mitigation; the Kyoto Protocol’s flexibility mechanisms; national adaptation plans; MRV; market and non-market mechanisms; and REDD+. Key elements of the Doha outcome also included agreement to consider loss and damage, “such as an institutional mechanism to address loss and damage in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.”
ADP 2: ADP 2 met in Bonn, Germany, from 29 April to 3 May 2013. The session was structured around workshops and roundtable discussions, covering the ADP’s two workstreams. Many felt this format was helpful in moving the ADP discussions forward. Several delegates noted, however, that the ADP needs to become more focused and interactive in future sessions.
REPORT OF THE BONN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
SBI 38 and SBSTA 38 opened on Monday, 3 June. ADP 2 held its opening plenary on Tuesday, 4 June. This report summarizes the discussions by the three bodies based on their respective agendas.
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Opening SBI 38 on Monday, 3 June, SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow (Poland) urged parties to look towards 2015, stressing that the SBI “has to make progress here and now.”
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres applauded the United Arab Emirates as the first party to ratify the Doha amendment to the Kyoto Protocol. She encouraged others to follow, noting that 143 ratifications are necessary for the amendment to enter into force.
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS: On the supplementary provisional agenda (FCCC/SBI/2013/1/Add.1), the Russian Federation, with Belarus and Ukraine, introduced a proposal for a new item on procedural and legal issues relating to decision-making by the COP and CMP, in response to “deficiencies in the UNFCCC’s application of UN system rules of procedure, norms and principles.”
Fiji, for the Group of 77 and China (G-77/China), proposed proceeding on the basis of the provisional agenda (FCCC/SBI/2013/1). Acknowledging the importance of adopting the rules of procedure, the European Union (EU) stressed it was not for the SBI to adopt these rules.
Chair Chruszczow proposed that the SBI launch its work based on the supplementary provisional agenda (FCCC/SBI/2013/1/Add.1) without adopting it and invite SBI Vice-Chair Robert Van Lierop (Saint Kitts and Nevis) to consult informally on the proposed new item. The Secretariat advised that parties could proceed based on the provisional agenda without adopting it, while consulting on whether to include the proposed supplementary item.
The Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine opposed starting work without adopting the agenda. Noting a lack of consensus, Chair Chruszczow suspended the meeting and invited heads of delegation to consult with him on the issue. Later on Monday afternoon , Chruszczow reported that his proposal to consider the issue raised by the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine under the agenda item on arrangements for intergovernmental meetings was not acceptable to many parties. He asked parties to consider a proposal by the G-77/China to launch the SBI’s work based on the supplementary provisional agenda without adopting it formally, pending inclusive consultations on the proposal. The Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine opposed.
Following informal consultations, the SBI plenary reconvened on Friday, 7 June. The G-77/China suggested addressing the item proposed by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus under the agenda item on arrangements for intergovernmental meetings. The EU agreed, suggesting adding assurances to the annotated agenda that the proposed item would be discussed. Alternatively, he suggested starting work without formally adopting the agenda, and revisiting the agenda issue later.
After further discussion, the G-77/China requested that the Chair clarify the legal options available. SBI Chair Chruszczow explained that the SBI can only adopt the agenda by consensus and the Chair cannot take decisions on matters of substance. China proposed that the Chair make a ruling to start work under SBI and conduct parallel consultations to explore the agenda issue. The G-77/China subsequently made a point of order, requesting the SBI Chair to make a ruling in accordance with China’s proposal. Chruszczow ruled to allow delegations on the speakers list to proceed with their interventions. The G-77/China appealed the ruling. The matter was put to a vote, with the Russian Federation voting in favor of continuing with the list of speakers and the majority of parties abstaining.
The Russian Federation stressed that discussions under the proposed agenda item would address issues of “systemic importance,” including the notion of consensus, the role of elected public officers and voting. Tuvalu, for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), observed that it was unclear whether the SBI has the competence to deal with procedural issues under the COP. He proposed, and parties agreed, to convene an open-ended Friends of the Chair meeting to consider how to address the proposed agenda item. Chair Chruszczow confirmed that the purpose of the meeting would be to discuss whether and how to address the concerns of the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine under the agenda item on arrangements for intergovernmental meetings.
The SBI plenary reconvened on Tuesday, 11 June. Detailing efforts to resolve the issue, SBI Chair Chruszczow lamented that the SBI had lost eight days of working time in Bonn. He proposed a “solution box,” including: a statement by the SBI Chair to provide assurance that issues related to decision-making would be addressed; inclusion of the Chair’s statement in the meeting’s report; and adoption of the SBI’s supplementary provisional agenda (FCCC/SBI/2013/1/Add.1), while deleting the proposed new item on procedural and legal issues related to decision-making by the COP and CMP. He stressed that immediately after adoption of the agenda, a contact group, co-chaired by the SBI Chair and Vice-Chair, would be established to consider legal and procedural issues related to decision-making by the COP and CMP under the agenda item on arrangements for intergovernmental meetings. SBI Chair Chruszczow invited parties to adopt the provisional agenda in accordance with the solution proposed. The Russian Federation, supported by Ukraine and Belarus, objected and stressed the need for an agenda that takes into account the interests of all parties.
The G-77/China emphasized the Group’s support for the SBI Chair’s efforts and for his proposal. Swaziland, for the African Group, and Nepal, for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), also supported the Chair’s proposal. Switzerland, for the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG), said it is difficult to understand why the Chair’s proposal is unacceptable to some parties. The EU supported the Chair’s proposal and, acknowledging the importance of the issue, stressed willingness to discuss the matter in a contact group.
Japan regretted the loss of working time under the SBI and supported the Chair’s proposal. Noting “unusually broad” agreement on the importance of the matter, the US supported the Chair’s proposal and stressed that lack of agreement would hold up SBI discussions on this and other important issues. Australia called for the SBI’s work “to get on its way.” Identifying the Chair’s proposal as “a good way forward,” New Zealand expressed willingness to discuss matters raised by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus. Supporting the SBI’s Chair’s approach, Canada agreed that the issues raised were important and needed to be discussed.
Highlighting the rules of procedure, Singapore noted that any party has the right to propose new agenda items but consensus is required for their inclusion on the agenda. He emphasized that otherwise there would be an incentive for parties to add new agenda items “at every meeting of the UNFCCC.” He expressed regret that the three proponents of the new item have not accepted “the normal courses of action” in such a situation either to reject the proposal or hold the proposed item in abeyance, while continuing consultations.
SBI Chair Chruszczow recalled that in Durban, parties decided to launch the work of the COP and CMP without adopting their agendas and worked hard to find a solution allowing for the agendas to be adopted at a later stage . He reiterated his proposal on the way forward, but the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine continued to oppose it.
Tuvalu requested that the SBI Chair rule on how to address the matter. Chair Chruszczow observed that the rules of procedure did not allow for voting and that decisions under the SBI must be taken by consensus. The G-77/China requested the Chair to apply the principle of necessity and “gavel the way forward,” saying this would be viewed as “a personal attempt by the Chair to save the countries of the world.” Chair Chruszczow suspended the meeting briefly.
When the meeting resumed, the Russian Federation stressed the importance of transparency, state sovereignty and political will, noting that “constant procedural problems” under the UNFCCC illustrate the rationale behind the proposed new agenda item. He stressed the need to examine decision-making procedures and prepare a COP decision on the rules of procedure. He underscored that the SBI Chair taking a decision on the agenda based on the principle of necessity would “fall outside any legal context” and that adopting the agenda without a consensus would be a “blatant breach” of the rules of procedure.
SBI Chair Chruszczow acknowledged the lack of consensus to adopt his proposal, saying “there is no way to start the SBI’s work.” Highlighting the need for transparency and inclusiveness, as well as confidence in the process and parties’ ownership of it, he noted that the Chair is in the service of the parties and that “it is up to the parties to save the world.”
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres acknowledged that the last hours of COP 18 were held in a context that “everyone would have preferred to have avoided.” She noted that such a context does not support the right of parties to be heard to the fullest. Figueres indicated that while all parties have expressed commitment to engage in discussions on decision-making, including in an informal setting, these discussions could neither continue without adoption of the agenda, nor could the SBI’s work begin. She expressed hope that the next time parties come together to consider the SBI’s work, deliberations could begin in a different spirit, with parties guided by the timely pursuit of the Convention’s ultimate objective.
SBI Chair Chruszczow informed parties that the SBI plenary would resume on Friday, 14 June, to close the session.
SBI/SBSTA Response Measures Forum: The Response Measures Forum workshops took place from 4-6 June, facilitated by SBSTA Chair Richard Muyungi and SBI Chair Tomasz Chruszczow. On Tuesday, 4 June, participants exchanged experiences and shared views on opportunities for economic diversification and transformation. Discussion focused on possible recommendations, trade issues and subsidies. For more details, see: http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12571e.html.
On Wednesday, 5 June, participants discussed just transition of the work force and creation of decent work and quality jobs. For more details, see:http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12572e.html.
On Thursday, 6 June, participants discussed assessment and analysis of impacts of the implementation of response measures. For more details, see:http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12573e.html.
On Friday, 7 June, participants discussed economic modeling and socio-economic trends. For more details, see: http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12574e.html.
Durban Forum on Capacity Building: The Durban Forum on Capacity Building took place on 4 and 6 June, co-facilitated by Helen Plume (New Zealand) and Kishan Kumarsingh (Trinidad and Tobago). Participants heard presentations and discussed building capacity for: mitigation, adaptation, and gender and climate interlinkages.For more details, see: http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12571e.html and http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12573e.html.
Dialogue on Implementation of the Doha Work Programme on Convention Article 6:The Dialogue on implementation of the Doha Work Programme on Convention Article 6 (education, training and public awareness) took place on 10 and 11 June 2013, co-facilitated by Adriana Valenzuela (Dominican Republic) and Richard Merzian (Australia). For more details, see: http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12576e.html and http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12577e.html.
CLOSING PLENARY: The SBI closing plenary took place on Friday, 14 June. Recalling that parties were not able to adopt the agenda, SBI Chair Chruszczow reminded parties that “this is your process and you are the only ones who can bring the solutions.” He called on parties to share ideas on how to come to Warsaw prepared to deliver on all items, especially those where “major deliverables” are expected.
Observer organizations made closing statements first. The Climate Action Network (CAN) expressed disappointment with the missed opportunity to strengthen action. Underscoring the need for progress on loss and damage, he emphasized that local communities suffered on a daily basis throughout Germany, Europe and the globe. LDC Watch urged parties to work together constructively to establish an international mechanism on loss and damage. Youth NGOs reminded parties that “we are not here to discuss what is politically feasible but what is scientifically necessary.” She promised “to stand in solidarity with your children, even if at the negotiating table you are either unable, or unwilling to stand with them yourselves.”
The G-77/China expressed “deep disappointment” that the SBI was not able to commence its work due to lack of agreement on the agenda. He said this is “not the time for reprobation or finger-pointing,” but for collectively reflecting on the UNFCCC decision-making processes, noting the need for consistency and clarity on the interpretation of the rules of procedure. He called on the Secretariat, SBI Chair and parties to resolve the SBI impasse prior to SBI 39.
Underscoring that work under the SBI and SBSTA is crucial for progress under the ADP, the EU expressed disappointment with the lack of progress under the SBI, including on: loss and damage, nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs), and the 2013-15 Review.
Nauru, for AOSIS, stressed that procedural issues must not impede substantive work and encouraged the Chair to forward draft text emerging from informal work during SBI 38 for consideration in Warsaw. She emphasized loss and damage as a “fundamental issue.” Mexico, for the EIG, expressed disappointment that the SBI had not been able to conduct its work. He said what happened in Bonn “speaks loudly” on the need to define decision-making procedures under the UNFCCC based on good faith and cooperation, and expressed willingness to discuss the issue, including the related proposal on the COP agenda by Papua New Guinea and Mexico to amend Convention Article 15 related to voting.
Nepal, for the LDCs, expressed disappointment with parties’ inability to launch the SBI’s work in Bonn. He highlighted progress on national adaptation plans (NAPs), including on technical guidance and the NAP expo held in Bonn. Swaziland, for the African Group, noted his disappointment with the inability to discuss issues under the SBI and stressed that a delay in negotiations means a delay in implementation. Emphasizing that what happened in Bonn creates a precedent that cannot be repeated, Colombia, for the Independent Association for Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC), urged solving the current SBI situation.
Belarus, for Ukraine and the Russian Federation, regretted that the results of the session were not satisfactory. He highlighted that almost all parties recognized the need to discuss their proposed new agenda item to “put an end to the violations that we have repeatedly seen in the UNFCCC process.” He hoped that parties use the time before Warsaw to find mutually acceptable solutions.
Tuvalu pointed to the “supreme irony” of “using procedure to make the process even worse,” which he compared to “deliberately crashing a car to show that the seatbelts do not work.”
Underscoring the critical role of the SBI, Australia expressed disappointment with the lack of resolution on the SBI agenda and supported an open discussion of the issues raised. He also noted the need for progress on items, including: loss and damage; transparency and clarity; review of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); means of implementation; and the 2013-15 Review. The US expressed “dismay” that the SBI was unable to begin its work, noting, however, that the matter raised by the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine is important. He emphasized that all parties have a stake in ensuring an orderly process and it is important for parties to be recognized and heard. He called for finding a way forward before Warsaw. Japan said he was disappointed with the lack of substantive discussions under the SBI, especially on the budget, loss and damage, and NAMAs. He called for avoiding a similar situation in Warsaw to prevent damaging credibility of the process. New Zealand observed that good process is of fundamental importance for the functioning of the UNFCCC and called for an open discussion and a solution before Warsaw.
In a video address, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Minister of the Environment, Peru, expressed confidence that Peru would receive support from all parties to ensure the success of COP 20 in 2014. Wishing Peru every success, Venezuela noted that they were pleased to be hosting the pre-COP.
SBI Chair Chruszczow thanked delegates for their “constructive, positive and forward looking statements.” He noted that although consensus could not be reached on the SBI agenda, judging by what had been said, parties “will come to Warsaw with a new spirit of compromise, trust, openness and understanding.” Quoting Desmond Tutu, he said: “differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.” He then closed SBI 38 at 4:20 pm.
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
SBSTA 38 opened on Monday, 3 June, with Richard Muyungi (Tanzania) continuing as the Chair. Parties adopted the agenda and agreed to the organization of work (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/1).
OPENING STATEMENTS: Fiji, for the G-77/China, stressed, inter alia, that guidelines for biennial update reports should build on existing domestic systems and capacity, and allow for voluntary use of independent third-party verification at the domestic level. The EU called for progress on all SBSTA agenda items, particularly agriculture as a potential sector to progress on both mitigation and adaptation.
The Republic of Korea, for the EIG, called for decisions on the framework for various approaches and the new market-based mechanism (NMM) to establish a pilot phase at COP 19. Australia, for the Umbrella Group, called for progress on the work programme on market- and non-market-based approaches.
Swaziland, for the African Group, highlighted the need for progress on the Nairobi work programme on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability (NWP); and addressing agriculture to enhance food security and build resilience. Nepal, for the LDCs, urged a focus on, inter alia: “concrete outcomes” on the NWP; finalizing the institutional arrangements between the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and Technology Executive Committee (TEC); and ensuring a role for science in the 2013-15 Review.
Papua New Guinea, for the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, called for finalization of work on: MRV; national reporting; and payments for results-based action. She supported the establishment of a REDD+ committee. Bolivia, for the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), cited vulnerability as a “top priority” linked to the provision of technology, finance and capacity building.
Thailand, for the like-minded developing countries (LMDC), said the Doha outcome on Annex I countries’ ambition was “extremely disappointing.” He stressed that NAMAs must not create new obligations for developing countries. Chile, for AILAC, urged progress on market and non-market approaches. India, for Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC), called for: progress on intellectual property rights; agriculture discussions to focus only on adaptation; and for the COP to provide guidance to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Climate Justice Now described market-based mechanisms as environmentally and socially flawed. CAN said that discussions on the NMM should reflect environmental integrity and warned against double-counting. The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change called for respecting indigenous peoples’ rights to forests and lands and ensuring their full and effective participation in all phases of REDD+.
NAIROBI WORK PROGRAMME: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/2, FCCC/SBSTA/2013/INF.1 and FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.2) was considered by the SBSTA plenary on 3 June, and in informal consultations co-facilitated by Donald Lemmen (Canada) and Juan Hoffmaister (Bolivia).
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.9), the SBSTA, inter alia:
• agrees to continue discussion of the NWP at SBSTA 39 on the basis of: considering the scope of the NWP through additional cross-cutting issues, as agreed in the annex of Decision 2/CP.11; sequencing activities and engaging adaptation practitioners; and developing linkages with adaptation-related workstreams and bodies under the Convention;
• requests the Secretariat to prepare a technical paper before SBSTA 39 and organize a technical expert meeting before SBSTA 40 on best practices and available tools for the use of indigenous knowledge and practices for adaptation, the application of gender-sensitive approaches, and tools for understanding impacts, vulnerability and adaptation;
• expresses readiness to support the Adaptation Committee in the implementation of relevant activities through the NWP;
• invites submission from parties and relevant organizations by 2 September 2013 on how to enhance the relevance of the NWP; and
• initiates its reconsideration of the NWP work areas in line with the mandate of Decision 6/CP.17 based on, inter alia, the draft text annexed to the SBSTA conclusions.
METHODOLOGICAL GUIDANCE FOR REDD+: This issue was first addressed in the plenary on Monday, 3 June. It was further considered in a contact group and informal consultations co-chaired by Peter Graham (Canada) and Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Philippines).
These discussions resulted in draft COP 19 decisions on: modalities for national forest monitoring systems; timing and frequency of presentations of the summary of information on how all the safeguards in Decision 1/CP.16 are addressed and respected; and addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. In addition, text with elements for possible draft decisions was forwarded to SBSTA 39 on: modalities for MRV; and guidelines and procedures for the technical assessment of party submissions on forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels.
On MRV, parties’ views diverged on whether information on forest-related emissions should be subject to international consultation and analysis (ICA) or some other type of assessment. Many developing countries supported that ICA be applied, while a number of developed countries stressed the need to ensure that the information provided is accurate, transparent and consistent over time, which could be assured through other types of assessments. Text indicating that the information reported is subject to ICA remains in brackets.
Parties also discussed at length technical assessment of information submitted for the estimation of forest-related emissions and the role of technical experts, including whether recommendations could be provided and clarifications required. Many highlighted that some of these issues should be considered during the SBI discussions on ICA. Parties agreed on specific aspects of technical assessment, while also including a footnote indicating that the process outlined in the draft text does not “intend to prejudge related decisions pending under ICA, including those related to the technical team of experts.” A number of developing countries underscored the need to foster capacity building and provide support for MRV.
Work will continue based on the text on possible elements for a draft decision on MRV. During the closing plenary, many parties expressed their willingness to make substantive progress on this issue at COP 19.
On guidelines for the technical assessment of submissions on forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels, divergences centered on the type of feedback that the technical assessment could provide to developing country parties, including the possibilities of providing recommendations, suggestions or guidance. A number of developing countries highlighted that, in principle, ICA should be “non-intrusive.” Parties also discussed in detail the guidelines for the technical assessment, with divergent views remaining on the timing provided for the different steps of the revision process, with some favoring a step-wise approach to enable incorporating lessons learned through its implementation.
On information on how the safeguards are addressed, some parties drew attention to the need to share experiences and best practices. They agreed to invite submissions on this issue and to request the Secretariat to compile them. On the timing and the frequencyof presentations of the summary of information on how safeguards are addressed and respected, parties discussed whether this information should be presented only through national communications or also through biennial update reports, with some developing countries emphasizing that submissions through biennial update reports should be on a voluntary basis. Many parties highlighted the linkage of provision of this information with receiving international support for the full implementation of the results-based actions, but parties did not agree on language to reflect this.
On addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, a number of developing countries underscored that the drivers should be addressed through implementation of national strategies and action plans. They also underscored the uniqueness of countries’ national circumstances. Some parties commented on the linkages between drivers of deforestation and agriculture, as well as with international trade.
Parties agreed to reflect in a preambular paragraph that livelihoods may be dependent on activities related to drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, and that addressing these drivers may have an economic cost and implications for domestic resources. During the SBSTA closing plenary, Tuvalu highlighted that the reference to “livelihoods” should not be interpreted so as to mean that indigenous peoples are the drivers of deforestation but, on the contrary, could be the victims of the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. Supported by the Philippines, he called for removing this ambiguity at COP 19. The International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change emphasized that traditional livelihoods are not related to drivers of deforestation but instead have contributed both to adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
Parties also addressed non-carbon benefits, as mandated by COP 18. Some developing countries highlighted the potential of considering compensation for the provision of non-carbon benefits. Other developing countries highlighted difficulties with measuring non-carbon benefits and that other international organizations, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, have been addressing the issue. Parties eventually agreed to organize activities to further explore, and provide clarity on, the issue, including through submissions.
On non-market based approaches, parties agreed that further clarity is needed on the issue and agreed to invite submissions and hold a workshop, subject to availability of resources.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/ L.12, Add.1, 2 & 3), the SBSTA:
• decides to recommend a draft decision on modalities for national forest monitoring systems for adoption by COP 19;
• agrees to continue its work on methodological guidance for MRV on the basis of the elements contained in Annex I to the conclusions for a possible draft decision, with the aim of completing this work at SBSTA 39; and
• agrees to continue its work on guidance for the technical assessment of the proposed forest reference emissions levels and/or forest reference levels on the basis of elements contained in Annex II to the conclusions, with the aim of completing this work at SBSTA 39.
On safeguards, the SBSTA:
• encourages developing countries to continue building experiences and best practices;
• invites developing countries to submit, by 24 September 2014, their views on experiences and lessons learned and requests the Secretariat to compile the submissions for consideration at SBSTA 41;
• invites parties and observers to submit, by 24 September 2014, their views on the type of information from systems for providing information on how the safeguards are being addressed, and request the Secretariat to compile them for consideration at SBSTA 41;
• decides to recommend a draft decision on the timing and the frequency of presentations of the summary of information on how all the safeguards are being addressed and respected for adoption by COP 19; and,
• agrees to consider at SBSTA 41 the need for further guidance.
On drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, the SBSTA:
• recognizes the importance of cross-sector coordination in the context of the development of national strategies or action plans in addressing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation;
• further recognizes that international cooperation can contribute to addressing the drivers; and,
• decides to recommend a draft decision for consideration by COP 19.
On non-market based approaches, the SBSTA:
• notes that non-market-based approaches, such as joint mitigation and adaptation approaches for the integral and sustainable management of forests are important to support the implementation of the activities referred to in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70;
• further notes the need for clarity on the types of these approaches and takes note of the relationship between this issue and the provision of adequate and predictable support, including financial resources;
• invites parties and observers to submit, by 26 March 2014, their views on methodological guidance for non-market-based approaches, and requests the Secretariat to compile the submissions and organize an in-session workshop at SBSTA 40; and,
• decides to continue consideration of methodological guidance at SBSTA 40.
On non-carbon benefits,the SBSTA: takes note of ongoing work on the issue under other international organizations and conventions; agrees that clarity is needed on the types of non-carbon benefits and associated methodological issues; invites submissions by parties and observers by 26 March 2014; and requests the Secretariat to compile them for consideration by SBSTA 40.
The decision contains two annexes, one on elements for a possible draft decision on modalities for MRV, and the other on elements for a possible draft decision on guidelines and procedures for the technical assessment of submissions from parties on proposed forest reference emission levels and/or forest reference levels.
COORDINATION OF SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES IN RELATION TO MITIGATION ACTIONS IN THE FOREST SECTOR BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: This issue (FCCC/SB/2013/MISC.3 and Add.1) was first addressed by the SBSTA on Monday, 3 June.
The US indicated that the COP in Doha only mandated party submissions and a workshop on this issue, while Guyana stated that the COP mandated “a process, not just a workshop.” A joint SBI/SBSTA contact group was established, co-chaired by Madeleine Diouf (Senegal) and Keith Anderson (Switzerland). No negotiations took place, however, as the SBI did not agree on its agenda.
A workshop on this issue took place on Friday, 7 June. For more details, see: http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12574e.html.
TECHNOLOGY: This issue (FCCC/SB/2013/INF.5) was briefly considered by the SBSTA on 3 June and subsequently considered in a contact group and informal consultations co-chaired by Majid Al Suwaidi (United Arab Emirates) and Stig Svennigsen (Norway).
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.11), the SBSTA, inter alia:
• commends UNEP, as the Climate Technology Centre (CTC) host, for making arrangements to promptly launch the work of the CTC, including convening the first meeting of the CTCN Advisory Board;
• encourages the CTCN Advisory Board to submit its report on modalities and procedures of the CTCN and its Advisory Board with a view to making a decision at COP 19;
• requests the CTCN Advisory Board, in elaborating those modalities and procedures, to take into account: Decisions 1/CP.16, paras. 120 and 123, 2/CP. 17, para. 135 and 2/CP.17, Annex VII; and coherence and synergy within the Technology Mechanism in accordance with Decision 1/CP.18, para. 59;
• welcomes parties’ nominations of their national designated entities (NDEs), underlines NDEs’ essential role in the operationalization of the CTCN and encourages parties that have not yet nominated their NDEs to urgently do so; and
• requests the CTCN Advisory Board, in elaborating modalities and procedures of the CTCN, to consult with stakeholders, in particular NDEs, on: how technical support may be provided to NDEs on requests from developing countries; and how interaction is enabled between the CTC, NDEs and the CTCN.
RESEARCH AND SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.4, FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.5 & Add. 1 and FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.6 & Adds. 1-2) was considered by the SBSTA on 3 June. It was subsequently taken up in informal consultations by Christopher Moseki (South Africa) and Christiana Textor (Germany).
The SBSTA Research Dialogue convened on 4 June. For more details, see: http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12571e.html.
• stresses the important role of capacity building and encourages increased efforts towards a higher level of participation by scientists from developing countries;
• invites party submissions on topics for consideration at SBSTA 40;
• notes enhanced availability and visibility of scientific information on the UNFCCC website and requests that the Secretariat report on this work to SBSTA 40;
• takes note of parties’ views on the content of a workshop to be held at SBSTA 39 on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items, such as coastal marine ecosystems, in the context of wider mitigation and adaptation efforts; and
• requests that the Secretariat prepare a report on the workshop before SBSTA 40.
RESPONSE MEASURES: Forum and work programme: The SBSTA first considered this issue (FCCC/SB/2013/INF.2, INF.3. and INF.4) on 3 June. No joint SBSTA/SBI contact group on this issue was possible since the SBI was unable to agree on its agenda.
Four in-forum workshops co-chaired by SBSTA Chair Muyungi and SBI Chair Chruszczow took place, summarized under the SBI above (see page 4).
Protocol Article 2.3 (adverse effects of policies and measures): Parties disagreed on whether to consider this issue together with the item on response measures. The report of the session reflects that SBSTA and SBI will continue consultations on how to consider this item at SB 39.
AGRICULTURE: This item was first address by the SBSTA on 3 June and subsequently in a contact group co-chaired by Hans Åke Nilsagård (Sweden) and Esther Magambo (Kenya).
Discussions focused on elements of a draft COP decision. Many developing countries emphasized common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), adaptation and means of implementation and some countries requested workshops on some of these issues. Some developed countries stated their objective is to provide farmers with access to science and technological advice to improve resilience, productivity and efficiency, and one developed country urged inclusion of mitigation.
After discussion of an initial draft decision text, with some parties producing additional texts, consensus could not be reached whether to annex a draft decision text to the SBSTA conclusions. Australia suggested that if there was no agreement to annex a text, parties could consider a workshop at COP 19 on areas of convergence, namely adaptation and co-benefits. Egypt, for the G-77/China, proposed an in-session workshop in Warsaw and submissions on “adaptation and additional co-benefits,” which many parties supported.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.20), the SBSTA, inter alia, invites submissions from parties and observer organizations by 2 September 2013 on the current state of scientific knowledge on how to enhance the adaptation of agriculture to climate change impacts while promoting rural development, sustainable development and productivity of agricultural systems and food security in all countries, particularly developing ones. This should take into account the diversity of agricultural systems and the differences in scale as well as possible adaptation co-benefits.
The SBSTA also requests the Secretariat to organize an in-session workshop at SBSTA 39 on the same issues and prepare a report on the workshop for consideration at SBSTA 40.
METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES UNDER THE CONVENTION: Work programme on the revision of the guidelines for the review of developed country biennial reports and national communications, including national inventory reviews: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/INF.2) was first addressed by the SBSTA on 3 June and was subsequently taken up in a contact group chaired by Riitta Pipatti (Finland) and Qiang Liu (China).
• requests the lead reviewers to discuss options to improve cost-effectiveness, efficiency and practicality of the review process;
• concludes that the review of national communications should be conducted in conjunction with the review of biennial reports in the years when both are submitted and agreed that the same information would be reviewed only once;
• acknowledges concerns of parties with small-scale economies with the format of reviews, and agrees that further discussions on the specific format and combination of reviews will be held during a workshop in October 2013;
• concludes that supplementing the expert review teams with a standing group of experts, or introducing service fees for review experts, could be explored;
• identifies two alternatives to detailing and restructuring the work on the revision of the review guidelines: revision of the review guidelines for national communications, biennial reports and GHG inventories envisaging that the structure and elements of the review guidelines would include a general approach and specific requirements; or that the review guidelines for national communications, biennial reports and GHG inventories should consist of three separate review guidelines;
• invites submissions by 15 July 2013, inter alia, on the scope, structure, timing, outline and publication of review reports, and specific views on key elements of the review guidelines for national communications and biennial reports;
• highlights the importance of training for the review, in particular for developing countries’ experts, and requests the Secretariat to begin the development of new training materials and procedures, to be presented at SBSTA 39; and
• requests the Secretariat to review the nomination form for the UNFCCC roster of experts and to inform parties of any changes.
General guidelines for domestic MRV of domestically supported NAMAs by developing countries: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.7 and Add.1) was first addressed by the SBSTA on 3 June, and subsequently discussed in a contact group co-chaired by Qiang Liu (China) and Sarah Kuen (Belgium). During these meetings, developing country parties supported general guidelines that build on existing domestic systems and capacities, while some developed country parties suggested identifying elements of the guidelines.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.19), the SBSTA:
• takes note of the views of parties;
• initiates the process of the development of the guidelines and agrees to continue this process at SBSTA 39 based on elements of the general guidelines contained in the annex to the SBSTA conclusions, without prejudging where these elements should be placed, in the draft decision or the draft guidelines; and
• reiterates that it will forward draft guidelines to COP 19.
Revision of the UNFCCC reporting guidelines on Annex I annual inventories: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.14 &Add.1) was first addressed by the SBSTA on 3 June and subsequently taken up in a contact group chaired by Riitta Pipatti (Finland) and Chebet Maikut (Uganda).
• advances its work on the draft UNFCCC Annex I inventory guidelines, including common reporting format (CRF) tables, and agrees to continue its discussions at SBSTA 39, with a view to forwarding a draft decision to COP 19;
• identifies the need to consider at SBSTA 39 the reporting of CO2 emissions related to ammonia production and urea application, and supplementary guidelines on wetlands and invited parties to submit views on these matters;
• notes that the completion of the CRF Reporter, at the latest in June 2014, is critical for parties to use for submission of their national inventories in 2015, and requests the Secretariat to continue to update the Reporter with a view to making it available to parties for testing in the fourth quarter of 2013; and
• notes that there may be differences in reporting emissions/removals from harvested wood products due to the alternative approaches to estimate the contribution of such products to annual emissions/removals, and agrees to continue discussions on this matter at SBSTA 39.
Greenhouse gas data interface: This issue was first taken up by the SBSTA on 3 June and subsequently discussed in a contact group chaired by Chia Ha (Canada).
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.4), the SBSTA inter alia:
• recognizes the need to make changes to the interface if COP 19 adopts changes to the Annex I reporting guidelines; and
• agrees to consider further development of the GHG data interface at SBSTA 39.
Emissions from fuel used for international aviation and maritime transport: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.15) was first discussed by the SBSTA plenary on 3 June, and in informal consultations by SBSTA Chair Muyungi.
The IMO reported that mandatory energy efficiency measures for new ships recently entered into force. Several developing countries outlined elements that should guide the ICAO and IMO in addressing emissions from international aviation and maritime transport, including: Protocol Article 2.2 (Annex I parties’ emission reductions from international transport); respect for CBDR; and recognition of the legal distinction between developed and developing countries’ obligations. China added that market-based mechanisms should not link unilateral measures with multilateral processes. Japan noted that IMO’s decision on technical cooperation states that parties are “cognizant” of CBDR and opposed applying CBDR to ships because of their complex legal administration. Australia stressed that ICAO and IMO have their own principles and provisions. Singapore called for the “most competent bodies” to develop measures to limit emissions and sustain growth in the sectors.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.18), the SBSTA takes note of the information received from ICAO and IMO on their ongoing work to address emissions from their respective sectors. It invites the ICAO and IMO to continue reporting to future sessions of the SBSTA.
METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES UNDER THE PROTOCOL: Implication of the implementation of Decisions 2/CMP.7 to 4/CMP.7 and 1/CMP.8 on the previous decisions on methodological issues related to the Protocol, including Protocol Articles 5 (national systems), 7 (GHG inventories) and 8 (expert review): This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/INF.3, FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.1 & Adds. 1-2) was considered by the SBSTA plenary on 3 June, and in a contact group and informal consultations co-chaired by Nagmeldin Elhassan (Sudan) and Anke Herold (Germany).
• notes that considerable progress will need to be made in 2013 on: references to the calculation of assigned amounts and the first commitment period; implementation modalities in relation to the standard electronic format tables related to carry-over, previous period surplus reserve accounts, Article 3.7 ter of the Protocol, reporting on the share of proceeds and any increases of ambition; and clarification of reporting requirements for Annex I parties without a commitment during the second commitment period;
• invites party submissions, in particular, on the draft changes to the CRF tables for reporting LULUCF activities during the second commitment period;
• requests the Secretariat to prepare draft CRF tables and update the technical paper contained in FCCC/TP/2012/6; and
• agrees to continue discussions at SBSTA 39 with a view to preparing draft CMP 9 decisions, taking into account the draft text contained in the annex to the SBSTA conclusions.
LULUCF under Protocol Articles 3.3 (afforestation, reforestation and deforestation) and 3.4 (additional activities) and under the CDM: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.8 & Add.1) was addressed by the SBSTA plenary on Monday, 3 June, and in a contact group and informal consultations co-chaired by Marcelo Rocha (Brazil) and Lucia Perugini (Italy).
Issues discussed included: a more comprehensive accounting of anthropogenic emissions; possible additional LULUCF activities under the CDM; and modalities and procedures for applying the concept of additionality. Parties agreed on the need to further discuss these issues.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.5), the SBSTA:
• takes note of the views submitted by parties and observers on questions related to LULUCF;
• agrees to continue consideration of issues relating to more comprehensive accounting of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks from LULUCF at SBSTA 39;
• agrees to continue consideration of issues relating to modalities and procedures for possible additional LULUCF activities under the CDM and procedures for alternative approaches to addressing the risk of non-permanence under the CDM at SBSTA 39, and invites submissions by 2 September 2013;
• requests the Secretariat to organize a workshop to address possible additional LULUCF activities; and
• agrees to continue consideration of issues relating to modalities and procedures for applying the concept of additionality at SBSTA 39, inviting parties’ and observers’ submissions by 2 September 2013.
Lands with Forest in Exhaustion under the CDM: This issue was first addressed in the SBSTA plenary on Monday, 3 June. It was further addressed in a contact group and informal consultations chaired by Eduardo Sanhueza (Chile).
Issues discussed included the implications of a possible revision to the eligibility of lands as CDM afforestation and reforestation project activities during the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.14), the SBSTA invites parties’ submissions by 19 February 2014 on the implications of a possible revision to the eligibility of lands as CDM afforestation and reforestation project activities during the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, and requests the Secretariat to compile the submissions for consideration by SBSTA 40.
Market and non-market mechanisms under the Convention:The SBSTA opened all issues related to market and non-market mechanisms on 3 June.
At the closing SBSTA plenary on 14 June, the Philippines, supported by Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and India, commented on workshops agreed during SBSTA 38 on market and non-market mechanisms, stressing the need for: balanced representation and support to ensure effective participation of developing country parties; balanced treatment of issues with respect to determination of themes and selection of presenters; transparency; and the workshops to be open to all parties and held back-to back with the formal sessions to avoid overlaps.
Framework for various approaches (FVA): This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.11, Add.1 and MISC.16) was first taken up by the SBSTA plenary on 3 June. It was subsequently addressed in a contact group and in informal consultations co-chaired by Giza Gaspar Martins (Angola) and Martin Cames (Germany).
Discussions covered: the role of the FVA, including its linkages with other relevant matters under the Convention and its instruments; technical design of the FVA, including how its elements may be elaborated; and further steps.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.6), the SBSTA, inter alia: agrees to continue consideration of this matter at SBSTA 39; invites submissions from parties and observers on the role and technical design of the FVA; and requests the Secretariat to organize a workshop on the same issue prior to SBSTA 39, ensuring broad participation of developing and developed countries.
Non-market-based approaches: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.12, Add.1 and MISC.13) was first taken up during the SBSTA plenary on 3 June. It was subsequently addressed in a contact group and informal consultations co-chaired by Eduardo Sanhueza (Chile) and Nataliya Kushko (Ukraine).
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.7), the SBSTA, inter alia: agrees to continue consideration of non-market-based approaches at SBSTA 39; invites parties and observers to submit views on elements of the work programme and specific examples of non-market-based approaches; and requests the Secretariat to organize a workshop on non-market-based approaches prior to SBSTA 39, ensuring broad participation of developing and developed countries.
New market-based mechanism (NMM):This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.9 & Adds. 1-2 and FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.10) was first taken up during the SBSTA plenary on 3 June. It was subsequently addressed in a SBSTA contact group and informal consultations co-chaired by Collin Beck (Solomon Islands) and Laurence Mortier (Switzerland).
Parties considered: the role of the NMM, including its links with other relevant matters under the Convention and its instruments; the technical design of the NMM, including how its possible elements may be embodied in modalities and procedures; and further steps.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.8), the SBSTA agrees to, inter alia: continue consideration of the NMM and invite discussions at SBSTA 39 on the role and technical design of NMM; invite submissions from parties and observers on their views on the role and technical design of the NMM; and request the Secretariat to organize a workshop on the role and technical design of the NMM prior to SBSTA 39, while ensuring broad participation of developing and developed countries.
2013-15 REVIEW: Decision 1/CP.18 invited the SBSTA and the SBI to establish a joint contact group on this item and also established a structured expert dialogue on this matter.
Parties agreed during the SBSTA opening plenary on 3 June to consider this item jointly with the SBI agenda item on the 2013-2015 Review and to establish a joint contact group co-chaired by Gertraud Wollansky (Austria) and Leon Charles (Vanuatu). The group did not convene since the SBI did not reach agreement on its agenda.
An in-session workshop took place on 5 June, under the structured expert dialogue of the 2013-15 Review, co-facilitated by Zhou Ji (China) and Andreas Fischlin (Switzerland). Participants addressed the adequacy of the long-term global goal in light of the ultimate objective of the Convention and overall progress made towards achieving it, including consideration of the implementation of the commitments under the Convention. For more details, see:www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12572e.html.
Co-facilitators Ji and Fischlin also conducted bilateral consultations with negotiating groups. The next structured expert dialogue will take place in conjunction with SBSTA 39 where consideration of this issue will continue.
WORK PROGRAMME ON CLARIFICATION OF DEVELOPED COUNTRY QUANTIFIED ECONOMY-WIDE EMISSION TARGETS: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.3 & Add.1) was briefly considered by the SBSTA plenary on 3 June. It was subsequently taken up in in a contact group co-chaired by Karine Hertzberg (Norway) and Brian Mantlana (South Africa).
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.13), the SBSTA, inter alia: initiates the work programme; welcomes the information exchange during the in-session event on developed countries’ quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets; and agrees to continue its consideration of the matter at SBSTA 39 with a view to reporting on progress to COP 19.
SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE: This issue was first taken up during the SBSTA plenary on 3 June. It was subsequently addressed in informal consultations co- chaired by George Wamukoya (Swaziland) and Mikhail Gitarskiy (Russian Federation).
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.3), the SBSTA agreed to continue its consideration of the matter at SBSTA 40, taking into account the best available scientific information on mitigation, in particular information from the IPCC and the ongoing work of other Convention bodies on related matters.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: This issue (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/INF.4) was first taken up during the SBSTA plenary on 3 June. SBSTA Chair Muyungi prepared conclusions in consultation with interested parties.
SBSTA Conclusions: In its conclusions (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.16), the SBSTA, inter alia: takes note of activities and efforts of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification to advance the implementation of actions to address climate; reaffirms the importance of the Secretariat engaging with other intergovernmental organizations; and encourages the Secretariat to seek support, where appropriate, from relevant international organizations and to work in partnership with them towards effective implementation of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.
CLOSING PLENARY: The SBSTA closing plenary convened on Friday, 14 June, and adopted the meeting’s report (FCCC/SBSTA/2013/L.1).
Fiji, for the G-77/China, welcomed work on, inter alia, the NWP and called for concrete adaptation actions on the ground. He reaffirmed the importance of addressing response measures, calling for discussions on unilateral measures. On agriculture, he stressed that the focus must remain on adaptation and underlined the importance of the Convention’s principles, including CBDR.
The EU welcomed conclusions on the NWP, agriculture and REDD+. He also cited important work on the work programme for clarification of pledges, but noted that without work on the diversity of NAMAs under the SBI, it is not possible to “see the full picture.” He called for finalizing, in Warsaw, rules for the implementation of Protocol Articles 5, 7 and 8 during the second commitment period.
Australia, for the Umbrella Group, welcomed outcomes on, inter alia, technology, MRV, agriculture and the NWP. On REDD+, she thanked delegates for “rising to the challenges of a packed agenda.”
The Republic of Korea, for the EIG, welcomed progress and new ideas on markets, including credited NAMAs, and, citing EIG members’ experience with the Protocol’s flexibility mechanisms, said these tools could enhance ambition both before and after 2020. He welcomed references to small Annex I parties and avoiding double review of the same information in the national communications and biennial reports.
Swaziland, for the African Group, welcomed, “a breakthrough on agriculture after five years of stalemate.” On the NWP, she highlighted plans to prepare a technical paper on indigenous and traditional knowledge. On REDD+, she called for discussing coordination of support in a joint SBSTA/SBI contact group in Warsaw.
Nepal, for the LDCs, stressed the need for increased capacity to contribute to REDD+ and expressed disappointment with “not very action-oriented” conclusions on agriculture. On the FVA, he expressed hope that parties’ submissions will help create “a toolbox rather than a monster.”
Noting island communities are experiencing life-altering climate impacts, Nauru, for AOSIS, emphasized, inter alia: the 2013-15 Review as a priority to limit global average temperature rise to below 1.5ºC; the need to explore how a new market mechanism can reduce net emissions beyond offsetting; and how non-market-based mechanisms could target areas where market-based approaches have proven problematic.
Egypt, for the Arab Group, welcomed steps taken on agriculture and stressed the sector’s impact on livelihoods and food security. He underlined that the mistakes of the CDM and market mechanisms should not be repeated and noted support for non-market-based mechanisms as the core mechanisms under the Convention.
Papua New Guinea, for the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, welcomed progress on methodological guidance for REDD+, but noted that implementation requires adequate and predictable support. He also suggested that a new market-based mechanism should recognize the role of REDD+.
Highlighting climate vulnerability, food security and production in the region, Costa Rica, for the Central American Integration System (SICA), emphasized the need for support for adaptation, effective implementation of REDD+ and recognition that the region’s agricultural sector is transforming.
Algeria, for LMDC, highlighted, inter alia: the role of non-market mechanisms; the need to minimize adverse impacts of response measures, particularly unilateral measures; the need to focus discussions on agriculture on adaptation; and the need to observe CBDR in addressing emissions from international aviation and maritime transport.
Chile, for AILAC, welcomed successful work on, inter alia, NWP, REDD+, agriculture, FVA, NMM and the 2013-15 Review.
Business and Industry NGOs stated that market-oriented approaches offer the most cost-effective means to catalyze action and deployment of technologies, and reaffirmed support for the CTCN and TEC to provide means for business to engage with countries at a practical level.
CAN said parties must ensure climate policies related to agriculture include safeguards protecting, inter alia, food security, biodiversity and the rights of indigenous peoples, and called the REDD+ safeguards “toothless.” On FVA, he underscored the need for a strict accounting framework and increased mitigation ambition.
Climate Justice Now urged developed countries not to insert markets, which “are an ineffective tool,” in place of leadership. He underlined that REDD+ threatens forest peoples and the push toward a REDD+ market mechanism signals that “it is bound to fail.”
Farmers said the UNFCCC could make a “huge contribution” to food security, adaptation and resilience while helping close the mitigation gap. He called it “essential” to treat agriculture comprehensively and not to create “artificial” divisions between food security, adaptation and mitigation.
Saying she was part of the first generation to be affected by climate change at this scale, Youth NGOs called for more transparency and observer access, and for inclusion of intergenerational equity on the agenda.
SBSTA Chair Muyungi said delegates’ hard work has led to the SBSTA’s success and said he would work to ensure balanced participation in the intersessional workshops before COP 19. He gaveled the meeting to a close at 2:04 pm.
AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON THE DURBAN PLATFORM FOR ENHANCED ACTION
The opening plenary of the second part of ADP 2 took place on 4 June with Jayant Moreshver Mauskar (India) and Harald Dovland (Norway) continuing as Co-Chairs. The ADP’s work was based on the agenda (FCCC/ADP/2013/AGENDA) adopted at the first part of ADP 2.
For a summary of the ADP opening statements, see: http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12571e.html
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS: Election of officers: At the ADP closing plenary on 13 June, Co-Chair Mauskar announced Kishan Kumarsingh (Trinidad and Tobago) and Artur Runge-Metzger (EU) as the incoming ADP Co-Chairs and Isabel Di Carlo Quero (Venezuela) as the new Rapporteur.
IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL THE ELEMENTS OF DECISION 1/CP.17: The agenda item (FCCC/ADP/2013/L.2) on the implementation of all the elements of Decision 1/CP.17 (Durban Platform for Enhanced Action) includes Workstreams 1 (the 2015 agreement) and 2 (pre-2020 ambition). It was first taken up in the ADP opening plenary. Subsequent work was structured around workshops and roundtables, as well as an informal plenary held on Wednesday, 12 June. During the closing plenary on Thursday, 13 June the ADP adopted conclusions.
Workstream 1: Under Workstream 1 (ADP.2013.2. InformalSummary, ADP.2013.5.InformalSummary, ADP.2013. 7.InformalSummary, ADP.2013.8.InformalNote and ADP.2013. 9.InformalNote), a workshop took place on enhancing adaptation through the 2015 agreement. For more details, see:http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12573e.html. Two roundtables were also held on: variety of actions, which met throughout the first week; and linkages, which met on Tuesday, 11 June.
On proposals for the 2015 agreement, Bangladesh said the agreement must be: applicable to all; rules-based; predictable, robust, clear, enforceable and scientifically-sound; and take into account long-term perspectives, CBDR and equity, and loss and damage.
The EU proposed a step-wise approach to formulating mitigation commitments consisting of: exploration of options for post-2020 commitments; allowing parties to formulate and put forward their commitments; a review of proposed commitments assessing whether they are sufficient to meet the 2ºC targets; and inscribing commitments into the 2015 agreement. Switzerland proposed a hybrid approach to burden sharing, including: common rules and expectations; a consultative phase; and a common MRV system. He called for the consultative phase to include: a compilation of pledges; comparison of pledges against the 2°C degree objective; and cooperation to address remaining gaps. Australia elaborated on the design of a spectrum of commitments and highlighted the benefits of a hybrid approach, which would enable parties to take ownership of their bottom-up nationally determined commitment and robust internationally-agreed rules.
Calling for elaboration of an equity reference framework, the Gambia, for the LDCs, supported the use of metric and non-metric criteria, such as historical responsibility, future sustainable needs and vulnerabilities. Ethiopia proposed a hybrid approach based on, inter alia: historical and per capita emissions; the global temperature goal; quantified and apportioned atmospheric space; and quantified emission rights.
Chile emphasized the need to understand the mitigation potential of pledges ex ante to avoid double-counting and assess whether mitigation pledges are fair and based on equity. Mexico highlighted the need to identify areas for improvement and the link between efficient and transparent application of rules and their ability to impact the attainment of goals.
Parties also discussed the Brazilian proposal, which was advocated by several developing countries during the first part of ADP 2. Brazil explained that the proposal, originally made in 1997, addresses historical responsibility not just in terms of emissions, but also in terms of relative historical contributions to the temperature increase. On the proposal, he suggested that the SBSTA: invite the IPCC to carry out methodological work; invite parties to provide estimates of their historical emissions; and form an expert group to measure developed countries’ contributions to the temperature increase.
Ecuador proposed to: establish an international court of climate justice and promote the UN Declaration on the Rights of Nature as an instrument to protect the Earth and its ecosystems.
On transparency, accountability and support for actions,Mali called for a rules-based regime equipped with international review systems and a compliance mechanism with facilitative and enforcement functions, and suggested that the Standing Committee on Finance coordinate an international mechanism for MRV of support. Nepal, for the LDCs, said transparency measures should include a comparable and complete accounting system for support provided and received. Saudi Arabia underlined the need for reporting impacts of climate actions and reporting on finance.
The EU said countries should provide information on the type and scope of commitments and the sectors covered, as well as quantitative commitments and assumptions behind indicators used. Australia, supported by New Zealand, Norway, the US and Japan, stressed the importance of ex ante and ex posttransparency and accountability, emphasizing the need for: providing clarity to predict and quantify the impacts of parties’ commitments; understanding the methods used by parties to track their efforts; and tracking impacts and learning lessons to enhance actions. The US said accounting guidance should apply to all parties, be flexible, promote ambition, and avoid double-counting.
Switzerland said that: a common accounting framework is needed for all types of commitments; economy-wide emission reduction commitments may not need exact ex ante information; and transparency and accounting are key to both delivery and reception of support. The Republic of Korea suggested a workshop onex ante clarity.
Nauru, for AOSIS, stressed that transparency of mitigation commitments must be as robust as those under the Kyoto Protocol and be understood before adoption of commitments.
On finance, technology and capacity building, Norway said support would always be forthcoming if it resulted in action. India called for provision of concessional technology to allow developing countries to take early and effective action. China proposed considering a mechanism for technology transfer.
Colombia called for the inclusion of a review process for means of implementation in light of evolving needs, such as intensifying impacts of climate change. Peru drew attention to early action to avoid a steep rise in adaptation costs. Nepal underscored means of implementation for developing countries to deal with vulnerabilities and undertake a low-carbon development path. Nauru highlighted, inter alia, identification of sources, and scaling up provision, of climate finance.
To bridge the trust gap and address the challenge of the insufficient provision of means of implementation, the Republic of Korea proposed developing MRV for finance with clear definitions, baselines and scope. He called for improved coordination between existing mechanisms inside and outside the UNFCCC.
Australia said the 2020 finance goal must be seen in the context of effective mitigation action and transparent implementation of support. The EU stressed the need to ensure that existing institutions, such as the GCF, deliver and continue their work beyond 2020. Japan suggested that consideration of capacity building, technology transfer and finance in the 2015 agreement build on existing arrangements and discussions.
Mexico called for complementarities between national and international efforts, and private and public sources of finance. The Philippines cautioned against applying the notion of respective capabilities to developed countries’ commitments. Switzerland underscored the need for a strong enabling environment, a blend of public and private sources, and domestic and multilateral finance for a low-carbon future.
Discussions also addressed linkages between the workstreams, and between the Subsidiary Bodies and the ADP. India stressed the need to establish linkages between Workstreams 1 and 2, and to consider how the work of the SBs, the IPCC and the 2013-15 Review will inform the 2015 agreement.
Ecuador called for a focus on linkages between gaps in mitigation, finance, technology and adaptation. The EU called for submissions on the necessary mitigation and adaptation elements in the 2015 agreement. Switzerland stressed the need to link the new agreement with: the scientific reality, looking beyond fossil fuel emissions; and political realities, looking forward beyond adaptation and public funding. The US advocated a new agreement that is sellable to a broad audience of domestic constituencies.
During an informal plenary on Wednesday, 12 June, parties identified areas of convergence and those requiring further work.
The EU noted the need for submissions before Warsaw on key issues and invited the Co-Chairs to capture priority areas in a paper reflecting parties’ ideas. Switzerland urged that all “should commit to commit” in a COP 19 decision on mitigation. He called for: a common understanding of modalities of mitigation commitments; continuing to exchange views on fair differentiation; and elaborating elements of a process to “anchor” commitments. The US noted agreement on,inter alia: addressing mitigation through nationally determined contributions with rules that provide for transparent MRV but are flexible enough to be applicable to all; and that support will continue in the post-2020 period. New Zealand noted common views on a hybrid bottom-up and top-down approach.
India underlined that discussions on a dynamic interpretation of CBDR and the post-2015 structure, such as two-step or hybrid processes, need to refocus on the Convention’s principles. The Philippines, for the LMDC, and Saudi Arabia called for a focused process structured around the four pillars of the Convention. Chile, for AILAC, called for creative thinking and proposals on, inter alia: means of implementation; compliance and incentives; and ex ante and ex post review processes to ensure the necessary dynamism for enhancing ambition and participation.
Saudi Arabia highlighted linkages with the 2013-15 Review and response measures. Singapore highlighted areas for further work, including: the leadership role of developed countries; how to enhance implementation; how to clarify actions put forward by parties; and how to ensure that the rules facilitate universal participation. Nauru, for AOSIS, highlighted means of implementation and called for further work on linkages between existing institutions.
Workstream 2: Under this workstream (ADP.2013.3. InformalSummary, ADP.2013.4.InformalSummary, ADP.2013. 6.InformalSummary, ADP.2013.7.InformalSummary, ADP.2013. 8.InformalNote, ADP.2013.9.InformalNote and FCCC/TP/ 2013/4), a workshop took place on energy transformation on Friday, 7 June. For more details, see: http://www.iisd.ca/vol12/enb12574e.html. A series of roundtables on building a practical results-oriented approach to increasing pre-2020 ambition were held on Wednesday, 5 June; Saturday, 8 June; and Monday, 10 June.
During discussionson building a practical results-oriented approach to increasing pre-2020 ambition, UNEP presented its Emissions Gap Report 2012, highlighting the pre-2020 emissions gap of at least 8 Gt CO2 equivalent, and possibilities for closing the gap while reaping co-benefits.
China highlighted his country’s analysis showing that the emissions gap can be closed if Annex I countries achieve reductions of 25-40% below 1990 levels. Indonesia highlighted the need to understand opportunities and costs to catalyze action at the national level and how actions should be allocated among parties. Nepal, for LDCs, warned that international cooperative initiatives cannot replace mid- and long-term commitments.
Nauru, for AOSIS, proposed a technical process to deploy specific mitigation solutions. He underlined the importance of leveraging outside initiatives, even if they are not primarily addressing climate change. The EU outlined three areas of convergence: encouraging new pledges; increasing the ambition of existing pledges; and scaling up efforts in areas with high mitigation potential.
South Africa called for further discussion on: phasing out fossil fuel subsidies; supporting technology transfer; encouraging local innovation; and involving women and youth.
On enhancing finance, technology and capacity building, China underlined gaps in: mitigation; adaptation; equitable access to sustainable development based on historical responsibilities; and support to developing countries. The US underscored that, currently, emissions emitted every 12 years equal all historical emissions up to 1970.
The EU highlighted that policy choices made now, such as investment in fixed capital and infrastructure, have future impacts. He also said risk sharing and risk analysis are required to reduce risk and improve certainty of returns. Uganda observed that adjustments towards low-carbon development need to begin with informed policies, while also maintaining the development objectives of developing countries. Venezuela noted the need to transform unsustainable lifestyles and cautioned against leaving policy setting to the markets.
The US emphasized that a low-emissions development strategy is crucial for ensuring that domestic and donor spending are aligned with climate change and development objectives, but cautioned that there is “no silver bullet” to address the finance mobilization challenge.
China suggested using developed countries’ public finance as a catalyst to provide incentives for the private sector in capital and technology markets. Nauru, for AOSIS, called for a technical paper reflecting policy options for specific mitigation solutions in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon capture and storage. Indonesia highlighted the importance of considering enabling environments in developed countries and at the global level to mobilize finance and technology. South Africa cautioned against using global economic instability as an excuse for delaying the delivery of means of implementation, and stressed the need to focus on capitalizing the GCF.
Venezuela, for LMDC, supported by Mauritius, emphasized that developed countries’ emission reductions should be based on domestic actions and called for delivery of means of implementation. Brazil agreed with the need for structural changes in the economy and for low-carbon investment choices, but underscored that developed countries need to take the lead.
On the way forward to COP 19, Nauru, for AOSIS, supported by Nepal, Indonesia and Kenya, proposed: submissions, including on energy policies and technologies with emphasis on the scale of emission reductions, barriers and strategies to overcome those barriers; a technical paper compiling parties’ submissions on specific problems they face, with corresponding solutions from technical expert meetings; a technical workshop; and a ministerial roundtable at COP 19. The Philippines suggested broadening the proposal to also cover adaptation. Venezuela said it would be more useful to discuss “normative trends,” pilot practices and means to facilitate a paradigm shift.
The EU outlined encouraging new pledges and increasing ambition of existing pledges with developed countries in the lead; a decision on phasing out hydroflurocarbons (HFCs); elaborating the role of the UNFCCC in catalyzing international initiatives; and linking the UNFCCC to other processes, including the 2014 UN Leaders’ Summit.
China called for revisiting Annex I quantified emission limitation or reduction objectives (QELROs) and inviting Annex I parties not participating in the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol to undertake comparable targets. Mali, for the African Group, said parties should not focus on a particular option or sector and called for: a process to review support from Annex I parties; clarity on the delivery of the US$100 billion of annual long-term finance; and options to strengthen the price of carbon.
During an informal plenary on Wednesday, 12 June, parties identified areas of convergence and those requiring further work. Several developing countries underscored linkages between the workstreams, emphasizing that action to increase ambition under Workstream 2 is necessary to build trust and make progress toward a 2015 agreement under Workstream 1.
Several parties discussed HFCs, on which views differed. Switzerland, the Federated States of Micronesia, the EU and others identified the need to address HFCs also under the Montreal Protocol, while Venezuela, for the LMDC, opposed, indicating that the issue relates to GHGs and should therefore be considered only under the UNFCCC.
Among areas for further work, the EU identified land use, energy efficiency, renewables, carbon sequestration and sustainable development. Australia highlighted the energy sector as an area warranting technical work, while India, with Argentina, indicated that a technical paper on raising mitigation ambition and sectoral issues would be premature without clarity on which sectoral issues should be addressed.
Nauru, for AOSIS, proposed: targeted energy efficiency measures; a practical and action-oriented process to identify the most effective and scalable options for mitigation; harvesting mitigation potential in areas other than energy; and drawing upon the work taking place in other fora. Malaysia stated that with means of implementation, more could be accomplished by developing countries. Bangladesh stressed the need to reduce gaps and raise ambition in adaptation, finance, technology transfer and capacity building.
Nepal, for the LDCs, emphasized developed country leadership and called for: information on increasing the ambition of pledges; addressing barriers to enable action; review of targets under the Kyoto Protocol; implementation of pledges by Annex I parties not participating in the second commitment period; removal of conditionalities; and submission and implementation of NAMAs by developing countries.
Chile, for AILAC, called for further work on enhancing the role of existing institutions in order to create a suitable environment for increasing pledges and moving to their upper end; and identified the need to also address sectors other than energy. Brazil indicated that the GCF is “not at the level we expected” and Iran highlighted paragraph 26 of the Rio+20 outcome document on countries refraining from unilateral economic, financial or trade measures violating international law.
Switzerland called for, inter alia: developing a common understanding of mitigation potential as the “best basis” for a ministerial roundtable and creating space for new pledges. Australia called pledges “critical,” he said more work is required on conditions to encourage more pledges and enhance the existing ones.
Venezuela, for the LMDC, urged Annex I parties to, inter alia: ratify the Kyoto Protocol amendment as soon as possible; increase commitments through domestic action; remove conditionalities from their pledges; and provide full financing for mitigation projects in developing countries without seeking emission credits in return. She also called for flexibilities in the intellectual property rights regime. Saudi Arabia stated that Workstream 2 should be party-driven and include all sectors, gases, emissions and sinks, and said it is premature to take a decision on Workstream 2 at COP 19.
ADP Conclusions:In its conclusions (FCCC/ADP/2013/L.2), the ADP:
• agrees on the need to convene at least one session in 2014;
• invites, under Workstreams 1 and 2, submissions by parties and observers building on, and in relation to, the ADP’s conclusions;
• invites, under Workstream 2, submissions by parties and observers on further activities for its plan of work in 2014;
• invites the incoming Co-Chairs to propose, drawing upon submissions, a balanced, focused and more formal mode of work for consideration at ADP 3;
• requests the Secretariat to prepare, by 30 October 2013, taking into account submissions, two technical papers, namely: a second version of the technical paper on mitigation benefits of actions, initiatives and options to enhance mitigation ambition (FCCC/TP/2013/4); and the first version of a technical paper synthesizing submissions on the costs, benefits and opportunities for adaptation based on different drivers of climate impacts, including the relationship between adaptation and mitigation;
• requests the Secretariat to prepare an overview of the mandates and progress of work under institutions, mechanisms and arrangements under the Convention, to inform the work of the ADP, including on linkages; and
• invites the Co-Chairs to prepare a note on progress based on discussions during the first and second parts of ADP 2.
CLOSING PLENARY: The ADP closing plenary took place on Thursday, 13 June. Parties adopted the report for first two parts of ADP 2 (FCCC/ADP/2013/L.1).
Fiji, for the G-77/China, recognized progress achieved, but called for, inter alia: advancing in a more focused and party-driven mode in Warsaw, and following a balanced approach, including mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation. He stressed the need for developed country leadership under Workstream 2. He welcomed the two technical papers to be prepared by the Secretariat to inform further work of the ADP.
On Workstream 1, the EU said the new agreement should be fair, comprehensive and legally-binding, as well as durable, dynamic and capable of evolving overtime. On Workstream 2, he stressed the need for: parties without pledges to undertake them; increasing ambition of existing pledges; and setting out the role of the UNFCCC for enhancing action.
On Workstream 1, Australia, for the Umbrella Group, called for, inter alia, up-front transparency measures to ensure predictability of commitments and a consultative process to consider ambition and fairness. On Workstream 2, he proposed looking at how mitigation potential can be captured by parties with diverse national circumstances and encouraging complementary work through international cooperative initiatives.
Switzerland, for the EIG, called for a decision in Warsaw outlining common understanding on the core elements of the 2015 agreement, including: each party’s mitigation commitment towards the 2°C target; modalities of such commitments; and a timeframe for, and structure of, the new agreement. On Workstream 2, he called for parties who have not submitted their pledges to do so; urged further technical exchange on mitigation potential to create the basis for ministerial dialogue; and encouraged reforming fossil fuel subsidies.
Swaziland, for the African Group, reaffirmed that the 2015 agreement is not intended to renegotiate the Convention but to define its implementation beyond 2020. He requested a revised technical paper on mitigation that should include information on: applicability of the Convention’s principles; benefits of adaptation and mitigation actions; means to address barriers; and means of implementation.
Warning against shifting the mitigation burden to developing countries, Nauru, for AOSIS, called for developed countries to examine and exploit untapped mitigation potential at home through new policies and strategies translating into more ambitious commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. She further called for comparably ambitious targets under the Convention by 2014 and a mechanism to address loss and damage, including in the context of the 2015 agreement.
Nepal, for the LDCs, called for: moving to more focused negotiations; the adoption of an effective protocol in 2015 that provides, inter alia, enhanced action on adaptation, a mechanism on loss and damage, and financial support.
Costa Rica, for SICA, supported: the establishment of a single contact group to consider financing, adaptation, mitigation, capacity building and technology transfer; and an oversight and MRV mechanism for the provision of support by developed countries under the 2015 agreement.
Saudi Arabia, for the Arab Group, highlighted the need for: clarity on the level of finance to be provided by developed countries between 2013 and 2020; and addressing response measures.
Pakistan, for the LMDC, recalled that the ADP mandate is to enhance the Convention’s implementation; and said sectoral activities, such as on HFCs and energy, must not impose additional burdens on developing countries.
Chile, for AILAC, called for: a decision in Warsaw that structures the substance and elements of the 2015 agreement; a 2015 agreement with adaptation at its core; a robust compliance mechanism; and more work under the UNFCCC to contribute to closing the ambition gap.
Ecuador, for ALBA, stressed that work should focus on the Convention and CBDR, and said fairness should be at the core of a new agreement, while noting different interpretations of the concept. Papua New Guinea, for the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, underlined the potential of REDD+ to contribute to closing the mitigation gap with new and additional financial and technical support.
South Africa underscored the need for a fair and equitable sharing of efforts, including equitable access to sustainable development, and called for common commitments on adaptation and means of implementation. Uganda reminded parties that there are 930 days left to negotiate the 2015 agreement and called for a move toward negotiating text. Bangladesh called for proposals on how specific rules should be applied to adaptation under a rules-based multilateral system, while Mexico expressed interest in including HFCs under Workstream 2.
Co-Chair Mauskar indicated that the Co-Chairs had aimed to lay a solid foundation for the 2015 agreement and addressing pre-2020 ambition, stating that, in his view, such a foundation had been established. He concluded that “a ten-thousand-mile journey starts with one step and we have taken several, but the real difficulties start now.” Co-Chair Mauskar expressed confidence that with the new ADP Co-Chairs and with parties’ continuing in a constructive spirit, the outcome will be successful.
Co-Chair Dovland recalled that when starting their work, the Co-Chairs came up with the idea of proceeding through roundtables and workshops, and indicated that while this approach has served the ADP well, “time has come to move some activities to a more formal setting” and noted that there is “some repetition in the workshops and roundtables.” Thanking the Secretariat and the parties, Dovland noted that he is retiring from the process “for the third time,” saying he always misses the people involved, but is “getting tired of some of the finger-pointing around climate change.” He urged for a cooperative spirit and suspended ADP 2 at 6:09 pm.
A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE BONN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
“Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need of one another.” – Desmond Tutu.
As delegates assembled for the annual two-week climate change conference in Bonn, the meeting was overshadowed by external events. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations had surpassed the critical 400 ppm threshold, floods ravaged parts of Europe, and the new report, “Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map,” by the International Energy Agency, picked up widely by the international media, all highlighted the need for intensive action before 2020 to combat climate change. Many wondered whether governments will be up to the challenge.
All three UNFCCC bodies—the Subsidiary Body for Implementation, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform—had to make progress on a long list of agenda items. Expectations for the Subsidiary Bodies included tackling loss and damage; finance; arrangements for intergovernmental meetings; budget; agriculture; market and non-market mechanisms; REDD+; and the 2013-15 Review. The ADP discussions were expected to consider ways for advancing work on the 2015 agreement and pre-2020 ambition.
In the end, due to a procedural dispute, the SBI never even started its substantive work. In contrast, the SBSTA made progress on a number of agenda items and the ADP continued a “conversation” structured around outlining the contours of a possible agreement and enhancing ambition for the pre-2020 period, which was met with mixed reviews. This analysis will discuss the Bonn meeting and examine possible implications for COP 19 and CMP 9 in Warsaw, in November 2013.
SBI 38 – THE MEETING THAT NEVER HAPPENED
To the surprise of many, the SBI never actually started in Bonn because parties could not adopt the agenda. The Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine proposed to add an agenda item on procedural and legal matters relating to decision-making under the COP and CMP. This proposal was in response to events that transpired during the closing CMP in Doha where the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol was gaveled through amid controversy.
The Russian Federation justified the proposal referring to “constant procedural problems” under the UNFCCC and the fact that after 18 years parties are still provisionally applying the draft rules of procedure. In the absence of voting rules under the UNFCCC, all decisions must be taken by consensus and every party has the right to be heard. The Russian Federation highlighted a number of “unfortunate” examples, including Cancun, when Bolivia’s opposition to the Cancun Agreements was openly overruled by the COP President.
While knowing that a discussion on decision-making procedures will not be an easy one, most parties agree that issues raised by the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine are valid. A related proposal from Papua New Guinea and Mexico to amend the Convention in order to allow voting in situations where a consensus cannot be reached is in fact already on the COP agenda. Nevertheless, the dispute could not be resolved in Bonn. One of the issues was where—under the COP and CMP, or the SBI—and how to resolve this delicate matter. Some parties also wanted to avoid a dangerous precedent. As Singapore put it, if we accept this proposal “every party will have every incentive to add additional agenda items at every meeting of the UNFCCC,” going on to caution that “how we resolve this impasse will set a precedent for the future. If we make an exception to our procedure for the three proponents, then every party will request the same treatment.” In her closing press conference, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres noted that parties all agreed on the need to discuss the issue highlighted by Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, but could not agree on how to do it.
Most parties left Bonn deeply concerned that the SBI had been unable to launch its work. While acknowledging shortcomings in the UNFCCC decision-making process, Tuvalu pointed to the “supreme irony, of using procedure to make the process even worse,” which he described as “deliberately crashing a car to show that the seatbelts don’t work.” The paradox is that consensus would have to be reached in order to adopt the rules of procedure, which only adds to the conundrum.
The expectation is that consultations will take place between now and SBI 39 in November to overcome the impasse and reach a compromise, albeit a delicate one, so that the SBI will be able to proceed with substantive work in Warsaw. Many feel that since the proposal by Belarus, Russia and Ukraine relates to decision-making by the COP and CMP, it should be considered by these bodies and not the SBI. Some in Bonn were in fact anticipating that the issue might find its way into the COP agenda. The SBI has a lot on its plate and, as UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres put it, will have to “squeeze three weeks into one” in Warsaw in order to make up for lost time. Whatever decision is taken on this matter will have implications for the future work of the process in, and beyond, SBI 39.
SBSTA – EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
Given that the SBI was unable to move forward, many SBSTA contact groups received more negotiating time than usual, with agriculture and REDD+ being among the key beneficiaries. The mood on the SBSTA side was, therefore, largely positive, and many were happy with progress achieved in Bonn. However, many SBSTA items are linked to discussions under the SBI and, as one delegate put it, “taking decisions on technical aspects in isolation from interrelated issues on implementation is challenging.”
With more than seven outstanding issues related to methodological aspects of REDD+ on the agenda, delegates in Bonn proved to be up to the challenge. The SBSTA 38 outcome was a clear step forward from Doha where some of the interlinkages between methodology and implementation were controversial enough to put agreement out of reach. For example, in Doha, parties could not agree on the type of assessment to be carried out when developing countries submit information on emissions avoided through REDD+ activities. A number of developing countries stressed that REDD+ should be subject to International Consultation and Assessment (ICA) in the same manner as NAMAs, while some developed countries, concerned with transparency and the accuracy of the information, proposed a more thorough review process. But, as one forest negotiator pointed out, “if we had more clarity from the SBI side on some aspects of ICA, including those related to the technical team of experts, discussions would be better informed and parties more reassured.” In Bonn, however, parties managed to move ahead with REDD+ methodological work. They agreed to compromise and to work on the basis of some “assumptions.” A footnote clarifying the intention not to prejudge the ICA outcome under the SBI was therefore included.
With three draft decisions on REDD+ recommended for adoption by COP 19 and text on possible draft decisions on MRV and reference levels forwarded for further consideration in Warsaw, some said that Bonn may go down as “the session that opened the path for impressive progress on REDD+.” However, as one delegate acknowledged, “if decisions on provision of finance do not encompass the progress achieved on methodological issues, it is possible that we will lose this momentum.”
On agriculture, parties in Doha had not been able to agree on a workshop and a technical paper on “opportunities and challenges from mitigation in the agricultural sector,” since the G-77/China favored addressing adaptation concerns rather than mitigation. In Bonn, India, the Philippines and Argentina articulated the concerns of many developing countries that a cap on emissions in agriculture would threaten the livelihoods of many and maintained that food security should not be relegated to mitigation objectives. Yet, Bonn managed to deliver unprecedented progress. Parties agreed to shift the focus of the workshop and the technical paper to address “adaptation of agriculture to climate change impacts while promoting rural development, sustainable development and productivity of agricultural systems and food security, particularly in developing countries.” To the satisfaction of a good number of developing countries and some developed countries, they also agreed to consider the possible adaptation co-benefits of agriculture.
Despite the progress achieved under different agenda items in the SBSTA, many expressed fears that if the SBI impasse extends into Warsaw, SBSTA’s work will be substantially affected. “We need the SBI up and running,” one delegate broached.
ADP – STUCK IN NEUTRAL
Continuing its discussions in workshops and roundtables, ADP-2-2 was characterized by “marathon sessions,” where, as one delegate put it, “previous discussions were rehashed.” Others, however, expressed satisfaction with the process, saying that the session had presented an opportunity to start “defining the scope, structure and design of the new agreement.” Many developing countries called for an end to the “talk shops” in Warsaw, and a switch to more focused discussions, while others continued to highlight the usefulness of workshops and roundtables for providing different perspectives. According to the ADP work programme, COP 19 is expected to provide a clear roadmap for 2014 and so parties will have to decide on how to capture progress for that purpose, with the knowledge that elements of a draft negotiating text are expected by COP 20 in 2014.
On mitigation, various “hybrid approaches” seeking to find a middle ground between a top-down system that ensures the aggregation of mitigation commitments to avoid surpassing the 2ºC temperature increase limit, and the bottom-up approach that enables countries to submit nationally determined commitments, were mooted. At this point, it is clear that deciding on transparency and common accounting rules is crucial, as is agreement on a “fast track” system to facilitate updating and enhancing commitments without the need for further negotiations. Parties will also have to agree on how adaptation and means of implementation should be reflected in the 2015 agreement.
Some delegates highlighted that advancement under Workstream 1 (2015 agreement) must be balanced against Workstream 2 progress on raising ambition for the period before 2020. In Doha, parties agreed to identify and explore in 2013 a range of actions to close the pre-2020 ambition gap. In Bonn, African countries, AOSIS and the EU were vocal on the need to ensure that current pledges and commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention are enhanced. In this regard, AOSIS submitted a proposal containing “technical, targeted and result-oriented discussions” to secure additional ambitious pre-2020 mitigation efforts ahead of Warsaw.
While under the guidance of Co-Chairs Harald Dovland and Jayant Moreshver Mauskar, the ADP has had a relatively “easy ride,” the incoming Co-Chairs, Artur Runge-Metzger and Kishan Kumarsingh, are taking the reins as the “ADP honeymoon phase” is ending. As Chair Dovland noted, the ADP has “a dramatic task ahead of it.” Without any doubt, agreeing on a modus operandi that keeps everyone happy, as well as ensuring that decisions are made in a transparent and participatory manner to successfully complete the ambitious agenda mandated in Durban under the two workstreams, will be no easy feat for the ADP. Looking ahead, what many want to definitely avoid is, as one NGO representative put it, “the kind of last-minute scramble that made the 2009 Copenhagen Summit such a disaster.”
WARSAW – REKINDLING THE SPIRIT?
At a time when the climate change stakes have never been higher, the multilateral process is bedeviled with a lack of momentum, waning public interest and other competing priorities. The post-Bali, pre-Copenhagen idealism and energy has long since dissipated. What is beyond any doubt, however, is the enormity of the challenge ahead in securing a meaningful agreement in 2015, with Warsaw the first of three crucial COPs.
Carefully considered and meaningful decisions on both process and substance will need to be taken to ensure that the 2015 agreement ultimately delivers. Warsaw has a role to play in achieving a strong package of implementation measures to lead to a clear pathway for a legally-binding agreement and progress to raise pre-2020 ambition. Bonn has demonstrated that progress can be made under the right conditions, but, at the same time, matters can arise that are capable of taking everyone’s eyes off the winding road ahead.
32nd Meeting of the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee: The Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee will convene its 32nd meeting to consider matters relating to Joint Implementation. dates: 17-18 June 2013 location: Bonn, Germany contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49-228-815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email: [email protected] www: http://ji.unfccc.int/Sup_Committee/Meetings/index.html
GEF 44th Council Meeting: The Global Environment Facility’s Council meets twice a year to approve new projects with global environmental benefits in the GEF’s focal areas, and provide guidance to the GEF Secretariat and agencies. dates: 18-20 June 2013 location: Washington, DC, USA contact: GEF Secretariat phone: +1- 202-473-0508 fax: +1-202-522-3240 email:[email protected] www: http://www.thegef.org/gef/content/gef-44th-council-meeting
Global Symposium on REDD+ in a Green Economy: The symposium, convened by the UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD), will examine lessons learned from pilot activities linking REDD+ to sustainable development and the green economy. dates: 19-21 June 2013 location: Jakarta, Indonesia contact: John Prydz email: [email protected] www:http://www.un-redd.org/REDD_in_Green_Economy_Global_Symposium/tabid/105931/Default.aspx
33rd Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol: This meeting will consider issues related to the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in preparation for the 25th Meeting of the Parties. dates: 24-28 June 2013 location: Bangkok, Thailand contact: Ozone Secretariat phone: +254-20-762-3851 fax: +254-20-762-0335 email: [email protected] www: http://conf.montreal-protocol.org/meeting/oewg/oewg-33/presession/default.aspx
Sixth meeting of the Technology Executive Committee: The sixth meeting of the UNFCCC TEC will: discuss progress made on producing new technology briefs, enabling further engagement with arrangements under and outside of the Convention; present modalities for increasing engagement with stakeholders; and continue the Committee’s other work. dates: 26-28 June 2013 location: Bonn, Germany contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49-228-815- 1000 fax:+49-228-815-1999 email: [email protected] www: http://unfccc.int/ttclear/pages/tec_home.html
Fifth Africa Carbon Forum: The Africa Carbon Forum is a trade fair and knowledge sharing platform for carbon investments in Africa, and will consider ways to promote access to low-carbon development in Africa. dates: 3-5 July 2013 location: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire contact: Emilie Wieben email:[email protected] www: http://africacarbonforum.com/2013/english/
Joint Assembly of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO), and the International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth’s Interior (IASPEI): This scientific conference will include symposia on: ocean mixing; regional seas; ocean observations and climate change; climate and land surface changes in hydrology; cold and mountain region hydrological systems under climate change; characterizing water quantity and quality; understanding freshwater quality problems in a changing world; interactions between sediment and aquatic ecology; adaptive water resources management; and hydrology education and capacity building in developing countries. dates: 22-26 July 2013 location: Gothenburg, Sweden contact: Congress Secretariat phone: +46-31-708-60-00 fax: +46-31-708-60-25 email:[email protected]congrex.com www: http://iahs-iapso-iaspei2013.com
74th Meeting of the CDM Executive Board: The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board will convene its 74th meeting to consider matters relating to the operation of the CDM. dates: 22-26 July 2013 location: Bonn, Germany contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49-228-815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email: [email protected] www: http://cdm.unfccc.int/EB/index.html
30th Meeting of the Joint Implementation Accreditation Panel: The Joint Implementation Accreditation Panel will meet to consider matters relating to the accreditation of independent entities. dates: 22-23 August 2013 location: Bonn, Germany contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49-228-815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email: [email protected] www: http://ji.unfccc.int/index.html
75th Meeting of the CDM Executive Board: The CDM Executive Board will convene its 75th meeting to consider matters relating to the operation of the CDM.dates: 23-27 September 2013 location: Bonn, Germany contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49-228-815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email:[email protected] www: http://cdm.unfccc.int/EB/index.html
IPCC Working Group I Session and IPCC-36: The IPCC Working Group I plenary session for endorsement of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) will be held in September 2013. Subsequently, IPCC-36 will convene to endorse the WGI contribution to the AR5. dates: 23-26 September 2013 location: Stockholm, Sweden contact: IPCC Secretariat phone: +41-22-730-8208 fax: +41-22-730-8025 email:[email protected] www: http://www.ipcc.ch/scripts/_calendar_template.php?wg=8#.UYPBCBxBgrI
33rd Meeting of the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee: The Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee will convene its 33rd meeting to consider matters relating to the operation of Joint Implementation. dates: 3-4 October 2013 location: Bonn, Germany contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone:+49-228-815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email: [email protected] www: http://ji.unfccc.int/index.html
CBD SBSTTA 17: The meeting is expected to address, among others, issues related to marine and coastal biodiversity, biodiversity and climate change, and collaboration with IPBES. dates: 14-18 October 2013 location: Montreal, Canada contact: CBD Secretariat phone: +1-514-288-2220 fax: +1-514-288-6588 email: [email protected] www: http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=SBSTTA-17
IPCC-37: The 37th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 37) will consider two methodology reports: the “2013 Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands”; and the good practice guidance on estimating GHG emissions and removals from LULUCF under the Kyoto Protocol. dates: 14-18 October 2013 location: Georgia contact: IPCC Secretariat phone: +41-22-730-8208 fax: +41-22-730-8025 email: [email protected] www: http://www.ipcc.ch/scripts/_calendar_template.php?wg=8#.UYPBCBxBgrI
Third International Marine Protected Area Congress: The third International Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Congress aims to define actions to promote cooperation through different initiatives, and to inspire a new way of thinking to face global challenges, such as climate change, poverty reduction, and resource sharing. dates: 21-27 October 2013 location: Marseille and Corsica, France contact: IUCN email: [email protected] www: http://www.impac3.org/en/
25th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol: MOP 25 is scheduled to consider a number of issues, including nominations for critical- and essential-use exemptions. dates: 21-25 October 2013 location: Bangkok, Thailand contact: Ozone Secretariat phone: +254-20-762-3851 fax: +254-20-762-4691 email: [email protected] www: http://ozone.unep.org
76th Meeting of the CDM Executive Board: The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board will convene its 76th meeting to consider matters relating to the operation of the CDM. EB76 will be held in conjunction with the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19) to the UNFCCC. dates: 4-8 November 2013 location: Warsaw, Poland contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49-228-815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email:[email protected] www: http://cdm.unfccc.int/EB/index.html
19th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC: COP 19, CMP 9, ADP 3, SBSTA 39 and SBI 39 will convene in Warsaw, Poland. dates: 11-22 November 2013 location: Warsaw, Poland contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49- 228-815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email:[email protected] www: http://www.unfccc.int.
ADPAdaptation CommitteeCancun AgreementsCopenhagen AccordDoha Climate GatewayJoint ImplementationMRVProtocol ArticlesSBSTAagenda itemagriculturecapacity buildingcdmclimate change conferenceclimate justicecommitmentscopdecisionsdeveloping countriesdissatisfactiondurbanearth negotiations bulletinelementsemailfinancegreen economyhoc working groupiisdimplementationipcckyoto protocolmedia representativesmitigationmontreal protocolobserversprocedural issuesreporting servicesbisecond sessionsubmissionssubsidiary bodytechnological advicetransparencyunfccc
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507377
|
__label__wiki
| 0.608083
| 0.608083
|
Bennet Cantu 64
Local time: 20:45 PALADESIO
Bennet Cantu topped Olympiacos 64-63
Another party atmosphere in Desio, Italy ended in joy for the home fans again as Bennet Cantu outlasted visiting Olympiacos 64-63 on a free throw with 7.8 seconds left by Giorgi Shermadini. Cantu, in its return to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague after a 17-year absence, raised its record to 3-1, with all victories at home. With one game left to play in the group, Nancy vs. Caja Laboral on Thursday, Cantu will either be alone in second place or tied with both for the group lead at the end of the week. Olympiacos, meanwhile, has dropped to 1-3, with its last two defeats on the road by a combined 3 points, and shares a fifth-place tie with Bizkaia Bilbao Basket. The sellout crowd in Desio saw a game as tight as its final score, with series of ties and lead changes in every quarter except the second, when Olympiacos took the game's biggest lead, 9 points, 18-27. The Reds were up 49-55 early in the fourth before Cantu rallied behind veteran Denis Marconato, and was still even on free throws by Vassilis Spanoulis with 20 seconds left before Shermadini broke the last tie. Maarten Leunen led the winners with 12 points and 6 rebounds, while Marconato added 10 and 6, respectively, as well as 3 blocks, without missing a shot all night. Olympiacos got 23 points from Spanoulis, who went 9 for 9 on free throws, while Marko Keselj scored 11. The biggest difference in the stats department came in assists, with 19 for Cantu - including 6 by Andrea Cinciarini - to just 8 total for Olympiacos.
Keselj opened the scoring for the visitors from downtown. , Manuchar Markohisvili answered with a pull-up jumper for the hosts, then traded free throws with Spanoulis at 4-5. Leunen rained a three-pointer from the top to give Cantu its first lead, which Nicolas Mazzarino pushed to 9-6 with a perfect jumper coming off a screen. Olympiacos was quick to respond, ripping through an 8-0 run with back-to-back triples by DImitrios Katsivelis and Keselj to seize the lead again, 9-14, after 7 minutes as reserves started coming on the floor. Two from the Cantu bench, Gianluca Basile and Giorgi Shermadini, connected for a two-hand dunk, while Martynas Gecevicius converted free throws for Olympiacos to give the Reds a 12-16 advantage after 10 minutes.
From beyond the arc, Gecevicius extended the Olympiacos lead to begin the second quarter and Katsivelis found easy points on the break and make it 14-21. Basile and Marko Scekic combined on 4 much-needed point then for Cantu, but soon the Greek side re-established a nine-point margin, 18-27, thanks to 4 points from Kyle Hines and free throws from Kostas Papanikolaou. A long-distance shot of Leunen re-started Cantu's engine, and then he completed a three-point-play at 24-28. Kalin Lucas wrote his name on the Olympiacos scorers list with a lay up, then made an acrobatic shot off a steal by Spanoulis to make it. Spanoulis, the 2009 Final Four MVP, showed all his talent on a full-court basket, but all-time three-point shot leader Basile finished the half from deep, with Olympiacos clinging to a 31-34 adavantage.
Vladimir Micov for Cantu and Gecevicius for Olympiacos traded mid-range shots to open the second-half scoring. Then, the momentum seemed to change as the veteran Mazzarino fired in a rocket from the arc, while Shermadini slammed for a sudden 38-36 lead for Cantu. A 24-second violation by Olympiacos, another dunk of Shermadini, assisted by Cinciarini, and a jumper by Marconato capped an 11-2 run for Cantu's biggest lead yet, 42-36. Spanoulis stopped the scoreless slide for the guests, but Marconato responded with a dunk on great Cantu ball movement. Papadopoulos scored in the paint to keep it close, 44-40, midway through of the quarter. When Spanoulis went end-to-end and Keselj finished a break with a triple, the score was tied 45-45. Olympiacos was on fire, and Papadopuolos completed a 0-9 run to give the Reds a lead again, 45-49 after 30 minutes.
Markohisvili drove Cantu closer to open the final quarter, but Spanoulis scored from beyond the arc on a pick-and-roll at 47-52. Next, he got fouled attempting another three-pointer, and drained all the free throws for what looked like a 49-55 advantage for the Reds. Instead, Cinciarini scored once and assisted the veteran Marconato on the first of his back-to-back baskets that quickly tied the score at 55-55. Scekic then gave the lead back to the hosts but Spanoulis answered immediately on the other side at 57-57. Next, after Markohisvili bagged a mid-range jumper, Spanoulis buried another three-pointer to return the lead to Olympiacos, 59-60, with 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining. Marconato was perfect from the foul line as Cantu led again, while Gecevicius scored 1 of 2 free throws to forge another tie, 61-61. With 45 second left and Cinciarini out with 5 fouls, Basile and Leunen combined on a tie-breaking alley-oop basket that rolled around the rim a few times before falling, bringing the 5,000-plus crowd at Paladesio out of their seats again. With 26 seconds on the clock, however, Spanoulis chipped in his free throws for yet another tie, 63-63. On the last possession for Cantu, Shermadini was fouled trying to roll off a screen and, with 7.8 seconds left, made the first of his free throws. The second was rebounded by Hines, who raced down the floor but missed the potential game-winning layup, to the delight of the Cantu crowd!
Referees: PEREZ, EMILIO; CONDE, ANTONIO; TRAWICKI, TOMASZ
Bennet Cantu 12 19 14 19
Bennet Cantu
4 LIGHTY, DAVID 2:20 1 -1
5 MICOV, VLADIMIR 19:23 2 1/3 0/1 1 1 2 1 2 2 -2
7 SCEKIC, MARKO 15:21 8 4/4 2 2 2 4 16
8 ORTNER, BENJAMIN DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
9 MARKOISHVILI, MANUCHAR 20:53 8 4/9 1 1 2 1 2 1 4
10 LEUNEN, MAARTEN 31:38 12 2/5 2/6 2/3 2 4 6 1 2 1 1 1 3 11
11 MARCONATO, DENIS 20:30 10 4/4 2/2 1 5 6 2 2 3 3 2 18
12 MAZZARINO, NICOLAS 27:21 6 1/1 1/7 1/2 4 4 2 3 1 3
19 SHERMADINI, GIORGI 12:31 8 3/4 2/4 1 3 4 1 2 1 4 2 7
20 CINCIARINI, ANDREA 30:35 5 2/6 0/1 1/2 5 5 6 1 1 5 3 8
21 BOLZONELLA, FEDERICO DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
55 BASILE, GIANLUCA 19:28 5 0/1 1/6 2/2 4 1 1 2 3
Head coach: TRINCHIERI, ANDREA
4 HINES, KYLE 15:48 4 1/7 2/2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 -2
5 LUCAS, KALIN 7:02 4 2/5 2 2 1 1 3
6 ANTIC, PERO 25:07 1 0/4 1/4 3 1 4 1 2 3 -2
7 SPANOULIS, VASSILIS 29:27 23 4/8 2/5 9/9 3 3 3 3 3 2 6 20
10 KESELJ, MARKO 24:25 11 1/3 3/5 1 3 4 1 1 1 1 11
11 PELEKANOS, MICHALIS 3:49 1 1 2 -1
12 PAPADOPOULOS, LAZAROS 24:12 4 2/3 3 3 2 1 1 1 2 2 9
13 GECEVICIUS, MARTYNAS 24:57 8 1/4 1/1 3/4 1 4 5 3 3 5 8
14 GLYNIADAKIS, ANDREAS DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
15 PRINTEZIS, GEORGIOS 14:53 0/3 0/1 1 2 3 2 2 -5
16 PAPANIKOLAOU, KOSTAS 14:07 3 0/2 0/1 3/4 2 4 6 1 1 2 2 7
19 KATSIVELIS, DIMITRIS 16:13 5 1/1 1/2 1 1 2 1 2 8
TRINCHIERI, ANDREA
“A great win, in a real Euroleague game – very tough, with a lot of contact, and we were able to make the right plays at the right moments in the second half. To hold Olympiacos to 60 points gives us great confidence for future games. We also need to win at home because doing it away will be very difficult. I would like to mention the game played by Denis Marconato -- he was ready and made a big contribution to our success.”
IVKOVIC, DUSAN
“First of all, congratulations to Cantù. It was a very tough game, I have to say that my team played better in the first half, but we missed layups and finished up by just three. The decisive moment of the game came early in the third quarter when Cantu made a 9-0 run, then I tried to play with more experienced players, but we did not control the tempo of the match. We have to learn from this game, we had only eight assist and 13 turnovers, while Cantu had 19 assists and 11 turnovers: this means easy shots for them. This is a tough group and we have to continue to improve.”
MARCONATO, DENIS
“It was a great night, a big win, and we never gave up – that was the key. We put our heart on the court, and played very good defense in the second half. Our fans were also incredible, supporting us the entire 40 minutes, giving us a great push in the thrilling finale. I'm proud of my personal game; you have to always be ready to go on the court and that happened tonight. I'm happy for that.”
GECEVICIUS, MARTYNAS
“It was a very tough game, and when you lose by one point every mistake could be decisive. We had too many turnovers, and you cannot win away playing like that. We made many mistakes on our pick-and-roll defense and we have to work on fixing that.”
Gescrap Bilbao Basket 70
Fenerbahce Ulker 73
November 9 20:45 CET LIVE FINAL
SLUC Nancy 90
Caja Laboral 85
Brose Baskets 70
Belgacom Spirou Charleroi 76
EA7 Emporio Armani 81
Partizan mt:s Belgrade 80
Union Olimpija Ljubljana 70
Galatasaray Medical Park 79
Asseco Prokom Gdynia 68
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507379
|
__label__cc
| 0.529708
| 0.470292
|
Cloud Interoperability and The Battle For The Open Cloud
Reuven Cohen Contributor
I focus on disruptive trends in technology and cloud computing.
Cloud interoperability and portability seems to be a hot topic these days. This topic is one that I have a bit of experience with. Back in 2008, I had the fortune, or possibly misfortune, of starting one of the first groups dedicated to the discussion of Cloud interoperability, aptly titled, “The Cloud Computing Interoperability Forum”. For a while this Google group was a popular forum for the discussion of various interop and standardization challenges, but it ultimately faded as politics, personalities and priorities shifted. Five years later, I thought I’d revisit the discussion.
A lot has changed since those early days, Amazon still dominates and many of the early cloud pioneers have long been acquired. In addition, a new crop of players have emerged as serious treats to the incumbent players in the space. The companies who were previously viewed as incumbent are now the challengers in this quickly evolving cloud battleground.
I recently had the chance to attend the OpenStack Summit, a gathering of cloud computing companies, contributors and enthusiasts focused on the popular open source cloud infrastructure project originally created by NASA and Rackspace. Interestingly, one of the biggest discussions was around who is or isn’t fully compatible with the project itself. Many within the project resorted to calling out some of the largest contributors, such as HP and Rackspace, as not being “interoperable” with the project itself. Roger Levy, VP & GM of HP Cloud Services, responded that this was “categorically false”, telling me that HP actually provides the very tools used to determine whether others are complying with the OpenStack API.
During the conference, I had the opportunity to catch-up with senior people from a variety of OpenStack companies including Red Hat, Rackspace, Cisco, HP and Citrix to discuss the topic of cloud interop. This is what I discovered.
The best Open Source projects are generally a meritocracy; a philosophy that promotes the notion that power should be vested in individuals according to merit. Advancement in such a system is based upon perceived intellectual talent measured through examination and/or demonstrated achievement within the community. In the case of OpenStack, this is demonstrated by those who contribute code with a variety of companies currently vying for the title of top contributor.
OpenStack was once controlled almost exclusively by its founder, Rackspace. Today, Red Hat has taken the top spot in terms of raw contributions to the project. Other top corporate contributors include Rackspace, Canonical, IBM, Nebula, HP, Suse, Piston Cloud, and Cloudscaling who are all well known for their support of the project. Along with a host of technology companies jumping on the OpenStack bandwagon are some fairly big names in more traditional industries such as BestBuy, Comcast, HubSpot and Bloomberg who have all publicly announced their use of the platform with their infrastructures.
In speaking with Brian Stevens, CTO at Red Hat, he told me that the company now has more than 39 developers dedicated to the project and that it has become a central part of its cloud strategy. Like Red Hat, several companies are in the running to create Linux style “supported” distributions. These companies include Piston Cloud, Nebula, Cloudscaling, Suse and Metacloud. The funny thing is, most of the companies are essentially trying to position themselves as the “Red Hat” of OpenStack. To which Stevens’ responds, “We actually are Red Hat.”, a fact that the company hopes to leverage within its existing group of enterprise customers. Stevens’ points to Red Hat’s proven experience in “supporting its customers among a range of enterprise products, services and environments, internal or externally.”
I also spoke with Lew Tucker, Cloud CTO at Cisco and OpenStack Vice Chairman as well as an early member of the Cloud Interoperability Forum. Tucker described what he feels has changed since the early days of cloud. “One thing that was missing was a large number of private and public clouds running the same platform. Today, in part because of projects like OpenStack, you can take an application and run it uniformly on one cloud or another with little or no transformation required. This is a big part of the driving factor of OpenStack. Like Linux you have a high degree of portability between multiple independent environments.”
I asked Tucker how this effects Cisco’s relationship with its long time partner VMware. “VMware is strong in virtualization, specifically in the enterprise. They’ve done a great job of enterprise class data center management. They have a tremendous market position.” He goes on to say that “OpenStack is a better option for anyone who wants to build their own Amazon, on the inside. You can run legacy on VMware but OpenStack is about new, scale-out, web-scale applications. “
Tucker points to Jeffery Moore’s white paper, Systems of Engagement and The Future of Enterprise IT as part of what’s driving the current trend saying “Systems of record are complete. It’s been done. Systems of engagement are about the engagement of customers. It’s about broadening the level of interaction between customers, suppliers and providers. IT is being asked to get involved in engaging with the customers, collecting information, analyzing information and, most importantly, acting on it. These are all new applications. What’s the best application to develop these types of apps on? Tucker’s answer is OpenStack.
John Engates, CTO of Rackspace agrees. “The very people tasked to build the cloud are looking at it from the wrong perspective. The traditional data center admin, even the CIO, don’t necessary understand a developer’s standpoint. API’s, tools and flexibility are not found in the more traditional approaches. The cloud is about speed-- something a traditional CIO isn’t used to.”
Engates believes the interoperability debate is about “using real code, not standards created in a vacuum”; something he says “has been a problem with the traditional standards tactics. Adoption is key and functional code is a must. The risk is it won’t happen or becomes fragmented, but I don’t think this is going to happen. We [Rackspace] want a milestone reference that all OpenStack clouds use as a basis of comparison.”
He points to RefStack, a vendor-facing API for registration of interop-compliance endpoints and credentials for on-demand testing within Openstack, as a prime example of how this should be done. “Essentially it’s an automated test for compatibility and interoperability. It’s like the Dolby standard for cloud. ”
Engates goes on to say that Rackspace has no interest in locking in their customers. He believes that their value is above the stack. “The challenge is moving fast and at scale. Early on we had to push things out that weren’t fully ready, which led to us playing a bit of catch-up but, our goal remains the same. Early on in OpenStack, we had a lot of proving that the code could run at scale. We had to prove it was real. Today our cloud runs on code less than two weeks off trunk, which is itself a sign of the commitment to our use of the community’s code. You can’t fork if you want to use a community contributed code base.” he said.
Engates point to a cultural problem within the so-called “legacy infrastructure” as part of the problem. “It’s CIOs who don’t get the DevOp tools, like Chef or Puppet, or don’t create the cloud infrastructure blueprints or really necessarily get what cloud even is. You can’t get to the answer by not asking the right questions, which is a challenge right now.
Aside from OpenStack, it appears the rest of the industry is making moves toward this type of open community approach to standardization. Sameer Dholakia, Group VP and GM, Cloud Platforms Group at Citrix Systems points to his company’s Apache CloudStack and Xen virtualization projects in terms of revenue, noting that “the vast majority of cloud revenue from companies like Amazon run either on Xen or Citrix’s other open source products.” Although a bit of an under-dog, Citrix recently donated its CloudStack platform to the Apache foundation. The company has already found success in variety of market niches including service providers; an area that Rackspace’s Engates also says holds much opportunity saying, “A cloud of common service provider Clouds is the next inevitable step.”
Elsewhere, the Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA), a global member-led organization, has brought together hundreds of end user enterprise IT organizations to work together in an attempt to drive broad scale requirements for the enterprise-ready cloud. The group recently announced the release of a new POC (Proof-of-Concept) paper developed to determine where the virtual machine (VM) industry currently stands in meeting interoperability requirements outlined in an ODCA VM interoperability usage model. The ODCA paper is available for download on its website.
Allyson Klein, a Director at Intel and involved with the ODCA comments “Enterprise customers are beginning to understand that the true value of the cloud will be delivered only if we can achieve open, interoperable solutions. Just as cloud computing redefines how we deliver compute, it redefines how we need to approach standards development – with agile customer centered objectives. The great news is that this approach is making great inroads in delivering open solutions and changing the way we tackle these fundamental issues.”
As Cisco’s Lew Tucker points out, “Interop is happening. We’ve always had true interoperability among TCP/IP. At the end of the day, the Internet is the interop layer and it is the foundation of any true cloud interoperability.” He believes that “we’re in much better position then ever before. New open source, more mature software and cloud brokerages that are on horizon are opening up a world of new opportunity not possible before.”
Find Reuven on Twitter @rUv | Linkedin | Google+ | Facebook | Blog | Podcast
Reuven Cohen
Founder & CEO of CoinLaunch, an end-to-end Crypto-Asset Issuance Platform, Reuven is recognized as an early innovator and thought-leader in cloud computing & inf...
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507383
|
__label__wiki
| 0.896769
| 0.896769
|
The Chinese Enlightenment at 100
How the Communist Party Seized the Legacy of May Fourth
By Dan Xin Huang
DAN XIN HUANG is a Beijing-based writer and a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal.
MORE BY Dan Xin Huang Twitter FOLLOW
Soldiers in Beijing's Tiananmen Square during a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the May Fourth Movement, May 1998 Andrew Wong / Reuters
One hundred years ago, on the evening of May 3, 1919, a group of Chinese students met inside an empty lecture hall in Beijing. World War I had ended in an armistice the previous fall, and the victorious powers were gathered at Versailles to negotiate a peace treaty. China, which had contributed to the Allied war effort, believed that it had earned if not an equal seat at the table, then at least the right for its voice to be heard. But during their negotiations, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States secretly agreed to cede disputed Chinese territory to Japan, which had also supported the Allies. As the American diplomat Edward T. Williams wrote, “China was betrayed in the house of her friends.”
News of the decision reached China on the morning of May 2. From rickshaw men to state ministers, Chinese citizens lapsed into despair. The nation’s youth, in particular, felt the blow like the loss of a limb. Born into the final act of imperial China, they grappled with the disparity between their lot and that of a more developed world and burned with a sense of what was at stake—an ordeal as grave as the survival of China itself. They were the inheritors of a fallen empire. Their country’s humiliation was their anguish.
Inside the Beijing classroom, passions ran high. Students from across the country had flooded Europe with telegrams, beseeching the Chinese delegation at Versailles to salvage the country’s pride and walk away. One young man, flashing a knife, cried out that the pain was too much to bear and that he would rather take his own life than tolerate China’s weakness. A protest had been previously planned for the following week, but such was the clamor in the room, the intensity of the students’ convictions, that they knew they could not wait. They would march the next day—May 4.
“TO SAVE CHINA”
The march marked the birth of the storied May Fourth Movement, a national
China Ideology Democratization
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507384
|
__label__cc
| 0.535739
| 0.464261
|
Another life sciences IPO pitch in U.K. raises hopes for upturn
Feb 27, 2014 9:54am
Fresh signs of life on the public markets are beginning to appear for the U.K.'s life sciences community. Horizon Discovery Group, which makes and sells tools for genomics research and personalized medicines, has set out to raise about $41.5 million on the AIM market on the London Stock Exchange. The filing follows a $285 million whopper from Circassia. U.K. biotechs have been buzzing for weeks about Circassia's pitch, hoping that a successful IPO will open the doors for other biotechs looking to raise cash from a long-closed source. Unlike the U.S., which has seen a boom in biotech IPOs, European companies have largely remained locked out of the market, with investors still leery over the risk involved in drug development. Release
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507388
|
__label__wiki
| 0.699189
| 0.699189
|
Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back / double bill / quad / UK
Star Wars | Empire Strikes Back
George Lucas | Irvin Kershner
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, David Prowse, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Billy Dee Williams
UK | USA
Sci-Fi | Adventure
FEREF Associates
Tom Chantrell | Tom Jung
30" x 39 14/16"
Together... and as they should be seen ON A BIG SCREEN!
Following the unprecedented success of the original Star Wars, released in 1977 to worldwide audience acclaim, expectations were high for the sequel which was put into production a few months after its release. Three years later, The Empire Strikes Back arrived in cinemas and was met with huge audience and critical acclaim, firmly cementing the series’ place in the hearts of millions of fans across the globe. A less well-received third part of the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi, and a lacklustre set of prequel films failed to dampen audience enthusiasm for the franchise and a new film adventure is set to be released at the end of 2015.
To capitalise on the successful release of the films, particularly before home video was a reality, distributor 20th Century Fox decided to release a double-bill of both Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back in to cinemas towards the end of 1980. This event was repeated across the world but this British quad is unique to this country and is the result of the amalgamation of the original quads for both films, plus an extra photographic element not included on either in the figure of Jedi master Yoda, which was probably added due to the characters’ popularity.
The original Star Wars quad was designed and illustrated by the late, great British artist Tom Chantrell whose dynamic and colourful work featured on hundreds of posters over a forty year period. The artist sadly passed away in 2001 but last year his widow Shirley launched his official website, which showcases his work and features a great biography written by Sim Branaghan, author of the must-own book British Film Posters. Chantrell illustrated many classic poster designs, including several Hammer posters such as the brilliant quad for ‘One Million Years B.C.’, and he was also responsible for many other pieces of iconic poster artwork. I have a number of other designs by Chantrell on this site and you can read an exclusive interview with Shirley by clicking here.
The Empire Strikes Back quad features the artwork painted for the US style B one sheet, which was by the American artist Tom Jung, perhaps best known for his iconic ‘style A’ one sheet that he painted for the release of the original Star Wars. Jung was a prolific designer and illustrator for film campaigns from the 1950s through to the 1980s. IMPAwards features a gallery of his work and his Wikipedia article has a selected list of the posters he worked on. The other posters I’ve collected by him can be seen here.
Another special quad was put together for a triple-bill event after the release of Return of the Jedi, which again featured elements of the artwork from all three separate release quads. Note that this poster can be found undersized at around 28″ x 40″ and this was because several hundred copies were machine trimmed to be used in special frames on the London Underground, a fate which befell a number of posters around the end of the 1970s and early 1980s.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507389
|
__label__wiki
| 0.809894
| 0.809894
|
Law Offices of Robert R. Smith, P.C.
Robert R. (Bob) Smith has honed his legal skills throughout more than 40 years of prosecuting and defending all types of criminal cases. His peers have consistently rated him for inclusion in the Texas Super Lawyers list in White Collar Defense as well as other such recognitions.
A 1975 graduate of Southern Methodist University School of Law, Mr. Smith was a prosecutor for 12 years before entering private practice. He served six years as an Assistant District Attorney in Dallas County under the legendary Henry Wade, where he was a felony chief prosecutor, followed by six years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas. As a prosecutor, he handled numerous high profile and complex, multi-defendant cases.
As a defense attorney, Mr. Smith has defended all types of fraud, money laundering, tax, securities, bankruptcy, and other white collar crimes cases throughout the country. He has also represented numerous professionals, including attorneys, physicians, and business executives in agency investigations, grand jury investigations, and trials. He frequently represents businesses, professional organizations, and individuals under government scrutiny by various state and federal agencies. He has appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Mr. Smith is a member of the American Bar Association, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Fellow of the College of the State Bar of Texas, and Bencher of the Master William M. (Mac) Taylor American Inn of Court. He has served on Merit Selection Committees for two United States Magistrate Judge positions as well as for the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas. He serves on the United States District Court Criminal Justice Act Panel Oversight Committee and has represented the District at the national level.
State Bar Grievance Committee Matters
U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
Numerous U.S. District Courts Pro Hac Vice across the U.S. and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas - 1975
Colorado College, B.A. - 1972
Instructor, U.S. Attorney General's Advocacy Institute
Speaker, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Seminar, Federal Practice
Center for American and International Law, Criminal Trial Skills Course
Presenter, SMU Dedman School of Law
Texas Super Lawyers in White Collar Defense, 2003 - 2008, 2010-2018
D Magazine Best Lawyers, White Collar, Criminal Defense, 2016-2017
Fellow, College of the State Bar of Texas
The Best Lawyers in America
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member
Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Member
State Bar of Texas, Member
Dallas Bar Association, Member
Federal Bar Association, Member
William M. "Mac" Taylor American Inn of Court, Master
Northern District of Texas, Merit Selection Committee, Federal Public Defender
Northern District of Texas, Merit Selection Committees (2), United States Magistrate Judge
United States District Court Criminal Justice Act Panel Oversight Committee, Member
Past Employment Positions
Dallas County District Attorney's Office, Felony Chief Court Prosecutor, 1975 - 1981
Northern District of Texas, Assistant United States Attorney, 1981 - 1987
Attorney in private practice with other outstanding lawyers, including former United States attorneys and Texas criminal district attorneys
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507393
|
__label__cc
| 0.724476
| 0.275524
|
Disney to donate $1 million in Hurricane Michael relief
The Walt Disney Company announced that it will donate $1 million to help those impacted by Hurricane Michael.
The money will be used to support disaster response, aid in relief efforts, and directly support those effected.
"All of us here at Disney have the families and communities impacted by this powerful storm in our hearts," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "Florida has been our home for almost 50 years, and our contribution will support our neighbors as they rebuild their communities in the wake f this powerful storm."
Additionally, Disney announced that employees who donate to relief organizations will have their donations matched dollar for dollar by the company.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507395
|
__label__wiki
| 0.606006
| 0.606006
|
Guy Fieri's Chicken Guy! coming to Mall of America in 2020
Celebrity chef Guy Fieri poses with menu items at Chicken Guy! location in Disney Springs, Florida.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota is about to get its very own piece of "Flavortown" at the Mall of America.
In early 2020, Chicken Guy!, created by celebrity chef Guy Fieri and restaurateur Robert Earl, will be opening up at the mall on the third level next to Piada, according to a spokesman with the Mall of America.
Chicken Guy! is a fast-casual restaurant chain, which boasts all-natural, hand-pounded chicken tenders that can be paired with 22 signature sauces. In addition to the tenders, the menu features sandwiches, skewers, salads, and sides like Mac Daddy Mac 'n Cheese.
“'Go Big or Go Home’ has always been my motto and when it comes to bringin’ Chicken Guy! to Mall of America, I think it’s spot on,” said Guy Fieri in a press release. “The people of Minnesota know great food and I’ve been able to try a lot of it while visiting on DDD. But now, I’m stoked to add a little bit of my own flavor with my real deal chicken tenders and sauces.”
The restaurant will also feature a selfie wall.
It will be the first Minnesota location and the fifth overall location after the first Chicken Guy! opened in Disney Springs, Florida in 2018.
For more information on Chicken Guy!, click here.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507397
|
__label__wiki
| 0.641135
| 0.641135
|
Assassin’s Creed universe not to end yet – Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’s lead writer has now cleared up doubts about whether Ubisoft has decided to end this historical adventure series or not.
Darby McDevitt spoke to EDGE regarding this confusion and what is Ubisoft’s vision is for the future of the series.
McDevitt said, “The end of the Desmond trilogy changed slightly but it was always intended to end that way. And then about two years ago we planned for another story – there’s been a bit of confusion in that [Black Flag game director Ashraf Ismail] once said that Assassin’s Creed has an ending – that’s not exactly true. This storyline has an ending, but because all of history is open to us we see the universe as a Doctor Who type thing. There are so many possibilities we don’t want to definitively end the universe, but we can have storylines that have endings. We’ve moved on from specifically defining when a story will end.”
McDevitt also added that Black Flag is definitely a crossfade between the old series and a new one, which does point out for a sequel in this new series and we guess it will emerge in the coming months.
Ubisoft has already hinted ideas of Japan or Victorian London being the possible future settings in the game series. We’ll keep you posted for any confirmed news.
Checkout our review of AC: IV Black Flag here. What are you expecting in the next Assassin’s Creed game? Let us know in the comment section below.
AC4 Assassin's Creed IV Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Playstation 3 PlayStation 4 PS3 PS4 Sony Ubisoft
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507399
|
__label__wiki
| 0.863276
| 0.863276
|
Home/American Shipper/CBP reorganizes international affairs office
CBP reorganizes international affairs office
American Shipper Staff Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Office of International Affairs and Trade Relations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection is undergoing a significant reorganization that officials say will make it more effective.
CBP chief Ralph Basham has separated Trade Relations from the Office of International Affairs, returning it to an independent entity within the commissioner’s office where it has historically resided since its creation in the 1980s until two years ago, Assistant Commissioner Michael Mullen told a packed house at the agency’s annual Trade Symposium in Washington last week.
Mullen also announced that Al Gina will be the new Assistant Commissioner for Trade Relations, effective Nov. 10. Mullen is a political appointee and is leaving the agency as part of the Bush administration’s transition to a new president.
Gina currently serves as deputy assistant commissioner for the Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination. He previously managed the creation of the Container Security Initiative and the Secure Freight Initiative for carrying out cargo scanning.
Charles Stallworth, who comes from the agency’s Air and Marine branch, is already on the job as deputy assistant commissioner for international affairs.
Basham moved the Office of Trade Relations out of his office shortly after becoming commissioner in mid-2006. Mullen, a top policy assistant at the time, was given responsibility for the combined Office of International Affairs and Trade Relations.
Mullen described the move as a way to give the trade community an opportunity to provide the next commissioner more direct input and reaction to upcoming policy and regulatory changes. Trade Relations is responsible for managing relations with the trade community and the Commercial Operations Advisory Committee, an industry-based panel.
Kim Marsho will continue as the director of trade relations.
Another move, also based on recommendations by CBP’s human resources department, involves the consolidation of International Affairs into more geographically focused branches to better align it with the State Department and other agencies that CBP collaborates with on international issues. ' Eric Kulisch
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507402
|
__label__wiki
| 0.761059
| 0.761059
|
Home/American Shipper/Vessel Hoegh Osaka run aground after developing ‘severe list’
Vessel Hoegh Osaka run aground after developing ‘severe list’
Chris Dupin Monday, January 5, 2015
Hoegh reports that the entire crew is safe and that there is no resulting pollution or obstruction to navigation.
The U.K. Marine Accident Investigation Branch has begun an investigation into the grounding of the car carrier Hoegh Osaka on the Bramble Bank in the Solent, the straight that separates the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England. The vessel grounded on the evening of Saturday, January 3, after departing from Southampton for Bremerhaven, Germany.
Ingar Skiaker, chief executive officer of Höegh Autoliners, said in a press conference on Sunday that all members of the 25-person crew were successfully evacuated from the vessel, with two sustaining minor injuries for which they have been taken to the hospital.
“The crew is currently being offered all possible support and
assistance to help them cope with the ordeal they have been through,” Skiaker said. “We
would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this challenging
rescue operation, with a special thanks to the Maritime & Coastguard
Agency, the RNLI, DNV, Gard and Southampton’s Port Authorities.”
Skiaker explained that Hoegh Osaka “developed a severe list shortly after she left port, and the pilot and
the master took the decision to save the vessel and its crew by
grounding her on the bank. This showed great skill and seamanship on
behalf of our crew when faced with such challenging circumstances.
“At this stage, it is too early to speculate on the cause of the list,
but we are starting an immediate investigation,” Skiaker continued. “Right now, we have
serious work ahead of us in order to free the vessel from the Bramble
Bank without disrupting the flow of traffic in and out of the Port of
Southampton. Our chief concern now is to
ensure there is no environmental damage from this incident.”
He added, “There is no oil spill reported at this point; however, we understand
that the UK authorities have brought their spill response to a state of
active readiness. The vessel is currently considered stable, and we are
closely working with our appointed salvors Svitzer, who in turn, are
working alongside Hugh Shaw, the secretary of state’s representative in maritime salvage and intervention, as well as the Port of Southampton,
to prepare for a safe and successful salvage of the vessel with minimal
disruption to the port and it environment.”
The BBC reported there were about 1,400 cars, including 1,200 from Jaguar Land Rover and 65 from Mini, as well as 70 to 80 pieces of construction equipment, aboard the vessel.
The QE2 ran aground on the Bramble Bank sandbar in 2007.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507403
|
__label__cc
| 0.626778
| 0.373222
|
Bioshock: The Collection – Golden Reel Guide
Jeb HaughtFriday, September 16, 2016
I've loved the Bioshock series ever since the first game was released, and I grew even fonder ever since I got into steampunk. After playing the original game on Xbox 360, and then on PC, I'm thrilled to play the remastered collection on PS4. While the upgrades are almost purely cosmetic, the developers have managed to include a new collectible item to the original Bioshock as an added incentive to return to Rapture.
Ten Golden Film Reels are hidden throughout the game that each unlock an episode of director's commentary called "Imagining Bioshock." These commentaries delve into the process of making the game and offer interesting facts about its creation. While the developers weren't diabolical in choosing the hiding spots, these reels can be tricky to spot because they're small and they don't have the same “shimmer” that makes other pick-ups stand out.
Fortunately, there's an indicator at the bottom of the pause screen that shows if there's a director's reel in the particular level. Make sure to grab these Golden Film Reels as you play through the game because you won't be able to return to most past areas.
Reel #1 – Welcome to Rapture
The first reel is pretty much hidden in plain sight, so it's very easy to find. It's lying on the left part of the wooden stage in the Footlight Theater. They will become harder to find as you progress through the game.
Reel #2 – Medical Pavilion
Players will meet Brigid Tenenbaum in the Lounge of the Medical Pavilion, and they'll have the option of harvesting or rescuing their first little sister. Regardless of the player's decision, a Gatherer's Garden appears afterwards. To the left of it, on the floor leaning against a wall, is the second reel.
Reel #3 – Neptune's Bounty
After defeating Peach Wilkins in Fontaine Fisheries, players will retrieve their weapons as they head down a flight of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs are two giant freezers. Enter the freezer on the right and walk to the back. Look on the bottom level of the shelf on the right just as the freezer makes a bend and you will see the third reel.
Reel #4 – Farmer's Market
In the basement of Worley Winery, players will find a small room with a glowing gene tonic. Go across the mini-bridge to get to the room, and then look to the left once inside. The fourth reel is on the floor leaning against the wall.
Reel #5 – Fort Frolic
Finding this one can be… ahem… a reel challenge. It's hidden from sight in the projection booth at the top of the stairs in Fleet Hall. However, all missions in this area must be completed before the gate that blocks the door is unlocked. Instead of leaving Fort Frolic after killing Sander Cohen, head back to the projection booth. The door will be open and the fifth reel is lying on the desk inside.
Reel #6 – Hephaestus
At one point on this level, players will be sent to a crawlspace to continue the main mission. Just behind the mission goal location in the crawlspace is a workbench with an Electromagnetic Pulse Bomb casing enshrouded in mist. Underneath the casing is a shelf, and the sixth reel is sitting on this shelf.
Reel #7 – Rapture Central Command
After mindlessly kill Ryan, go through the door that's to the left of the large glass window and into Ryan's office. Veer slightly left and head towards the wall. Ryan's desk is close to the wall, and the seventh reel is lying on the top of his desk.
Reel #8 – Apollo Square
This reel is found in the very last room before players leave this level for the next one. It's located on a couch in the Bathysphere Station. The couch is surrounded by other debris, including a pile of suitcases and a mattress lying on the ground.
Reel #9 – Point Prometheus
On the bottom floor of Little Wonders is an “island” of kid's bedrooms surrounded by a hallway. There are four bedrooms in total. Go inside the only one with the door already open, and the ninth reel will be lying on the pillow at the top of the bed.
Reel #10 – Proving Grounds
Just before fighting Fontaine at the end of the game, stop in the elevator room before heading up to confront him. Turn around and look towards the entrance. There's a U-invent machine by the door, and the last reel is lying on the floor, leaning against the wall to the left of the machine.
Tags: 2K, bioshock
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507405
|
__label__wiki
| 0.681397
| 0.681397
|
Appliances and models
Gatewatcher Intelligence
Resellers and integrators
Service providers and MSSPs
Call our experts !
Experiencing a security issue ?
Don't panic, contact us !
#ANALYSIS
Cybersecurity emergency for health organizations
Paralyzed hospitals, pacemaker or insulin pump disruption, resale of medical data ... Examples of malicious attacks in the health sector are not lacking and are convincing. In the age of health 2.0, it is impossible not to give priority to the cybersecurity.
Digital technology promotes exchange, sharing and decompartmentalization between the various players and thus puts efficiency first. But it also creates new challenges in terms of securing information systems and patient protection.
The cloud, a new challenge for healthcare organizations
By 2022, Gartner estimates that more than 30% of hospital data centers will be hosted in the cloud. Yet, according to a survey conducted by Netwrix 1 in 2019, one in three health organizations does not sufficiently protect their data, while the health sector is one of the main targets of computer attacks. 26% of industry players say they have experienced at least one cloud-related security incident over the past year. Despite these alarming numbers, 32% of healthcare organizations store sensitive data in the cloud without adequate protection resources. All health data is automatically considered sensitive data. These data include medical information and personal information to identify customers and employees.
More and more healthcare organizations want to prioritize the Cloud, rising from 31% to more than half of respondents in just one year. 34% of them even consider turning exclusively to the cloud. However, we do not see the same increase in the budgets allocated to securing information systems. In 85% of companies, they simply did not change at all in 2019. In addition, a third of the IT teams surveyed claim to receive no financial support from their management. Nevertheless, 70% of respondents make data encryption a priority, followed by monitoring data usage. But to deal with these new cloud-related threats, many players are seriously looking to backtrack by repatriating certain data on-site, including information about healthcare and customers.
The consideration of cybersecurity in the health sector is progressing ... slowly but positively. 76% of establishments now have an incident management unit. It remains to complete these efforts with more substantial budgets and a real desire on the part of the directorates of health organizations to rethink their IT security.
1 - https://www.netwrix.com/2019cloudsecurityreport.html .
What are the risks for patients and health care providers?
Of course, cybersecurity costs can be important, but they are ultimately the guarantors of the relationship of trust that must exist between users and health organizations. In health facilities, it is not the confidentiality of the data that is the main source of concern but the reliability of the latter. Only clearly identified persons should be able to modify these data and according to clearly defined processes. The American publisher Morphisec Labs conducted a survey dedicated to the users' point of view on the threats surrounding the health sector. Patients are more concerned about health risks (59%) than hackers having access to an Internet-connected medical device (41%). However, all these elements are in fact linked and form the links of a large chain. If a virus paralyzes applications used in emergency management, the resulting incident can lead to disruption of interventions and access to information about a patient's health status. It is not the use of information systems in health care facilities that is involved here, but the possible links between an IT incident and its impact on patient safety and the quality of its management.
And the number of vulnerabilities in the information systems of health organizations is not about to fall. Indeed, the growing number of connected objects used, the presence of unpartitioned networks, weak access controls and the dependence on aging systems make the health sector particularly attractive to hackers. In 45% of hacking cases, the authors take advantage of an application bug, go through a malicious email or cryptovirus software. The impact of a safety accident can be dramatic from a financial point of view; it can also lead to a real risk to the patient.
As examples, an intrusion with the decommissioning of the information systems of an ARS during 24 hours has generated intervention costs by a service provider of the order of 10 000 €, the loss of productivity is estimated at nearly € 40,000, for a total of € 50,000; a cryptovirus in EHPAD cost € 50,000 in direct intervention costs and indirect costs; the piracy of the standard of a hospital center has generated a telephony overcharging of the order of 40 000 €.
As another example, Dick Cheney, former Vice President of the United States, revealed that his cardiologist had disabled the wireless function of his pacemaker for fear of terrorist hacking. Fortunately, no one has been affected to date, but this kind of scenario worthy of an American series is now a reality.
How to protect an organization effectively?
As in any fight, it is important to know your opponent. Risk mapping is the cornerstone of any information system security action plan. The various staff and partners and the same users must be trained, sensitized, and educated on the latest attack techniques and vulnerabilities.
It is in this sense that the various institutions at European and French level act. While the implementation of the GDPR has played a major role in raising awareness among health organizations of the importance of securing quality data, efforts must be strengthened.
In France, since 1 October 2017, health structures have been required to report to regional health agencies ("ARS") IT security incidents that are considered "serious" and "significant". The "Asip santé" was responsible for providing support for incident handling, through the "ACSS unit" and in conjunction with the "ARS". But the french Ministry of Health chaired by Agnès Buzyn wants to go further and proposes to extend the incident reporting system to all health actors and to set up a national cybersurveillance service by 2020.
Most security vulnerabilities are due to a "lack of vigilance" and a "misunderstanding" of cybersecurity rules. It is therefore important to be accompanied and effectively protect its security systems by equipping itself with real-time threat detection tools such as security detection probes Gatewatcher. It is interesting to also develop machine learning and artificial intelligence that can anticipate the evolution of hacking techniques.br>
Piracy of connected objects is a major concern, particularly in the health sector, that’s why the French national drug safety agency has launched a public consultation to better take into account the cybersecurity of medical devices in Europe. As the culture of cybersecurity is very heterogeneous among medical device manufacturers, it is becoming essential to regulate so that the risk of cyber attacks is taken into account from the product design stage. See you in December for the final results of this exclusive consultation in Europe.
How to detect the most crafted attacks?
Download our whitepaper about the latest rising threat : Hybrid Malware.
Good resolutions and best IT practices
Who says new year says good resolutions. And this also applies to cybersecurity! Let’s begin the year with some best practises and daily cybers...
Internet shopping: watch out for cyber scams!
According to the latest report from Kaspersky, online shoppers are becoming victims of choice for hackers. Indeed, compared to last year, we not...
#DECODING
Ransomware: the hackers' favorite weapon?
Ransomware is back ! At least that's what McAfee's latest report on ransomware suggests. As a result, ransomware attacks increased by 118% in the...
42, rue Washington
Contact press
Navigation Solution Products Partners Our news Team Contact
Detection solution
Detection probes
Detection probes OIV
APT detection
Advanced threats detection
Cybersecurity solutions
Intrusion detection solution
Enter your email & subscribe to our newsletter
2019 © Gatewatcher. All rights reserved. Privacy policy and Legal terms..
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507406
|
__label__wiki
| 0.905873
| 0.905873
|
Stetson Kennedy (1916-2011)
Edward A. Hatfield, New Georgia Encyclopedia,
Stetson Kennedy
Folklorist, investigative reporter, author, and labor activist Stetson Kennedy occupies a unique position in Georgia's literary history. In the 1940s Kennedy infiltrated an Atlanta chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, an experience he recounted in two books, The Klan Unmasked and Southern Exposure. During his time undercover, he worked with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Defamation League. Kennedy's writing, as well as his work as an undercover agent, helped shed light on the Klan's "Invisible Empire," exposing the organization's penchant for extralegal violence and contributing to its decline in the 1950s and 1960s.
William Stetson Kennedy was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 5, 1916, to Willye Stetson and George Wallace Kennedy. His father was from Statesboro, and his mother's family was from Macon and Milledgeville. The Stetson Sanford House in Milledgeville, which serves as headquarters for the Old Capital Museum Society, is a family home on his mother's side. Kennedy became enamored with Floridian folkways at an early age, and wrote poetry about Florida nature during his youth. He was educated in Jacksonville's public schools and in 1935 enrolled briefly at the University of Florida.
Palmetto Country
1937 Kennedy joined the Federal Writers Project in Florida and spent the next five years collecting oral histories alongside fiction writer Zora Neale Hurston and folklorist Alan Lomax, among others. Kennedy had a large hand in editing several volumes generated by the Florida project, including The WPA Guide to Florida, A Guide to Key West, and The Florida Negro. A great deal of unused material from these projects was collected in Kennedy's Palmetto Country (1942), a book commissioned by Georgia writer Erskine Caldwell for his American Folkways Series. Embracing as it does southern Georgia and Alabama as well as Florida, Palmetto Country was celebrated on its fiftieth anniversary by a gathering of the historical societies of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida in St. Augustine, Florida, on Kennedy's eighty-fifth birthday. The book was brought back into print by the Florida Historical Society in 2009.
The Florida project ended when the United States entered World War II (1941-45). In 1942 Kennedy accepted a position as southeastern editorial director of the Congress of Industrial Organization's political action committee in Atlanta. In this capacity he authored a series of monographs dealing with the poll tax, white primary, and other restrictions on voting that delimited democracy
not only in Georgia but throughout the South. Because a bad back prevented him from serving overseas during the war, Kennedy resolved to perform his patriotic duties in Georgia, infiltrating both the Klan and the Columbians, an Atlanta-based neo-Nazi organization.
Posing as an encyclopedia salesman and adopting the alias John S. Perkins, Kennedy ingratiated himself into the Klan's company in 1946, donning a hood and joining the order in a ritualistic nighttime initiation atop Stone Mountain. As soon as he learned the group's secrets, Kennedy shared them with interested parties—journalists, law enforcement officials, and even the producers of the popular radio program The Adventures of Superman, who worked the secrets into the show's script and broadcast them before a national audience. Kennedy also provided national radio journalist Drew Pearson with Klan signs and countersigns, which Pearson described each week on his Washington Merry-Go-Round radio program.
After spending more than a year undercover with both organizations, Kennedy agreed to testify at the 1947 trial of Homer Loomis and Emory Burke, the leaders of the Columbians. While Kennedy's testimony helped to secure guilty verdicts for both men, his appearance also exposed his double life, bringing to an end his days as an undercover "Klan buster."
Kennedy left the country in 1952 and traveled widely thereafter.
The Klan Unmasked
He wrote about his experiences during his travels but was unable to find a publisher for his manuscript until 1954, when Arco, in London, England, agreed to publish the narrative. Originally entitled I Rode with the Ku Klux Klan, the book was subsequently published in the United States as Passage to Violence (with the first thirty pages of the original version omitted) but not widely circulated, and the work received significant attention only in 1990, upon its reissue as The Klan Unmasked. Around 1954 Kennedy met the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre while living in Paris, France, and Sartre published two articles by Kennedy in his journal Les Temps Modernes. In 1955 Sartre published under his own imprint Kennedy's book The Jim Crow Guide to the USA, long before the work found an American publisher.
After spending nearly a decade abroad, Kennedy returned to the United States in 1960 and worked briefly as a southeastern correspondent for the Pittsburgh (PA) Courier, a leading African American newspaper. He covered the events of the civil rights movement for the Courier, including the Albany Movement in Georgia. He also wrote the weekly column "Up Front Down South" under the pseudonym "Daddy Mention," a black folk hero. In his column Kennedy urged black leaders to support the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr.
Kennedy spent the rest of his professional life under the employ of various community development agencies in the Jacksonville area.
In 2006, after praising Kennedy's courage in their best-selling book Freakonomics, authors Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt published an article in the New York Times Magazine questioning the accuracy of his accounts. According to Dubner and Levitt, a number of the events described in The Klan Unmasked were embellished or based on secondhand information, and they accused Kennedy of failing to properly acknowledge the contributions of other undercover agents.
In his response Kennedy acknowledged that the charges held some truth, but added that he had admitted as much about twenty years earlier to Peggy Bulger, then a doctoral student researching Kennedy's life story. Though he expressed regret at not having fully elaborated upon the book's nature when it was reissued in 1990, Kennedy nonetheless defended his decisions as having been necessary to conceal the identities of his accomplices and ensure the book's publication. He moreover provided reams of documents verifying his undercover work, including interviews given by a number of former state officials. "Stetson didn't do it all," said former assistant attorney general of Georgia Daniel Duke in one interview, "but he did plenty."
In 2003 the Stetson Kennedy Foundation, headquartered in Florida at Beluthahatchee Park (St. Johns County), was formed with the mission of championing human rights, traditional cultures, and environmental stewardship.
Kennedy's papers are housed in the archives at Georgia State University in Atlanta, the New York Public Library in New York City, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of South Florida in Tampa. His numerous awards and honors include election as a fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists and induction into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.
Kennedy died on August 27, 2011, near St. Augustine.
Dean Rusk (1909-1994)
Andersonville Prison
Elaine de Kooning (1918-1989)
More in Mid- to Late 20th Century Figures
A. T. Walden (1885-1965)
Carl Vinson (1883-1981)
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
Jean Childs Young (1933-1994)
Media Gallery: Stetson Kennedy (1916-2011)
Margaret Bulger, "Stetson Kennedy: Applied Folklore and Cultural Advocacy" (Ph.D. diss., University of Pennsylvania, 1992).
Stetson Kennedy, The Klan Unmasked (Boca Raton: Florida Atlantic University Press, 1990).
Stetson Kennedy, Palmetto Country (New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1942).
Stetson Kennedy, Southern Exposure (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday and Co., 1946).
Twentieth-Century Florida Authors, ed. Kevin M. McCarthy (Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, 1996), s.v. "Stetson Kennedy."
Hatfield, Edward A. "Stetson Kennedy (1916-2011)." New Georgia Encyclopedia. 04 November 2013. Web. 14 January 2020.
Georgia State University Library: Stetson Kennedy Papers
Stetson Kennedy Foundation
Documenting the American South: Oral History Interview with Stetson Kennedy
Archaeology in Historic Preservation
William G. Anderson (b. 1927)
Angelo Herndon Case
John Adam Treutlen (1733-1782)
Henry Ellis (1721-1806)
James D. Bulloch (1823-1901)
Earl T. Shinhoster (1950-2000)
U-boat Attacks during World War II
Columbians
Desertion during the Civil War
Commission on Interracial Cooperation
Lemuel Penn Murder
W. E. B. Du Bois in Georgia
Home Rule and Ordinances
Paul Broun Sr. (1916-2005)
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507409
|
__label__wiki
| 0.552257
| 0.552257
|
Science Fiction Literature Pdf
Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the Science Fiction Literature Pdf, you will able to read or download in Pdf or ePub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. Therefore it need a FREE signup process to obtain the book. If it available for your country it will shown as book reader and user fully subscribe will benefit by having full access to all books.Click and join the free full access now.
Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Literature
Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Literature by Brian M. Stableford Book Resume:
This reference tracks the development of speculative fiction influenced by the advancement of science and the idea of progress from the eighteenth century to the present day. The major authors and publications of the genre and significant subgenres are covered. Additionally there are entries on fields of science and technology which have been particularly prolific in provoking such speculation. The list of acronyms and abbreviations, the chronology covering the literature from the 1700s through the present, the introductory essay, and the dictionary entries provide science fiction novices and enthusiasts as well as serious writers and critics with a wonderful foundation for understanding the realm of science fiction literature. The extensive bibliography that includes books, journals, fanzines, and websites demonstrates that science fiction literature commands a massive following.
Psience Fiction
Psience Fiction by Damien Broderick Book Resume:
Science fiction has often been considered the literature of futuristic technology: fantastic warfare among the stars or ruinous apocalypses on Earth. The last century, however, saw, through John W. Campbell, the introduction of “psience fiction,” which explores such themes of mental powers as telepathy, precognition of the future, teleportation, etc.—and symbolic machines that react to such forces. The author surveys this long-ignored literary shift through a series of influential novels and short stories published between the 1930s and the present. This discussion is framed by the sudden surge of interest in parapsychology and its absorption not only into the SF genre, but also into the real world through military experiments such as the Star Gate Program.
Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction in Literature
Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction in Literature by M. Keith Booker Book Resume:
This dictionary covers the history of Science Fiction in literature through a chronology, an introductory essay, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries including ·significant people; ·themes; ·critical issues; and ·the most significant genres that have formed science fiction literature.
Fantastic, Fantasy and Science Fiction Literature Catalog
Fantastic, Fantasy and Science Fiction Literature Catalog by N.A Book Resume:
Download or read Fantastic, Fantasy and Science Fiction Literature Catalog book by clicking button below to visit the book download website. There are multiple format available for you to choose (Pdf, ePub, Doc).
Science Fiction Literature in East Germany
Science Fiction Literature in East Germany by Sonja Fritzsche Book Resume:
East German science fiction enabled its authors to create a subversive space in another time and place. One of the country's most popular genres, it outlined futures that often went beyond the party's official version. Many utopian stories provided a corrective vision, intended to preserve and improve upon East German communism. This study is an introduction to East German science fiction. The book begins with a chapter on German science fiction before 1949. It then spans the entire existence of the country (1949-1990) and outlines key topics essential to understanding the genre: popular literature, socialist realism, censorship, fandom, and international science fiction. An in-depth discussion addresses notions of high and low literature, elements of the fantastic and utopia as critical narrative strategies, ideology and realism in East German literature, gender, and the relation between literature and science. Through a close textual analysis of three science fiction novels, the author expands East German literary history to include science fiction as a valuable source for developing a multi-faceted understanding of the country's short history. Finally, an epilogue notes new titles and developments since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature Vol 2
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature Vol 2 by R. Reginald,Mary A. Burgess,Douglas Menville Book Resume:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, A Checklist, 1700-1974, Volume Two of Two, contains Contemporary Science Fiction Authors II.
The A to Z of Science Fiction Literature
The A to Z of Science Fiction Literature by Brian M. Stableford Book Resume:
For quick reference to the significant authors, publications, awards, and events in the field of speculative fiction turn to this handy A to Z guide.
Science Fiction Literature Circles
Science Fiction Literature Circles by Christine Boardman Moen Book Resume:
These ready-to-use, reproducible role sheets make literature circle discussions exciting, informative, fun and easy to manage. Literature circles accomodate a wide variety of reading levels and allow for differentiated instruction. In addition to promoting reading, writing and listening skills, literature circles encourage cooperation and courtesy, allow for individual assessment and motivate students to read! Updated list of books for text sets is included.
Reality Simulation in Science Fiction Literature, Film and Television
Reality Simulation in Science Fiction Literature, Film and Television by Heather Duerre Humann Book Resume:
In recent decades, science fiction in both print and visual media has produced an outpouring of story lines that feature forms of simulated reality. These depictions appear with such frequency that fictional portrayals of simulated worlds have become a popular sci-fi trope--one that prompts timeless questions about the nature of reality while also tapping into contemporary debates about emerging technologies. In combination with tech-driven tensions, this study shows that our collective sense of living in politically uncertain times also propels the popularity of these story lines. Because of the kinds of questions they raise and the cultural anxieties they provoke, these fictional representations provide a window into contemporary culture and demonstrate how we are reassessing our own reality.
Wilderness Visions
Wilderness Visions by David Mogen Book Resume:
A careful and meticulous study of the Western Theme in Science Fiction Literature. I.O. Evans Studies in the Philosophy and Criticism of Literature, Vol. 1
The Vampire in Science Fiction Film and Literature
The Vampire in Science Fiction Film and Literature by Paul Meehan Book Resume:
Vampires have been a popular subject for writers since their inception in 19th century Gothic literature and, later, became popular with filmmakers. Now the classical vampire is extinct, and in its place are new vampires who embrace the hi-tech worlds of science fiction. This book is the first to examine the history of vampires in science fiction. The first part considers the role of science and pseudo-science, from late Victorian to modern times, in the creation of the vampire, as well as the “sensation fiction” of J. Sheridan Le Fanu, Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells. The second part focuses on the history of the science fiction vampire in the cinema, from the silent era to the present. More than sixty films are discussed, including films from such acclaimed directors as Roger Corman, David Cronenberg, Guillermo del Toro and Steven Spielberg, among others.
Science Fiction by Roger Luckhurst Book Resume:
In this new and timely cultural history of science fiction, Roger Luckhurst examines the genre from its origins in the late nineteenth century to its latest manifestations. The book introduces and explicates major works of science fiction literature by placing them in a series of contexts, using the history of science and technology, political and economic history, and cultural theory to develop the means for understanding the unique qualities of the genre. Luckhurst reads science fiction as a literature of modernity. His astute analysis examines how the genre provides a constantly modulating record of how human embodiment is transformed by scientific and technological change and how the very sense of self is imaginatively recomposed in popular fictions that range from utopian possibility to Gothic terror. This highly readable study charts the overlapping yet distinct histories of British and American science fiction, with commentary on the central authors, magazines, movements and texts from 1880 to the present day. It will be an invaluable guide and resource for all students taking courses on science fiction, technoculture and popular literature, but will equally be fascinating for anyone who has ever enjoyed a science fiction book.
From Here to Infinity
From Here to Infinity by Michael D. C. Drout Book Resume:
Download or read From Here to Infinity book by clicking button below to visit the book download website. There are multiple format available for you to choose (Pdf, ePub, Doc).
American Science Fiction and the Cold War
American Science Fiction and the Cold War by David Seed Book Resume:
Science fiction (SF) has existed as a popular genre for around 150 years. This book offers a survey of the genre from nineteenth-century pioneers to contemporary authors, introducing the plural versions of early SF across the world, before examining the emergence of the 'scientific romance' in the 1880s and 1890s. The 'Golden Age' of writers' expansive SF pulp was concentrated in the 1930s, consolidated by best-selling writers like Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. The contributors to this volume also track the increasingly diverse forms SF took from the 1950s onwards. Leading international scholars, writing in an accessible style, consider SF as a 'world' literature, referencing works from diverse traditions in Latin America, Europe, Russia and the Far East. This book combines discussion of central figures of the tradition with a new global reach.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature by R. Reginald,Douglas Menville,Mary A. Burgess Book Resume:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, A Checklist, 1700-1974, Volume one of Two, contains an Author Index, Title Index, Series Index, Awards Index, and the Ace and Belmont Doubles Index.
Science Fiction, Children's Literature, and Popular Culture
Science Fiction, Children's Literature, and Popular Culture by Gary Westfahl Book Resume:
Literature often is central to individual maturation. It typically reflects, in one way or another, the experiences of the reader and the larger strains of society. This book examines representative works of science fiction, children's literature, and popular culture as mirrors of what it means to grow up in the contemporary world. That world is permeated by technology, and technology thus figures prominently in the process of growing up and in these literary works. Included are chapters on Superman, the Hardy Boys, Star Trek, music videos, and other topics.
Science Fiction and Market Realities
Science Fiction and Market Realities by George Edgar Slusser,Gary Westfahl,Eric S. Rabkin Book Resume:
Through case studies, other contributors relate science fiction to other forms of "underground" literature, consider the continual cycle of illegitimate art replacing legitimate art, look at young readers of science fiction, chart the rising and falling "stock" of science fiction writers' reputations, and consider the influence of editors on a writer's work.
Running Blind
The Perfect Husband
Till There Was You (Butler, Vermont Series, Book 4)
Illumination Night
Hungry Girl Clean & Hungry OBSESSED!
Tom Clancy Enemy Contact
The Last House Guest
Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf
Promise to Keep
Lexie Starr Cozy Mysteries Boxed Set (Three Complete Cozy Mysteries in One)
The Lemon Sisters
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507410
|
__label__wiki
| 0.55064
| 0.55064
|
The New Gold iPod Is More Interesting Than It Looks
Starting today, you can buy a gold iPod Touch. It’s actually not as lame as it sounds. Beneath its golden shell, the iPod is starting to look a little bit like the low-cost phones that so many of its competitors are working on, too.
It would be very easy—and more than a little bit true—to call today’s introduction of a gold iPod Touch boring; in some ways it’s the perfect example of how Apple’s design has stagnated over the past few years. To be sure, the gold thing is part of Apple’s quest to appeal to new markets, including China where gold is a popular color amongst users, as Bloomberg reported last year. By now, there aren’t many Apple products you can’t get in gold, and sometimes it feels a bit like a ploy to distract consumers from the fact that Apple hasn’t made a drastic or exciting design update in quite some time.
Yet, as both Wired’s Brian Barrett and Daring Fireball’s John Gruber have pointed out today, the internal updates to the iPod are actually pretty damn great—Apple has, essentially, made the iPod into an iPhone that doesn’t have cellular data. For example, it has the M8 coprocessor that makes your iPhone capable to supporting ambient activity metrics. It has an A8 chip for faster processing. There’s a new camera, too, which makes the iPod a solid alternative for people who don’t have a dedicated smartphone but want the ability to take photos, use the web, and maybe make some wifi calls. As Matt Buchanan wrote on Gizmodo in 2010, a camera makes the iPod Touch nearly as useful as the iPhone, “but without the technological venereal disease that is a two-year AT&T contract.”
Apple must still see potential in the iPod. As it expands into markets where cellular service might not be as common, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that the company is picturing the iPod as its low-cost iPhone alternative.
Apple should pay attention to those cheaper markets, especially considering Microsoft and Google already are and have been for awhile. Both Android and Microsoft (RIP) are pushing plenty of super low-cost models, and at I/O this year, Google mentioned (once again) its mission to bring internet to “the next billion users,” especially in areas that might not have cellular or data connections. To do it, the company is building products like a version of Maps that is completely viewable offline, even when searching for locations, as well as offline functions for YouTube. Google’s also starting up Fi, an alternative to traditional cell service that uses wifi and piggybacking from LTE networks to offer low-cost service. Facebook is doing the same thing—finding its “next billion users” opening new offices in Africa and launching its own efforts to stream internet from drones.
Apple may see the iPod as hardware it can sell to those next billion people. It’s experimented with a lower-cost iPhone before, but the 5c ultimately a failure, with less power, fewer features than the iPhone, and a price tag that was not nearly cheap enough to justify it. But the iPod could be that second chance in disguise: All the internal power and external design details of an iPhone, without the costly data plan or cellular connection.
Of course, we’ve got a long way to go before Apple starts marketing the iPod as an alternative to the iPhone (if it ever does so overtly). Today’s largely under-the-radar announcement proves that the company certainly isn’t too interested in bringing much attention to it. But it does mean the sixth generation iPod touch will be able to handle Apple’s next few OS updates, and a lot could change between now and then. Giving it a smarter brain and a better camera could be an experiment to gauge how much of a market there is for an wifi-iPhone.
For now, the guts of that idea are definitely there, lurking in the iPhone’s shadow.
Original Source: gizmodo.com
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507412
|
__label__cc
| 0.620785
| 0.379215
|
Good Counsel Services, Inc.
Centre for Social Innovation
601 West 26th Street, Suite 325/108
info@goodcounselinc.org
Shana Sisk
Shana Sisk is a marketing professional with 16 years of experience in New York City. She has worked in media and with non-profits, strategizing and running BtoB and BtoC campaigns, and working in both the digital and traditional print realms. She has been the Director of Marketing at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, she was the Associate Director of Digital Marketing at The Jewish Federations of North America and she consults for a variety of nonprofit clients and a boutique law firm. She moved to New York City in the year 2000 and, after coordinating United Synagogue Youth's 50th anniversary, moved into the corporate realm, with marketing work at Tony&Tina Cosmetics, Vibe/Spin Ventures, The Deal and Haymarket Media, followed by positions at New York Fashion Cares, the Red Bull Theater Company and Joshua Venture Group. When she's not marketing, Shana has been known to sing and perform in cabaret clubs throughout New York City.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507413
|
__label__wiki
| 0.792598
| 0.792598
|
Electric Vehicles: Charging Ahead
Posted by Nicole Pajer
Sep 21, 2015 12:20:44 PM
Making charging technology simpler and more efficient—and educating builders about it—will help accelerate demand for electric vehicles.
Electric car sales are on the rise. A recent study by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) revealed that an additional 320,000 new electric vehicles (EVs) were registered across the globe in 2014, taking the total number of EVs on the road up to 740,000. The organization estimates that if the market continues to grow at their projected 76 percent rate, EVs will soon be in the garages of one million people. Bosch Automotive Service Solutions is working to help simplify the lives of these future electric car owners by pushing for EV charging stations to become a standard feature in new consumer homes.
If current trends hold, builders who include electric vehicle charging stations in new homes will have an edge over builders who don’t include them.
The division, which offers both products and services, has shifted its focus towards educating builders and contractors on EV trends and the future need for home-based charging stations. “Having a chance to work with builders is a great opportunity for both us as an infrastructure company and also for our consumers,” says Meghan Chamberlain, account manager of EV Solutions, who has been implementing Bosch’s recent builder teaching initiatives at places like the annual BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) Expo. “Making builders and contractors aware of the need for charging stations really helps the consumer once they get into the home.”
Pay Now, Charge Later
According to the EV team at Bosch, installing a 240-volt charging station in a new house may save electric vehicle owners a significant amount of time and money down the line. In dwellings where garages are located above ground, for instance, the panel may be located in the basement. To install a charging station in such a setup would require a contractor to cut through a basement wall and ceiling. “Once they start going through drywall—or in the case where you have a detached garage, after your landscaping is done—installing a charging station becomes a much larger project than if it were included in the original build,” says Chamberlain. “Getting it in earlier saves them a lot of time and benefits them greatly from a monetary perspective.” And in addition to the logistics of wiring an EV charger through existing construction, some homeowners without built-in stations may find themselves with maxed-out electrical panels, which would then require a full-service upgrade.
It’s Bosch’s hope that going forward, EV charging stations will become an increasingly popular home amenity, like solar panels, which builders are beginning to include in many new developments. “I think it’s somewhat a chicken-and-the-egg challenge right now. Depending on where they are based, builders don’t necessarily see a lot of these [electric] vehicles,” explains Chamberlain. “Someone in South Dakota might not see a lot of EVs, and so might be less inclined to include a charging station. We’re hoping that through this general education, and as more consumers start buying EVs and builders start seeing those vehicles, they really understand why this is an advantage for them. It truly can be competitive for those builders who incorporate charging stations into new homes.”
The new Bosch Power Max 2 will include a 40-amp variant, which will mean faster charging for the EVs that can accommodate 40 amps.
Rising Sales, Rising Efficiencies
As EV sales increase, the market has shifted its focus on finding ways to make the vehicles more efficient. New initiatives are being crafted, such as faster charging systems. One such product is Bosch’s new Power Max 2, which the company is gearing up to launch in the fall of 2015. “This is going to be the follow up to the original Power Max, which at the time it was introduced was the highest-value level 2 charging station on the market,” explains Chamberlain. According to Bosch, the Power Max is currently one of the most highly rated and top-selling EV charging stations on Amazon. The forthcoming follow-up edition will include many unique advantages. “It has a 40-amp variant, so it’s going to be much faster than the current Power Max, which is either 16 or 30 amp,” says Chamberlain. EVs that can charge with the 40-amp variant, such as the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, will be able to take full advantage of the new Bosch offering. Power Max 2 is slated to also be smaller but just as efficient as its predecessor; it also contains an on/off button (to ensure energy efficiency) and can be easier to install than other EV chargers on the market. Rather than needing to be hard-wired, “it actually comes with a plug, so it simply can be plugged into a receptacle,” explains Chamberlain. “As long as the builder has put that outlet in, the customer literally just takes the Power Max 2 out of the box and plugs it into the outlet.”
Fast, Faster, Fastest
From a commercial perspective, the next frontier of charging is DC fast charging. According to Chamberlain, a DC fast charger is 480 volts and puts a direct current into a battery in lieu of utilizing an on-board charger. “To give an idea of what that means from a charging time, we’ll use a BMW i3 as an example. If you plug it into an ordinary 110-volt outlet, it’s going to take about 24 hours. If you use a level 2 charging station, it’s going to take three and a half hours, and if you plug it into a DC fast charger, it’s going to take about 30 minutes,” she explains. Bosch has been working with general contractors for commercial spaces such as car dealerships to integrate such technology, including the Bosch Power DC Plus, into new developments. Bosch has also joined forces with ChargePoint to increase the number of public charging stations in the ChargePoint network. Efforts include making the Bosch Power DC Plus station ChargePoint-enabled, which allows property owners to monetize the stations.
Bosch estimates that the amount of EV drivers will continue to rise as more models are released and word of mouth spreads about the benefits of driving electric cars. But everything, says Chamberlain, comes down to educating the car-driving consumer. “There is this misconception that EVs are slow, and therefore couldn’t be fun. But they are definitely fun to drive!” she says. “And I think the second biggest misconception is range. The average American drives less than 40 miles per day, making them ideal candidates for either a plug-in hybrid like a [Chevy] Volt or a pure battery electric like an i3. With a pure battery electric, if you’re driving less than 40 miles a day, you’re never even going to deplete half of your battery. Those are the two biggest things I often hear, and on which we always try to educate.”
© 2016, Green Builder Media. All rights reserved. This article is the exclusive property of Green Builder Media. If you would like to reprint this content, you are free to extract a short excerpt (no more than 1/4th of the total article), as long as you 1. credit the author, and 2. include a live link back to the original post on our site. Please contact a member of our editorial staff if you need more information.
Search GBM
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507416
|
__label__wiki
| 0.856813
| 0.856813
|
VIDEO: The making of Green Left Weekly
This behind-the-scenes look at Green Left Weekly was produced by Green Left TV to celebrate 1000 issues of the paper. )
Australian uranium fuelled Fukushima disaster
Beyond Nuclear Initiative released this statement on March 11. *** On the third anniversary of the continuing Fukushima nuclear crisis, environment groups have called on New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell and his government to shelve plans for uranium exploration and mining in the state. ACF nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney said: “It was confirmed to the federal parliament in October 2011 that Australian uranium directly fuelled Fukushima.
What's new at Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal
A path to socialism ― building on Chavez's legacy It is now one year since the unfortunate death of Hugo Chavez on March 5, 2013, writes Venezuela-based Canadian socialist Michael Lebowitz. How Chavez will be remembered depends significantly on whether we build upon the foundations he began, and advance the struggle for a humanist socialism of the 21st century. Ukraine: Views from the left
Madrid’s Basque stance absurd and untenable
The Spanish government’s response to the move by armed Basque pro-independence organisation Basque Homeland and Freedom (ETA) to put its weapons beyond use has clearly demonstrated it favours continuing conflict over peace. On February 21, ETA released a video showing two of its members meeting with representatives of the International Verification Commission. The IVC were inspecting weapons that had been put beyond operational use.
Scotland: 'Listen to pro-independence voices'
Scotland will vote on September 18 on whether to become an independent nation or stay in the British “union” led by England that includes Wales and Northern Ireland. Independence is opposed by major political parties in Westminster and establishment forces in England and Scotland. However, support for independence is growing.
Oscar-nominated Somali actor survives on allowance
“It's no secret that many of the actors at the Oscars were wearing borrowed clothes and jewellery after being feted by designers keen for a priceless plug,” the Sydney Morning Herald said on March 5. “But not many would have been lent a suit because they couldn't afford one.”
10 thought-provoking lyrics from Native rap artists
This article on 10 thought-provoking lyrics from Native rap artists in the US first appeared at Indian Country Today Media Network. ***
There’s always a verse, hook, or rhyme that listeners hear and say – whoa, I wasn’t expecting that. But, regardless of its effect, we find ourselves singing along to it.
Hundreds arrested at Washington Keystone pipeline protest
More than 350 climate activists were arrested March 2 in Washington, DC, after zip-tying themselves to the White House fence. The civil disobedience action was the highlight of two days of protest, dubbed XL Dissent by organisers, to demand that the Obama administration reject building the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline runs from Canada through the US and will shift oil from tar sands in Canada, which emits more greenhouse gases than conventional oil when burned. The Obama administration is yet to make a decision on allowing a key part of the pipeline to be built.
Haiti: Ten years after coup, democracy still under siege
It has been 10 years since the February 29, 2004, coup d’etat that ousted the democratically-elected government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Haiti. Paramilitary groups ― including many former members of Haiti’s disbanded army and CIA-funded death squads ― engaged in a campaign of violence directed against supporters of the government and the Haitian National Police (HNP), for years before the coup.
US kills with impunity on Mexican border
Around 6.40am on Feburary 19, a United States Border Patrol agent shot and killed Jesus Flores Cruz, a 41-year-old Mexican national, four miles east of the Otay Mesa port of entry to the US in southern San Diego. Employing what has become an all-too-familiar explanation, authorities said Flores Cruz, an unauthorised migrant, pelted the agent with rocks. Reportedly fearing for his well-being, the agent shot his pistol twice, fatally wounding the alleged attacker.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507417
|
__label__wiki
| 0.646929
| 0.646929
|
The Argentine Soccer Team
Gringo in Buenos Aires June 18, 2010 Soccer2 Comments
It’s World Cup time. Argentina could win. And you’re living in Buenos Aires – your timing is impeccable!
As I write this the Albicelestes have just played their second game in the group stages of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It was a convincing 4-1 thrashing of South Korea in which superstar Lionel Messi shone and teammate Gonzalo Higuaín hit a hat-trick of goals, the first so far in the competition.
But you knew all that, right? It’s pretty hard to live in Buenos Aires and not get caught up in Mundial fever with 40 million people shouting ‘gooooooool!’ in perfect harmony every time the blue-and-whites find the back of the net!
Argentina has one of the most successful national football teams in the world. They’ve won the World Cup twice (in 1978 and 1986) and the Copa América 14 times. They’ve also won the Confederations Cup (in 1992) and the Olympic Football Tournament twice (in 2004 and 2008). They also had, in Diego Maradona, one of the best players of all time, a man who lead them to victory at the World Cup in 1986 and to a second-place finish in 1990 (more on him later).
So much for history. What about the current crop of Albicelestes though – do they have the stones to make it to a fifth World Cup final, and even to win?
In a word, yes. Despite a series of stuttering, unconvincing performances in their World Cup qualifying campaign, this star-studded team has now put two wins on the board at the and looks to be peaking at just the right time.
Any description of the Argentina national team must of course start with the current world’s best player, Lionel Andrés Messi. With his small stature, Beatles-esque ‘do and quiet personality, Messi is an unassuming young man…until he gets on the pitch, where for Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga and for Argentina he tears other teams apart with his blazing speed, insane dribbling and lethal shooting with both foot and head.
Voted Fifa World Player of the Year in 2009, Messi is one of the few players to really impress so far in the 2010 World Cup. At the age of just 22 people are already saying that he might be the best of all time, better even than the former ‘world’s best player,’ the current manager of Argentina, Mr. Diego Armando Maradona.
What about the rest? Yeah, they’re pretty good too! They include the abovementioned Gonzalo Higuaín, also 22, who plays for Real Madrid as a striker and bagged an amazing 27 goals for his club in the 2009-10 season. Joining him up top are Sergio Agüero, another 22-year-old, who plays for Atlético Madrid and is engaged to Maradona’s younger daughter, and Carlos Tévez (26), Manchester City’s star hit man who scored 25 goals for the club last season.
In midfield there’s Angel di Maria, yet another 22-year-old, an exciting winger who plays for Portuguese club Benfica. He scored the winning goal in Argentina’s Goal Medal game against Nigeria at the Olympic tournament in 2008.
Protecting the defense from midfield Argentina has team captain Javier Mascherano (26), the enforcer who plays for Liverpool and is regarded as possibly the best central midfielder in the world.
Between the sticks Argentina has the talented 23-year-old shot-stopper Sergio Romero, and in front of him they have the experienced Marseille and ex-Manchester United left-back Gabriel Heinze (32), and the commanding Bayern Munich centre-back Martin Demichelis (29), among others.
So that’s the team. But what about Maradona? His position as Argentine national manager is somewhat bizarre. Yes, he was a great player – undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time – but his personal life since his late 20s has been an absolute train wreck: cocaine addiction; cavorting with hookers; yelling abuse at journalists and paparazzi; gross obesity; stomach stapling; friendship with Fidel Castro, and the list goes on. He has been both idolized and crucified many times over in Argentina. Is this really a guy you want captaining your ship?
Probably not, but for better or worse he’s the man in charge at this World Cup. And even if that’s Argentina’s loss, it’s definitely our gain, because his crazy antics and wild ranting at officials, opposing managers, journalists, the new Jabulani ball and anyone or anything that dares to cross him ensures that there’ll never, ever be a dull moment when he’s around. In short, he’s a walking headline, but you just have to love him all the same.
The best player in the world (and maybe of all time), a brilliant if sometimes erratic team, and a crazy manager who’s the ex-best player in the world and the biggest character in the game. Yep, I’d say the stage is set for more thrills and spills in South Africa and possibly even a big ole’ trophy at the end of it all.
I don’t know about you, but I’ll be watching every game.
Tags: argentina, Soccer
2 Comments on “The Argentine Soccer Team”
Dale Argentina!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a good feeling that they’re going to win. 🙂
AANGEL
pues nose si va a ganar ya que es un equipo chafa y por cierto estas muy bonita yse ve que tambien muy buena de el cul……
Buenos Aires Sex Hotels Revealed. Its Telo Time!
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507421
|
__label__wiki
| 0.692853
| 0.692853
|
Birthplace Brooklyn, NY
Birth Date b. 1941
Website http://www.richardheinrich.com
1. © photographer
Works by Richard Heinrich can be seen in the collections at The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo in Purchase, New York; Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, New Brunswick campus; the New York Public Library in Manhattan; Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; and at corporate headquarters and private homes across the country. He has exhibited his sculptures at a variety of shows including the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in Colorado, the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art in Ohio, Hofstra University in Hempstead on Long Island, Manhattan Community College, and at Pier Walk 98 in Chicago. Works on paper by Heinrich also have been shown at many galleries and museums, including the American Craft Museum and The Art Club, both in New York City.
Work by Heinrich
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507422
|
__label__wiki
| 0.554757
| 0.554757
|
Watch Members of Guns N' Roses, Sex Pistols, Green Day Perform Ramones Classics in Acoustic Jam
Duff McKagan, Billy Joe Armstrong, Steve Jones and actor Fred Armisen get together to pay tribute to Johnny Ramone.
This past Sunday, August 26, an all-star cast gathered at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to pay tribute to Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone, who died from prostate cancer in 2004. Organized by his widow, Linda Ramone, the annual event benefits the Johnny and Linda Foundation and Dr. David Agus at the Center for Applied Medicine, and features art installations, movie screenings and memorabilia displays. But the highlight this year was undoubtedly an acoustic jam that brought together Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan, Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong, Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and actor Fred Armisen for a set that included “Rockaway Beach,” “Danny Says” and “Judy is a Punk,” among other songs.
Said Armstrong about the Ramones in an interview with Forbes: "They seemed like a family, with the name and a gang or something like the Del-Lords or some kind of New York bunch of barbarians that could wield around a baseball bat.
“They're known, just the leather jackets, the jeans and the thing I liked about them is they didn't really play up the fashionable English mohawk punk. They were very American and very Americana. They got what the aesthetic was, especially for Johnny, who was a very proud American. So that sort of symbolized the Ramones."
Check out some highlights from the performance below:
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507424
|
__label__wiki
| 0.647969
| 0.647969
|
KNOTT: “IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK”
The midfielder is looking forward to returning to action
Summer-signing Billy Knott emphasised the team’s need to start winning games in the New Year ahead of the trip to Oldham on Saturday.
Knott spoke to the Gills Media team at the club’s training ground on Tuesday afternoon, as he looks to make his return after over a month out injured.
The midfielder expressed his delight at being back involved with the squad, alongside his targets for the remainder of the season.
Knott on…returning from injury: “It’s good to be back with the lads. I was a long time out, longer than I expected so it’s nice to be back involved. Hopefully I’ll be available for the weekend.”
Knott on…his season so far: “I’ve loved it. Obviously it’s disappointing where we are in the league but I think we just need a run of games and we should be alright.
“But I’m enjoying it. It’s nice to be back down south again with the family and all the boys.”
Knott on…going forward under Pennock: “Yes of course [I’m optimistic]. They’ve only been in a couple of days and are trying to implement their ideas.
“The lads are enjoying it. There’s been a lot of shape work and a few things have been changed. But obviously I’m enjoying it.”
Knott on…his targets going forward: “Everyone knows this squad should be in the play-offs. But it’s one thing saying it and another thing doing it.
“I think we need to focus on one game at a time. We’ve got to start winning games and we know that.”
Support the Gills at Oldham on Saturday
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507427
|
__label__cc
| 0.579201
| 0.420799
|
The Oceans Could be Cesspits of Death by 2050
The latest report into the dangers of global warming and the gradual acidification of the oceans suggests we could see a complete collapse of the marine food chain by 2050, unless we... do something.
This most recent bit of eco-horror has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, where an aggregate of some 632 separate ecological studies has been created to find that, to put it bluntly, you wouldn't want to be something that lives in the sea or eats fish a few years from now.
The key issue is that a triumvirate of doom -- global warming, overfishing and chemical pollution -- are coming together to potentially break the sea. Warming waters and acidification are combining to make it hard for many species to adapt, with the speed of the changes likely to result in massive loss of shellfish species and corals, also changing the lifespans of plankton to disrupt the entire ocean food chain.
Report author associate professor Ivan Nagelkerken said: "Overall, we found there’s a decrease in species diversity and abundance irrespective of what ecosystem we are looking at. These are broad scale impacts, made worse when you combine the effect of warming with acidification."
And it's already underway, with the paper explaining: "We are seeing an increase in hypoxia, which decreases the oxygen content in water, and also added stressors such as overfishing and direct pollution. These added pressures are taking away the opportunity for species to adapt to climate change." [Guardian]
Image credit: Sea life from Shutterstock
giz uk
Gary Cutlack
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507428
|
__label__cc
| 0.556381
| 0.443619
|
This Is How Asteroid Mining Will Work
Apr 26, 2012, 11:00am
Yesterday, a group of billionaires, scientists and engineers announced what could become the most important enterprise in human history since Columbus sailed West: an asteroid-mining company called Planetary Resources. They want to jump-start a completely new industry between the Earth and the moon, one that will add trillions of dollars to the world economy and ensure our prosperity for centuries to come.
It's an amazing and lofty goal. One that has the potential to change our world forever. One that is risky and hard, but which they believe can be achieved within a decade. This video offers a glimpse of how space mining will work.
The tycoons
Planetary Resources is backed by people with deep pockets, like Google's Larry Page and Eric Schmidt, filmmaker James Cameron, Microsoft's former Chief Software Architect Charles Simonyi, and Ross Perot Jr, among others.
The target
There are 9000 asteroids near Earth. Of those, about 1500 are within easy reach using the same or less power than what was used to go to the moon.
These asteroids are loaded with two things. Some of have a high content of water ice, which could be converted into solid oxygen and solid hydrogen to provide rocket fuel for exploration; in its un-altered form, it could help support life in space. Harvesting water from asteroids will make space travel really inexpensive, allowing for an industry to blossom in space.
Other asteroids are rich in rare metals, like platinum or gold. An abundance of these metals will enable easier acces to technology that is currently prohibitively expensive.
One small asteroid of, say, 50 metres in diameter could contain billions of dollars worth of these metals, pure and ready for easy extraction. Likewise, an icy asteroid of the same size could contain enough water to power the entire space shuttle program.
First, within two years, the company will send prospectors to low-earth orbit. Called the Arkyd 100 series, these machines will be cheap and networked together. They will track near earth asteroids (NEA) and asses the possibility to reach them and mine them.
Within a decade, they will launch a swarm of prospectors with propulsion capabilities. They will be the Arkyd 200 and 300 series. These will approach asteroids and analyse their composition.
After identifying the best candidates in terms of distance, speed, physical stability and composition, they will launch the actual mining spacecraft.
Some of them may be swarms that will grab asteroids and bring them closer to Earth for mining. Others will be large containers that will engulf the asteroids to move them and process them.
The Ultimate Goal
Eventually, Planetary Resources wants to start a new industry in space, one that may become the main engine of humanity's future. The company believes many others will follow its business model. The group of investors believe that the search for resources is the only way for humans to move forward and, in a few decades, space mining will be considered a normal industry. They think that this may save Earth from its own destruction, since we are quickly consuming our resources.
It sounds like science fiction, but the people behind PR are convinced they can turn fiction into fact. And they are putting up the means to start it. I want to believe they will be successful. Even while the road will be hard and they may not succeed, I think others will end their task.
I look at these people and remember Kennedy's words during his famous Rice University speech:
We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organise and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.
And all I can say is: let's go for it.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507429
|
__label__cc
| 0.635844
| 0.364156
|
March 1 deadline is approaching for 2019-20 Glen Oaks Community College scholarship applications
By Valorie Juergens
Glen Oaks Community College is accepting applications for over 50 different scholarships for the 2019-20 academic year, and the deadline of March 1 is just around the corner.
“Some scholarships are geared for graduating high school seniors, while others are available for returning students,” said Jean Zimmerman, Glen Oaks director of financial aid. “Glen Oaks is offering the Presidential, Deans, Faculty and CTE institutional scholarships. Students are encouraged to visit the college’s financial aid page to see the eligibility requirements.”
“The Glen Oaks Foundation awards over $90,000 in scholarships from donors and businesses each year,” said Vonda Marrow, executive director of the Glen Oaks Foundation. “Being able to award students scholarships to help achieve their educational goals is the Glen Oaks Community College Foundation’s purpose and our board members look forward to this opportunity each year. The Foundation is so thankful for the many donors who believe in education and provide endowments to make these scholarships available.”
Glen Oaks Community College Presidential and Dean’s Scholarships for 2019 high school graduates
To be eligible for these scholarships students must be a 2019 graduate from a public or private high school in St. Joseph County or a public high school within the Glen Oaks service area (Cass County residents attending Three Rivers, Constantine or White Pigeon High Schools; students attending high schools in Branch County in Michigan; and students attending high schools in LaGrange, Elkhart, Steuben and St. Joseph Counties of Indiana). The Presidential Scholarship students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to be eligible for up to $4,000 per year. For the Dean’s Scholarship, worth up to $2,000 per year, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Both scholarships may be renewable for a second year.
Glen Oaks Community College Foundation Scholarships for 2019 high school graduates AND returning GOCC students
Through philanthropic efforts of the Foundation, charitable cash gifts have provided many students the opportunity of an education that will in turn help change their lives in a positive way. To browse descriptions of the available scholarships, visit the Glen Oaks Community College Foundation Scholarship link at https://www.glenoaks.edu/alumni-friends/gocc-foundation/foundation-scholarships/
Glen Oaks is also accepting scholarship applications for the Faculty and CTE Scholarships. To access all of the scholarship descriptions and applications please go to:
https://www.glenoaks.edu/current-students/financial-aid/types-of-aid/.
The scholarship descriptions with the link to the applications are listed in Currently Active Scholarships under Institutional Scholarships and Foundation Scholarships.
All scholarship application materials must be submitted to the Glen Oaks Financial Aid Office by 4 p.m. on March 1, 2019.
Contact the Glen Oaks Financial Aid Office with questions by calling (269) 294-4260. Office hours are 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
Valorie Juergens
Comm__market_admin
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507430
|
__label__cc
| 0.584323
| 0.415677
|
Market in turmoil
By By Phil Zinkewicz 2002-11-01T00:00:00+00:00
Medical malpractice is facing a crisis in the US.
The medical malpractice insurance situation in the US has once more reached `crisis' proportions, with national insurance associations such as the Alliance of American Insurers (AAI) and the National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) calling for legislative reform of medical malpractice both at the state and federal levels. It has happened before. In the mid-1980s, insurers began pulling out of writing the coverage in certain states where liberal jury verdicts were causing losses that far outpaced premium income.
But then, in the early 1990s, the equities market began its climb, and investment income became so attractive that insurers chased after premium dollars at the expense of underwriting judgment. Now that the investment market has fallen off, insurers are once more pulling back from writing this volatile line.
"There is clearly a capacity shortage in the medical malpractice arena and those companies that are staying in the market are looking for rate increases in the double digits and triple digits," said Matthew Coyle, director of Standard & Poor's Financial Services Ratings. "We're seeing a whipsaw effect from previous years where rates were low. Physicians are being the hardest hit, but hospitals are feeling the pinch as well. Bedpan mutuals might make up for some of the lost capacity, but they can't replace the large players that have left the market."
A `bedpan' mutual is a slang expression referring to physician-owned and hospital-owned mutual insurance companies that were set up during the last hard medical malpractice insurance market.
Jim Hurley, consulting actuary with Tillinghast-Towers Perrin, said that, according to rating agency AM Best, the entire medical malpractice insurance industry in the US represents some $8bn. "In the last 12-18 months, more than $1bn of capacity has been taken out of the marketplace," he said. "The major players that are out of the market are St Paul, Phico, Frontier and MIIX. Physicians and hospitals need to find capacity to replace that which has been lost and they will eventually have to turn to the medical mutuals, the excess and surplus lines industry, offshore captives or state-run joint underwriting associations."
Of those four medical malpractice markets, three have been taken out rather than pulling out voluntarily. Phico is a Delaware insurance company that is in liquidation. MIXX was a medical malpractice insurance market covering about 37% of New Jersey's doctors that has been ordered to stop selling new policies. Frontier is also in financial difficulty. Both Mr Coyle and Mr Hurley agreed that at the heart of the malpractice crisis is the tort-liability system in the US.
Once again, as in the last crisis period, attempts are being made to reform tort laws as they relate to medical malpractice.
Recently, the US House of Representatives passed a bill, patterned after California's medical malpractice reform law, that would limit damage awards in medical malpractice lawsuits. This is a top priority for doctors and business groups that argue such caps will help hold down health costs and prevent doctors from abandoning high-risk practices. The bill, also strongly sought by the American Medical Association, was passed by a 217-203 vote, with about 30 lawmakers crossing party lines in both directions. However, while malpractice reform has long had support in the House and from President Bush, it has consistently faced obstacles in the Senate. In July, the Senate defeated a narrower malpractice proposal offered as an amendment to an unrelated drug bill. Sponsored by Pennsylvania Republican James Greenwood, the House bill places no limits on economic damages but caps `pain and suffering' damages at $250,000. Punitive damages are also at $250,000 or twice the economic damages, whichever is greater. In addition, the legislation sets a sliding scale for attorneys' fees, and shields from litigation makers of medical devices and products approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Changes are taking place at state level as well, according to Sarah White of the AAI. In Arizona, she said, the Medical Malpractice Subcommittee of the Arizona Director of Insurance's task force on commercial lines insurance has agreed to pursue a voluntary plan for providing medical malpractice liability insurance.
In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush created a Select Task Force on healthcare professional liability insurance to address the rising costs of insurance premiums there. The task force will make recommendations aimed at preventing availability and affordability problems. The task force consists of academics from several universities in Florida and they are expected to hear testimony from various interested parties. The task force will submit a recommendation or proposed legislation to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House by 31 January next year. The report should include an examination of Florida premium costs and tort laws as compared to other states, an assessment of availability and affordability of insurance, and specific strategies to address the perceived crisis, said Ms White.
In Georgia, the state Chamber of Commerce recently formed a task force to address the issue of increasing medical malpractice premiums. Also, Lt Gov Mark Taylor named a Senate subcommittee to determine what effects a potential crisis could have on the state budget. Finally, the Medical Association of Georgia is planning a march on the Capitol on 15 November, the first day the bills can be pre-filed for the 2003 legislative session.
In Iowa, the insurance department recently held a hearing addressing potential medical malpractice issues in the state.
In Kentucky, the department of insurance held a public hearing on the availability and affordability of malpractice insurance. The purpose was to determine whether a competitive market exists in the state, whether medical malpractice insurance should be made a designated line and whether to establish a joint underwriting association.
In New Jersey, medical malpractice continues to be an issue, according to Ms White. The New Jersey Citizens United for Healthcare Access, supported by the Medical Society of New Jersey and the New Jersey Hospital Association, is holding a series of rallies throughout the state, urging lawmakers to resolve the professional liability crisis.
Ms White said that Mississippi is in the midst of a special session to deal with medical malpractice issues. Both the House and Senate have passed a bill that is now in concurrence committee. The versions of the bill differ dramatically and the bill that finally emerges from conference may not be as effective as hoped due to the need for compromise, she said. One of the issues causing problems is the question of a cap on non-economic damages.
The Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn recently signed a tort reform that caps non-economic damages at $350,000, provides several liability for non-economic damages, reduces the statute of limitations, creates a patient safety board and limits civil liability for trauma services in government and non-profit hospitals to $50,000.
The Ohio Senate Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee has held a hearing on a bill that would provide caps on non-economic damages and a sliding scale for attorneys' fees, though it will not be addressed again until after the November 5 state elections.
In Texas, a group of Republican lawmakers held a press conference stressing the need for tort reform legislation in the next session. Among the proposals was a $250,000 cap on punitive damages and a statute of limitations for medical liability lawsuits. According to Ms White, the voluntary market assistance plan established in Washington is enjoying initial success. Of the 600 doctors that needed to find medical malpractice insurance coverage by 1 July, 98% had been successfully placed.
Pennsylvania is of particular interest in terms of medical malpractice reform. Governor Mark Schweiker, speaking recently before the state's Chamber of Business and Industry's annual dinner, warned that Pennsylvania was in danger of losing excellent physicians because of medical malpractice insurance availability problems. Recently, he signed a bill that the AAI said should go a long way toward improving the environment for writing medical malpractice insurance in the state. The bill, HB 1892, provides for tort reform, shortens the statute of limitations, provides possible privatisation of the MedCAT fund and implements patient safety requirements.
"Enactment of this bill is a good first step toward alleviating the medical malpractice crisis in Pennsylvania," said Neil Malady, Alliance Mid-Atlantic regional manager. "While not including all of the tort reform measures in the original House version, the bill does give some relief by shortening the state of repose and requiring periodic payment of future medical costs."
The original version's tort reform measures included provisions that banned joint and several liability for damages above $1m, capped non-economic damages and implemented venue reform, according to Ms White. In addition, aspects of the bill that strengthen the state's ability to investigate allegations of doctor misconduct or negligence will help improve future risks, she said.
The official AAI policy on medical malpractice is that it opposes short-term solutions to liability insurance availability problems because they do not address the underlying problems with the civil justice system. "Therefore, the Alliance advocates tort reform as the best means of eventually reducing claims costs and lawsuits," said Ms White. "Also, Alliance policy opposes formation of new JUAs (joint underwriting associations) or expansion of existing JUAs, since these mechanisms merely pool medical malpractice risks, do not address the underlying problem of rising claims costs and growing exposure of healthcare practitioners to suit."
The NAII has also taken on the issues that are perceived as part and parcel of the medical malpractice crisis. A combination of higher premiums, soaring jury awards and lower revenues is impeding patient access to care, said the NAII. "To turn around this crisis, frivolous lawsuits must be reduced, as well as exorbitant non-economic awards that address pain and suffering," it said in a position statement. "These measures will curtail the abuses in the tort liability system. Tort reform includes limitations on non-economic damages, meritless lawsuits and contingency fees."
The NAII pointed to a recent survey conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide for the Health Care Liability Alliance that shows the public "supports measures to turn the tide on the lawsuit lottery system." According to the survey, 78% of Americans say they are concerned about the impact rising liability costs have on the access to healthcare, and 73% support a law that caps pain and suffering awards. "With reform, medical care state-by-state will improve and malpractice insurance premiums will stabilise," said the NAII. "Without them, doctors will seek friendlier climate, businesses will locate elsewhere and citizens will pay more for all goods and services to subsidise state-run insurance pools that support a broken judicial system."
According to the most recent statistics available, the NAII contends that medical malpractice insurance is a profitable venture in only 14 states. "Between 1995-2000, liability costs skyrocketed and medical liability insurers' combined ratio jumped from 99.7% to 133.3%," it said. "Only 14 states reported combined ratios under 100% in 2000, which means only 14 states experienced an underwriting profit - Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin."
The NAII pointed to California as being a "pioneer of comprehensive tort reform." The law in that state:
limits recoveries for nebulous pain and suffering portions of settlements to $250,000;
allows periodic, rather than lump sum, payments of damages for future losses to ease the strain on insurers in the case of high settlements;
shortens statute of limitations to one-to-three years;
limits contingency attorneys' fees - an attorney is entitled to no more than 15% of any amount over $600,000;
discourages plaintiffs from double-dipping by suing a doctor for medical expenses, even though a health insurer has already paid the patient's bills and
encourages and facilitates arbitration.
The NAII maintains that it does not suggest revamping actual compensation for true malpractice. "That is what the concept of liability insurance is all about," it said. "We would not tamper with economic damages - such as lost income or wages, healthcare costs and replacing services the injured person can no longer perform. NAII supports control on spiralling costs for `pain and suffering' awards beyond actual financial losses. Non-economic damages include certain hardships, such as loss of companionship. Such subjective situations, in which money can never make the claimant whole again, are factors that drive up loss costs."
Within the medical profession, there have always been certain categories of physicians that have been more at risk in terms of lawsuits. Obstetricians, for example, are high risk, as are neurosurgeons. Recently, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, along with the American Medical Association and the Pennsylvania Society, gathered in Philadelphia to announce the results of a new national study concerning the impact of the professional liability crisis on patient care.
According to the data, based on survey responses from over 700 neurosurgeons from 48 states and the District of Columbia, 25 states are in `severe' crisis and an additional 12 states are facing a `potential' medical liability crisis. During the news conference held in Philadelphia, it was revealed that neurosurgeons across the country have been experiencing professional liability rate increases. About half of those surveyed had increases of up to 50%, 13% have had between 50%-100% increases, and 19% have had over 100% increases in their malpractice insurance. "The impact that this crisis is having on patients cannot be understated," said Stephen M Papadopoulos, a practicing neurosurgeon from Phoenix, and president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. "Many neurosurgeons are no longer performing high-risk neurosurgical procedures in an attempt to lower their professional liability insurance costs and minimise their risk of suit. Based on this survey data, it seems that brain surgeons are no longer performing brain surgery."
Because of increased liability risk, fewer neurosurgeons are covering hospital emergency rooms, and trauma hospitals are shutting their doors to neurotrauma, and diverting patients with serious health and spinal cord injuries to other locales, the survey showed.
"What this means for the public is that our patients may be denied crucial neurological emergency medical treatment or they will have to travel greater distances, even to other states, to get the care they need," said Roberto C Heros, president of the AANS and co-chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Miami in Florida. "Critical life-saving time is lost while searching for an available emergency room," he said.
At present, it is not certain whether relief in the medical malpractice situation will come from the federal government or on a long and arduous state-by-state basis. Medical malpractice has been an on-again, off-again crisis in the US for decades. Most experts believe that without true reform, even if the current crisis subsides as new capacity comes into the market - which it has in the past - the crisis will probably rear its ugly head again.
Phil Zinkewicz is a re / insurance journalist based in New York.
How one star's injury changed 2014 World Cup player insurance
London market playing a major role in covering the insurance needs of clubs and companies at the World Cup 2014
Which cities will challenge London's subscription market?
Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bermuda are all rising fast
The bright future of catastrophe funds: Lloyd's
How catastrophe funds can save money and share risks
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507431
|
__label__wiki
| 0.580615
| 0.580615
|
The next asbestos?
By By Robert S Soderstrom, Thomas K Hanekamp, Andrew S Boris and Katherine E Tammaro. 2002-11-01T00:00:00+00:00
Snowballing claims, large jury awards and even a Hollywood appearance are leading commentators to declare that toxic mould may be the next asbestos for the re/insurance industry. But times have changed, and this may well not be the case.
Claims for damage related to mould in the indoor environment threaten to become the `next asbestos' in the US. US insurers reportedly spent more than $1bn on mould claims in 2001, roughly five times the cost in 2000. During 2000 and 2001, over 44,000 mould claims were presented in Texas alone, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
As a result, certain major insurance companies have chosen not to issue new homeowners policies in Texas and California. Evacuations of schools and office buildings have occurred, and homes have even been intentionally burned to the ground because of `mould contamination'. Feature stories and special reports on the topic regularly appear on local and national news programs. The US Congress is considering legislation that proposes a national mould insurance program, and requires governmental agencies to establish acceptable levels of mould in the indoor environment.
Origins of mould claims
Mould is a fungus that comprises 25% of the Earth's biomass, and has been in existence for millions of years. It serves many useful purposes including decomposing organic material. We also use it in our medicine, like penicillin, and our food, such as cheese. It exists both inside and outside of homes and commercial structures. Mould requires three things also required by humans to survive: food, temperature and water. The `food' for mould includes standard cellulose-based US building materials such as drywall, wall covering, ceiling tile and carpet backing. Mould and humans also share a preferred temperature range. Therefore, the human indoor environment is perfect for mould growth if the remaining element is provided: water. Water from a leaky roof or pipe, or even excess humidity, is sufficient to sustain mould growth in the indoor setting.
Mould can release microscopic seed-like spores into the air. Additionally, certain moulds produce mycotoxins that can be harmful depending on the individual, the concentration and duration of exposure. Plaintiffs claim that inhalation of mycotoxins causes a variety of illnesses involving respiratory symptoms, such as asthma and allergies, as well as neurological deficits.
Commentators have advanced numerous theories to explain the advent of mould claims. One theory is based upon the `energy crisis' the US experienced in the 1970s. Purportedly, the desire for greater efficiency in energy consumption led to the construction of more energy-efficient buildings. These structures were often fitted with sealed windows and required central heating and air-conditioning systems to closely regulate the amount of outdoor air that was permitted to circulate in the buildings. Additionally, the materials used in the construction of these structures included gypsum wallboard, stucco and wall coverings, all potentially trapping air and moisture inside while also serving as a tasty menu for mould. Another theory notes that certain parts of the US have experienced tremendous population growth. This theoretically led to an increased demand for energy-efficient homes and buildings that were constructed quickly and cost-effectively. This population growth occurred primarily in warmer climates that were perfect for growing mould, and where water penetration of the building envelope was not previously a major concern. Another viewpoint is that the increased volume of mould claims was in response to two jury verdicts handed down against insurers in 2000 and 2001. The cases were tried in California and Texas and involved alleged bad faith claims handling. The verdicts were for $18m and $32m, respectively. This may be the more cynical, and accurate, viewpoint.
These two cases focused the glare of the US media spotlight on mould and resulted in television news stories on the national and local levels. Feature articles have also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the New York Times and USA Today. Hollywood even provided mould with a boost as Ed McMahon, sidekick to former late night talk show host Johnny Carson, and Erin Brockovich, the world's most famous paralegal, brought mould claims.
Mould damage claims
Mould claims typically arise after a water loss at a home or commercial building. Mould growth is often discovered after the suspected water source is `repaired', and frequently occurs in these circumstances because the water source has not been fully repaired, or there remain other water sources not previously identified. Another reason mould growth may occur is that the response to the water intrusion was untimely. Mould reportedly can begin growing if the water is not removed within 48 hours. Further, where substantial mould growth is discovered, `killing' the mould on certain surfaces with bleach may not be effective. Instead, where porous materials are involved, removal of the affected property, including drywall and flooring, may be required. Thus, mould remediation can be quite costly.
The most controversial aspect of mould claims is the extent to which exposure to mould in the indoor environment may result in serious bodily injury. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) initially published a study in 1994 linking the presence of mould in the low-income housing of 47 Cleveland, Ohio infants to their afflictions with acute idiopathic pulmonary haemorrhage. Sixteen of the infants died from the condition. After further consideration, the CDC retracted
the findings, citing deficiencies in the study. However, plaintiffs and their counsel seized the initial CDC findings, and the opinions of certain testifying experts, to assert that exposure to mould causes serious bodily injury.
Individuals have different levels of sensitivity to mould that may vary day-to-day, and depend upon the type and concentration of mould, and the duration of the exposure. Moreover, these sensitivities most commonly result in reactions similar to allergies such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing and irritated eyes and throat. Of course, there are many other potential causes for these symptoms including pets, dust and the common cold.
Experts contend that there is presently no scientific basis to link exposure to airborne mould in the indoor environment to serious bodily injury. Nevertheless, certain US courts have permitted expert testimony that mould exposure can cause not only asthma and respiratory ailments, but also permanent cognitive deficits. For example, the State of Delaware's Supreme Court affirmed a judgment in excess of $1m where a 33-year old woman claimed that exposure to airborne mould in her apartment aggravated her asthma and caused permanent memory and concentration deficits. Additionally, public and private research is being conducted concerning the health effects of mould. Therefore, it may only be a matter of time before airborne mould exposure becomes the source of innumerable illnesses allegedly afflicting the American public.
US insurers and their counsel are waging an aggressive battle against plaintiffs' experts who attempt to use `junk science' to connect mould exposure to serious bodily injury. The outcome of this conflict is pivotal in determining whether mould indeed becomes the next asbestos.
Construction industry response
It is suspected that certain construction designs and products may have served to set the stage for mould growth. Construction of `airtight' buildings has reduced the flow of fresh air and created the opportunity for mould to be circulated throughout the building by central air-conditioning systems. Since the explosion of mould claims, building systems have been redesigned, and new mould-resistant materials are being used. More care is being taken to reduce needless exposure of construction materials to water and the outside elements. Insurers are also assisting in this effort, as shown by the recent efforts of the Alliance of American Insurers to participate in discussions to revise the South Carolina State Building Code.
Even the US government has taken note of mould claims. In June 2002, US Representative John Conyers (D-Michigan) introduced proposed legislation, HR 5040, that calls for federal research concerning the health effects of mould, standards for acceptable levels of mould, and criteria for certification of mould remediation contractors. The legislation also would establish a national mould insurance program to provide insurance for those who are unable to otherwise obtain it because of a history of mould problems.
There is a significant question whether standards for mould clean-up or permissible exposure limits can be determined. As previously mentioned, individuals have different levels of tolerance for various species of mould. While mould exists everywhere, levels of concentration indoors can vary significantly at various locations throughout the structure and at different times. Thus, setting an `acceptable' level of mould that applies to everyone, in all circumstances, may not be possible. Nevertheless, the US government is presently funding studies concerning the health effects of mould. The state of California has passed legislation that calls for research to determine whether permissible exposure limits can be set for mould, and a volunteer task force of experts assembled for this purpose in late October.
Insurer response
In addition to opposing unscientific bodily injury causation testimony, insurers are responding in a variety of ways to the influx of mould claims. For example, if insurers delay in responding to water damage claims, mould claims may result. Therefore insurers have trained claims handlers to respond to water damage claims promptly to avoid mould claims. In addition, handlers are better equipped to recognise a serious mould claim and respond accordingly by using the appropriate remediation strategy. Many insurers have entire units devoted to responding to mould claims, in part to assure consistency and control. Most insurers have also responded to mould claims by adding endorsements to exclude or limit coverage for mould. In addition, they are scrutinising potential commercial insureds to determine if proper loss prevention and quality control programs are in place before issuing policies. Certain major carriers have even stopped writing or renewing homeowners policies in states experiencing the highest frequency of mould claims, such as Texas. Rate increases have also been imposed, reportedly as high as 200% in Texas.
Reinsurer response
US insurers and reinsurers have addressed toxic mould claims as part of construction defect and first-party water damage claims for years. The recent media frenzy over these claims has, however, raised new concerns about how much effect they will have on reinsurers' bottom lines. For reinsurers, the most pressing issues involve: how the increase in toxic mould cases will affect the inventories of closed and open cases; what practical considerations should be used to properly evaluate and price potential toxic mould exposures; and how traditional reinsurance doctrines may interplay with toxic mould cases.
While numerous authors and commentators have likened toxic mould claims to the next asbestos, there is a significant difference that is of paramount concern to reinsurers. Mould claims will not impact multiple years of insurance coverage in the same way as asbestos and environmental claims typically have and continue to do. While more than one insurance policy may be implicated by a toxic mould claim, it is predominantly a situation where policies providing different coverages concurrently respond to the claim rather than, for instance, an asbestos claim which implicates 20 years of historic commercial general liability coverage. The distinction is vitally important as both insurers and reinsurers may address the problems associated with toxic mould claims on a prospective basis without significant concern for a new long-tail loss exposure.
Practical considerations for future pricing
With the focus on future claims, reinsurers have analysed certain practical considerations relating to the underwriting and claims handling of toxic mould claims. As an initial matter, reinsurers are reviewing the internal claims coding procedures that ceding companies employ, so a more refined underwriting analysis can be conducted for toxic mould claims. Since these claims can impact virtually all lines of insurance, some within the reinsurance industry have advocated the use of overlay coding, equipping an insurer with the ability to produce a report that identifies all claims with mould allegations. While the new wave of toxic mould claims may not impact historic insurance programs, there is little doubt that both insurance and reinsurance pricing should be adjusted to account for the increase in claims. The need for information is also particularly important because certain regions of the US (Texas, California and Florida) have exhibited the largest increase in toxic mould cases. The ability to identify such data will aid reinsurers in properly underwriting and pricing future reinsurance certificates.
Insurers are also in some cases assembling data beyond strict statistical information to facilitate their analysis of toxic mould exposures. For example, some insurers are now collecting information addressing the loss prevention methods used by insureds that will likely face toxic mould claims (these proactive actions are more common where the insured has obvious loss exposure such as home or building contractors and remediation contractors). Reinsurers may seek to request such information in an effort to further aid the underwriting process.
In the underwriting process, reinsurers may also seek to track the effectiveness of mould and pollution exclusions now contained in many policies. While first-party policies include exclusions that specifically address mould, claimants throughout the US have questioned the enforceability of such exclusions. In addition, buoyed by the success of claimants' counsel in calling into question the effectiveness of pollution exclusions to non-traditional environmental claims in both the first-party and third-party policy context, attorneys representing toxic mould claimants have also challenged whether pollution exclusions should operate to bar a toxic mould claim. While commentary on the viability of mould and pollution exclusions in this context has been significant, the list of reported decisions has not. Insurers' efforts to address the mould issue have been further hindered because some states have prohibited insurers from adding newly-worded exclusions or have mandated that certain sub-limits be available for mould claimants.
While mould claims can present diverse underlying factual scenarios, questions remain about the application of traditional reinsurance doctrines. Although there has been a significant rise in toxic mould claims, most reinsurers have not employed their own exclusionary language. Underwriting personnel may alter certain certificates to account for particularly high loss exposures for a particular cedant. Nonetheless, two long-standing disputed issues in the reinsurance arena are particularly relevant in relation to mould claims:
whether declaratory judgment expenses are covered under the reinsurance contract; and
coverage for potential bad faith claims.
This issue has generated case law and significant industry commentary because of its economic impact on environmental and other long-tail, continuous exposure claims. In Affiliated FM Insurance Co v Constitution Reinsurance Corp, 416 Mass 839, 626 NE2d 878 (Ma 1994), the Massachusetts Supreme Court found the language in the facultative certificate unclear on whether the parties intended the contract to include litigation expenses for declaratory relief brought by an insured against its insurer to determine coverage. After being remanded for further handling by the Supreme Court, the trial court allowed testimony on the purpose and function of reinsurance and custom and practice in the reinsurance industry in 1976, when the certificates were issued. The jury concluded that the certificates provided coverage for the declaratory judgment expenses. Since the question of coverage in the mould context may often involve declaratory judgment litigation, reinsurers should continue to closely monitor case law developments that may impact coverage for declaratory judgment expenses.
Another long-standing issue is whether the reinsurance certificate provides coverage for damages that the cedant must pay as a result of bad faith conduct. Ceding insurers often maintain that reinsurance certificates, based upon the implied duty of good faith and the follow the settlements doctrine, should cover such damages. In addition, many certificates include `excess of policy limits' provisions to account for potential bad faith liability. There is also limited case authority holding that a reinsurer may be held liable for bad faith damages where it can be argued that the reinsurer was involved in the claims handling process. Ott v All-Star Insurance Corp, 99 Wis2d 635, 299 NW2d 839 (Wis 1981). With bad faith allegations present in a significant number of first-party mould cases, a reinsurer needs to be keenly aware of how pertinent jurisdictions may address this issue. Specifically, even if the certificate in question provides coverage for extra-contractual liability, it could be interpreted not to cover punitive damages in states that prohibit insurance coverage for punitive damage awards.
Mould problems in North America have not been confined to the more temperate regions, and cases in states such as Illinois and New York have been reported. Again, these cases appear to stem primarily from the building practices and improper remediation. Such practices have led to cases as far north as Canada, although differences in litigation practices between the US and Canada mean that the large jury verdicts such as those handed down in Texas and California will not result. Likewise, the absence of all of the factors, new construction, use of certain construction techniques and materials, climate and litigation practices probably means that regions outside the US will not experience a level of mould claims to the same degree.
Future of mould
Mould may not become the `next asbestos'. Exposure to asbestos causes serious illnesses, including cancers, that can be traced to inhalation of asbestos fibres. Moreover, the cause and effect of exposure to asbestos has been demonstrated by extensive valid scientific evidence. No such biological markers exist that link illness to mould. Additionally, defendants in third-party mould cases are typically small businesses or property owners, not the easily targeted large corporations that existed in the asbestos arena. In asbestos cases, plaintiffs' attorneys can share evidence that exists against defendants that commonly appear in asbestos litigation. Plaintiffs in mould cases will not be able to share proofs as easily against recurring defendants.
Mould and asbestos also differ in that symptoms from asbestos exposure can take decades to appear. There is no long-term latency associated with mould. This allows people suffering from mould sensitivity to remove themselves from the affected area. Without a latency period, fewer people should become ill and there is less of a chance that more serious illness will develop.
Insurance analysts at Standard & Poor's have proclaimed that mould claims peaked in 2001. Thus it appears - at least at this point - that the US mould `crisis' may be only temporary.
Robert S Soderstrom is a founding partner of Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess in Chicago, Illinois. Thomas K Hanekamp, Andrew S Boris and Katherine E Tammaro are partners of the firm and, with Mr Soderstrom, are with the firm's insurance services group. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess, or any of its clients.
How cyber risk undermines the north American economy
Russell Group analyses key risk
Euro is the curse of the cat bond
But demand for transactions in US dollars rather than euros raises concerns over focus on US risk
Damage bill unlikely from Victoria quake
5.3 magnitude earthquake struck the southeast coast of Australia
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507432
|
__label__wiki
| 0.694978
| 0.694978
|
Home » EOS Insight » Tesco
21 st November 2016
Case Study EOS Governance Social Strategy
Tesco is the UK's largest retailer, with further substantial businesses in Central Europe and Asia.
In the summer of 2014, its board made the decision to appoint a new CEO, which we viewed positively, as the retailer had been underperforming, leading to a series of profit warnings. In addition, in September 2014, the business announced that it had identified an overstatement of profits, principally due to the accelerated recognition of commercial income and delayed accrual of costs.
The company’s new management identified three immediate priorities, namely regaining competitiveness in its core UK business, protecting and strengthening the balance sheet and rebuilding trust and transparency with key stakeholders. In the UK, it reset its target margins significantly and embarked on a far-reaching turnaround programme to reverse negative like-for-like sales growth and market share loss. It also initiated extensive restructuring, with large UK property write-downs and the sale of a number of assets, including its South Korean business.
More recently, we successfully engaged with the company on improving its board effectiveness, executive remuneration and supply chain management, which we describe below.
Engagement objectives
Social: Rebuild trust with suppliers and establish new payment terms
Governance: CEO remuneration to include stakeholder-related performance targets, Retail, grocery and technology experience on the board
In meetings with the new directors, in particular the chair, we raised our concerns about size, skills gaps and a lack of diversity on the board. The chair acknowledged that the board would benefit from appointing new non-executive directors, while emphasising the importance of gender and geographic diversity, as well as retaining the right board dynamics.
We also intensively engaged with the company on its executive remuneration schemes, which were extremely skewed towards shareholder-oriented metrics, including the high weighting of relative total shareholder return. The remuneration chair acknowledged the need to review the executive remuneration policy and to include more stakeholder-related performance targets. This was particularly important for Tesco, as some of the retailer’s earlier problems directly arose from losing focus on the needs of the key stakeholder groups of customers, suppliers and employees.
In addition, at meetings with the new executive CEO and CFO, chair and head of global supply chain management, we raised concerns about Tesco’s treatment of its suppliers, specifically in relation to payment practices. As part of its own internal response to the accounting issues identified in September 2014, Tesco carried out an inquiry into previous commercial practices and shared these findings with the UK Groceries Code Adjudicator, which subsequently completed an independent investigation into these issues. The findings of this report confirmed many of our concerns. The adjudicator’s report found Tesco to be in breach of rule 5 of the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, in relation to the timely release of supplier payments. The adjudicator did not find any evidence that Tesco had breached rule 12 by requiring payments in order to secure better positioning or an increase in shelf space. As the regulatory body’s authority to levy financial penalties did not come into force until April 2015, after the period under investigation, no fines were imposed.
Changes at the company
To improve board effectiveness, in line with our engagement request, Tesco initially rightly focused on establishing the optimal board composition. The retailer has substantially widened its membership base, hiring non-executive directors with an appropriate range and balance of skills, experience and knowledge that reflect its new strategic direction. The newly appointed non-executive directors possess critical skills and knowledge of value to the board, for example direct experience of food, grocery, property, IT and retail brand development, as well as relevant experience in key regions, such as the UK and Southeast Asia. In addition, the appointment process took into account the benefits of diversity, including gender, resulting in female representation on the board of 25%. We were also pleased that the company undertook an external board evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of its board.
We are satisfied with the changes made to Tesco’s executive remuneration schemes, in particular the improved alignment of its incentive plans with its strategic priorities, including rebuilding the trust with its key stakeholders. In a meeting with the chair of the remuneration committee, the company acknowledged that the committee had specifically taken into account our recommendations in devising a more balanced and aligned executive long-term incentive plan (LTIP), considering its stakeholders, including customers, suppliers and employees, thus demonstrating greater alignment with the strategic focus.
In September 2016, the Grocery Code Adjudicator published its views on the progress made by Tesco towards the recommendations set out in its original report. According to the report, the retailer has put in place the appropriate systems to avoid late payments, unilateral deductions and data input errors. Furthermore, sufficient steps have been taken to provide more transparency and clarity in its dealings with suppliers. Elsewhere, a survey, commissioned by the adjudicator, carried out on behalf of the majority of direct suppliers, showed that most UK retailers have improved their behaviour in the past few years, with Tesco emerging as the highest performer, with 65% of those supplying the retailer stating that its practices had improved.
The positive findings of the progress report were also confirmed at the 2016/17 interim results announcement, as the retailer reported a strong improvement in its supplier surveys, with the UK supplier satisfaction measure at 78%, up significantly on the 51% from 2014/15. We are encouraged by these positive developments, which illustrate that Tesco has been successful in rebuilding trust and creating transparent relationships with its suppliers, including the redefinition of its payment terms and practices.
Overall, we have been impressed by the capabilities of the new executive team over the past few years, in particular given the sheer size and scope of the issues at hand.
Roland Bosch
Sector lead: Financial Services
Paul Voute, Head of European Business Development
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507434
|
__label__wiki
| 0.58652
| 0.58652
|
Wonder show at Aldwickbury Park
ALDWICKBURY Park Golf Club played host to more than 80 children in the HSBC Wee Wonders East region final. The stars of the future were aiming for a place in the prestigious final at the famous St Andrews course in Scotland.
ALDWICKBURY Park Golf Club played host to more than 80 children in the HSBC Wee Wonders East region final.
The stars of the future were aiming for a place in the prestigious final at the famous St Andrews course in Scotland.
Children aged between five and 12 took to the Harpenden club's par-3 course to play the competition where they are given 36 shots to see how far around the course they can get. Once they have taken their allotted shots, they place a flag into the ground.
Tristan Hall, general manager of Aldwickbury Park Golf Club, said: "It was great to have so many kids here enjoying the day and playing host to such a prestigious competition as the HSBC Wee Wonders. There were some really outstanding young players involved and it showcased the standard of our par-3 course."
Local youngsters, Jake Craddock, aged seven, and Georgia Oboh, also aged seven, were two of the 10 juniors to win through to the grand final. Jake, from St Albans, and Georgia are members of Redbourn Golf Club. Callum Walker, aged nine, from St Albans, qualified for the final for the second successive year.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507435
|
__label__wiki
| 0.501076
| 0.501076
|
Multiple Rutland Regional Medical Center Email Accounts Hacked
Home » HIPAA Breach News » Multiple Rutland Regional Medical Center Email Accounts Hacked
Posted By HIPAA Journal on Feb 25, 2019
Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland City, the largest community hospital in the state of Vermont, has discovered hackers have gained access to the email accounts of nine employees and potentially viewed/obtained patients’ protected health information.
On December 21, 2018, an employee of the medical center noticed that their email account had been used to send large quantities of spam emails and on December 28, 2018, a potential security breach was reported to the medical center’s IT department. The IT department determined, on December 31, that the employee’s email account had been remotely accessed by an unauthorized individual.
The account was immediately secured and a third-party forensic expert was called in to conduct an investigation into the breach. While the investigation into the breach is ongoing, the forensics expert concluded on February 6, 2019, that nine email accounts had been compromised between November 2, 2018 and February 6, 2019.
The types of sensitive information in the compromised email accounts included patients’ full names, dates of birth, contact information, patient ID numbers, medical record numbers, financial information, diagnoses, treatment information, Social Security numbers, and health insurance data. The breach was limited to email accounts. The EMR system and other internal systems were unaffected by the breach.
Rutland Regional Medical Center will be sending notification letters to patients whose PHI may have been accessed in due course.
Additional safeguards and security measures will be implemented to further secure patients’ protected health information and improve email security to help prevent further breaches of this nature.
The breach has been reported to the Department for Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights. The breach portal indicates 72,224 patients have been affected by the breach.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507437
|
__label__wiki
| 0.589491
| 0.589491
|
Home » Unexplained Mysteries » Bizarre Disappearance of Keith Reinhard in Silver Plume, Colorado
Bizarre Disappearance of Keith Reinhard in Silver Plume, Colorado
by Les Hewitt March 9, 2018
written by Les Hewitt March 9, 2018
Two men, Tom Young and Keith Reinhard, were both going through mid-life crises. Both of them rented the same retail space in Silver Plume, and both disappeared in the Colorado Rocky Mountains only one year apart. Oddly, Keith had delved deeply into Tom’s life and was writing a novel about him. The main character, Guy Gypsum, took on qualities of both men. Although hunters located Tom in 1988, Keith never turned up, and his bizarre case remains open to this day.
Keith Reinhard
Silver Plume is a quaint, historic town in Clear Creek County, Colorado. Early settlers had hoped to strike gold, but only ever found clumps of greyish ores that they deemed worthless. What the miners actually found was silver ore. In 1987, this tiny town only had around 200 residents when a local man, Tom Young, took his dog for a walk one day. Neither he nor his pet ever returned.
Nine months later in June 1988, a local sports writer in Illinois, Keith Reinhard, was having something of a mid-life crisis. He was about to turn 50 and wanted to accomplish certain things while he was still young enough. On top of that, living in Chicago was starting to take its toll on him. Stress was taking its toll on him and he started gaining weight. He also lost focus and wondered what the future might hold for him. Even though he held a decent job and was a married man of three years with two children, there was a void that needed filling.
Keith Reinhard’s Silver Plume Adventure
Reinhard had an old friend called Ted Parker who owned the K.P. Cafe in Silver Plume. Ted often mentioned a slower pace and quieter life. This appealed to Reinhard, so he informed Carolyn, his wife, that he wanted to spend some time in Silver Plume alone and work on a novel. Plus, by doing some hiking in the mountains, he hoped to get into shape and overcome his fear of heights. Even though she was initially wary of this idea, his wife relented and agreed that he should fulfill his dream.
Reinhard took a three-month sabbatical from work and departed for Silver Plume. He settled in and found a vacant shop right next to the café on Main Street that he leased in order to sell antiques and matted photographs. Not long after his arrival in the sleepy town, someone mentioned that the previous tenant of the space had disappeared without a trace just a year before. Reinhard considered this to be an ideal story to tell and began to research Tom Young. Curiosity quickly turned into an obsession.
The K.P. Cafe (R) and space that both Tom and Keith leased (L) in Silver Plume. Mapio.net.
Unfortunately, Reinhard was beset with problems. The shop wasn’t doing much business, understandably in a small town like Silver Plume. On top of that, he began to get writer’s block and his inspiration started to wane. Reinhard may have become a little disillusioned with how things were going, but he did love walking in the nearby Rocky Mountains.
Tom and His Dog Surface
On the 31st of July 1988, local hunters were patrolling the mountain wilderness approximately an hour’s walk from Silver Plume when they found a skeleton propped up against a tree. Not far away was a backpack, a pistol, and the skeletal remains of a dog. It was Tom Young and his dog, Gus. Both had a gunshot wound to the head. This discovery helped bring additional details to light. Several days before he disappeared, Young had bought a pistol. Police treated this as a simple suicide, but others were not so easily convinced. Young was extremely fond of Gus, and locals couldn’t see any reason for Young to shoot Gus at all. According to Unsolved Mysteries, ballistic tests were unable to match the bullets to the gun.
See also: The Dyatlove Pass Incident: Chilling Deaths in the Urals
Keith Reinhard Heads Into the Mountains
The mystery of what happened to Tom Young may or may not have been solved, but there was more to follow. A week after Young and Gus were found, Reinhard closed up his shop for the day. The evening was drawing on and Reinhard walked all around town and to the café, and he told everyone he encountered that he was heading out to hike up to Pendleton Mountain. Those that he told assumed that he was kidding them; a round trip on the mountain would take about six hours.
Conditions and wildlife make hiking in the Rockies potentially dangerous, esp. at night. Source: Summit Post.
Sunset in Silver Plume in August occurs around 8:00 pm, and very few people are skilled enough to hike the Rockies at night. Also, the elevation at the top of Pendleton Mountain is more than 12,000 feet and the risk of exposure to the elements is very high even in July. Wild animals, such as mountain lions and bears can also pose a threat. Reinhard had no preparation at all and no suitable mountain gear or supplies when he was seen heading toward the base of the mountain. This was not his first attempt though. Friends recalled that his previous attempt ended when he showed signs of vertigo. Reinhard set a deadline of 10 pm for his return and departed at 4:30 pm. This was the last time he was ever seen in the Plume.
The Rescue Team Arrives
When the following morning arrived, there was still no sign of Keith Reinhard. The Colorado Alpine Rescue Team launched a huge rescue operation involving helicopters, search dogs, and many townsfolk. After one week, authorities found nothing. Everyone knew that the rescue effort was not going to be an easy one, and at least one person commented that this was the classic ‘needle in a haystack’ endeavor. They finally called off the search on the 12th of August 1989 when, sadly, a Cessna carrying two of the searchers crashed. Only one of the pair survived the impact.
Coincidence or a Plot?
Two men that vanished under strikingly similar circumstances in a town as small as Silver Plume a year apart appeared to be more than just a coincidence. Friends of both men were at a loss to explain any of it. A strange discovery was found in Keith’s home. Next to his computer, a newspaper article about Tom Young laid open. On his computer, the manuscript for his novel was not finished, but there was a passage about a man called Guy Gypsum. It read:
Guy Gypsum changed into some hiking boots and donned a heavy flannel shirt. He understood it all now, and his motivations. Guy closed the door and then walked off towards the lush, shadow-less Colorado forests above.
From what friends can tell, these were the final words that Reinhard had written. Was he setting the stage for his own disappearance? Reinhard did something else that may point to a set-up. One week before he walked off into the mountains, he wrote a letter to the editors of Herald newspaper where he worked in Illinois to tell them that when he returned he wanted to cover the Chicago Bulls. This would certainly make a disappearance appear accidental.
The Woman at the Party
Almost as soon as he vanished, everyone began to speculate about the possible reasons as to why he vanished. Among these is the idea that Reinhard had no intention of returning – that the whole thing was certainly engineered on his part. The night before he disappeared, Reinhard was at a party and was seen talking extensively with a woman named Greta or Gretchen, who was presumed to be from Denver. Could she have had something to do with him deciding to escape his life? The last passage he wrote can be taken into a different context if that was the case. He had uprooted himself and left behind everything that he had known already. Could he have done it again?
Becoming His Character
Extending that idea a little further, in the run-up to his own disappearance, Reinhard had shown more than a healthy interest in Tom Young. Might have Keith Reinhard want to be the new Tom Young? Reinhard might have had issues with life in general, but nobody has admitted that he had some sort of death wish. There is also no record of him ever owning a firearm. Authors do tend to try and ‘live’ the characters that they create and perhaps this was what Reinhard was doing.
Perhaps his lack of preparation ultimately cost him dearly; an unforeseen injury might have had a more detrimental effect than it otherwise could have done. The terrain on and around the mountain is treacherous at best, deadly at worst. The problem with that idea is that there was not a long time between the disappearance and the search efforts. Perhaps this was some kind of publicity stunt that ended up going wrong. The fatal crash of the Cessna might have convinced him not to re-emerge and chose to remain in hiding, perhaps even in places like Mexico. There have been numerous sightings attributed to Reinhard since his disappearance.
Tom and Keith’s Shop
There is another possibility. As well as their disappearances, both men had another thing in common. The shop itself. Some people put a lot of importance on this fact. Had they learned something about the store that put them at risk? If so, was foul play involved? For either supposition to be true, then surely someone must have had access to the store. That would suggest a local was responsible for both deaths if Reinhard indeed died on that mountain.
Did the same thing happen to Tom Young and then Keith Reinhard? Could the same culprit have struck twice? Although there has been much debate and conjecture about this case over the last three decades, nobody is any closer to an answer.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Eric Walters Docs
Strange Outdoors
FacebookTwitterPinterestRedditEmail
Les currently resides in London and is a freelance writer with a long standing passion for the unexplained and paranormal. In his spare time he enjoys astronomy and Xboxing. It's a big Universe full of wonders.
Role and Power of Women in Ancient Egypt
The Story of Ken McElroy and the Vigilantes of Skidmore, Missouri
Legend of the Miraculous Loretto Chapel Staircase
Where is the Tomb of Alexander the Great?
The Lavish Qin Shi Huang Tomb – Built for Immortality
Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis
Coso Artifact: Science Triumphs Over Theorists
© 2009-2019 Historic Mysteries. A Net Inceptions project. All rights reserved. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. | Sign In | Privacy Policy | Contact us
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507439
|
__label__wiki
| 0.863051
| 0.863051
|
Eberhard, Arthur Charles
Adapted from "Captain Walter H. Allen, United States Navy, Deceased" [biography, dated 26 April 1954] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
World War I 1917-1918
Walter Hinds Allen
9 January 1875 - 19 April 1938
Walter Hinds Allen was born in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, on 9 January 1875, son of Walter Allen, an Acting Assistant Pay master, US Navy, and Mrs. Grace Mason Weston Allen. He was a descendant of early Massachusetts pioneers, two of his ancestors having come to the United States in the Mayflower. He received his early education from New Haven, Connecticut, schools, graduating from high school there in 1891. He was graduated from Yale College with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1895; Sheffield Scientific School with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in 1896; and was a Larned Scholar at Yale Graduate School from 1895 to 1898.
He served as a Seaman and Acting Naval Cadet in the US Volunteer Navy in the Spanish-American War, with duty aboard the Gunboat Dolphin. From 1898 to 1903 he was engaged in Railroad Engineering in New England (Boston, Massachusetts, and New Haven, Connecticut), and in Durango and Chiahuahua, Mexico.
Commissioned Civil Engineer in the US Navy on 27 June 1903, he was assigned first to the Navy Yard, New York, and from 1906 to 1909 he served in the Public Works Department of the Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina. He next had a year's duty in the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department, Washington, DC and in January 1912 returned to the Navy Yard, New York, for a second tour of duty.
During the period November 1913 to March 1916, he was on Asiatic Station, assigned as a Civil Engineer to the Naval Station, Olongapo, PI. Completing his tour there, he returned home for further duty at the New York Yard, where he was serving in the Public Works Department when the United States entered World War I. Early in 1918 he was transferred to duty as Public Works Officer at the Naval Station, Great Lakes, Illinois, and remained on duty there with collateral duty in command of the Twelfth Regiment (Public Works), the only regiment of its kind in the US Navy throughout the war period, and until 1921. This was the origin of the present "Seabees."
During the next three years he had duty at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, and in the Fourth Naval District, and from 1924 to 1926 served similarly at the Navy Yard, Bremerton, and in the Thirteenth Naval District. He had a four year tour of duty at the Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia, and the Fifth Naval District. In June 1930 he returned to the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Navy Department, for duty until November 1936 as Head of the Design Division, and later as Head of the Procurement Planning Division.
Ordered next to the Twelfth Naval District, he served as District Public Works Officer with Headquarters at San Francisco, California, until his death there on 19 April 1938.
Published: Fri Sep 07 11:23:48 EDT 2018
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507440
|
__label__cc
| 0.564696
| 0.435304
|
Artificial Intelligence robots war
An Artificial Intelligence driven war is coming - Be prepared
By satyamkapoor |Email | Jan 5, 2018 | 8838 Views
Dr. Adrian Nish, the head of intelligence at BAE systems has issues a warning saying that there is war going to start soon of "defenders vs attackers" largely caused by the new developments in technology.
He said: "The year 2018 could be when we see the first battle of the AI bots.
"It's inevitable that attackers will begin to incorporate machine learning and AI at the same rate as network defence tools. We may already be at this point, with online Twitter bots able to react to emerging events and crafting messages to respond".
"These phishing messages will be so realistic that the target will fall for them. Such advances in AI will take us to the next stage in defenders versus attackers, and we need to be ready."
Dave Palmer, the director of technology at Darktrace which is a security business predicts that phishing tactics being used online could evolve further and become capable of outsmarting the savviest online user. He warned against harmful software that has the ability to identify how a user's writing style changes depending on the person they are engaging with. Hackers could potentially use this to send contextual messages in different languages to a user's contacts in order to spread malware.
Other experts predicts that hackers could even sabotage users' data rather than just steal it.
Asaf Ashkenazi, from security company Rambus, stated that Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as smartphones and tablets, will be â??low-hanging fruit for attackers".
He declared: "If security isn't internally integrated, then these IoT devices will be low-hanging fruit for attackers, who will always target the path of least resistance. Customer service company, Servion, demonstrated the size and scale of AI growth in the next two years alone. It predicts that by 2020, 95 per cent of all customer service interactions will involve a form of AI.It cites that rapid growth will be seen this year.
The company's Shashi Nirale stated: "Advances in speech recognition, biometric identification, and neurolinguistics will also mean that as we interact with businesses and brands via voice, our experiences will become increasingly conversational and human-like."
Now that we have some idea how Artificial Intelligence (AI) will impact Millennials, banking and financial institutions, and small businesses, how will it impact the classroom?
Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have changed the way data is gathered, stored, processed and used; thus, becoming an indispensable part of our life.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507444
|
__label__wiki
| 0.736406
| 0.736406
|
'Microdosing' LSD Saved One Woman From Severe Depression. Should Mainstream Medicine Take Notice?
In her new memoir, Ayelet Waldman says taking tiny amounts of the psychedelic drug saved her life. Here's what to know about the controversial (and illegal) practice.
By Lauren Oster
Earlier this month, novelist Ayelet Waldman made headlines with the release of her memoir, A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life. After secretly consuming a miniscule amount of the psychedelic drug LSD once every third day for a month, she reports that the tiny doses “jump-started [her] out of a pretty significant depression.”
Profiles of Waldman appeared this month in The New York Times ("How LSD Saved One Woman's Marriage"), The New Yorker ("How Ayelet Waldman Found a Calmer Life on Tiny Doses of LSD"), and other outlets, but so-called "microdosing" has been generating buzz since at least 2015. That's when the influential podcast Reply All devoted an episode to it, and Rolling Stone reported the rising trend in Silicon Valley, where biohacking (or adjusting the "inputs" to your body to “yield a better you”) is all the rage. There is also a microdosing subreddit and other online communities dedicated to the controversial practice.
Proponents of microdosing argue that it's an exciting new mental-health frontier, that it can enhance creativity and productivity, and that it provides a ray of hope to people who suffer from depression or anxiety and don’t experience relief from traditional pharmaceuticals, or those who can’t handle the sometimes-significant side effects of those prescription drugs.
Should the mainstream medical community have a more open mind about acid? Should you?
First, some history: Albert Hofmann, the Swiss scientist who first synthesized LSD (which stands for lysergic acid diethylamide) in 1938, might have been the first microdoser. For the last few decades of his life, Hofmann ingested extremely small doses of acid. It did not trigger the 8- to 12-hour acute alterations in mood, perception, and cognition associated with full-fledged acid trips; instead, he claimed it relieved his depression and made him feel euphoric.
A kaleidoscope of studies in the 1950s and 1960s investigated LSD’s possibilities as a treatment for everything from alcoholism to end-of-life anxiety. One of the best-known potential uses for microdosing—improved problem-solving performance—began and ended with a pilot study in northern California in 1966. Researchers saw evidence that taking tiny amounts of LSD could have those effects, but later that year, the United States government made LSD illegal, and most research on its effects ground to a halt.
Decades later, scientists in America and abroad are once again pushing for authorization to conduct larger, double-blind, peer-reviewed investigations into LSD’s effects on human subjects. One of them is Bay Area psychologist James Fadiman, PhD, one of the authors on that 1966 pilot study. Today, to get around legal research roadblocks, he collects and analyzes independent, anecdotal reports about microdosing via a confidential form on his website.
Fadiman strongly believes LSD deserves to be examined more thoroughly. He claims his own research shows that microdosing the drug “has no psychedelic effects, has proved helpful for a variety of conditions, and seems to help healthy people function better as well,” he told Health. Fadiman, along with fellow researcher Sophia Korb, PhD, has collected hundreds of reports from LSD microdosers who report an array of benefits, from reduced anxiety and depression to an increased sense of spirituality and mindfulness.
Still, Fadiman's website contains a big disclaimer: “We are not able to offer information about how to obtain psychedelics, which are not yet legal in most countries.” That's an important point, and it’s why Waldman, a former defense attorney who represented drug offenders, discontinued her microdosing: She was terrified of getting arrested (“There’s no one as paranoid as a public defender,” she told The New York Times).
Legal risks aside, it’s important to note that because LSD is illegal (it’s a Schedule I drug, with “no current accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”), it lacks both FDA regulation and a significant body of scientific research on its short- and long-term effects.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that LSD is not an addictive drug, but in some cases users develop a tolerance to it, which means they have to take higher doses to get the same effect. A high dose of the drug won’t kill you, but it could result in symptoms of psychosis (and can certainly make you believe you’re dying). LSD’s effects are also notoriously unpredictable; even microdoses have the potential to produce inconsistent effects. In fact,PJ Vogt, the Reply All co-host who experimented with microdosing, said the drug made him "manic and weird," and that he would not be trying it again. Long story short: In the absence of institutional safeguards and drug trials, microdosers can’t be 100% sure of what they’re getting, and where it will take them.
That might not always be the case. Popular (and official) opinions about some once-notorious drugs are changing: The growing body of evidence that marijuana has medical benefits—and its ongoing legalization—are starting new conversations about now-illegal drugs. In November 2016, for example, the FDA approved trials for MDMA, or ecstasy, as a treatment for PTSD.
So what’s next? As those children of the '60s might say, stay tuned.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507448
|
__label__cc
| 0.690206
| 0.309794
|
What’s the deal with autoimmune disease?
Have you ever heard of autoimmune diseases? Do you, like millions of others, actually have one of them?
The term Autoimmune Disease is used to describe conditions in which the body's immune system – which is supposed to be defending the body against viruses, bacteria and other invaders – is thought to be involved in causing or perpetuating illness. It's as if the body's defense system has turned on its host.
Some examples of autoimmune disease
Unfortunately, there is no shortage of conditions considered to be autoimmune. Some typical or common examples include:
Rheumatologic diseases, such as
Rheumatoid arthritis – This condition causes multiple joints to become inflamed, stiff and painful; inflammation in other organs (such as the lungs or eye) may also develop
Lupus – When people develop lupus, they usually have inflammation in multiple parts of the body, especially the joints, skin, lining of the lungs and kidney.
Sjögren's syndrome – This condition causes dryness of the eyes and mouth due to inflammation and scarring of the glands that make tears and saliva; arthritis, lung disease and inflammation in other organs are also common.
Polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR) - Those with PMR are usually over age 60 and have the sudden onset of pain and stiffness in shoulders, neck and hips; it may be a "close cousin" of rheumatoid arthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis – This disease is marked by inflammation and stiffness in the lower spine, including sacroiliac joint; other joints are often inflamed as well.
Vasculitis – This term means "inflammation of vessels" and refers to a family of conditions in which blood vessel inflammation leads to bothersome symptoms and, in some cases, organ damage. Examples include temporal arteritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and hypersensitivity vasculitis.
Multiple sclerosis – This is a condition in which the lining of axons (called myelin) is damaged by an immune attack; axons are projections of nerve cells that allow them to talk to each other. As a result, the brain and spinal cord do not function properly leading to impaired movement, balance, vision and other problems.
Celiac disease – With celiac disease, gluten consumption leads to an immune reaction that damages the small intestine and impairs normal digestion. Other problems, such as rash, joint pain, and fatigue may also develop.
Type 1 diabetes – When people talk about diabetes, they are usually referring to Type II diabetes (in which the body becomes resistant to insulin); this type accounts for about 95% of all cases of diabetes. With Type 1 diabetes, an immune attack damages the part of the pancreas that produces insulin leading to too little insulin to regulate blood sugar or the body's use of energy. Organ damage (including the kidney and eyes), frequent urination and excess thirst are common problems.
Alopecia areata – This is a skin disease in which an immune attack on the hair follicles leads to patchy hair loss, especially on the scalp.
And there are many more.
What all of these conditions have in common is evidence that the body's immune system is in some way responsible. For example, a skin biopsy may show immune cells collecting near an area of a rash; or, there may be antibodies circulating in the blood that are targeting normal tissues. In addition, medications that suppress parts of the immune system may be effective treatment. Still, for most of these conditions, the idea that they are autoimmune in nature is suggested by the evidence but difficult to prove; in fact, certain autoimmune diseases may turn out be due to an infection or allergic reaction and the immune abnormalities are just a reaction.
Why do autoimmune diseases develop?
The immune system is exceedingly complex and decades of research have illuminated some of the ways it goes awry in autoimmune disease. But, for most autoimmune illness – including those mentioned above – the true cause is unknown. The most common (and quite general) theory is that a person with a particular genetic background that makes them prone to immune system 'misfiring' encounters an environmental trigger (such as an infection or a toxin) and that sets off autoimmune disease. For the most part, we don't know the trigger or toxin and in a particular population (or family or even among identical twins) we don't know why some people develop these conditions and others don't. These gaps in our knowledge slow the development of effective treatments or preventive measures.
What can be done about autoimmune disease?
Treatment depends on the condition but most autoimmune conditions are treated with medications that suppress or otherwise alter the immune system hoping to dampen it down enough to quiet the disease but not so much that side effects (including infections) develop. In some cases, effective treatments are discovered by happenstance; for example, in the 1920s, gold salt injections were first used to treat rheumatoid arthritis because gold had been used as an antibiotic to treat tuberculosis and rheumatoid arthritis was thought to be caused by an infection. In more recent years, the identification of immune cells (such as B-cells that make antibodies) or chemical messages (also called cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor, or TNF) involved in autoimmune disease have led to therapies targeting these components of the immune system (such as rituximab, an anti-B-cell treatment or infliximab, an anti-TNF drug).
The autoimmune diseases are a mysterious set of conditions that vary in severity from the merely annoying to life-threatening. Research is ongoing and has provided remarkable advances in recent years; while effective therapies are available for most of these conditions, cures are not.
It has long been predicted that we will soon be able to analyze a person's genes, assess how their immune system is behaving, measure the number and function of immune cells or chemical messengers and put all of this information together to devise a specific, individual treatment regimen that's likely to be safe and effective. We're not there yet.
Image: © Stockbakery | Dreamstime
Antibiotic resistance and the dangers of superbugs
When You Visit Your Doctor - After Hodgkin's Disease Treatment
By the way, doctor: Does lysine prevent cold sores?
By the way, doctor: Should I worry about giant platelets?
What to do when someone has a seizure
Traveler's diarrhea - tips to stay healthy
Tai chi for balance
Tai chi is an ancient exercise that can help you improve your balance. It uses a series of slow, flowing motions and deep, slow breathing to exercise the body and calm the mind. You gradually move from one pose to another, shifting your weight and extending your limbs to challenge your balance. It looks like a graceful dance.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507449
|
__label__cc
| 0.644144
| 0.355856
|
Lisa Hawke
Passing Enterprise Security Reviews
Lisa Hawke is the VP of Security and Compliance at Everlaw and a Board Member and Vice-Chair of Women in Security and Privacy (WISP). She was the first security, privacy and compliance hire and built and scaled the program.
What is at Stake and How to Approach It
Business Context: Products & Targets
Program Frameworks
Certs and Compliance Assessments
Navigating Enterprise Security Orgs
Navigating the Security Assessment
Finding an Internal Champion
GRC: Governance, Risk, Compliance
People, Process and Resources
Considerations and Benefits
Hi everyone, good afternoon. I'm Lisa Hawke, and I lead the Security, Privacy and Compliance program at Everlaw. Everlaw is a series B legal technology startup, and we are in the B2B SaaS space.
The reason I'm here today is because security questionnaires, vendor security reviews, and the enterprise security assessment has been a big part of my life for the last 3.5 years, at least at work. I'm here today to hopefully share some of the learnings that I've experienced over the last three and a half years, and some of the things that I think have helped Everlaw pass these types of security reviews as we've grown from 25 people when I joined the company, to around 180 right now, and as we've increased our presence in the enterprise space. I've broken this talk into three parts, and there are a lot of resources out there on enterprise security reviews and vendor questionnaires, so hopefully I can build on that material that's out there. A lot of it from the Heavybit community, with again, some of the learnings from Everlaw over the past three years. So, part one.
What's at Stake and How to Approach It
You may notice a theme here. It's partially because I'm a big nerd, but it's also because when I thought about preparing this and getting through a vendor security assessment and the questionnaire process it resonated with the story of Lord of the Rings, and the journey really resonated with me also. I just spent two weeks in Middle Earth touring around New Zealand, so it was fresh in my mind, but for a part one of this talk I'm focusing on what's at stake for your company and how you should approach it. Or, some ideas for how you can approach it. Because in order to sell software or products and services to enterprises in the B2B space, you are going to have to go through some type of procurement process. Increasingly, I'm seeing it involves a big focus on security as well as privacy.
The first thing I think it's important to think about as you're entering this phase as a company is your business context. When you get to the point where you're trying to sell to an enterprise, your business context is going to be really important, and it can mean a few things. The first thing I like to think about is your product. What is it? Are you collecting data? If so, what type of data is that? Are you storing it or are you processing it?
At Everlaw, like I said, we're a B2B SaaS product and our platform is a litigation platform, and our clients upload lots of documents, files of all types, and we host it in our platform while they're using our service. That involves a lot of sensitive documents and a lot of confidential documents, so for us that's a big part and a big focus of the vendor security process. Whereas there's a lot of folks in this room and your product may not have a need to collect any data, or maybe that data collection or capture is ephemeral. Those things are important because they're going to come into play during that vendor security review.
Another thing to think about is "What does selling to enterprise mean to you?" Your go-to market strategy for selling to enterprises could be really different from other founders in the room, so are you targeting specific verticals? Are those verticals regulated? Think about the financial industry or the healthcare industry, or does it involve government?
Then the last one here is target jurisdiction, so where are you doing business? Are you only in the US or have you already expanded into other regions like Europe or [inaudible]? Because again, those types of considerations will come into play when you are being assessed by the target enterprises that fit into those types of categories.
It's important to understand this business context, even if you're a small or an earlier stage, even if some of these pieces of the puzzle are still in flux for you.
The reason that is because it's going to come into play when you're trying to figure out how to build your security program and what framework you can apply. I put a couple of examples up here. Everybody's heard of ISO, you've heard of SOC. At Everlaw, when I joined the company we were only 25 people and I was the first one in on the security, privacy or compliance side. I picked a different framework, which not a lot of people are too familiar with, but the Department of Justice's guidelines on an effective compliance program. Which you might think is a little odd, but because the company -- We were so early and the company was not that big, so I actually needed something much broader. We've heard today about how culture is important in security, and we've also heard about how important it is to build security into your business thinking. Because we were so small, I needed a program framework that would help me stand up in enterprise risk program, a code of conduct, as well as the broader business type things that you need when you're building a company as well as security. Using that framework really helped me at that stage, again when we were less than 30 people, really embed a risk framework mindset amongst the company as well as a security mindset, and start the seeds for that security culture.
What I'm getting at here is if you don't understand what your business context is and what kind of enterprises you're targeting and what the factors are that are going to impact you, it's harder to decide what kind of framework you might want to choose. If you're a later stage or if you're a more established company and you're standing up your security program, it might make a lot more sense to focus on the ISO 27001 or the SOC-2 type 2, or the frameworks that are a bit more focused on security.
So now that I showed you SOC-2 you're thinking "But wait, do I need to get that certification? And if so, when do I need to get it?" I'll get into that in a second, but first I just wanted to touch a little bit on the certification versus compliance assessments. You might think this is a bit of splitting hairs, but I think it's an important distinction to make because it ties back to that business context. Depending on the types of enterprises that you're targeting in your strategy, you may need to also think about regulatory compliance.
I know that some folks today have already touched on this, but it's something to consider as you're building out your security program. Because regardless of whether you decide to pursue a certification or not, depending on your business context, regulatory compliance might be really important to you.
I'll give you an example. At Everlaw, we do not collect protected health information. Like I said, where we sell software we sell a SaaS platform. But part of our strategy is to sell to the large enterprises, and some of those enterprises are insurance companies, and insurance companies may deal with protected health information that they need to upload into the platform to use our service for. Or we may sell to a large law firm that's representing a hospital on some type of malpractice case, so for us we have to think about HIPAA because it makes us a business associate even if we're not the ones collecting that protected health information.
Regardless of the security certification strategy we might adopt, we still have to think about HIPAA when it comes to privacy and security. It's worth pointing out that there are some regulatory regimes or frameworks that don't even offer a certification, and I think there are a lot of consultants out there that will sell you any certification that you call them up and ask for, but it's worth pointing out that HIPAA-- The Department of the Office of Civil Rights in HHS, they don't actually recognize a formal HIPAA certification. However, you can engage either a consultant or an auditing firm if you have the appetite to have them come in and do a gap assessment, or give you some independent assurance that your programs and controls do meet those requirements.
The reason I'm mentioning that is because sometimes those independent engagements or validations of your program from a regulatory standpoint can help you when you get to the enterprise security assessment with a company that really cares about HIPAA. So, now you can understand the difference between a certification and a compliance assessment, but back to the certification. When should you do it? I don't think there's a great answer for that. I've heard some folks today talk about going through SOC-2 type 2 and how that's really pushed them forward, but when I started at Everlaw they had already done a SOC-2 type 1 in security and availability. When I joined and was standing up the program, I pushed us to do a type 2 and add confidentiality. Then over the past couple years we've continued with the type 2, and also added the privacy criteria as well. I'm not saying there is a great time to do a certification, it just comes back to your business context in some cases, because there are some companies that you can sell to without having a certification. But it's going to be a lot harder if you have not stood up a holistic program that touches on things like your security, governance, your policies and procedures, your training and your operations. You can proceed without certification, but some companies will require it as a gate, and sometimes it's a good catalyst to get the internal support you might need to really build out that program.
All right, so now we're headed to Mordor. You understand a little bit more about getting ready for a security assessment. Getting your program together, making sure it's holistic and understanding your business context. But now you actually need to navigate through the assessment. So in this part, I'm going to talk a little bit more about the players and priorities and things that might happen during that assessment. Because this is what we don't want to happen, you don't want to do all of this work and build your program and then get to the point where you're in sales conversations with an enterprise and be told "You shall not pass."
We don't want that. How to navigate the security assessment, some folks today have already touched on the security questionnaire and I do know some folks in the room who deal with these. The fact is, they are a pain. I'm not going to mince words. But there are some things you can do that will help you prepare for them.
Of course, building that holistic program at the start is the number one thing, but there are various questionnaires out there. These are a couple. Cloud Security Alliance, the SFG. One of the reasons that security questionnaires can be painful is because there really isn't a generalized industry standard, and a lot of times you may be presented with a questionnaire that the enterprise has been using for a very long time for on premises and IT solutions that they have in place. You may think it doesn't really apply to you, so when it comes to the questionnaires be aware that they're going to cover more than your product. You may be expecting to answer things that you would expect to be asked about the cloud B2B product, but you're probably going to be asked about things like personnel security. Do you have confidentiality agreements that all of your new hires? signed during onboarding? Do you do background checks? Things like your incident response processes and your disaster recovery? How long are you retaining backup? Just be aware that during the security assessment the questionnaire is going to cover things that are much wider than just your technical product infrastructure. That's why it's important for your program to be holistic, and then next, when you get to the point that you're having conversations which may not happen.
The best scenario is when you do the work and you fill out the questionnaire, and the next thing you know, you're getting a win notification from your sales team. That's the best. But more often than not, depending on what stage you are in your growth and how mature your program is, there's a good chance that you're going to have to be getting on the phone with folks at the company that you're trying to sell to.
That can vary pretty widely, how that conversation goes, that is . Depending on who's actually on the line, you could end up on the phone with a person in their procurement department who doesn't even really know what your product does. In that case, you need to be ready with your business context so that you can explain to them what your solution is, talk about your program as a whole and make sure that they understand that you do have a security program and you do have dedicated personnel and you are covered.
You also want to make sure that if that conversation happens, that you have the right folks in the room on your side. Because maybe you're talking directly to their security team, and if you know that they've already raised a concern about an aspect of your either corporate security infrastructure or maybe something related to your product, you want to make sure that you have the folks in the room that can speak to your controls in place. Whether they be the exact control that the prospect is looking for, or it may be a compensating control where you do something else and you need to convince them that meets their bar.
When it comes to addressing gaps, be ready with your roadmap because a lot of times you will have gaps and there may be things in that questionnaire that you answered "No" to that they're looking for a "Yes." And that's OK, you shouldn't be afraid of that. You should be ready to talk about your program as a whole, your roadmap, and how you can address their concerns even if you're not addressing the exact control that they're looking for.
So now that you have a better idea of what the assessment involves and some of the pain points, you're probably thinking "Who's going to do all this work?" We've heard some great comments from other presenters today, and you want to be able to leverage folks on other teams, especially on the sales team if you've got sales engineers that can answer these for you. That's great, but if you're really small you may be thinking, "I don't really have a security team," or "I don't have people in the organization that are knowledgeable enough to help me do this."
I have a few thoughts on what I think makes some traits of people that might already be on your team, or people that you can hire to help you do this kind of work. I think of them as GRC folks, and someone else here mentioned today about culture. When I think of security GRC, this is about building a holistic approach in your organization and your program with the ultimate goal of creating that culture of security.
These are the flag bearers in my mind for that, where it can really embedding that culture At Everlaw, this is the team that runs point on all of our vendor security questionnaires, and we only recently started calling this team GRC. It was just me for a very long time until pretty recently, so I understand that if you're earlier stage or not, you probably don't have a GRC team. But that doesn't mean that there aren't people on your team or in your organization that can do this kind of work, so if you're working on identifying somebody on your team, there's a few traits that I think whether they're in security or not make them a good fit. I did talk about this recently, and I know there's some folks in the room who listen to me, so I'm just going to give you a brief snippet of that.
But I'm going to give you my top three, and the first one are "Risk sentinels." This is my term for people who I think are the ones that are really good at thinking of a situation or looking at a scenario or a question, and thinking 3 or 4, or 10 steps ahead to the consequences of that answer, or the consequences of that scenario. This is important when you're dealing with vendor security questionnaires, because you need to have folks that are looking through the questions and they understand that if they answer "Yes" to this question that it's going to impact something else in the questionnaire, or it's going to impact how the prospect views your posture on that specific topic.
The next one is "Curiosity," so I think personally that curiosity is a really good sign of people that are proactive. You're going to need proactive folks to help with these vendor security questionnaires, because there's going to be a lot of hunting for answers and gathering information, and when somebody is curious and proactive they're usually game to do that kind of work.
Then the third one here is "Puzzler," so Puzzlers like to take messy things and put them in order. These security questionnaires can be really puzzling depending on who's giving them to you, so you want folks that are willing to look at the big picture and look at that security questionnaire that you're thinking "This doesn't apply to us at all," but then be able to zoom back up to your business context and figure out a way to get that prospect the answers they want in the context that they're looking for so that they want to move ahead with your products.
Speaking of spinning up the resources to be able to do this, there's a couple of things just to touch on based on what stage you are in. In an earlier stage company, you're definitely going to be in the building process where you're looking for folks and you are looking for resources, where if you're a later stage you're going to be much more in the maintenance and continuous improvement mode.
Generalists vs specialists, again if you're earlier stage you're probably going to have someone who's doing a bit of everything. So somebody who might be working on your security policies and procedures, also these vendor security assessments. Whereas when you get larger, and depending on the market you're in and the demand for your product, this could be somebody's full time job at a certain stage.
Then "Mo' money, mo' problems." As you mature as a company, there are going to be additional considerations that you need to think about that will then impact the vendor security assessment process. As you get much bigger, maybe you're subject to new regulations. Maybe that changes your business context a little bit, or if you're just going really big and you're going after those four fortune 500s and the biggest companies out there, then if you want more money then you should expect that when it comes to the security assessment questionnaires and the security assessment process, that you're going to have to go through some more hoops because they will expect more.
But there are some benefits to this process, I know it sounds like a lot of work and it is, but I think it's worth pointing out that there are a lot of positive aspects that your company can-- Or, positive benefits your company can reap.
One, of course, is commercial. That MRR you want selling to those bigger companies, getting those deals. Another one is reputational, so being known as a vendor in your space that can get through these rigorous security assessments can be a good thing. Maybe that matters less to you, but if it matters more, being known as someone or a company that can actually pass this bar can be really useful and beneficial. But that's not to say that getting through a security assessment and being able to check a lot of boxes on a questionnaire means you have good security. I think we all agree that doing a security questionnaire is not going to tell anyone necessarily that you are 100% secure because that doesn't exist.
But my point is, if you've done all of the work to build a holistic program, to show that you are able and set you up to be able to pass these things, that can translate into a stronger reputation around security. Then the last one is scaling. I like the focus on culture earlier, and the earlier that you can start building this holistic program and really get your folks on all teams thinking about security and how important it is to your commercial success, it will help you later on. Because if all the folks understand how important security is when you're only 25 people, when you're onboarding a lot of people and going through those hiring sprees, it will permeate the organization better because you'll have that tribal knowledge and people will tell each other that it's important. You won't always have to be the one telling everybody why security is important.
So, a couple of final thoughts here. Focus on the program, keep the certifications in your mind but really focus on your program. Make it holistic, focus on culture, and make sure that you're not just checking those boxes. Then when you have the questionnaire, the conversations as it relates to the assessments and questionnaires themselves, be as prepared as you can.
Try to find out in advance what the prospect's concerns are, if there are any. If they've raised any flags to your salesperson make sure you have that open line of communication with your salesperson, so that you know before that call what they want to talk about, so that you can have the right people in the room. Then be flexible and creative, there are going to be gaps. You are going to need to be ready with your roadmap, so get your sentinels and get your puzzlers, get your curious folks helping you with those compensating controls and being able to describe those. Thank you so much. It was a pleasure.
Ep. #9, High Performance DevOps with Jez Humble
In episode 9 of o11ycast, Charity and Rachel sit down with Jez Humble, Co-Founder and CTO of DevOps Research and Assessments (acquired by Go...
December 2015 Show & Tell: Convox, Resonance Labs, and LaunchDarkly
In our December 1st Show & Tell, Heavybit members Convox, Resonance Labs, and LaunchDarkly shared the latest tools and features they've ...
Ep. #2, Sales’ Impact on Pipeline and Negotiation
In this episode, Yaron is joined by Edith Harbaugh, Co-founder and CEO of LaunchDarkly. Edith and Yaron discuss the underlying parallels bet...
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507451
|
__label__cc
| 0.541958
| 0.458042
|
He’s Back! Niall Horan Launches A New Era With “Nice To Meet Ya”
Mike Nied @mikeynied | October 4, 2019 12:41 am
CREDIT: Dean Martindale
What a time to be alive. As of today (October 4), Niall Horan’s sophomore era has officially begun! It’s been a while since the 26-year-old unveiled his chart-topping, debut LP Flicker. But the time he spent on the road between albums was put to good use. How so? In a recent tweet, he explained that touring gave him an opportunity to analyze how his fans responded to different kinds of music. And based on his plucky new single “Nice To Meet Ya,” it’s clear that hard work really paid off. Niall knows exactly what we want to hear, and he certainly delivered.
Written alongside Julian Bunetta, Tobias Jesso Jr. and Ruth-Anne Cunningham, his latest is a bop of the highest caliber. On it, the “Slow Hands” crooner finds himself dealing with a serious case of the feelings. “I like the way you talk, I like the things you wear. I want your number tattooed on my arm in ink,” he sings over staggering keys and handclaps. However, there’s a twist. The connection is a fleeting one. “When the morning comes, I know you won’t be there. Every time I turn around, you disappear.” Toss in a sing-along chorus, and you’ve got the formula for pop perfection.
That’s not all. The accompanying video – directed by The Young Astronauts – is an absolute blockbuster. In it, Niall looks every bit like the put-together star he is while delivering chic looks and a fun plot. The One Direction alum opened up about his long-awaited return in a press release. “It’s been nearly two years since I released Flicker and I can’t wait to get going again,” Niall enthused. “Writing ‘Nice To Meet Ya’ in particular, was a special one for me. It gave me a chance to experiment musically and I’m so excited to finally share it with everyone.”
Give “Nice To Meet Ya” a listen and check out the cheeky video below.
Is this a hit? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!
Niall Horan Poses For 'Notion'
Tags: Niall Horan
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507457
|
__label__wiki
| 0.901274
| 0.901274
|
Big Debate
In the Chair
Global Regulation & Policy
Hedge Funds and Alternative Investments
Citizenship and Residency
Offshore Securities Markets
Current: FATCA: Nearly a Million Canadian Bank Records sent to IRS.
FATCA: Nearly a Million Canadian Bank Records sent to IRS.
Regulation And Policy
As published on cbc.ca, Tuesday November 12, 2019.
The number of banking records the Canadian government is sharing with U.S. tax authorities under a controversial information-sharing deal has increased sharply, CBC News has learned.
The Canada Revenue Agency sent 900,000 financial records belonging to Canadian residents to the Internal Revenue Service in September — nearly a third more than it sent the previous year. The records were for the 2018 tax year.
It also has updated the number of records shared for the 2017 tax year to 700,000 from the 600,000 originally reported.
"That's a lot," said John Richardson, a Toronto lawyer and co-chair of the Alliance for the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty, which is fighting the information-sharing deal. "That's a lot of files."
The number of financial records of Canadian residents being shared with the IRS has risen steadily since the information sharing agreement began — from 150,000 in 2014 to 300,000 in 2015 and 600,000 for the 2016 tax year.
To date, Canada has shipped 2.6 million records of Canadian residents who could be subject to U.S. taxes south of the border.
However, the number of records doesn't necessarily correspond to the number of Canadian residents affected. Some people may have more than one bank account, while some joint accounts could have more than one account holder — including Canadians who don't have U.S. citizenship.
Etienne Biram, spokesperson for the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), said the agency does not know why the number of accounts being flagged by Canadian financial institutions is changing from year to year.
"The CRA is currently analyzing the data to gain a better understanding of the fluctuations in the number of records being reported to the CRA."
The information transfer is the result of a controversial information-sharing agreement between Canada and the U.S. that was negotiated after the U.S. government adopted the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
The law, adopted in a bid to curb offshore tax evasion, obliges foreign financial institutions to report information about accounts held by people who could be subject to U.S. taxes.
Unlike most countries, the United States levies income taxes based on citizenship rather than residency; some Canadians end up facing U.S. taxes because of an American parent, or because they were born in a hospital on the other side of the border.
One of those Canadians whose banking information could have been shared with the U.S. is Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, who is a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S.
Following the adoption of FATCA, the Canadian government concluded that an information-sharing agreement would be better than forcing Canadian financial institutions to deal directly with the IRS.
Under the agreement, Canadian financial institutions send the CRA information on accounts held by clients with U.S. indicia (the fact that the account-holder was born in the United States, for example). Then, once a year, the CRA sends that information to the IRS.
People whose account information is shared with the IRS (names, addresses, account numbers, account balances, interest payments, dividends and other income) are not automatically notified by either their financial institutions or the CRA.
Under the agreement, the IRS is supposed to send the CRA information about U.S. bank accounts held by Canadians. However, the CRA refuses to reveal how many records it has received from the IRS.
"The CRA cannot disclose the number of records received from the IRS under intergovernmental agreement as this is considered treaty-protected information and is subject to the confidentiality provisions of the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention and Section 241 of the Income Tax Act," said Biram
Biram said the CRA is currently examining the way the information is being collected.
"While the CRA monitors the number of records filed each year by Canadian financial institutions, it is still currently developing a compliance program which will allow it to gain a better understanding of this data, including trends and fluctuations in the number of records being reported to the CRA."
Richardson said the number of records being shared with the IRS is likely rising in part because banks and financial institutions didn't initially have to report some kinds of accounts. While the agreement is supposed to apply only to accounts with balances of at least $50,000, Richardson said he believes some institutions are reporting accounts with lower balances.
REGULATION: OECD Consulting on…
Register / Subscribe
Sign up to content mailers
All content copyright IFC 2020
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507458
|
__label__wiki
| 0.589917
| 0.589917
|
Gillot-Assayag, Laure. "Linguistic and Philosophical Resources for Intercultural Dialogue on Compromise: A Cross-Cultural Encounter of Japan and Europe." Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogues for Global Peacebuilding and Stability. IGI Global, 2019. 125-144. Web. 21 Jan. 2020. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-7585-6.ch006
Gillot-Assayag, L. (2019). Linguistic and Philosophical Resources for Intercultural Dialogue on Compromise: A Cross-Cultural Encounter of Japan and Europe. In S. Peleg (Ed.), Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogues for Global Peacebuilding and Stability (pp. 125-144). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-7585-6.ch006
Gillot-Assayag, Laure. "Linguistic and Philosophical Resources for Intercultural Dialogue on Compromise: A Cross-Cultural Encounter of Japan and Europe." In Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogues for Global Peacebuilding and Stability, ed. Samuel Peleg, 125-144 (2019), accessed January 21, 2020. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-7585-6.ch006
Advances in Religious and Cultural Studies
Linguistic and Philosophical Resources for Intercultural Dialogue on Compromise: A Cross-Cultural Encounter of Japan and Europe
Laure Gillot-Assayag (EHESS, France)
Source Title: Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogues for Global Peacebuilding and Stability
This chapter proposes to examine compromise in its linguistic dimension, in other words, its epistemic rewording based on language resources, and in its cultural dimension (i.e., as it is culturally defined and, as such, historically variable). To do so, this research shall focus on cross-cultural encounters between European and Japanese philosophy, and more specifically on the works of Kyoto School's philosophers and the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur. The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate the need to establish an intercultural dialogue on the notion of compromise and to take into account cross-fertilization between cultures in order to open new paths of inquiry and a new understanding of cultural differences.
This paper examines the concept of compromise through its epistemic rewording, or as a term which is culturally and philosophically defined. This means that norms and values are not considered to be derived from a Kantian absolute and a priori perspective, but instead as products of a specific historical conditions and circumstances. Consequently, the analysis is set out to demonstrate how the idea of compromise is both not free from conflict and not universal. Its meaning varies according to particular time periods and refers to a variety of linguistic resources within a society, as well as signifying intercultural exchanges that shape and modify the meaning of the word. In order to prove this hypothesis, the chapter investigates how lexical terms in Japanese differ from their counterparts in several European languages, and, secondly, how these linguistic differences on compromise impact the way in which the relationship between Japanese and European philosophies are conceived.
This chapter aims to compensate for the relative absence of two major issues in the relevant literature: first, compromise is scaled down in mainstream European political philosophy, especially in the context of theories of conflict. This is probably due to the seemingly conciliatory and placating connotations of the word, despite of its validity and practicality in socio-political discourse. Second, the cultural dimension of compromise is systematically ignored in the academic conversation, as authors are interested in the term mostly as a normative concept rather than as an historical or cultural practice. Eventually, the literature on compromise revolves around three central themes: 1. The definition of various types of compromise, 2. Comparative studies with other related concepts, such as consensus, modus vivendi, or sacrificing principles, 3. Compromise as a strategy of conflict resolution and the extent of its legitimacy in that capacit
This chapter breaks away from the traditional approaches by concentrating on the cultural interpretation of compromise rooted in the linguistic branch of philosophical inquiries. As such, the main guiding question is: to what extent linguistic resources modulate the notion of compromise in Japan and Europe as reflected in philosophical cross-cultural encounters? The comparative study is helpful to underline the cultural sources of how the meaning of an abstract term is formed, cultivated and utilized. As mentioned above, this contrast is vividly captured in the central concept of compromise: While it is generally depreciated and not perceived as an efficient way of resolving conflicts in Europe, it I s valued in Japan due to the virtue and the particular linguistic and historical meaning bestowed on it.
The first part of the study observes how compromise is depicted in the Japanese language and what positive or negative meanings it conveys. It will be compared with how it is used in the French, German, and English languages as representing the European side of the equation. Occupying the “European spot” does not mean though, that these languages have identical understandings of compromise. They do not. While it conveys a pejorative meaning in French, in German, the preference is given to compromise as consensus, as it is expressed, for example, through the body of work of renowned German philosopher and sociologist Jurgen Habermas. In English, the tendency is to conflate “compromise” with “compromise of principles”. These differences in emphasis further augment the assumption of distinct linguistic meanings of compromise and the need for a transnational mapping of its use.
The juxtaposition between Japanese and European attitudes and understandings of compromise yields intriguing suppositions about historical and cultural circumstances that brought these differences about. One such explanation might be linked to the centrality of blandness or the suppression of strong emotions in Chinese and Japanese cultures but hardly exists in the Anglo-American and European demeanor (Jullien, 2012). In Japan, blandness is blessed and respected; it is not considered as feebleness and indecision, but as an encouragement to be open and tolerant. With regard to solving conflicts, it means to be flexible rather than adopting rigid positions and biases. While European philosophies enhance the affirmation of self and one's own positions, the opposite applies to Japan--the more aggressive and forceful the style of arguing, the more it is likely to offend the conversation partners, obstruct the listening mode and impair prospects of reaching an agreement. Overall, this approach indicates a fundamental weakness on behalf of the interlocutors.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Hegemony: Social or cultural predominance or ascendency from one society, one individual over another.
Westernization: A process through which societies are influenced or adopt Western cultures in specific areas (lifestyle, clothing, values, language).
Cosmopolite: The idea that everyone is a member of a global community, humanity, rather than a citizen of a political nation or place. Being cosmopolitan means transcending political borders and acting as a global citizen.
Shintoism: A traditional religion of Japan, devoted to the worship of multiple spirits and essences ( kami ), public shrines.
Kyoto School: A Japanese philosophical movement beginning in the 1910s that assimilated Western philosophy and used it to reformulate ideas unique to the East Asian tradition.
Cultural Appropriation: The act of taking elements from another culture, often a minority culture, and transfer them into a dominant culture. Cultural appropriation can be seen as a form of colonialism: it differs from cultural exchange, in the sense that cultural elements are distorted, reduced to exotic items, and overall appropriated in a disrespectful way.
Kyosei: The Japanese concept of “Kyosei” means living and working together for the common good and mutual prosperity in a fair and healthy competition.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507459
|
__label__wiki
| 0.806213
| 0.806213
|
Laurent Koudou Gbagbo & Charles Blé Goudé
Guatemala Trials
Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo
Kenya Cases
Germain Katanga & Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui
Thomas Lubanga
Khmer Rouge Trials
Efrain Rios Montt & Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez
Pages en Français
A project of the Open Society Justice Initiative
War crimes. Crimes against humanity. Genocide. The International Justice Monitor offers news and analysis of some of the most significant trials of our time.
Trial / Efrain Rios Montt & Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez
March 26, 2013 February 3, 2014 by Emi MacLean
'They came only to kill': More testimony on massacres as outside protest claims no genocide occurred
Efrain Rios Montt & Mauricio Rodriguez Sanchez, Summary
Cesar Calderon, Chajul, Elena Caba, Francisco Oxlaj Gonzalez, Francisco Pablo Carillo, Maria Elena Bernal, Quiche, Rosa Santiago
Semana Santa (or Holy Week) seemed to slow down Guatemala City everywhere but in Judge Yassmin Barrios’s courtroom on Monday. Inside the courtroom on the fifth day of the prosecution of Rios Montt and Rodriguez Sanchez, the tribunal heard 13 witnesses for the prosecution recount horrifying stories of events under Rios Montt’s rule.
The first order of business was, again, the legal representation of Rios Montt. Danilo Rodriguez re-appeared alongside the former military head of state, having failed to represent him in court for the first four days of the trial. He explained to the court that he had not abandoned his client, but that his client had asked for Rodriguez not to represent him at the opening of the trial. Rodriguez requested, and was granted, permission from the court to re-incorporate himself into the legal team. Rios Montt’s legal team now includes Rodriguez and Cornejo, both present on Monday.
Witnesses continued to describe the way that they were treated as subhuman: “as if we were animals”. Some witnesses also described being liberated with the recounting.
As with prior witnesses, the witnesses on Monday described accounts of killings, including of children, women and the elderly; the burning of houses and entire villages, and the cutting of crops and killing or robbery of animals. They recounted sometimes long displacements, most often in the mountains, in which conditions were difficult and deaths occurred from hunger, sickness, or military action or bombing campaigns. They did not have access to health facilities. All said that finding food was difficult, and some added that cooking was also difficult as smoke or fire would alert the military that continued to pursue them.
Elena Caba and Rosa Santiago were two of three women to testify on Monday. Both described the same April 3, 1982 massacre in their village in Chajul, Quiche in which soldiers killed 96 people. Caba limped to the witness stand and told how, when she was 8 or 9 years old, the military shot to death her younger siblings, aged 4, 3, and 1, hacked her father to death with a machete after shooting him, and killed her mother. She recounted that she also nearly died: soldiers stripped her naked and threw her from a bridge into a river. When she fractured her body hitting a hole in the river during the fall, but did not die, the soldiers above threw rocks and shot at her, hitting her foot with a bullet. She saw many dead bodies in the river, but was able to swim to the riverbank and hide, and eventually flee. The defense did not ask her any questions during cross-examination.
The military captured Rosa Santiago’s father on the same day and forced him and others into a church. They later killed those captured, including her father, hacking them to death with a machete and throwing their body parts from the bridge. On the same day, the military killed her mother and her twin sisters, aged around 8 years old. The people were unable to recover all of the bodies or body parts for burial, and those that they could bury, they buried in two mass graves, with the bodies piled on top of each other. The military also burned all of their houses and belongings. She said that no one died in the houses because everyone was already dead at that point and there was no one left to kill. When asked how long the military stayed in the community, she said that “they came only to kill.” Santiago spent about two years in the mountains after the massacre, with her surviving siblings and cousins, where they fled continued military persecution and helicopters dropping bombs.
Calderon, the attorney for Rodriguez Sanchez, asked Santiago in cross-examination whether soldiers died on the same day (“no”), if she knew who the army was fighting then (“no”), if she knew why the army was in her village in 1982 (“no”), if members of the village were guerrillas (“no”) and if she saw guerrillas in 1982 (“no”). The attorneys for Rios Montt declined to ask her questions.
Maria Elena Bernal described a massacre on April 12, 1983 in which soldiers killed 46 people, shooting some, hacking others to death with machetes, and burning others alive. Among the dead were her elderly grandmother, mother, two brothers, sister-in-law, and the two young children of her sister-in-law. She recounted that the military shot at her as well from close range, three times. With the third shot, she pretended she was dead and lay still until the soldiers left and she could escape to the mountains.
Calderon asked similar questions of her as he did of others—whether there was a war where she lived, among who, whether others besides soldiers were armed, and who the leaders of the community were. She responded that there was a war, but that the community only saw the soldiers coming to attack them, and the people were unarmed.
Francisco Oxlaj Gonzalez described how the military came to his community repeatedly during 1982 and 1983, killing various people who were unable to escape, destroying houses, belongings and animals, and forcing the people to flee to the mountains. He recounted how the military beheaded a 25-year-old woman who tried unsuccessfully to escape, and hacked to death a 50-year-old woman, “like an animal.” He said that, in the mountains, the people learned to eat things that they had never eaten before, out of necessity, but that others died of hunger or sickness. When asked by the defense why the military invaded his and surrounding communities, Oxlaj answered, “to kill us.” When asked further why, he said, “I do not know why they wanted to annihilate us.”
Two witnesses also alleged that the soldiers sexually abused Mayan Ixil women. Francisco Pablo Carillo recounted that in the military attack on his village in April 1982, soldiers raped young women before shooting them to death.
For the first time, the majority of witnesses (8) testified in Spanish without interpreters. Several witnesses on Monday, and previously, described the lack of salt in their forced displacement in the mountains. In response to questions from the prosecution, witnesses on Monday said that this was difficult because it is part of their food and their culture.
On Monday, the defense focused their questions in cross-examination on whether witnesses saw or knew guerrillas, to which most or all witnesses answered no; whether they were armed, or saw armed people besides soldiers in the mountains or in their communities, to which virtually all witnesses answered no; whether the witness saw dead or injured soldiers, to which witnesses answered no; the leadership or organization in the communities or in the mountains, to which most witnesses answered that there was not formal leadership; the ethnicity of those in the villages or the mountains, to which some answered that there were indigenous groups other than Ixiles; and the ethnicity of the civil self-defense patrols, to which one witness on Monday answered that they were “our people already captured” and another answered K’iche’.
To the final witness of the day, Jacinto Velasco Osorio, Calderon asked why he came to testify. When Velasco did not understand the question, Calderon elaborated: “did they bring you, did they tell you to come, or … ?” Velasco responded that he came of his own will.
The defense contested, and Judge Barrios was stricter with, witness accounts of abuses outside of the temporal scope of Rios Montt’s rule. The defense challenged, through objections or in cross-examination, at least two witnesses who told of their experiences prior or subsequent to Rios Montt’s rule; and Judge Barrios proactively prevented two witnesses from testifying about events in 1981 and 1984.
Outside the courthouse, during the entire day, there was a small but boisterous band of pro-defense protesters. They reject that there was genocide in Guatemala, and at least one entered the courtroom wearing an armband reading that “there was no genocide,” (no hubo genocidio). With military music blaring, the group hung signs stating that “Communism finances the destruction of national unity,” and decrying a “world in reverse” in which “defenders of your liberty” are imprisoned and condemned and “terrorists” are “free, exalted, honored.”
← Previous Post Almudena Bernabeu: The 13-year struggle to bring Rios Montt to court
Next Post → Judge Again Rejects Defense Calls for Her Recusal and Suspension of the Trial; 11 More Prosecution Witnesses Heard Before Easter Recess
Patrick Timmons March 27, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Hi there. Thanks for this amazing coverage. I am just wondering what the support (professional in terms of psychotherapy, or social in terms of friends and family) the victims have? Also, is there a witness protection program in place? Was it contemplated/necessary? Sorry if I’ve missed previous posts which answer these questions, and thanks again.
Anita Schrader McMillan April 15, 2013 at 11:40 pm
Yes, as per Patrick’s question – what care is being given the victim/survivors? and people who have gathered their testimonies? I remember speaking to people who gathered testimonies for the REMHI report, who told me about the sicknesses and breakdowns experienced by their some of their team members.
Simply reading about it – on this page and Prensa Libre – is terrible.
© International Justice Monitor. A project of the Open Society Justice Initiative
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507461
|
__label__wiki
| 0.829976
| 0.829976
|
Home » Islam » shia'ism2 » The Rifts within Shī‘ism
Islamic Sites
Audio Channel
Weather (Mashhad)
Islamic World News Sites
Yellow Pages (Mashhad)
Souvenir Album
The Rifts within Shī‘ism
Ghulam-Husayn Muharrami
There were major rifts within Shī‘ism during the first and second centuries AH, and at the end of the second century remarkable splits among the Shī‘ah had emerged. As such, members of the different nations and religions, in dealing with Wāqifiyyah, have called the Shī‘ah Imāmiyyah who believed in the Imamate of Imām ar-Riḍā (‘a) as Qaṭ‘iyyah and Ithnā ‘Ashariyyah for believing in Imām ar-Riḍā (‘a) and the Imams after him up to the Imām of the Time (‘a). Of course, during the first century AH up to 61 AH (i.e. up to the martyrdom of Imām al-Ḥusayn (‘a)) these splits had not occurred within Shī‘ism, although Shahristānī regards the Ghulāt Saba’iyyah sect that emerged during the time of Ḥaḍrat Amīr (‘a) as Shī‘ah. This is while there is doubt concerning the existence of a person named ‘Abd Allāh ibn Saba’. At any rate, according to Rijāl Kashī, there had been some Ghālīs during the time of ‘Alī (‘a) who were asked by him to repent, and since they had not repented, he ordered for their execution.
Imām al-Ḥasan and Imām al-Ḥusayn (‘a) had excellent positions in the sight of Muslims and have been considered as progeny of the Prophet
#7779;). Apart from the Shī‘ah, other Muslims also regard them worthy of the caliphate. As such, there was no doubt concerning the matter of the Imamate and no rift whatsoever had ever occurred during the lifetime of these two personages. After Imām al-Ḥusayn’s (‘a) martyrdom, we witness rifts within Shī‘ism, and some of those sects that split from mainstream Shī‘ism are the following:
Kaysāniyyah: They believe in the Imamate of Muḥammad al-Ḥanafiyyah.
Zaydiyyah: They believe in the Imamate of Zayd ibn ‘Alī.
Nāwūsiyyah: They believe in the occultation [ghaybah] of Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) and in his being the Mahdī.
Faṭḥiyyah: They believe in the Imamate of ‘Abd Allāh ibn Afṭaḥ, son of Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a).
Samṭiyyah: They believe in the Imamate of Muḥammad Dībāj, another son of Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a).
Ismā‘īliyyah: They believe in the Imamate of Ismā‘īl, yet another son of Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a).
Ṭafiyyah: They believe that Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) entrusted the Imamate to Mūsā ibn Ṭaffī.
Aqmaṣiyyah: They believe that Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) entrusted the Imamate to Mūsā ibn ‘Umrān al-Aqmaṣ.
Yarma‘iyyah: They believe that Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) entrusted the Imamate to Yarma‘ ibn Mūsā.
Tamīmiyyah: They believe that Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) entrusted the Imamate to ‘Abd Allāh ibn Sa‘d at-Tamīmī.
Ju‘diyyah: They believe that Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) entrusted the Imamate to a person named Abū Ju‘dah.
Ya‘qūbiyyah: They reject the Imamate of Mūsā ibn Ja‘far (‘a), saying that Imamate could be entrusted to other than the sons of Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a), and their leading figure is a person named Abū Ya‘qūb.
Mamṭūrah: They suspend their judgment concerning Imām al-Kāẓim (‘a), saying that they are not sure if the Imām really passed away or not.
Wāqifiyyah: They believe that Imām al-Kāẓim (‘a) did not die and that he shall remain alive till the Day of Resurrection (‘a).
Of course, some of these sects had also split into smaller sects. For example, Kaysāniyyah has two groups regarding the Imamate of Muḥammad al-Ḥanafiyyah:
Some believed that Muḥammad al-Ḥanafiyyah was the Imām after Imām al-Ḥusayn (‘a) while another group was of the opinion that he was supposed to be the Imām after his father, ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (‘a), and after ascribing the Imamate to pass to his son, Abū Hāshim after him, they were again divided into some groups: A group believed that Abū Hāshim had entrusted the Imamate to Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-‘Abbāsī. The second group maintained that Abū Hāshim had entrusted the Imamate to his brother, ‘Alī ibn Muḥammad al-Ḥanafiyyah. The third group opined that Abū Hāshim had entrusted the Imamate to his nephew, Ḥasan ibn ‘Alī. The fourth group held that Abū Hāshim had entrusted the Imamate to ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Amrū al-Kindī.
Zaydiyyah is also divided into three main groups:
Jārūdiyyah: They believe that after the Holy Prophet (‘a), ‘Alī (‘a) was the one worthy of the caliphate but the Prophet (‘a) introduced him to the people for the caliphate only by descriptions and not by name, and that due to the people’s failure to recognize him correctly, they chose Abū Bakr and for doing so, the people became infidels [kuffār].
Sulaymāniyyah: They believe that Imamate is determined through consultation [shūrā] and that the Imamate of ‘a deserving one’ [mafḍūl] while ‘the most deserving one’ [afḍal] is present is permissible. It is by means of this notion that they are proving the legitimacy of the caliphate of Abū Bakr and ‘Umar and that the ummah erred in not choosing ‘the most deserving one’ (viz., ‘Alī (‘a)) but their error does not reach the level of transgression [fisq]. Also, they declare ‘Uthmān as an infidel [kāfir].
Batriyyah: Their beliefs are similar to that of Sulaymāniyyah with the only difference that they suspend their judgment concerning ‘Uthmān.
Ismā‘iliyyah is also divided into three groups: One group is of the opinion that the Imām after Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) is Ismā‘īl who did not die as he is alive and the promised Mahdī.
The second group believes that Ismā‘īl died and the Imamate transferred to his son, Muḥammad, who is in occultation [ghaybah] and shall appear and fill the world with justice and equity.
The third group, like the second one, believes in the Imamate of Muḥammad ibn Ismā‘īl with the only difference that Muḥammad died and the Imamate has remained in his offspring.
Of course, most of these sects did not last long, and they could hardly be called “sects”. Rather, they were groups that faded away with the death of their respective leaders, and they had no appearance in the sociopolitical scenes. Among these sects, Kaysāniyyah, Zaydiyyah and Ismā‘īliyyah emerged and remained in the first, second and third centuries AH. Of course, although during the second century AH and after the martyrdom of Imām aṣ-Ṣādiq (‘a) the Ismā‘īlī sect was separated from the body of Shī‘ism, it had no appearance up to the middle of the third century AH, and in a sense, their Imāms were in hiding.
During the first century AH, next to the Shī‘ah Imāmiyyah and prior to the emergence of Zaydiyyah, Kaysāniyyah had been the most influential Shī‘ah sect. Kaysāniyyah emerged and made its appearance in the uprising of Mukhtār. Although we do not regard Mukhtār himself as a Kaysānī, many of his forces were adhering to Kaysāniyyah. This sect struggled politically until the end of the first century AH, and Abū Hāshim, ‘Abd Allāh ibn Muḥammad al-Ḥanafiyyah, who was the leader of this sect, had for the first time used the terms “dā‘ī” [propagator] and “ḥujjat” [proof] for his preachers. Later on, these terms were used by other groups such as the ‘Abbāsids, Zaydīs and Ismā‘īlīs. He was also the one who founded the “office of propagation” which was later imitated by the ‘Abbāsids. When the Umayyad caliph Sulaymān ibn ‘Abd al-Malik felt threatened by Abū Hāshim, he invited him to Shām and poisoned him. When Abū Hāshim realized that that was his end, he went to Ḥamīmah, the living place of his ‘Abbāsid cousins, declared Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-‘Abbāsī as his successor, and introduced to his successor his preachers and forces. From then on, the Banū ‘Abbas assumed the leadership of the followers of Kaysāniyyah and focused their activities in Khurāsān. As Abū’l-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī says, The people of Khurāsān believed that Abū Hāshim was the successor of his father and that his father inherited the right of succession [waṣāyah] from his father (viz., ‘Alī (‘a)). He in turn appointed Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-‘Abbāsī as his successor and who, in turn, designated his own son, Ibrāhīm, as the Imām. In this manner, they were proving the right of succession of Banū ‘Abbās.
Even Shahristānī believes that Abū Muslim al-Khurāsānī had been a Kaysānī at the beginning but after the triumph of the ‘Abbāsids, they established their legitimacy based on the alleged right of succession of their forefather, ‘Abbās, from the Messenger of Allah
#7779;) himself.
In retrospect, the sociopolitical appearance of the Kaysānīs can be found in the uprising of ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mu‘āwiyah, a descendant of Ja‘far ibn Abī Ṭālib aṭ-Ṭayyār. As Shahristānī says, A number of the Kaysānīs believed in the right of succession of ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Amrū al-Kindī and when they found him committing treachery and making lies, they believed in the Imamate of ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mu‘āwiyah ibn ‘Abd Allāh ibn Ja‘far aṭ-Ṭayyār… There was a serious difference over the issue of Imamate between the companions of ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mu‘āwiyah and the companions and followers of Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī.
Besides the Kaysāniyyah, the second sect that was active in the sociopolitical scene, was the Zaydiyyah, which emerged after the uprising of Zayd and the most politicized Shī‘ah sect. Of all the Shī‘ah sects, it is the closest to the principles of Ahl as-Sunnah. For example, in addition to acknowledging the caliphate of Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthmān, Batriyyah Zaydiyyah was not also considering Ṭalḥah, Zubayr and ‘Ā’ishah as infidels. For this reason, many of the Sunnī jurists [fuqahā] used to approve the uprising of Muḥammad Nafs az-Zakiyyah who was a Zaydī. Mas‘ar ibn Kudām, a leading Murjite [murja’ah] figure, had written to Ibrāhīm, brother of Muḥammad Nafs az-Zakiyyah, to come to Kūfah. Abū Ḥanīfah, the Imām of the Ḥanifī school of thought [madhhab] participated in Muḥammad Nafs az-Zakiyyah’s uprising, encouraging the people to support the leader of the uprising. Regarding the Zaydiyyah Batriyyah sect, Sa‘d ibn ‘Abd Allāh Ash‘arī al-Qummī thus says, “They mix together the guardianship [wilāyah] of Abū Bakr and ‘Umar.” In particular, regarding the roots of religion [uṣūl ad-dīn], they follow Mu‘tazilism [mu‘tazilah] and concerning the branches of religion [furū‘ ad-dīn], they follow Abū Ḥanīfah while some follow Shāfi‘ī.
The Zaydī school of thought, that is Shī‘ism in a general sense, does not differ much from the Sunnī beliefs. It is for this reason that in some Zaydī uprisings, such as that of Muḥammad Nafs az-Zakiyyah and his brother Ibrāhīm, a number of the Sunnī ‘ulamā’ and prominent figures had participated. Similarly, the Shī‘ah who had participated in the Zaydī uprisings were probably of the opinion that the ‘Alawī leaders of the uprisings were designated by the infallible Imāms and perhaps the scattering of Shī‘ah and their being away from the Imām of the time were the reasons behind it. In the end, only the Zaydīs had remained with their leaders. For example, as narrated by Mas‘ūdī, Ibrāhīm ibn ‘Abd Allāh, Muḥammad Nafs az-Zakiyyah’s brother, had fought in the end with only four hundred Zaydīs on his side who were all killed.
The third sect which had presence and been active in the sociopolitical scenes is the Ismā‘īlī sect. This sect separated from the body of Shī‘ism during the second half of the second century AH. Yet, until the end of the third century AH, they did not have much public appearance and their leaders remained in hiding until 296 AH, i.e. the year of appearance of ‘Abd Allāh al-Mahdī, the first Fāṭimid caliph in North Africa. For this reason, the evolutionary phases of this sect remained completely unknown. Nawbakhtī who lived during the third century AH used to link their initial activities with the Ghulāt and followers of Abī’l-Khaṭṭāb.
Their beliefs have also remained in the halo of ambiguity. In this regard, Mas‘ūdī thus writes: The scholastic theologians [mutakallimūn] of the various sects—Shī‘ah, Mu‘tazilah, Murja’ah, and Khawārij—have written about the sect and reputation of the objections against it… But none of them has expressed opposition against the doctrines of the Qarāmaṭah (Ismā‘īlī) sect. There are also those who have written against them such as Qudāmah ibn Yazīd an-Nu‘mānī, Ibn ‘Abdak al-Jurjānī, Abī’l-Ḥasan Zakariyya al-Jurjānī, Abī ‘Abd Allāh Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī ibn ar-Razzāq aṭ-Ṭā’ī al-Kūfī, and Abū Ja‘far al-Kalābī. Each of them had described the creeds of the people of falsehood. Yet, others have not discussed those matters. Besides, the followers of this sect disregarded the claims of these writers, not confirming them.
This is the reason why the followers of this sect have been referred to by diverse names in the different regions. In this regard, Khwājah Niẓām al-Mulk has thus written: They had been called by different names in every city and every province; “Ismā‘īlī” in Ḥalab and Egypt; “Saba‘ī” in Qum, Kāshān, Ṭabaristān, and Sabzewār; “Qarmaṭī” in Baghdad and Mesopotamia; “Khalafī” in Rey; and in Iṣfahān…
Prior to the establishment of the Fāṭimīd state, the Ismā‘īlīs were less engaged in political struggles, and instead focused on drawing people’s attention toward them, propagation, training and education. As such, we are witnesses to the travel of the Ismā‘īlī leaders, such as Muḥammad ibn Ismā‘īl, ‘Abd Allāh ibn Muḥammad, Aḥmad ibn ‘Abd Allāh, and Ḥusayn ibn Aḥmad, to the regions such as Rey, Nahāvand, Damāvand, Syria, Jabāl Qandahār, Nayshābūr, Daylam, Yemen, Hamedān, Istanbul, and Azerbaijan where they dispatched their preachers and propagators.
It was by considering these grounds that the Qarmaṭīs [qarmaṭiyān] designated “Ismā‘īliyyah” for themselves. Given such an expansion, they used to try their best for the ‘Abbāsid not to be able to extinguish the fire of their sedition.
In 296 AH the Fāṭimid state, based on the Ismā‘īlī sect, was established in North Africa and a vast part of the Muslim territories was detached from the ‘Abbāsid sphere of influence.
The most prominent Shī‘ah sects emerged during the first and second centuries AH, and notable rifts within Shī‘ism had occurred after the end of the second century AH. As such, in contrast to Wāqifiyyah, the Shī‘ah Imāmī who believed in the Imamate of Imām ar-Riḍā (‘a) were called Qaṭī‘ah and Ithnā ‘Ashariyyah.
No rift within Shī‘ism occurred during the time of Imām al-Ḥasan and Imām al-Ḥusayn (‘a) on account of their towering station.
Most sects mentioned in the books about nations and religions could hardly be called “sects”. Rather, they were groups that eventually faded away with the death of their respective leaders and founders.
But the sects that have appeared in the sociopolitical scenes are the Kaysāniyyah, Zaydiyyah and Ismā‘īliyyah.
1. From which period up to which period did sects emerge within Shī‘ism?
2. Name the sects that had a presence in the sociopolitical scenes?
3. In terms of the roots [uṣūl] and branches [furū‘] of religion, which way and method does the Zaydiyyah sect follow?
Copyright © 1998 - 2020 Imam Reza (A.S.) Network, All rights reserved.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507463
|
__label__wiki
| 0.681316
| 0.681316
|
Our Work ›
Office of the Director General ›
The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)
On 19 September 2016 Heads of State and Government came together for the first time ever at the global level within the UN General Assembly to discuss issues related to migration and refugees. This sent a powerful political message that migration and refugee matters had become major issues squarely in the international agenda. In adopting the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the 193 UN Member States recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to human mobility and enhanced cooperation at the global level.
Annex II of the New York Declaration set in motion a process of intergovernmental consultations and negotiations towards the development of a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. This process concluded on 10 December 2018 with the adoption of the Global Compact by the majority of UN Member States at an Intergovernmental Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco, followed closely by formal endorsement by the UN General Assembly on 19 December.
The Global Compact is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, covering all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. It is a non-binding document that respects states’ sovereign right to determine who enters and stays in their territory and demonstrates commitment to international cooperation on migration. It presents a significant opportunity to improve the governance of migration, to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development. The Global Compact is framed in a way consistent with target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in which Member States committed to cooperate internationally to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration. The Global Compact is designed to:
support international cooperation on the governance of international migration;
provide a comprehensive menu of options for States from which they can select policy options to address some of the most pressing issues around international migration; and
give states the space and flexibility to pursue implementation based on their own migration realities and capacities.
The New York Declaration
For the first time on 19 September 2016 Heads of State and Government came together to discuss, at the global level within the UN General Assembly, issues related to migration and refugees. This sent an important political message that migration and refugee matters have become major issues in the international agenda. In adopting the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the 193 UN Member States recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to human mobility and enhanced cooperation at the global level and committed to:
protect the safety, dignity and human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migratory status, and at all times;
support countries rescuing, receiving and hosting large numbers of refugees and migrants;
integrate migrants – addressing their needs and capacities as well as those of receiving communities – in humanitarian and development assistance frameworks and planning;
combat xenophobia, racism and discrimination towards all migrants;
develop, through a state-led process, non-binding principles and voluntary guidelines on the treatment of migrants in vulnerable situations; and
strengthen global governance of migration, including by bringing IOM into the UN family and through the development of a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration
Annex II of the New York Declaration set in motion a process of intergovernmental consultations and negotiations culminating in the planned adoption of the Global Compact for Migration at an intergovernmental conference on international migration in 2018.
What are the aims of the Global Compact for Migration?
The Global Compact is framed consistent with target 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in which Member States committed to cooperate internationally to facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration and its scope is defined in Annex II of the New York Declaration. It is intended to:
address all aspects of international migration, including the humanitarian, developmental, human rights-related and other aspects;
make an important contribution to global governance and enhance coordination on international migration;
present a framework for comprehensive international cooperation on migrants and human mobility;
set out a range of actionable commitments, means of implementation and a framework for follow-up and review among Member States regarding international migration in all its dimensions;
be guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda; and
be informed by the Declaration of the 2013 High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.
The development of the Global Compact for Migration - an open, transparent and inclusive process
The Modalities Resolution for the intergovernmental negotiations of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration outlined the key elements and timeline of the process. The Global Compact was developed through an open, transparent and inclusive process of consultations and negotiations and the effective participation of all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, academic institutions, parliaments, diaspora communities, and migrant organizations in both the intergovernmental conference and its preparatory process.
For more information see “GCM Development Process“
Civil Society Engagement
Migration Research Leaders Syndicate
Key GCM Documents
Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (A/RES/73/195)
SG Report: Making Migration Work for All
Modalities for the intergovernmental negotiations of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration
AR | CHI | EN | FR | RUS | ES
New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507465
|
__label__wiki
| 0.665557
| 0.665557
|
Will.i.am is excited about working with U2
Will.i.am and Bono meet up to discuss collaboration
Will.i.am has said that it will be a milestone in his career to produce U2’s next album.
The Black Eyed Peas star spoke to The Sun about his excitement of joining Bono, the Edge and the band in the studio.
“You talk about one day looking back at milestones in your career - working with those guys will be light-year stones. I look at U2 and think, 'Wow, I hope our group can stay together that long and still make brilliant music,” said Will.i.am.
"And just being around Bono and the guys is inspiring. It's like how a government should be. Bono for president of the world, I say. I try and do good and my bit to help the world but Bono is on another level. My car's pretty cool but he has a spaceship."
Despite their very different musical backgrounds Will.i.am said that their styles are not as incongruous as they might seem.
He said “There's only one type of music and that's good music, no matter what genre it is. Bono is one of those guys who sees it that way and there's no right or wrong. There are no rules once you lift the veil off.
"I went to Bono's house for lunch and George Clooney and Cindy Crawford were there. I played some of the songs we'd been working on together and everyone was blown away. They all left the finger food to come and hear."
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507466
|
__label__cc
| 0.676507
| 0.323493
|
Marc Wilczek
What You Need To Know About OpenStack
OpenStack has evolved to a point where it is producing benefits for IT organizations and service providers, but also is surrounded by myths.
OpenStack is becoming a strategic choice for many organizations and service providers alike. Since its inception in 2010, OpenStack has experienced an impressive growth as it marches toward becoming the de facto standard for new cloud deployments.
Essentially, OpenStack is an open source-based cloud platform that entails the orchestration of compute, storage, and networking resources in a virtualized data center. It’s built upon commodity hardware, and managed through web dashboards and APIs. The OpenStack community is growing constantly. Today, more than 200 well-known vendors contribute to the code, including Cisco, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Oracle, Rackspace, Red Hat, and VMware.
Image: 451 Research
451 Research Group estimates OpenStack’s ecosystem to grow nearly five-fold in revenue, from US$1.27 billion market size in 2015 to US$5.75 billion by 2020.
Why do organizations opt for OpenStack?
In a recent survey, 97% cited standardizing on a common open platform across multiple clouds among their top considerations. Avoiding vendor lock-in was another important factor, cited by 92%. Additional reasons include: OpenStack compatibility requirements from customers; cloud-native app deployment; vendor partnerships; research; data governance; DevOps-friendliness; and self-service and open source qualities.
In its early days OpenStack was primarily used for non-critical internal workloads such as test and development. Since then, companies are increasingly using it in a production environment, especially for cloud-native apps.
What are typical deployment models?
While various combinations of models exist, for simplification purposes, below is an extract of some of the most common ones.
On-Premises Distribution: On-premises is still the most frequently used deployment model. It can be implemented in a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach utilizing Homebrew or one of the vendor distros. In this scenario, the entire OpenStack environment is run on premises. Internal IT is usually in charge of deployment, configuration, patch and release management, as well as troubleshooting. With ample engineering resources, experienced in OpenStack, in place this deployment model can be cost effective. However, when resources are scarce or time-to-market matters a great deal, it might not be the model of choice.
Private Cloud in a Box: Some vendors offer appliances, which are usually run on-premise. They come with an embedded and vendor-supported OpenStack distribution, specifically tailored this particular setup. While these appliances require less engineering effort compared to an on-premise distribution, they tend to be relatively costly. Since they are built upon proprietary hardware and customized code, appliances also contradict the notion of avoiding a vendor lock-in, which is what most customers are actually striving for.
Hosted Private Cloud: Unlike a DIY approach, this model leverages a third-party data center of a service provider, who hosts a private cloud. In this case, the service provider owns the infrastructure and takes care of operating the environment, governed by a service level agreement (SLA). Customers can benefit from an existing IT landscape and the service provider’s OpenStack expertise, without having to make CAPEX investments or building up in-depth expertise themselves. On the flipside: The service provider has design authority, which leads to a vendor lock-in. Furthermore, a WAN connection is needed, and the existing customer environment gets fragmented and might be underutilized.
[Want to learn more about OpenStack, read Private Cloud Merits Second Look As A Container Environment.]
OpenStack-as-a-Service: Like a hosted private cloud, OpenStack-as-a-Service leverages a third party provider who takes care of everything. However, the stack is accessible via the Internet and leverages public cloud resources, i.e., it is run in a shared rather than a dedicated environment. This model offers a greatest degree of agility and flexibility, allowing customers to commission and decommission resources at a blink of an eye, and conveniently settle the bill via credit card on a pay-per-use basis. Perhaps the easiest and fastest option to get going, but – depending on the availability zone – regulated companies might have to deal with privacy concerns. Moreover, the model ultimately leads to a vendor lock-in.
Misperceptions when it comes to OpenStack
No doubt, OpenStack has plenty of benefits. But despite featuring a service-oriented architecture, an API-driven access to all components, and the ability to orchestrate multiple virtualization technologies, it’s far from being a silver bullet. Here are some of its limitations:
Myth 1: OpenStack is a ready product
OpenStack is an open-source project. It is complex to deploy and more of a toolkit rather than a product. The deployment therefore can be tedious and the needed efforts are widely underestimated. Furthermore, top-notch developers and engineers are hard to find. In a recent survey, users quoted the “complexity to deploy and operate” among the main reasons for not recommending OpenStack.
Myth 2: OpenStack is incredibly cheap
At first glance – especially when using one of the public distros – there is little or no cost associated with purchasing the code. Yet building a reliable cloud platform is something different altogether. In fact, it’s going to be a challenging exercise, requiring plenty of resources, know-how and a lot of time and perseverance. When taking into account the hours of engineering work and headcount needed, the total cost of ownership (TCO) will be much higher than initially perceived.
Myth 3: Maintenance and patching is straight forward
Moving from one OpenStack release to another can be a challenging exercise. After having previously experienced unexpected issues and downtimes, many companies are hesitant to upgrade onto new releases. In particular at large levels upgrading and achieving stability is not that easy.
OpenStack is powerful cloud technology, but the complexity of deploying and operating it is often underestimated. There is certainly no “one fits all” deployment model; some of them were highlighted before. Changing a few parameters will lead to different recommendations. Therefore, before making any purchasing decisions, it’s vital to create a target picture, thoroughly build a business case with planned volumes (# of instances/nodes, storage etc.), and scrutinize all available options. Another example of a cost comparisons can be found here.
When seriously considering a DIY approach, organizations need to make sure they have the necessary skills on board and available overtime to avoid a hard landing. Whenever time-to-market matters, leveraging a service provider might be the smarter choice.
The OpenStack SDK has promise, but a lot of work is still ahead. There is lack of talent – demand outweighs supply. The resilience and stability is not yet completely on-par with other proprietary cloud platforms. As OpenStack gains maturity, more and more companies will take advantage of it and incorporate it into their multi-cloud strategy.
Marc Wilczek is an entrepreneur and senior executive with extensive experience in helping market-leading ICT companies to transform themselves, expand into new fields of business and geographies, and accelerate their growth. He began his career as one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the German state of Hesse when founding two successful IT start-ups in the 1990s, and since then has held various leadership roles within the ICT industry over the past two decades. At present, he serves as Vice President Portfolio, Innovation & Architecture for T-Systems, the corporate customers unit of Deutsche Telekom. In this role, he heads the “productization” efforts for the company’s cloud and hosting business worldwide.
The InformationWeek community brings together IT practitioners and industry experts with IT advice, education, and opinions. We strive to highlight technology executives and subject matter experts and use their knowledge and experiences to help our audience of IT ... View Full Bio
Charlie Babcock,
Experience in OpenStack sometimes comes the hard way
The key words are, "companies ...with ample engineering resources, experienced in OpenStack..." This is code for a small handful of companies that have bought their experience the hard way, through experiment and early trial and error implementation. They include PayPal, Comcast, The Gap and others. But there are not that many the meet the description. Their "experience in OpenStack" tends to come from Mirantis, Red Hat, Cisco or other third party vendor.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507467
|
__label__wiki
| 0.589883
| 0.589883
|
White House Reporter Starts Breast Feeding At 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Dan Evon
The White House and breast feeding are two words that typically don’t go together but don’t tell that to political reporter and new mom Rachel Rose Hartman.
Hartman has a new baby, and a job at the White House, so she has recently found herself breast feeding at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Hartman writes: “When I imagined my journalism career, I never pictured myself standing shirtless in a unisex bathroom in the White House. But that is precisely where I found myself in November, as a new mother of a nursing infant returning from maternity leave to cover the president.”
So what are the breast feeding conditions like at the White House?
Hartman initially chided government officials for not providing a private place to breastfeed. Back in 2010, the Obama Administrations outlined several ways to help women in the work place and one of those ways was to provide a private place to breastfeed. According to Valerie Jarrett, chair of the president’s Council on Women and Girls,“One of the most common reasons mothers cite for discontinuing breastfeeding is returning to work and not having break time or a private space to express milk.”
Jarrett cites a study that mothers who breastfed their babies for the first 6 months can provide significant health benefits and lower the risks of diabetes, obesity, asthma, and leukemia.
The Affordable Care Act also requires employers to provide a clean place to breastfeed.
The law reads:”The Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010 requires employers to provide nursing mothers with reasonable break time and a place other than a bathroom that is shielded from view and free from intrusion to express breast milk at work, up until a child’s first birthday.”
But despite the White House’s intentions, Hartman was still stuck in a bathroom breastfeeding her newbornchild.
When Hartman complained to the White House press staff she was told that they were aware of the problem and looking into a solution. There were, however, several obstacles in the way. Yahoo, where Hartman works, doesn’t have an assigned chair for press meetings and definitely don’t have its own private space. There are also a lot of security procedures and journalists aren’t allowed to freely roam the building. Space is also limited at 1600 Pennsylvania and dedicated an entire room to breastfeeding would be tough.
Fox News Channel’s Ed Henry, president of the White House Correspondents Association, eventually found a solution: The Christian Broadcasting Network and CBC/Radio-Canada agreed to let Hartman use their booth at certain times of the day for breastfeeding.
It isn’t a permanent solution but it’s one that Hartman says has changed her life.
You can read Rachel Rose Hartman’s story about breastfeeding in the White House here.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507469
|
__label__wiki
| 0.56228
| 0.56228
|
Florida ‘Stand Your Ground’ Shooting Suspect Cites ‘Bush Doctrine’ [Video]
Robert Jonathan
A man who allegedly opened fire on three neighbors is invoking Florida’s stand your ground law and the Bush Doctrine as legal defenses against the criminal charges pending against him.
William T. Woodward, 44, was involved in an ongoing feud with the other men in Titusville, Florida, and he allegedly shot and killed two of them on Labor Day 2012. The third survived. The case is now finally coming to court. The trio allegedly threatened Woodward prior to the shooting. In footage of the police interrogation (see embed above), Woodward explains that he and his family have been tormented by the three men for months.
Lawyers for Woodward have filed a motion in court to get the case against their client dismissed.
Woodward, a combat veteran, has been charged with first degree felony murder and attempted first degree felony murder. Through his lawyers, he is asking for a stand your ground hearing before a jury rather a judge, a request unlikely to be granted. According to Florida Today, “Officials say Woodward snuck up on a Labor Day barbecue and opened fire at about 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2012. Police arrived and found Gary Lee Hembree, Roger Picior and Bruce Timothy Blake all had been shot. Hembree and Picior died of their injuries. Blake, who was hit 11 times, survived.”
The stand your ground law basically says that any American not engaged in any unlawful activity may “meet force with force,” including the use of deadly force to prevent great bodily harm. The law, which has been in effect in Florida since 2005, does not require the victim or alleged victim to retreat.
The law, which is also on the books in other jurisdictions, became immersed in a national controversy in the George Zimmerman murder case. Although the Zimmerman defense team did not rely on the law during the criminal trial in Seminole County, Fla., it was the stand-your-ground law that at least in part convinced police to initially dismiss Zimmerman as a murder suspect.
In their legal papers seeking a dismissal, the suspect’s lawyers in the Titusville shooting also cite a national security principle as a possible justification for what happened. “Woodward’s attorneys argue that an attack could have been expected based on the words of his neighbors. They go on to mention the ‘Bush Doctrine,’ a presidential concept that justifies a pre-emptive attack based on the need to defend from a threat.” The Bush Doctrine centers on international affairs, particularly in the context of the Iraq War, rather than a neighborhood dispute, however.
At the time of the shooting, a neighbor said of Woodward, “These people had been harassing him for over a month. He just finally snapped,” WESH reported.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507470
|
__label__wiki
| 0.960394
| 0.960394
|
Man's Attempts to Rap Proposal Nearly Thwarted as Girlfriend Repeatedly Turns Off Radio
News 2:46 PM PST, January 9, 2017 - Johanna Li
2:46 PM PST, January 9, 2017 - Johanna Li
It took this man nearly a year to come up with a one-of-a-kind musical proposal for his girlfriend, but his efforts were nearly thwarted when it appeared she wasn't exactly a fan of the song.
Read: Firefighter Pretends He's Climbing Into Burning Building to Propose to Girlfriend
Jorge Calado, 29, of Northamptonshire, England, can be seen in a YouTube video rapping an impassioned song he wrote for girlfriend Samantha Ward, 33, when she repeatedly attempted to turn off the stereo, and even calling him a "f***ing d***" for nearly waking their sleeping baby in the backseat.
"I wanted to surprise her with the most unexpected thing ever," Calado told InsideEdition.com. "It worked a bit too well."
He said he has no musical experience other than the occasional karaoke session, so he expected Ward to be thrown off by his impromptu performance, a song on the car's stereo, that he actually wrote and recorded himself.
"I wrote the song so it would come across as a generic, hip-hop tune to start with so as not to give it away," Calado explained. "Once the chorus comes in, it's pretty obvious it's about us."
The song eventually continues to include more and more detail from their four-year-relationship, from their first date at the first Five Guy's in the U.K., to the birthing of their 1-year-old Jenson, referenced in the lyric, "the better part of our better selves in the backseat."
"I wanted her to start realizing this song could not be about anyone else," Calado explained.
Eventually, Ward stops trying to turn off the stereo, and pays closer attention to the song until the big reveal.
"Even though I can't get down on my knee, Samantha Irene Ward, will you marry me?" the race-car-driver by day raps, as he holds out an open ring box to Ward in the passenger seat, who tearfully accepted the proposal as they pull over to park.
Calado explained it was important for him to pop the question in the car.
"We're fantastic together, but when we get in the car, we always end up having a bit of a tiff," he explained. "It just seems to be the only place we clash, so I wanted to turn that that into a place where we can remember fond memories."
Read: Parents of Struggling Preemie Get Hitched at Baby's Hospital: 'We Wanted to Get Married Here, With Him'
The pair was on their way to Devon in the south of England during the proposal for the holidays, where Ward's family resided. The next part of the surprise was that Calado's family had flown in from Portugal to celebrate the engagement.
"Christmas can be a bit cliche, but what better time than to get the two families together, and celebrate the happiness of a proposal," he said.
Watch: Man Who Met Girlfriend in Kindergarten Recreates Tear-Jerking Commercial to Propose
Man Who Met Future Wife in Kindergarten Re-Creates Ad for Surprise Proposal
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507471
|
__label__wiki
| 0.928952
| 0.928952
|
'I Can't Breathe!' Reaction Pours Out Over Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision
News 8:26 AM PST, December 4, 2014 - Inside Edition
8:26 AM PST, December 4, 2014 - Inside Edition
Whoopi Goldberg on The View said, "It's the story on everybody's lips."
Across the nation, passionate reaction to the grand jury decision not to indict the police officer in the death of street vendor Eric Garner.
Jon Stewart commented, "(Blank), we are definitely not living in a post-racial society and there are many people who are wondering if we're living in a society at all."
Rosie Perez pointed out on The View, "It was on camera!"
Rosie Perez's sentiments were echoed by many.
Michael Strahan said, "It's very hard to look at this on tape and not see why the grand jury would say not to bring any charges against anybody."
Chris Rock spoke at the premiere of his new movie Top 5 in New York, along with Ice-T.
Rock said, "It's really sad when something is on video tape."
Ice-T said, "We all kind of witnessed a snuff film on television when you saw that video. And then when you come back and say no crime has been committed? That is hard for people to swallow."
Social media lit up with celebrity reactions, and the hashtag, "#ICantBreathe," Eric Garner's last words, went viral.
Rap star Diddy posted a video. In it he said, "This ain't right. When I see a cop car I don't feel safe as a black man. When I see a cop car I get scared."
Bill Maher tweeted: "I'd just like to know what a cop would have to do to get indicted."
And this from Grey's Anatomy's Ellen Pompeo: "#wethepeople are fed up."
Others took to the airwaves to defend the police officer.
A commentator on Fox News said, "He is verbally telling them, 'I'm not allowing you to arrest me,' so now they have to go to the next level which is a physical take down."
New York Representative Peter King blamed Garner's death on his health.
King said, "You had a 350-pound person who was resisting arrest. The police were trying to bring him down as quickly as possible. If he had not had asthma, and a heart condition, and was so obese, almost definitely he would not have died."
Whoopi Goldberg, however, was quick to shoot down that theory.
"He died because he couldn't breathe," said Whoopi Goldberg, holding her hand to her throat.
Still other stars shared messages of healing.
Jamie Foxx, who was promoting Annie on Good Morning America, wouldn't let the interview end without conveying this simple message: "It's time to start healing."
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507472
|
__label__wiki
| 0.832311
| 0.832311
|
Bannister and Landy clash in the "Miracle Mile" race
The British Empire and Commonwealth Games 1954 returned to the country of their birth 24 years after the Hamilton 1930 Games only to be hijacked by an Englishman and an Australian.
Englishman Roger Banister was a hero throughout the athletics world as he was the first man to run the magical sub-four minute mile on May 6, 1954, at Iffley Road Track in Oxford. In a feat long considered impossible, Bannister’s time was an astonishing 3min 59.4sec.
However, just 46 days later on June 21 in Finland, Bannister's record was broken by his great rival John Landy of Australia, with a time of 3:57.9.
Coming into the Vancouver 1954 Games, Banister and Landy were the only two men in the world to have broken the 4-minute barrier, with Landy still holding the world record.
It was on August 7 that the two greats met for the first time in perhaps the most eagerly awaited clash in Commonwealth Games history.
Landy led for most of the race, and managed to build up a small lead ahead of Banister everything changed on the last lap.
Banister closed in on Landy and on the final bend, Bannister stormed past the Australian to win in a time of 3:58.8. It was the first time two runners broke four minutes in the same race and became known as the “Miracle Mile”.
Bannister and Landy both pointed out that the crucial moment of the race was that at the moment when Bannister decided to try to pass Landy on the final bend.
Landy looked over his left shoulder to gauge Bannister's position and Bannister burst past him on the right and would never relinquishing his lead.
On the same afternoon, Englishman Jim Peters, the world record holder for the marathon, entered the stadium 17 minutes ahead of his nearest rival.
However, due to exhaustion and dehydration, Peters collapsed on his final lap and never managed to complete the race.
The 1954 Games however, were an undoubted success and Vancouver set new standards in organisation and presentation for all multi-sport Games of the time.
The athletes' oath was taken by the captain of the Canadian team Bill Parnell, which, for the first time, would reflect the involvement of Commonwealth nations outside of the British Empire.
For the first time since the London 1930 Games, England topped the medal table ahead of Australia, rubbing more salt in the wounds of John Landy following his “Miracle Mile” heart break.
Number of competitors: 662
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507473
|
__label__wiki
| 0.653963
| 0.653963
|
Self-taught graphic designer Jordi Ng uses 3D modelling and vibrant colours to examine national identity
Rebecca Irvin
Jordi Ng is a self-proclaimed “designer, illustrator and witch”. Effectively self-taught in the field of graphic design, Jordi has cultivated a multidisciplinary approach, producing works that are fresh, dynamic and engaged with cultural politics and identity. As she describes her creations: “A lot of the narratives I tend to convey are informed by my unique experiences as well as what I’ve gleaned from my studies in the world of politics and culture.”
Although she studied political theory and economics at UCLA, with a minor in Scandinavian studies, Jordi actually began creating digital illustrations at 13 years old. When she came into higher education at college, graphic design became part of her extracurricular world when she joined an events committee as a designer of marketing material and stage graphics for shows and gigs. “Because of my primary academic pursuits,” she tells us, “I never thought to switch to a design major.” It was only after undertaking various internships with design studios in Los Angeles and Singapore that she began to consider pursuing graphic design seriously as a career.
“Towards my last year of college,” Jordi says, “I devoted more and more time to growing as a multi-disciplinary designer with a focus on editorial design and the documentation of arts and culture.” Despite not taking her academic studies further in a professional capacity, Jordi has found that “political theory and culture, in particular, has been helpful in explaining the somewhat perplexing world around me, and it’s something I’ve been increasingly trying to examine in my work.”
Jordi’s designs are vibrant, revolving around a rainbow colour-wheel while incorporating elements of bold, simple typography, surrealistic illustrations, elementary shapes and often grid-like structures. Her personal publication work is where her fluid, experimental approach is seen most clearly. Most recently, she created, in her words: “a book titled Help Me Chope Seat, Can Or Not?, a title which wouldn’t make sense to the average reader because it’s in Singlish, a form of broken English that Singaporeans speak. It’s an archive of ten things – objects, food and habits – that offer a glimpse of what it was like growing up in Singapore.” The book is inspired in part by Stefanie Tam’s 3D goods and products catalogue. Jordi states: “I wanted to portray the items in my book in 3D to represent my newly multi-dimensional, multi-faceted way of viewing my nation’s culture.”
Help Me Chope Seat, Can Or Not? is, Jordi tells us, “meant to break away from the things Singapore is usually known internationally for – like its gum ban, limited political freedom and clean streets," she says. "Instead, these are more subtle icons of Singaporean culture that only a native would be deeply familiar with. On the one hand, it’s a reflection of a fledging nation’s identity, but it’s also deeply personal for me. It’s funny because when I was living in Singapore, I only saw my country through an outsider’s lens, and resented it for its conservativeness and excessive strictures. It was only after I left Singapore for America that I was more able to visualise the little quirks of my country that set it apart from other communities I’ve encountered. Sometimes you have to leave home to know what home is, and that’s what the book is about.”
Jordi Ng: Help Me Chope Seat, Can Or Not?
Describing the format of the book itself, Jordi says: “Each item archived in the book comes with an index of six locations and addresses – shown through Google Maps screen-grabs – where someone could find these things. I knew I wanted to portray the ten items in a different way from just illustrating or photographing them, and I’ve always wanted to learn 3D modelling, so I decided to feature the objects in 3D wireframes and models to push myself in technique and form.”
Working in collaboration with her partner, Shayan Saalabi, Jordi has also recently designed and illustrated a children’s book. In her words: “This project was a little more silly since it was grounded in fiction; it’s a short tale about an egg that eats too many sweets. It was Riso-printed in three colors, and it was my first time designing for a project to be Riso-printed, which meant I had to approach it in a completely different way. The illustrations range from silly egg drawings to more abstract works, and I had fun experimenting with type and shapes as well. It’s definitely not your average children’s book. We worked with Tiny Splendor to print them, and they came out beautifully. Limited copies are now being sold at Skylight Books and Family Books in Los Angeles!”
For Jordi, the process of designing is based largely on instinct – matching a concept to a visual theme, form and structure by experimenting and exploring, rather than by adhering to strict, predetermined design principles. She states: “I usually first try to nail down the specific narrative that I want to convey, and then work out in my head how I want to breathe life into this narrative. Do I want to do a poster series, a book archival, or an animated essay? I usually try to push myself into using techniques I’ve never used before. Then comes execution, which can take weeks or months. I usually jump straightaway into designing in Adobe without any prior sketches. I feel like I have to apologise for saying that. Nevertheless, concept and narrative always come first, and that’s usually the hardest part.”
Jordi’s intuitive process means that her design is never limited in scope, and she is constantly employing it as a means of engaging with the ideas that preoccupy her in other aspects of her life and the experiences that inform them. “I have developed a penchant for editorial design which breaks down and analyses culture," she explains. "Strong stories in turn power strong concepts, and I want to be able to utilise design as a vessel in analysing society, literature and culture. I’ve done a little bit of that with Singaporean culture, a little bit with Swedish film culture, and I want to continue in that trajectory.”
Jordi Ng: Life is Sweet
Jordi Ng
Using art to understand his autism, Samuel Finch creates meaningful and vibrant digital works
Creation Project provides a blank canvas for creativity in Japan
Everyday Practice designs an honourable identity for the Achille Castiglioni exhibition
Gucci gives its logo a handwritten overhaul for Fall/Winter 2020
Graphic designer Thomas Kurppa plays with the dualism between control and chaos
www.awpoop.com
Becky joined It’s Nice That in the summer of 2019 as an editorial assistant. She wrote many fantastic stories for us, mainly on hugely talented artists and photographers.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507475
|
__label__wiki
| 0.791062
| 0.791062
|
BRITISH AIRCRAFT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918
© Q 67066
Use this image under fair dealing.
All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.
If you are interested in the full range of licenses available for this material, please contact one of our collections sales and licensing teams.
Avro 504K, two-seat reconnaissance aircraft, light bomber and trainer. No 28 Squadron, Ambala, Punjab, 1919. Serial number H2278.
First World War (production), First World War (content), Interwar (content)
MANKER R
Royal Air Force, Royal Flying Corps
Ambala, Punjab, India
Starboard side view
Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force 1912-1918
© Crown Copywright (OP-TELIC 03-010-17-145)
Contemporary conflict
Timeline of 20th and 21st Century Wars
Military conflict took place during every year of the 20th Century. There were only short periods of time that the world was free of war. The total number of deaths caused by war during the 20th Century has been estimated at 187 million and is probably higher.
© IWM (Q 110864)
Continuing Conflict: Europe after the First World War
The First World War ended - but it did not mean an end to fighting in Europe.
©IWM (SP 1631)
The Scuttling of the German Fleet 1919
Discover why German sailors sunk their own ships in 1919.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507476
|
__label__cc
| 0.686117
| 0.313883
|
Los Angeles Aggravated Assault Law FirmCriminal Defense Attorneys Defending Clients in Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino Counties in California Charged With Aggravated Assault
In Los Angeles and the entire state of California, aggravated assault is a criminal offense considered very serious; those convicted will face harsh punishment. At The Justice Firm, we are dedicated to providing our clients with outstanding legal support and guidance, working vigorously to protect you from serious criminal penalties. We know that not only do those convicted of a serious or violent crime face potential jail/prison time, fines, and other penalties, the damage to various aspects of your life such as your career and reputation can be impossible to overcome.
As dedicated Los Angeles aggravated assault lawyers, we know the importance of having a capable and aggressive attorney on your side. Until proven guilty, you are innocent. Our mission is to protect your innocence so that you can avoid the damaging consequences of a conviction.
In Los Angeles, aggravated assault is much like assault, other than the fact the accused individual used a deadly weapon to inflict severe bodily injury on another person with willful intent.
Essentially, it is considered assault to intentionally harm someone else in a way that results in bodily injury. The one element that turns assault into aggravated assault is that a deadly weapon is used, purposely or willfully causing another person to be seriously injured. Even an attempt to inflict bodily harm on another individual with a deadly weapon, regardless of whether you were successful, may result in charges of aggravated assault.
Los Angeles Criminal Penalties for Aggravated Assault
The criminal penalties for aggravated assault are serious, and will vary depending on a number of factors including prior criminal record, whether the assault was committed against a firefighter or peace officer using a machine gun or semiautomatic handgun, and more. Some of the penalties you may expect if convicted include, but are not limited to:
Probation or parole
Prison term
Substantial fines
Mandatory anger management classes
Loss of your right to own any weapon
Also commonly referred to as "assault with a deadly weapon," aggravated assault in circumstances where a weapon was used (other than a firearm) will result in a fine of $10,000, up to one year in jail, or incarceration in state prison for 2, 3, or 4 years. Individuals who are convicted will also have a permanent criminal record, which can affect many areas of your life.
Contact Our Los Angeles Aggravated Assault Law Firm now
At The Justice Firm, we cannot stress enough the importance of consulting with a skilled and capable criminal defense attorney when charged with a serious or violent crime. A conviction for aggravated assault will not only result in harsh punishment, but damage your career, social status, and future employment opportunities. Why risk the damage to your career, reputation, and freedom when an effective defense lawyer can make all the difference in the outcome?
We urge you to contact our office today for a free consultation regarding your case. Call us immediately at 310-914-2444.
Aggravated Assault | Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers The Justice Firm
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507478
|
__label__wiki
| 0.821496
| 0.821496
|
Aug 08, 2018 06:54 PM EDT
Study: Job hunters drop ties with supportive colleagues
People considering quitting their jobs stop supporting current colleagues because they no longer feel they need to do favours for them, research shows.
Instead of feeling obligated to current co-workers who have provided guidance, those on the hunt for a new post start to focus on other people who can help them in another job or company
However individuals who are considering quitting their jobs do make more of an effort to maintain contact with people at work they consider to be friends because they worry they will be without close colleagues when they are employed elsewhere.
Academics surveyed people in work to see how their relationships with colleagues changed when they were considering quitting. They found workers form relationships with some colleagues who are advisors, who help them perform well and make them feel they can achieve their goals. Other colleagues are friends, and provide social and emotional support, and help them feel like they "belong" at work.
Those who worked longer hours and those with higher tenure were more often sought out for advice, while those who were older were less frequently asked to provide guidance. People usually became friends with people in the same level of job or length of service, or those who were a similar age and had similar views on their job satisfaction.
Dr Andrew Parker, from the University of Exeter Business School, who carried out the study, said: "We found people who are considering quitting their jobs don't then feel the need to help or do favours for those who have given them advice over the years. They feel less obligated towards their old colleagues and begin to focus on the benefits of creating new ties."
"However they maintain existing relationships with colleagues who are friends, because they don't want to lose this relationship when they leave their job. They worry they might have less time available to create new friends."
Academics questioned 121 employees from eight healthcare organisations in the Netherlands. They were surveyed three times, through questionnaires sent four months apart, and asked to respond to how much they agreed with the comments: "I frequently think about quitting this job" and "I will probably look for a new job soon" using a five point scale. They were also asked to identify colleagues who they viewed as friends, or turned to for advice or help. They were asked: "Do you usually go to this person for help or advice on work-related matters?"
Get the Most Popular Jobs&Hire Stories in a Weekly Newsletter
© 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Designer Of The First-Ever Space Luggage: Meet The World's Youngest Astronaut In Training
60% Of Tech Workers Told Not To Discuss Pay, Making Gender Gap Harder To Spot
Bring Your Best Self To Work
Why Vulnerability Is The Key To Being A Better Leader
How To Get The Positives Out Of A Multi generational Workforce
The 7 Secret Talents of Organizational Superstars
WWE's Hiring Of Paul Heyman And Eric Bischoff Led To Massive Spikes In Online Interest
Ford Cutting 12,000 Jobs In Europe
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507479
|
__label__wiki
| 0.516004
| 0.516004
|
New PC, and maybe TV forecast
Just as the PC industry was showing signs of improving
Posted: Jon Peddie 07.09.18
Making forecasts is always complicated and never a sure thing; and, to get a forecast close to reality, it’s necessary to constantly tweak factors and adjust assumptions. US President Trump has precipitated quite a bit of tweaking and adjusting. As a result, we expect to see the Trump trade-war with China drive up costs and therefore the price-elasticity curve of the PC market will flatten and depress demand.
Washington imposed 25% tariffs on $34bn of Chinese imports—enacting a plan laid out by president Trump earlier this year. The levies mainly affect Chinese technology such as aerospace, IT, and medical kit. Trump has threatened that the United States may target over $500 billion worth of Chinese goods, or roughly the total amount of U.S. imports from China last year.
China's commerce ministry, in a statement shortly after the U.S. deadline passed at 0401 GMT on Friday, said that it was forced to retaliate, meaning imported U.S. goods including semiconductors, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (as well as cars, soybeans, and aircraft also faced 25 percent tariffs.
"We can probably say that the trade war has officially started," said Chen Feixiang, professor of applied economics at Shanghai Jiaotong University's Antai Colege of Economics and Management.
"If this ends at $34 billion, it will have a marginal effect on both economies, but if it escalates to $500 billion as Trump has said, then it's going to have a big impact for both countries."
"Our baseline forecast assumes only a modest further escalation in the trade 'war' this summer," Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a Friday note.
"However, we can't rule out a full-blown, recession-inducing 'trade war'," it said.
China announced additional tariffs on 106 U.S. products Wednesday, The effective start date for the new charges will be revealed at a later time, though China's Ministry of Commerce said the tariffs are designed to target up to $50 billion of U.S. products annually.
The U.S. products that China is targeting (CNBC)
The trade war will impact PCs, AIBs, PC gaming hardware, and workstations. We are therefore re-evaluating our forecasts for Q3 onward. It’s not likely there will be an immediate impact since we are already into the Q3. However, Taiwan chipmakers have quietly revised downward their revenue growth projections for the third quarter of 2018, as their order visibility for the quarter remains unclear amid the escalating China-US trade tensions that may undermine the shipment performance of their terminal customers in the quarter, according to industry sources.
Previously, vendors in the Taiwan supply chain estimated their third-quarter revenues would post double-digit sequential increases, but they now have lowered growth projections for the quarter, as customers have become more conservative due to uncertainties associated with trade spats between the two economic powers.
Traditionally PC sales increase in the third quarter; combined with the difficult rollout of new notebook and PC models, as reported by Digitimes and elsewhere, and slow sales performance of smartphones and other mobile devices on top of the China-US trade disputes has made it difficult for brand vendors and ODMs to predict their actual shipment volumes for the quarter, the sources said. Furthermore, these impacts are not likely to ease going forward as China and the US play tit-for-tat, and Taiwan gets caught in the middle.
Industry sources said that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reportedly seen a slower-than-expected pickup for its 12-inch foundry capacity utilization in the third quarter, as Apple may not release AP orders for new iPhones until September. This may drive TSMC to revise downward its revenue growth goal for the third quarter.
Adding to the pressure has been a shortage in passive components such as multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), partially due to the crypto-mining run up. As their shortage has increased the price of components raising the COG which will be passed on to the consumer further squeezing the price-elasticity.
Just prior to the trade war announcements, semiconductor sales once again set a new all-time high in May, growing by more than 20 percent for the 14th straight month, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) trade group.
The three-month average of chip sales for May reached $38.7 billion, up 3 percent from April and up 21 percent compared with May 2017, according to the SIA, which reports numbers compiled by World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, an industry group made up of more than 55 semiconductor companies that pool sales data. The next report is not likely to be so rosy.
So, we’ll be burning the midnight oil, watching all the news feeds from China, and Washington and playing with our spreadsheets trying to tease out how and when this U.S. inspired trade-war will impact future shipments. Although we do not know at this time what the impact will be, we do know there will be an impact. Some companies will use this as an excuse to raise their prices and try and improve margins, even if they are not affected by the trade-war. Others will try to absorb the increased cost in order to remain competitive.
However, the real unknown will be the consumer’s reaction. Driven by emotion more than economics, consumers may pull back on buying that new TV, PC, or other device for fear of increased costs, and others will accelerate their buying anticipating higher prices coming.
Forecasting is never easy, and it’s being made much more difficult now by this impulsive move by the White House. Possibly, it’s a bid for votes in the upcoming mid-term elections in which case it might be short-lived. Politics and economics never mix well and should be separated as much as possible. Unfortunately, the effects of this typically poorly thought-out move by the current administration will have long term ramifications effecting more than just how many votes Trump’s party gets.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507480
|
__label__wiki
| 0.646837
| 0.646837
|
Blossom Chinese Cuisine blooms in Poulsbo
The owner of the popular Tendy's Garden in Port Angeles has opened a second restaurant in Poulsbo.
Blossom Chinese Cuisine blooms in Poulsbo The owner of the popular Tendy's Garden in Port Angeles has opened a second restaurant in Poulsbo. Check out this story on kitsapsun.com: https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2019/07/20/blossom-chinese-cuisine-blooms-poulsbo/1778481001/
Nathan Pilling, Kitsap Sun Published 2:45 p.m. PT July 20, 2019 | Updated 2:50 p.m. PT July 20, 2019
Owner Tendy Deng cooks up a to-go order of Mongolian beef in the kitchen of his Blossom Chinese Cuisine in Poulsbo on Friday. (Photo: Meegan M. Reid / Kitsap Sun)
POULSBO – Tendy Deng is bringing his beloved Chinese cuisine across the Hood Canal Bridge.
Deng, the owner of the popular restaurant Tendy’s Garden in Port Angeles, has opened his second eatery in western Washington: Blossom Chinese Cuisine.
Blossom opened in late June and already Deng’s eatery is regularly busy with customers. With a prime location right off Highway 305, Blossom's parking lot crowds with vehicles carrying hungry patrons at meal times. Deng didn’t expect to be this busy this early, but it’s a good problem to have, he acknowledges.
Blossom’s menu features all types of traditional Asian dishes, with loads of offerings featuring a variety of noodles, meats and vegetables prepared using high temperatures, which seal garlic and ginger flavors in, Deng said. His goal is to offer healthier, more flavorful dishes from a variety of regions, and to educate patrons about offerings beyond traditional American favorites like Kung Pao and General Tso’s chicken (he does offer them, though).
Customers can be sure they’re getting the most up-to-date in Chinese cuisine: Deng is a part-owner of a seafood restaurant back home in China and regularly travels back to check in on operations and learn about the latest techniques and foods. Blossom’s menu will shift as tastes change and as Deng discovers new concepts and ideas.
“We have to find out the regional tastes and flavor from the original place,” he said. “We bring some of the concepts here, so we learn it and change it and educate the new generation of people.”
Blossom sits in a humble brick building at the corner of Lincoln Road and Highway 305. Inside, flourishes of traditional décor surround customers, each piece placed in the feng shui system of arrangement and orientation. Jade plates – representing long life, happiness and wealth – line the back wall, and images on another wall point to the five fundamental elements in Chinese tradition – water, wood, fire, earth and metal. Golden blossom designs line the ceiling. Lucky stones sit at the entrance of the building.
“Blossom is not only a place for eating, it’s a place for sitting, to let people enjoy and understand a little bit more culture about China,” Deng said.
A to-go order of Mongolian beef at Blossom Chinese Cuisine in Poulsbo on Friday. (Photo: Meegan M. Reid / Kitsap Sun)
Blossom's owner came to the United States with his parents at 16, and he spent his younger years in New York state, where he graduated from high school and college. He found work on Wall Street and had a small share of a restaurant in Manhattan.
After the September 11th attacks, New York City became a different place, with a greater law enforcement presence and more unease, Deng said. Eventually, the restaurant would close.
“Life was not so easy after 9/11,” he said.
On a trip to the West Coast, Deng visited Vancouver, Victoria and eventually Port Angeles, where he struck up a conversation with a restaurant owner who was looking to sell. Deng jumped at the opportunity, quit his job with Citibank and opened Tendy’s Garden there in 2003.
About five years ago, he moved to Bainbridge Island. He bought the building on Highway 305 and began planning his new venture. After months of preparing, decorating, going back and forth with the city over details, he opened Blossom to customers on June 26.
Tendy Deng smiles from behind the counter as he talks with a customer at his Blossom Chinese Cuisine in Poulsbo on Friday, July 19, 2019. (Photo: Meegan M. Reid / Kitsap Sun)
It’s a place he’s proud to own. He’s drawing customers not only from Poulsbo but from Bainbridge, Kingston, people heading to the Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort and surrounding areas, he said.
“I feel excited, and I feel like I’m serving the people, every time I hear the customers say the food’s good and they do enjoy coming here,” he said. “Of course the food’s the most important, but also giving them a good atmosphere to enjoy sitting down. I’m happy when customers say good things.”
For more information about the restaurant, visit blossomchinesefood.com.
Viola Mai carries entrees to diners at Blossom Chinese Cuisine in Poulsbo on Friday. (Photo: Meegan M. Reid / Kitsap Sun)
Read or Share this story: https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2019/07/20/blossom-chinese-cuisine-blooms-poulsbo/1778481001/
The legality of using unmarked cars for speed enforcement
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507488
|
__label__wiki
| 0.946667
| 0.946667
|
Our history and the history of engineering
Our Presidents are drawn from across the spectrum mechanical engineering: representing the expertise and skills of the discipline.
Presidential terms are now annual. For a portrait of each of our Past Presidents scroll through the image gallery, arranged by date (1847 onwards). For their biographies and portrait click on their name in the list.
Past Presidents include George Stephenson (our first President and 'Father of the Railways'), William Armstrong (whose house, Cragside, was the first in the world to use hydroelectricity), Arthur Hartley (who helped develop the Pluto Pipeline to supply the Allies during World War II), Bernard Crossland (carried out the Kings Cross fire investigation) and Pamela Liversidge (our first female president, 1997).
Our Past Presidents
1847-1848 George Stephenson
Renowned as the ‘Father of the Railways, George Stephenson was born in Wylam, Northumberland in 1781. He followed his father into the local coal mines, beginning his career as assistant fireman to his father. Ambitious, although not educated, Stephenson was technically able and prepared to learn. While working as engine-wright at the Killingworth Colliery, he invented the miners’ safety lamp which he tested by taking it into a particularly volatile region of the mine; although the experiment was risky, he emerged safely. After some dispute as to whether the lamp was invented first by Stephenson or by Sir Humphrey Davy, who claimed the £3,000 reward on offer, a sum of £1,000 was raised and presented to Stephenson by North-eastern industrialists.
Most famous as a railway pioneer, Stephenson had watched developments in the area of steam locomotion with interest, and from 1815 onwards, carried out key experiments and developments at Killingworth wagonway. By 1818, the wagonway had been entirely re-laid with cast-iron edge-rails developed and patented by Stephenson in cooperation with the iron-making firm of Losh, Wilson and Bell. By 1820, when the line was replaced with wrought iron track, haulage by horse had virtually disappeared at Killingworth.
In 1821, Stephenson was appointed engineer to the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first passenger railway in the world. Here he fought hard for the use of steam locomotives over horse-power, at the same time establishing Robert Stephenson & Co. to supply locomotives and other steam engines. Four winding engines and a steam locomotive were delivered to the Railway by the time it opened in 1825, and Locomotive No.1 hauled a fully loaded train along the line at the opening.
After his success at the helm of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, Stephenson was invited to assist with other railway schemes, most importantly the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Opposition from local farmers and landowners meant adequate surveying could not be carried out, and a parliamentary bill was rejected in 1825. A bill of 1826 was more successful, and Stephenson was appointed engineer. Whether to use fixed or locomotive engines was fiercely debated, and the Rainhill trials were held in 1829 as a test of the locomotive power advocated by Stephenson. A prize of £500 was offered to the winner. Of the four competing engines, Stephenson’s, the Rocket, was pronounced the winner after running 12 miles in 53 minutes. The line officially opened the following year.
For the next fifteen years, George Stephenson was involved in most of the railway schemes of the time. An important result of Stephenson’s involvement, and his vision of a national, unified rail network, was the adoption of a standard gauge of rail spacing. He retired in 1845, and in 1847 became the first President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He died in 1848. Stephenson’s support for the fledgling Institution in the last year of his life was a final and lasting legacy to his chosen profession.
1849-1853 Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson was born in 1803.
He was apprenticed in 1819 to a coal-viewer at Killingworth, where he attended science classes at the University of Edinburgh. On his return he joined his father in the factory at Newcastle. He developed the construction of wrought-iron bridges for carrying railways across estuaries, rivers and valleys, notable examples being the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick, the High Level bridge at Newcastle upon Tyne, the Britannia tubular bridge, and the Victoria tubular bridge over the River St. Lawrence, Canada.
He was also frequently consulted in the construction of foreign railways.
In 1847 he entered the House of Commons as Member for Whitby.
He became the Institution's second President in 1849, after the death of his father, George Stephenson.
He died in 1859.
1854-1855 Sir William Fairbairn
Sir William Fairbairn Bt (1789-1874), born in Kelso in 1789.
At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to Percy Main Colliery, near Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1811 he moved to London, where he worked for Rennie and Penn. In 1817 he set up in business with a former shop-mate, James Lillie.
Fairbairn was involved with many of the major technological advances of his day. Some of the areas he was involved with include bridge building, machinery manufacture, investigation into the strength of materials and the construction of boilers, as well as the prevention of boiler explosions. He was also one of the first to experiment with shipbuilding in iron, and his shipyard at Millwall was the earliest iron-shipbuilding establishment of any great size in England.
1856-1857 Joseph Whitworth
Joseph Whitworth was born in Stockport, then a small manufacturing satellite of Manchester. His father’s work as a frame-maker for the cotton industry must have given the young Whitworth early experience of industrial machinery. He was apprenticed to Manchester companies building mill pumps and textile machinery. At the age of 21, Joseph Whitworth had decided to seek employment in London. He travelled by barge, and along the way fell in love with and married Fanny Ankers, a bargemaster’s daughter.
Once he arrived in London, in May 1825, Whitworth joined the works of Henry Maudslay. Maudslay was the father of the modern machine tool and his engine-building factory was a hotbed of engineering talent. Bryan Donkin, Joseph Clement, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and James Nasmyth all served time there. Whitworth worked in the relatively humble position of bench fitter because ‘he wanted to attain perfection’. Maudslay’s tools were then as close to that state as an aspiring engineer could hope to get.
Whitworth added to his experience with Holtzapffel and Company in 1828 and Joseph Clement in 1830. In five years, Whitworth had managed to serve the best machine makers that London could offer. Clement especially was far in advance of his commercial rivals and hi work on constructing Charles Babbage’s ‘Difference Engine’, or mechanical calculator, was the most intricate and difficult commission then given by the Government. Whitworth worked on components for this farsighted, but ultimately doomed project. For the aspiring engineer, it must have given profound insights into the levels of precision that might be attained.
Joseph Whitworth returned to Manchester to set up business on his own in 1832. He took premises in Port Street, then created a workshop at 44 Chorlton Street. The works began well, with Whitworth’s first independent patent lodged in 1834 – a machine for turning and screw cutting studs and hexagonal bolts. Before this, nuts and bolts were threaded by hand, an inaccurate and relatively expensive procedure. This patent set the pattern for a series of inventions and improvements to machinery and tools which would revolutionize manufacture.
Whitworth’s work built on that of Maudslay and others, but introduced far more fundamental thinking into the problem of producing accurate machinery. A good example was his work in making a true surface by scraping and comparing three matching planes. From these apparently simple ideas came the accuracy and method for which Whitworth became so famous.
In succeeding years, Whitworth built his business on accuracy and measurement, the gathering of engineering data and the standardisation of Whitworth Company output. It had been stated in 1830 that a fitter who could work to one sixteenth of an inch was a good workman. Whitworth’s measuring machines were capable of accurately measuring up to one two-millionth of an inch. These machines allowed him to produce standard measures and gauges. Uniformity was extended to the still famous Whitworth system of thread screw threads, commenced in 1841 and universally accepted in Britain by the 1860s. His machines for drilling, planing, slotting and shaping metal eventually formed part of the 1851 Great Exhibition displays, where over 20 of his machine were judged to be ‘of first rate excellence’.
As a result of this recognition at the Great Exhibition, the British Government consulted him on means of improving army weaponry. During the Crimean War, British army guns had proved hopelessly outdated. From 1854 Whitworth experimented to determine the best form of weapons and ammunition. Using a shooting range in his garden at Fallowfield, near Manchester, he eventually settled on the use of .45 inch elongated ammunition of rapid twist fired from a hexagonal rifle barrel. The War Office rejected the weapon, but many of its features became a standard for accurate small arms.
He was no more fortunate in the production of heavier weapons. By 1862 he had developed artillery with a range of over six miles. Again, the War Office rejected the improvements. Whitworth had much more success with his manufacture of guns for private use – even Queen Victoria was induced to fire a Whitworth rifle. The work let to Whitworth perfecting the process of hydraulic forging of gun steel.
In 1856, Joseph Whitworth became the fourth President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He was by now widely respected and influential, and he lost no time in promoting engineering standards within the Institution. Membership rose rapidly under his guidance and he was elected for a second term of office in 1866, the first individual to have served two separate terms as President. His great gift to the nation, £100,000 to found the Whitworth Scholarships for engineering, was announced at an Institution meeting in 1868 where it was acclaimed as ‘meeting the wants of the present age’. More than a century after his death, Whitworth’s legacy continues to meet the education needs of succeeding generations.
1858-1859 John Penn
John Penn was born at Greenwich in 1805. His father was established here as an engineer and millwright, working mainly in corn and flour mills. Penn entered his father’s works at an early age. His father died in 1843, and sole possession of the works passed to Penn. For some years previously he had had sole management of the works.
One of the earliest engines which he produced was the grasshopper engine. A 6 horse power grasshopper engine was the first steam engine to power the machinery at the works.
The 40 horse power beam engines fitted in the steamers ‘Ipswich’ and ‘Suffolk’ were probably the first marine engines to be designed and built by Penn. These engines, with some modifications, were fitted to the four passenger boats plying on the Thames between London and Greenwich.
Penn next turned his attention to improving the oscillating engine. In 1844 he replaced the engines of the Admiralty yacht, ‘Black Eagle’, with oscillating engines of double the power, without increasing either the weight or space occupied.
Another major innovation in marine engineering was Penn’s introduction of trunk engines for driving screw propellers in vessels of war. Here space was at a premium, and the engines had to be placed in as safe a position as possible. He kept the engines low in the vessel, and drove the screw directly. The first ships fitted with this engine design were the ‘Arrogant’ and the ‘Encounter’, and by the time of Penn’s death in 1878, 230 ships had been fitted with such engines.
Penn was also responsible for introducing wood bearings for screw-propeller shafts, presenting two papers on the subject to the Institution in 1856 and 1858. He was also associated with the application of superheated steam in marine engines, presenting a paper on this subject in 1859.
John Penn became a Member of the Institution in 1848. He served as President in 1858-1859, and again in 1867-1868.
In 1872, he handed over management of the works to his two eldest sons, retiring altogether in 1875. He died in 1878.
1860 James Kennedy
James Kennedy was born in Gilmerton, near Edinburgh, in 1797.
He was apprenticed at 13 to a millwright near Dalkeith, where he remained for five years. He spent some years working as a millwright, and working with winding and pumping engines at several places, before moving to Lavenoch Hall, near Hamilton, where he was employed to erect pumping and winding engines of his own design.
He later constructed direct-acting marine engines, one of which was for the S.S. Emerald Isle, which belonged to the St George's Steam Packet Co, Liverpool. He then travelled to Liverpool to supervise its installation. While in Liverpool, he met George Stephenson, who was then establishing a locomotive works at Newcastle-on-Tyne. He was appointed manager of these works in 1824. While in this position, he constructed two pairs of winding engines for use on the Stockton and Darlington Railway, and planned the first three locomotives for the opening of the railway in 1825.
He left Newcastle for Liverpool at the end of 1825, where he undertook the management of the works of Mather and Dixon. He then became a partner in the firm of Bury, Curtis and Kennedy, who constructed locomotive, marine and stationary engines. The company made locomotives for a number of railways, including the Manchester and Liverpool, Leicester and Swannington and London and Birmingham.
In 1844, he began managing Thomas Vernon and Son, Liverpool, a firm involved in iron-shipbuilding. Here he introduced iron deck-beams, which soon became universally applied.
He was a Member of the Institution from its formation in 1847.
He died at the age of 90 in his house, Cressington Park, near Liverpool, in 1886.
1861-1862 Lord William Armstrong
William George Armstrong was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1810. He was educated at Bishop Auckland Grammar School, before being articled to a firm of solicitors, Messrs Donkin and Stable. Having completed his training, in 1834 he became a junior partner in the firm.
He became involved with engineering through experimentation with hydraulic machinery in his leisure time. At the age of 36 he decided to give up the legal profession, and established a small engineering business in partnership with Mr. Donkin, his father Alderman Armstrong; and Messrs Potter, Cruddas, and Lambert. They purchased a small plot of land at Elswick on which to erect their works.
At first, the main concern of the business was the hydraulic machinery that had so fascinated Armstrong. Later, during the Crimean War, the company began to look at the improvement of ordnance. Armstrong was appointed Director of Rifled Ordnance in 1859, and held this position until retiring in 1863.
In the same year, he purchased a large piece of land near Rothbury, Northumberland, an area in which he had spent much time as a boy. He began to build a house for himself in 1864, which was completed by 1866, though much added to from this date on. In 1866, he created an artificial lake. The head of water produced powered a hydraulic ram, which supplied water to the house and grounds. Armstrong soon developed a further four lakes, and began to use them to supply electric power to the house, as well as hydraulic lifts and a hydraulic spit in the kitchen. They also powered what Joseph Swan believed to be the first proper installation of electric lighting. He also bought Bamburgh Castle and restored it, intending it to be used as a convalescence home.
Armstrong received many honours during his life, including the Albert Medal of the Society of Arts for his inventions in hydraulic machinery, and the Bessemer gold medal of the Iron and Steel Institute for his services to the steel industry. He was Knighted in 1859 and created a Baron in 1887.
Lord Armstrong was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1861, 1862 and 1869. He was President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1881. He died in 1900.
1863-1865 Robert Napier
Robert Napier was born in Dunbarton in 1791. He served a five year apprenticeship with his father, a blacksmith, then worked as a mechanic and blacksmith in Edinburgh and Glasgow. In 1815 he set up as a blacksmith on his own account in Glasgow, and later became an ironmonger and engineer.
He built his first marine engine for the 'Leven' steamboat in 1823. He moved to larger premises five years later, and added a shipbuilding yard at Govan.
He formed an association in 1830 with the City of Glasgow Steam Packet Company, and engineered most of their vessels. In 1839, he helped to establish the Cunard Line of mail steamers, which travelled between the UK and North America. In 1856 he built the H.M.S. 'Erebus', the first of the armour-clad vessels ordered for the British Navy.
1866 Joseph Whitworth
Once arrived in London, in May 1825, Whitworth joined the works of Henry Maudslay. Maudslay was the father of the modern machine tool and his engine-building factory was a hotbed of engineering talent. Bryan Donkin, Joseph Clement, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and James Nasmyth all served time there. Whitworth worked in the relatively humble position of bench fitter because ‘he wanted to attain perfection’. Maudslay’s tools were then as close to that state as an aspiring engineer could hope to get.
1869 Lord William Armstrong
He became involved with engineering through experimentation with hydraulic machinery in his leisure time. At the age of 36 he decided to give up the legal profession, and established a small engineering business in partnership with Mr. Donkin; his father, Alderman Armstrong; and Messrs Potter, Cruddas, and Lambert. They purchased a small plot of land at Elswick on which to erect their works.
1870-1871 John Ramsbottom
John Ramsbottom was born in Todmorden in 1814.
He worked in his father's cotton mill for some years In 1839 he entered the service of Sharp, Roberts and Co, manufacturers of locomotives and cotton-spinning machinery.
In 1842, he was appointed locomotive superintendent of the Manchester and Birmingham Railway. When this line was absorbed by the London and North Western Railway in 1846, he became district superintendent of the northern and north-eastern sections. In 1857 he was promoted to the position of locomotive superintendent at Crewe, from which position he retired in 1871.
He was responsible for a number of inventions and improvements, including the piston with simple packing-rings; tamper-proof safety-valves; a device to enable locomotives to pick up water whilst running; a new system for manufacturing steel tyres, and a horizontal duplex steam-hammer.
In 1883 he became consulting engineer to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway for the design and construction of their Horwich Works, and he later became a Director of the Railway.
He was an original member of the Institution. He died in 1897.
1872-1873 Sir Charles William Siemens
Sir Charles William Siemens was born in Lenthe, near Hanover, in 1823.
In 1843, soon after completing his university education at the University of Gottingen, he came over to England to introduce a joint invention by himself and his elder brother Werner, in electro-plating. He returned the following year with another joint invention, the chronometric governor, which was used at Greenwich Observatory for many years.
Other significant inventions were the anastatic printing process, which reproduced old or new printed material, and a double-cylinder air-pump. He also developed a regenerative system, to save heat which was generally wasted; this was first applied to a 4-horse power engine in 1847.
In 1858, he established the firm of Siemens Brothers, for the manufacture and laying of submarine cables and land lines, and for the construction of electrical instruments and machines. Around this time he was developing the regenerative gas furnace with his younger brother, Frederick. The first practical application was made in 1861, and five years later an experimental works was erected, where the process of producing steel in the open hearth of a regenerative gas furnace was developed.
He was particularly interested in the application of electricity for lighting, heating, transmitting power, and other industrial processes, particularly agriculture and horticulture. At his country house near Tunbridge Wells, electricity performed most of the farm work, sawing wood, pumping water, and also assisting the growth of plants, vegetables and fruits.
1874-1875 Sir Frederick J Bramwell
Sir Frederick J Bramwell was born in London in 1818.
In 1834 he was apprenticed to John Hague, a mechanical engineer, and after his apprenticeship had ended, spent some years there as chief draughtsman and manager. He was particularly interested in the vacuum system for distributing power, and was so impressed with its potential that he, along with a fellow apprentice, worked out a proposal for a Subterranean Atmospheric Railway between Hyde Park Corner and Bank.
He worked for some time at the Fairfield Railway Carriage Works at Bow, and was also involved with the development of the motor car. In 1881, at a meeting of the British Association, he predicted that, by 1931, the steam-engine would only be seen in museums as an interesting relic of a past age, having been superseded by the internal-combustion engine.
He made his name as a scientific witness, testifying in matters connected with engineering or patent litigation. He also acted as an Arbitrator.
He was also President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1884.
He died in 1903
1876-1877 Thomas Hawksley
Thomas Hawksley was born at Arnold, near Nottingham, 12 July 1807. Educated at the local Grammar School, he was articled to an architect and surveyor, Mr Staveley, in Nottingham: he became a partner in the business before leaving to work in London in 1852.
Hawksley is best known for his work in water engineering. He pioneered the supply of clean water for Nottingham as early as 1830, going on to engineer the supplies of Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham and many other growing urban industrial sites. The Dictionary of National Biography states that ‘there is scarcely a large city in the kingdom which did not make use of Hawksley’s services at one time or another’. In conjunction with Lord Armstrong, he invented a self-acting valve to regulate pipeline flow.
Hawksley was also a gas engineer, again advising on the supply for large cities. As a gasworks manager in Nottingham during the Chartists’ protests, Hawksley is said to have defended his charge by rigging up home-made gas flame-throwers.
He became a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1840 and a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1856. He served as President for both organisations and was first President of what became the Institution of Gas Engineers. For the Mechanical Engineers’ Proceedings, he contributed widely on the subjects of boilers and boiler explosions, engines, pressure gauges and pumping machinery. Most importantly, as President, he was responsible for the Institution’s move from its first home in Birmingham, to its present location in London.
Hawksley was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1878, Britain’s highest scientific honour. His son, in memory of his father, initiated the Hawksley lectures from 1913.
The Thomas Hawksley lecture and medal is one of the most prestigious events in the annual calendar of the Institution. The Thomas Hawksley Fund was established by Mr Charles Hawksley, Member of Council, to commemorate the centenary on 12th July 1907 of the birth of his father, the late Thomas Hawksley. In 1913 it was decided to use the gift to fund an Annual Lecture on the subject of mechanical engineering. The first “Thomas Hawksley” Lecture was presented to the Institution on 5th December 1913 by Mr Edward B Ellington, an expert in hydraulic engineering and a past president of the Institution. He took the subject of “Water as a Mechanical Agent” for his presentation. The lecture was presented at the Institution’s headquarters and then repeated in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Nottingham, all the towns that had benefited by the engineering work of Thomas Hawksley. Famous figures who have presented the lecture include: H L Callendar who published the first steam tables, F W Lanchester, the internal combustion engine pioneer, Harry Ricardo, one of the foremost engine designers and Sir Noel Ashbridge, the broadcasting engineer.
1878-1879 John Robinson
John Robinson was born in Skipton in 1823.
He was a locomotive engineer specializing in injector boilers. He was apprenticed in 1839 to Sharp, Roberts and Co, and in 1843 he became a partner in the firm. Twenty years later the firm became a limited company, and he became vice-chairman and co-managing director with the chairman, C. P. Stewart. Upon Stewart's death in 1882, Robinson became Chairman, which position he retained until his retirement in 1890, the year after the company moved to Glasgow.
1880-1881 Edward A Cowper
Edward A Cowper (1819-1893)
Edward A Cowper was born in London in 1819.
He was apprenticed in 1834 to John Braithwaite of St Pancras, a locomotive and railway engineer. While there invented the detonating fog signal, in 1837, which was subsequently widely used. At the end of his apprenticeship, he went to Fox and Henderson at the London Works, near Birmingham, where he held the position of chief draughtsman and engineer
In 1846, he played an active part in the establishment of the Institution, and presented on of the earliest papers, on an 'inverted-arch suspension bridge'.
In 1851, he returned to London and set up as a consulting engineer. He was involved with two important projects. He worked on the 1851 Exhibition Building, later the Crystal Palace, and he designed the wrought-iron roof of the railway station, Birmingham New Street. At the time of its construction it was the largest span roof in existence, at 211 feet.
Another invention of his was the modern bicycle wheel; a wire-spoke suspension wheel with india-rubber tyre, which is, in principles, the same as that used today.
1882-1883 Percy G B Westmacott
Percy G B Westmacott (1830-1917)
Percy G B Westmacott was born in Edinburgh in 1830.
He was apprenticed to Miller, Ravenhill and Co, Blackwall. In 1851 he joined the W. G. Armstrong's Elswick Works as a draughtsman.
When Armstrong was appointed to superintend the manufacture of guns at Woolwich Arsenal in 1895, Westmacott was entrusted with the technical management of the engine works at Elswick, and during this time contributed to the development of the hydraulic lifting machinery department.
In 1864 he became a partner in the company of Sir W. G. Armstrong and Co, formed in that year, and became Managing Director when the firm became a limited company in 1882.
1884 Sir Lowthian Bell
Sir Lowthian Bell (1816-1904)
Sir Lowthian Bell was born in Newcastle in 1816.
He studied at Edinburgh University, then at the Sorbonne, Paris. After finishing his university education he spent a year travelling the Continent examining the most important iron manufacturing plants. He then returned to study practical iron-making at the Walker Iron Works, where his father was a partner in the firm of Losh, Wilson and Bell.
In 1850, he joined with others in the establishment of chemical works at Washington, near Newcastle. It was here that formed the company of Bell Brothers with his brothers Thomas and John. They founded the first works in England for the manufacture of aluminium. They also founded the Clarence Iron Works near the mouth of the River Tees, where they erected three blast-furnaces which were then the largest in the country.
The company was also a pioneer in the manufacture of salt in the area, was one of the largest colliery proprietors in South Durham, and owned ironstone mines and limestone quarries.
1885-1886 Jeremiah Head
Jeremiah Head (1835-1899)
Jeremiah Head was born in Ipswich in 1835.
He was apprenticed in 1852 at the works of Robert Stephenson and Co, Newcastle upon Tyne. He served in the pattern-making, fitting and erection shops and the drawing office. He was engaged in designing and erecting two compound mill engines, which were fitted for the first time with a true parabolic governor.
He worked for a short time at Kitson & Co, Airedale Foundry, Leeds, then became manager of the Steam Plough Works of John Fowler and Co in Leeds, where he invented a means of signalling by lamps to facilitate steam-ploughing at night.
In 1868, together with Theodore Fox he founded the firm of Fox, Head and Co, and erected the Newport Rolling Mills, Middlesbrough, for the manufacture of iron plates. They employed 600 men. He introduced a plan of profit-sharing with his workmen, that was so successful that no labour disputes arose, even in a period of wider disturbances. He sought to improve the conditions of his workmen in other ways too, and it was largely due to his actions that Middlesbrough was the first town in England to apply for the establishment of a school board after the passing of the Education Act of 1870. He also founded the Cleveland Institution of Engineers in 1864.
In 1885, Fox, Head and Co was dissolved, and Head began to work as a consulting engineer in Cleveland. In 1888 he laid out the Bowesfield Iron Works at Stockton-on-Tees, and in 1891 the New British Iron Works at Corngreaves near Birmingham. He moved his practice to Westminster in 1894.
1887-1888 Sir Edward Carbutt
Sir Edward Carbutt was born in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, in 1837.
He was the youngest son of Francis Carbutt, who was director of the Midland Railway Company for almost twenty-five years. It was in the Derby workshops of the Midland Railway Company that he began his apprenticeship, which he completed at Palmer's Works at Jarrow-on-Tyne.
Upon completing his apprenticeship, he returned to the Derby works as outdoor foreman in the locomotive department. When he was 24 he entered into partnership with Robinson Thwaites in the Vulcan Iron Works at Bradford. They soon acquired a high reputation for machinery used in the production and manufacture of iron and steel.
He was also involved in politics, and succeeded in causing Government enquiries to be carried out into increasing ordnance production, and the need for the extension of the railways in India.
1889 Charles Cochrane
Charles Cochrane (1835-1898)
Charles Cochrane was born in Blackbrook, near Dudley, in 1835. His father, Alexander Brodie Cochrane, was the owner of Woodside Iron Works, near Dudley.
He left school at the age of 15, and although too young to be admitted as a student of Kings College, London, he was given permission to attend college classes. Upon leaving college he gained practical experience with Samuel Holden Blackwell, owner of Russell's Hall Iron Works, near Dudley, and other blast-furnaces, mills and forges. At the age of 20 he went to the Ormesby Iron Works which had recently been established by his father. The following year he became a partner with his father in these works and the Woodside Iron Works.
He became one of the leading authorities on blast furnaces, and was equally recognized in the United States. The Woodside Iron Works was also associated with many important structures, including the Holborn Viaduct, Westminster Bridge, Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Station, Charing Cross Railway Bridge and Station, and the Runcorn Bridge over the Mersey. They also removed the Hungerford Suspension Bridge over the Thames and re-erected it as the Clifton Suspension Bridge at Bristol.
1890-1891 Joseph Tomlinson
Joseph Tomlinson was born in London in 1823.
After leaving school in 1837, he joined his father, who was passenger superintendent at the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
Over the course of his career he worked for a number of different railways. In 1851, at the time of the Great Exhibition, he was working for the London and South Western Railway, and often drove the special train which took Prince Albert from Windsor to Waterloo and back, often accompanied by his two sons, the Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred.
From 1854 he worked for the Midland Railway, where he oversaw the transition from coke to coal as the fuel for locomotive engines. This experience came in useful later in his career, when at the Taff Valley Railway he was forced to use coal due to the continued strike of the Rhondda Valley colliers.
After a period as a consulting engineer in Cardiff, he joined the Metropolitan Railway as resident engineer and locomotive superintendent. He improved the line considerably, and was responsible for designing and laying out their new locomotive works at Neasden.
As well as serving on Council and as President in 1890 and 1891, he was also Chairman of the Research Committee on Friction.
1892-1893 Sir William Anderson
Sir William Anderson (1835-1898)
Sir William Anderson was born in St. Petersburg in 1835, and died in 1898.
He came to London in 1849, and began a three year course in applied sciences at King's College. In 1851 he became a pupil at Sir William Fairbairn's Canal Street Street Works, Manchester. He became manager of Courtney, Stephens and Co at Blackhall Iron Works in Dublin, in 1854. The following year he was made a partner. The company made many iron bridges, including the Malahide Viaduct, along with other constructive ironwork for railways and canal, and signalling apparatus and turntables.
He then moved to Easton and Amos at the Grove Works, Southwark. They had decided to erect a large new works at Erith, and Anderson was responsible for the laying out of the works. When completed, they considered a model of what an engineering works should be.
In 1871 he went to Egypt to work on the building of three large sugar factories, and three years later went to Japan to oversee the erection of the Ogi Paper Mill in Japan. He gave an account of the Mill to the Institution in 1876.
Later in his career he became involved with ordnance. In 1889, at the request of the Explosive Committee of the War Office, he undertook the design of machinery for the manufacture of the new explosive, Cordite. In August of the same year he was appointed Director General of Ordnance Factories, and the Cordite machinery project was passed to his eldest son. His new position saw him responsible for the ordnance factories, laboratory, carriage department and gun factory at Woolwich Arsenal, the small-arms factories at Enfield and Birmingham, and the gunpowder factory at Waltham Abbey. Of the many hundred guns which were produced during his administration, which were at least 50 per cent more powerful than the guns the superseded, not a single failure or accident of any kind occurred.
1894-1895 Sir Alexander B W Kennedy
Sir Alexander B W Kennedy (1847-1928)
Sir Alexander B W Kennedy was born in Stepney in 1847, and died in 1928.
He served his apprenticeship of four and a half years with J & W Dudgeon, shipbuilders and marine engineers at Millwall. He then took up a position as leading draughtsman in the engine department of Palmers' Shipbuilding and Iron Company at Jarrow-on-Tyne. In 1871 he commenced practice as a consulting engineer in Edinburgh and Glasgow, in partnership with H O Bennett.
At the age of 27, he became Professor of Engineering at University College, London. Here he established the first college engineering laboratory. He continued to take on a great deal of consulting engineering work however, and in 1889 he resigned the professorship and devoted himself entirely to design and constructional work.
He carried out a large number of experiments on concrete beams, and designed the steel and concrete structure of the Alhambra Theatre. He increasingly concentrated on electrical engineering, and became Chief Engineer of the Westminster Electric Supply Company, Central Electric Company and the St James's and Pall Mall Electric Supply Company. He designed many provincial electricity generating stations, and was also associated with related undertakings such as the London County Council Tramways, the Waterloo and City Tube Railway, the electrified lines of the Great Western Railway and Southern Railway and the formation of the London Power Company.
As well as his technical papers, he also published several books of wide interest, including 'Ypres to Verdun', a series of lectures and photographs depicting the devastation caused by the First World War, and 'Petra: its History and Monuments'. The latter was an account of a journey of exploration undertaken at the age of 75, accompanied by photographs which he had taken.
He also had a great love of music and was a talented amateur musician.
1896-1897 Edward Windsor Richards
E. Windsor Richards (1831-1921)
Born at Dowlais in August 1831, E. Windsor Richards was educated at Monmouth and Christ’s Hospital. He served an apprenticeship in the works of Rhymney Iron Co., where his father was the general manager. It was here that his attention was first drawn to the economy of utilising the waste heat in blast-furnace gases.
He was then employed as assistant and then chief engineer of the Tredegar Iron Works. In 1871 he was appointed general manager of the Ebbw Vale Works, where he was responsible for planning and laying out the Bessemer Steel Department.
Four years later he was appointed General Manager of Bolckow, Vaughan and Co’s iron works at Middlesbrough, where he was responsible for the design and erection of the Cleveland Steel Works at Eston. These works included three hæmatite blast-furnaces, and Richards’ early efforts at the works contributed to the success of the Gilchrist-Thomas Basic process of making steel from phosphoric ore.
After 13 years at Eston, he left for Low Moor Works, where he worked at the manufacture of wrought iron. This was at a time when wrought iron’s popularity was seriously affected by the basic steel he had helped to develop.
He retired in 1898, but continued to advise the firms he was associated with. He was President of the IMechE in 1896 and 1897, and was President of the Iron and Steel Institute, of which he was an Original Member, in 1894. He died on 12 November 1921.
1898 Samuel Waite Johnson
Samuel Waite Johnson (1831-1912)
Samuel Waite Johnson was born at Bramley, near Leeds, on 14 October 1831. His father was an engineer with the Great Northern Railway Company. After attending Leeds Grammar School, he was apprenticed to E. B. Wilson & Co, Railway Foundry. Here he was a pupil of James Fenton, a partner in the firm, and he assisted in the design of the ‘Jenny Lind’ type of engine. He also worked on the ‘Bloomer’ type, introduced on the Southern Division of the London and North Western Railway.
After leaving the firm he became assistant district loco superintendent on the Great Northern Railway. In 1859 he was appointed acting locomotive superintendent of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway at Gorton. After a series of similar positions with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Company, North British Railway Company and the Great Eastern Railway, he was made head of the locomotive works of the Midland Railway at Derby in 1873. He held this position for thirty years, until his retirement in 1903.
While with the Midland he introduced many important changes in the design and construction of locomotives. He was awarded the Gold Medal at the Saltaire Exhibition in 1877, for his four-wheeled coupled express bogie engine, ‘Beatrice’. He won the Grand Prix at the Paris Exhibition in 1889 for his single-acting-wheel express passenger engine, No. 1853. He also introduced a larger class of boiler after 1900, in which the working pressure was raised to 195lb per square inch.
He died in Nottingham on 14 January 1912.
1899-1900 Sir William H White
Sir William Henry White (1845-1913)
Sir William Henry White was born at Devonport on 2 February 1845. He began work as an apprentice shipwright in the Royal Dockyard in his hometown. At the same time, he attended the dockyard school. In 1863, he won an Admiralty scholarship. The Admiralty was at that time setting up the Royal School of Naval Architecture at South Kensington. White took the first entrance examination and won first place. During his three years there he continued to take first place, and graduated with Diploma of Fellow (first class) in 1867.
That year he entered the Admiralty. He was promoted to Assistant Constructor in 1875, and Chief Constructor in 1881. After a couple of years he returned to the Admiralty as head of the Constructive Department. He rose to the position of Director of Naval Construction and Assistant Controller before retiring due to ill health in 1902.
During his career at the Admiralty he won recognition for his original and arduous work in the development of naval architecture. Whilst at Elswick Works he designed warships for Austria, Italy, Spain, China and Japan, and his designs for two United States cruisers were bought by the authorities at Washington. On his return to the Admiralty, he did much work to harmonize the great variety of types of ship making up the Navy, introducing eight ships of the ‘Royal Sovereign’ class. During his seventeen years in office, he was responsible for the design and construction of 43 battleships, 26 armoured cruisers, 21 first-class, 48 second-class and 33 third-class protected cruisers, and 74 smaller vessels.
After regaining his health, he gradually took up various appointments. He was on the Cunard Commission to determine the type of machinery to be installed in the ‘Lusitania’ and ‘Mauretania’. He was also a director of Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, builders of the ‘Mauretania’. He was appointed a Commissioner by the Government to look into the question of load-lines of merchant ships.
As well as being President of the IMechE in 1899 and 1900, White was a Fellow of the Royal Society; Honorary Vice-President of the Institution of Naval Architecture; President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1903-1904; and Chair of the Institute of Metals in 1909.
1901-1902 William Henry Maw
William Henry Maw (1838-1924)
William Henry Maw was born at Scarborough on 6 December 1838. He was privately educated. At the age of sixteen he began an apprenticeship at the Eastern Counties Railway Works at Stratford, under John Gooch and Robert Sinclair. In December 1859 he became head draughtsman in the locomotive and engineering department.
In 1860 he was attached to Robert Sinclair’s private staff, and was involved with the design of rolling stock for the Great Luxembourg Railway and locomotives for the East Indian Railway. Both of these lines had employed Sinclair as consulting engineer.
In December 1865 he left the Great Eastern Railway to join Zerah Colburn in the establishment of Engineering. In 1870, upon the suicide of Colburn, he was joined in the editorship by James Dredge. In 1906 Dredge died and Maw became senior joint editor. He kept this position until his death.
As well as editing Engineering, from 1870 onwards, Maw had an independent practice as a consulting engineer. He was mainly involved with engine and boiler construction and the design and arrangement of workshops and similar buildings. He was involved with the design and laying out of printing works for several important papers, including The Daily Telegraph, The Standard, and The Field and The Queen.
During the First World War he served on many government committees, particularly those associated with the Ministry of Munitions. He also served continuously on the General Board of the National Physical Laboratory from its establishment in 1901 until 1915. He was a member of the Committee responsible for the foundation of the British Engineering Standards Association in 1901, and was a member of the Main Committee until his death.
As well as engineering, Maw had a keen interest in astronomy and was elected a Member of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1888, holding the office of President from 1905 to 1907. He was also one of the founders of the British Astronomical Association. This society’s aim was the encouragement of amateurs to carry out work of astronomical value, and was he President from its establishment in 1890 to 1900. He also had observatories built to his own design at his houses in Kensington and Surrey.
He was President of the IMechE in 1901-1902. He was also involved in many other societies, including the Civil and Mechanical Engineers’ Society, of which he was President from 1863 to 1865, and the Institution of Civil Engineers, of which he was President in 1922.
He died on 19 March 1924.
1903-1904 Joseph Hartley Wicksteed
Joseph Hartley Wicksteed (1842-1919)
Joseph Hartley Wicksteed was born on 12 September 1842 in Leeds. He was educated at Ruthyn Grammar School, then apprenticed to the machine-tool making business of Joshua Buckton and Co., Well House Foundry, Leeds.
He became, in time, the chief designer, was later taken into partnership, and, on the retirement of Joshua Buckton, became the head of the firm.
He was the inventor of many mechanical appliances, including the vertical single-lever testing machine and the horizontal universal testing machine. He was also directly identified with inventions such as multiple drills, two-spindle radial drills, double cutting tool-holders for planning and slotting machines and hydraulic plate shears.
He was President in 1903-4. He died in 1919.
1905-1906 Edward Pritchard Martin
Edward Pritchard Martin (1844-1910)
Edward Pritchard Martin was born on 20th January 1844 in Dowlais. His father was mining engineer to the Dowlais Iron Co. for 58 years.
He was privately educated in England, then studied in Paris. At the age of 16 he was apprenticed under W. Menelaus, who had worked with Sir Henry Bessemer in his early experiments.
In 1864, he was transferred to the London office of the Dowlais Iron Co. Five years later he was appointed deputy general manager of the Dowlais Works under Menelaus.
At the end of 1870 he became manager of the Cwmavon Works, owned by the Governor and Company of Copper-Miners in England. Later he was transferred to the Blaenavon Iron Works.
Whilst at the Blaenavon Iron Works, he became associated with the Thomas-Gilchrist attempts to make a satisfactory metal from phosphoric ores. He was the first to give facilities for making trials on a commercial basis. For this he was awarded the Bessemer Gold Medal of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1884, in conjunction with E. Windsor Richards.
In 1882, after the death of Menelaus, Martin became General Manager of the Dowlais Iron Works, and continued in this position for twenty years. The erection of the new Dowlais-Cardiff Works on Cardiff Moors was commenced in 1888. Two blast-furnaces were blown in February 1891, and the steel works and plate mills started work in 1895. He introduced labour-saving machinery whenever possible, incorporating many ideas gained from visits to America.
He was President of the IMechE in 1905, and re-elected in 1906. He was also an Original Member of the Iron and Steel Institute, and was President in 1897-1898. He was President of the South Wales Institute of Engineers, and the Monmouth and South Wales Colliery-Owners’ Association. He also held the chairmanship of the South Wales Iron and Steel Workers’ Sliding-Scale Board, an institution which was credited with keeping the district free from labour disputes. He died at Harrogate on 25th September 1910.
1907-1908 Tom Hurry Riches
Tom Hurry Riches (1846-1911)
Tom Hurry Riches was born in Cardiff in 1846. He was educated at Trices’ Academy, Cardiff. At the age of 17, he undertook an apprenticeship with the Taff Vale Railway, at their locomotive works. He spent five years in the shops and drawing office of the company. At the same time he studied Science and Art classes. In 1868 he gained a scholarship at the Royal School of Mines.
On the completion of his apprenticeship, he went to see for a few months, serving as second engineer on the S.S. Camilla. On his return he attended the Royal School of Mines, wining the Science and Art and Whitworth scholarships.
After completing his education he joined the Bute Iron Works and the Bute Old Works as General Manager. He remained in this position for three years, designing and building many iron roofs and bridges, as well as assisting in the general supervision of the company’s engines, machinery, steamers and dredgers.
In 1872 he returned to the Taff Vale Railway as chief locomotive foreman. The following year he was promoted to locomotive superintendent. He was at the time the youngest locomotive superintendent in Britain. He retained this appointment until his death. During that time, the locomotive stock was doubled. His responsibility was also extended to include all carriage and wagon work, the hydraulic and dredging machinery, dock machinery and coaling appliances.
Riches was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1907. He was also a President of the Association of Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendents of the United Kingdom, and was a keen member of the South Wales Institute of Engineers. He died in 1911.
1909-1910 Sir John Audley Frederick Aspinall
Sir John Audley Frederick Aspinall (1851-1937)
Sir John Audley Frederick Aspinall was born in Liverpool in 1851. He received his education at Beaumont College, Berkshire, and in 1869 he became apprenticed to John Ramsbottom, another Past-President of the IMechE, at the Crewe works of the London and North Western Railway. After completing his training with F W Webb, he was made assistant manager of the steelworks at Crewe.
In 1875 he was appointed works manager of the Great Southern and Western Railway at Inchicore, and became locomotive engineer in 1883. At this time, he made important contributions to the development of the vacuum brake. In 1886 he became chief mechanical engineer of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, during which time he was responsible for the establishment of the new works at Horwich. He also founded the Mechanics’ Institute there.
He took a keen interest in engineering education. He helped to establish the Chair of Engineering at the University of Liverpool, where he was Associate Professor of Railway Engineering, and in 1908 he was appointed chairman of the Faculty of Engineering.
Sir John’s locomotive policy at the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway was to build a large number of engines to a few simple designs, applying the principles of standardisation. In 1899 he was appointed general manager of the company. He held this position for twenty years, during which time he introduced electric traction for some suburban services. The first of these was the Liverpool and Southport line in 1904. He also developed the steamship services of the company, both from Liverpool to Ireland and from Goole and Hull to various ports in Northern Europe.
In 1919 he resigned his position as general manager, and became a director. He was also appointed consulting mechanical engineer to the Ministry of Transport. He was often involved with the passage of Railway Bills through Parliament. He held this position when the grouping of the railways took place. According to his Memoir, published in the IMechE Proceedings in 1937, at the time of Aspinall’s eightieth birthday, three of the four chief mechanical engineers of the great railway groups had received their training from him.
He was President of the IMechE in 1909-1910, and was made an Honorary Life Member in 1928. He died on 19 January 1937.
1911-1912 Edward Bayzand Ellington
Edward Bayzand Ellington (1845-1914)
Edward Bayzand Ellington was born on 2 August 1845 in London. He was educated at Denmark Hill Grammar School. On leaving school in 1862 he was articled to John Penn of Greenwich. He stayed there until 1868, and was involved in erecting plant onboard ship, and attending trial trips. From 1867 to 1868 he worked in the drawing office.
In 1869 he entered into partnership with Bryan Johnson of Chester. The company, renamed Johnson and Ellington, began specializing in hydraulic machinery. In 1875 they acquired the right to manufacture the Brotherhood three cylinder hydraulic engine. The company was converted to a limited company named ‘The Hydraulic Engineering Company’.
Largely through the efforts of Ellington, an Act of Parliament was passed for the distribution of water at high pressure for the working of goods and passenger lifts, in large towns. In 1872 he initiated the Hull Hydraulic Power Company, the company of its type. It was a pioneer which demonstrated the practicality of the idea on a large scale. In 1882, he took a prominent role in the supply of hydraulic power to London, with the formation of the General Hydraulic Power Company of Southwark, London. He was appointed general manager and engineer, and remained in these posts until his death. The General Hydraulic Power Company formed subsidiary companies to supply power to Liverpool (in 1889), Manchester (in 1894) and Glasgow (in 1895).
He was also responsible for many inventions. The most important were the hydraulic balance list and the automatic injector fire-hydrant. His hydraulic power supply system was awarded a gold medal at the Inventions Exhibition in 1885.
He was President 1911-1912, and it was during this time that the extension of 1 Birdcage Walk commenced. He died in London on 10 November 1914.
1913-1914 Sir Hay Frederick Donaldson
Sir Hay Frederick Donaldson (1856-1916)
Sir Hay Frederick Donaldson, son of the first Premier of New South Wales, was born in Sydney on 7 June 1856. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, followed by a technical education at the University of Edinburgh. Between 1875 and 1877, he served an apprenticeship at the London and North Western Railway Works, Crewe. For the following two years, he received further technical training at Zürich and Cambridge.
In 1880 he was employed on Parliamentary work, and as engineer in charge of the construction of the Burnley tramways. He was also an executive engineer on the West of India Portuguese Railway and Harbour, as well as the harbour works at Goa. In 1887 he returned to England, and was appointed engineer in charge of the No. 1 section of the Manchester Ship Canal, including construction of entrance locks, estuary banks and heavy piling work.
After a short period of private engineering practice, he was appointed Engineer-in-Chief of the London and India Docks Joint Committee. He held this position for almost five years, after which time he was appointed Deputy Director-General of Ordnance Factories, Woolwich, under Sir William Anderson.
Anderson died the following year, and Donaldson was temporarily in charge of the Royal Ordnance Factories. He was appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1899, the following year. In 1903 he became Chief Superintendent of the Royal Ordnance Factories. In 1915, at the request of Lloyd George, he temporarily gave up his position in order to act as Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Munitions. He frequently accompanied the Minister of Munitions on visits throughout the country, and it was in this capacity that, in 1916, he was visiting Russia in the staff of Lord Kitchener, when the boat on which he was travelling, the H M S Hampshire, hit a mine recently laid by a German U Boat, sank off the Orkney Islands.
1915-1916 Professor William Cawthorne Unwin
Professor William Cawthorne Unwin (1838-1933)
Professor William Cawthorne Unwin was born in Coggeshall, Essex, in 1838. He was educated at the City of London School and New College, St. John’s Wood. He served his pupilage with Sir William Fairbairn from 1854 to 1861, and during this time attended the University of London in the evenings, graduating with a BSc in 1861.
At the age of 23 he became works manager for Williamson and Brothers of Kendal. After six years, he was appointed Instructor in the Royal School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, South Kensington. He was then appointed Chair of Hydraulic Engineering at the Royal Indian Engineering College, Cooper’s Hill, and in 1884 became the first Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the City and Guilds of London Central Technical College, South Kensington. He was widely acknowledged as a leading authority on technical education.
One of his interesting activities was his work as Secretary of the International Commission on the Utilization of the Niagara Falls, which was formed in 1890 under the chairmanship of Lord Kelvin. He was concerned with thorough investigations in different countries on hydraulic and electrical developments, and played an important part in the selection of the Niagara plant.
He was a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1886, and served on its Council in 1894. He was President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1911. He was President of the Engineering Section of the British Association in 1892 and served for lengthy periods on the Senate of the University of London on the main Committee of the British Engineering Standards Association, and, during the First World War, on the Metropolitan Munitions Committee Management Board.
He died on 17 March 1933, at the age of 95.
1917-1918 Michael Longridge
Michael Longridge (1847-1928)
Michael Longridge was born into a family of engineers, and was educated at Radley College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He then worked with his father on railway location and construction on the Continent. He superintended the design and construction of permanent-way materials, bridges, and rolling stock for the Swedish Central Railway and the Oxelösund Fleu Railway.
In 1875, at the age of 28 years, he joined his uncle at the Boiler Insurance and Steam Power Company, where he remained for the rest of his career. He was chief mechanical engineer at the company for fifty years. During that time he carried out research which was of great importance in the improvement of the efficiency of the steam engine as a prime-mover.
He received the CBE for his war work, as well as acting as President during this time, in 1917 and 1918. He died in 1928.
1919 Edward Hopkinson
Edward Hopkinson (1859-1922)
Edward Hopkinson was born in Manchester in May 1859, into a family of engineers. He was educated at Owens College and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In 1881 he was awarded a first-class honours in the mathematical tripos, scoring the tenth highest mark. In the same year he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science from the University of London. In 1883 he was elected Fellow of his College.
He was personal scientific assistant to Sir William Siemens, and therefore gained early practical experience of the electrification of railways. His first employment in this area was the electrification of the railway from Bessbrook to Newry, which supplied flax from the wharves to the mills. It was opened for traffic in 1885, and was supplied with electricity from a hydroelectric station. The machinery in the power station was manufactured by Mather and Platt, whose electrical department was run by Hopkinson.
He continued to work for Mather and Platt for the rest of his career. He was made a partner, and when the firm became a limited company, he became managing director. He was appointed vice chairman in 1899. He was also a keen mountaineer.
He served as President in 1919. He died on 15 January 1922.
1920-1921 Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey
Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey was born at Nenagh, Ireland on 9 November 1853. He went to school in Switzerland, then attended Mr. Rippon’s School at Woolwich, and the Royal Military Academy. In 1873 he received a commission in the Royal Engineers, and started the required course at the School of Military Engineering, Chatham. As he reached the end of his training, he was one of the Royal Engineer officers selected for employment by the Royal Commission on Railway Accidents in connection with the important series of Continuous Brake Experiments carried out in 1876. Later that year he was engaged in the War Department drawing office on the design of barracks.
In 1879 he was appointed Instructor in Fortification at the Royal Military College, Kingston, Canada. After three years service there he returned to England to take up a position at the Ordnance Survey Establishment at Southampton.
In 1899 he retired from the Service and joined the board of Willans and Robinson Ltd., engineers. Five years later he commenced practice as a consulting engineer. Later he became a director and consulting engineer of Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company, Ltd, and the Marconi International Marine Communications Co. Ltd. He held these positions until the end of his life.
During the First World War, Captain Sankey volunteered his services, and was appointed Staff-Captain in the department of the Director of Fortifications and Works at the War Office. He paid personal visits to the front in 1915 and 1918.
He was President of the IMechE in 1920 and 1921. He was also a member of the Governing Board of the National Physical Laboratory.
1922 Henry Selby Hele-Shaw
Henry Selby Hele-Shaw (1854-1941)
Henry Selby Hele-Shaw was born in Billericay, Essex, in 1854. He was educated privately, and at the age of 17 he was articled to firm of Roach and Leaker at the Mardyke Engineering Works, Bristol. After completing his apprenticeship in 1876 he gained the Senior Whitworth Scholarship, which enabled him to study at the University of Bristol. He also gained various Whitworth Prizes during the course of his study, which helped him become appointed assistant to the Professor of mathematics and engineering.
He was promoted to be first professor of engineering at the University of Bristol in 1880, but left four years later to take up the Harrison Chair as first professor of engineering at Liverpool University College. He worked hard to set up the engineering faculty on a more permanent basis, and was instrumental in setting up and equipping the Walker Engineering Laboratories.
It was in Liverpool that he carried out his famous experiments in the streamline flow of liquids, based on investigations of liquid flow between parallel glass plates. In 1899 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for this work.
Shortly after relinquishing his position at the University of Liverpool in order to spend more time on consulting work, and the development of his own inventions, he began to devote his attention to mechanically propelled vehicles. In 1897 he organized a series of trials for heavy commercial vehicles for the Liverpool Automobile Club. He was a founding member of the Royal Automobile Club.
In 1903, Hele-Shaw was appointed the first Professor of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at the Transvaal Technical Institute. He became the Principal of the Institute the following year. In 1905, he was appointed Organizer of Technical Education. Two years later he returned to England to return to consultancy work.
He was elected President of the IMechE in 1922. One of the most important events during his Presidency was the establishment of the Student class of members, and the foundation of the Whitworth Society, of which Hele-Shaw became the first President. He considered that his most important service was the establishment of the National Certificates in Mechanical Engineering, in conjunction with the Board of Education. These National Certificates became a pattern for similar schemes in other branches of technology and commerce, and in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Hele-Shaw became the first chairman of the Joint Committee appointed by the Board and the Institution to administer the scheme, and held this position until 1937.
Hele-Shaw continued to work on his own inventions almost to the end of his life. One of the most significant was the variable-pitch airscrew, in which the inclination of the blades could be varied to assist an aeroplane when quick starting and climbing in needed. The inclination of the blades can be reduced for economical cruising at high speed. This invention was acquired by the Government, and in October 1940, after the Battle of Britain, Dr. Hele-Shaw received commendation on the material way in which his variable-pitch airscrew had contributed to the British success in the aerial war.
Dr. Hele-Shaw died on 30 January 1941.
1923 Sir John Dewrance
Sir John Dewrance (1858-1937)
Sir John Dewrance was born in Peckham in 1858. His father was associated with George Stephenson, and was the erector of the Rocket. He later became locomotive superintendent of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. He went into partnership with Joseph Woods, brother of the engineer of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, who had founded an engineering company in London.
Sir John was educated at Charterhouse and at King’s College, London. In 1879 he took over his father’s firm, and a year later took control of the research laboratory and staff of Professor Barff. This establishment was later known as the Albion Chemical Works.
Sir John took part in a great deal of research, particularly investigating lubrication, metallurgy and corrosion. He served as Chairman of the Alloys Research Committee, Research Advisory Committee, Cutting Tools Research Committee as well as the Finance and House Committee of the IMechE.
In 1899, Dewrance was elected chairman of Babcock and Wilcox, which position he held until his retirement on July 1937. He took out over 100 patents, mostly relating to improvements in boiler mountings and steam fittings.
During the First World War he was engaged on Government contracts, and he served on various committees of the Ministry of Munitions, the Ministry of Labour and the Treasury.
He was President of the IMechE in 1923. He also served as President of the Engineering and Allied Employers’ National Federation from 1920 to 1926, and President of the Institute of Metals in 1926. He was an Honorary Member of the Institution of Royal Engineers, and was made an Honorary Life Member of the IMechE in 1931. He was also appointed to the General Board of the National Physical Laboratory, and to the Engineering Research Board. In 1923 he was Master of the Armourers’ and Braziers’ Company.
He died on 7 October 1937.
1924 William Henry Patchell
William Henry Patchell (1862-1932)
William Henry Patchell was born in Lincolnshire in 1862. He served a five-year apprenticeship with Robey and Company. In 1881 he was sent to take charge of seven compound Robey steam engines which were being exhibited at the Paris Exhibition. He later became their representative in Spain, and was responsible for the installation of electric lighting plant at Barcelona, Cordova, Madrid and Valencia.
In 1886 he was appointed manager of the Millwall Works of the Electrical Power Storage Company, and was involved with the development of public and private electric supply plant. In 1893 he was appointed engineer-in-chief of the Charing Cross and Strand Electric Supply Company and was responsible for the design and construction of the new works at Lambeth, which opened in 1896. He was also responsible for the design of the new station at Bow in 1902.
In 1906, he resigned and established a consulting engineering practice, specializing in electric generation and the electrification of mines. He was appointed a member of the Home Office Committee on Electricity in mines in 1904.
He was President of the IMechE from 1924-1925, and had served on Council and many important committees for twenty-two years at the time of his death. He was largely responsible for the inauguration of Local Branches. He died at the age of 70 years on 24 November 1932.
1925 Sir Vincent Litchfield Raven
Sir Vincent Litchfield Raven (1858-1934)
Sir Vincent Litchfield Raven was born in 1858 at Great Fransham Rectory, Norfolk. In 1877 he began a three year apprenticeship at the Gateshead works of the North Eastern Railway. In 1880 he entered the drawing office, and he was then employed for five years on firing and inspector’s duties. He became a divisional locomotive superintendent in 1888. He was promoted in 1894 to divisional locomotive superintendent, and chief assistant mechanical engineer in 1903. Seven years later he became chief mechanical engineer.
During the First World War, he was appointed Chief Superintendent of the Royal Arsenal Factories, Woolwich. In 1917 he was created a Knight Bachelor for his services. Following the war he returned to the North Eastern Railway. He remained chief mechanical engineer until it merged with the London and North Eastern Railway in 1923. He then retired, but continued to act as technical advisor to the LNER.
After his retirement he travelled to New South Wales and New Zealand to investigate the working of the State railways. In 1925 he was appointed chairman of a committee of experts reporting on Indian railway workshop organization.
He died at Felixstowe on 14 February 1934.
1926 Sir William Reavell
Sir William Reavell (1866-1948)
Sir William Reavell was born near Capel, in Surrey, on 2 March 1866. His family moved to Alnwick, Northumberland, where he attended the Grammar School. In 1882, he was apprenticed to Hawthorn, Leslie and Co. Ltd. at their St Peter’s Works, Newcastle upon Tyne. He remained there for seven years, spending the last two years in the marine engine drawing office. At the same time he was attending evening classes at the Armstrong College.
In 1889, he came to London and joined the firm of Maudlsey, Sons and Field, as a draughtsman. At the same time, he continued his studies at Birkbeck Institute, and the City and Guilds Technical College, Finsbury. Two years later he joined Babcock and Wilcox as a draughtsman in their marine department. He soon became manager of the marine department.
In 1897 he left to became general manager of the Lambeth works of Peter Brotherhood and Co. Ltd., but he soon decided to branch out on his own, and went into partnership with his brother-in-law, W. H. Scott, C. Gaskell and others. A works site was purchased in Ipswich.
Reavell and Company Ltd.’s first venture was the ‘Scott’ steam engine, which was very successful, prior to the advent of the high-speed, forced-lubrication engine. The company made its name with the Quadruplex Air Compressor, which Reavell had patented in 1899. The company progressed, building new air compressors as the technology developed. In 1905, they began building three-stage air compressors for direct coupling to the early Diesel engines. They were soon supplying large numbers of compressors for land and marine installations, and for marine propulsion.
Reavell was interested in the work of the British Standards Institution from its early days. He was Chairman of the Keys and Keyways Committee. He became Chairman of the Mechanical Industry Committee in 1920, and stayed in this position until 1944. He was Chairman of the Engineering Divisional Council for several years, and Chairman of the General Council in 1936.
He died on 25 April 1948.
1927 Sir Henry Fowler
Sir Henry Fowler (1870-1938)
Sir Henry Fowler was born in Evesham in 1870. He studied at Mason Science College, Birmingham from 1885 to 1887. He then commenced his apprenticeship at the Horwich Works of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. He served in the shops until 1891 when he obtained a Whitworth Exhibition and was transferred to the test room. Three years later he became chief inspector of materials and in the following year he was appointed gas manager to the company.
Around this time he became interested in automobiles, and was associated with important motor-car trials at Crystal Palace in 1897. In 1900 he was appointed gas engineer to the Midland Railway, and was later assistant works manager and works manager at Derby.
During the First World War he was appointed Director of Production to the Ministry of Munitions in 1915, and Assistant Director-General of Aircraft Production in 1917. In 1918 he went to America and Canada as Chairman of the first Inter-Allied Conference on the Standardization of Aircraft Components.
On the incorporation of the Midland Railway in 1923 into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, he was made deputy chief mechanical engineer, and two years later he was made chief mechanical engineer. He was responsible for the design of the Royal Scot class of 4-6-0 locomotives in 1927, and for an experimental modification of the design in 1930 to accommodate a Schmidt high-pressure boiler. The following year, Sir Henry was appointed assistant to the vice-president for research and development.
He was President of the IMechE in 1927. He was President of the Engineering Section of the British Association in 1923, and President of the Institute of Metals in 1932. He acted as joint general secretary of the International Railway Congress Association in 1925. He died on 16 October 1938.
1928 Sir Richard William Allen
Sir Richard William Allen (1867-1955)
Richard William Allen was born in Cardiff in 1867. He was educated at Christ College, Finchley, and received his technical education privately. He was apprenticed for four years at the firm of his father, William Henry Allen. At the works in Lambeth, he spent time in the pattern shops, foundry, turnery, erecting shop and drawing office.
After completing his education he spent time as a draughtsman with John Elder and Co., Glasgow, and with the Naval Construction and Armaments Co., Barrow in Furness. After visiting the United States in 1890, he returned to W. H. Allen and Co. as Assistant Manager. In 1894, when the company’s works were transferred to Bedford, he became a partner and subsequently Managing Director. In 1926, on the death of his father, he became Chairman.
He was mainly concerned with the design and construction of auxiliary machinery for naval and mercantile marine vessels, but was also interested in a wide variety of engineering projects on land.
He received the CBE in 1918 and was knighted in 1942.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1928. He died in 1955.
1929 Daniel Adamson
Dr Daniel Adamson (1869-1930)
Dr Daniel Adamson was born in Hyde in 1869. He began an apprenticeship at the age of 16, attending evening classes at the Manchester School of Technology at the same time. His apprenticeship was divided between the works of Scott and Hodgson of Guide Bridge and Joseph Adamson and Company of Hyde, which had been founded by his father in 1874.
In 1893 he was promoted to works manager, and in 1904 he and his brother Harold entered into partnership with their father. In 1925 Daniel became sole proprietor of the firm.
Adamson was a pioneer in the development of the electric crane. After a visit to the United States in 1893, the firm commenced the building of electric cranes by constructing one of the first three-motor overhead cranes in the country.
1930 Loughnan St. Lawrence Pendred
Loughnan St. Lawrence Pendred (1870-1953)
Loughnan St. L Pendred was born in London in 1870. He was educated privately, and received his technical education at the Central Institution, South Kensington, and Finsbury Technical College. He served an apprenticeship with Davey Paxman and Company of Colchester.
He then travelled in Europe, spending time at the works of Van den Kerchove, Ghent, and the old Chemin de Fer de L’Ouest in France. He returned to England in 1893.
In 1896, Pendred joined the editorial staff of the Engineer, where his father, Vaughan Pendred, was editor-in-chief. In 1905 he succeeded his father as editor-in-chief, and remained in this position for over 40 years. He was succeeded in 1946 by his son.
During the First World War, at the request of the Government, Pendred edited the Ministry of Munitions Journal. He was awarded the CBE in 1934.
Pendred was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1930, and was made an Honorary Member in 1934. He was also President of the Institution of Engineers-in-Charge. He was a founder member of the Newcomen Society, and served as President of the Society in 1923 and 1930. He died in 1953.
1931 Lt. Colonel Edwin Kitson Clark
Lt. Colonel Edwin Kitson Clark (1866-1943)
Lt. Colonel E. Kitson Clark was born in 1866. He attended Sutton Valence Grammar School, moving to Shrewsbury in 1882. He then attended Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1888.
He then began his engineering education with a three year apprenticeship at the Airedale Foundry of Kitson and Co., the company which had been founded by his grandfather, James Kitson, in 1837. In 1891 he was made assistant works manager. He was later appointed works manager, and in 1897 he was made a partner in the firm. When the firm became a limited company, he became a director, and later Chairman.
He was associated with several major developments, including the Kitson-Meyer articulated locomotive for steep gradients and sharp curves, and the Kitson-Still locomotive, in which steam and Diesel propulsion were combined.
Besides his engineering career, he was also a second lieutenant in the 8th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Rifles), and served in the West Riding Territorial Army and Air Force Association from its inception. He also played an important role in the establishment of Leeds University Officer Training Corps. During the First World War, he was on active service. From 1913 to 1915 he was the Commanding Officer of the 8th Battalion, and from 1915-1918 he was in charge of the 49th Base Depot in France.
Kitson-Clark was also keenly interested in archaeology and, unusually for an engineer, was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquities. He was President of Leeds Thoresby (antiquarian) Society, and of the Leeds Civic Society. For over thirty years he was secretary of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. He also took a keen interest in Leeds Parish Church, and was an authority on its history.
He played an important role in the history of the IMechE. In 1921 he took a leading role in the formation of the Yorkshire Branch, becoming its first chairman. He was President in 1931. In 1935, he was elected an Honorary Life Member. He was also President of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers in 1921-1922.
He died aged 77 on 31 March 1943.
1932 William Taylor
William Taylor (1865-1937)
William Taylor was born in Hackney in 1865. He served his apprenticeship from 1880 to 1885 with Paterson and Cooper, electrical engineers and scientific instrument makers. He also studied electrical engineering at the City and Guilds of London Technical College at Finsbury.
After further experience with Paterson and Cooper, mainly in the design and installation of electric lighting plants, he joined his brother, an optician, in Leicester. They founded the company of Taylor, Taylor and Hobson in 1886. William’s intention had always been to apply mechanical engineering principles to the different processes involved in making lenses. He made a comprehensive study of these methods, and embodied the results in production machines of his own design. Some of his earliest inventions were related to engraving machines and appliances for the mathematical division of lines and circles. His most important work was relating to the screw thread. He was made a member of the Engineering Standards Committee on screw threads and limit gauges and of the British Association Small Screw Gauge Committee.
During the First World War, Taylor designed machines for the accurate polishing of lenses, and made it possible to produce large numbers of such lenses for binoculars. He also devised new methods of lens manufacture for aerial photography, and produced lenses for range finders, gun sights, and telescopes. He was awarded the OBE for his services. After the war he was responsible for the manufacture of special photographic lenses for cinematograph cameras. He was known as an expert in the field, and was often consulted on photographic problems.
He served on the Council of the National Physical Laboratory and on the Sectional Committees on Optical Instruments and Optical Instrument Standards of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1934.
He was President of the IMechE in 1932 and was made an Honorary Life Member in 1936.
1933 Alan Ernest Leofric Chorlton
Alan Ernest Leofric Chorlton CBE (1874-1946)
Alan E L Chorlton CBE was born at Audenshaw, near Manchester, in 1874. He attended a private school, and then entered the Manchester Technical School, in the Mechanical Engineering Department. He began an apprenticeship at the Salford Iron Works of Mather and Platt Ltd. As well as the usual turning and fitting shop experience, he also worked in the foundry and smithy. At the same time he attended part-time at the Victoria University.
He was for years a member of the team of one of the major Manchester rugby clubs, and was selected for the Lancashire team.
At 24 he was sent to report on the engineering side of Hubbard’s works near St Petersburg, which was at the time the largest textile printing works in the world. He was then employed to implement the changes recommended, resulting in a fuel economy of 30 per cent, as well as greater reliability.
On his return he was made assistant works manager of Salford Iron Works, becoming general works manager at 28 years old. Four years later he was made director. While in Russia his attention was drawn to the high efficiency of the Sulzer turbine pump, and on his return he took a leading part in the remodelling of the Mather-Reynolds pump then being made by the firm.
In 1913, he left to join Ruston and Hornsby Ltd., of Lincoln, Grantham and Stockport, taking a prominent part during the First World War in the extension of their activities. He was appointed Deputy Controller of Aero-engines in the Ministry of Munitions, and was a member of the Board of Inventions. After the end of the war he was on the Bankers’ Committee, and a member of the reconstruction committees. He was awarded the CBE for his services throughout the war.
From 1918 to 1928 he worked with William Beardmore and Co. Ltd. During this time he introduced the high-speed Diesel engine to the country, designing engines for rail-cars in the US and Canada, and which were also fitted on the R101 airship.
On retirement from William Beardmore and Co. Ltd., Chorlton went into politics, representing the Platting Division from 1931, and Bury up to 1945, when he retired.
1934 Charles Day
Charles Day (1867-1949)
Charles Day was born at Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, in 1867. He was educated at the Stockport Grammar School, and later attended the Manchester Technical School. At the age of 18 he received a Whitworth Scholarship, and attended further evening classes in electrical engineering, and a summer evening course at Owens College in industrial chemistry. He served an apprenticeship in engineering with Emerson Murgatroyd and Co., Stockport, and J and H Andrew and Co., makers of the ‘Stockport’ gas engine.
At 23 he was appointed chief draughtsman at the boiler works of Joseph Adamson and Co., Ltd., Hyde. Later he moved to the National Boiler Insurance Company Ltd., where he started a branch for dealing with the insurance of steam engines. Whilst with this company, Day wrote articles for The Practical Engineer on the subject of ‘The Testing of Engines and Boilers’, and also a book on ‘Indicator Diagrams’.
His work on engine testing brought him into contact with Cole Marchent and Morley Ltd., Bradford, who had taken up the manufacture of Corliss-type steam engines. He joined that firm as manager in 1895. In 1899 he visited the United States, where the horizontal Corliss-type steam engine had been widely adopted for direct-driven dynamos used to supply current to tramways.
In 1902 he joined the Mirrlees Watson Company, Ltd., Glasgow, as general manager. This company had acquired Diesel’s patents and designs, and an engine had been built in 1897 and officially tested by Professor Watkinson of the Liverpool University. This was the first Diesel engine built in Britain, and the third in the world. Owing to technical difficulties, the project had been abandoned, but Day visited Augsburg to study the developments that had been made in Germany, and work recommenced. A number of improvements were introduced, and two additional engines were produced to the latest drawings. A Diesel engine department was established. In 1905, engines were supplied to the Admiralty for HMS Dreadnought. These engines, running at 400 rpm, were the earliest high-speed Diesels. At the same time a lighter engine was also supplied to pinnace propulsion. By 1906 the Diesel engine business had developed to such an extent that it was necessary to expand, and in 1907 a new company was formed at Stockport for the manufacture of Mirrlees Diesel engines, in a newly built and equipped works. This company was set up in association with HN Bickerton, and was named Mirrlees Bickerton and Day, Ltd. In 1926 the two companies amalgamated, and Day became managing director, later chairman, of both companies. He resigned in 1946, at the age of 79, but continued as a director, and still took an active part in the business until his death.
During the First World War, Day served on the Lancashire Anti-submarine Committee, which included many prominent Lancashire engineers and scientists, and pioneered submarine detection. He was also a leading member of the Associated Group of Tank Engine Builders, which carried out valuable work in connection with the development and construction of tank engines during the war. The group was composed of the principal firms of engine builders in the Manchester area.
In the Second World War he was intensively engaged in the organization of production to deal with the heavy demands for Diesel engines for war service, aircraft parts, guns, and also the ‘Imo-oil’ pumps for submarines, etc.
As a young man, Day was a keen swimmer, being Captain of the Stockport Swimming Club. He also attended the Lads’ Club where he practiced boxing and other sports. He was a member of the Stockport Golf Club for many years, and a Life Member and joint founder of the West Bowling Golf Club, Bradford. He was fond of gardening and was a Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and he was later elected an Honorary Life Member. He died on 18th June 1949, at the age of 82.
1935 Major General Alexander Elliot Davidson
Major General Alexander Elliot Davidson (1880-1962)
Major General A E Davidson was born in 1880. He was educated at Blackheath School, and later attended the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich.
He entered the Royal Engineers in 1899, and rose steadily through the ranks of the army, serving in both the South African War and the First World War. He was associated with mechanized warfare, and was one of the pioneers of mechanical transport in the army. He commanded one of the first sections of mechanical transport in Kimberley, South Africa, in 1902.
In 1910, he was secretary to the Mechanical Transport Commission and took part in the preparations for and expansion of mechanical transport in the run up to the First World War. From 1927 to 1931 he was Chairman of the Mechanical Warfare Board. This period was of great importance for the design and development of tanks, although such research was underfunded. In 1936, Davidson was appointed Director of Mechanization. He retired from the army in 1940.
He was President of the IMechE in 1935, and was later made an Honorary Member.
1936 Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley CBE
Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley CBE (1876-1941)
Sir Nigel Gresley was born in 1876 in Edinburgh. He was educated at Marlborough. He served a premium apprenticeship at the Crewe works of the London and North Western Railway. In 1898 he joined the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway, where he was apprenticed at Horwich. After his apprenticeship he was put in charge of the test room.
In 1901 he became Assistant Works Manager at Newton Heath Carriage Works. The following year he was made manager. After a series of positions at the Lancashire and Yorkshire, he moved to the Great Northern Railway, where in 1905 he was appointed Carriage and Wagon Superintendent at Doncaster. In 1911, when H A Ivatt retired, Gresley was appointed Locomotive Engineer at Doncaster. The following year the position was renamed Chief Mechanical Engineer. In 1923, with the Grouping of the railway companies, Gresley was made chief mechanical engineer of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway.
Gresley’s first original locomotive design was a two cylinder 2-6-0 engine, which was built in 1912. He continued to develop his designs over the years, and in 1922 completed the first of the famous three cylinder 4-6-2 Pacific engines. Many Pacifics were constructed at the London and North Eastern Railway’s centres at Darlington and Doncaster. These were constantly improved with modifications such as increased boiler pressures and a higher degree of superheat.
In 1925, Gresley introduced the Mikado, a 2-8-2 locomotive for heavy freight traffic. He adopted the design nine years later for the Cock o’ the North, a larger wheeled engine for heavy express work. In 1935, the Silver Link locomotive was built. It was a streamlined Pacific, and it was put to work on a completely streamlined train, the first in the United Kingdom, known as the Silver Jubilee. It made the daily journey from London to Darlington, a distance of 232 miles, in three hours eighteen minutes, without a stop. In 1937, another streamlined train was introduced on the 393 mile journey from London to Edinburgh, completing the journey in six hours. His streamlined 4-6-2 engine No. 4468, Mallard, broke the record for the highest speed ever reached by a train in the UK, maintaining 120mph for five miles, with a short burst at 125 mph.
As well as his pioneering locomotive designs, another major achievement was the establishment of a locomotive testing station in the UK. He had long believed this to be of great importance to locomotive engineering in the country, and his efforts resulted in a national testing centre being constructed jointly by the London and North Eastern and the London, Midland and Scottish Railways, at Rugby. Work had commenced in 1937, but was postponed on the outbreak of war; unfortunately Gresley did not live to see its completion.
Gresley’s work during the First World War, to reorganise Doncaster works for the production of munitions, was rewarded with a CBE in 1920. He received a knighthood in 1937. He also served on several Government appointed committees, including those considering automatic train control and the electrification of railways. He was President of the IMechE in 1935, and was twice President of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers, in 1927-1928 and 1934-1935.
Gresley died in 1941 at the age of 65.
1937 Sir John Edward Thornycroft
Sir John Edward Thornycroft (1872-1960)
Sir John Edward Thornycroft was born in Chiswick 1872. He was educated at St Paul’s School and gained his engineering training at the Central Technical College.
He was the eldest son of Sir John I Thornycroft, the founder of the Thornycroft Shipyard at Chiswick. On completing his technical training he joined his father’s shipyard working on construction. He achieved the position of managing director in 1901.
The main interest of the family business after 1901 was the development of the torpedo boat destroyer. Thornycroft’s design and construction work during the First World War led to a knighthood which was conferred in 1918.
Aside from ship design, the business also developed road vehicles, including the steam wagon and oil engine tractor. Thornycroft’s diverse engineering interests led him to gain Presidential positions with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1937 and the Institution of Civil Engineers.
1938 David Evan Roberts
David Evan Roberts (1867-1950)
David E Roberts was born in 1867 in Merthyr Tydfil, where his father was manger of the Plymouth Ironworks. He was educated at Christ’s College, Brecon, then apprentices to the engineering department of the Rhymney Iron Company. He soon became their chief draughtsman.
He returned to Merthyr Tydfil to become assistant engineer of the steelworks section of the Dowlais Iron Company, and was soon promoted to engineer of the department. In 1902 he became chief engineer of the Dowlais Iron Company, but soon left. He went to Cardiff where he set up as a consultant on ironworks and steelworks practice.
This period was a time of great change and progress in the technology and practice of iron smelting and steel making. Roberts soon built up a world-wide clientele, working in many parts of the world and acquiring a reputation as an expert in his area.
During the First World War Roberts was attached to the iron and steel department of the Ministry of Munitions, particularly involved with the control of the Cardiff National Shell Factory.
Roberts was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1938. He also served as President of the South Wales Institute of Engineers. He died in 1950.
1939 Edmund Bruce Ball
Edmund Bruce Ball (1873-1944)
Edmund Bruce Ball was born in 1873 in Norfolk. He showed an early talent for engineering, apprenticing at Charles Burrell and Co in Thetford. This talent was rewarded with two science scholarships, a Whitworth Exhibition and the Queen’s Prizeman for Science. The scholarships ensured he was able to complete his technical training at the Manchester School of Technology.
Practical engineering experience followed as a draughtsman with Benjamin Goodfellow and Co. He soon progressed to the position of works manager with Reavell and Co and then Clarkson Ltd. His specialist subject was hydraulic engineering, in particular the storage and distribution of water.
Ball’s experience took him overseas to Italy and then China. On his return he took the position of works manager at D Napier and Son, Acton. His last position was as Managing Director with Glenfield and Kennedy Ltd, which also gave him management of British Pitometer and Hydrautomat Ltd.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1939 and was also made an Honorary Life Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
1940 Asa Binns
Asa Binns (1873-unknown)
Asa Binns was born in Keighley in 1873 and was educated at Keighley Grammar School and Leeds University. He was awarded a Whitworth exhibition in 1896.
Practical training followed at engineering works in Leeds and Bradford but it was an appointment to the civil engineering department of the Admiralty at the Hull docks of the North-Eastern Railway that was to set the path for the rest of his working life.
The training he received with the Admiralty led to an appointment with the London and India Docks Company, later the Port of London Authority. Through his talent and determination he achieved the position of chief engineer in 1928 and stayed with the authority until his retirement in 1938.
His main interest was dock construction and he worked on the George V Dock at North Woolwich and the Royal Albert Dock.
He was President of the IMechE in 1940 and of the Institution of Engineers-in-Charge from 1936-37.
1941: Sir William Arthur Stanier
Sir William Arthur Stanier (1876-1965)
Sir William Stanier was born in 1876, the son of a Great Western Railway Stores Superintendent. It was at the GWR works at Swindon that Stanier gained an engineering apprenticeship and experience of locomotive engineering.
He stayed with the GWR for forty years progressing from the drawing office to a position as Principal Assistant to the Chief Mechanical Engineer. During this time he acquired technical and managerial expertise and a reputation for integrity and leadership.
The pinnacle of his career was achieved with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. He was appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1932 and was tasked with improving rolling stock. In 1933 he introduced the Coronation Pacifics, followed by the Jubilees and a mixed-traffic locomotive series the Black Class Fives. His locomotives were reliable and pioneering.
He was President of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers in 1936-7 and 1938-9 and became President of the IMechE in 1941. Further distinctions followed with a knighthood conferred in 1943 and a Fellowship of the Royal Society.
1942: Colonel S J Thompson
Colonel S J Thompson (1875-1955)
Colonel S J Thompson was born in Wolverhampton in 1875 and obtained his early training as a mechanical engineer as an apprentice in the Ettingshall boiler works. He gained experience in the shops and drawing office and on completion of his apprenticeship he became assistant works manager, progressing to a partnership in 1901.
He founded the firm of John Thompson Ltd and associated companies, taking up the position of Governing Director in 1938. His companies manufactured steam boilers, motor body frames, water softeners and steel window frames. Thompson initiated many developments in modern power plant processes and in addition to his technical expertise was noted for his humanistic attitude towards his employees.
During the First World War he served as a Battery Commander in the Royal Artillery and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He also held notable offices in public life, including High Sheriff and later Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Staffordshire. His involvement with the IMechE led to the formation of the Midland Branch in Birmingham in 1923. He was elected a Member of Council in 1925 and became President in 1942. An interest in engineering history led him to gift a collection of George Stephenson artefacts which are held in the archives.
Colonel Stephen John Thompson died in 1955.
1943: Frederick Charles Lea
Frederick Charles Lea (1871-1952)
Frederick Lea was born in 1871 and was educated at Owens College in Manchester. He undertook his engineering education at the Royal College of Science, London and displayed such an aptitude for engineering that he was both a Whitworth Exhibitioner and a Whitworth Scholar. In later years he was to serve as President of the Whitworth Society. His career began in the field of railway engineering, serving as an apprentice with the London and North Western Railway at Crewe. He progressed to an appointment as assistant in the civil engineering department.
However, in 1900 a keen interest in engineering education led to an appointment as chief assistant to Professor W C Unwin at the City and Guilds Engineering College in South Kensington, London. This experience resulted in a position as an engineering inspector with the Board of Education, but Lea returned to full-time academia as Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham in 1913.
He had spent a year in the post when the First World War broke out and he served as an honorary lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and as a captain in the Royal Air Force.
At the close of the war he returned to the University of Birmingham and spent the rest of his career in education. He retired from the chair of mechanical engineering at Sheffield University in 1936. Throughout his academic career he worked across a wide range of fields but his specialisms were hydraulics, metals properties and structures. He was the recipient of a number of awards, including the Telford Prize, the Crampton Prize, the Concrete Institute medal and the T Bernard Hall Prize.
Lea became President of the IMechE in 1943 and was a popular member of the Yorkshire Branch, serving as Chairman. He was also an Honorary Fellow of Imperial College, a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a member of the Institution of Structural Engineers. He was made an OBE in recognition of his aeronautical work. He died in 1952.
1944: Sir Harry Ricardo
Sir Harry Ricardo (1885-1974)
Harry Ralph Ricardo was born in 1885, the year of Karl Benz’s first single-cylinder petrol engine vehicle. The evolution of this primitive piece of engineering, capable of a maximum of 8mph, to machines capable of far in excess of 2500hp was to be Ricardo’s life work. His interest in automobiles dates from the moment he drove his first car, a 3.5hp Benz dog cart, as a schoolboy of 13.
Ricardo completed his education at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was taught by Bertram Hopkinson (1874-1918), and also conducted engine research for him. Ricardo’s mix of practical expertise and acute experimental observation gave him a formidable knowledge of subjects such as engine knock and pre-ignition, which were then fairly obscure. In 1908 he founded a business, the Two Stroke Engine Company. The firm exploited Ricardo’s first patented engine, the Dolphin, which was used in fishing boats and automobiles.
The Dolphin was a relatively short-lived venture. By 1914, Ricardo was touring works in America and Europe in preparation for a senior mechanical post in the firm Rendel, Palmer and Tritton. He later became active in promoting new aero engines for the Royal Navy Air Service, leading him to be appointed engineer to the Department of Mechanical Warfare. Consulted on tank development, Ricardo provided new powerplant designs of 150hp, later 225hp, for the British Mark 5 tank. Ricardo’s engines were manufactured in large numbers from 1917, transforming the tank into an effective battlefield weapon.
Ricardo was awarded royalties of £30,000 by the government in recognition of his work in tank engine development. He used the money to establish a private centre for research into the internal combustion engine, fulfilling a long-held ambition. Ricardo had formed Engine Patents Limited in 1915 but it was not until 1919 that its base was moved to the Bridge Works at Shoreham. The Ricardo Company was named in 1920.
The firm’s earliest contract was for fuel research for the Asiatic (Shell) Petroleum Company. During the years 191-1921 Ricardo’s compiled an analysis of the quality of commercial fuels to a standard rating – eventually expressed as an ‘octane number’. This was fundamental work. Ricardo’s team of Sir David Pye (1886-1860) FRS and Sir Henry Tizard (1885-1859) FRS eventually became leading British scientists in their own right. Another, more practical consequence of Ricardo’s interest in fuel selection was the enabling of Alcock and Brown’s transatlantic flight in 1919.
The publication of Harry Ricardo’s book The internal combustion engine…(1922-1923) established him as the main authority of the inter-war years. Ricardo’s practical contributions included work on the world’s first diesel passenger car, the Citroen Rosalie, and he enjoyed particular success with the Comet combustion chamber for high-speed diesels from 1931. Ricardo’s interest in aircraft engines continued and his association with the competing Bristol, Napier and Rolls-Royce companies testify to his unique role in commercial research.
In championing the sleeve valve aeronautical engine during the Second World War, Ricardo remained a true piston-engineer. This was despite his assistance to Sir Frank Whittle’s development of the jet engine, for which he designed a barometric fuel control system. The jet would eventually consume Ricardo’s own wartime high performance type, the revolutionary Rolls Royce Crecy engine, tested in 1944 but never flown.
In 1948, Harry Ricardo was knighted. He had earlier been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (1929) and had served as President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1944-1945). Post-war, the Ricardo Company increasingly moved into automotive and commercial vehicle engine research, but also carried out pioneering research in other areas. For example, British Railways’ foray into diesel-mechanical Fell locomotives, developed in 1948-1951, utilized Paxman-Ricardo prime movers and expertise.
Harry Ricardo retired fully in 1965. Before his death in 1974 he wrote a full account of his life and times, Memories and machines (1968), an entertaining testimony of what it is to be an engineer.
His company became Ricardo Consulting Engineers in 1970. The automotive sector remained a company specialization: in the 1970s, for example, Ricardo’s pioneered the use of Stirling engines for passenger cars on behalf of the US Department of Energy. Additionally, the present company has operations in vehicle engineering, driveline and transmissions and motor sports. A notable success in Harry Ricardo’s beloved aeronautical field was an engine redesign for Voyager, the first aircraft to fly around the world without refuelling, in 1986.
1945: Professor Andrew Robertson
Professor Andrew Robertson (1883-1970)
Andrew Robertson was born in 1883 in Lancashire, the son of a marine engineer. He was apprenticed in his father’s engineering works gaining a thorough practical training. He showed talent and achieved a place at Manchester University. A first-class honours degree, a Fairbairn engineering prize and a graduate scholarship were the result of his hard work and technical aptitude.
Robertson’s academic skill led to appointments as a demonstrator and tutor at the university. Prior to the First World War he started investigations in to the behaviour of mild steel with his colleague Gilbert Cook. The war took him to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough where he worked on materials testing. He dedicated his time to examining the strength of struts and his findings influenced working practices in the steel industry.
After the war Robertson was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol. The mechanical engineering faculty was part of the Bristol Merchant Venturers College and in 1924 he was elected Principal of the college and dean of the faculty. In addition to his academic work he acted as a consultant and designer.
He achieved honours from Bristol and Bath universities and continued his research into steel in to the 1920s. In 1940 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society and he became President of the IMechE in 1945.
1946: Oliver Vaughan Snell Bulleid
Oliver Vaughan Snell Bulleid (1882-1970)
Oliver Bulleid was born in 1882 in New Zealand but at the age of seven his mother was widowed and the family moved to England. He was educated at Spa College at the Bridge of Allan and then at Accrington Technical School. In 1901 he gained an apprenticeship at the Doncaster works of the Great Northern Railway. He combined his training with furthering his education at Leeds and Sheffield universities.
Bulleid’s apprenticeship led to a life-long interest in railway engineering. At the age of twenty-six he took his new skills abroad, working for the French Westinghouse Company in Paris. However, it was with the Great Northern Railway that Bulleid made his mark, working as personal assistant to Sir Nigel Gresley. His aptitude led to involvement in the design of carriages and wagons.
During the First World War Bulleid served in France and was a Major in the Royal Engineers. After the war he followed Gresley to the London and North Eastern Railway and became involved in the work of the International Railway Congress Association. Bulleid’s opportunity to promote his design ideas came with an appointment as chief mechanical engineer for the Southern Railway. He introduced the ‘Merchant Navy’ Pacifics and the ‘Leader’ class of locomotives. He conceived the design of Britain’s only double-deck passenger trains, the 4DD class. Bulleid opposed the nationalization of the railways and was keen to produce steam locomotives that could rival electric or diesel locomotives.
He retired from Southern Railway in 1949 and in February 1950 joined the Coras Iompair Eireann, the Irish state transport system, first as consulting mechanical engineer and then as chief mechanical engineer. He oversaw the introduction of diesel locomotives designed a steam locomotive which burned peat. He retired from Coras Iompair Eireann in 1958.
Bulleid served as President of the IMechE in 1956, and was also President of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers and the Institute of Welding. He was made a CBE in 1949 and received an honorary DSc from Bath University. He was a member of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Goldsmith’s Company. He died in 1970.
1947: Lord Aberdeen, Dudley Gladstone Gordon
Lord Aberdeen, Dudley Gladstone Gordon (1883-1972)
Dudley Gladstone Gordon was born in 1883, the second son of the Marquis of Aberdeen and Temair. He was educated at Harrow and began his engineering training at the shipyard of Hall, Russell and Co. Practical training in the workshop was supplemented with evening classes at the Robert Gordon's College. Gordon’s career advanced at J and E Hall Ltd; he worked his way up through the company, becoming managing director in 1912 and Chairman in 1937. During the First World War he commanded the 8th/10th battalion of the Gordon Highlanders, receiving the DSO in 1917.
Gordon’s engineering specialisation was refrigeration, in particular land type refrigerating installations. In 1929 he gave the Twenty-ninth Thomas Hawksley Lecture at the IMechE entitled “Recent Developments in Refrigeration”. His expertise led to numerous Chairs and Presidencies. He was President of the British Association of Refrigeration, the British Engineers Association and the Federation of British Industries.
At the close of the Second World War he was made Chairman of Hadfields Ltd and assumed directorships with financial institutions, including Barclays Bank and the Phoenix Assurance Company. He became a Member of Council of the IMechE in 1940 and was President in 1947, the Institution’s centenary year. He died in 1972.
1948: Major William Gregson
Major (E) William Gregson (1891-1977)
Major William Gregson was born in 1891, in Blaina, North Monmouthshire. He attended the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, in Cardiff, and graduated with an MSc. He then served an apprenticeship at North Blaina, which was later absorbed by the Ebbw Vale Company. He later gained experience at sea, and in other branches of mechanical engineering.
In the First World War he served with the Royal Engineers. At one point he was involved with the Channel Ferries. After the war, in 1920, he joined Spencer-Bonecourt Ltd. as Chief Engineer. This firm was absorbed into the Babcock and Wilcox Group in 1927. At this point, Gregson became joint head of the marine department of Babcock and Wilcox, taking sole control at a later date.
He was mainly involved with the development of modern steam plant at sea, including the development of mechanical stoking and oil-firing equipment.
He was also a member of the Founders Company, a Freeman of the City of London, and a Derby Cold Medallist of the Liverpool Engineering Society. He was a well-known rugby player in his youth.
1949: Dr. Herbert John Gough
Dr. Herbert John Gough (1890-1965)
Herbert John Gough was born in Bermondsey, London, in 1890. He attended the Regent Street Polytechnic Technical School, and won a scholarship to University College School. For a short while he was a student teacher, but in 1909 he became an apprentice at Vickers, Sons, becoming a designer draughtsman in 1913. At the same time, he studied at London University, achieving first a BSc in engineering, and later a DSc and PhD.
In 1914, Gough went to work at the National Physical Laboratory, then in Middlesex. He worked in the engineering department, where he remained until 1938. He became superintendent of the department in 1930. During the First World War he served with the Royal Engineers (signals) from 1914 to May 1919, rising to the rank of Captain. He was mentioned twice in dispatches and was awarded the MBE (military) in 1919.
Gough’s main area of expertise was the study of material fatigue, in particular fatigue failure, which is failure due to repeated application of a load much lower than that necessary to produce failure in a single application. He made many contributions to knowledge on stress concentrations, the causes of failure, the design of chains, cables, hooks, rings and other lifting appliances, cold pressing and drawing of metals, the stability of thin sheets in structures, lubrication, welding, pipe flanges and fretting corrosion.
In 1938, he entered the War Office as director of scientific research. He was appointed Commander of the Bath in 1942. His responsibilities were wide-ranging, including physical research, signals, chemical research, and included responsibility for the Radar Research Centre at Malvern, the chemical station at Porton Down, Wiltshire, and the rocket station at Aber-port, Cardiganshire. He also took a personal interest in unexploded bomb disposal, and presented the Thomas Hawksley Lecturer on this subject in 1946. In 1947 he was decorated with the Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm by the United States Government, for ‘exceptionally meritorious service in the field of scientific research and development, development of ground force weapons and aiding the United States in the prosecution of the war against the enemy’.
After the war, Gough joined Unilever as Engineer-in-Chief, and was responsible for developing the company’s advisory technical division in London. He retired in 1955, but retained a keen interest in engineering, helping to organize a number of large international scientific conferences.
He was elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society in 1933 and was President of the IMechE in 1949.
1950: Dr. Stanley Fabes Dorey
Dr. Stanley Fabes Dorey (1891-1972)
Stanley Fabes Dorey was born in 1891. He attended Owen’s School, London, then served an apprenticeship at the Royal Dockyard, Chatham. He received his academic training at Armstrong College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he won a Whitworth Exhibition and a Lloyd’s Register of Shipping Scholarship in Marine Engineering.
During the First World War he served as an Engineer Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. After the war he spent a short time with Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth and Co. Ltd., following appointment as an Engineer and Ship Surveyor to Lloyd’s Register of Shipping. He was posted to the staff of the Chief Engineer Surveyor in 1924, and at the end of 1932 was appointed Chief Engineer Surveyor.
He received the CBE in 1946, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1948. He was a President of the Institute of Refrigeration, the Institution of Naval Architects, and was President of the IMechE in 1950. He was also a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.
1951: Arthur Clifford Hartley
Arthur Clifford Hartley (1889-1960)
Arthur Clifford Hartley was born in 1889 at Springbank, Hull. He attended Hymers College, Hull, and the Hull Municipal Technical College. From 1908 he attended the Central Technical College, Imperial College of Science and Technology. He graduated in 1910 with an Honours BSc engineering degree.
After graduation he worked in the office of the Chief Docks Engineer, North Eastern Railway, Hull. From 1912 to 1914 he was an assistant with Rose, Downs and Thompson, Ltd.
During the First World War, Hartley was commissioned in the Royal Flying Corps, where he qualified as a pilot. For much of the time he served in the Air Ministry on experimental armament work. This included one of his most significant contributions, the Constantinesco gear for synchronizing machine guns, which allowed Vickers machine guns to be fixed between the blades of tractor aircraft propellers, able to fire straight ahead. He was awarded the military OBE in 1918.
In 1924 he joined the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. Ltd., later the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. Ltd. The following year he was made Assistant Manager of the Engineering Department, and the same year Assistant Manager of the Supply Department. He was seconded to the Iraq Petroleum Co. from 1932 to 1934 for the design and development of the Kirkuk to Mediterranean desert oil pipelines. On his return to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co Ltd. he held the position of Chief Engineer, which he held until his retirement at the end of 1950
Hartley was released by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co from 1940 onwards for war work. From 1940 to 1941 he assisted with the development and production of a stabilized automatic bomb-sight. From April 1942 he worked with the Petroleum Division of the Ministry of Fuel and Power on the PLUTO project – the pipeline under the ocean which supplied fuel for the Allied invasion of France. From October 1942 until the end of the war he worked on the FIDO project, which sought a solution to the problem of poor visibility caused by fog. The solution, oil burners alongside runways, was successfully implemented at fifteen airfields, allowing more than 25000 aircraft to land safely during foggy conditions.
He was awarded the CBE in 1944, and the United States Medal of Freedom in 1946. He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1951 and President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1959, although he died only three months into his term, on 28 January 1960.
1952: Sir David Randall Pye
Sir David Randall Pye (1886-1960)
David Randall Pye was born in Hampstead, London in 1886. He attended Tonbridge School, followed by Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained first class honours in engineering. After a short time with the firm of Mather and Platt in 1909 he was invited by C. F. Jenkin, professor of engineering science at Oxford, to join him at the engineering laboratories.
During the First World War, Pye first taught at Winchester College, then worked as an experimental officer in the Royal Flying Corps on design and testing. After the war he briefly returned to Oxford, then in 1919 went to Cambridge as a lecturer, and became a fellow of Trinity College. At the same time he also worked on a research programme on the combustion of volatile fuels, in cooperation with Henry Tizard and Harry Ricardo. Between 1931 and 1934 he published a highly regarded two volume work, The Internal Combustion Engine.
In 1925, a Directorate of Scientific Research was initiated at the Air Ministry, and Pye was invited to become Deputy Director. In 1937 he became Director of Scientific Research, with responsibility for introducing into the RAF new methods and new equipment in preparation for the Second World War.
He left this position in 1943, once it was clear that the war had reached a point when the research programme should be limited to projects which would become effective within the next two years. He took up the Provostship of University College, London, which had suffered heavily in the air attacks of 1940 of 1941. When he took up the Provostship, the students and staff had all been evacuated to seven sites in different parts of the country. In London, all that remained was a secretary’s office. He presided over a large programme of rebuilding, acquiring sites for future development, and re-integrating the scattered Faculties of the College into a single community of 3500 students and 400 staff. In recognition of this work, Pye was made a Knight Bachelor in the New Years Honours list.
Pye was also an enthusiastic climber, and in 1922 he led the first ascent of the severe Crack of Doom, Skye. He was also elected to the Alpine Club, becoming Vice-President in 1956.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1952.
1953: Alfred Roebuck
Alfred Roebuck (1889-1962)
Alfred Roebuck was born in Thurlstone in 1889. He became an apprentice with the firm of Hadfields Ltd, local steel makers and engineers, at their East Hecla Works. He remained with this company for the rest of his working life. From 1931 until 1945 he was Works Director, and for the following five years, until his retirement in 1950, he was Director with Special Duties.
In 1949 the Anglo-American Council on Productivity appointed him leader of the first specialist team to visit the USA to study materials handling in factories.
He was a supporter of the Junior Institution of Engineers, of which he was President in 1949. He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1953.
1954: Richard William Bailey
Richard William Bailey (1885-1957)
Richard William Bailey was born in London in 1885. He served his apprenticeship with the Great Eastern Railway Company’s Locomotive Works at Stratford, London. During this time he gained a Whitworth Exhibition and a Whitworth Scholarship, as well as being made the first ‘Director’s Scholar’.
He attended the East London Technical College, followed by a college apprenticeship with the British Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company, at Manchester, where his time was spent mainly with the drawing and design offices of the turbo-generator, large motor and transformer departments.
In 1908, Bailey became a lecturer in mechanical engineering in the University Courses at the Battersea Polytechnic. In 1912, he was appointed the first Principal of the Crewe Technical Institute, which took over the training previously conducted by the Crewe Mechanics Institute.
He returned to the British Westinghouse Electrical Manufacturing Company, which was at that time developing the Research Department of the Company. He was appointed Head of the Mechanical and Chemical Laboratories, which were soon extended to include Metallurgical Laboratories.
He is best remembered for his work on the behaviour of steels and similar materials under stress at high temperatures. He had been engaged on research in this area throughout his career, from 1924 onwards. He held around 90 British Patents, and was the author of at least 35 published papers.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1949. In 1954 he was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He died in 1957.
1955: Percy L Jones
Percy L. Jones (1886-1966)
Percy Jones was born in Penarth in 1886. He attended Taunton School, and served his apprenticeship at the Locomotive Works of Rhymney Railway Company, near Cardiff. He then attended University College, Cardiff, and graduated with a BSc in Engineering three years later.
After graduation he was appointed Assistant Lecturer at Liverpool University. Two years later he joined the technical staff of the Chief Mechanical Engineer of Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company. With the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted in the infantry, later commanding a battery of artillery in France and Flanders. He was awarded a Military Cross in 1916 and a Bar to the Military Cross in 1917.
On demobilization he rejoined the staff at Metropolitan-Vickers. He remained there until 1923, when he joined Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson as Technical Manager of their Engineering Department at the Neptune Works. He later became General Manager, and then Managing Director of the Engineering Department.
Jones was also President of the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders. He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1955. He died in 1966.
1956: Thomas Arkle Crowe
Thomas Arkle Crowe (1896-1972)
Thomas Arkle Crowe was born in Bothal, Northumberland, in 1896. He attended Durham School, then Armstrong College. He graduated with BSc in 1920 and MSc in 1922. He served a premium apprenticeship with R & W Hawthorn, Leslie and Co, Ltd., Newcastle upon Tyne.
From 1917 to 1919 he served in the Royal Navy as Temporary Engineer Sub-Lieutenant, and was subsequently promoted to Engineer Lieutenant Commander, Special Reserve, Royal Navy.
He returned to R & W Hawthorn, Leslie and Co, Ltd. from 1921 to 1934. He began in the drawing office, and was then promoted to the position of Assistant Outside Manager, then General Manager. In 1935 he moved to John Brown and Co. Ltd., Clydebank, in 1935. He remained in this position until 1951. During his time there he was responsible for the design and construction of the machinery for the Queen Elizabeth and Caronia liners, Duke of York and Vanguard battleships and the air carrier, Indefatigable.
In 1951, Crowe joined the North British Locomotive Co Ltd as Chief Managing Director. In 1955 he became Chairman of the company, as well as of Carntyne Steel Castings Co. Ltd., and Henry Pels and Co., Ltd., and Director of Rail Traction Supplies, Ltd.
1957: George Horatio Nelson, First Baron Nelson of Stafford
George Horatio Nelson, First Baron Nelson of Stafford (1887-1962)
George Horatio Nelson was born in 1887 in Islington, London. He was educated at the City and Guilds Technical College, where he gained a diploma. He received a Brush studentship to the Brush Engineering Company at Loughborough.
He then joined British Westinghouse Company in Manchester. In 1911 he became Chief Outside Engineer at Trafford Park, and was made Chief Electrical Superintendent in 1914. He was responsible for the manufacture and installation of steam and hydro-electric power equipment and electric traction equipment. The company joined with the Metropolitan Vickers Group, and in 1920 Nelson became Manager of the Sheffield Works of the Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company. He remained in this position for ten years.
His former manager, Sir Holberry Mensforth, had been appointed Chairman of the English Electric Company, and in 1930 he persuaded Nelson to join him there as managing director. When Mensforth retired, in 1933, Nelson became chairman and managing director of the company. During Nelson’s time at the company he instituted a massive development of the company, for example, building up the number of employees from 4,000 to 80,000. When, in preparation for the Second World War, a policy of rearmament was being followed, Nelson worked very hard to get the English Electric Company involved. In 1938 he was successful in obtaining a training contract for 75 Hampden bombers, although he was told that these were already obsolete. The order was fulfilled successfully, and was followed by orders for 2,470 Halifax bombers and 2,730 tanks. By the end of the war, the company was developing the Canberra bomber, one of the most successful military aircraft of the time, to its own designs.
Nelson was also active in public work, and was a member of many important committees such as the Heavy Bomber Group Committee of the Air Ministry from 1939-1945 and the Reconstruction Joint Advisory Council from 1943 to 1944. He was also Chairman of the United Kingdom Tank Mission, which went to the United States and Canada in 1942 to discuss a joint policy for tank production.
He received a knighthood in 1943, a baronetcy in 1955, and was made first Baron Nelson of Stafford in 1966. He was President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers in 1955, and was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1957.
1958: Air Marshal Sir Robert Owen Jones
Robert Owen Jones was born in 1901 at Ashbourne, Derbyshire. He studied engineering at the Manchester College of Technology, combining the course with a short apprenticeship in instrument making. He then undertook the Mechanical Sciences Tripos at Cambridge, followed by the post-graduate course in aeronautics at Imperial College, London. Here he specialized in research into high-compression aircraft engines.
He began a career with the Royal Air Force in 1924, from which time he alternated flying duty with technical duty, which included command of station workshops on aircraft maintenance and overhaul, technical instruction of officers and airmen, and several years spent at Farnborough on instrument design. During these years he also graduated from the RAF staff college at Andover.
Immediately prior to the Second World War, he was appointed Air Ministry Overseer at Armstrong Whitworth and Armstrong Siddeley, with particular responsibility for overseeing the production of the Whitley bomber. He spent much of the Second World War with the Ministry of Aircraft Production, initially on the layout of instruments and equipment in new types of aircraft. He later spent two years in the United States on technical work on the procurement of aircraft and equipment to suit RAF requirements. He also worked on the exchange of technical information.
Following the war he took part in the evaluation of the aeronautical research and development which had taken place in Germany during the war.
He then commanded the RAF group which controlled the technical training of apprentices and airmen of the RAF Mechanical Engineering trades. His final position before retiring from the RAF in 1956 was that of Controller of Engineering and Equipment at the Air Ministry.
After retirement from the RAF, Jones took up consultancy work. He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1958. He was President of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1961. He died in 1972.
1959: Herbert Desmond Carter
Desmond Carter was born in Dublin in 1906. He was educated at King Edward VII School, at Lytham, followed by the Manchester College of Technology. He followed this with a five-year apprenticeship with Crossley Brothers Ltd., Manchester, the firm with which he was to spend the remainder of his working life.
Following his apprenticeship he spent a six month placement in Germany investigating an early gas turbine project, as well as visiting the works of a number of Continental firms. He returned the Manchester to take up a position as design engineer. He was responsible for the design of Crossley’s first marine Diesel engine, of a two-cycle direct-reversing type.
Over time, Carter became Chief Marine Engineer, Works Manager of a Branch Works, Chief Engineer of the Company and eventually, Director and Chief Engineer, responsible for the whole of the company’s products. In 1951 he became Managing Director, and in 1957 Chairman and Managing Director.
He retired in 1962 and died in 1990.
1960: Professor Owen Alfred Saunders
Owen Saunders was born in Streatham, London in 1904. His father was an engineer, and was the inventor and designer of the Beckmeter petrol pump, which was widely used in British petrol stations.
Saunders attended Emmanuel School, Wandsworth Common, from 1913 to 1919. After a period of home study, he enrolled at Birkbeck College, in the Chemistry department. In June 1923 he achieved a first-class pass in the London University external general science degree. He then attended evening classes in physics, and won a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he began studying in 1923.
In 1927 he began working at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Fuel Research Station, as a scientific officer. He continued his studies at this time, and gained a BSc in special mathematics with first-class honours, and an MSc in physics.
In 1932, Saunders was appointed a lecturer in applied mathematical physics at Imperial College. Five years later he became the first Clothworkers’ reader in thermodynamics. He was seconded to the Directorate of Turbine Engines (Ministry of Aircraft Production) in 1942 and remained there until the end of the war.
In 1946, Saunders returned to Imperial College, and was appointed Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Head of the Department. In this position he oversaw a period of considerable re-building. He remained in this position until 1964, when he was elected Pro-Rector of the College. When the Rector, Sir Patrick Linstead, died suddenly, Saunders acted as Rector from 1966 to 1967. He then became Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, overseeing the merger of Bedford College and Royal Holloway College and becoming the first Chairman of the council of the combined college. He retired from the Vice-Chancellorship in 1969.
Saunders was also a full member of the Magic Circle.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1960, and was made an Honorary Fellow in 1965. He died in 1993.
1961: Sir Kenneth F Hague
Kenneth Hague was born in Leeds in 1901. He attended New College School, Oxford, before studying at Leeds University. He joined Babcock and Wilcox Ltd. in 1924, and stayed with this company for the whole of his working life.
He rose through various positions at Babcock and Wilcox, becoming Managing Director in 1950 and Chairman in 1960. His main interests were in steam engineering and nuclear engineering. He was also actively involved with industrial labour relations, and served as a member of the UK Management Labour Delegation to the United States, and as British Representative on the Public Utilities Committee of the Combined Production and Resources Board in Washington.
Perhaps his most important contribution was his work towards the unification of the engineering profession. He took an active part in the formation of the Engineering Institutions Joint Council in 1961, and served as the first Chairman of its Council. He held this position until the reorganization in 1965, when it was renamed the Council of Engineering Institutions, and was granted a Royal Charter.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1961 and was made an Honorary Fellow in 1967.
1962: John Hereward Pitchford
John Hereward Pitchford was born in Penarth in 1904. He was educated at Brighton College and Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he read engineering. He worked at the research laboratories of Ricardo and Co., Engineers, Ltd. during the long vacations, and in 1926 he joined the firm full time. He worked in the research and development department, and was particularly involved with combustion research, particularly the high-speed diesel engine. In 1939 he was appointed General Manager, and in 1962 he became Chairman of the company. He became President of the company in 1976, when he retired from the position of Chairman.
He served on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Ministry of Fuel and Power from 1953 until 1959. He was also President of the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés D’Ingénieurs des Techniques de l’Automobile (FISITA), which comprises the automobile engineering societies throughout the world.
Pitchford was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1962, and was the first President to be a member of the Automobile Division. He died in 1995.
1963: Roland Curling Bond
Roland Curling Bond was born in Ipswich in 1903. He attended Tonbridge School, and was then taken on as an engineering apprentice at the Midland Railway’s Derby Locomotive Works. After his apprenticeship he spent some time in charge of the inspection of locomotives constructed for the London, Midland and Scottish Railways by private manufacturers.
From 1928 to 1931 he was an Assistant Works Manager at the Vulcan Foundry Locomotive Works. During this time he went to India to supervise the construction of electric locomotives for the Great Indian Peninsular Railway’s main line electrification.
In 1931 he returned to the London, Midland and Scottish Railways as Assistant Works Manager of the Locomotive Works, Horwich. Eighteen months later he was appointed Assistant Works Manager of the Crewe Locomotive Works. In 1937 the building of a Locomotive Testing Centre by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and the London and North Eastern Railway was authorized, and Bond was appointed Superintending Engineer, responsible jointly to Sir William Stanier and Sir Nigel Gresley for its design and construction.
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Bond was appointed Acting Mechanical and Electrical Engineer for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, Scotland. He became Works Manager at Crewe Locomotive Works in 1941, and was responsible for converting some of the works to produce tanks and other war materials.
Following the nationalization of the railways in 1948, Bond was appointed Chief Officer (Locomotive Construction and Maintenance) at Railway Executive headquarters, subsequently becoming Chief Mechanical Engineer, British Railways Central Staff. He was promoted in 1958 to Technical Advisor to the British Transport Commission. He retired ten years later.
Bond was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1963. He died in 1980.
1964: Vice-Admiral Sir Frank Trowbridge Mason
Frank Trowbridge Mason was born in Ipswich in 1900. He was educated at Ipswich School, and entered the Royal Navy in 1918. He served for two years as a cadet and midshipman on the HMS Collingwood and HMS Queen Elizabeth, before volunteering to specialize in engineering. Under the Selborne-Fisher scheme of 1903, which aimed to put engineers into the mainstream of naval life, he received special training at the Royal Naval colleges at Greenwich and Keyham.
In 1928, Mason was appointed to HMS Rodney, which was a new battleship which was encountering severe problems with her 16 inch guns. Mason’s experiences with these guns led him to specialize in ordnance engineering. He was appointed for a time to the firm of Vickers at Elswick, and served for three years in the naval ordnance department.
After a series of promotions, and more spells with the Naval Ordnance Department, he was appointed Fleet Gunnery Engineer Officer to the Home Fleet in Scapa Flow, and was promoted to Captain (E). The following year he returned to the Naval Ordnance Department in the Admiralty, and in 1947 he became Chief Gunnery Engineer Officer and Deputy Director of Naval Ordnance. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral (E) and from 1950 to 1952 held the position of Deputy Engineer-in-Chief of the Fleet. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral (E) in 1953 and was made Engineer-in-Chief of the Fleet. In 1953 he was appointed CB and in 1955 KCB.
The Selborne-Fisher scheme under which Mason trained was ended in 1923, leaving the navy at a technological disadvantage with the outbreak of the Second World War. Mason and others put much effort into reinstating it, and in 1956 a new scheme was implemented.
Mason was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1964, and was President of the Institute of Marine Engineers in 1967. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He died in 1988.
1965: Harold Norman Gwynne Allen
Norman Allen was born in Bedford in 1912. He went to Westminster School, followed by Neuchatel University, Switzerland, and Trinity College, Cambridge. After graduating from Trinity College in 1933, he undertook training at the firms of J S White and Co. Ltd., Cowes, specializing in naval machinery, and John Brown and Co. (Clydebank) Ltd., during the building of the Queen Mary. He then gained sea-going experience with Alfred Holt and Co. (Blue Funnel Line) and the Union Castle Line, followed by further practical experience at the Queens Engineering Works, Bedford.
He then began to work in the family firm, W. H. Allen Sons and Co., founded by his grandfather. He was given special responsibility for the execution of a major contract for the supply and installation of steam turbine and electric motor-driven pumps at the Hampton Pumping Station of the Metropolitan Water Board.
In 1943 he was appointed a director of the Company, and two years later became Engineering Director. He held this position until becoming Joint Managing Director in 1954. He was responsible for adding gas turbines and epicyclic gears to the Company’s range of products, as well as a major expansion of the Queens Engineering Works, Bedford, and the establishment of a separate Gearing Works at Pershore, Worcestershire. He retired in 1977.
Allen also served as Vice-Chairman and Governor of the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield from 1962 to 1969 (Governor from 1955), becoming Charter Pro-Chancellor when it became Cranfield Institute of Technology in 1969. He retired from this position in 1975.
Allen was also a member of the Magic Circle.
1966: Lord Christopher Hinton
Christopher Hinton was born in Tisbury, Wiltshire, where his father was the village schoolmaster in 1901. At sixteen he was apprenticed to the Great Western Railway’s Swindon Works, spending six ‘unnecessarily long and wearisome’ years there. In 1923 he received the William Henry Allen grant from the IMechE and went to Trinity College, Cambridge.
After graduation, Hinton was turned down by his former employer. One of his professors, Sir Charles Edward Inglis, was told that ‘Hinton would have been a good engineer if he had stayed with us, but now he has had three years at Cambridge we wouldn’t dream of taking him.’ Instead he went to the Brunner Mond Company, which soon became the Alkali Division of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI).
At 29 Hinton became Chief Engineer at ICI, just before the 1930s Depression. While there, he learned much about standardisation, management programming and other techniques of financial control. Under Hinton, the company made great progress in mechanical handling of raw materials and in process plant reconstruction.
Christopher Hinton’s ICI experiences in large-scale organisation became important to Britain’s war effort. From 1941 Hinton was Deputy Director-General of the Royal Filling Factory organization, overseeing the operations of nine major plants, each employing 20,000-30,000 workers. Hinton later wrote that ‘size alone does not constitute a difficulty provided that the management is not afraid and knows how to create structures appropriate to the size’.
Post-war, Hinton became head of the Atomic Energy Authority’s industrial production base at Risley, effectively creating an entirely new industry by building Britain’s nuclear infrastructure. Although early UK research reactors such as the British Experimental Pie (BEPO) provided important technical information, Hinton’s team lacked sufficient resources to build pilot plants. They built plants for uranium enrichment, fuel rod production, plutonium separation and the nuclear reactors themselves without such pilots. The Windscale piles, described by Hinton as ‘monuments to our initial ignorance’, went critical between 1950 and 1952, but Windscale pile no.1 was the site of one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents in 1957.
Although the application of nuclear technology to civil power stations was delayed by the government’s weapons procurement priorities, Hinton was a successful project manager, and brought all his projects in on time and on budget. By 1956, Calder Hall power station had become the first nuclear power station to supply electricity to the National Grid.
In 1957 Sir Christopher Hinton was appointed Chairman of the new Central Electricity Generating Board. He moved the industry from entirely coal-based to a more diverse mixture of coal, oil and nuclear power stations. Although his appointment may have been intended to bolster the new nuclear industry, Hinton believed that nuclear electricity generation should be judged on commercial and engineering grounds. He did not lose his faith in nuclear power but felt that the industry had been expanded too quickly.
Before leaving the CEGB Hinton was responsible for major conventional plant construction and an upgrading of the grid. The new ‘supergrid’ was planned so as to cause as little environmental impact as possible.
Upon his retirement Baron Hinton of Bankside took on several different roles, including advising the World Bank on energy matters, and serving as President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. A Fellow of the Royal Society and awarded the Order of Merit, he was one of the most honoured engineers of his generation.
1967: Hugh Graham Conway
Hugh Graham Conway was born in Vancouver in 1914. He was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, and Cambridge University, where he graduated with an honours degree in Mechanical Sciences.
In 1938 he joined Messier Aircraft Equipment Limited, and was Chief Engineer there. He left in 1945 to join the Aviation Division of the Dunlop Rubber Company as Chief Engineer. In 1947, he was involved with the formation of British Messier Ltd. as a subsidiary of the Bristol Aeroplane Co., and was Technical Director of British Messier until 1954.
He then moved to Short Brothers and Harland Ltd., Belfast, as Chief Engineer, and the following year he was appointed to the Board. In 1961 he was made Joint Managing Director. In 1964 he was appointed Managing Director of Bristol Siddeley Engines, and when this company was merged with Rolls Royce in 1966, he became a Director of Rolls Royce Ltd.
He was a member of the Decimal Currency Board from 1967-1971, and served on the Design Council from 1971 until 1976.
1968: Sir Arnold Lindley
Arnold Lindley was born in London in 1902. He attended Woolwich Polytechnic, and was apprenticed at the Fraser and Chalmers Engineering Works of the General Electric Co., Erith, which manufactured steam turbines, compressors and heavy mining plant. In the fourth year of his apprenticeship he entered the drawing office, and later the design department for steam turbine, generating and mining equipment.
In the course of his work he travelled to Belgium, Holland and France, and in 1933 was transferred to South Africa as resident engineer for the GEC of South Africa. He remained there for 16 years. In 1940 he became a Director of the South African GEC. He took a leading role in establishing the manufacture of heavy equipment in South Africa, and the creation of the establishment known as Vecor, the centre of heavy engineering there. He became a member of the South African Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and served as a member of Council from 1940, and Vice-President in 1948.
In 1949 he was recalled to England to become General Manager of the Turbine Engineering Works at Erith, and to re-equip and expand the factory to meet the demand for the large turbo-generating units which were then coming into being. He became responsible for the establishment and development of the nuclear energy interests of the GEC, building two nuclear power stations and setting up extensive research facilities.
He became a Director of GEC in 1953 and was later appointed Chairman and Managing Director. He was knighted in 1964 for services to industry, and in the same year, after retiring from GEC, he was appointed Chairman of the Engineering Industry Training Board. In 1970, he was an Associate Consultant on the Thames Barrier. He was Chairman of the Council of Engineering Institutions from 1972 to 1973.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1968 and was later elected an Honorary Fellow.
1969: Dr Donald Frederick Galloway
Donald Frederick Galloway was born in Birmingham in 1913. He was educated at Birmingham Central Technical College and at Cambridge University. He was awarded a first class honours degree from London University, and later a PhD for research on the machining of light alloys.
He served a five-year apprenticeship with the Birmingham Small Arms Company, partly in the machine tool and cutting tool factories, and partly in the development department for motorcycles and cars. He was particularly interested in single and multi-spindle automatic machines. He later joined the Dunlop Rubber Company, where he was engaged on the design and layout of the mass production plant at Fort Dunlop.
After returning from a research tour of American in 1939, he was appointed Assistant Director of the Research Department of the Institution of Production Engineers at Loughborough College. He was then appointed Director.
In 1946 he was involved in the formation of the Production Engineering Research Association of Great Britain, and was its first Director. He was also one of the four founder members of CIRP (International Institution for Production Engineering Research), and was President in 1959-1960.
1970: Professor John Lamb Murray Morrison
John Lamb Murray Morrison was born in Biggar, near Edinburgh, in 1906. He was educated at Biggar High School, then studied at Glasgow University. He graduated in 1927.
He served an apprenticeship with Harland and Wolff, mainly in the marine oil engine shops, but also spending time in the shipyard and the drawing office. In 1928 he joined Bristol University as Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering. He became Professor of Mechanical Engineering in 1946, and served as Dean of the Faculty from 1957 to 1960.
During the Second World War, Murray worked on aero-engines and armaments on behalf of the Gun Design Committee. Following the War he was appointed to the Advisory Council on Scientific Research and Technical Development to the Ministry of Supply. From 1948 to 1956 he was Chairman of the Weapon Design and Development Committee. He was also a member of the Weapons and Explosives Advisory Board and of the Guided Weapons Advisory Board from 1950 to 1956. He was then appointed Chairman of the Advisory Council itself.
Murray was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1970. He died in 2001.
1971: Sir Robert Lang Lickley
Robert Lickley was born in 1912 in Dundee and was educated at Edinburgh University. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering and was awarded a Caird Scholarship in 1932 to study aeronautics at Imperial College.
His career began at Hawker Aircraft Ltd at Kingston-on-Thames. He worked in the Stress office and was involved in stressing on the prototype Hurricane. During the Second World War he was appointed as Chief Project Engineer working on the development of the Typhoon and the Tempest.
After the war he took a professorship with the College of Aeronautics at Cranfield and devoted his time to raising the standard of aircraft design education. He served on a number of committees and performed consultancy work. In 1951 an opportunity arose to join the Fairey Company as Chief Engineer and Lickley quickly progressed through the company to become Managing Director. As well as overseeing the development of the Rotodyne, the first large compound helicopter, Lickley was also involved in the atomic energy work of the company. He served on the Board of Atomic Power Constructions which built the Trawsfynydd Power Station.
During the 1960s Lickley left Fairey and joined Hawker Siddeley Aviation. There he managed the supply of the Harrier to the US Marine Corps. In later years he was a key member of the Rolls Royce Support Staff at the National Enterprise Board.
He became a member of the IMechE in 1950, was elected to Council in 1964 and became President in 1971. From 1981-82 he served as President of the Institution of Production Engineers. He was bestowed a fellowship from the Royal Aeronautical Society and received honorary doctorates from the universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde. He died in 1998.
1972: Baron Donald Gresham Stokes
Donald Gresham Stokes was born in 1914 and received his technical education at the Harris Institute of Technology in Preston. He apprenticed at Leyland Motors and was to spend a long career with the company.
During the Second World War he served as Assistant Director of Mechanical Engineering with the Central Mediterranean Forces and by its close had attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. After the war he returned to Leyland as Exports Manager and was appointed to the Board in 1953.
In the mid to late 1950s Leyland acquired a number of companies, including Triumph and Rover. Stokes became a director of many of the companies and during his appointment as Sales Director the Leyland Motor Corporation was formed. He had achieved the positions of Chairman and Managing Director by the early 1970s.
During the 1980s he became involved in working with international automotive companies, such as Empresa Nacional de Autocamiones and Beherman Auto-Transport in Spain. His many years of experience led to presidential appointments with the Engineering Employers Federation, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Motor Industry Research Association.
In addition to industry appointments Stokes was bestowed with honorary titles from many universities including Keble College at Oxford, Lancaster, Loughborough, Southampton and Salford. His professional membership began with the Institution of Automobile Engineers in 1935. He joined as a graduate and when the IAE merged with the IMechE he was automatically made an Associate Member. He was elected as an Honorary Fellow in 1968 and became President in 1972.
1973: Sir John William Atwell
John William Atwell was born in 1911 and gained an apprenticeship at the age of sixteen with Yarrow and Company in Scotstoun. While working at the firm he also attended evening classes at the Royal Technical College in Glasgow. This fired his academic interest and he gained an Associate of the Royal Technical College qualification in 1937. He was awarded a Caird scholarship and continued his studies at Cambridge University, graduating with an MSc.
In 1939 he joined Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd, a steel tube manufacturing company, and after the Second World War progressed to management. His managerial experience led to an appointment with G & J Weir in 1953 and he oversaw the merging of the firm with Drysdale and Company and Harland Engineering. He assumed the role of chairman from 1970 and in the same year was awarded the CBE.
Atwell was involved in the establishment of the Fellowship of Engineering and received fellowships from the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Strathclyde University. He became president of the IMechE in 1973 and was knighted in 1976. He died at the age of 88 in 1999.
1974: Sir St John de Holt Elstub
St John Elstub was born in 1915 in Heywood, Lancashire and attended Rugby School. He obtained a BSc(Hons) in mechanical engineering from Manchester University in 1936 and after initial training with Vickers Armstrong secured a position with ICI working on design and maintenance.
During the Second World War he joined the Royal Air Force and served as an operational bomber pilot and flying instructor. In 1943 he worked on the development of rocket motors and was involved in intelligence work on the V2.
After the war he returned to ICI and became Assistant Chief Engineer of the metals division, achieving the position of Chairman in 1961. In 1962 the metals division was formed into Imperial Metals Industries Ltd and he became Chairman of the company ten years later. He retired from IMI in 1974 and was involved in the creation of a Government Agency Research Establishment at Summerfield in Oxfordshire. The agency developed a range of solid-propellant rocket motors and he received the CBE for this work in 1954.
In the 1960s his main interest was the advancement of technical education and he was Governor of the Birmingham College of Advanced Technology and a member of Council of Aston in Birmingham University. He also became a member of the Engineering Industry Training Board and received an honorary degree from Aston University. He headed the Elstub Committee reporting on aircraft productivity and was a member of the Plowden Committee on the aircraft industry.
During this same period he became actively involved in the governance of the IMechE, joining the Council, and becoming Vice-President in 1965. He was elected President in 1974. In 1970 he received a knighthood and in 1975 was awarded the Verulam Medal by the Metals Society. He died in 1989.
1975: Paul Thomas Fletcher
Paul Thomas Fletcher was born in 1912 and was educated at Maidstone Grammar School and Maidstone Technical College. He served a three year apprenticeship with E A Gardner and Sons and remained with the company for seven years.
At the start of the Second World War he joined the Ministry of Works and undertook projects such as the construction of storage for the National Gallery in North Wales. He had responsibility for engineering services in public buildings and government factories, and for plant and equipment for service research establishments. He progressed to the position of Chief Mechanical and Electrical Engineer in 1951.
In 1954 Fletcher joined the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) as Deputy Director of Engineering in the Industrial Group. Throughout the 1960s he was heavily involved in the development of nuclear facilities, working for GEC and overseeing the construction of Japan’s first nuclear station, Tokai Mura. His experience in the nuclear field led to numerous consultancy appointments. He was Deputy Chairman of Atomic Power Constructions and Chairman of the Pressure Vessels Quality Assurance Board and served on the Sizewell B safety policy committee.
Paul Fletcher joined the IMechE in 1930 and was elected President in 1975. He supported the development of the Institution of Incorporated Engineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering. The IIE founded the Paul Fletcher Award in his honour. He was also President of the Institution of Mechanical Incorporated Engineers and the ITEME. He died in 1998.
1976: Ewen M'Ewen
Ewen M’Ewen was born in Asuncion, Paraguay, in 1916. His father was a mining engineer. He was educated at Merchiston and University College, London, graduating in 1935 with BSc (Eng) with first class honours in mechanical engineering. He then served a two year graduate apprenticeship with David Brown and Sons of Huddersfield, remaining with the company for several years, in the design office and research department, and as assistant works manager.
In 1942 he joined the Army as an Ordnance Mechanical Engineer in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC), and transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) on its foundation. Most of his service was with the Department of Tank Design, of which he became Assistant Director. He remained at the Establishment, renamed the Fighting Vehicles Design Department until 1947. During this time he was concerned with gears and gear units, and was responsible for the development of the Merritt-Brown tank transmission.
In 1947 he became the first Professor of Agricultural Engineering at Kings College, University of Durham. At the same time he was given a Personal Readership in Applied Mechanics in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. During his time at Newcastle he took part in the reformation of the Territorial Army.
He was asked to take on the task of amalgamating the Armament Research Establishment with the Armament Design Establishment in 1954, and became the first Director of the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment.
M’Ewen returned to industry in 1958 as Director of Engineering (Europe) of Massey Ferguson Ltd. Five years later he became Deputy Managing Director of the Hobourn Group, and in 1965 he became Managing Director. In 1967 he became Vice-Chairman (Engineering) of Joseph Lucas Limited, a group of companies including Girling (brakes and suspension), CAV (fuel-injection equipment and electrics) and Lucas Aerospace (engine and airframe equipment) and Keelavite (hydraulics). He remained with the company until 1980, at which point he became a consulting engineer.
Ewen M’Ewen was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1976. He died in 1993.
1977: Professor Sir Hugh Ford
Hugh Ford was born in 1913, the son of a freelance inventor, and was educated at Northampton School. At the age of eighteen he began an apprenticeship in the locomotive works of the Great Western Railway. In 1934 he was awarded a Whitworth Scholarship which enabled him to attend the City and Guilds College, graduating with a first class honours and gaining the Bramwell Medal for achieving first place in the mechanical engineering list. He later gained a PhD from City and Guilds College for his work on heat transfer and fluid flow problems.
During the Second World War Sir Hugh joined Imperial Chemical Industries Alkali Division in Cheshire as a Research Engineer. He worked on commercial high pressure polyethylene plant and the design of a pilot plant for the manufacture of chlorinated polyethylenes. Three years later he became Chief Technical Officer to the British Iron and Steel Federation and progressed to the position of Head of the Mechanical Working Division of the British Iron and Steel Research Association. His research in to the operation and characteristics of cold strip mills gained him the IMechE’s Thomas Hawksley Gold Medal in 1948. His work eventually led to the development of automatic gauge control which became popular worldwide. By 1947 he had gained experience in establishing new laboratories, at Sketty Hall and the Hoyle Street, Sheffield laboratories of BSRIA.
A brief period as Technical Director of Paterson Engineering, waterworks engineers, was followed by a Readership in Applied Mechanics at Imperial College (previously City and Guilds College). A year later he received the DSc(Eng) of the University of London. He established a consulting practice, Sir Hugh Ford and Associates Ltd, working as Chairman to link the fields of academia and industry, and joined several companies as director.
In 1951 he became Professor of Applied Mechanics and oversaw the rebuilding and re-equipment of the Mechanical Engineering Department. During this period he worked on applied mechanics research and teaching, plasticity theory and metal working processes. He worked across numerous fields including polymer engineering, biomechanics, high pressure technology, fatigue and fracture mechanics. He was invited to join the Research Grants Committee of DSIR which later became the Science Research Council. In 1968 he became the first Chairman of the Council’s Engineering Board, promoting the Total Technology concept, a scheme for postgraduate training linked to management as well as technical concerns. In 1966 he became Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Head of Department at Imperial College. In 1978 he was made Pro-Rector and retired in 1980.
Sir Hugh Ford’s professional achievements are numerous. He has been President of the Institutes of Metals and Sheet Metal Engineering and in 1983 was awarded the James Alfred Ewing Medal of the Institution of Civil Engineers for his contribution to engineering research. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1967. He was a founder member of the Fellowship of Engineering and was a vice-President from 1981-84. In academia he received honorary doctorates from Salford, Queen’s (Belfast), Aston, Bath and Sheffield universities and was a Fellow of Imperial College. He was knighted in 1975.
He joined the IMechE council in 1962, serving until 1982, and became involved in the Applied Mechanics Group, the Engineering Policy Review Committee, the Council Awards Committee and the Technical Board. He worked on the Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science and founded the Materials Forum, chairing from 1979 to 1984. In 1984 he became an Honorary Fellow of the IMechE. The Hugh Ford Management lectures are held annually by the IMEchE’s Management Group.
Professor Sir Hugh Ford died on 28 May 2010 at the age of 96.
1978: Sir Diarmuid Downs
Diarmuid Downs was born in 1922 in London. His father ran a small engineering business manufacturing equipment for the oil industry. Downs was educated at Gunnersbury Catholic Grammar School and the Polytechnic, London. He then studied at the Northampton Engineering College, London, where he graduated with First Class honours in 1942. He won a postgraduate bursary for further research and study, which he took up with Ricardo and Co.
For his first 15 years with Ricardos, first as student, then as a member of staff, and from 1947 as Head of the Petrol Engine Department, Downs pursued a study of fundamental study of abnormal combustion phenomena in the petrol engine, resulting in a clearer understanding of the problems of knock and pre-ignition.
Downs was made a Director of Ricardos in 1957. He was made Managing Director ten years later, remaining in this position until 1984. He was Chairman of the company from 1976 to 1987.
Downs was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1978.
Diarmuid died in 2014.
1979: James Gordon Dawson
James Gordon Dawson was born in 1916 in Scotland and was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen University. He was the son of James Dawson, an educationalist who transformed the country’s education system. As a result of these changes Dawson was able to study engineering at university without having gained scientific Highers.
At university he studied electrical and mechanical engineering, and was awarded an HND prize by the IMechE in 1937. On graduating in 1938 he gained a pupilship with Rolls-Royce. He progressed to a position as a technical assistant in the Experimental Test Department. He worked on high performance testing and in 1942 was sent to run a new test department at Sinfin. The experience he gained at Sinfin led to an appointment as Chief Engineer at the Shell Aero Engine Laboratory at Thornton.
In 1955 Dawson moved to join Perkins based in Peterborough overseeing the modernization of the company’s product range and the reorganization of the engineering department. He worked on road trials of the differentially supercharged diesel engine and was awarded the IMechE’s Akroyd Stuart and Gresham Cooke prizes. After Perkins he moved to directorships at Dowty Group and then Zenith Carburettor Co.
Dawson joined the Institution of Automobile Engineers in 1939 and transferred to membership of the IMechE in 1943. He was a founder member of the IMechE’s automobile division and was also involved in running the Qualifications, Technical and Finance Boards. He became a Fellow in 1957 and was elected President in 1979. He died in 2007.
1980: Bryan Hildrew
Bryan Hildrew was born in Sunderland in 1920. He was educated at Bede Collegiate Boys School, and at the Technical College, Sunderland. After leaving school, he entered into a five year apprenticeship with the North Eastern Marine Engine Works, Sunderland. He began his apprenticeship at the time of the 1930s recession, and believes that his willingness to play football for the company significantly improved his job prospects!
He attended Sunderland Technical College, initially in the evenings, and later full time, and studied for an external degree at London University. On the completion of his apprenticeship, he joined the Royal Navy as an Engineer Officer. He spent the next five years in sea-going appointments.
In 1946 he returned to England, and studied for a Master’s degree at City and Guilds College under Professor, later Sir Owen Saunders. His research subject was the determination of the flow of heat into large turbine rotors.
After completing his degree, in 1948 he joined Lloyd’s Register of Shipping. For eight years he travelled the world carrying out field investigations into failures in ships and their machinery, and into measuring the static and dynamic strain in heavy industrial engineering plant and structures.
In 1957, Hildrew was seconded to the nuclear submarine project team, first at Harwell and then at Bath.
Upon his return to Lloyd’s Register, he established the computer department. He was made Chief Engineer Surveyor in 1967 and Technical Director in 1970.
He was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1980, and President of the Institute of Marine Engineers from 1983 to 1985. He was also Chairman of the Council of Engineering Institutions from 1981 to 1982.
Bryan Hildrew died on 11 January 2012 aged 91 years.
1981: Francis David Penny
David Penny was born in 1918 in Worcestershire, the son of an engineering craftsman. He was educated at Bromsgrove School and in 1934 began an apprenticeship with Cadbury Bros at Bourneville. He gained experience in the workshops and attended Birmingham Central Technical College. In 1938 he was awarded the Cadbury scholarship to study for a degree in engineering at University College, London for which he achieved first class honours.
At the start of the Second World War he joined the Armament Design Department at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich as a junior draughtsman. He remained with the department for fourteen years working on fuse design. He progressed though the department becoming Principal Scientific Officer responsible for the design of all non-proximity fuses for shells, mortars and land mines.
In 1954 Penny was appointed Chief Development Officer at the Fuel Research Station of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Greenwich. He was involved in the formation of a new research establishment in Stevenage, the Warren Spring Laboratory. He developed the establishment’s research programme.
Penny’s experience led to a position with the National Engineering Laboratory and he was tasked with promoting the application of research results in industry. He worked towards ensuring that the Fielden Committee’s recommendations were implemented and chaired a working party formed to create the Computer Aided Design Committee of the Ministry of Technology. This work resulted in the establishment of the Computer Aided Design Centre in Cambridge which promoted CAD and computer aided manufacture in the 1960s.
In 1969 Penny moved in to industry and joined Yarrow and Co as Director, and as Managing Director of its consulting engineering subsidiary Y-ARD. The firm was involved in the design of machinery for the Royal Navy’s Type 42 destroyer, Type 22 frigate, the Invincible class of cruisers, and nuclear submarines. In 1979 he was promoted to the role of Managing Director and retired in 1983.
Penny became a Fellow of the IMechE in 1960 and was elected President in 1981. He chaired the Professional Affairs and Qualifications Boards and was the IMechE’s first representative on the Watt Committee on Energy. He was also elected to the Fellowship of Engineering in 1980 and was a Fellow of University College London and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 1991 he became the President of the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers. He died in 2005.
1982: Victor John Osola
Victor John (Vaino Juhani) Osola was born in 1926 in Hull and was educated at Hymers College. He studied for an engineering diploma at the Technical College in Sunderland and then a degree at the University of Durham. He undertook his practical training with William Doxford and Sons, marine engine manufacturers in Sunderland, and then Det Danske Staalvalsevaerk steelworks in Denmark. He completed his initial training carrying out industrial gas turbine research with C A Parsons and Co in Newcastle.
In the post war years Osola held a technical commission in the Electrical and Mechanical branch of the Corps of the Royal Engineers. He served in the Middle East as a Garrison Engineer at Suez. In 1952 he transferred to the chemical industry working for Procter & Gamble as a Senior Project Engineer. His experience with the firm led to an appointment at Lankro Chemicals as a Works Engineer and then Chief Engineer.
The next fourteen years were spent in the glass industry, working for Pilkington. In 1978 his team won the MacRobert Award for the development of Triplex Ten Twenty glass and its production processes. During his time as General Manager of the Reinforcements Division of Fibreglass Ltd, he oversaw the successful construction of the largest glass fibre reinforcement factory in the UK at Wrexham. In 1979 Osola joined the Board of Redman Heenan International as a non-Executive Director. He later became Chief Executive and was Chairman of all of the group’s subsidiary companies.
Between 1974 and 1979 he was asked to become an independent member of the Mechanical Engineering and Machine Tools R&D Requirements Board of the DoI. He presided over the setting up of the Automated Small batch Production Committee and the Computer Aided Engineering Panel.
In 1982 he was elected President of the IMechE, having served on the Council for eight years. He was also involved in the running of the Process Engineering Group and the Technical Policy Board, acting as Chair for both. In the wider professional arena he gained membership of the Institute of Energy, membership of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and was elected to the Fellowship of Engineering. He was awarded a CBE in 1980 and was also made a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers. He died in 2003.
1983: George FW Adler
George Adler was born in Stettin, Germany (now Szczecin in Poland), in 1926. He was educated at Penarth County School, followed by Cardiff Technical College. He then attended University College, Cardiff, between 1942 and 1945, and was awarded a First Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering (London University external) and Joint Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Cardiff.
Adler then served a two-year graduate apprenticeship at English Electric Co., Rugby, before undertaking a postgraduate bursary in hydropower studies at Imperial College, London, from 1947 to 1948, obtaining a Diploma.
In 1948 Adler returned to English Electric’s Rugby works as a design engineer in the water turbine department. He worked under Dr. Paul Seewer, a Swiss engineer who had pioneered hydro-electric power in Scotland, and had built up a world-wide business for the company in this area. Adler spend a period in the hydraulic research department, before undertaking his first major project, to develop entirely new manufacturing techniques for water turbine runners (impellers).
From 1953 to 1956, Adler was Chief of Mechanical Development, and he extended the manufacturing techniques he had developed for water turbine runners, to the whole range of water turbine components. In 1956 he was appointed Chief Development Engineer for English Electric’s power generation activities at the Rugby and Whetstone works, including steam, water and gas turbines, diesel engines and nuclear power equipment. He also built up the newly formed Mechanical Engineering Laboratories at Whetstone.
In 1958, Adler moved to the Marconi Company at Chelmsford as Chief Mechanical Engineer and member of the Directorate of Engineering. Four years later he moved within the company to become General Manager of it new Mechanical Products Division at Felling.
Adler returned to English Electric in 1966, moving to the Netherton (Lancashire) works to manage the company’s water turbine and valve divisions, and help restore these to profitability. At the time, the company was facing strong international competition in this area, particularly from Japan.
In 1971, Adler was appointed Director of Research (Chief Executive) of the British Hydromechanics Research Association (BHRA). The BHRA was an independent technology centre specialising in fluid engineering.
Adler also served as a member of the Department of Industry’s Technology Transfer Services Advisory Committee and the Department’s Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Requirements Board. He was elected to the Fellowship of Engineering 1981, and was awarded an OBE in the Birthday Honours of June 1982.
1984: Dr Waheeeb Rizk
Dr Waheeb Rizk CBE was born in Cairo in 1921 and was awarded a PhD in engineering at Cambridge University in 1948. In 1954 he moved to work for English Electric in Rugby where he lived with his wife Vivien and their three children.
Rizk was made chief engineer of the gas turbine division at Whetstone near Leicester in 1957, although he remained living in Rugby for the rest of his life. At English Electric he put together a world-class team of design engineers who made a number of major advances in the use of gas turbines and were responsible for establishing the company as the only substantial manufacturer outside America.
When the company merged with GEC Rizk was appointed managing director of the gas turbines division and went on to lead a workforce of around 2,000 employees. He felt passionately about his responsibilities to his workforce which he led for more than 25 years.
Rizk was involved in a number of national and international institutions and was chairman of the British Standards Institution (BSI) from 1982 to 1985.
He also received a number of awards including an OBE, CBE and the Freedom of the City of London. Dr. Rizk died on Saturday, August 15 2009, aged 87. At the time of his death, Dr Rizk was a consultant for WR Associates.
1985: Sir Philip Foreman
Sir Philip Foreman was born in Exning, Suffolk, in 1923. While he was a young boy, his father became tractor driver on a farm in Cambridgeshire. He was also responsible for the installation, repair and maintenance of all the farm machinery, and this early experience awoke a keen interest in mechanics in the young Foreman.
He attended the local elementary school, and Soham Grammar School, from which he won a British Empire Open Scholarship to Loughborough College. He graduated from Loughborough in 1943 with a First Class Honours Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
After graduation, Foreman wanted to join the Royal Navy, but was turned down due to his colour blindness. Instead he joined the Royal Naval Scientific Service, which was a department of the Civil Service, working at the Admiralty Research Laboratory at Teddington. He remained at Teddington until 1958, when he resigned in order to join the guided weapon tea at Short Brothers and Harland Ltd., where he was responsible for all shipborne and depot equipment associated with the Seacat missile weapon system. In 1961, he became Chief Engineer of the guided weapon division, and in 1964 was appointed Company Chief Engineer, in which position he assumed responsibility for all the Company’s engineering activities including aircraft design. He was elected to the Broad in 1965 as Deputy Managing Director and became Managing Director in 1967. In 1983 he became Chairman and Managing Director.
At Short Brothers, Foreman concentrated particularly on the export market, and in 1972 was awarded the CBE for services to export. He was knighted in 1981. In 1988, Foreman set up an engineering consultancy firm, Foreman Associates.
He has long been involved with the British Standards Institution, serving as Chairman from 1988 to 1991, and President from 1994 to 1998.
Philip died in 2013.
1986: Sir Bernard Crossland
Sir Bernard Crossland was born in 1923. He was educated at Simon Langton Grammar School, Canterbury, before beginning an apprenticeship with Rolls Royce, Derby, in 1940. He studied part-time at Derby Technical College, which led to the award of a State Bursary at the then Nottingham University College, where he was awarded a BSc (Ext. London) in Engineering, in July 1943. He returned to Rolls Royce, where he was appointed a Technical Assistant in the Experimental Vibration Department, where he was concerned with experimental and theoretical work on the vibration of Merlin, Griffon and Derwent engines and vibration of reduction gears on destroyers.
In 1945 he began working as a Lecturer at Luton Technical College. After a year he was appointed Assistant Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol. He became Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at Bristol, before taking up an appointment in 1959 as Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering in the Queen’s University, Belfast. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1964 to 1967, and as Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor from 1978 to 1982. He took early retirement in 1984.
Crossland was particularly interested in high pressure engineering, and he worked closely with ICI on high pressure polyethylene plant. He also contributed to the development of explosive welding.
After his retirement he was involved in the investigations of a number of accidents. These include the King’s Cross Fire Investigation in 1988 and the Public Hearing into the Bilsthorpe Colliery Accident in 1994.
In 2010, Sir Bernard Crossland received The Royal Academy of Engineering's Sustained Achievement Medal in recognition of his contributions in the field of high pressure engineering and the links he helped to forge between industry and academia throughout his career.
Sir Bernard Crossland was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1986. He died on 17 January 2011.
1987: Oscar Roith
Oscar Roith was born in 1927. He was educated at the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, and took the Mechanical Sciences Tripos at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. As part of his studies, he attended the Administrative Staff College at Henley, and the Centre d’Etudes Industrielles at Geneva.
He left university in 1948, and served a postgraduate apprenticeship at Courtaulds Limited, followed by a period in the Chemical Engineering Section of their Research Department.
In 1952 he joined the Central Engineering Department of the Distillers Company Limited, where he was involved in all aspects of major plant construction, including Process Design, Project Engineer, Resident Engineer and Project Manger. He was appointed Engineer Manager at Hull Works in 1962, and Works General Manager in 1969. During this period the industrial interests of the Distillers Company Limited were taken over by the British Petroleum Company Limited. Roith transferred to BP Chemicals Limited at this time.
In 1974, Roith was appointed General Manager, Engineering and Technical, and moved to BPCL’s headquarters in London. He was responsible for the policy and control of all BPCL’s Technical, Engineering, Safety and Environmental interests.
He was appointed General Manger of the Engineering Department of BP Trading Limited in 1977. Four years later, following a reorganization of the company, he was appointed Chief Executive (Engineering), Group Engineering and Technical Centre, BP International Limited.
He retired from BP after thirty years service, and in 1982 joined the Department of Industry as Chief Engineer and Scientist. He had general responsibility for advising Ministers on the technological and scientific aspects of the Department’s strategy and support for industry. He was responsible for relationships with scientific and engineering societies and institutions, research associations and Councils, and the British Technology Group. He was also responsible for the administration of the DTI’s Research Establishments, the Patent Office and the National Weights and Measures Laboratory. He retired from the DTI in 1987.
Roith was also a member of the Science and Engineering Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Advisory Board for Research Councils, the Advisory Board for Applied Research and Development (ACARD) and the Department of Energy’s Advisory Committee on Research and Development.
Oscar Roith was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1987.
1988: Cecil Charles John French
Cecil Charles John French was born in 1926. He was educated at Newport School, near Saffron Walden in Essex, and the University of London’s King’s College. He gained a BSc (Eng) with First Class Honours in 1947. He then obtained an MSc (Eng) for research into particle size analysis.
After a graduate apprenticeship at CAV Ltd., French was awarded a Marshall Aid Scholarship. He studied at Columbia University, New York, USA. He also carried out research into combustion in the petrol engine at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and spent some time studying production methods at the John Deere Tractor Plant at Waterloo, Iowa.
When he returned to England in 1952, he joined Ricardo Consulting Engineers, where he worked on diesel and petrol engine research and development. He was appointed a director in 1969. From 1979 to 1983, he acted as Managing Director, and between 1984 and 1987 he was Chairman of the instrumentation and educational equipment manufacturing subsidiary, G Cussons Ltd. In 1982 he was made Vice-Chairman of Ricardo Consulting Engineers PLC.
From 1990 to 1992, French was Group Technology Director of Ricardo International.
He is a Past President of the Diesel Engineers’ and Users’ Association, and of the International Council for Combustion Engines, CIMAC.
Cecil died in 2016.
1989: Roy Ernest James Roberts
Roy Ernest James Roberts was born in 1928. He was educated at Farnham Grammar School. He began his career with an engineering apprenticeship with the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.
In 1951 he went to Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds (GKN) as a management trainee, and from 1955 to 1970 he held various positions with GKN and C & B Smith Ltd., acquired by GKN in 1966, including Works Director and Director and General Manager.
He became Managing Director of GKN Engineering Ltd in 1972, and in 1974 Chairman of both GKN Engineering Ltd. and GKN Building Supplies and Services Ltd. He was appointed to the Main Board of GKN in 1975, and became the Group Director responsible for Engineer and Construction in India, Pakistan, South Africa and the Middle East. He was appointed Group Managing Director in 1980, Deputy Chairman in 1987, and retired from GKN the following year. He was awarded a CBE in 1986.
1990: Michael J Neale
Michael Neale was born in 1926. He left school at 16, and became an engineering apprenticeship with Rolls Royce Ltd., Derby. During his apprenticeship he took a part time honours degree through day release and evening study. He then went on to do research on piston ring lubrication at Imperial College, where he was President of the Students Union, and played a part in planning the expansion of the college.
He then joined the Glacier Metal Co. Ltd. as engineering research manager at the time that the company was building its international reputation as leaders in plan bearing technology. In 1958, Neale was given the task of setting up and operating a new technical design and consultancy service for the company’s customers.
This experience provided a firm foundation for his move into independent consultancy in 1962. He works with a small group of consultants, Michael Neale and Associates Ltd., who specialize in solving problems with plant and machinery, and who have a wider range of activity covering audits of company technology and new designs, the linking of research with industrial application, and the improvement of plant maintenance. He was awarded the OBE in 1984 for services to the engineering profession.
Michael Neale was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1990. He died on 4 August 2012.
1991: Professor Tom D Patten
Tom Patten was born in 1926. He was educated at Leith Academy, then attended Edinburgh University, where he obtained an BSc and PhD. He was a Captain in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, serving between 1946 and 1948.
In 1950 he began working as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Engineering, Edinburgh University, later working as Lecturer and Senior Lecturer. He remained at Edinburgh University until 1967.
He then moved to Heriot-Watt University, where he set up and became Director of the Institute of Offshore Engineering. He also assisted with the formation of the departments of petroleum engineering and offshore engineering and the Heriot-Watt Marine Technology Centre. After reaching the position of Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, he left in 1982 to develop his technological, industrial and commercial interests.
In 1981 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
He was Chairman of Sealand Industries, on the supervisory board of the National Engineering Laboratory, and Director and Chairman of Marine Technology Directorate.
1992: Professor Duncan Dowson
Professor Duncan Dowson was born in 1928. He was educated at Lady Lumley’s Grammar School, at Pickering, Yorkshire. He attended Leeds University, where he was awarded a BSc in Mechanical Engineering in 1950 and a PhD in 1952.
He began his career as a Research Engineer at Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Co., where he remained for two years before taking up the position of Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at Leeds University. He was an instrumental member of the Ministry of Education and Science committee that identified tribology in 1966. The following year he established the Institute of Tribology at Leeds to coordinate tribological practice in industry, teaching and research. Her served as Institute Director until 1987.
At Leeds University, Dowson has promoted innovative degree courses, undergraduate exchange systems and continuing professional education.
His own research has focussed on elastohydrodynamic lubrication, the lubrication of machine elements and natural synovial joints, and the tribological characteristics of total replacement joints.
He was elected to the Fellowship of Engineering in 1982, and was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1987. He has worked on committees established by the Department of Education and Science, the Department of Health and Social Security, and the Science and Engineering Research Council.
1993: Dr Anthony Albert Denton
Dr Anthony Albert Denton was born on 14 March 1937. His father was Walter Granville Denton, who was working at the time as a motor mechanic at the Woolley Colliery garage, and later became the Chief Automotive Engineer.
Anthony attended Woolley Colliery Church of England School, from where he won a scholarship to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield. He then read mechanical sciences at Downing College, Cambridge, as a Savile Scholar. After graduating in 1958, he began a graduate apprenticeship with Quasi Arc Company as an apprenticeship engineer. Towards the end of his apprenticeship he was involved in the development of automatic welding equipment for use in shipbuilding.
The company supported him in undertaking a doctorate at Imperial College, London. He was then offered a lectureship, which he held from 1963 to 1966. During this time he met with Captain David Noble, a Master Mariner, and marine consultant. He gave advice to many of Lloyd’s underwriters on deep-sea towages. With a wealth of seagoing experience, but few academic qualifications, he needed assistance with stability and stress calculations. Denton agreed to help with this in the evenings, after his academic work.
Noble was being asked to offer guidance on the towing of larger and less stable structures, most of them oil-drilling rigs. Together they worked on the towing and depositing of the first North Sea oil platform, ‘Mr. Cap’.
In 1966, Denton felt that he had to choose between academia, and industry. He decided to work with W. D. Noble & Co. on a fulltime basis. In 1970 the company changed its name to Noble Denton, and the firm Noble, Denton and Associates was incorporated in 1971. Denton was technical director from 1971 to 1977, and from 1977 until his retirement twenty years later, he was chairman and chief executive. The firm was involved with most of the significant offshore developments of the twentieth century, and during his time as chairman and chief executive, the company expanded into global operations, advising underwriters on the risks of locating and moving large structures at sea. Such structures included steel and concrete oil platforms, lighthouses, tin dredgers, and even a floating nightclub, which had to be towed across the Pacific ocean during typhoon season.
The company also developed its own highly sophisticated weather forecasting operations covering the entire globe, finding existing weather forecasting systems to be inadequate. Television and film companies, as well as the offshore industry, now use this service.
Denton was President of the IMechE in 1993-4. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1983. He was appointed CBE in 1997. He died in 2001.
1994: Brian Hamilton Kent
Brian Kent was born in Hyde, in Cheshire, in 1931. He was educated at Hyde Grammar School, and left after achieving his Higher School Certificates. He applied to take the Civil Service Examination, leading to a possible engineering apprenticeship at the ‘Atomic City’ at ERE Harwell. Instead, in 1949 Kent entered the full time Mechanical Engineering course at Salford Technical College for an External Honours Degree from London University. He graduated in 1952 with a 2:1 Hons Degree, and the Board of Governors Prize in Mechanical Engineering.
At the age of 21 he joined Mather & Platt Ltd in Manchester as a graduate apprentice. He also lectured in the evenings at Salford, in both Mathematics and Strength of Materials.
Between June 1948 and March 1958, five international tours for young people took place. They were sponsored by the South African Aid to Britain fund, and were to provide tours for young people who had been deprived of overseas travel in the United Kingdom because of the Second World War. As Senior Apprentice, Kent was selected to compete for a place, and spent six weeks touring selected islands of the West Indies and British Guyana on the mainland of South American.
From 1954 to 1957, Kent served in the Royal Navy, initially as part of his National Service requirement. After a year he joined the electrical training staff for the Electrical Research Association.
On his return to civilian life, he rejoined Mather & Platt as a service engineer in the rotating machinery division, involved in the commissioning of high speed centrifugal pumps and motors in the many Central Electricity Generating Board power stations then under construction. His role also involved trouble-shooting on breakdowns, and Kent was involved following the Windscale major gas leak in 1958.
Kent left Mather & Platt in 1964, and began working for Morganite Carbon, where he remained for five years. During this time he was selected to engage in a CPD experience, and was sent to study at IMEDE, the Nestle funded business school at Lausanne, Switzerland, to be trained in international marketing.
From 1969 to 1978, Kent worked for Alfa Laval Ltd., a British subsidiary of the Swedish multinational, as Managing Director.
Between 1978 and 1994, Kent took on the restructuring of Staveley Industries. This was an old company, a conglomerate of British heavy mechanical engineering industries, which was restructured into an international company with interests in light engineering such as weighing and non-destructive testing.
Kent was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1994.
1995: Frank Christopher Price
Chris Price was born in 1946. He was raised in Wilmslow, Cheshire and studied mechanical engineering at Nottingham University.
He began his engineering career as a graduate apprentice at British United Shoe Machinery, going on to become Research and Development Manager, and later a member of the Board of Management. In 1985 he left to join Rearsby Automotive as Engineering Director. In 1987 he joined the management buyout of United Shoe machinery companies.
He then worked as Director of Product and Process Development for USM Texon Ltd, the group which owned British United Shoe Machinery Ltd., as well as companies around the world. He was responsible for the USM Texon group’s whole Research and Development department, and for the Group’s global environmental compliance.
Chris Price was one of the youngest ever Presidents of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and at the time of his election, in 1995, was the youngest for 100 years.
1996: Professor Robert William Ernest Shannon
Professor R W Ernest Shannon was born in Belfast in 1937. He was educated at Belfast College of Technology and The Queen’s University of Belfast, where he gained a BSc (Hons) in Aeronautical Engineering, and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.
He began his career as a Laboratory Technician with James Mackie & Sons Ltd., responsible for product testing in the Plastics Division. In 1956 he undertook an aircraft apprenticeship with Short Brothers. After gaining his degree, he also lectured in aeronautical engineering at Queen’s University.
It was a Queen’s that Shannon met Professor Bernard Crossland, who persuaded him to become a research fellow in mechanical engineering, working on the fracture of ultra-high pressure vehicles, then used for making polythene. He received a PhD for this work, and as a result was recruited by British Gas in 1970.
At this time, there had been some massive gas pipeline ruptures, particularly in the US, with fractures running at speeds up to 2000m/sec and up to 16km in length. Shannon developed standards for the design, operation and repair of high pressure pipelines, and went on to lead the 350-strong team that developed British Gas’s world-beating intelligent ‘pig’ system for investigating pipelines. This received the Queen’s awards for both technology and exports and led to Shannon and his team winning the MacRobert Award for engineering excellence, one of the engineering profession’s highest honours.
Shannon retired from British Gas in 1995, and subsequently worked as a Consultant and a Professorial Fellow at Queen’s University, Belfast.
He was awarded the CBE in 2001 for services to economic development.
He was President of the Institution of Gas Engineers in 1994, and President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1996.
Robert died in 2011.
1997: Pamela Liversidge
Pamela Liversidge was the first female president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. She was born in 1949.
In the late 1960s, she decided that she wanted to pursue a career in engineering, then an unusual career for a woman. She embarked on a Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Aston, in Birmingham. At this time it was usual for engineering students to receive sponsorship, but this proved difficult to obtain as a female engineering student. After graduating, she obtained a position as Graduate Trainee with GKN, based in the West Midlands.
In 1976, she moved to George William Thornton, a small forging company based in Sheffield. Starting as Assistant Technical Manager, she progressed to Sales Director. In 1987 she moved to East Midlands Electricity as Strategic Planning Manager. She was eventually promoted to Divisional Director of East Midland Electricity’s trading businesses.
In 1993 Liversidge set up a company to manufacture specialist metal powders. The company came about through her interest in Medical Engineering. This interest also saw her promote the formation of a Medical Engineering Division in the IMechE during her time as President. She also facilitated the formation of AIME – the Association of Institutions in Medical Engineering. The manufacturing company was sold in 1996, and she is now Managing Director of a holding company, Quest Investments Ltd.
During her time as President, Liversidge initiated the ‘Moving Forward’ programme. It included a wide-ranging review of the Institution’s activities, allowing it to respond to changes in the Mechanical Engineering profession. Education and Qualification procedures relating accreditation were also reviewed. She also opposed the SARTOR regulations.
She was awarded an OBE in 1998/9 in recognition of her services to the Institution and Engineering. She is also a member of the WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) National Co-ordinating Committee, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and of the City and Guilds Institute. She is also a Freeman of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire and of the Worshipful Company of Engineers.
Pamela Liversidge was President of the IMechE in 1997.
1998: John Spence
John Spence was born in 1937. Upon leaving school he undertook a mechanical engineering apprenticeship with Stewarts and Lloyds, now British Steel, with the intention of becoming a draughtsman. After a few months, the possibility of attending university was raised by his brother-in-law, and Spence began a course in mechanical engineering at the Royal Technical College in Glasgow. Stewards and Lloyds agreed to count the degree as part of the apprenticeship, and Spence worked for the company during the holidays.
When Spence completed his degree, his apprenticeship had a year to go, and he negotiated to go to Sheffield University for a postgraduate degree. Encouraged by his supervisor at Sheffield, Spence attended an Institute of Physics Stress Analysis Conference in Birmingham to present a paper on his MEng thesis. As a result, Spence was offered a job at the Babcock and Wilcox Research Station.
Spence stayed at the Babcock and Wilcox Research Station for six years, four of which were as Head of the Stress Analysis Group. This was the heyday for nuclear power. The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) had built a number of smaller gas cooled nuclear reactors, and were working on Hinkley Point. At 500MW, this was the largest nuclear power station in the world at the time. It was a joint venture with Taylor Woodrow, English Electric and Babcock, and development problems with the hardware were passed to the Research Station.
In 1965, Spence joined the University of Strathclyde as a lecturer. He completed his PhD on ‘The creep of pipe bends’ in 1971, and his DSc in 1978. In the late 1970s he made a significant contribution to the North Sea Oil development, working for BP International on the buckling of sub-sea pipelines. He also advised British Gas on bulk gas storage.
Spence was promoted to Professor at the University of Strathclyde in 1979, and held the Trades House of Glasgow Chair of Mechanics of Materials from 1982 until 2001. He was Head of Department from 1981 in the Departments of Mechanics of Materials, then Mechanical and Process Engineering, and finally Mechanical Engineering. As Head, he encouraged staff to undertake consultancy work, and formed an umbrella organization called Stress Analysis Services, to encourage this work to be progressed through the Department.
John Spence took early retirement in 2001. He served as President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1998.
1999: James McKnight
James McKnight was born in 1938. After leaving school he undertook an apprenticeship with GKN. Afterwards he worked for Ford Motor Company, where he spent 14 years. His last position was Manager in Heavy Advanced Truck Engineering. During this time he was the manager of the team which undertook the design analysis on the highly successful Ford Cargo Truck.
In 1977, he joined the British Leyland Truck and Bus Group as Chief Engineer. He was a key member of the team the developed the classic Roadrunner, the Lynx Citybus, and upgraded the Olympian double-decker.
McKnight was part of the group that bought out the Leyland Bus Group from Rover in 1987. Later sold on to Volvo, he subsequently led the efforts in designing the low floor Volvo citybus for world markets, which incorporated many innovative features now standard on today’s buses.
In 1995, McKnight led the management buyout of Volvo’s Product Development group to form Leyland Product Development Ltd (LPD). This is a medium sized company specializing in the design of commercial vehicles and second generation low floor buses.
He has served as President of FISITA, the world body for automotive engineering. In 1992 he set up the first Student and Young Engineers Conference at FISITA, which saw representatives of 30 different countries brought together.
James McKnight was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 1999.
2000: Denis Edwin Filer
Denis Edwin Filer was born in 1932. He was educated at Manchester Central Grammar School, and studied for a BSc in Mechanical Engineering at Manchester University, graduating in 1953.
Following his graduation, Filer was commissioned in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), where he completed his National Service. He retained an involvement through the Territorial Army, eventually becoming Honorary Colonel REME TA.
He spent 32 years of his career with ICI, starting in the dyestuffs division in Manchester. He was initially involved with mechanical design on specific equipment or processes. He introduced the concept of computer modelling and, in particular, its use in the design of new chemical plants. He retired in 1988, having spent seven years as Director of Engineering.
The same year, he took up the position of Director General of the Engineering Council. At the time, this was a relatively new body, not yet well established, but by the time Filer left it had strong links with the engineering institutions and was on a much firmer footing.
Filer left in 1994 to become Chairman of Adwest Group plc, an automotive components supplier.
Denis Filer was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 2000.
2001: Tony Roche
Tony Roche joined British Rail at the age of 16 as a ‘fitters boy’ at Stafford Road Shed, Wolverhampton. In 1967 he completed a seven year long apprenticeship, which had included work on both steam and diesel locomotives, and training and experience in specification, design, development, manufacture and maintenance of traction and rolling stock. At the same time he graduated with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering.
The following 19 years were spent mainly with British Rail Engineering Limited, a subsidiary of the British Railways Board. The role of the company was to design and manufacture the majority of the railway traction and rolling stock vehicles operating on the UK heavy rail network.
In 1986, Roche joined BR Headquarters, and was closely involved with the review of Manufacturing and Maintenance Policy for Traction and Rolling Stock. This review led to the privatization of the manufacturing activities of British Rail Engineering, and the formation of a new subsidiary, British Rail Maintenance Limited (BRML).
Other positions followed, as Director of Engineering for the Intercity Fleet, the Board’s Director of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Chief Executive of BRML and Deputy Managing Director of Network South-East.
Roche was also involved with the privatization of British Rail. He was the first Managing Director of one of the Rolling Stock Leasing Companies and was appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport as the Board Member for Engineering at British Rail. One of the major tasks facing him in this position was preparing more than 20 central service companies for sale and directing the sales process. These companies were not all engineering companies, but included IT, medical services and a Training Establishment.
After working at British Rail for 39 years, Roche left and established a consultancy company advising on railway management and engineering matters.
2002: John McDougall
John McDougall spent his early career with the Davy Corporation, Whessoe and Sterling Furnaces, working in engineering design and manufacture of capital plant.
In 1975 he joined WS Atkins Consultants as a Project Engineer, involved primarily with the supervision of the construction of the new British Steel Redcar works, and other prestige clients. He was promoted to Managing Director in 1991.
John McDougall was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 2002.
John died in 2016.
2003: Professor Christopher Taylor
Chris Taylor was born in 1943. He was educated at Leeds Boys Modern School. He studied for his BSc in Mechanical Engineering at Kings College University, and for his masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Leeds.
His first position was as a Research Engineer with the English Electric Company. He then joined the Industrial Unit of Tribology at Leeds University.
In 1971, he joined the academic staff at the School of Mechanical Engineering at Leeds University as a lecturer. He became Senior Lecturer in 1980, and Reader in 1986. From 1990 to 2001 he was Professor of Tribology, and from 1993 to 2001 he was Editor of Part J of the Proceedings of the IMechE, the Journal of Engineering Tribology.
In 2001 he became Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Bradford, which position he retained until 2007.
Professor Chris Taylor was President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 2003.
2004: William Edgar
William Edgar was born in 1938. He started work with Colvilles Steel Makers, as an office boy at their Hallside Steel Works near Glasgow. In 1955 he started work as an apprentice fitter/turner/draftsman at Hallside Steel Works. Colvilles supported him as he attended five years of evening classes, culminating in an HNC in Mechanical Engineering and an HNC Endorsement in Electrical Engineering. They also sponsored him through university, enabling him to study Mechanical Engineering at the Royal College of Science and Technology.
After gaining an MSc in Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics at the University of Birmingham, Edgar went to work as a Development Engineer at Ravenscraig Strip Mill in Lancashire, then a state of the art steel mill designed and constructed by Davy United.
The following year, in 1963, Edgar went to British Aircraft Corporation at Warton, Lancashire, as an Aeromechanical Engineer. He remained with the company for four years, working on high altitude military aircraft design.
He moved to Weir Pumps, Glasgow in 1967, initially as Chief Development Engineer and then as General Manufacturing Manager at the Cathcart Plant. After seven years he joined Vickers Marine Engineering Division, and two years later was appointed Executive Chairman of Cochrane Shipbuilders.
In 1990 he became Chief Executive of the National Engineering Laboratory. At the time, this was an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. Edgar's remit was to prepare the establishment for privatization, which was successfully completed with the sale of NEL in 1995.
Following the sale of the NEL, he joined the John Wood Group as Group Director responsible for Engineering and Production Facilities Division. He retired from this position in 2004, just prior to becoming President of the IMechE.
Edgar was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1999, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2003.
2005: Andrew Ives
Andrew Ives is an expert in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering. His experience is in the management of product engineering, from design to business development. He graduated from Brunel University with a First Class Honours in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology.
He worked for Lucas Industries for thirty years achieving senior engineering management positions, including Head of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Lucas Group Research Centre, and Director and General Manager of Lucas Automotive Sensors. He was responsible for multinational engineering programmes, in particular in the automotive sector. He worked with the Jaguar racing team to develop engine management systems used in the Le Mans endurance race. He oversaw the development of engine electronics for the Metro 6R4 super rally car in the 1980s.
In the mid 1990s he became Principal Consultant to Saturn Electronics and Engineering Inc, a US manufacturing company. This role led to work in China, South America and Hungary. He began to work as an independent consultant for US and UK firms, specializing in automotive engineering.
He was elected President of the IMechE in 2005.
2006 Alec Osborn
Alec Osborn was born in 1939 and educated at Grantham College for Further Education. At the college he studied for two HNCs while apprenticing with British Racing Motors. He progressed to a position as draughtsman, working on numerous projects including the BRM Formula 1 H16 and V12 engines.
In 1969 he was initially appointed Design Engineer at Perkins Engines, but his talent and aptitude soon led to the position of Chief Engineer. During his thirty-two years with the firm he worked in applications engineering, test operations and production engineering. He became a consultant in 2002.
Osborn joined the IMechE in 1962 and became involved with numerous boards and committees, serving as Chairman of the Combustion Engines Group, the Qualifications and Membership board and the Technical Strategy Board. He also took a particular interest in the development of his local group, the East Midlands Region. His experience and profile led to appointments on the boards of the Deacon’s School in Peterborough and Hereward Community College. He became Director of the Thomas Deacon City Academy in 2004. In 2002 he was made a Freeman of the City of London.
Osborn chartered in 1969 and was made a Fellow of the IMechE in 1991. He was elected President of the IMechE in 2006.
2007 John Baxter
John Baxter was born in 1951 and educated at Queen’s Park School in Glasgow, and then Strathclyde University, from where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation he studied for a postgraduate degree at the Royal Naval College at Greenwich and started his career as a Submarine Engineer Officer. He served on a Polaris nuclear submarine carrying out refitting.
Baxter’s experience in the nuclear field led to an appointment with the United Kingdom Energy Authority in 1990 as Director of Engineering. He was also a founding director of Hunting BRAE, the private company that ran the UK atomic weapon plants. He worked as Director at Dounreay and was appointed to the UKAEA Board by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. He oversaw operations at Windscale, Harwell and Winfrith.
In 1998 he left UKAEA to work at Powergen plc. He was responsible for strategy, research and development and all technical services. His knowledge and expertise in all aspects of the company’s engineering business led to a promotion as Powergen’s Group Engineering Director.
Baxter’s current position is as Group Engineering Director at BP. He is responsible for integrity management, major accident risk assessment and engineering standards. He is also Head of Profession for engineering at the BP Group.
Baxter became President of the IMechE in 2007. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology and the Royal Academy of Engineers and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers. He advises the MoD on nuclear safety and oil industry concerns. He maintains a link with the military holding the rank of Colonel in the Engineer and Logistics Staff Corp of the Royal Engineers.
2008 Professor Bill Banks
Bill Banks graduated from Strathclyde University with a First Class Honours BSc Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1965 and an MSc Degree in 1966. He was a Senior Research Engineer at Weir Pumps Ltd but since 1970 he has been in Academia, gaining his Doctorate in 1977. Prior to his appointment as President, he was Chairman of Advanced Materials in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. He is also a past Chairman of the Engineering Professors’ Council.
Professor Banks has been a leading advocate in the education sector calling upon the urgent need for Government and industry to work together to develop the next generation of engineers.
2009 Keith Millard
Keith Millard started as a seagoing marine engineer then followed a period as an operations engineer with the Central Electricity Generating Board. Since 1970 his career has centred on consulting, with 11 years as Managing Director of Gilbert Associates, before becoming Business Development Director for Balfour Beatty Construction International and the Vice President of Parsons International, responsible for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In 1998 he founded Kea Management, advising clients on strategy development and providing a coach and mentoring service to chief executives through Vistage International.
Keith joined the Institution in 1968 and became a Fellow in 1977. He chaired the Technical Strategy Board until recently, is a past Chairman of the Power Industries Division Board and was founding Chairman of the Management Group Board. He has been a Trustee since 2004.
During his year of office as IMechE President Keith adopted the theme “Using management techniques to improve the world through engineering”. Keith’s engineering education, training and experience provide the foundation of his management capability, which draws its strength from three main areas: project management, strategy and leadership. He has focussed on inspiring the younger generation, engaging with the IMechE membership and addressing energy sustainability.
2010 John Wood
John read engineering at Cambridge and spent the early part of his career in the Army in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
After field appointments in BAOR and the UK, he attended Staff College and then held a number of appointments in military vehicle procurement, test and development.
He retired from the Army in 1987 as a Lieutenant Colonel to join RAC Motoring Services as Technical Director and Chief Engineer. From there, John joined MIRA Ltd in 1991 as Managing Director and Chief Executive. MIRA grew out of the Motor Industry Research Association and is an independent company providing design, test and development services to the automotive and other industries worldwide and has offices in the US, China, Korea and India.
John joined the Institution in 1973, becoming a Member in 1978 and a Fellow in 1987. He served as Chairman of our Automobile Division in 1993. In 1996 John was invited to fill a casual vacancy on the Council, prior to being elected a Member of the Council in 1998, a Vice-President in 2001 and Deputy President in 2008.
John was the 125th President of the Institution, Chairman of the Engineering Heritage Committee, and was Chairman of Formula Student for 10 years. He was awarded an MBE in 2012.
2011 Professor Rod Smith
Professor Smith is the Research Professor of Railway Engineering and Chairman of the Future Railway Research Centre at Imperial College London.
He was previously a lecturer in the Engineering Department at the University of Cambridge and Professor of Mechanical and Process Engineering at the University of Sheffield, including a period as Head of Department. He was then Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College. Rod is a frequent expert witness in legal cases involving railway engineering and is often invited as a keynote speaker at international conferences. He is the author of more than 300 publications on fatigue and fracture of metals and latterly on many aspects of railway engineering.
Rod has previously been a member of the British Rail Board’s Research and Technical Committee, a Trustee of the Science Museum and a member of the Advisory Board of the National Railway Museum. He was Editor in Chief of the IMechE Proceedings Part F - the Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit - for over 10 years and has been a member of several other international editorial boards.
Rod joined the Institution of Mechanical Engineers as an affiliate in 1968, becoming an Associate Member in 1970 and a Fellow in 1991. He was first elected to the Institution’s Council in 1999, elected a Trustee in 2006, Vice-President in 2008 and Deputy President in 2009. He became the Institution’s 126th President in May 2011. He has also served as Chairman of the Technical Strategy Board, Regional Strategy Board & Strategy Advisory Committee.
Rod was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1999 and is also a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
2012 Professor Isobel Pollock
Isobel Pollock-Hulf OBE became a Liverymen of the Worshipful Company of Engineers in 2003, a Court Assistant in 2008 and is Immediate Past Master from 25th April 2017.
She promotes Engineering, Measurement and Manufacturing following a successful career with large Yorkshire based multi-nationals including 10 years at ICI Huddersfield and DuPont Howson in Leeds. Isobel works as a consultant focusing on Technology Roadmapping with SMEs.
For over 30 years she has been an active volunteer member of her professional Institution both in Yorkshire and throughout the UK. She was the 127th President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in 2012, only the second lady in 165 years. She also rejuvenated the IMechE Heritage Awards scheme and presented over 40 awards to places of significant mechanical engineering heritage. In 2015, she became a Trustee of the HMS Warrior 1860 Preservation Trust and is currently involved in a major renovation project partially funded by a Heritage Lottery Grant.
She led the Engineering Council 2014 review of the UK Standards for Professional Engineering (UK-SPEC) requirements for Chartered, Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians.
From 1999 to 2011, Isobel was a Trustee of the AUDI Design Foundation and in 2015, became a Trustee of the Design & Technology Association. As Patron of WES (Women’s Engineering Society), she is currently working with WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) and the Bloodhound project to promote STEM to the next generation of engineers.
She chaired the National Measurement and Regulation Office (NMRO) Steering Board (2013 – 2016).
She is a member of the Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) at National Physical Laboratory (NPL, Teddington) and chairs the Programme Expert Group (PEG) for Quantum, Electromagnetics and Time (QET) on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).
In 2004, she received an Honorary Doctorate from University of Huddersfield and was appointed to the University of Huddersfield Council in 2015. She is a visiting professor at the University of Leeds in the School of Mechanical Engineering and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Leeds in 2016. In 2016 she was made an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET).
She was appointed OBE in 2014 for services to mechanical engineering. On 23rd June 2016, she was named as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering in the Daily Telegraph.
Biography provided by Professor Pollock.
2013 Patrick Kniveton
Patrick trained at Reyrolle, then commissioned the Isaac Newton Telescope in the Canary Islands for Grubb Parsons.
He spent two years developing commercial skills as a sales engineer at SKF Engineering Products, then became Engineering Manager, Rotawing Fans, where he designed bespoke air conditioning systems.
Joining Rolls-Royce Controls in systems design for Sizewell B, he then developed and joint-patented a world-leading technology for electronic motorway signs.
Engineering Manager for Rolls-Royce Materials Handling, in 1999 he then moved to Derby, as Head of Business Management, Gas Turbine Operations Engineering. In 2007 he joined Rolls-Royce Marine Power as Head of Infrastructure. In that role he launched multi-million pound office and factory redevelopments.
Since 2009, he has been Head of Engineering Improvement for Rolls-Royce Submarines - a multi-£100million business in the nuclear sector – in which role he drives process improvement for engineering areas and leads business management for the engineering function.
Active in the Institution since 1990, initially he was involved in the North East region, then joined Council in 1992. He was a founder member and served twice as an ordinary member of the Trustee Board. He was elected Vice President for 2004-2007, and was Deputy President from 2011-2013.
He has chaired CRC (now Regional Strategy Board), leading reviews of best practice; Academic Assessment Committee; International Affairs (now ISB); QMB and has been active on many national committees, including: Investigating Panel, Marketing and CPD.
For 15 years, he has been a Trustee Director of one of his company’s pension schemes.
He takes part in many graduate recruitment activities for Rolls-Royce. Patrick has supported many people in the membership process, both for Member and Fellow, and is a mentor for several engineers, both inside and outside his own company. In 2001, he led an initiative in the company to encourage many mid-career engineers to complete their applications for CEng, with more than 300 successes in two years, many to Fellow.
2014 Group Captain Mark Hunt OBE
Group Captain Mark Hunt OBE became the youngest President of the Institution when he was elected aged 42 in May 2014.
Mark said: "I am extremely proud as an engineer to have my services recognised in this way..This recognition highlights the importance of engineers to society and helps inspire the next generation."
Mark has been an Engineer Officer in the RAF for 18 years and is now the Type Airworthiness Authority for the RAF’s intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance fleets of Sentinel and Sentry aircraft. His career has spanned appointments as Senior Engineer Officer on an operational Harrier squadron, predominantly in Afghanistan, and training young engineers at the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering.
A Chartered Engineer, Mark has much experience in forming, training, motivating and leading teams of military and civilian personnel in peacetime and on operations worldwide.
As the youngest Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers, he indulges his three passions: promoting the engineering profession while championing education and charitable causes.
When elected, Mark became the youngest Fellow of both the Chartered Management Institute and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers with whom he has 13 years’ Board-level experience as Deputy President, a Member of Council and a Trustee on the Trustee Board.
Mark was recognised with an OBE for his outstanding achievements and service to the community in the New Year Honours List announced on 30 December 2014.
2015 Professor Richard Folkson
Having joined as a student member, Richard has played a committed and active role in the Institution for around 40 years.
He served as Chairman of the Automobile Division from 2008-09, Eastern Region Chairman from 2010-12 and has been Chief Judge for the Formula Student competition since 2010.
He worked in product development at Ford Motor Company for 30 years on all aspects of car and truck design, rising to the position of Chief Engineer.
His career at Ford included roles as the Project Manager for the original Ford Focus and the last two Ford Transit van programmes. Then he was responsible for all product verification and test facilities in Europe, followed by appointment as Chief Engineer for global technical standards and alignment across all Ford owned brands including Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Volvo and Mazda.
He was Chairman of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Engineering Committee during his time at Ford with regular interface with Government Departments at a senior level.
After taking early retirement in 2006 he has pursued his personal interests in education: he has taught Automotive Design at Loughborough University and serves as a Visiting Professor in Innovation and Design at the University of Hertfordshire. He is also an assessor for Innovate UK (formerly the Technology Strategy Board) on technology projects and works as a consultant advising on how future vehicle designs can reduce usage of fossil fuels.
He initiated the organisation of the Institution’s Sustainable Vehicle Technology Conference and has organised seminar events on lightweighting for low carbon and electric vehicles.
Read Richard's full Presidential Address
2016 Jon Hilton
Jon Hilton joined the Institution as a young member in 1982 when he started his engineering career with Rolls-Royce military engines group at Leavesden. Completing the Rolls-Royce undergraduate training scheme and graduating from the Hatfield Polytechnic, Jon took a first appointment in helicopter engine design.
His passion for engines led him to Formula One and in 1991 he moved to Cosworth where he rose up the ranks from Engine Designer to Chief Engineer of the F1 programme by the end of 1997. In 1998 Jon moved to the TWR Arrows team as Chief Engineer of the F1 Engines group and here he built up a team of skilled engineers to design and develop F1 engines for TWR.
In early 2003 Jon moved, along with the whole of his F1 engines team, to Renault F1 where he formed the UK based engine division for the team. As Technical Director Engine Division Jon was intimately involved with a very successful period for the team winning both driver’s and constructor’s Formula One World Championships in 2005 and 2006.
In January 2007, Jon, along with former Renault F1 colleague Doug Cross, formed a new engineering company called Flybrid Automotive to develop high-speed flywheel based hybrid systems for automobile application. As Managing Director, Jon ran the company providing direction for all activities and with prime responsibility for commercial aspects of the business until January 2014, when Torotrak PLC acquired the company. Jon now has a Non-Executive role as Deputy Chairman of the parent company.
Jon has held a number of official posts at the Institution including Chairman of the Midland Region, Chairman of the Automobile Division and Chairman of the Formula Student organising committee.
Download Jon's Presidential Address.
Learn about our Trustee Board.
2017 Carolyn Griffths
Carolyn Griffiths, FREng Ceng FIMechE, has been an influential figure within the rail Industry. Her career began on the shop floor following her graduate training scheme with British Railways. She has worked in various types of organisations and roles within the UK and overseas, including operations, manufacturing, consultancy and regulatory work connected with industry's privatisation. More importantly, Carolyn has been involved in the establishment of new organisations and railways within the UK and overseas.
She has lived and worked in the UK, Singapore, Sweden and Germany.
Carolyn worked as a Senior Vice President of an international manufacturing organisation. She departed this position and went on to found and lead the UK's Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) reporting directly to the Secretary of State for Transport. At the point she left, RAIB was considered a world leading organisation in its field and ranked as one of the top performing organisations in terms of team work and motivation across the Civil Service. Under her management, the RAIB conducted over 250 full investigations; 95% of the recommendations arising from those were accepted and implemented, creating real positive change in the industry.
Carolyn has supported the Institution throughout her career. She has been a member and Chairman of the Railway Division Board, Member of Council, Deputy Chairman of the Technical Strategy Board, Chairman of the International Board and a Trustee. She established the Institution's successful railway training scheme as well as the International Rail Accident Investigation Conference.
Carolyn is a Non-Executive Director of Irish Rail and spends significant time working voluntarily with the Engineering Council and the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Carolyn was formerly a Governor of Imperial College London.
Carolyn has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Cranfield University for her professional work and achievements within the rail industry.
Read Carolyn's Presidential Address.
2018 Geoff Baker
Geoff Baker is an entrepreneur and engineer with a distinguished international career. He now works independently to establish and advise engineering and high-tech businesses at all stages of their development, while continuing to support the advancement of the engineering profession.
Geoff has founded two successful engineering companies, the ATL Group, a leading technical services company in the industrial, defence, oil and gas markets which was sold to Bureau Veritas, and Plant Asset Management Ltd, which was subsequently acquired by FTSE oil services company, Petrofac. Following both acquisitions, Geoff held senior executive positions of Chief Executive and Senior Vice President respectively within these organisations.
Prior to this, he worked at SDRC Engineering Services Ltd, the National Nuclear Corporation and the British Aircraft Corporation where he served a 5-year Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
In addition to his personal business interests, Geoff works hard to advance and promote the engineering profession through his three major passions; the encouragement of innovation and entrepreneurship in engineering; inspiring young people into engineering and helping to instigate change in the engineering profession, which he believes is required to make it more relevant and responsive to needs of society. He is the Founder of Entrepreneurial Engineers, established to encourage entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and corporate venturing within engineering. He is an active supporter of Southampton University’s Future Worlds, created to help start-ups, spinouts and projects at the University.
Geoff has global business experience and has established business operations in Europe, America, the Middle East, Malaysia and Australia. He was also one of the founding Non-Executive Directors of The FSE Group formed by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to provide sources of finance and advice to companies in the UK.
Geoff has been an active Member of the Institution since his early career. He has served several terms on Council and sat on a variety boards and committees throughout his career.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507489
|
__label__cc
| 0.708582
| 0.291418
|
Albanian PM: Citizenship by Investment is “The Right Way and Something We Have to Do”
November 15, 2019 November 15, 2019 Editor albania, cbi, cip, citizenship by investment, club, edi rama, europe, panel
Christian Nesheim
Speaking during a panel session on Wednesday together with his counterparts from Saint Lucia and Montenegro, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama said he “strongly believed” that a citizenship by investment program (CIP) was “the right way and something we have to do”.
The Albanian government, in August this year, announced plans of amending the Law on Citizenship, changes that would also include provisions for granting citizenship to “investors who have a national interest in the country”.
Prime Minister Rama, during the Henley & Partners Global Citizenship Conference in London on Wednesday, indicated that while he recognized CIPs can be controversial, these concerns were outweighed by such programs’ socioeconomic benefits.
“We like to say, in our region, that the grass is always greener on the other side. And this has made us fight for a hundred years,” commented Rama, referring to the armed border conflicts that have sprung up at regular intervals in the Western Balkans since the early 20th century.
“But I have to say that these days, the grass really is greener on their [the Montenegrin] side, even more so now that they have started this program. And we are trying to go the same way as the countries that have created successful models. Now, I know that there are controversies about these programs […] at the same time I strongly believe that this is the right way and this is something we have to do,” affirmed the Prime Minister.
See also: 4 Potential Countries For Europe’s Next Citizenship by Investment Program
Rama also recognized there would be a certain irony in seeing a country that was formerly closed off from the world open for the naturalizations of third-country nationals.
“Once upon a time, we were proud to be the only country in the world that did not allow anyone to enter…nor anyone to get out,” said Rama to roaring laughter from the room.
He also conceded that Albania had not managed to keep up with the economic development of its regional peers and that a CIP could play an important role in catalyzing a revival.
“For the next 30 years [after the fall of the Communist regime] we had the fastest growth in the region because we came from a very low base and we were a long distance from [neighboring economies]. Now, I think it’s time to go further. So, we embark on this program and we are exploring the possibility to add something to it, not just investing and getting the citizenship but also offering, to the country, know-how and special skills. And this has to be, of course, elaborated,” noted Rama, hinting that Albanian authorities are taking a serious look at the possibility of a CIP but are still in the early stages of planning.
See also: Montenegro Approves Three More CIP Hotel Developments
“There are, of course, risks, but we cannot, in the name of risk, deny our country’s future the enormous potential of this kind of program,” concluded the Prime Minister.
Some 10-15 Albanian nationals had also gathered outside the hotel at which the conference took place to stage a protest coinciding with Rama’s attendance. Judging by their placards and statements, however, the protesters did not appear to oppose a CIP as such, but rather the merits of the Prime Minister in general.
Our readers are the best-informed professionals in the investment migration industry.
Once a week, we’ll send you a curated newsletter with the week’s top stories.
Be the first in your company to know about breaking investment migration news; Get the most important stories delivered.
← Greece Formally Approves Litany of New Asset Classes For Golden Visa Investment
Chetcuti’s Statement on ORiip Ruling: “Regulator’s Conclusions Did Not Come as a Surprise” →
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507490
|
__label__wiki
| 0.8633
| 0.8633
|
21 Unusual Facts About Billionaire Politician Donald Trump
See how much you know about the man who may become the next President of the USA.
By Larry KimCEO of MobileMonkey@larrykim
He's a man who almost needs no introduction — business magnate, real estate developer, reality TV mogul and now politician Donald Trump has set the U.S. presidential race on fire. You might know him from the society pages, or as the man who gamified the business world with his hit show The Apprentice. But check out these unusual facts about The Donald:
Trump has taken the strongest and most talked about stand on the issue of illegal immigration in the presidential race so far. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was a Scottish immigrant, while his paternal grandparents immigrated from Germany.
Donald was groomed to succeed in real estate by his father, NYC developer Fred Trump. He worked at his father's firm while attending the Wharton School at UPenn, then joined the firm after graduation.
Trump was able to avoid the Vietnam War draft thanks to four student deferments and a medical deferment. He's taken a lot of heat over this since slamming John McCain as a phony war hero because he was captured in Vietnam. However, he did attend New York Military Academy, where he was a star athlete and student leader by graduation in 1964.
One of the first real estate deals The Donald became involved with was the overhaul of a foreclosed 1200-unit apartment complex in Cincinnati, circa 1962. With just a $500,000 investment on the $5.7 million property, Elizabeth Trump and Son (the family business) took Swifton Village from 66% to 100% occupancy in two years. It sold for $6.75 million in 1972.
In 1971, Trump moved to Manhattan and really started catching the attention of the public with his bold architectural designs on larger building projects.
By 1973, Trump was in his glory — at just 27 years old, he was running the Trump Management Corporation out of Brooklyn and oversaw the company's 14,000 apartments across Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.
In a 1976 article, New York Times columnist Judy Klemerud describes The Donald, now widely mocked for his signature comb over, as such: "He is tall, lean and blond, with dazzling white teeth, and he looks ever so much like Robert Redford. He rides around town in a chauffeured silver Cadillac with his initials, DJT, on the plates. He dates slinky fashion models, belongs to the most elegant clubs and, at only 30 years of age, estimates that he is worth 'more than $200 million.'"
In 1977, The Donald married his first wife Ivana, a model and alternate on the Czech Olympic Ski Team. The following year, they had the first of their three children. Ivana was heavily involved in the family business and was named vice president in charge of design.
Trump seriously embarrassed Edward I. Koch, then mayor of New York, in 1978 by leaking information about a real estate deal to the media. Koch first said the New York Times article reporting that a new convention center would be built on land on which Trump had a right-to-buy was baseless. However, a month later, Trump was vindicated when his site was announced as the one chosen for the project.
The Donald impressed when in 1986, he took over the management of the repairs to the Wollman Rink in Central Park. The project, expected to take 2.5 years, had lagged on for almost six years — Trump completed it within 3 months and came in $750,000 under-budget.
Trump acquired the Taj Mahal Casino in 1988 and it was then that early warning signs of impending doom for his business became apparent. The following year, Trump financed his third casino build primarily with junk bonds in a much-maligned deal that contributed to his eventual business bankruptcy.
By 1991, Trump had accumulated a great deal of debt and was forced to divyie up his wealth, properties and toys among banks to whom he owed billions. TIME magazine reported that American Express got his 282-foot yacht, Citicorp took some retail business and an airline, and Bankers Trust was left with the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan.
The late 1990s fared far better for The Donald, who completed construction on the massive and impressive Trump World Tower across from UN Headquarters in 2001.
In 2005, he sued the writer of a book for citing anonymous sources as saying Donald Trump's net worth ranged from $150 million to $250 million. He claimed that erroneous information caused him to lose out on deals around the globe.
The Trump brand, as developed by The Donald, spans a wide variety of industries including real estate, hospitality, entertainment, mortgages, restaurants and catering, ice cream, online travel, menswear, fragrance, golf, home furnishings, transportation, model management, vodka and more.
How much is Trump really worth? In 2007 court proceedings over the defamation case Trump launched against the book author mentioned above, he told the court, "My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feeling." Today, Forbes puts his real-time net worth as of August 16, 2015 at $4 billion, putting him at #405 on the world's billionaires list. This means Trump is only slightly less wealthy than Elizabeth Holmes ($4.5 billion) and Richard Branson ($4.8 billion). Trump has insisted over the years that his actual net worth should include the value of his brand. In his 2011 book Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again, Trump published a professionally prepared financial statement pegging his own net worth at $7 billion, further feeding the controversy over his true net worth.
Despite Forbes' estimation of his 2015 net worth as $4 billion, on June 16, 2015, Trump released professionally prepared financial statements to the media that stated a net worth of $9 billion. Later that day, he announced that he would seek the Republican presidential nomination and emerged as the wealthiest candidate. He's also recently stated that his annual income is $400 Million.
Trump has dabbled in sports and once served as financial adviser to Mike Tyson. He also purchased the United States Football League's New Jersey Generals in 1983, sold the team, and bought it back before the 1984 season.
Like his father before him, Trump has groomed his children for success in the family business. You might recognize them from appearances on The Apprentice, but his children run a substantial portion of his business.
Trump has received two Emmy nods for his work in television.
Prior to his run for the presidential nod for the Republican party, Trump financially supported both the Democrats and Republicans over a period of two decades. He's currently #1 in the polls for the Republican nod.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507492
|
__label__cc
| 0.666176
| 0.333824
|
Jihadism on the Internet
Images and Videos, their Dissemination and Appropriation
Information in accordance with § 5 Telemedia Act (TMG)
Junior research group “Jihadism on the Internet”
represented by Christoph Günther
Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
Department of Anthropology and Africa Studies
attn. Christoph Günther
Forum universitatis 6
Phone: +49 (0)6131 39-38421
E-Mail: c.guenther [at] uni-mainz [dot] de
Internet: jihadism-online.de
Source: translate-24h Übersetzungen
We are very delighted that you have shown interest in our enterprise. Data protection is of a particularly high priority for the management of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet”. The use of the Internet pages of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” is possible without any indication of personal data; however, if a data subject wants to use special enterprise services via our website, processing of personal data could become necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no statutory basis for such processing, we generally obtain consent from the data subject.
The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, e-mail address, or telephone number of a data subject shall always be in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet”. By means of this data protection declaration, our enterprise would like to inform the general public of the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Furthermore, data subjects are informed, by means of this data protection declaration, of the rights to which they are entitled.
As the controller, the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” has implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most complete protection of personal data processed through this website. However, Internet-based data transmissions may in principle have security gaps, so absolute protection may not be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transfer personal data to us via alternative means, e.g. by telephone.
The data protection declaration of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” is based on the terms used by the European legislator for the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our data protection declaration should be legible and understandable for the general public, as well as our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to first explain the terminology used.
55099 Mayence
Email: c.guenther@uni-mainz.de
Website: jihadism-online.de
The Internet pages of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” use cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored in a computer system via an Internet browser.
Through the use of cookies, the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” can provide the users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the cookie setting.
The website of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” collects a series of general data and information when a data subject or automated system calls up the website. This general data and information are stored in the server log files. Collected may be (1) the browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers), (4) the sub-websites, (5) the date and time of access to the Internet site, (6) an Internet protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and (8) any other similar data and information that may be used in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.
When using these general data and information, the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is needed to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimize the content of our website as well as its advertisement, (3) ensure the long-term viability of our information technology systems and website technology, and (4) provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in case of a cyber-attack. Therefore, the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” analyzes anonymously collected data and information statistically, with the aim of increasing the data protection and data security of our enterprise, and to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.
The website of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” contains information that enables a quick electronic contact to our enterprise, as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address of the so-called electronic mail (e-mail address). If a data subject contacts the controller by e-mail or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject are automatically stored. Such personal data transmitted on a voluntary basis by a data subject to the data controller are stored for the purpose of processing or contacting the data subject. There is no transfer of this personal data to third parties.
If one of the aforementioned reasons applies, and a data subject wishes to request the erasure of personal data stored by the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet”, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller. An employee of Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” shall promptly ensure that the erasure request is complied with immediately.
Where the controller has made personal data public and is obliged pursuant to Article 17(1) to erase the personal data, the controller, taking account of available technology and the cost of implementation, shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, to inform other controllers processing the personal data that the data subject has requested erasure by such controllers of any links to, or copy or replication of, those personal data, as far as processing is not required. An employees of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” will arrange the necessary measures in individual cases.
If one of the aforementioned conditions is met, and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of the processing of personal data stored by the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet”, he or she may at any time contact any employee of the controller. The employee of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” will arrange the restriction of the processing.
In order to assert the right to data portability, the data subject may at any time contact any employee of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet”.
The Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” shall no longer process the personal data in the event of the objection, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
If the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing. This applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” to the processing for direct marketing purposes, the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.
In addition, the data subject has the right, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to object to processing of personal data concerning him or her by the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” for scientific or historical research purposes, or for statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) of the GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.
In order to exercise the right to object, the data subject may contact any employee of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet”. In addition, the data subject is free in the context of the use of information society services, and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to use his or her right to object by automated means using technical specifications.
If the decision (1) is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) it is based on the data subject’s explicit consent, the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet” shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject’s rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and contest the decision.
If the data subject wishes to exercise the rights concerning automated individual decision-making, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet”.
If the data subject wishes to exercise the right to withdraw the consent, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the Junior Research Group “Jihadism on the Internet”.
8. Legal basis for the processing
9. The legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party
This Privacy Policy has been generated by the Privacy Policy Generator of the DGD – Your External DPO that was developed in cooperation with German Lawyers from WILDE BEUGER SOLMECKE, Cologne.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507493
|
__label__wiki
| 0.661231
| 0.661231
|
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Suppresses Immunity against Candida albicans through Induction of IL-10 and Regulatory T Cells
Mihai G. Netea, Roger Sutmuller, Corinna Hermann, Chantal A. A. Van der Graaf, Jos W. M. Van der Meer, Johan H. van Krieken, Thomas Hartung, Gosse Adema and Bart Jan Kullberg
J Immunol March 15, 2004, 172 (6) 3712-3718; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.172.6.3712
Mihai G. Netea
Medicine, Nijmegen University Center for Infectious Diseases, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and
Roger Sutmuller
Tumor Immunology, and
Corinna Hermann
Department of Biochemical Pharmacology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
Chantal A. A. Van der Graaf
Jos W. M. Van der Meer
Johan H. van Krieken
Pathology, University Medical Center St. Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
Thomas Hartung
Gosse Adema
Bart Jan Kullberg
Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 play a pivotal role in recognition of Candida albicans. We demonstrate that TLR2−/− mice are more resistant to disseminated Candida infection, and this is associated with increased chemotaxis and enhanced candidacidal capacity of TLR2−/− macrophages. Although production of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-1α, and IL-1β is normal, IL-10 release is severely impaired in the TLR2−/− mice. This is accompanied by a 50% decrease in the CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cell population in TLR2−/− mice. In vitro studies confirmed that enhanced survival of Treg cells was induced by TLR2 agonists. The deleterious role of Treg cells on the innate immune response during disseminated candidiasis was underscored by the improved resistance to this infection after depletion of Treg cells. In conclusion, C. albicans induces immunosuppression through TLR2-derived signals that mediate increased IL-10 production and survival of Treg cells. This represents a novel mechanism in the pathogenesis of fungal infections.
Fungal infections in general, and acute disseminated candidiasis in particular, are severe infections occurring mainly in immunocompromised hosts. Mortality associated with disseminated candidiasis has changed little despite the availability of new antifungal drugs (1, 2). Despite the importance of Candida albicans in human pathology, relatively little is known of the mechanisms through which this fungus is recognized by the immune cells and triggers the host defense. We have recently shown that the Toll-like receptors (TLR)42 and TLR4 are important recognition receptors for Candida, and we have demonstrated increased susceptibility of TLR4-deficient mice to disseminated candidiasis (3). In human blood cells, TLR2-derived signals were shown to contribute to production of proinflammatory cytokines induced by C. albicans blastoconidia (3). This finding could imply that TLR2 is a receptor involved in anticandidal host defense. These data are sustained by the finding that TLR2 is involved in the recognition of zymosan (a cell wall particle of the yeast Saccharomyces), leading to proinflammatory cytokine production (4).
In murine experimental infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus sepsis or pneumococcal meningitis, absence of TLR2 has been accompanied by increased mortality, although the precise mechanisms of TLR2 involvement in host defense have not been identified (5, 6, 7). Cytokine release, activation of leukocyte migration, and direct antimicrobial action have been implicated as potential defense mechanisms triggered by TLRs (8).
Based on our initial in vitro data, we hypothesized that TLR2 knockout (TLR2−/−) mice would display a reduced activation of innate immunity during infection with C. albicans, and would prove more susceptible to disseminated candidiasis. However, the results of the present study reveal that the absence of TLR2 leads to increased resistance to candidiasis. We demonstrate that this is associated with decreased release of anti-inflammatory, but not proinflammatory cytokines, improved leukocyte recruitment to the site of infection and candidacidal activity, and decreased numbers of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg).
TLR2−/− mice and TLR2+/+ control littermates (20–25 g, 6–8 wk old) were kindly provided by Tularik (San Francisco, CA). TLR4-deficient ScCr mice were from a local colony at Nijmegen University, and control TLR4-competent C57BL/10J mice were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME). The mice were fed sterilized laboratory chow (Hope Farms, Woerden, The Netherlands) and water ad libitum. The experiments were approved by the ethics committee on animal experiments of Nijmegen University.
C. albicans infection model
C. albicans UC 820, a strain well described earlier (9), has been used in all experiments. A lethal experimental model of disseminated candidiasis was used to assess mortality, in which TLR2−/− and TLR2+/+ mice were injected i.v. with C. albicans (either 5 × 106 or 5 × 105 CFU/mouse) in a 100 μl vol of sterile pyrogen-free PBS. Survival was assessed daily for 14 days.
For the assessment of fungal growth in the organs, a nonlethal experimental model of disseminated candidiasis was used, in which TLR2−/− and TLR2+/+ mice were injected i.v. with C. albicans (1 × 105 CFU/mouse). In the nonlethal model, subgroups of five animals were killed on day 1 or 7 of infection. To assess the tissue outgrowth of the microorganisms on these days, the liver, the left kidney, and the brain of the sacrificed animals were removed aseptically, weighed, and homogenized in sterile saline in a tissue grinder. The number of viable Candida cells in the tissues was determined by plating serial dilutions on Sabouraud dextrose agar plates, as previously described (10). The CFU were counted after 24 h of incubation at 37°C, and expressed as log CFU/g tissue. From the same animals, the right kidneys were fixed in formaldehyde (4%) and embedded in paraffin, and serial sections were examined microscopically after staining with periodic acid Schiff and H&E.
Recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and macrophages
To investigate the recruitment of PMN and monocytes/macrophages at the site of Candida infection, groups of five TLR2−/− and TLR2+/+ mice were injected i.p. with 107 C. albicans organisms, in a volume of 100 μl. The experiments on leukocyte recruitment were performed using heat-killed C. albicans, and not the live microorganisms, to avoid the bias induced by the differential candidacidal function of the leukocytes in the knockout mice and the wild-type controls. In pilot experiments, the maximum PMN infiltration after i.p. injection of heat-killed Candida was found after 4 h, whereas the maximal monocyte/macrophage infiltration was found after 72 h. After 4 or 72 h, peritoneal cells from TLR2−/− and TLR2+/+ mice were collected in sterile saline containing 0.38% sodium citrate, and the total cell number was counted in a hemocytometer. The percentage and the absolute numbers of neutrophils and macrophages were determined in Giemsa-stained cytocentrifuge preparations.
Phagocytosis and killing of C. albicans by macrophages and neutrophils
Either resident peritoneal macrophages or exudate peritoneal PMN were obtained, and phagocytosis and killing were performed by a modification of a method described earlier (11). Exudate peritoneal phagocytes from groups of five TLR2−/− and TLR2+/+ mice were elicited by an i.p. injection of 10% proteose peptone. Cells were collected in separate sterile tubes by washing the peritoneal cavity with 4 ml of ice-cold PBS containing 50 U/ml heparin, 4 h (65 ± 11% PMN) or 72 h (84 ± 6% macrophages) after injection. Phagocytes were centrifuged (10 min; 3600 rpm; 2250 × g), counted in a hemocytometer, and resuspended in RPMI 1640 Dutch modification (with 20 mM HEPES, without glutamine; ICN Biomedicals, Eschwege, Germany) supplemented with 5% heat-inactivated FCS, 1% gentamicin, 1% l-glutamine, and 1% pyruvate. The processes of phagocytosis and intracellular killing were studied in an adherent monolayer of phagocytes, as previously described (12). The percentage of phagocytized microorganisms was defined as (1 − (number of uningested CFU/CFU at the start of incubation)) × 100.
Killing of C. albicans by phagocytes was assessed in the same monolayers (12). After removal of the nonphagocytized Candida blastoconidia, 200 μl of culture medium, consisting of Sabouraud in MEM (50% v/v), was added to the monolayers. After 3 h of incubation at 37°C in air and 5% CO2, the wells were gently scraped with a plastic paddle and washed with 200 μl of distilled H2O to achieve lysis of phagocytes. The percentage of yeast killed by the phagocytes was determined as follows: (1 − (CFU after incubation/number of phagocytized CFU)) × 100. Phagocyte-free incubations of blastoconidia were included as a control for yeast viability.
Extracellular killing of C. albicans hyphae was determined by a modification of the XTT (2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide) (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) dye assay, as described elsewhere (13).
In vitro cytokine production
Groups of five TLR2−/− and TLR2+/+ mice were killed, and resident peritoneal macrophages were harvested by injecting 4 ml of sterile PBS containing 0.38% sodium citrate (11). After centrifugation and washing, the cells were resuspended in RPMI 1640 containing 1 mM pyruvate, 2 mM l-glutamine, 100 μg/ml gentamicin, and 2% fresh mouse plasma (culture medium). Cells were cultured in 96-well microtiter plates (Greiner, Alphen a/d Rijn, The Netherlands) at 105 cells/well, in a final volume of 200 μl. The cells were stimulated with either control medium or heat-killed (1 h, 100°C) C. albicans at 1 × 107 CFU/ml. After 24 h of incubation at 37°C, the plates were centrifuged (500 × g, 10 min), and the supernatant was collected and stored at −80°C until cytokine assays were performed.
For the assessment of IFN-γ and IL-10 production capacity, primed spleen cells from mice on day 7 of infection with 1 × 105 CFU/mouse of C. albicans were stimulated in vitro with heat-killed Candida. Spleen cells were obtained by gently squeezing spleens in a sterile 200-μm filter chamber. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained cytospin preparations showed that these cells consisted of 95% lymphocytes, 2% monocytes, and 3% granulocytes. The cells were washed and resuspended in RPMI 1640 and counted in a Bürker counting chamber, and the number was adjusted to 5 × 106/ml. One milliliter of the cell suspension was stimulated with 1 × 107 heat-killed C. albicans yeasts (E:T ratio, 2:1). Measurement of IFN-γ and IL-10 concentrations was performed in supernatants collected after 48 h of incubation at 37°C in 5% CO2 in 24-well plates (Greiner).
IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α were determined by specific RIAs (detection limit 20 pg/ml), as previously described (14). IFN-γ and IL-10 concentrations were measured by a commercial ELISA (BioSource International, Camarillo, CA; detection limit 16 pg/ml), according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in TLR2−/− mice
To assess the presence of Treg cells in the circulation of TLR2−/− and TLR2+/+ mice, 50 μl of blood was collected from the tail of 10 deficient and 10 control mice. Analysis of cell surface markers on blood lymphocytes was performed using a FACSCalibur (BD Biosciences, Alphen aan de Rijn, The Netherlands) and CellQuest software. Blood (50 μl) was collected in heparin-coated tubes, and erythrocytes were lysed using standard laboratory protocols. The remaining lymphocytes were washed and incubated with anti-CD25 FITC (clone 7D4; BD PharMingen, San Diego, CA) and anti-CD4 allophycocyanin (BD PharMingen) and subsequently analyzed. Data are represented as the percentage of CD4+CD25+ cells of the total CD4+ T cell population.
In addition to TLR2−/− mice, we also investigated the role of TLR4 in the generation of Treg cells, by assessing the CD4+CD25+ T cell population in TLR4-deficient ScCr mice and control C57BL/10J mice.
T cell survival assay
Spleens were mashed into single cell suspensions using a nylon filter. CD4+ T cells were presorted by magnetic purification using anti-CD4 (L3T4) microbeads and positively separated on large separation columns (both from Miltenyi Biotec, Auburn, CA). CD4+CD25− and CD4+CD25+ T cell subsets were obtained by flow cytometry purification of the presorted T cells: CD4 cells were stained with allophycocyanin-conjugated CD4 mAb (BD Biosciences) and FITC-conjugated CD25 (PC61; BD Biosciences). Cell sorting was performed on a Coulter Elite cell sorter (Corixa, Seattle, WA). The purity of each cell preparation was >95%. Purified CD4+ T cell subsets were subsequently cultured for 3 days in complete medium (Iscove’s IMDM, 9% FCS) supplemented with, if indicated, 0.5 μg/ml highly purified Escherichia coli LPS (Sigma-Aldrich), 10 μg/ml peptidoglycan (Sigma-Aldrich), or 5 Cetus U/ml IL-2. After 3 days of culture, all surviving cells were harvested using PBS/1 mM EDTA, stained for CD4 and CD25 using the aforementioned Abs, and subsequently analyzed on a flow cytometer. Data indicate the average number and SEM of all surviving CD4+ cells of triplicate wells.
The role of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in host defense against disseminated candidiasis
The possible effect of Treg cells on the anticandidal host defense was investigated by depletion of Treg cell population using a protein G-purified rat anti-mouse CD25 (300 μg, clone PC61; American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA) administered by i.p. injection 10 days before infection with 1 × 105 CFU/mouse C. albicans. Rat IgG was used as control in a separate group of mice. On days 1 and 7 of infection, Candida outgrowth in the organs of mice receiving anti-CD25 or control Abs was assessed, as described above.
The mortality in the two groups was compared by Kaplan-Meier logarithm of rank test. The differences in the other parameters between groups were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test, and where appropriate by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test. The level of significance between groups was set at p < 0.05. All experiments were performed at least twice, and the data are presented as cumulative results of all experiments performed.
TLR2−/− mice are less susceptible to disseminated C. albicans infection
TLR2 is one of the cellular receptors engaged by C. albicans (3). To determine the role of TLR2 in the host defense against C. albicans, we infected TLR2−/− mice with Candida and compared their susceptibility to infection with that in wild-type mice. Surprisingly, TLR2−/− mice survived longer after injection of a lethal amount of C. albicans (5 × 106 CFU/mouse) than control mice (p < 0.05, Fig. 1⇓A). All deaths occurred during the first 10 days of infection, and no mortality was registered thereafter. When the mice were injected with a lower inoculum of 5 × 105 CFU/ml, no mortality was recorded in either group (data not shown). The target organ for C. albicans growth in murine candidiasis, the kidneys, showed no differences in fungal outgrowth between deficient and control mice on day 1. However, on day 7 of infection, TLR2−/− mice were found to have a 100-fold decreased load of C. albicans in their kidneys (p < 0.01), compared with TLR2+/+ mice (Fig. 1⇓B). A similar tendency, although not significant, was apparent for the outgrowth of C. albicans in the liver and brain (Fig. 1⇓B). Histology of the kidneys showed no differences in the inflammatory infiltrate and the degree of Candida growth on day 1 of infection. In contrast, on day 7, control TLR2+/+ mice displayed invasive growth of large amounts of C. albicans, especially in the pyelum, compared with larger inflammatory infiltrates and fewer Candida organisms in the TLR2−/− mice (Fig. 2⇓).
Decreased susceptibility to invasive candidiasis in TLR2−/− mice. TLR2+/+ (•) and TLR2−/− (▵) mice were injected i.v. with either 5 × 105 (A) or 1 × 105 (B) CFU/mouse C. albicans. Survival (A) was assessed daily for 14 days in a lethal model of disseminated candidiasis: all mortality occurred during the first 10 days, and no further deaths were recorded therafter. In a sublethal model (B), subgroups of TLR2+/+ (□) and TLR2−/− (▪) mice were sacrificed on day 7 postinfection to assess the outgrowth of the yeasts in the organs. Data represent means ± SEM of 10 mice per group. ∗∗, p < 0.01 by Kaplan-Meier logarithm of rank test (A) and Mann-Whitney U test (B).
Histology of the kidneys of TLR2+/+ and TLR2−/− mice infected with C. albicans. Control TLR2+/+ (A and B) and TLR2−/− (C and D) mice were infected i.v. with 1 × 105 CFU of C. albicans, and subgroups of five animals were sacrificed to assess the outgrowth of the yeasts in the right kidneys. Serial sections were examined microscopically after staining with periodic acid Schiff and H&E. On day 7 after infection, control TLR2+/+ mice displayed invasive growth of large amounts of C. albicans both in the renal tissue (A) and pyelum (B), accompanied by moderate inflammatory infiltrates. In contrast, very little growth of Candida was found in the TLR2−/− mice, which had an almost normal kidney architecture (C), whereas a severe inflammatory infiltrate was present around the pyelum (D). Magnification: ×400. Arrows indicate C. albicans microorganisms.
Monocyte recruitment to the site of infection is increased in TLR2−/− mice
To investigate the recruitment of PMN and macrophages to the site of a C. albicans infection, groups of TLR2+/+ and TLR2−/− mice were injected i.p. with 107 heat-killed C. albicans microorganisms, and exudate peritoneal neutrophils or macrophages were harvested 4 and 72 h later, respectively. As shown in Fig. 3⇓A, there was significantly more influx of monocytes/macrophages into the peritoneal cavity of TLR2−/− mice than in that of TLR2+/+ mice (p < 0.05), whereas the recruitment of PMN did not differ between the groups.
Function of PMN and macrophages. A, TLR2+/+ (□) and TLR2−/− (▪) mice were injected i.p. with 107 heat-killed C. albicans microorganisms, and exudate peritoneal neutrophils or macrophages were harvested 4 and 72 h later, respectively. B, PMN or macrophages from TLR2+/+ (□) or TLR2−/− (▪) mice were incubated for 15 min with C. albicans (E:T ratio 20:1), and the percentage of phagocytized microorganisms was calculated as (1 − (number of uningested CFU/CFU at the start of incubation)) × 100. C and D, Intracellular killing of C. albicans blastospores (C) or extracellular killing of C. albicans hyphae (D), by neutrophils or macrophages of TLR2+/+ mice (□) and TLR2−/− mice (▪) were assessed after 3 h of incubation. Data represent the mean ± SD for two experiments with 10 mice/group. ∗, p < 0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test.
Increased candidacidal capacity of macrophages from TLR2−/− mice
Phagocytosis of C. albicans by PMN or macrophages of TLR2−/− mice was similar to that of TLR2+/+ mice (Fig. 3⇑B). Both the intracellular killing of Candida blastoconidia and the extracellular killing of Candida hyphae by macrophages of TLR2−/− mice were better than by macrophages of control TLR2+/+ mice (Fig. 3⇑, C and D). In contrast, neutrophils of TLR2+/+ and TLR2−/− mice were equally potent to kill both conidia and hyphae of Candida (Fig. 3⇑, C and D).
TLR2−/− mice induce lower IL-10, but higher IFN-γ release, upon stimulation with C. albicans
To investigate the role of TLR2 in the stimulation of cytokines by C. albicans, we stimulated peritoneal macrophages of TLR2−/− and control TLR2+/+ mice with heat-killed Candida blastospores in vitro. Cytokine production by unstimulated macrophages of both mouse strains was below the detection limit for all cytokines studied (data not shown). Candida-stimulated production of TNF, IL-1β, and IL-6 was only 20–30% reduced in macrophages isolated from TLR2−/− mice compared with control TLR2+/+ mice (p > 0.05, Fig. 4⇓A). In contrast, the synthesis of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly lower in TLR2−/− macrophages stimulated with Candida blastospores than in controls (42 ± 16 vs 98 ± 22 pg/ml, p < 0.05). Moreover, the IL-10 production by spleen cells isolated from C. albicans-infected TLR2−/− mice on day 7 of infection was only 25–30% of that by TLR2+/+ spleen cells when stimulated with Candida, whereas IFN-γ release was 3-fold higher than in TLR2+/+ splenocytes (Fig. 4⇓B).
Production of cytokines in TLR2+/+ and TLR2−/− mice. Naive murine peritoneal macrophages (A) or spleen cells on day 7 of infection with 1 × 105 C. albicans (B) were harvested from TLR2+/+ mice (□) and TLR2−/− mice (▪). The cells were stimulated with 107 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans. The proinflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-1β, and IL-6 (A) or the Th cytokines IFN-γ and IL-10 (B) were measured 24 and 48 h later, respectively. Data represent means ± SEM of 10 mice. ∗, p < 0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test.
CD4+CD25+ Treg cell numbers are decreased in TLR2−/− mice
Recent data have implicated a role for Treg cells in the immune response to C. albicans (15), and it has been suggested that IL-10-mediated signals are involved in the generation of Treg cells (15). In contrast to TLR4−/− mice, which showed normal numbers of Treg cells, there was a 50% decrease of the Treg population in uninfected TLR2−/− mice compared with their wild-type littermates (p < 0.05; Fig. 5⇓A). There were no differences either in the total leukocyte counts of TLR2+/+ and TLR2−/− mice, or in the absolute numbers of CD4+ T lymphocytes (21.1 vs 19.7% of the total lymphocyte count; in absolute numbers, 1234 ± 342 vs 1102 ± 298 cells/mm3). This resulted in significantly decreased numbers of Treg cells in the TLR2−/− mice (TLR2+/+ vs TLR2−/− mice: 10.5 vs 5.4%; 129 ± 35 vs 64 ± 16 cells/mm3, p < 0.05).
Number of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and TLR2 signals. A, The percentage of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells from the CD4+ T cell population in mice deficient (▪) in either TLR2 or TLR4 was assessed by FACS analysis, and compared with control mice (□). B, Survival of Treg cells in the presence of IL-2, the TLR2 agonist peptidoglycan, or the TLR4 agonist LPS. C, The role of Treg cells in disseminated candidiasis was investigated by depletion of Treg cells induced by a rat anti-CD25 mAb 10 days before infection of the mice with 1 × 105 CFU/mouse C. albicans. On day 7 of infection, Candida outgrowth was assessed in the organs of mice receiving either anti-CD25 or control Abs. Data represent means ± SEM of 10 mice. ∗, p < 0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test.
TLR2-mediated signals promote Treg cell survival
To establish the link between TLR2 and the number of Treg cells, we analyzed T cell survival of purified CD4+CD25+ and CD4+CD25− subsets from wild-type animals. Three days of culture in the presence of IL-2 resulted in a 2-fold increase in T cell survival as compared with the medium control for both CD25+ (Fig. 5⇑B), as well as CD25− T cells (data not shown). Interestingly, culture of T cells in medium supplemented with the TLR2 ligand peptidoglycan also improved Treg cell survival (Fig. 5⇑B). Surprisingly, the addition of highly purified LPS did not have a significant effect, indicating that in this particular setting, stimulation through TLR2, but not TLR4, prolongs Treg cell survival in vitro (Fig. 5⇑B).
Treg cell depletion decreases susceptibility to disseminated candidiasis
Treg cells are known to produce large quantities of IL-10 and to decrease cellular defense, and both mechanisms may decrease innate resistance to C. albicans. We tested this hypothesis by depletion of Treg cells with an anti-CD25 mAb. In previous experiments, anti-CD25 Ab administration resulted in the depletion of ∼90% of the CD4+, CD25+ T cell population. As resting conventional T cells (both CD4 and CD8 T cells) are CD25 negative, the majority of the depleted CD25-expressing T cells will have the suppressor phenotype. At this moment, CD25 is the best cell surface marker for Treg in naive mice. As shown in Fig. 5⇑C, depletion of Treg cells in normal TLR2+/+ mice resulted in a 10-fold decrease of fungal outgrowth in the kidneys on day 7, but not day 1 of infection, showing the crucial role of Treg cells in suppressing host defense in normal TLR2+/+ mice.
Our results show that the absence of TLR2-mediated signaling results in an increased resistance to disseminated candidiasis. Whereas production of TNF and IL-1 is normal, IL-10 synthesis is severely impaired in TLR2−/− mice. The decreased production of IL-10 is associated with an increased production of IFN-γ, a diminished generation of Treg cells, and improved candidacidal function of macrophages. This implies that C. albicans evades host defense through TLR2-mediated signals.
We have recently demonstrated that recognition of the C. albicans cell wall Ags involves both TLR2 and TLR4, and the absence of TLR4 signals increases susceptibility to disseminated candidiasis (3). Which C. albicans cell wall components stimulate TLR2 and TLR4 is unknown as yet, although there are indications that a mannan component is recognized by TLR4 (16). Because blockade of TLR2 in human mononuclear cells resulted in a 40–50% decrease of the production of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro (3), our initial hypothesis was that a similar defect in TLR2−/− mice would lead to an increased susceptibility to systemic C. albicans infection, as both TNF and IL-1 are central for an effective antifungal defense (17). Surprisingly, the production of TNF and IL-1 was only marginally impaired in TLR2−/− mice, suggesting that either other TLRs or receptors other than TLR such as mannose receptor (18), β-glucan receptor (19), complement receptor 3 (20), or dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-grabbing nonintegrin (21) are also involved in Candida-induced proinflammatory cytokine release. Moreover, the slight decrease in the TNF and IL-1 release in TLR2−/− mice did not have functional consequences, implying that the remaining production of these cytokines is sufficient for effective host defense. It is also important to mention the cooperation between TLR2 and the β-glucan receptor in recognition of C. albicans (22, 23), and it is tempting to speculate on the role of β-glucan receptors in the findings described in this work.
The increased resistance to disseminated candidiasis was accompanied by increased capacity of TLR2−/− monocytes to migrate to the site of infection and to kill Candida, whereas these functions of neutrophils were similar in the control and TLR2-deficient mice. This differential effect of TLR2 deficiency on the function of macrophages and neutrophils is in line with the relatively late effect on the fungal outgrowth in the kidneys (day 7), as neutrophils are the main cell population involved in the anticandidal defense during the first days of infection, and macrophages in the later phase.
To investigate the mechanisms behind the enhanced function of macrophages in the TLR2−/− mice, we hypothesized that TLR2-mediated signals induce a suppressive signal, which is absent in the knockout mice. IL-10 is known to have strong inhibitory effects on the defense against C. albicans infection, as treatment of mice with anti-IL-10 Abs induces protection (24), and IL-10−/− mice display an increased resistance to disseminated candidiasis (25). Indeed, C. albicans-stimulated IL-10 production by either peritoneal macrophages from naive TLR2−/− mice or spleen cells from Candida-primed TLR2−/− mice was severely impaired. Moreover, this was accompanied by increased IFN-γ production, very likely secondary to the absence of IL-10. These data indicate that TLR2 mainly induces anti-inflammatory signals during invasive candidiasis, and this may represent a mechanism to evade host defense. This new paradigm is sustained by the findings of in vitro studies suggesting that TLR2 mediates signals prone to induce Th2-type responses (26), as well as a recent study showing that Yersinia enterocolitica uses TLR2-dependent IL-10 release as a mechanism of immunosuppression. In accordance with this observation, TLR2−/− mice are more resistant to Y. enterocolitica infection (27). However, TLR2 seems to provide beneficial signals in other types of infection such as staphylococcal sepsis (5) or pneumococcal meningitis (6, 7), although the mechanisms responsible for the protection in these models are unclear.
In addition to its direct inhibitory effects on the function of macrophages and neutrophils, recent data suggest that IL-10 also plays a central role in the shape of adaptive immunity. It has been shown recently that dendritic cell-derived IL-10 is necessary for proper development of a subset of CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes (Treg) involved in regulation of effector T lymphocytes (15); in turn, secretion of IL-10 and TGF-β by Treg cells is responsible for their effects on innate and adaptive immunity (28). Because we observed a strong defect in the release of IL-10 in the TLR2−/− mice, we have investigated both the presence of Treg cells in their circulation and the role of these cells during disseminated candidiasis. In contrast to TLR4−/− mice, which displayed a normal population of Treg cells, TLR2−/− mice displayed a 50% decrease in the Treg cell population. In addition, TLR2 ligation by peptidoglycan enhanced survival of Treg cells, sustaining the hypothesis that TLR2-mediated signals are crucial for the homeostasis of Treg cells. We could further demonstrate a deleterious role of these cells during disseminated candidiasis by depletion of CD25+ cells in normal mice: this led to increased resistance to C. albicans infection, as shown by the 10-fold decrease of the fungal outgrowth in the kidneys.
The demonstration of decreased IL-10 production, a reduced Treg cell population in TLR2−/− mice, and beneficial effects of Treg cell depletion on disseminated candidiasis has two important conceptual consequences. First, these data strongly suggest that TLR2-mediated signals, very likely through IL-10 production, are crucial for the generation of Treg cells. This hypothesis is sustained by recent studies demonstrating that IL-10 is needed for generation of Treg cells during a mucosal model of Candida infection (15). Along the same line, TLR2-mediated signals induced by schistosomal lyso-phosphatidylserine lead to the development of Treg cells (29). Based on our data and the latter studies, we propose that TLR2-mediated IL-10 release is a stimulatory signal for generation and function of Treg cells. Others have described a role for the TLR4/TLR9-mediated IL-6 production in rendering CD4+ cells unresponsive to the Treg-mediated immunosuppression (30). Thus, different TLRs may modulate the adaptive immune response through either stimulation or inhibition of Treg cell functions. Despite the immunosuppressive effects during disseminated candidiasis, Treg cells have protective effects in other infections such as experimental models of pneumococcal meningitis, in which mortality is induced by overwhelming inflammation (6). In addition, Treg cells have proved to be beneficial in mucosal and cutaneous infections, and are essential components of the memory-protective immunity to C. albicans (15) or Leishmania major infection (31). CD4+CD25+ Treg cells are thought to be crucial in maintaining resistance to reinfection through suppression of effector CD4+CD25− T cells. Thereby, the latter cells are no longer able to eliminate commensal microorganisms from sites of colonization (31). Conversely, our results could imply that the effects of Treg cells are deleterious when a pathogen subsequently penetrates the mucosa and disseminates through the bloodstream.
In addition, our data provide an answer to the paradox between the concept that Th1 cytokines are beneficial to host defense, and the observation that nude mice and mice depleted of CD4+ cells are relatively resistant to disseminated candidiasis (32, 33, 34). Our finding that selective depletion of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells beneficially influences the outcome of disseminated candidiasis may explain the increased resistance of nude (no T cells) and CD4+-depleted mice (including CD4+CD25+ Treg) to Candida infection (32, 33, 34). Of note, it has been demonstrated that depletion of CD8+ cells has no effects on the susceptibility for infection (34).
In conclusion, TLR2−/−-deficient mice are relatively resistant to a disseminated infection with C. albicans. This reduced susceptibility to candidiasis is associated with impaired IL-10 production and a decreased number of Treg cells in TLR2 knockout animals, accompanied by more IFN-γ production and effective antifungal properties of TLR2−/− macrophages. Thus, C. albicans evades host defense through TLR2-derived signals, and this represents a novel pathogenetic mechanism in fungal infections.
1 This study was partly supported by an International Sepsis Forum grant (to M.G.N.).
↵2 M.G.N. and R.S. contributed equally to this work.
↵3 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Bart Jan Kullberg, Department of Medicine (541), University Medical Center St. Radboud, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail address: B.Kullberg{at}aig.umcn.nl
↵4 Abbreviations used in this paper: TLR, Toll-like receptor; PMN, polymorphonuclear cell; Treg, regulatory T cells.
Received September 25, 2003.
Accepted January 12, 2004.
Pfaller, M. A., R. N. Jones, G. V. Doern, A. C. Fluit, J. Verhoef, H. S. Sader, S. A. Messer, A. Houston, S. Coffman, R. J. Hollis, SENTRY Participant Group (Europe). 1999. International surveillance of bloodstream infections due to Candida species in the European SENTRY Program: species distribution and antifungal susceptibility including the investigational triazole and echinocandin agents. Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 35:19.
Edmond, M. B., S. E. Wallace, D. K. McClish, M. A. Pfaller, R. N. Jones, R. P. Wenzel. 1999. Nosocomial bloodstream infections in United States hospitals: a three-year analysis. Clin. Infect. Dis. 29:239.
Netea, M. G., C. de Graaf, A. Vonk, I. Verschueren, J. W. M. Van der Meer, B. J. Kullberg. 2002. The role of Toll-like receptors in the defense against disseminated candidiasis. J. Infect. Dis. 185:1483.
Underhill, D. M., A. Ozinski, A. M. Hajjar, A. Stevens, C. B. Wilson, M. Bassetti, A. Aderem. 1999. The Toll-like receptor 2 is recruited to macrophage phagosomes and discriminates between pathogens. Nature 401:811.
Takeuchi, O., K. Hoshino, S. Akira. 2000. TLR2-deficient and MyD88-deficient mice are highly susceptible to Staphylococcus infection. J. Immunol. 165:5392.
Koedel, U., B. Angele, T. Rupprecht, H. Wagner, A. Roggenkamp, H.-W. Pfister, C. J. Kirschning. 2003. Toll-like receptor 2 participates in mediation of immune response in experimental pneumococcal meningitis. J. Immunol. 170:438.
Echchannaoui, H., K. Frei, C. Schnell, S. L. Leib, W. Zimmerli, R. Landmann. 2002. Toll-like receptor 2-deficient mice are highly susceptible to Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis because of reduced bacterial clearing and enhanced inflammation. J. Infect. Dis. 186:798.
Qureshi, S. T., R. Medzhitov. 2003. Toll-like receptors and their role in experimental models of microbial infection. Genes Immun. 4:87.
Lehrer, R. I., M. J. Cline. 1969. Interactions of Candida albicans with human leukocytes and serum. J. Bacteriol. 98:996.
Kullberg, B. J., J. W. Van ’t Wout, R. Van Furth. 1990. Role of granulocytes in enhanced host resistance to Candida albicans induced by recombinant interleukin-1. Infect. Immun. 58:3319.
Kullberg, B. J., J. W. Van’t Wout, C. Hoogstraten, R. Van Furth. 1993. Recombinant interferon-γ enhances resistance to acute disseminated Candida albicans infection in mice. J. Infect. Dis. 168:436.
Vonk, A. G., C. W. Wieland, M. G. Netea, B. J. Kullberg. 2002. Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Candida albicans blastoconidia by neutrophils and macrophages: a comparison of different microbiological test systems. J. Microbiol. Methods 49:55.
Vonk, A. G., M. G. Netea, J. H. van Krieken, J. W. M. Van der Meer, B. J. Kullberg. 2002. Delayed clearance of intraabdominal abscesses caused by Candida albicans in tumor necrosis factor-α and lymphotoxin-α deficient mice. J. Infect. Dis. 186:1815.
Netea, M. G., P. N. M. Demacker, B. J. Kullberg, O. C. Boerman, I. Verschueren, A. F. H. Stalenhoef, J. W. M. Van der Meer. 1996. Low-density-lipoprotein receptor deficient mice are protected against lethal endotoxinemia and severe Gram-negative infections. J. Clin. Invest. 97:1366.
Montagnoli, C., A. Bacci, S. Bozza, R. Gaziano, P. Mosci, A. H. Sharpe, L. Romani. 2002. B7/CD28-dependent CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells are essential components of the memory-protective immunity to Candida albicans. J. Immunol. 169:6298.
Tada, H., E. Nemoto, H. Shimauki, T. Watanabe, T. Mikami, T. Matsumoto, N. Ohna, H. Tamura, K. Shibata, S. Akashi, et al 2002. Saccharomyces cerevisiae- and Candida albicans-derived mannan induced production of tumor necrosis factor α by human monocytes in a CD14- and Toll-like receptor 4-dependent manner. Microbiol. Immunol. 2002:503.
Netea, M. G., L. J. H. Van Tits, J. H. A. J. Curfs, F. Amiot, J. F. G. M. Meis, J. W. M. Van der Meer, B. J. Kullberg. 1999. The increased susceptibility of TNFα LTα double knock-out mice to systemic candidiasis is due to defective recruitment and phagocytosis by neutrophils. J. Immunol. 163:1498.
Yamamoto, Y., T. W. Klein, H. Friedman. 1997. Involvement of mannose receptor in cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor responses, but not in chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP-1β), MIP-2, and KC responses, caused by attachment of Candida albicans to macrophages. Infect. Immun. 65:1077.
Brown, G. D., P. R. Taylor, D. M. Reid, J. A. Willment, D. L. Williams, L. Martinez-Pomares, S. Y. C. Wong, S. Gordon. 2002. Dectin-1 is a major β-glucan receptor on macrophages. J. Exp. Med. 196:407.
Forsyth, C. B., H. L. Mathews. 1996. Lymphocytes utilize CD11b/CD18 for adhesion to Candida albicans. Cell. Immunol. 170:91.
Cambi, A., K. Gijzen, J. de Vries, R. Torensma, B. Joosten, G. J. Adema, M. G. Netea, B. J. Kullberg, L. Romani, C. G. Figdor. 2003. The C-type lectin DC-SIGN (CD209) is an antigen-uptake receptor for Candida albicans on dendritic cells. Eur. J. Immunol. 33:532.
Brown, G. D., J. Herre, D. L. Williams, J. A. Willment, A. S. Marshall, S. Gordon. 2003. Dectin-1 mediates the biological effects of β-glucans. J. Exp. Med. 197:1119.
Gantner, B. N., R. M. Simmons, S. J. Canavera, S. Akira, D. M. Underhill. 2003. Collaborative induction of inflammatory responses by dectin-1 and Toll-like receptor 2. J. Exp. Med. 197:1107.
Romani, L., P. Puccetti, A. Mencacci, E. Cenci, R. Spaccapelo, L. Tonnetti, U. Grohmann, F. Bistoni. 1994. Neutralization of IL-10 up-regulates nitric oxide production and protects susceptible mice from challenge with Candida albicans. J. Immunol. 152:3514.
Vasquez-Torres, A., J. Jones-Carson, R. D. Wagner, T. Warner, E. Balish. 1999. Early resistance of interleukin-10 knock-out mice to acute systemic candidiasis. Infect. Immun. 67:670.
Re, F., J. L. Strominger. 2001. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 differentially activate human denderitic cells. J. Biol. Chem. 276:37692.
Sing, A., D. Rost, N. Tvardovskaia, A. Roggenkamp, A. Wiedemann, C. J. Kirschning, M. Aepfelbacher, J. Heesemann. 2002. Yersinia V-antigen exploits Toll-like receptor 2 and CD14 for interleukin-10-mediated immunosuppression. J. Exp. Med. 196:1017.
Maloy, K. J., L. Salaun, R. Cahill, G. Dougan, N. J. Saunders, F. Powrie. 2003. CD4+CD25+ Tr cells suppress innate immune pathology through cytokine-dependent mechanisms. J. Exp. Med. 197:111.
Van der Kleij, D., E. Latz, J. F. H. M. Brouwers, Y. C. M. Kruize, M. Schmitz, E. A. Kurt-Jones, T. Espevik, E. C. de Jong, M. L. Kapsenberg, D. T. Golenbock, et al 2002. A novel host-parasite lipid cross talk: schistosomal lyso-phosphatidylserine activates Toll-like receptor 2 and affects immune polarization. J. Biol. Chem. 277:48122.
Pasare, C., R. Medzhitov. 2003. Toll pathway-dependent blockade of CD4+CD25+ T cell-mediated suppression by dendritic cells. Science 299:1033.
Belkaid, Y., C. A. Piccirillo, S. Mendez, E. M. Shevach, D. L. Sacks. 2002. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells control Leishmania major persistence and immunity. Nature 420:502.
Fulurija, A., R. B. Ashman, J. M. Papadimitriou. 1997. Increased tissue resistance in the nude mice against Candida albicans without altering strain-dependent differences in susceptibility. J. Med. Vet. Mycol. 35:197.
Tavares, D., P. Ferreira, M. Arala-Chaves. 2000. Increased resistance to systemic candidiasis in athymic or interleukin-10-depleted mice. J. Infect. Dis. 182:266.
Coker, L. A., III, C. M. Mercadal, B. T. Rouse, R. N. Moore. 1992. Differential effects of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in acute, systemic murine candidosis. J. Leukocyte Biol. 51:305.
You are going to email the following Toll-Like Receptor 2 Suppresses Immunity against Candida albicans through Induction of IL-10 and Regulatory T Cells
Mihai G. Netea, Roger Sutmuller, Corinna Hermann, Chantal A. A. Van der Graaf, Jos W. M. Van der Meer, Johan H. van Krieken, Thomas Hartung, Gosse Adema, Bart Jan Kullberg
The Journal of Immunology March 15, 2004, 172 (6) 3712-3718; DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.6.3712
Early Self-Regulatory Mechanisms Control the Magnitude of CD8+ T Cell Responses Against Liver Stages of Murine Malaria
Sublethal Hyperoxia Impairs Pulmonary Innate Immunity
Dependence of IL-4, IL-13, and Nematode-Induced Alterations in Murine Small Intestinal Smooth Muscle Contractility on Stat6 and Enteric Nerves
Show more Host Defense
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507494
|
__label__cc
| 0.662763
| 0.337237
|
Global MetalWorking Platform - Terms & Conditions
1.1. For the business relationship between JKV Global Sourcing Solutions GmbH, Haasstrasse 15, 64293 Darmstadt (hereinafter: JKV) and the commercial USERS (hereinafter: USERS) who wish to use the marketplace at https://jkvglobalsourcing.com (hereinafter: jkvglobalsourcing.com or online marketplace) and all associated JKV’s applications and services for USERS, the following terms of use shall apply exclusively.
1.2. USERS must be entrepreneurs within the meaning of § 14 BGB (German Civil Code). JKV reserves the right to immediately block the user accounts of USERS who are not entrepreneurs but consumers within the meaning of § 13 BGB (German Civil Code).
1.3. By registering on jkvglobalsourcing.com, a USER does not receive any legal claim to the use of the marketplace on jkvglobalsourcing.com, but only an opportunity to benefit from it’s services. The blocking of a USER's user account shall be governed by the provisions of Section 9 of these Terms of Use.
1.4. JKV does not recognize deviating terms and conditions of the USER unless JKV has expressly agreed to them in writing.
2. Conclusion of contracts including the online marketplace on jkvglobalsourcing.com - Principles and description of services
2.1. JKV offers an online directory on jkvglobalsourcing.com for the promotion and distribution of metals by USERS. The prerequisite for using the online marketplace is that the goods published in the directory or published company descriptions and/or the publication of the information contained in the company or product description do not violate legal provisions or these terms of use. All information, company descriptions, product descriptions and other contents posted by the USER within jkvglobalsourcing.com are hereinafter collectively referred to as USER CONTENT.
2.2. JKV itself does not offer goods on jkvglobalsourcing.com, nor does it independently broker goods or partner with companies. JKV does not itself become a contractual partner of the contracts concluded exclusively between the USERS of jkvglobalsourcing.com via the online marketplace.
2.3. JKV merely provides the USERS with the technical and organizational infrastructure to initiate future contractual relationships between the sellers and buyers of metals (USERS). It is not possible to conclude a purchase or partnership agreement on the jkvglobalsourcing.com online marketplace. The USERS are themselves responsible for compliance with legal requirements and the assertion of claims arising from contracts concluded by them subsequently.
2.4. In particular, JKV does not assume any liability for
the accuracy and completeness of the information and statements made in relation to the goods offered and the company names indicated in the list,
the accuracy and completeness of the information provided by USERS
the qualifications presented by USERS and the behavior and performance of USERS.
2.5. USERS are required to comply with all applicable laws when using jkvglobalsourcing.com. It is the sole responsibility of the USER to ensure that their offers comply with the legal requirements and do not infringe the rights of third parties. This applies in particular with regard to the provisions of international commercial law and the applicable national tax and trade regulations.
2.6. JKV can only carry out a limited check of the data deposited by the USER during registration. JKV does not verify the identity of a USER when registering. JKV therefore does not guarantee that the contact details used for a USER's user account are correct. Every USER must therefore satisfy himself of the identity of his contractual partner before concluding the later contract.
3. Storage of the text of the terms of use and future changes to these terms of use
3.1. This text is stored by the JKV each time a USER registers.
3.2. JKV reserves the right to amend these Terms of Use in the future if this is necessary for legitimate reasons, in particular due to reasons like changes in the legal situation or highest court rulings, technical changes or further developments, changed organizational requirements of the operation of the online marketplace, regulatory gaps in the Terms of Use, changes in market conditions or other comparable reasons. As a result, the USER is not unreasonably disadvantaged.
3.3. The USER shall be notified of changes to the Terms of Use and the fees in text form in a good time prior to the change. The changes are considered approved and become effective if the USER does not object to them within one month after receipt of the change notification, provided that JKV has expressly informed the USER of this consequence in the notification of the changes. In the case of services provided free of charge, JKV is entitled at any time to change, cancel or replace the terms of use by other terms of use and to make new services available free of charge
3.4. JKV reserves the right to terminate the usage relationship with the USER without giving reasons after a period of 30 calendar days if the USER does not accept the new terms of use within this previously stated period.
4. Technical aspects, availability and maintenance work
4.1. The USERS themselves are responsible for the presentation of their offers on various terminal devices. JKV has the right to technically edit article descriptions and contents of USERS in such a way that they can also be displayed on mobile devices or software applications of JKV or third parties.
4.2. JKV may make use of jkvglobalsourcing.com or individual functions of jkvglobalsourcing.com or the extent subject to certain conditions, such as verification of registration data, period of use, account type, status of the USER's evaluation profile, or the submission of certain evidence (e.g. proof of identity).
4.3. JKV reserves the right to temporarily restrict its services with respect to jkvglobalsourcing.com if it is necessary in view of capacity limits, security or integrity of JKV's servers or for the implementation of technical measures with respect to jkvglobalsourcing.com, or for the proper or improved provision of the services. In these cases, JKV takes into account the legitimate interests of the USER, e.g. through preliminary information.
4.4. Profiles or product groups that end in a period in which JKV cannot be reached due to maintenance work or other disruptions in the availability of jkvglobalsourcing.com will not be extended, even if interested USERS are unable to contact jkvglobalsourcing.com
4.5. If an unforeseen system failure impedes the use of jkvglobalsourcing.com, the USERS will be informed immediately in an appropriate form by JKV.
4.6. Clause 10 of these Terms of Use shall remain unaffected by the above provisions of Clause 4.
5. Registration and fees on jkvglobalsourcing.com / Function of the online marketplace on jkvglobalsourcing.com
5.1. The registration of a USER on jkvglobalsourcing.com is only a non-binding offer by the USER to act as a USER on jkvglobalsourcing.com. After successful registration, the USER receives a confirmation e-mail without obligation. The account will only be activated after confirmation of the link contained in the e-mail.
5.2. When registering on jkvglobalsourcing.com, the USER must indicate whether he wishes to register as a supplier or as a buyer (byer).
5.3. JKV reserves the right to reject individual registrations and, in its sole discretion, not to authorize USERS to use jkvglobalsourcing.com or to subsequently cancel individual registrations. By registering, the USER gains access to a profile which he can subsequently complete and individualize, e.g. by placing offers for goods.
5.4. The profile will be checked by JKV after registration and publication. The profile can also be rejected within the scope of the review by JKV and thus subsequently deleted if it violates the provisions of these Terms of Use. The service provider receives this information by e-mail from JKV, stating the exact reasons.
5.5. After activating his profile within jkvglobalsourcing.com, the USER has the possibility to book one of several service packages (hereinafter: package). The bookable packages depend on whether the USER has registered as a supplier or as a buyer. The scope of services of the individual packages results from the description of services provided on jkvglobalsourcing.com.
5.6. The USER must book and activate a package within 2 weeks of the free registration at the latest. If no package is booked or activated within 2 weeks of registration, JKV will deactivate the account.
5.7. A change to a higher package (upgrade) is possible at any time. A change to a lower package (downgrade) is only possible after expiration of the respective contract period.
5.8. The presentation of USERS' offers in jkvglobalsourcing.com's user directory is merely a non-binding invitation to USERS to contact each other. The content posted by USERS on jkvglobalsourcing.com does not constitute legally binding offers.
5.9. JKV does not have any contractual or pre-contractual relationship with respect to the contracts concluded between the USERS on JKV. The USERS are obliged to satisfy themselves of the performance and identity of the potential contractual partner prior to the conclusion of a contract.
5.10. The conclusion of the contract and the communication between the USERS takes place exclusively by means of the contact data stored on jkvglobalsourcing.com. The USER is obliged to check the e-mail address stored on jkvglobalsourcing.com regularly and to ensure that system e-mails from jkvglobalsourcing.com can be read even if spam filters are used.
6. Fees on jkvglobalsourcing.com / Terms of Payment / Prohibition of Offsetting
6.1. The fees are based on the package booked by the USER in connection with his annual turnover in US dollars, as well as the general price list of JKV at the time of the conclusion of the contract. The user receives corresponding price information via the JKV website.
6.2. The USER is obliged to enter data on annual sales to the best of his knowledge and belief. JKV is entitled to demand corresponding proof of the actual amount of the annual turnover.
6.3. Unless otherwise stated, all fees and prices are in Euro plus sales tax, if any. The fees are due monthly or annually depending on the package and are due on the agreed dates. JKV only accepts the payment methods offered on jkvglobalsourcing.com. For the payment of the fees, the USER must select the preferred payment method from the available payment methods in his user account.
6.4. Paypal:
If a payment is made via PayPal, the USER must have a PayPal account and legitimize himself with his access data. Then the USER must go through the PayPal payment process and confirm the payment to JKV.
6.5. Stripe
If payment is made via Stripe, the USER must provide an email address with his card number, expiry date and CVC. By disclosing his credit card details, the USER authorizes the credit card company concerned to charge the full amount of the invoice, including any delivery and shipping costs, when due. In this case, the debit will be initiated with the order confirmation.
6.6. The USER shall only be entitled to set-off rights against JKV if the counter-claims have been legally established and are undisputed or acknowledged by JKV or if the opposing claims are based on the same legal relationship.
7. Obligations of the USER, prohibited offers and other contents
7.1. It is the responsibility of the USER to ensure that the USER CONTENTS placed online by him, including the images used, comply with all legal requirements and do not infringe the rights of third parties.
7.2. The USER must refrain from offering or advertising on jkvglobalsourcing.com USER CONTENTS or articles that violate legal regulations, these Terms of Use, the rights of third parties or morality. JKV reserves the right to link the offer of certain goods to conditions which go beyond the statutory provisions. It is prohibited on jkvglobalsourcing.com to offer and/or advertise content for untaxed foreign assets and money laundering.
7.3. Each USER may establish only one personal access to jkvglobalsourcing.com. JKV is entitled to refuse further registration attempts and to deactivate additional registrations or multiple accounts at any time.
7.4. The USER is obliged to enter the information requested during registration truthfully and to notify JKV of any changes to this information without delay.
7.5. The USER will keep his/her password, user name, e-mail address and all data that enable access to jkvglobalsourcing.com secret and will have them changed immediately or have them changed by JKV if there is reason to suspect that unauthorized third parties have obtained knowledge of such access data.
7.6. The USER is obliged to inform JKV immediately by e-mail of any suspected misuse of the access data via jkvglobalsourcing.com in order to have access to jkvglobalsourcing.com blocked. The USER is also liable for third parties who use or have used services via his user account, whether authorized or unauthorized. This does not apply if the USER is not responsible for unauthorized use. The USER is responsible for proving that he is not responsible for such use by third parties.
7.7. The USER undertakes not to misuse jkvglobalsourcing.com, including but not limited to
not to interfere with telecommunications networks,
not to infringe any national or international property rights (e.g. copyrights, trademark rights),
not to violate penal regulations, in particular §§ 184 ff. StGB (distribution of pornographic writings), §§ 86 f. StGB (Dissemination of propaganda material of unconstitutional organizations), § 111 StGB (Public invitation to criminal offences), § 126 StGB (Threat of criminal offences), § 129a Abs. 3 StGB (advertising for a terrorist organization), § 130 StGB (incitement of the people), § 130 a StGB (instruction for criminal offences), § 131 StGB (depiction of violence), § 201a StGB (violation of the most personal area of life by taking pictures) as well as not to violate regulations for the protection of young people.
7.8. The USER agrees to refrain from making any falsehoods or misrepresentations on jkvglobalsourcing.com and/or post content that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, libelous, threatening, pornographic, paedophile, revisionist (denying the existence of the Holocaust), harassing, hateful, racist, xenophobic, violent and/or ethnically offensive and/or contains other unlawful or immoral content and/or that disparages or infringes a trademark and/or other proprietary right of a third party.
7.9. The USER shall refrain from activities that go beyond the access possibilities provided within the framework of normal use of the jkvglobalsourcing.com portal, in particular such activities that aim to make the use of jkvglobalsourcing.com more difficult for other USERS or to render jkvglobalsourcing.com inoperative. In particular, this includes activities that may affect the physical or logical structure of jkvglobalsourcing.com beyond its intended use and/or result in an unusually high utilization of jkvglobalsourcing.com. If such user activities of a USER are aimed at rendering jkvglobalsourcing.com inoperable or difficult to use, JKV reserves the right to civil and criminal prosecution.
7.10. The passing on of contents of JKV to third parties (also in extracts) is not permitted without the consent of JKV. It is prohibited to integrate and/or display jkvglobalsourcing.com or individual pages of jkvglobalsourcing.com by means of a hyperlink in a sub-window (frame or iFrame). Furthermore, it is prohibited to copy data from jkvglobalsourcing.com using technical aids (e.g. crawlers, spiders, etc.) (so-called screen scraping) and process them further.
7.11. The USER is prohibited from modifying and/or removing any copyright and/or trademark notices and/or other notices contained in the content of jkvglobalsourcing.com.
7.12. The USER must refrain from improperly influencing the search functions on JKV's online marketplace, e.g. by misusing brand names, company names or other search terms in the content description or description.
7.13. The USER must observe these terms of use when posting content. He is obliged to place the contents in the appropriate category and to use descriptive texts that are as precise as possible.
7.14. As far as legal requirements exist with regard to certain contents (e.g. transport of dangerous goods, special storage conditions, sales prohibitions in certain countries), only the USER is obliged to refer to the legal requirements within the description.
7.15. For technical reasons, it is possible that individual contents cannot be found immediately after posting via the category search or with the help of search terms. JKV allows USERS to sort search results according to various criteria. If a USER does not make a selection, the order of the search results depends on various factors, e.g. offer format, article description, number of search queries, number of retrievals, category. The USER is not entitled to any particular order of the search results displayed.
7.16. The description of the content as well as the pictures used must refer exclusively to the concrete content. Advertising for content not posted on jkvglobalsourcing.com is prohibited.
7.17. USERS may not use any seal of approval, warranty mark or other symbol of a third party that they are not authorized to use when using jkvglobalsourcing.com. JKV reserves the right to prohibit the use of any individual seal of approval, certification mark or other symbol by any third party on jkvglobalsourcing.com.
7.18. USERS are responsible for maintaining on jkvglobalsourcing.com an independent storage medium for any information visible on jkvglobalsourcing.com and stored by JKV that they need for evidence, accounting, or other purposes.
7.19. The USER may not block, overwrite or modify any content generated by JKV or other USERS, or otherwise interfere with the operation of jkvglobalsourcing.com, in particular if this could cause an excessive load on the jkvglobalsourcing.com server infrastructure.
8. Other Duties and Liability of the USER, Transfer of Rights to USER CONTENTS
8.1. The USER is solely responsible for the USER CONTENT posted on the jkvglobalsourcing.com platform.
8.2. The USER retains his or her copyright and all existing intellectual property rights to the USER CONTENT that he or she posts on jkvglobalsourcing.com.
8.3. If a USER posts copyright or other proprietary USER CONTENT on jkvglobalsourcing.com, he grants JKV and its affiliates, free of charge, the necessary, non-exclusive, worldwide and perpetual rights to use such USER CONTENT solely for the purpose of providing and operating jkvglobalsourcing.com and only to the extent necessary to do so.
8.4. In order for JKV to offer the jkvglobalsourcing.com platform, User Content must be stored by JKV and hosted on servers. JKV's right of use therefore includes in particular, the right to reproduce the USER CONTENT technically. Furthermore, the USER grants JKV the right to make his USER CONTENTS on jkvglobalsourcing.com publicly accessible only in the event that he intends to make them publicly accessible due to the nature of the respective service or if the USER has expressly determined that they shall be made publicly accessible. The right of public access ends when the USER removes a discontinued USER CONTENT from jkvglobalsourcing.com or cancels the provision of public access.
8.5. By transferring USER CONTENTS to jkvglobalsourcing.com, the USER acknowledges that he/she has read and understood all of the User CONTENTS and that he/she is aware of the sufficient rights to transfer USER CONTENTS to JKV in accordance with the above provisions and is not aware of any conflicting rights of third parties, in particular that he is in possession of the necessary licenses, rights, approvals and authorizations for the use and authorization of JKV to use all patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and other proprietary rights in all submitted USER CONTENTS and that he has received written permission, release or other permission from JKV to use all submitted USER CONTENTS. JKV has obtained the consent of each individual identifiable person to ensure the acceptance and use of these submissions by JKV in the manner described above.
8.6. JKV reserves the right, without prior notice and in its sole discretion, not to publish any USER CONTENT that violates the foregoing provisions and to delete it from jkvglobalsourcing.com and any connected IT systems without notice or reason.
8.7. By uploading USER CONTENT, the USER confirms that he is not transmitting any content that is protected by copyrights, trade secrets or proprietary rights of third parties and does not contain unwanted or prohibited content in accordance with the above provisions in Section 8.
8.8. The USER shall be liable to JKV for damages incurred by JKV as a result of breaches of its obligations arising from the above provisions (Clause 7 and/or Clause 8) and shall indemnify JKV against claims by third parties in this respect. This does not apply if the USER is not responsible for the violation. The USER is responsible for proving that he is not responsible for the violation.
9. Contract Term, Termination, Sanctions and Blocking
9.1. The minimum contract period for monthly models is one month from the date of booking of the package. For annual models, the minimum contract period is twelve months from booking of the package. The contract period begins when the package is booked or when an upgrade is booked.
9.2. USER and JKV can cancel monthly packages booked with costs with a period of notice of 2 weeks to the end of the contract in writing. If the contract is not terminated in due time, it shall be extended by one month at a time.
9.3. The contract concluded between the USERS and JKV in the annual model can be terminated in writing with a notice period of 4 weeks to the end of the contract. If the cancellation is not made in due time, the annual package will be extended by a further 12 months.
9.4. The right to temporarily block a USER or to terminate the contract without notice in accordance with the following provisions shall remain unaffected.
9.5. If there are concrete indications that a USER has violated legal regulations and/or the rights of third parties and/or these Terms of Use, JKV reserves the right to take the following measures, e.g. to protect users, other USERS or third parties from fraudulent activities and/or damage to health:
Deletion of content published by the USER;
Warning the USER;
Delay in the publication of the USER's content;
Restriction of the use of JKV;
Withdrawal of a special USER status
Temporary suspension of a USER's user account for up to three calendar months;
Termination without notice for good cause according to clause 9.7;
9.6. When selecting a measure, JKV takes into account the legitimate interests of the USER concerned, in particular whether there are any indications that the USER was not at fault for the infringement.
9.7. JKV may definitively exclude a USER from using the online marketplace on JKV (termination without notice), if,
he repeatedly receives negative ratings and the blocking is necessary to protect the interests of other USERS or third parties;
he has provided false contact information within his user account;
he has made false declarations about his annual turnover;
he has transferred his USER account to a third party or granted third parties access to it;
he significantly damages other USERS or JKV;
he repeatedly violates these terms of use or other agreements with JKV;
there's another important reason.
9.8. After a USER has been finally blocked by a termination without notice, there is no right to restore the blocked user account.
9.9. As soon as a USER has been blocked or the user contract has been terminated by JKV, this USER may no longer use jkvglobalsourcing.com with other user accounts and may not log on again. A blocking or termination has no effect on JKV's fee claims against the USER, insofar as these result from the time of the blocking. For the time span of a temporary blockage the user fees are void.
10. Liability of JKV
10.1. The USER's claims against JKV for damages or reimbursement of futile expenses shall be governed by these provisions outside of warranty law regardless of the legal nature of the claim.
10.2. The liability of JKV is excluded - regardless of the legal grounds - unless the cause of the damage is based on intent and/or gross negligence on the part of JKV, its employees, representatives or vicarious agents of JKV. Insofar as the liability of JKV is excluded or limited, this shall also apply to the personal liability of employees, representatives or vicarious agents of JKV. The liability of JKV under the Product Liability Act remains unaffected (§ 14 ProdHG).
10.3. JKV shall be liable in accordance with the statutory provisions for damages resulting from injury to life, body or health which are based on an intentional, grossly negligent or negligent breach of duty by JKV or a legal representative or vicarious agent of JKV.
10.4. If JKV at least negligently violates an essential contractual obligation, i.e. an obligation whose observance is of particular importance for the achievement of the purpose of the contract (essential contractual obligation or cardinal obligation), the liability is limited to the typically occurring damage, i.e. to such damage whose occurrence must be typically expected within the framework of the contract. An essential contractual or cardinal obligation in the aforementioned sense is one the fulfilment of which is essential for the proper performance of this contract and on the observance of which the USER regularly relies and may rely.
10.5. Content and company profiles published by USERS on JKV do not represent the opinion of JKV and are generally not checked by JKV for their legality, correctness and completeness.
11. Exemption
11.1. If a USER on jkvglobalsourcing.com is accused of an infringement by another USER or a third party, the USER hereby indemnifies JKV against all claims brought by other USERS or third parties against JKV for alleged infringement of their rights by the content posted on jkvglobalsourcing.com by the USER accused or for any other use of jkvglobalsourcing.com.
11.2. The accused USER has to bear the costs of the necessary legal defence of JKV including all court and lawyer costs in the respective legal amount. This does not apply if the alleged infringement is not the responsibility of the accused USER. The accused USER is obliged to provide JKV immediately, truthfully and completely with all information necessary for the examination of the claims and a defense in the event of a claim by third parties.
12. Data storage and data protection
12.1. USERS may not use addresses, contact information and email addresses obtained through the use of jkvglobalsourcing.com for any purpose other than contractual and pre-contractual communication. In particular, it is forbidden to resell these data or to use them for the sending of advertising, unless the respective USER has expressly agreed to this beforehand.
12.2. In addition, the data protection provisions of the data protection declaration on the website www. jkvglobalsourcing.com apply.
13. Publicity
13.1. USERS may additionally place advertisements (hereinafter: ADVERTISEMENT) on jkvglobalsourcing.com in accordance with the following regulations.
13.2. Within the framework of a separate contractual relationship, the USER may book advertising that goes beyond his package to it. The concrete type of advertising (banner, etc.) results from the concrete advertising offer.
13.3. The ADVERTISEMENT ensures that the ADVERTISEMENT booked by the USER is displayed accordingly on the page. If, for example, the USER books a banner, this will be placed by JKV at the location listed in the offer. If a function is purchased by more than one USER, the order of the ADVERTISEMENT is determined by the date of receipt.
13.4. The contents, files, information and other data and materials (hereinafter referred to as "CONTENT") required for the placement of the ADVERTISEMENT as well as links to other Internet pages must be checked by the USER for their legality. The USER assumes sole responsibility for the legality of the PROMOTIONAL CONTENT.
13.5. The USER shall ensure that the PROMOTIONAL CONTENTS do not violate statutory provisions, official prohibitions, the rights of third parties or the following provisions.
13.6. In particular, the USER shall ensure that he/she only delivers PROMOTIONAL CONTENTS to JKV that do not contain any of the following:
13.6.1. contents which are harmful to minors, in particular those which represent inadmissible offers within the meaning of § 4 JmStV or contents which are likely to impair the development of children or minors into an independent and communal personality (offers which impair development within the meaning of § 5 JmStV)
13.6.2. representations which incite the people or glorify violence within the meaning of §§ 130, 131 StGB (German Penal Code)
13.6.3. pornographic contents
13.6.4. Characteristics or means of propaganda of unconstitutional organizations in the sense of § 86 StGB (German Criminal Code)
13.6.5. Advertising for terrorist groups
13.6.6. Calls for criminal offences
13.6.7. warglorifying or racist statements
13.6.8. anti-competitive claims
13.6.9. defamatory statements or representations
13.6.10. other illegal contents
13.6.11. Content that is likely to damage the reputation of JKV or jkvglobalsourcing.com.
13.7. JKV shall be entitled to reject any Advertising or Advertising Content which does not meet the criteria set out in Clauses 13.5 and 13.6. In such a case, JKV is also entitled to remove or block already published ADVERTISEMENT if it contains such components. This shall also apply if the ADVERTISEMENT was subsequently changed by the USER.
13.8. In the event of non-publication or removal of ADVERTISEMENT, JKV will immediately inform the USER of this and invite him to comment on it. As long as the matter is not resolved, JKV will withhold the placement of the ADVERTISEMENT. In particular, official or criminal proceedings as well as requests from third parties to remove or not to publish the corresponding ADVERTISEMENT are indications that such inadmissible ADVERTISEMENT exists. This only applies if it is not obvious to JKV that this request from third parties is unfounded. These regulations also apply if corresponding illegal, immoral or infringing material is not contained in the ADVERTISEMENT, but on websites to which links are to be provided in the advertisement.
13.9. JKV is under no obligation to check the WERBUNG or any linked websites for legal infringements. If JKV nevertheless carries out such checks, this shall not invalidate the USER's responsibility for the ADVERTISEMENT.
13.10. The USER must ensure that he has the necessary rights to use the CONTENTS of the ADVERTISEMENT that are required for the placement of the advertisement (see Section 13.29). The USER further affirms that the CONTENTS do not infringe any rights of third parties, in particular that they do not infringe any third-party copyrights, trademark rights or patent rights. In addition, in the event that the CONTENT contains links to other websites, the USER shall ensure that he is entitled to use these links.
13.11. JKV shall ensure that the CONTENTS, to the extent that they comply with these GTC, are published to the extent contractually agreed. JKV shall be entitled to process the CONTENT OF APPLICATION in such a way that size, resolution, format or other technical characteristics are adapted to the requirements of the publication, insofar as JKV deems this necessary and it is reasonable for the USER taking into account the interests of both parties.
13.12. If URLs other than those within jkvglobalsourcing.com are to be linked, the USER undertakes to ensure that the linked content is available as far as technically possible during the term of the switched ADVERTISEMENT. Should this availability not be guaranteed, JKV is entitled to suspend the placement of an advertisement referring to such unavailable content. JKV will inform the USER of this immediately. In addition, both contracting parties shall immediately inform their respective contracting parties as soon as disruptions in the accessibility of a linked external content, ADVERTISING CONTENT or a link target on jkvglobalsourcing.com are detected.
13.13. For the period in which the USER does not or not completely fulfil his obligations to cooperate, JKV is released from the obligation to perform to the extent that the provision of services by JKV is not possible without the cooperation of the USER or only possible with considerable additional expenditure. If, in addition, additional expenses are incurred for JKV as a result of the USER not or not completely fulfilling his obligations to cooperate, the USER shall be obliged to reimburse the costs incurred as a result.
13.14. The USER is obliged to check the ADVERTISEMENT immediately after its publication. If there are any recognizable errors, he must notify WERBUNG of these in writing immediately, but at the latest within one week of placing the advertisement. The ADVERTISEMENT shall be deemed to have been approved in accordance with the contract if the USER omits to make such notification, unless the error was not recognizable at the time of verification. The same applies if an error occurs later.
13.15. Insofar as JKV is entitled to statutory rights which entitle JKV to terminate or withdraw from the contract, these shall remain unaffected.
13.16. If JKV deems it necessary to process the PROMOTIONAL CONTENTS at a level other than the technical level, in particular to process the content, for example because the PROMOTIONAL CONTENTS contain material that contradicts the provisions of Sections 13.5 and/or 13.6 of these GTC, JKV shall obtain the USER's consent for such changes. The USER shall be responsible for any delays arising as a result.
13.17. The APPLICATION switched to JKV will only be published to the extent and within the scope contractually agreed. This includes agreements about a certain period of time within which the ADVERTISEMENT is to be placed, about a certain number of retrievals of the advertisement by Internet users (advertising calls), about a certain number of retrievals of the website containing the advertisement (page calls) or about a certain number of clicks on the advertisement (advertising clicks). The alteration of this scope of the booked ADVERTISEMENT is possible by agreement of the parties in text form, unless the original contractual agreement provides otherwise.
13.18. Unless otherwise stipulated in the contractual agreement, the USER is not entitled to place advertisements on specific placements. In particular, JKV is entitled to change, create new or abolish placements for advertising and to deliver the ADVERTISEMENT on other placements which have the same overall scope, unless otherwise regulated in the contractual agreement.
13.19. JKV is obliged to expressly mark the ADVERTISEMENT, which lies in a better placement, as advertising, in particular to label it with the term "advertisement" or to distinguish it optically from other components of jkvglobalsourcing.com.
13.20. The PROMOTIONAL CONTENTS supplied by the USER shall not be surrendered or stored by JKV after the end of the advertising campaign.
13.21. If offers, in the context of which the publication of WERBUNG is intended, are not offered at the intended time or technical circumstances, which do not lie in the area of responsibility of JKV, prevent the placement of the advertisement at the intended time, JKV is entitled to postpone the intended date for the placement of the WERBUNG or to cancel it completely. In the event of a postponement, JKV shall take into consideration the interests of the USER to the extent that such interests are known to JKV and JKV is able and reasonable to do so.
13.22. The remuneration for the services provided by JKV in the area of online advertising is determined by agreement in the respective contract.
13.23. If the remuneration is calculated on the basis of the number of advertising views, page views or advertising clicks, JKV shall inform the USER upon request of the number of views of the pages on which the USER'S ADVERTISEMENT is placed relevant for the ADVERTISEMENT booked by the USER.
13.24. For the calculation of these figures on which the remuneration is based, the measurement of the access figures carried out by JKV is decisive. Other measurements carried out by the USER shall only be taken into account if they demonstrably deviate by more than 10% or, in the case of mobile offers, by more than 30% from the figures determined by JKV. If this is the case, the parties shall agree separately on the relevant access numbers.
13.25. The agreed remuneration shall normally be invoiced after the end of the advertising campaign, unless the parties have stipulated otherwise in the contract. In the case of advertising campaigns which have a duration of more than one month and for which monthly invoicing has been agreed, the agreed remuneration shall be invoiced at the end of the respective month.
13.26. JKV reserves the right to demand advance payments from USERS.
13.27. If JKV makes use of its right pursuant to Section 13.7 not to publish ADVERTISEMENT, the USER shall not be obliged to pay the agreed remuneration. However, unless the USER immediately changes the ADVERTISING CONTENTS in such a way that they comply with the criteria set out in Clauses 13.5 and 13.6, the USER shall be liable for damages incurred by JKV as a result of JKV no longer being able to allocate the booked advertising space elsewhere at the same price. The USER is at liberty to prove that JKV has incurred no or less damage.
13.28. The USER grants JKV the rights of use to the CONTENTS required for the placement of the ADVERTISEMENT. This includes the non-exclusive, worldwide right, transferable or sublicensable only to affiliated companies of JKV within the meaning of Section 15 AktG, for the purposes of the Agreement and for the agreed term of the Agreement, to integrate, publish, make available worldwide and reproduce the CONTAINS on jkvglobalsourcing.com for the purposes of the Agreement.
13.29. This granting of rights includes all digital and analogue transmission and retrieval techniques and includes retrieval via cable, radio and satellite networks as well as the use of all protocols and programming or markup languages used for this purpose.
13.30. It also includes playback, downloading and storage on any device that can be used to access jkvglobalsourcing.com content.
13.31. At the same time, the USER grants JKV the right to process the PROMOTIONAL CONTENTS in accordance with the provisions of these GTC and to use such processing in accordance with the above provisions.
13.32. This granting of rights under the above Sections 13.29 to 13.32 includes in particular copyrights and ancillary copyrights, name rights, title rights, trademark rights as well as other trademark rights and the right to one's own image.
14. Final provisions
14.1. The law of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply to the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.
14.2. If the USER is a merchant, legal entity under public law or special fund under public law, the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from this contract shall be the registered office of JKV in Darmstadt, Germany.
14.3. The same shall apply if the USER is an entrepreneur and has no general place of jurisdiction in Germany or if his place of residence or habitual abode is unknown at the time the action is filed. The authority of JKV to also appeal to the court at another legal place of jurisdiction remains unaffected by this.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507495
|
__label__wiki
| 0.796596
| 0.796596
|
Today's Top Reads
A Year of Firsts: 6 Ways Johnson & Johnson Made History in 2019
Have IBD? Read About the Next Frontier in Disease Research That Taps Into the Microbiome
“I Have a Vision for Helping Advance Healthcare”: Meet 6 Leaders Working on Inspiring Innovations in 2020
Official Company Statement Regarding Today's Post-Trial Motion Ruling in St. Louis
Today's Top Reads Close
Did you like reading this story? Click the heart to show your love.
The trial court judge denied a post-trial motion to set aside the verdict, which the company must make in order to file its formal appeal. The same judge has denied similar motions on prior verdicts in his court that were ultimately overturned by the appellate courts. We are confident this verdict will also be overturned on appeal. We plan to file our notice of appeal in the coming weeks.
Following the verdict in July the company stated:
Johnson & Johnson is deeply disappointed in the verdict, which was the product of a fundamentally unfair process that allowed plaintiffs to present a group of 22 women, most of whom had no connection to Missouri, in a single case all alleging that they developed ovarian cancer. The result of the verdict, which awarded the exact same amounts to all plaintiffs irrespective of their individual facts, and differences in applicable law, reflects that the evidence in the case was simply overwhelmed by the prejudice of this type of proceeding. Johnson & Johnson remains confident that its products do not contain asbestos and do not cause ovarian cancer and intends to pursue all available appellate remedies. Every verdict against Johnson & Johnson in this court that has gone through the appeals process has been reversed and the multiple errors present in this trial were worse than those in the prior trials which have been reversed.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507496
|
__label__wiki
| 0.998583
| 0.998583
|
sandy lynn ralph 8 April 2014 at 11:11
Wise Ways 8 April 2014 at 11:25
Dawnio63 8 April 2014 at 20:51
Tiffany C 9 April 2014 at 09:58
pretty pistol 11 April 2014 at 15:35
Isabel 11 April 2014 at 16:15
clairdownham 11 April 2014 at 16:55
betsy ferguson 11 April 2014 at 17:09
kathcake 11 April 2014 at 18:28
Lauren O 12 April 2014 at 08:54
one frazzled mum 13 April 2014 at 12:14
Natalie Gillham 13 April 2014 at 16:31
Claire Elizabeth Noke 13 April 2014 at 18:38
jessfayecook 13 April 2014 at 20:42
janine atkin 13 April 2014 at 20:55
PRESTON64 13 April 2014 at 21:11
donna l jones 13 April 2014 at 21:45
cazblaza 14 April 2014 at 07:28
Cat1980uk 14 April 2014 at 18:58
Lunabell 14 April 2014 at 21:02
rahlou55 14 April 2014 at 21:11
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507497
|
__label__wiki
| 0.643351
| 0.643351
|
Anchorage voters could decide fate of proposed sales, alcohol taxes
Wednesday, January 8th 2020, 6:33 AM AKST
Thursday, January 9th 2020, 7:05 AM AKST
By: Dave Leval
Anchorage voters rejected a proposed alcohol tax back in April 2019. They may get another chance with it one year later.
A large crowd filled the Wilda Marston Theater at the Loussac Library Tuesday night, as they gathered for the first of three public hearings regarding which of three tax proposals could end up on the April 7 ballot.
Two of the tax proposals dealt with an alcohol tax. One is a 5% tax expected to raise up to $15 million a year. The money would be used for public safety, addiction treatment and domestic violence prevention.
The second alcohol tax would be limited to health and homeless issues.
"What other business is able to take the waste from their product, and put it out on the street, and expect the municipality and the property taxpayers to come and clean it up for them," said Jeff Jessee who supports the tax. "I can't even push the excess snow from my driveway into the street and have the municipality move it."
Not everyone agreed.
"The guest, be it the tourist or the local, is only going to pay so much for that product and service. So, where do we get that cost?" asked Patrick Hoogerhyde, co-owner of Bridge Seafood Restaurant.
The third tax proposal would implement a temporary sales tax of 3% for five years. The money from it would be used for public safety and to offset property taxes.
"I certainly support the fire department, I certainly support the police department, but I do not support throwing more money at problems that need to be solved, and money is not going to solve it," Christine Hill said. "And I say very simply, no more BS. No more becoming Seattle."
Another town hall took place Wednesday from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Chugiak High School, where people also had different opinions on the proposals.
"I don't want any taxes. You spend the money that you've got, and then that's it," said Eagle River resident Jo-Al Hintz.
Hillside resident Paul Perkins said the seasonal sales tax was an interesting idea. "I'm all about taxes that are constructive though for the citizens. I'm all on board with taxing people during the summer and still giving us relief in the winter for those who actually live here," he said.
Dan Page from Eagle River said, "When it comes to the alcohol tax, how many bites of the apple do we get on this thing before we decide that people don't want it?"
The final meeting takes place Thursday from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Girdwood Community Room.
The Anchorage Assembly is expected to decide if any of the proposals will make it on the ballot at its Jan. 14 meeting at 5 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers at the Loussac Library.
Copyright 2020 KTVA. All rights reserved.
Anchorage Assembly proposes multiple tax options for 2020 ballot to fund city initiatives
Anchorage ballot initiative proposes temporary sales tax
Anchorage Assembly to introduce new alcohol tax proposal
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507499
|
__label__wiki
| 0.655706
| 0.655706
|
Commitment 2018: Cathy Glasson ready to put people first
Updated: 10:17 PM CDT May 29, 2018
WEBVTT >> HERE WE GO. CYNTHIA: CATHY GLASSON HAS NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE >> SO JUST GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE TO RIGHT? RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE? I’M THE TYPE OF PERSON, I DON’T WAIT FOR CHANGE, WE CREATE IT. CYNTHIA: AND IS RUNNING ON ADRENALINE NOW. >> HAVE YOU HEARD OF ME BEFORE? YOU HAVE. LET’S GREAT. CYNTHIA: THIS FORMER INTENSIVE CARE NURSE SAYS SHE IS DOING POLITICS DIFFERENTLY WITH A GRASSROOTS TEAM, MANY WHO SUPPORTED BERNIE SANDERS. >> CAN WE COUNT ON YOU TO VOTE EARLY FOR KATHY? CYNTHIA: BUILDING A PEOPLE POWERED MOVEMENT ON A PROGRESSIVE PLATFORM. >> I’M A NURSE, A UNION LEADER, AN ORGANIZER. CYNTHIA: WHAT DIFFERENTIATES GLASSON FOR GOVERNOR, SHE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE TO SUPPORT UNIVERSAL SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH CARE. >> IOWA SHOULD LEAD THE WAY IN PASSING UNIVERSAL TO COVER ALL. TO COVER EVERY IOWAN, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, PHARMACEUTICAL COSTS. EVERYBODY AND, NOBODY LEFT OUT. CYNTHIA: THE 59-YEAR-OLD PRESIDENT OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL IN IOWA CITY REPRESENTS HEALTH CARE AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. SHE LEAD THE EFFORT TO UNIONIZE HER FELLOW NURSES NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO, AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. >> IOWANS DID NOT VOTE FOR TERRY BRANSTA AND NOW, KIM REYNOLDS, TO STRIP AWAY UNION RIGHTS, FROM 184,000 EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY SINGLE DAY. CYNTHIA: GLASSON GREW UP IN SPENCER AND BECAME A NURSE TO CARE FOR HER DAUGHTER AS A SINGLE PARENT. >> I’M JUST LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE WHO STRUGGLED. CYNTHIA: THAT IS WHY SHE IS PUSHING FOR A $15 PER HOUR MINIMUM WAGE. >> IOWA HAS OVER 381,000 HOUSEHOLDS STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS EVERY SINGLE MONTH. CYNTHIA: LIVING IN CORALVILLE WITH HER HUSBAND MATT, GLASSON IS A GRANDMOTHER READY TO BE CALLED GOVERNO >> I AM RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE NUMBER ONE JOB IS TO INCREASE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR EVERY IOWAN. WE PUT PEOPLE FIRST, PEOPLE OVER PARTY, PEOPLE OVER POLITIC
Iowa’s June 5 primary election is one week away, and five candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination for governor.Among them is Cathy Glasson, a union organizer making her who is running for office for the first time.“I'm the type of person that doesn’t wait for change,” Glasson said. “We create it."Glasson, a former intensive care nurse, said she is doing politics differently with a people-powered movement on a progressive platform. Glasson is the only Democratic candidate for governor to support universal single-payer health care. “Iowa should lead the way in passing universal single-payer health care to cover every Iowan which includes mental health, reproductive health, pharmaceutical costs…everybody in, nobody left out,”The 59-year-old president of the Service Employees International Union Local in Iowa City represents health care and school employees. She said she led the effort to unionize her fellow nurses nearly 20 years ago and never looked back.“Iowans did not vote for Terry Branstad and now Kim Reynolds to strip away union rights from 184,000 public employees that serve out communities every day,” Glasson said.Glasson grew up in Spencer and became a nurse to care for her daughter as a single parent, which is why she said she will push for a $15 minimum wage in Iowa. “Iowa has over 381,000 households that struggle every single month to pay their bills,” she said. Living in Coralville with her husband, Glasson said she is a grandmother ready to be called “Governor.”“I'm running for governor because i believe the no. 1 job of a governor is to improve the standard of living for every Iowan,” Glasson said. “We put people first…people over party, people over politics (and) people over profits."
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa’s June 5 primary election is one week away, and five candidates are competing for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Among them is Cathy Glasson, a union organizer making her who is running for office for the first time.
“I'm the type of person that doesn’t wait for change,” Glasson said. “We create it."
Glasson, a former intensive care nurse, said she is doing politics differently with a people-powered movement on a progressive platform.
Glasson is the only Democratic candidate for governor to support universal single-payer health care.
“Iowa should lead the way in passing universal single-payer health care to cover every Iowan which includes mental health, reproductive health, pharmaceutical costs…everybody in, nobody left out,”
The 59-year-old president of the Service Employees International Union Local in Iowa City represents health care and school employees.
She said she led the effort to unionize her fellow nurses nearly 20 years ago and never looked back.
“Iowans did not vote for Terry Branstad and now Kim Reynolds to strip away union rights from 184,000 public employees that serve out communities every day,” Glasson said.
Glasson grew up in Spencer and became a nurse to care for her daughter as a single parent, which is why she said she will push for a $15 minimum wage in Iowa.
“Iowa has over 381,000 households that struggle every single month to pay their bills,” she said.
Living in Coralville with her husband, Glasson said she is a grandmother ready to be called “Governor.”
“I'm running for governor because i believe the no. 1 job of a governor is to improve the standard of living for every Iowan,” Glasson said. “We put people first…people over party, people over politics (and) people over profits."
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507501
|
__label__cc
| 0.651313
| 0.348687
|
Lil Bub, one of the internet's favorite cats, has died
Lil Bub, one of the internet's favorite, most beloved cats, died on Dec. 1. She was 8 years old.
Her owner Mike Bridavsky shared the news on Monday. Lil Bub had been battling a bone infection at the time of her death.
"On the morning of Sunday, December 1st 2019, we lost the purest, kindest and most magical living force on our planet," he wrote. "Bub was cheerful and full of love laying in our bed with us Saturday night, but unexpectedly passed away peacefully in her sleep."
This is my first photo with BUB next our last photo together. On the morning of Sunday, December 1st 2019 we lost the purest, kindest and most magical living force on our planet. BUB was cheerful and full of love laying in our bed with us Saturday night, but unexpectedly passed away peacefully in her sleep.. I have always been fully transparent about BUB's health, and it was no secret that she was battling a persistent and aggressive bone infection. Even knowing this, we weren't expecting her to pass so soon or so abruptly without warning. I truly believe that she willingly made the decision to leave her failing body so that our family would not have to make that difficult decision ourselves. It is impossible to put into words the profound effect that BUB has had on my life, on the lives of thousands of homeless pets, and on the lives of those of you that have cared for her as if she were your own family. She taught me everything that I know about unconditional love, she brought my wife Stacy and I together, she's the reason we have our beautiful children Rosco and Lula, and she has been a constant source of warmth and love in our lives for the past 8 years. To say that our family is devastated would be an understatement. But most importantly, BUB has made a huge difference in the world of animal welfare, and in the lives of millions of people worldwide. She has literally saved thousands of lives (both pets and humans), she started the first national fund for special needs pets, she was the subject of groundbreaking genetic and biological research, she's helped raise over $700,000 for animals in need, and has spread a message of determination, positivity, and perseverance to people all over the world. And even though my heart is absolutely crushed by her graceful departure from planet Earth, I know that her sprit, magic, and overwhelming energy are still with us, reminding us every day to be better. Dearest BUB, I will never forget your generosity, your limitless supply of love, or your uncanny ability to bring so much magic and joy to the world. I am forever honored and humbled that you chose me as your caretaker. Please visit all of us in our dreams o
A post shared by Lil BUB (@iamlilbub) onDec 2, 2019 at 9:25am PST
Lil Bub's famous smooshed face, tongue, big eyes and tiny stature were the result of several genetic conditions, include feline dwarfism. Over the years, she gained over 2.3 million Instagram followers and nearly 3 million Facebook subscribers.
Lil Bub wasn't just cute — she did a lot to help those in need, which Bridavsky made sure to highlight.
“BUB has made a huge difference in the world of animal welfare, and in the lives of millions of people worldwide," he wrote. "She has literally saved thousands of lives (both pets and humans), she started the first national fund for special needs pets, she was the subject of groundbreaking genetic and biological research, she’s helped raise over $700,000 for animals in need, and has spread a message of determination, positivity, and perseverance to people all over the world.”
In her life, Lil Bub also interviewed Whoopi Goldberg, was the subject of a documentary called "Lil BUB & Friends," and collaborated with rap duo Run The Jewels.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507505
|
__label__wiki
| 0.899715
| 0.899715
|
Carla Connors | Soprano
Carla Connors
Carla Connors, acclaimed as “one of the best young sopranos of this decade” by the Detroit Free Press, and “a fresh, steady lyric soprano” by the New York Times, has made her mark in opera, with symphony, and in recital. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2001 singing the soprano solos in masses by Mozart and Schubert. Other New York City honors include first prize in the Lola Wilson Hayes Vocal Artists Award and being chosen as a winner in the American Song Competition sponsored by the New York Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (HATS). This honor included a recital at Weill Recital Hall.
…offered a fresh, steady lyric soprano.” – New York Times
In opera, Ms. Connors has found success with the music of Mozart as evidenced by her portrayal of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro for the New York City Opera National Company’s tour. Other opera credits include roles with Glimmerglass, Atlanta, Orlando, Opera Carolina, and Chautauqua Opera Companies. In addition, she has toured for Florida Grand Opera and Michigan Opera Theater. At home with roles such as Mozart’s Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Donizetti’s Norina in Don Pasquale and Adina in L’elisir d’amore, she has also performed operetta roles such as Gilbert and Sullivan’s Yum Yum in The Mikado and Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, Offenbach’s Eurydice in Orpheus in Hades, and Adele in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. In twentieth century repertoire Ms. Connors created the role of Evelyn in Reverend Everyman by Salvador Brotons, has sung roles by lain Hamilton and Richard Wargo and performed Anne in a production of The Rake’s Progress directed by film director Robert Altman.
Ms. Connors maintains an active schedule of orchestra and recital appearances. She has performed as soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the St. Paul and Cayuga Chamber Orchestras, the Phoenix, Pacific, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Chautauqua, Santa Fe, Richmond (IN), Tallahassee, and Szczecin (Poland) Symphony Orchestras, to name a few. Her performances have included such works as Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915, and Mahler’s Second and Fourth Symphonies. She has also performed pops concerts of operetta and musical theater excerpts with orchestras.
Read more...Read less...
Engaged extensively as an oratorio artist, Ms. Connors has sung such works as Handel’s Messiah; Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion; Haydn’s Creation; Mozart’s Coronation Mass, C Minor Mass, Requiem, and Solemn Vespers; Brahms’ Requiem; and Poulenc’s Gloria. She has sung with several contemporary music ensembles, performing works by composers such as George Crumb and Lester Trimble, and has done premiere performances of works by William Kraft and Timothy Hoekman. Ms. Connors has performed recitals throughout the U.S. and has appeared as soloist on tours of Australia and Europe. Her recital repertoire spans four centuries of art song and branches into popular vocal genres such as the music of the 20’s and 30’s and turn of the century songs.
Ms. Connors has been the winner in numerous opera and art song competitions throughout the country including the “Eleanor Steber Award for Excellence in the Concert Field” presented at the NATS Artist Awards Competition, first place in the Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s National Young Artist Competition, and first place in the Music Guild of Boca Raton’s Vocal Competition. She was also a Metropolitan Opera Audition winner in three districts.
In addition to her performing, Ms. Connors maintains a large private voice studio, gives master classes, and adjudicates competitions. She received her B.F.A. degree in voice performance from the University of South Dakota and her M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in voice performance from the University of Michigan. A native of Vermillion, South Dakota, she now lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband, pianist and composer Timothy Hoekman, and their two sons.
Click on a Picture for High-Resolution Headshots
“Carla Connors [as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro with New York City Opera’s National Company] is one of the best young sopranos of this decade. . . . She controlled the intrigue by her motions, facial expressions and gorgeous singing, both in solo and ensemble numbers. . .”
“Carla Connors stood out as Susanna–particularly in her elegant Deh, vieni, non tardar.”
“The best voice of the three belonged to Carla Connors, who offered a fresh, steady lyric soprano.” [in concert at Weill Recital Hall as a winner of the American Art Song Vocal Competition]
“Soprano Carla Connors came the closest to stealing the show. She has a radiant voice, and an equally radiant manner. Her singing of Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion was amazing . . . every sixteenth note was absolutely clear and accurate. And He shall feed his flock was wonderfully moving.”
“Miss Connors . . . has both the voice and the sensibility for the coquettish leading role [Adina inThe Elixir of Love]. Her silvery, graceful soprano is applied here with charm and finesse.”
Atlanta Journal and Constitution
Mozart – Exsultate Jubilate
http://leotaarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Connors_mozart.mp3
Handel – Rejoice Greatly (Messiah)
http://leotaarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Connors_handel.mp3
Martin – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
http://leotaarts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Connors_xmas.mp3
For a COMPLETE listing of: Repertoire|Resume|Reviews – Download the Media Kit
TweetShare on Twitter Share on FacebookShare on Facebook Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn Pin itShare on Pinterest
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507506
|
__label__wiki
| 0.948694
| 0.948694
|
Section 1629. Inspections and preclearance in foreign countries
19 U.S. Code § 1629. Inspections and preclearance in foreign countries
When authorized by treaty or executive agreement, the Secretary may station customs officers in foreign countries for the purpose of examining persons and merchandise prior to their arrival in, or subsequent to their exit from, the United States.
(b) Functions and duties
Customs officers stationed in a foreign country under subsection (a) may exercise such functions and perform such duties (including inspections, searches, seizures and arrests) as may be permitted by the treaty, agreement or law of the country in which they are stationed.
(c) Compliance
The Secretary may by regulation require compliance with the customs laws of the United States in a foreign country and, in such a case the customs laws and other civil and criminal laws of the United States relating to the importation or exportation of merchandise, filing of false statements, and the unlawful removal of merchandise from customs custody shall apply in the same manner as if the foreign station is a port of entry or exit within the customs territory of the United States.
(d) Seizures
When authorized by treaty, agreement or foreign law, merchandise which is subject to seizure or forfeiture under United States law may be seized in a foreign country and transported under customs custody to the customs territory to the United States to be proceeded against under the customs law.
(e) Stationing of foreign customs and agriculture inspection officers in the United States
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture, may enter into agreements with any foreign country authorizing the stationing in the United States of customs and agriculture inspection officials of that country (if similar privileges are extended by that country to United States officials) for the purpose of ensuring that persons and merchandise going directly to that country from the United States, or that have gone directly from that country to the United States, comply with the customs and other laws of that country governing the importation or exportation of merchandise. Any foreign customs or agriculture inspection official stationed in the United States under this subsection may exercise such functions, perform such duties, and enjoy such privileges and immunities as United States officials may be authorized to perform or are afforded in that foreign country by treaty, agreement, or law.
(f) Application of certain lawsWhen customs officials of a foreign country are stationed in the United States in accordance with subsection (e), and if similar provisions are applied to United States officials stationed in that country—
sections 111 and 1114 of title 18 shall apply as if the officials were designated in those sections; and
any person who in any matter before a foreign customs official stationed in the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, is liable for a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both.
(g) Privileges and immunities
Any person designated to perform the duties of an officer of the Customs Service pursuant to section 1401(i) of this title shall be entitled to the same privileges and immunities as an officer of the Customs Service with respect to any actions taken by the designated person in the performance of such duties.
(h) Customs procedures and commitments
The Secretary of Homeland Security, the United States Trade Representative, and other appropriate Federal officials shall work through appropriate international organizations including the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Maritime Organization, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, to align, to the extent practicable, customs procedures, standards, requirements, and commitments in order to facilitate the efficient flow of international trade.
(2) United States Trade Representative
(A) In generalThe United States Trade Representative shall seek commitments in negotiations in the WTO regarding the articles of GATT 1994 that are described in subparagraph (B) that make progress in achieving—
harmonization of import and export data collected by WTO members for customs purposes, to the extent practicable;
enhanced procedural fairness and transparency with respect to the regulation of imports and exports by WTO members;
transparent standards for the efficient release of cargo by WTO members, to the extent practicable; and
the protection of confidential commercial data.
(B) Articles describedThe articles of the GATT 1994 described in this subparagraph are the following:
Article V (relating to transit).
Article VIII (relating to fees and formalities associated with importation and exportation).
Article X (relating to publication and administration of trade regulations).
(C) GATT 1994
The term “GATT 1994” means the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade annexed to the WTO Agreement.
(3) CustomsThe Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Commissioner and in consultation with the United States Trade Representative, shall work with the WCO to facilitate the efficient flow of international trade, taking into account existing international agreements and the negotiating objectives of the WTO. The Commissioner shall work to—
harmonize, to the extent practicable, import data collected by WCO members for customs purposes;
automate and harmonize, to the extent practicable, the collection and storage of commercial data by WCO members;
develop, to the extent practicable, transparent standards for the release of cargo by WCO members;
develop and harmonize, to the extent practicable, standards, technologies, and protocols for physical or nonintrusive examinations that will facilitate the efficient flow of international trade; and
ensure the protection of confidential commercial data.
(4) Definition
In this subsection, the term “Commissioner” means the Commissioner responsible for the United States Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security.
(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 629, as added Pub. L. 99–570, title III, § 3128, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–89; amended Pub. L. 108–7, div. J, title I, § 127(c), Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 441; Pub. L. 108–429, title I, § 1561(b), (c), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2581, 2582; Pub. L. 109–280, title XIV, § 1635(f)(1), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 1171; Pub. L. 109–347, title IV, § 404, Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1928.)
2006—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–280 substituted “ensuring” for “insuring”.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 109–347 added subsec. (h).
2004—Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(c), repealed Pub. L. 108–7, § 127(c). See 2003 Amendment notes below.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(b)(1), inserted “, or subsequent to their exit from,” after “prior to their arrival in”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(b)(2), inserted “or exportation” after “relating to the importation” and “or exit” after “port of entry”.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(b)(3), amended heading and text of subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary, may enter into agreements with any foreign country authorizing the stationing in the United States of customs and officials of that country (if similar privileges are extended by that country to United States officials) for the purpose of insuring that persons and merchandise going directly to that country from the United States comply with the customs and other laws of that country governing the importation of merchandise. Any foreign customs official stationed in the United States under this subsection may exercise such functions, and perform such duties, as United States officials may be authorized to perform in that foreign country under reciprocal agreement.”
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(b)(4), added subsec. (g).
2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–7, § 127(c)(1), which directed insertion of “, or subsequent to their exit from,” after “prior to their arrival in” in section 1629 of title 19, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(c).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–7, § 127(c)(2), which directed insertion of “or exportation” after “relating to the importation” and “or exit” after “port of entry” in section 1629 of title 19, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(c).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 108–7, § 127(c)(3), which directed substitution of “such functions,” for “such functions and” and “by treaty, agreement or law” for “under reciprocal agreement”, and insertion of “and agriculture inspection” after “States of customs” and “foreign customs”, “and the Secretary of Agriculture” after “in coordination with the Secretary”, “or that have gone directly from that country to the United States” after “to that country from the United States”, “or exportation” after “governing the importation”, “, and enjoy such privileges and immunities” after “such duties”, and “or are afforded” after “authorized to perform”, in section 1629 of title 19, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(c).
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 108–7, § 127(c)(4), which directed addition of subsec. (g) to section 1629 of title 19, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–429, § 1561(c).
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–280 applicable with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after Aug. 17, 2006, see section 1641 of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as a note under section 58c of this title.
Authority for the Establishment of Integrated Border Inspection Areas at the United States-Canada Border
Pub. L. 108–429, title I, § 1560, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2580, as amended by Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(d)(2), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 210, provided that:
“(a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings:
The increased security and safety concerns that developed in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, need to be addressed.
One concern that has come to light is the vulnerability of the international bridges and tunnels along the United States borders.
It is necessary to ensure that potentially dangerous vehicles are inspected prior to crossing these bridges and tunnels; however, currently these vehicles are not inspected until after they have crossed into the United States.
Establishing Integrated Border Inspection Areas (IBIAs) would address these concerns by inspecting vehicles before they gained access to the infrastructure of international bridges and tunnels joining the United States and Canada.
“(b) Creation of Integrated Border Inspection Areas.—
“(1) In general.—
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in consultation with the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA), shall seek to establish Integrated Border Inspection Areas (IBIAs), such as areas on either side of the United States-Canada border, in which United States Customs officers can inspect vehicles entering the United States from Canada before they enter the United States, or Canadian Customs officers can inspect vehicles entering Canada from the United States before they enter Canada. Such inspections may include, where appropriate, employment of reverse inspection techniques.
“(2) Additional requirement.—
The Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in consultation with the Administrator of the General Services Administration when appropriate, shall seek to carry out paragraph (1) in a manner that minimizes adverse impacts on the surrounding community.
“(3) Elements of the program.—Using the authority granted by this section and under section 629 of the Tariff Act of 1930 [19 U.S.C. 1629], the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in consultation with the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency, shall seek to—
locate Integrated Border Inspection Areas in areas with bridges or tunnels with high traffic volume, significant commercial activity, and that have experienced backups and delays since September 11, 2001;
ensure that United States Customs officers stationed in any such IBIA on the Canadian side of the border are vested with the maximum authority to carry out their duties and enforce United States law;
ensure that United States Customs officers stationed in any such IBIA on the Canadian side of the border shall possess the same immunity that they would possess if they were stationed in the United States; and
encourage appropriate officials of the United States to enter into an agreement with Canada permitting Canadian Customs officers stationed in any such IBIA on the United States side of the border to enjoy such immunities as permitted in Canada.”
Creation of Integrated Border Inspection Areas
Pub. L. 108–7, div. J, title I, § 127(a), Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 440, which related to the creation of integrated border inspection areas on either side of the United States–Canada border, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–429, title I, § 1561(c), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2582.
19 CFR PART 101 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
19 CFR PART 148 - PERSONAL DECLARATIONS AND EXEMPTIONS
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507508
|
__label__wiki
| 0.622894
| 0.622894
|
Upcoming National Security Conference (Federalist Society, April 5)
By Robert Chesney
Sunday, March 18, 2012, 10:44 PM
The Federalist Society's upcoming (April 5) national security and law symposium features an array of great speakers, including Ben and Steve. Details below:
2012 National Security Symposium
International & National Security Law Practice Group
Start : Thursday, April 5, 2012 10:00 AM
End : Thursday, April 5, 2012 3:00 PM
Location: Jones Day LLP 51 Louisiana Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC
Please join us for an important update on law and policy issues related to America's national security. The conference will include a major keynote address by former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. The conference will also discuss cybersecurity and the limits of detention, interrogation, and trying of terrorist suspects.
Welcome and Introduction 10:00 a.m.
Vincent J. Vitkowsky, Adjunct Fellow, Center for Law and Counterterrorism
Panel One: Detention, Interrogation and Trial of Terrorist Suspects – 10 Years Later 10:10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
The legal ambiguities associated with the classification, interrogation and adjudication of al Qaeda members alleged to have committed war crimes continue to hamper the Obama administration’s national security policy. This confusion and the inconsistent application of laws to govern the conflict have exacerbated criticism of the U. S. approach to the war on al Qaeda. This panel will analyze, from myriad perspectives, U. S. policy and practice on these issues as we enter the second decade of the armed conflict.
Prof. Nathan A. Sales, George Mason University School of Law
Charles D. “Cully” Stimson, former Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of Defense (Detainee Affairs) and Senior Legal Fellow, Heritage Foundation
Prof. Stephen I. Vladeck, American University Washington College of Law
Benjamin Wittes, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Moderator: Prof. Glenn M. Sulmasy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Luncheon Address: National Security After U.S. v. Jones 12:00 p.m.
Hon. Michael Chertoff, Co-founder and Managing Principal, The Chertoff Group and former Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
Panel Two: Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cybersecurity must address complicated and interconnected threats of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure sectors, cybertheft of personal data, cyberespionage, cyberwarfare and cyberterrorism. It raises challenging practical, legal and policy issues, including what proposals would be effective, the scope of regulatory authority, the nature of information sharing and liability protections, and the preservation of internet freedom and privacy.
Hon. Stewart A. Baker, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson LLP and former Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Homeland Security
Matthew J. Eggers, Senior Director, National Security and Emergency Preparedness, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Sharon Bradford Franklin, Senior Counsel, The Constitution Project
Jamil N. Jaffer, Senior Counsel, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Moderator: Vincent J. Vitkowsky, Adjunct Fellow, Center for Law and Counterterrorism
Registration details:
There is no fee, but space is limited and registration is required.
Up to 3 CLE credits possible for $25.
Bobby Chesney is the Charles I. Francis Professor in Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Texas School of Law. He also serves as the Director of UT-Austin's interdisciplinary research center the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law. His scholarship encompasses a wide range of issues relating to national security and the law, including detention, targeting, prosecution, covert action, and the state secrets privilege; most of it is posted here. Along with Ben Wittes and Jack Goldsmith, he is one of the co-founders of the blog.
@bobbychesney
NYU School of Law Hosts Bipartisan Event on Congress’ Role in National Security
Bob Bauer Fri, Dec 6, 2019, 10:15 AM
Video: Brookings Event on the Mueller Report
Mikhaila Fogel Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 7:55 AM
‘Achieving and Maintaining Cyberspace Superiority’: A Cyber Command and Interagency Legal Conference
Robert Chesney Tue, Feb 5, 2019, 4:11 PM
Call for Competitors: The ‘Austin Regional’ of the Atlantic Council’s Cyber 9/12 Strategy Competition at the Strauss Center
Robert Chesney Tue, Nov 13, 2018, 10:35 AM
New Hoover Project on Governance in an Emerging World
Jack Goldsmith Mon, Oct 29, 2018, 3:34 PM
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507511
|
__label__wiki
| 0.925308
| 0.925308
|
Visionary or looney? Zuckerberg on spending spree
NEW YORK - Facebook's latest multibillion dollar acquisition of virtual reality headset maker Oculus is prompting some people to wonder if CEO Mark Zuckerberg is already living in an alternate reality.
Longtime technology analyst Roger Kay wonders whether Zuckerberg "is nuts" for agreeing to pay $2 billion for Oculus less than five weeks after inking a deal to buy WhatsApp for $19 billion.
Oculus, which got its start on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter, doesn't have a consumer product on the market, just the promise of bulky virtual reality goggles that have generated huge buzz in the video gaming community.
Zuckerberg, for his part, sees long-term implications in the technology, for communication, entertainment and beyond. He was right about mobile, and he's created the world's biggest online social network.
So, is he looney, or visionary?
"Mobile is the platform of today and now we're starting to also get ready for the platforms of tomorrow. To me, by far the most exciting future platform is around vision or modifying what you see to create augmented and immersive experiences," Zuckerberg said on a conference call Tuesday discussing the deal. "Today's acquisition is a long-term bet on the future of computing. I believe Oculus can be one of the platforms of this future."
Facebook's investors seem to think Oculus's promise is too far off. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based social networking company's stock fell 7 percent on Wednesday to close at $60.38.
Beyond sticker shock, the WhatsApp and Oculus deals - along with the Facebook's spurned offer to buy SnapChat for $3 billion- have raised questions about Facebook's ability to innovate on its own. Some of the company's most high-profile products, such as the SnapChat-like Poke, the messaging service Facebook Messenger and Home, have flopped. The jury's still out on Paper, a stand-alone app that lets users read news, Facebook feeds and more.
"Facebook I don't think has the best innovation strategy," says Gartner analyst Brian Blau. "So far it's been 'move fast and break things.' Move fast is good, but break thinks, may not be."
Blau calls the Oculus acquisition "kind of out of left field."
"We have always thought about experience as a focus of virtual reality," he says. "Certainly it can be social, but we have not thought about it as a core social experience."
That's not to say it can't work. There were questions about Facebook's acquisition of Instagram back when it offered $1 billion for the photo-sharing app (the final purchase price was $715 million) in April 2012 -and Instagram "turned out fine," Blau points out. Facebook said Tuesday that Instagram has 200 million users, up from 30 million at the time it agreed to buy the company.
Oculus is a horizontal acquisition for Facebook, which means it lets the company expand into a new space, rather than grow its core business. It's a strategy employed by Amazon.com Inc., whose businesses range from online retail to video streaming to tablets, and Google Inc., which recently bought high-tech thermostat and smoke-detector maker Nest Labs for $3.2 billion.
Like Facebook, Google is led by a CEO, Larry Page, who has vowed to make huge investments building or buying technology that might not pay off for years. Page can do pretty much as he pleases, too, as long as he gains the support of fellow co-founder Sergey Brin and Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt. The trio collectively controls enough votes to overrule the rest of Google's shareholders.
Google has made more than 230 acquisitions since going public nearly a decade ago, but most of those deals have been relatively small for a company that now generates more than $50 billion in annual revenue.
A few of the deals have been large enough for some investors to wonder whether Google's brain trust had lost its senses.
When Google bought YouTube in 2006 for $1.76 billion in stock, some analysts questioned whether the company had paid far too much for a video site with virtually no revenue and a huge stack of potentially expensive legal claims for copyright infringement. But that deal is now widely viewed as a brilliant move. YouTube has productive relationships with most movie and television studios and sells billions of dollars in video advertising while amassing a worldwide audience of more than 1 billion people.
Google's biggest acquisition, a $12.4 billion purchase of troubled cellphone maker Motorola Mobility, turned out to be a dud, just as many analysts predicted it would be when the deal was announced in 2011. Google wound up selling all of Motorola's device divisions for a combined $5.25 billion, leaving the company with a portfolio of mobile patents that help ward off lawsuits against Google's Android software.
Android, meanwhile, now the world's most popular mobile operating system, is among several smaller deals that have yielded huge dividends for Google. Google bought Android Inc. in 2005. Its price was too small to require disclosure.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507516
|
__label__cc
| 0.56016
| 0.43984
|
What is England known for?
The Queen, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Stonehenge, bright red double-decker buses, amazing cooked breakfasts, incessant tea-drinking, fish and chips, prestigious Oxford University, the Union Jack, William Shakespeare, David Beckham and The Beatles – a few classics that make the British proud of their birthplace
When venturing in London, the colourful, iconic tube map will become a faithful friend for navigating the vast, interconnected underground railway networks and Harry Potter fans can take advantage of a winning photo op standing next to the ‘Platform 9 ¾’ sign at King’s Cross station.
View our Luxury Gold trips to England.
British Royale
Uncover the very essence of Britain and go to significant destinations that were once frequented by the likes of Shakespeare and notorious kings. As you travel in elegant style, stay at the most sought-after addresses in Britain, dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant and savour local specialities.
Castles and Kingdoms
Head to the Islands of Britain and Ireland for a stately journey across rugged, fairy-tale lands. A storyteller’s paradise, you’ll uncover the essence of Britain and the natural elements of Ireland, meeting some colourful characters along the way.
Outside London’s hustle and bustle, quintessential England offers beautiful countryside, diverse landscapes, a wealth of history, and multiple points of interest. In some locations, stepping on English soil gives a feeling of being transported back in time, with cathedrals, churches, and other structures dating as far back as the Bronze Age.
When it comes to sport, Premier League football, the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament and the Grand National horse race attract considerable interest and hype. Tea anyone?
Must-see landmarks
Starting with the capital city of London, here you will bear witness to spectacular buildings of great historical significance. At a height of over 96 metres, London’s famous clock tower Big Ben (formally called The Elizabeth Tower), stands at the north end of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. If architectural wonders excite you, then you also need to head to the baroque masterpiece St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Buckingham Palace, where depending on the timing of your visit, it is possible to witness the customary Changing of the Guard ceremony.
The Tower of London is another famous site where a whole host of attractions await you, including viewing an impressive display of the Crown Jewels. Shoppers will have the joy of places like Oxford Street, Regent Street, Convent Garden and Knightsbridge’s legendary Harrods department store to explore. A trip to the British Museum will bring hours of entertainment, with multiple galleries and special exhibitions hosted throughout the year. Meanwhile, the London Eye gives a great bird’s eye view of this captivating city and enables you to see all the places you’ve been to on foot from a different perspective.
Further afield in the county of Dorset, literature fans can connect with Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy by taking a trip to the picturesque village of Evershot, an area of beauty that features in many of Hardy’s literary works. Likewise, Stratford-upon-Avon - William Shakespeare’s birthplace – also needs to be on the list as it has multiple places of interest including The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the MAD Museum.
If journeying to the New Forest in Hampshire, the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu will keep car-enthusiasts occupied and makes a great day out for the whole family. As the most-famous prehistoric monument in Europe, Stonehenge will give insights into life in England 5,000 years ago, while the royal residence Windsor Castle, one of the world’s most famous castles, also has a fascinating history to uncover.
English cuisine has been influenced by dishes and flavours from many countries and therefore offers a wide range of flavours and cooking styles. A ‘full English’ breakfast includes sausages, bacon, baked beans, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms and eggs, and sometimes extras like hash browns and black pudding; a sure-fire way to remain full for the rest of the morning, if not the day!
Traditional English meals are typically filling, comforting and often quite stodgy. Staples like fish and chips (battered cod or haddock and thick-cut chips), roast dinner with all the trimmings (often roast beef with Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and large helpings of vegetables and gravy), pasties (folded pastry casing with savoury fillings of various combinations), bangers and mash (sausages with mashed potato), and pies (steak and kidney pie and pork pies being particularly popular) are what would be deemed ‘English’.
However, curries are also hugely popular in England, as are Italian, Thai, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Much like main courses, English desserts are hearty too. Hot puddings are usually served with custard, cream or ice-cream, such as crumble, apple pie, sticky toffee pudding, jam roly-poly pudding, and bread and butter pudding (consisting of layers of buttered bread covered with a mixture of eggs and milk, seasoned with nutmeg, cinnamon or vanilla, then baked).
England also knows how to do cakes exceptionally well; Battenberg (with pink and yellow squares of sponge held together with jam and wrapped in a marzipan blanket), Victoria sponge cake, Chelsea buns (a currant bun drizzled with icing), and Eccles cakes (a flaky butter pastry cake filled with currants) being a few examples.
Traditional beverages
Have we mentioned tea yet? Since the first import in 17th century, tea has been a big hit with the Brits and continues to be the go-to beverage. Tea can simply be just a cup of tea, or it can be an event in the form of: cream tea – often involving a mid-afternoon outing at a café where the tea comes with scones, covered with generous helpings of rich cream and jam; and afternoon tea, where said drink is accompanied with a delightful selection of finger sandwiches and exquisite cakes that are beautifully displayed. The latter is a great way of indulging with loved ones or celebrating special occasions and depending on where it is consumed, can be anything from a low-key outing catching up with a friend to a rich indulgence that you get dressed up for.
Just to confuse matters, many Brits will talk of cooking or eating their tea and in this context, they are referring to their evening meal. Aside from tea, another faithful soft drink is squash (or cordial); it has nothing to do with squash the vegetable and instead consists of a sweet, concentrated fruit-flavoured liquid that is diluted with water before tasting (available in multiple flavours). Ginger beer also has a misleading name as it is in fact a carbonated soft drink.
When it comes to alcohol, you will have a vast array of beers, ales and ciders to choose from. Gin is also popular and the base ingredient in Pimm’s, another well-loved British drink that in the summer, is often mixed with traditional lemonade or ginger beer and pieces of fruit, then served as punch.
Landscape and wildlife
Out in natural landscapes like England’s many forests and open countryside, rabbits, badgers, foxes, hedgehogs and deer are some of the animals that can be found. In places like the New Forest, wild ponies roam freely (they are owned by the New Forest Commoners but given the freedom to wander through the forest as they please).
Bird life is rich in both natural and urban areas, with examples including kestrels, gulls, sparrows, magpies, doves, starlings, blackbirds, swallows, herons, quails, pheasants, and a variety of species of owl. England’s coastline is similarly rich in wildlife, given that it offers vibrant habitats within its sand dunes, beaches, cliffs and rocky outcrops. Otters, seals, harbour porpoises, basking sharks and dolphins can be spotted in British waters at various times of year.
London GMT
Pounds (GBP, £)
When to go: May-September for the warmest climates; November-December for a fantastic festive atmosphere.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507519
|
__label__wiki
| 0.973434
| 0.973434
|
Joni Mitchell Poster Anthology Crystalline
Joni Mitchell Poster Blue Noir Paranoiac
Joni Mitchell is a Canadian singer songwriter and artist. Mitchell’s work is highly respected by critics and she deeply influenced fellow musicians in a diverse range of genres. Rolling Stone called her “one of the greatest songwriters ever” and AllMusic has stated “When the dust settles, Joni Mitchell may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century”. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in Saskatchewan and western Canada and then busking in the streets and nightclubs of Toronto. In 1965, she moved to the United States and began touring. Some of her original songs were covered by folk singers, allowing her to sign with Reprise Records and record her debut album in 1968. Settling in Southern California, Mitchell, with popular songs like “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Woodstock” helped define an era and a generation. Her 1971 recording Blue was rated the 30th best album ever made in Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. Mitchell switched labels and began moving toward jazz rhythms on 1974’s album Court and Spark, her best-selling LP. Her wide ranging contralto vocals, distinctive open tuned guitar and piano compositions grew more harmonically and rhythmically complex as she explored jazz, fusing it with influences of rock and roll, R&B, classical music and non-western beats. She is the sole record producer credited on the majority of her albums, including all her work in the 1970s. With roots in visual art, she has designed her own album artwork throughout her career. A blunt critic of the music industry, she stopped touring and released her 17th, and reportedly last, album of original songs in 2007.
Lissome Art Studio are proud to introduce a range of stylish limited edition art prints dedicated to Joni Mitchell. Each typography poster is individually signed and numbered featuring song titles and lyrics from Joni Mitchell albums and most notable recordings.
Terms and Conditions / Acceptable Use / Privacy / Cookies
Web Design Devon | Illicit
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507522
|
__label__wiki
| 0.678456
| 0.678456
|
Literary Cats
The Family Hitchcock
For many tourists, the most challenging thing about a vacation in Paris might be long queues at the Eiffel Tower or stumbling through a conversation in French. It's certainly not being thrown into an international espionage plot, like the characters in the fast-paced and hilarious middle-grade novel, The Family Hitchcock.
Written by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, this light-hearted spy caper centres around 13-year-old Maddy and her younger brother, Benji. They know how they want to spend the summer, and it's not a house-swap with a family in Paris.
We found a copy of The Family Hitchcock just before our own family vacation in Paris, so it was a fun read for my son, Dylan. But a vacation in the famous City of Lights is where the similarities between our family and the Hitchcocks end.
In the book, mistaken identities lead to stakeouts, kidnappings, and rooftop chases with bad guys. The Hitchcocks just wanted a family holiday, and now they must risk their lives to ensure a mysterious stolen vial doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
The plot moves at lightning pace, with one suspenseful moment after another. Humorous lines such as, “Daddy! You’re the Terminator!” or a character’s apology after crashing through a skylight—“Sorry to drop in like this!”—keep the mood light.
At the very heart of this madcap tale is the notion of family; in particular, the realities and tensions of being part of one. It’s not always easy to get along with your siblings or parents, but the Hitchcocks give hope that it's possible to develop a newfound respect for and understanding of each other.
And, they saved the world, too!
Ages: 9+
Two kids, two cats, and a house full of books. We share our favourite picks for young readers.
Copyright © 2018 www.LiteraryCats.com
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507523
|
__label__wiki
| 0.885981
| 0.885981
|
The Kingdom of Speech
by Tom Wolfe
The maestro storyteller and reporter provocatively argues that what we think we know about speech and human evolution is wrong.
“A whooping, joy-filled and hyperbolic raid on, of all things, the theory of evolution.” (Dwight Garner, New York Times)
Tom Wolfe, whose legend began in journalism, takes us on an eye-opening journey that is sure to arouse widespread debate. THE KINGDOM OF SPEECH is a captivating, paradigm-shifting argument that speech–not evolution–is responsible for humanity’s complex societies and achievements.
From Alfred Russel Wallace, the Englishman who beat Darwin to the theory of natural selection but later renounced it, and through the controversial work of modern-day anthropologist Daniel Everett, who defies the current wisdom that language is hard-wired in humans, Wolfe examines the solemn, long-faced, laugh-out-loud zig-zags of Darwinism, old and Neo, and finds it irrelevant here in the Kingdom of Speech.
Genre: Nonfiction / Social Science / Anthropology
On Sale: August 30th 2016
Price: $9.99 / $12.99 (CAD)
Little Brown and Company Logo
Hardcover Large Print
Praise for The Kingdom of Speech:
"The author's own prose is, as ever, a marvelous mix of gleeful energy and whip-around-the-neck control, and his book is a gas to read."
—Charles C. Mann, Wall Street Journal
"....a hundred years from now, the one whose work will still be read - whose work will remain imperishable in the face of any new discoveries - is Wolfe. In the long game, the kingdom belongs to him."
—Caitlin Flanagan, New York Times Book Review
"Tom Wolfe aims his unparalleled wit at evolution, arguing that complex language is the singular superpower that allows humans to rule the planet."
"This being Tom Wolfe, the ponderous debate over language and evolution takes on a kind of pop-art pizzazz....A curiously entertaining little book."
—James Sullivan, Boston Globe
"Mr. Wolfe, now 85, shows no sign of mellowing. His new book, The Kingdom of Speech, is his boldest bit of dueling yet. It's a whooping, joy-filled and hyperbolic raid on, of all things, the theory of evolution....a provocation rather than a dissertation. The sound it makes is that of a lively mind having a very good time, and enjoying the scent of its own cold-brewed napalm in the morning."
—Dwight Garner, New York Times
"(Wolfe's) trademark rich reporting is unmistakable throughout.... he brings to this academic debate the same irreverence and entertaining quality that lit up Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.... You'll find here the same manic prose, the hip rhythms and cleverly crafted arguments of the genius Tom Wolfe. Which you must read."
—Don Oldenburg, USA Today
"In this mettlesome, slyly funny takedown, Wolfe spotlights two key scientific rivalries, each pitting a scrappy outsider against the academy....Wolfe's pithy and stirring play-by-play coverage of compelling lives and demanding science transforms our perception of speech....As always, white-suited Wolfe will be all over the media...stirring things up and sending readers to the shelves."—Donna Seaman, Booklist
"A fresh look at an old controversy, as a master provocateur suggests that human language renders the theory of evolution more like a fable than scientific fact....Wolfe throws a Molotov cocktail at conventional wisdom in a book that won't settle any argument but is sure to start some."—Kirkus Reviews
"In lively, irreverent, and witty prose, Wolfe argues that speech, not evolution, sets humans apart from animals and is responsible for all of humankind's complex achievements....Wolfe's vibrant study manages to be clever, funny, serious, satirical, and instructive."—Publishers Weekly
"With his usual sharp wit and style, Wolfe's return to his roots is a thrilling journey into the who, what, where, when, why, and how of speech that will undoubtedly provoke stimulating conversations."
"Wolfe, still a master at using language, is another claimant for the throne. The Kingdom of Speech is best read, then, with Wolfe not just as a narrator-historian but as a character. One who, after critiquing theorists who rule from insulated rooms, depicts himself in that exact setting for his book's final vision."
—Nate Hopper, Time
"Stimulating, clever and witty, Wolfe's little book is sure to provoke discussion about the role language plays in making us human."
—Henry L. Carrigan Jr., BookPage
"Barely a dull sentence."
—John McWhorter, Vox
"An entertaining and informative romp, thanks to Wolfe's patented stylistic hijinks. It may raise more questions than it answers, but that may well be its greatest virtue....very funny."
—Frank Wilson, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Come for the big ideas, stay for the terrific stories. Wolfe's bracing and witty style redeems a subject that in other hands might have you hitting the snooze button."
—Clarke Crutchfield, Richmond Times-Dispatch
"Head-hopping nonfiction....slick narrative storytelling alongside heaps of documentary evidence."—Mark Lundy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"The most savage and entertaining of all "new journalists" has found one of the most unlikely subjects to stimulate his lifelong penchant for mocking naked emperors whom the world considers the epitome of regal splendor. Of eminent B.S. in this world, there will always be a surplus. Which is why we always need Wolfe."
—Jeff Simon, The Buffalo News
"Linguistics is famously boring, but Tom Wolfe is fun....beautifully written."
—Chris Knight, Counterpunch
"Wolfe doesn't mince words, and his comments are convincing and captivating."
—Ina Hughs, Knoxville News Sentinel
If you thought every question pertaining to evolution has been solved, think again: Wolfe explains in his typically high-energy prose how the development of speech is still an area in which science has far more questions than answers."
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507524
|
__label__cc
| 0.609242
| 0.390758
|
“Consumer Panels” has been added to your cart. View cart
Home / eBook / Consumerism: New Challenges for Marketing
Consumerism: New Challenges for Marketing
Consumerism: New Challenges for Marketing, edited by Norman Kangun and Lee Richardson, is a historical perspective from the 1970s, produced by the American Marketing Association compilation of collected papers presented at an American Marketing Association conference on consumerism, held at Louisiana State University in March 1976.
The papers trace the consumer movement that began in the 1950s. The selected papers by eminent academics analyze various aspects of consumerism like consumer regulation, consumer product safety, and scope of improving government involvement in consumer programs. Also featured is a research on marketing model of gasoline and petroleum products.
Consumerism: New Challenges for Marketing quantity
Consumer Behavior, Relationship Marketing / Alliances, Social / Ethical
Norman Kangun, Stewart Lee Richardson
Norman Kangun
Norman Kangun was Professor of Marketing at the University of Houston at Clear Lake in the 1970s and 1980s. He edited and co-edited several works in the field of marketing, such as the proceeding entitled, Consumerism: New Challenges for Marketing in 1978.
Stewart Lee Richardson
Dr. Stewart Lee Richardson, Jr. is Professor of Marketing in the Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the Merrick School of Business at the University of Baltimore in Maryland. His teaching interests are in the areas of marketing, economics, entreprenuership, finance, ethics, not-for profit sector. He has published articles on topics of consumer issues and consumerism, pharmaceuticals, obesity, with implications for marketing and management.
Prior to 1995, Professor Richardson taught at the University of Maryland and was Director of the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs. He also taught marketing at Louisiana State University in the 1960s and 1970s. He received his DBA in marketing from the University of Colorado, an MBA from Emory University, and his BS in Business Administration from the University of Richmond.
Be the first to review “Consumerism: New Challenges for Marketing” Cancel reply
The Design of Research Investigations
Chapter 4: Metamorphosis in Strategic Market Planning
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507526
|
__label__cc
| 0.723017
| 0.276983
|
Air T Net Worth 2006-2019 | AIRT
Price Ratios
Interactive chart of historical net worth (market cap) for Air T (AIRT) over the last 10 years. How much a company is worth is typically represented by its market capitalization, or the current stock price multiplied by the number of shares outstanding. Air T net worth as of January 20, 2020 is $0.06B.
Compare AIRT With Other Stocks
Transportation Transportation - Air Freight $0.064B $0.250B
Air T, Inc., through its subsidiaries, MAC and CSA operates exclusively as contract carriers for overnight delivery of small package air freight throughout the eastern half of the United States and Canada, and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Over the past six fiscal years, as a consequence of changes in customer preference, MAC and CSA have shifted their focus away from operating company- owned aircraft to operating customer-owned aircraft under dry-lease service contracts.
UPS (UPS) United States $101.738B 16.11
FedEx (FDX) United States $41.774B 11.76
Air Transport Services (ATSG) United States $1.428B 18.36
Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWW) United States $0.721B 6.00
Avianca Holdings S.A (AVH) Panama $0.381B 0.00
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507527
|
__label__wiki
| 0.783478
| 0.783478
|
Add me on LinkedIn (opens in new window)
Jamie Brown
News and Media Relations Manager
jamie.brown@manchester.ac.uk
Media Relations team
Tеl: +44 (0)161 275 8258
Email: media.relations@manchester.ac.uk
Boost for lung infection research with new UK-Brazil partnership
The University of Manchester has begun a new partnership with a Brazilian university to carry out more research into a fungal lung infection which affects at least three million people worldwide and is 75% fatal.
The researchers from Manchester are joining colleagues from the Escola Paulista de Medicina-Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) to examine the prevalence and treatment of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.
This infection is thought to affect over 17,850 people in Brazil, with 5,600 new cases every year. Follow up of patients with tuberculosis in Brazil in the 1980’s showed 21% to have evidence of Aspergillus infection, similar to the UK.
Yet chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is rarely diagnosed or treated in Brazil, because of a lack of awareness and diagnostic testing. As well as those with tuberculosis, patients with AIDS, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are also susceptible to this infection, so actual numbers of sufferers may be twice what is currently recorded.
The University of Manchester’s Professor David Denning is Director of the National Aspergillosis Centre based at University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM) and will lead the UK side of the new initiative.
He said: “While we treat nearly 400 UK patients with this condition, across the world, there are estimated to be about 3 million. Currently very few are diagnosed or treated, and after five years about 75% have died. This international program will have an impact throughout Brazil and Latin America.”
Funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation with matching funds from The University of Manchester, the programme encourages scientific exchange between universities in São Paulo and Manchester, and will involve a study of patients from 17 hospitals in the Brazilian city.
Professor Arnaldo Lopes Colombo of (UNNIFESP) added: “This collaboration is of the utmost importance to Brazil in view of the huge number of undiagnosed fungal infections in the country. We aim to really understand who gets this long term, difficult to treat infection and improve our diagnostic techniques across the country.”
For media enquiries, please contact Jamie Brown | Media Relations Officer | The University of Manchester | +44(0)161 275 8383 | Jamie.brown@manchester.ac.uk |
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507528
|
__label__wiki
| 0.651201
| 0.651201
|
Torment of Maddie witness
THE woman who saw Madeleine McCann (pictured) carried off in the arms of a mystery man is wracked with guilt that she did nothing to stop him, it has emerged. A close friend of Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry saw a blonde girl wearing 'distinguishable' pyjamas and wrapped in a blanket.
THE woman who saw Madeleine McCann (pictured) carried off in the arms of a mystery man is wracked with guilt that she did nothing to stop him, it has emerged.
A close friend of Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry saw a blonde girl wearing 'distinguishable' pyjamas and wrapped in a blanket.
She thought it was odd but realised too late that it was Madeleine.
Described as the 'principal witness', the woman has now returned to Britain and is tormented by the incident.
But the McCanns are said to not blame her.
Details of the sighting came as hundreds of calls were made to police about the description of a white man between 35 and 40 seen holding what was thought to be a child on the night Madeleine, four, disappeared. She was snatched from her bed at the family's holiday apartment while her parents had a meal yards away in the Algarve town of Praia Da Luz.
The witness, who has been advised by police not to discuss events of that night, joined the McCanns at about 9.30pm.
Pink pyjamas
As she walked past the family's property, she saw a man with a child wearing pink pyjamas in his arms.
At 10pm, Mrs McCann went into the apartment, discovered Madeleine was missing and raised the alarm.
The friend 'instantly' realised what she had seen and gave a statement and description to the authorities 'within hours'.
Sources said the significance was missed. "The officers who took the description did not seem interested, they just seemed to have filed it away," one said. "She went back to the UK and Leicestershire police said she was the principal witness to what happened.
"She feels guilty that she was the last person to see Madeleine and didn't do anything, but there is no sense of hostility (from the McCanns). They feel sorry for her."
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507529
|
__label__cc
| 0.585747
| 0.414253
|
Materialise Helps Drive Agoria Solar Team through the Outback
Madeleine Fiello October 11, 2019
Imagine this: the sunny Australian outback, thousands of kilometers of road ahead of you, and over a year’s worth of your team’s hard work pushing you along toward the finish line. This is exactly what the Agoria Solar Team from a local university, KU Leuven, will experience during the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. The race takes place October 13-20 starting at the northern tip of Australia in Darwin all the way south to Adelaide. All in a solar-powered car.
Image: Agoria Solar Team
This 8-day race is a huge challenge and takes a large team of engineers, support people, partner companies, and more. Materialise has worked with the student group in the past, and this year, Materialise helped out with a battery covering for the vehicle, named BluePoint. The battery is a critical component of the car. It powers BluePoint with the reserved energy that is saved up when there is not enough sunlight and takes in excess energy when the solar panels are in full use. Their finished battery of 5.3 kilowatts provides the car with enough energy to drive an average of 600 kilometers at full charge.
As such an important aspect of the vehicle, the team needed to design and build a battery that not only powered BluePoint but also improved the overall features of the vehicle. Bram Everts, the team member responsible for the design of the battery cover made with Materialise, shared that they “designed this complex part to be as light as possible, but still maintain enough stiffness.” This element had to add enough structure to hold the battery components, allow plenty of airflow for cooling, and remain as light as possible – the maximum weight allowed for the battery is 20kg.
“Thanks to the excellent customer service, we could tackle problems in a very efficient manner and our battery casing was made in no time.”
As 3D-printed products have proven over and over throughout the years, Additive Manufacturing (AM) is the perfect method to create a lightweight material with organic shapes that traditional manufacturing cannot construct. Since the battery requires airflow to stay cool, the covering needed to have a design that struck a balance between having enough structure and providing space for air to get through. AM is the perfect technology to create just that.
The 3D printing method that Agoria Solar Team and Materialise decided would be best for this project is Laser Sintering (SLS). SLS can create thin, complex designs utilizing the material PA12 to keep the battery cells cooled. In between constructions, the team worked with Materialise’s data preparation software, Magics, to adapt and improve the design before continuing with the next build. This gave them the ability to simulate the 3D printing process beforehand so that they could anticipate and automatically correct any errors, saving a significant amount of time and effort.
Building a solar car is no easy feat, of course. The team of 19 engineering students from KU Leuven has been dedicating their efforts since July 2018 to get BluePoint ready for this race. After undergoing an extensive interview process to join Agoria Solar Team, each member of the group can spend up to 80 or 90 hours each week on this incredible project alongside their studies. Although it’s hard work, the project is a fantastic adventure for the students. “I think the Solar Team is an invaluable experience,” says team member Cédric Robert. “It provides me with way more knowledge than simply studying.”
Designing, collaborating, building, and testing BluePoint continues all the way up to race day. Along with innovation amongst the team, collaboration with their partners is also crucial in order to improve the car as much as possible from year to year. Agoria Solar Team needed partners, such as Materialise, that would work closely with them to fine-tune each and every detail so that they can achieve their goal of making the car at least 10% more efficient than the previous one.
Creation of the battery covering was very much a collaborative effort. It required two or three weeks of effective communication and brainstorming between Agoria and the Materialise team to continuously improve the design until the result was exactly what they needed. Bram says of working with Materialise, “Thanks to the excellent customer service, we could tackle problems in a very efficient manner and our battery casing was made in no time.”
As if building a car that runs on solar energy isn’t difficult as it is, it was also essential for the team to adhere to race guidelines on qualified drivers, racing hours, battery weight, and more. These rules made it necessary for the team to build a specific plan to get the absolute most out of what they are allowed. From race simulation tests to testing the density of the air, this team has been working tirelessly to solve any issue that arises and succeed in their race through the outback.
The race starts soon, and you can stay updated on progress via the Solar Team’s social media and live show. Tune in to the team’s Facebook page each day of the race at 8 pm, Belgian time, to find out their progress, achievements, and more updates. Keep in mind that the shows are in Dutch and will not be subtitled. Best of luck, Agoria Solar Team!
Interested in working with Materialise on your own exciting project? We’re there to guide you through each step of the 3D printing process.
Contact our team to see how we can help.
Vehicle Development, Simplified: The RapidFit Smart Cube
World’s Fastest Electric Racecar Breaks Record at Zandvoort by 16 Seconds
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507531
|
__label__wiki
| 0.740889
| 0.740889
|
Public Health & Policy > Public Health
CDC Chief Assesses His Tenure
Tom Frieden discusses agency's milestones, unsolved problems
by Alexandria Bachert, Staff Writer, MedPage Today January 18, 2017
In a self-assessment published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, outgoing CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, gave the agency generally high marks during his tenure, though he noted several areas where success remained elusive.
On January 20 as President-elect Trump is sworn in, Frieden will leave office.
Frieden highlighted the importance of global health capacity with the advances made in eradicating polio. He reported that there were fewer than 40 confirmed cases in 2016 -- down from 350,000 cases in 1988 -- with 15 million people walking today who would have been paralyzed.
Projects such as the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) improved the capacity of low- and middle-income countries to find, stop, and prevent health threats. As a result, dozens of countries gained the ability to expand laboratory networks, train epidemiologists, and improve surveillance systems.
Other CDC-supported efforts were:
Malaria: Saved 3.3 million lives globally and contributed to a global reduction of malaria mortality by 45%
HIV/AIDS: Provided life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 5.8 million HIV-infected people, ART for more than 400,000 pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child transmission, and 1.3 million voluntary male medical circumcision procedures
He also cited the agency's campaigns against tobacco use as strong successes, while conceding that "smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death" and electronic cigarette use by the young "threatens to get another generation addicted" to tobacco.
Other areas where Frieden said the agency's efforts haven't been good enough include "lack of action on sodium reduction," the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and opioid abuse. Notably, he made no mention of gun violence or efforts to control sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV.
Frieden described surveillance as "the basis for effective action," noting the CDC's success in improving data timeliness, completeness, and utility, as well as data dissemination using new technologies, analytic tools, and sources. For example, data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) indicated that the number of states with accurate surveillance estimates increased from 32 in 2011 to all 50 states and Washington, DC, in 2014.
With the help of social media, website upgrades, and increased availability of CDC datasets in machine-readable formats, the agency has become better equipped to share information with public health practitioners, researchers, developers, and the public, he pointed out.
However, Frieden noted that while surveillance has improved, there are still problems to be solved -- survey participation rates are falling, costs are increasing, reporting is not standardized, and new tools such as electronic health records are not adequately incorporated.
"Data are now available in larger quantities, more quickly, and from more sources .. and more rapid data collection, analysis, and dissemination are needed," he said.
But, as he told MedPage Today's F. Perry Wilson, MD, in an interview conducted last week, the opioid abuse epidemic raced out of control.
Focusing on the U.S. public health system was a priority for Frieden, as state and local health departments experienced large budget cuts between 2008 and 2009. The CDC increased the amount of funding to state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments and developed new tools to help health agencies enhance their capacity and increase impact.
In 2010, the CDC developed the Public Health Associate Program to train the next generation of public health leaders. Participants are assigned to local and state health departments for 2 years of service learning. The program currently consists of approximately 400 associates, nearly half of whom are African American or Hispanic.
During Frieden's tenure, the agency responded to multiple domestic and global emergencies, such as the H1N1 influenza pandemic, the Haiti earthquake, and cholera, Ebola, and Zika epidemics.
The CDC also played a role in emergency situations like the lead-contaminated water in Flint, Mich. The center connected more than 90% of children with elevated blood lead levels to case management.
In terms of long-term projects, Frieden said the agency had identified six "winnable battles" in 2010 for combating the leading causes of morbidity and mortality: nutrition and food safety, healthcare-associated infections, HIV, tobacco, teen pregnancy, and motor vehicle safety.
The efforts yielded multiple victories such as a drop in the number of annual HIV diagnoses from 48,366 in 2008 to 39,718 in 2014. Also, the proportion of people with HIV who know their status increased from 80.9% in 2006 to 87.0% in 2013.
In the journal article, he noted as well that the teen birth rate decreased from 37.9/1,000 in 2009 to 22.3/1,000 in 2015, the lowest rate ever recorded.
Frieden also mentioned the need to better address causes of noncommunicable diseases -- tobacco use, excess sodium consumption, air pollution -- which now kill more people than infectious diseases.
"Future progress will require rapid emergency responses and effective communication, policy decisions that prioritize maximizing health, and maintenance of CDC's scientific independence," he wrote.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Source Reference: Frieden T "A safer, healthier U.S.: the centers for disease control and prevention, 2009–2016" Am J Prev Med 2017; DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.12.024.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507537
|
__label__wiki
| 0.872395
| 0.872395
|
Merck's 125th anniversary
In 2016, Merck celebrated its 125th anniversary as a global health care leader. We created this page as a celebration of our accomplishments as well as to highlight what we're excited about for the years to come.
This is an exciting time for our company and the world.
Today, we are at the forefront of inventing tools for the fight against some of the world’s most urgent global health challenges. This includes more than 30 different cancers, hepatitis C, Alzheimer’s disease, Ebola, antibiotic-resistant "superbugs," cardio-metabolic diseases, and many others.
Since our inception in 1891, Merck has pushed the boundaries of science with the hope and expectation that advancing scientific knowledge will lead to major advances in health. Merck has changed the world repeatedly through our history – from the development of the first vaccines for measles and mumps and the first vaccine for HPV that causes cervical and other cancers, to the development of ground-breaking medicines for heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, tuberculosis, HIV and melanoma, just to name a few.
We are guided by a rich legacy and inspired by a shared vision to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. We are fortunate to have had many pioneers lead the way for Merck over the last 125 years. Business leaders including our founder George Merck, and his son, late and former president George W. Merck, well-known for his "medicine is for the people" speech, laid the groundwork for the company we are today.
And then there are our legendary scientists — among them, Maurice Hilleman and Bill Campbell, who each spent more than 25 years with Merck, and whose impact on public health is unmatched and undeniable.
At his death, The New York Times said that Dr. Hilleman "is credited with having developed more human and animal vaccines than any other scientist, helping to extend human life expectancy and improving the economies of many countries."
And, recently heralded with the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, there is Dr. Campbell who, together with Dr. Mohammed Aziz and others, championed the discovery and development of a treatment for river blindness that is being distributed throughout the world still today.
These are among countless examples of people at Merck who have achieved immeasurable success and the many more to come.
Merck has also had a long history of leading the way in corporate responsibility, including our Mectizan Donation Program, through which we have donated more than one billion treatments in areas affected by river blindness. Now, three countries have been verified as free of river blindness by the World Health Organization.
Today, we are also making important strides in the fight against maternal mortality through Merck for Mothers, a long-term effort that aims to create a world where no woman has to die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
"In part because of Merck, the world today is a healthier, stronger and more hopeful world," said Merck Chairman and CEO Ken Frazier. "And our future will be even better — because of our people, our partners and our unwavering commitment to finding new ways, every day, to meet unmet medical needs."
Ken Frazier
Chairman and CEO, Merck
Our goal as a premier biopharmaceutical company is to build on this remarkable legacy of invention and scientific discovery. But, in our desire to continue to invent medicines that will improve the lives of more and more people around the world, we see Merck as more than a biopharmaceutical company: we are people on a quest to cure.
Explore our history timeline
Updated July 2017
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507538
|
__label__cc
| 0.505237
| 0.494763
|
Welcome, Mrs. Farrell
With more than 25 years of experience in education, Mrs. Laura Farrell came to Merion Mercy in the summer of 2019 from St. Catherine's School in Richmond, Virginia, one of the largest all-girls (Pre-K-12) schools in the country, where she served as the Dean of Faculty.
At St. Catherine's, her leadership helped to shape and advance many areas of the school, including all academic and signature programming, such as Girls Innovate and global education. She played an integral part in several key school initiatives, including professional development, marketing/branding, school accreditations, diversity and inclusion programming, and capital projects.
A seasoned independent school leader, Mrs. Farrell's career began in the classroom. Upon earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William & Mary, Mrs. Farrell taught high school Social Studies. She was a Fulbright-Hayes recipient, received a summer study grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities, and went on to earn a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from George Washington University. While teaching, Mrs. Farrell emerged as a leader and distinguished herself through her work on technology initiatives; curriculum design, review, and implementation; and staff development and mentoring.
Mrs. Farrell is thrilled to now lead Merion Mercy. She shares Merion Mercy’s unwavering commitment to all-girls education and academic excellence.
She is also committed to the Mercy Core Values. “I am deeply impressed by how the school lives its mission on a daily basis. Many schools talk about their mission, but at Merion, you truly see girls embrace it, and put it into action by how they treat others and serve those in need,” said Mrs. Farrell.
She is a thoughtful listener who balances input with an ability to make strategic decisions. She understands and elevates the importance of diversity and inclusion. Mrs. Farrell builds strong processes and relationships with a genuine communication style. She champions professional development for faculty and staff and embraces a growth mindset. From day one of stepping on campus, Mrs. Farrell said, “I will listen and learn all I can about the school community. That means meeting with teachers, students, parents and staff. I want to hear people’s stories about Merion and learn what’s important to them.”
Trustees and fellow administrators rave about her intellect, integrity, compassion, drive, and strong sense of community. “No surprise, Laura Farrell’s reputation perfectly aligns with the impression you get when you meet her in person,” said MMA Trustee Lisa Nicolella Farrell '78. “She’s as sincere as they come.” Moreover, everyone speaks so very highly of her husband and two children. “Tony, Lucy, Will, and I are thrilled to join the Merion Mercy family,” said Mrs. Farrell.
Click here to learn more about Mrs. Farrell.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507540
|
__label__cc
| 0.728322
| 0.271678
|
Mesothelioma Claims
» Mesothelioma Claims
Mesothelioma is a life-altering disease, one which corporations are directly responsible for causing. Fortunately, there are several financial options available to people diagnosed with this rare cancer. Mesothelioma claims provide patients with the compensation they need to help cover medical expenses, recuperate lost wages and provide relief for pain and suffering.
Get Legal Assistance
Types of Mesothelioma Claims
Answering the question “What is a mesothelioma claim?” is difficult because there are three types of mesothelioma claims that patients and family members can file:
Legal claims
Social Security disability claims
Veterans Affairs (VA) claims
With knowledge of their mesothelioma compensation eligibility, the filing process and the qualification requirements, patients and families can pursue one or more compensation options available to them.
Legal mesothelioma claims are filed against asbestos manufacturing companies responsible for unnecessarily exposing people to asbestos, which is a dangerous substance. The mineral was commonly used in construction, insulation and other industries until the 1980’s.
In rare circumstances, the patient’s employer is responsible and a claim is filed against that company. However, the plaintiff must show that the employer also knew the risks of asbestos and still provided no protection for their workers.
In most cases, the asbestos manufacturing companies deceived the employers to whom they sold the asbestos products. These manufacturers failed to provide warnings regarding the dangers of breathing or ingesting asbestos fibers despite being aware of the dangers for decades.
Mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related claims are broken down into two separate entitlements: asbestos trust fund claims and mesothelioma lawsuits.
Once set aside for victims
Types of Legal Claims
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Many asbestos producers have filed for bankruptcy. Some did so because asbestos use in new applications dropped sharply in the second half of the 20th century, when organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration implemented safety precautions, leaving the asbestos industry’s business model untenable. Other companies filed for bankruptcy to avoid future lawsuits.
To ensure that asbestos manufacturers would not avoid their legal and ethical responsibility to compensate those affected, bankruptcy courts forced them to create asbestos trust funds. These funds allowed manufacturing companies to set money aside for future victims, who can file a mesothelioma claim against the accounts.
Get Access to Trust Fund Money
$32 billion is available to mesothelioma patients and their families.
How Can Trust Funds Help?
Assist in paying for treatment and travel expenses
Ensure your family's financial future
Quick compensation
Help Me Access Trust Funds Now
Personal Injury Lawsuits
If a manufacturing company that is responsible for someone’s mesothelioma is still in business, the victim can file a lawsuit against them. Legal experts recommend patients use this type of mesothelioma claim because it usually leads to the largest compensation amount.
Victims should consult with a mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after receiving their diagnosis. The attorney needs time to investigate the patient’s exposure history, determine all the viable defendants and file the claims within the statute of limitations associated with the applicable state. There may be multiple states relevant to the case depending on where the exposure occurred, where the plaintiff lives and other factors.
Most mesothelioma personal injury lawsuits reach a settlement before going to trial, which allows patients to focus on treatment rather than their legal case.
QUICK FACT
Personal injury mesothelioma claims must be filed within the statute of limitations in the patient’s state. Some statutes are as short as one year.
If a loved one dies from mesothelioma without having hired a mesothelioma attorney, the family may hire an attorney to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased’s estate as long as the statute of limitations has not expired. This type of mesothelioma claim is similar to a personal injury lawsuit.
If an estate was not set up or required, a mesothelioma attorney can refer the family to an estate-planning or elder-care attorney who helps with the process.
Mesothelioma Claims Process
Most legal mesothelioma claims are handled with little work required of the patient. An experienced attorney can simplify the case process so patients can focus on their health and spending time with their loved ones.
Hire a Mesothelioma Law Firm
Hiring a quality mesothelioma firm is the first step in filing a claim. Mesothelioma lawyers work strictly on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid a percentage of the victim’s compensation. Therefore, the client never has any out-of-pocket expenses.
Get a Visit From a Lawyer
Patients can hire the best law firms in the country regardless of location because the top lawyers are national, which enables them to handle cases regardless of where their client lives or works. They fly to and meet with the victim personally.
Lawyers Determine Exposure History
By thoroughly researching a patient’s exposure history, lawyers determine which companies to file mesothelioma claims against. The most experienced mesothelioma law firms have researched asbestos products for many years and possess a detailed database of asbestos producers and workplaces.
Possible Deposition
Usually, the most work a patient does for their lawsuit is provide a video deposition. This deposition is a record of their testimony, which can be used as evidence in the unlikely event their lawsuit goes to trial. Asbestos trust fund claims do not require a deposition because they are not lawsuits.
Most Lawsuits End in Settlement
Lawsuits can seem overwhelming for many reasons, including the potential stress of a drawn-out trial. Fortunately, a large majority of mesothelioma lawsuits are settled before the trial date.
Why File an Asbestos-Related Legal Claim?
Filing a claim helps mesothelioma patients receive compensation, which assists them and their loved ones with the hardships associated with the disease. These funds aid in paying for a patient’s treatment and securing their family’s financial future.
4 Reasons Why You Should File a Claim
Secure the Future of Your Family
For many patients, their family’s welfare is a significant concern. The fear of leaving loved ones with a financial burden due to the disease should be the last thing on a patient’s mind.
The funds that patients receive may be used to pay off debt their family may have incurred or invest in their children’s or grandchildren’s future education.
Your Personal Right
Most companies were aware of the harmful health hazards associated with inhaling or ingesting asbestos. In many circumstances, people are unaware of when or how they were exposed to asbestos.
A mesothelioma attorney will determine what their client was exposed to and which company produced it. Afterward, the lawyer will file all necessary paperwork for the mesothelioma claim. Many mesothelioma patients are the victims of a crime and have every right to be compensated for the negligence of these companies.
Sometimes insurance is not enough to cover the cost of care. Treatment can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and few insurance companies cover all the costs.
A patient may also incur other expenses such as traveling, caregiving or other out-of-pocket expenses.
Recoup Income Losses
While combating the disease, patients may find themselves not able to maintain a steady income. This can result in financial hardships and increased debt.
Mesothelioma victims are entitled to collect lost wages, and their loss is assessed when it comes to determining the value of the claim.
Find out where you may have been exposed to asbestos
A nation wide list of sites where you or a loved one may have come in contact with asbestos.
Select State...AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Importance of a Mesothelioma Lawyer
Hiring an experienced mesothelioma attorney can make the mesothelioma claim filing process free of stress, allowing patients to focus on treatment. Comfort for the client isn’t the only benefit to having a mesothelioma lawyer. Here are the primary ways that the best lawyers help patients with their mesothelioma claim.
Receive the Maximum Compensation
This will help patients pay for any expenses associated with their treatment. It will also provide a future security blanket for loved ones.
Have a Stress-Free Experience
In most cases, victims never set foot in a courtroom. This allows them to spend time focused on healing and combating the disease.
Save Time Due to Their Knowledge
Their ability to do all the research means they will handle every detail of the mesothelioma claim.
Mesothelioma patients who have not reached normal retirement age and who are no longer able to work as a result of a mesothelioma diagnosis can get their Social Security disability compensation claim expedited by filing through the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowance Program.
This program fast-tracks claims for certain life-threatening diseases. Both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are on the Compassionate Allowance Conditions list, so patients with either form of mesothelioma can receive expedited processing and approval in as little as 30 days.
Average Individual Monthly Payout (as of 2019)
Maximum Beneficiary (as of 2019)
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma have various compensation options available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Veterans who have a “service-related” mesothelioma diagnosis are eligible for VA disability compensation. Veterans who contracted mesothelioma primarily because of exposure outside of the military should look into VA pension.
Amounts are determined by the number of dependents being paid, whether the veteran requires the assistance of another person to perform daily tasks (such as bathing, dressing, using the restroom, shaving, preparing meals, etc.) and whether the veteran is housebound or in a nursing home.
Average Single Vet Payout Per Month (as of 2019)
Average Married Vet Payout Per Month (as of 2019)
Retired LCDR Carl Jewett
"Veterans are the largest group of patients diagnosed with mesothelioma each year."
Veterans are entitled to benefits through the VA.
VA-Accredited Claims Agent
24 years of active service
Thousands of asbestos claims filed
Previous: Mesothelioma Compensation
Next: Finding a Lawyer
Reviewed and Edited by: Troy E. Walton
Troy Walton has served as the legal advisor for Mesothelioma Guide since 2015. In that role, his goal is to ensure that all legal information posted on the website is accurate and up-to-date. Troy is a trial attorney with over 17 years of experience representing a range of clients from personal injury cases to mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer cases.
Show Sources & Author
Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts and Tort Compensation. RAND Institute for Civil Justice. Retrieved from: https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2011/RAND_MG1104.pdf. Accessed: 10/23/19.
Veterans Compensation Benefits Rate Tables. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from: https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/resources_comp01.asp. Accessed: 03/20/19.
Occupational Exposure to Asbestos. United States Department of Labor, Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Retrieved from: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/federalregister/1994-08-10. Accessed: 03/22/19.
How Much Money Will You Get From Social Security? US News & World Report. Retrieved from: https://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/social-security/articles/2018-08-20/how-much-you-will-get-from-social-security. Accessed: 03/22/19.
Last Edited: December 17, 2019.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507544
|
__label__cc
| 0.634736
| 0.365264
|
Definition, Function, Structure and Location
Definition: What is a Cytoskeleton?
In cell biology, the cytoskeleton is a system of fibrillar structures that pervades the cytoplasm. As such, it may be described as the part of the cytoplasm that provides the internal supporting framework for a cell.
In addition to providing structural support, it's also involved in different types of movements (where it anchors various cellular structures like the flagellum) as well as the movement of cellular substances.
Composed of three components that include:
Intermediate fibers
Latest research discoveries regarding the cytoskeleton:
· The cytoplasm is involved in energy transfer as well as information processing in neurons.
· Discovery of three different nucleotides at the "barbed" end of actin filaments have helped explain why they grow much faster at one end than the other.
· Defects of the cytoskeleton can impair the immune system.
* Although the cytoskeleton provides structural support for cells, it's worth noting that it's a dynamic network of protein filaments that can be adjusted/attuned by various cues (both internal and external).
Cells with nuclei-blue, mitochondria-green, actin cytoskeleton-red.Cells here are fibroblasts,common cells in mammalian connective tissue. Credit: D. Burnette,J. Lippincott-Schwartz/NICHD
Structure and Location
Microfilaments are filamentous structures of the cytoskeleton and are made up of actin monomers (f-actin). Here, globular g-actin monomers, commonly known as g-actin, polymerize to form filaments of actin polymers (f-actin). Ultimately, each strand of the filament (microfilament) is composed of two f-actin coiled in a helical fashion.
Microfilament strands have also been shown to possess positive and negative ends that contribute to the regulation of the filaments at the two ends. With regards to the development of microfilaments, studies have also found that new monomers tend to be added at the positive end at a faster rate compared to the negative end. Located at this positive end is also an ATP cap that serves to stabilize it during rapid growth.
Compared to the other components of the cytoskeleton, microfilaments are the thinnest/narrowest structures measuring between 3 and 5 nm in diameter. However, because they are made up of actin, microfilaments are quickly assembled and contribute to the proper functions of the cell.
Normally, microfilaments are located at the cell periphery where they run from the plasma membrane to the microvilli (e.g. they can be found in the pericanalicular zone where they make up the pericanalicular web/meshwork). Here, they are present in bundles that together form a three-dimensional intracellular meshwork.
* Despite being the thinnest components of the cytoskeleton, microfilaments are highly diverse and versatile.
Microtubules are the largest of the three components of the cytoskeleton with a diameter that ranges between 15 and 20 nm. Unlike microfilaments, microtubules are made up of a single type of globular protein known as tubulin (a protein composed of kd polypeptides and alpha and beta tubulin).
During favorable conditions, within the cell, heterodimers of tubulin assemble to form linear protofilaments. In turn, these filaments assemble to form the microtubules (hollow tube-like straws).
Like microfilaments, microtubules are also organized into bundles in cells. However, they have also been shown to be very unstable with some microtubules going through cycles of growth and shortening in their population.
During phases of shrinkage, heterodimer subunits are removed from specific ends of the tubes but added during the growth phase. The high variance of internal organization and sizes of microtubule bundles has been attributed to this dynamic instability.
* Each microtubule is composed of about 13 linear protofilaments that are arranged around a hollow core.
* Like microfilaments, microtubules are also polar structures. As such, they have two distinct ends with different charges (the positive end grows faster than the negative end).
* The dynamic instability of microtubules is as a result of polymerization and de-polymerization of the beta Bulin monomers.
In a cell, microtubules originate from the center of the cell in a hub-spoke manner. From here, they radiate throughout the cytoplasm where they serve a number of functions.
Intermediate Fibers/Intermediate Filaments (IF)
Unlike the other cytoskeleton components, intermediate filaments are made up of a large family of polypeptides. For this reason, there is a wide variety of intermediate filaments in different types of cells.
According to studies, there are over 50 different types of intermediate filaments classified into six major groups that include:
· Type 1 and II - Consists of about 15 different proteins found in most epithelial cells.
· Type III - This group includes such proteins as vimentin and desmin. They can be found in the cells of smooth muscles, white cells, and glial cells among others.
· Type IV - This group includes such proteins as neurofilament proteins and α-internexin found in nerve cells.
· Type V - An example of proteins found in this group are lamins.
· Type VI - Like nestin found in neurons.
* One of the most common proteins involved in the formation of intermediate filaments is Keratin. This is the fibrous protein commonly found in the skin and hair.
During assembly, central rod domains of two polypeptide chains are first wound around each other to form a coiled structure (dimer). The resulting dimers then come together to form tetramers that assemble on their ends (end to end) to form protofilaments. Ultimately, protofilaments assemble to form the intermediate filaments.
* Each intermediate filament is composed of about eight protofilaments.
* Unlike microtubules and microfilaments that have polar ends, intermediate filaments tend to be apolar - This is largely due to the fact that they are composed of antiparallel tetramers.
With regards to size, intermediate filaments range between 8 and 10nm in diameter- Thus the term "intermediate filaments". They are also more stable compared to the other two and thus more permanent.
Although they do not experience dynamic instability, as is the case with microtubules, proteins of intermediate filaments are often modified through phosphorylation. This plays an important role in their assembly within the cell.
In different types of cells, intermediate filaments extend from the surface of the nucleus to the cell membrane. Through the elaborate network that they form in the cytoplasm, these filaments also associate with the other components of the cytoskeleton which contributes to their functions.
Illustration-Proteins in prokaryotic cytoskeleton.Based on-Gitai, Z.(2005)."The New Bacterial Cell Biology: Moving Parts and Subcellular Architecture".Cell 120(5):577-586 by TimVickers[Public domain]
Because of its localization in different types of cells, the cytoskeleton system is known for its role in providing internal scaffold that helps maintain the structural integrity of a cell.
Apart from maintaining the shape of a cell, however, it serves several other functions in cells. To get a good understanding of the cytoskeleton, it is important to look at the functions of the three components that make up the cytoskeleton.
Function of Microfilaments (Actin Filaments)
Typically, microfilaments are distributed in the motile structures of cells. They can, therefore, be found in such structures as the flagellum and cilia where they contribute to cell movement of some organisms.
Actin filaments have also been shown to be involved in the formation of such structures as the lamellipodium that allows cells to move across substrates.
Apart from cell motility, microfilaments also play an important role in the movement of various organelles. This is evident during cell division where an actin ring is involved in cell division.
Together with myosin, the filament contributes to the pinching of cells (in the middle) which eventually results in the division of cell components and consequently cell division. In the presence of ATP energy, the two have also been shown to play a role in the movement of various organelles and vesicles in a cell.
In muscle cells, actin filaments (along with myosin) are responsible for the contraction. The sliding activity of actin filaments ultimately contributes to the contraction of muscles.
* With regards to transportation of various cell components and material (vesicles and organelles etc) actin filaments act as highways or tracks through which they are transported.
In cells, particularly animal cells, microtubules are some of the stiffest structures with high resilience. These aspects allow them to protect cell components from various harmful forces that may otherwise cause damage.
In addition, microtubules also have the following roles/functions:
· Contribute to the architectural framework of internal cell environment - Within the cell, microtubules have been shown to help establish cell polarity by organizing cell organelles as well as other components of the cytoskeleton.
· Chromosomal segregation - Microtubules are part of the spindle apparatus that separate chromosomes during cell division. As such, they can be said to play a role in cell division.
· Transportation - Like microfilaments, microtubules also contribute to the internal transport network of a cell that allows for the trafficking of cell vesicles. In particular, this is made possible by two groups of microtubule motors, namely the kinesins and dyneins.
· Motility - Various proteins associated with microtubules help generate force and movement in such structures as flagella that contribute to cell motility.
Intermediate Filaments
For the most part, intermediate filaments serve to provide structural support for cells. In cells that experience high physical stress (muscle and epithelial cells etc), intermediate filaments help provide support that maintains the structure.
Because of their more permanent stature, as compared to other components of the cytoskeleton, intermediate filaments have also been shown to help support the cytoskeleton as a whole.
Some of the other functions of intermediate filaments include:
Contribute to the stretching of epithelial cells
As components of the nuclear lamina, intermediate filaments help strengthen the nuclear membrane and thus protect contents of the nucleus.
Provide support for axons as they increase in size
They contribute to muscle contraction through the formation of bridges between Z discs
Return to Organelles main page
Return to Cell Biology main page
Return from Cytoskeleton to MicroscopeMaster home
A.D. Bershadsky and Iurii Markovich Vasil'ev. (1988). Cytoskeleton.
Deepa Nath. (2003). cytoskeleton. Naturevolume 422, page739 (2003).
ReHarald Herrmann and Ueli Aebi. (2016). Intermediate Filaments: Structure and Assembly.
J.E. Hesketh, and I.F. Pryme. (1996). Cytoskeleton in Specialized Tissues and in Pathological States.
Laurent Jaeken. (2007). A New List of Functions of the Cytoskeleton. Industrial Sciences and Technology, Karel de Grote-Hogeschool University College, Hoboken, Belgium.
Sabyasachi Sircar. (2008). Principles of Medical Physiology.
https://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/studies/invertebrates/microtubules.html
https://lecerveau.mcgill.ca/flash/capsules/articles_pdf/cytoskeleton.pdf
© microscopemaster.com. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507545
|
__label__wiki
| 0.503503
| 0.503503
|
Television is ‘a thing of the past’ for much of Asia’s consumer base
Netflix, Amazon Plus, Hulu and other giants entering the premium content space have effectively upended the longstanding tradition of programmers dictating what viewers get to watch, and when and where they watch it – argues Alon Shtruzman
by ALON SHTRUZMAN
The explosion of mobile apps and internet platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime – delivering premium video content in China and India – has left many global media players awestruck. This rapid phenomenon contrasts deeply with the slow technological transformation over decades in the western world.
So what gives? To fully understand the exponential change, you need to look no further than the cable industries in the more mature media markets, where the operators and networks are facing an existential threat. Although they are doing what they can to slow progress, the battle already seems to be lost.
The cord cutting brought about by the advent of video-on-demand services has created unprecedented challenges for this besieged industry. Netflix, Amazon Plus, Hulu and other giants entering the premium content space have effectively upended the longstanding tradition of programmers dictating what viewers get to watch, and when and where they watch it.
With cable’s subscription levels shrinking and viewing levels declining for its two primary pillars – scripted drama and lifestyle programming – the critical dual-revenue stream model on which it was built, and depends on for its continued survival, is now at risk.
The US cable industry, for instance, has seen market penetration fall from 90 per cent of the country’s population down into the 70 per cent range. And in an ironic twist, American broadcasters that once considered cable to be their biggest threat still remain near full national coverage; even while witnessing diminishing viewing figures.
Contrast this scenario with the perfect set of conditions for the technological revolution underway in China and India. They have been able to move straight to broadband very quickly, because there is no strong cable industry in either of these enormous Asian sectors to fight against it. And their booming economies are able to build the significant two-way infrastructure needed to support rapid development.
Today, with the near-universal use of mobile phones among the younger generation across these two Asian nations, there is an insatiable appetite among them for content of all sorts. And they only want to watch it all through VOD apps. Television is a thing of the past for this sizeable segment of the audience.
To feed this frenzy, a multitude of big and small services have emerged with massive programming budgets. These fund the production and acquisition of both locally produced content and exported American shows, movies and videos. Enter MTV Networks, CNBC, Universal Music Group, Sony, Discovery Communications. Even the America’s National Basketball Association being among those that have made China’s nascent internet TV and mobile ventures a key part of their deals with media giant the Shanghai Media Group.
Illustration: Jacu Amansec
They all recognise that to succeed in China, mobile and internet must be an essential part of their overall sales strategies, regardless of whether we are talking original or adapted intellectual property. The quick pace of this Asian technological revolution has been matched by an equally monumental rise in production values and creativity.
Viewers are now blown away by the great content and talent coming from India, where production and script values today are easily on a par with the US. And you have to marvel at the absolutely brilliant stories and mind-blowing cinematic values on display.
Asia, like America, is in the middle of a creative renaissance. In both cases, it has been spurred by the entrance of new players, technology and new distribution methods. But Asia, unburdened by the constraints of a more mature media landscape as would be the case in the US or United Kingdom for example, has a distinct advantage. No wonder Netflix and Amazon Prime have set up shop there. It is the ‘Asian Century’ after all.
Alon Shtruzman is chief executive officer of the Keshet International media group
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507551
|
__label__wiki
| 0.913342
| 0.913342
|
US Government May Have Split Up Thousands More Migrant Families
Inaccurate and incomplete information in government files may be hampering efforts to identify more recent cases of family separations, a Health and Human Services Department watchdog found
By Colleen Long and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar • Published at 8:11 am on January 17, 2019
Over 2,700 children separated from their families have been identified as part of a court case in which families were ordered reunited
Investigators are concerned about the children who have not been identified because they were not covered by the reunification order
The watchdog report found ongoing problems keeping track of children, which could affect their well-being
It seems likely that thousands more migrant children were split from their families than the Trump administration previously reported, in part because officials were stepping up family separations long before the border policy that prompted international outrage last spring, a government watchdog said Thursday.
It's unclear just how many family separations occurred at the U.S.-Mexico border; immigration officials are allowed under longstanding policy to separate families under certain circumstances. Health and Human Services, the agency tasked with caring for migrant children, did not adequately track them until after a judge ruled that children must be reunited with their families, according to the report by the agency's inspector general.
Ann Maxwell, assistant inspector general for evaluations, said the number of children removed from their parents was certainly larger than the 2,737 listed by the government in court documents. Those documents chronicled separations that took place as parents were criminally prosecuted for illegally entering the country under President Donald Trump's "zero tolerance" policy.
"It's certainly more," Maxwell said. "But precisely how much more is unknown."
Maxwell said investigators didn't have specific numbers, but that Health and Human Services staff had estimated the tally to be in the thousands.
Lee Gelernt, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney who sued on behalf of a mother separated from her son, said the separation policy "was a cruel disaster from the start. This report reaffirms that the government never had a clear picture of how many children it ripped from their parents."
Most of the tens of thousands of children who come into government custody cross the border alone. But the report found that in late 2016, 0.3 percent of children turned over to Health and Human Services had crossed with a parent and were separated. By the summer of 2017, that percentage had grown to 3.6 percent, officials said. The watchdog did not have exact numbers, but the total number of migrant children who passed through the agency's care during the 2017 budget year was 40,810. The separated children had already been released to sponsors, who are generally parents or other close relatives.
The inspector general did not say why the children had been separated before the zero-tolerance policy. Immigration officials are allowed to take a child from a parent in certain cases — serious criminal charges against a parent, concerns over the health and welfare of a child or medical concerns. That policy has long been in place.
Katie Waldman, a spokeswoman for Homeland Security, said the report reinforced what officials have long said. "For more than a decade it was and continues to be standard for apprehended minors to be separated when the adult is not the parent or legal guardian, the child's safety is at risk" or there's a record of a "serious criminal activity by the adult," she said.
In some cases, however, Homeland Security officials said a parent had a criminal history but did not offer details on the crimes, the watchdog reported.
The Administration for Children and Families, the division under Health and Human Services that manages the care of unaccompanied minors, said it generally agreed with the findings and noted the report did not find that the agency lost track of children under its care. It also noted new policies were in place to help track newly separated children. And the court never instructed officials to determine the number of children separated before the June 26 ruling.
Last spring, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions said anyone caught crossing the border illegally would be criminally prosecuted. Families were brought into custody by U.S. Border patrol officials, then their parents taken to criminal court. If the parents were gone longer than 72 hours — the length of time Border Patrol is allowed to hold children — the children were transferred to the custody of Health and Human Services.
The practice prompted an outcry, with church groups and lawmakers calling the separations inhumane. Trump ordered an end to the separations on June 20. At the time, a federal judge who was already hearing the case of a mother separated from her son ruled that children must be reunited with their parents.
Despite "considerable" effort by Health and Human Services to locate all the children placed in its care, the report said officials were still finding new cases as long as five months after the judge's order requiring reunifications.
"There is even less visibility for separated children who fall outside the court case," investigators concluded.
They said it's not clear the system put in place to track separated children is good enough. And the lack of detail from immigration authorities continues to be an issue.
The border remains a crucible for the Trump administration, with a partial government shutdown that has dragged on nearly a month over the president's demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall that congressional Democrats are unwilling to provide.
The inspector general's office was also looking into other aspects of the separations, including the health and mental well-being of the children who had been separated. It expects to have other reports on the topic.
Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he would hold the government accountable in the matter. "The Trump administration, with its unique blend of incompetence, cruelty, and disregard for basic decency, misled the American public on one of its most heinous policies to date," he said in a statement.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507554
|
__label__cc
| 0.719601
| 0.280399
|
Scoop: Jackson Himself Set Stage for Murray’s Video
By Courtney Hazlett • Published at 5:08 pm on August 18, 2009
Instagram/mich_duval
The well-produced video statement released on YouTube by Michael Jackson's cadiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray, took many by surprise: Why would the man at the center of the investigation surrounding Jackson’s death want to put himself in the spotlight?
The short answer: a taped comment allows the famous and the infamous to address the public just when it starts to look like they’re hiding, with the benefit of not having to actually answer any questions.
Certainly Murray isn’t doing something we haven’t seen before: The most recent example is singer Chris Brown’s Internet apology for his February assault on girlfriend Rihanna.
Although Brown’s was far more of the mea culpa variety than Murray's thank you, both videos were directly addressed to the public, carefully crafted, and came at a time when months had passed without a statement.
Ironically, both Brown and Murray are taking cues from the first major celebrity to use the video statement as public-relations tool: Michael Jackson himself.
On Dec. 22, 1993, Jackson broke a five-week silence and in a recorded, televised statement, called the child molestation allegations he was then facing “disgusting” and “totally false.”
Whether this tactic directly affected the prosecution’s Sept. 21, 1994 decision to not file charges (the official reason is the boy at the center of the case refused to testify) the tactic itself was novel.
The production quality of Jackson's video is genius in its lack of bells and whistles — no Neverland, no opulence, and an epaulet-free appearance. It was all part of the plan to repaint Jackson as just a regular man in a bad situation.
At the end of the day, perhaps all the men are ordinary people trapped in extraordinary circumstances. But by releasing the video statements during tough times, Brown, who was often referred to as Jackson’s heir apparent, and Murray, who was as close to Jackson as any of his real heirs, are picking up on yet another of the “King of Pop's” pop-culture influences. Unfortunately, this is one case where they'd probably prefer not to have to follow in the idol's footsteps.
Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter: @ courtneyatmsnbc.
Copyright MSNBC - MSNBC
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507555
|
__label__cc
| 0.737962
| 0.262038
|
The Impacts of Trump’s Immigration Order
What Does Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration Really Mean?
Trump’s Executive Order banning travel from seven Middle Eastern countries has led to thousands of protests across the United States – and the world. It has also led to an incredible amount of confusion and conjecture. While it is not truly a Muslim ban, it does have a significant impact on immigration policies. We looked at the actual order and the facts surrounding it so that we could clarify exactly what it does – and doesn’t – mean.
Trump’s Executive Order on immigration has significant, although hopefully temporary, impacts:
A Temporary Ban on Travel to the United States
The Executive Order specifically bans travel to the US from certain countries for a period of 90 days, starting on January 27, 2017.
Travel to the United States from Seven Countries is Affected
The order specifically bans travel to the US from Iran, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Somalia, but only for those who are not currently US citizens.
A Review Will Be Made of Current Policies for Admissions to the US
The order calls for a review of all policies related to any visas or admissions from any country with the goal of determining that individuals are who they say they are and do not pose any security or public-safety threat.
Uniform Screening Standards for All Immigration Will Be Instituted
A new, uniform program for all immigrants including a more thorough process intended to ensure that the applicant is who he or she claims to be and to assess whether or not they have any intent to commit criminal or terrorist acts in the US will be implemented.
120 Day Suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)
There will be a 120 day suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Program, and a review of the USRAP process will be made to determine what additional procedures should be used.
Compilation of a List of Countries That May Pose Threat
While this seems a bit murky, what the order says is that the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, will submit a list within 30 days of any countries that are deemed to “not provide adequate information” on those traveling to the US.
Prioritization of Refugees Seeking Minority-Based Religious Asylum
After the ban is lifted on the USRAP, priority will be given to refugees on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that their religion is a minority religion in their country.
There Are Exclusions
Those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas are all excluded from the possible prohibitions listed below.
Exceptions May Be Made, Regardless
Both the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security may issue visas or other immigration benefits to individuals from countries that are otherwise blocked.
What it May Mean:
While there is still a great deal of uncertainty, here are a few things that will most likely happen as a result of Trump’s Executive Order:
Probable New Guidelines
After submitting the list of countries whose current policies may pose a threat, the Secretary of State will request that those countries begin providing additional information. More extensive guidelines will almost certainly be implemented.
A Potential Prohibition Against Admissions from Certain Countries
After 60 days, the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with the Secretary of State, will recommend a list of countries for inclusion on a Presidential Proclamation prohibiting the entry of foreign nationals from those countries indefinitely.
A Continued Ban on Syrian Refugees
The President has reserved the right to personally decide when and if sufficient changes to the USRAP have been made to ensure that the admission of Syrian refugees is consistent with the national interest. This ban may be extended indefinitely.
A Limit on Refugees to the US
The President has reserved the right to decide if any refugees after reaching a total of 50,000 may be admitted to the US during the fiscal year 2017.
Green Card Holders Who Travel Back & Forth May Be Affected
Conflicting statements have been made regarding whether or not any of the bans and/or new guidelines will affect Green Card Holders. At this point, it appears that those holding Green Cards who are traveling from specified countries will, at the least, be subject to more intense screenings and may be held indefinitely.
Court Challenges to the Executive Order May Be Won and Honored by DHS
A number of legal challenges have been made on a case-by-case basis, and more will most certainly follow. Some of those detained when the Executive Order was first issued have already been allowed to leave airports.
What Trump’s Executive Order Doesn’t Mean:
Despite much speculation, this is what the Executive Order doesn’t mean:
This is Not a Ban on Muslims
The Executive Order itself does not specifically mention either Muslims or Islam. Trump has pointed out that more than 40 other Muslim-majority nations were not included in the order. However, in reality, the ban is more likely to stop Muslims than Christians or those of other faiths from entering the US.
This is Not a Permanent Ban on Travel from the Seven Countries Named
The ban itself will only last for 90 days. It is possible, however, that the ban could be extended or those countries could be added to the list of prohibited countries.
This is Not a Permanent Ban on Refugee Admission to the US
Refugee applicants who are already in the USRAP process may be admitted upon the initiation and completion of revised procedures after 120 days, when admissions for nationals of countries which have been determined to meet additional procedures to ensure the security and welfare of the United States are resumed.
Neelam Bharwaj is an expert immigration lawyer who has been helping individuals gain US Citizenship for almost 25 years. If you need further information or assistance, we encourage you to contact us.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507556
|
__label__wiki
| 0.829223
| 0.829223
|
IP Update, Vol. 18, No. 12
Lost-Profits Damages Available Despite 50 Percent Price...
Federal Circuit Limits the Safe Harbor Provision and th...
Written Description Standard for Negative Claim Limitat...
A Negative Claim Limitation Lacking Support In Specific...
Claim Construction—It Depends On the Meaning of “Is...
Unless Defined Beyond Ordinary Meaning, Narrow Terms Ar...
Federal Circuit Supports PTAB’s “One-Bite” Petiti...
Patent Owner Should Have Left “Good Enough” Alone
Directing a Known Treatment to a Sub-Population of Pati...
Propriety of a Certificate of Correction Requires Asses...
Violation of ITC Consent Order Can Be Based on “Infri...
America Invents Act
Bare Allegations of Customer Indemnification Not Enough...
A Solution to Business Problems May Not Be a Technologi...
Settle with All Stakeholders Before Trying to Terminate...
"Exclusive Ownership” Is Not Necessary for Standing i...
Inter Partes Review Is Not for Pending Claims
Foreign Proceedings Do Not Trigger § 315(b) Time Bar
It Can Happen: PTAB Alters Final Written Decision on Re...
PTAB Grants Patent Owner Request for Sur-reply to Defen...
Single Claim Approach for Trade Secret Misappropriation...
Intellectual Property Patent Litigation Post-Grant Proceedings
Patents / Damages / Lost-Profits
Lost-Profits Damages Available Despite 50 Percent Price Disparity
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that lost-profits damages were available in a situation where the accused product sold for half the price of the patentee’s product, and consequently remanded the case for reinstatement of the jury’s $45 million damages award. The other remaining appeal issues, generally relating to claim construction, were resolved in Akamai’s favor in a prior decision and are not further addressed here. Akamai Techs., Inc. v. Limelight Networks, Inc., Case Nos. 09-1372; -1380; -1416;-1417 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 16, 2015) (Linn, J.).
As the Federal Circuit has explained “[T]o collect lost profits, a patentee must show a reasonable probability that ‘but for’ the infringing activity, the patentee would have made the infringer’s sales.” In this case, Limelight argued that the district court committed legal error by allowing Akamai’s expert, Dr. Ugone, to present lost profits as a measure damages. Limelight argued that Dr. Ugone’s analysis of the percent of Limelight’s sales that would have gone to Akamai but for the infringement lacked a causal connection and was arbitrary.
Dr. Ugone opined that even though Limelight’s product was half the price of Akamai’s product, 75 percent of Limelight’s sales would have been made by Akamai but for the infringement. He justified his calculation in part on the relative inelasticity of demand for the product, meaning that the demand would not change much even as the price changed.
Dr. Ugone’s 25 percent adjustment for market elasticity was supported by evidence that Akamai and Limelight were direct competitors, “including statements by Limelight that Akamai was its largest competitor; [that] ‘Limelight and Akamai are, from a scale and quality standpoint, head and shoulders above the rest of . . . Limelight’s competition’; [that] demand was driven by end-users not customers; and [that] Akamai maintained a dominant market share despite Limelight’s infringing service and lower price.”
The Federal Circuit rejected Limelight’s argument that the price disparity necessarily meant that Limelight and Akamai were selling to different market segments. It distinguished its 1993 decision in BIC Leisure Prods., v. Windsurfing International, which held that lost profits were not available because the infringer and patentee sold to different market segments based on a 60 percent to 80 percent price disparity. The Court explained that in BIC Leisure the infringing sailboards “differed fundamentally” from the patentee’s boards, over a dozen competitors sold in the sailboard market, and demand for sailboards was relatively elastic. Here, in contrast, Akamai presented evidence that it and Limelight were direct competitors, both leaders in the field, and that demand was relatively inelastic.
Accordingly, the Federal Circuit concluded that lost-profits damages were available to Akamai and that Dr. Ugone’s 25 percent adjustment for market elasticity “was sufficiently grounded in economic principles to allow it.” The Federal Circuit did not, however, rule on whether the 25 percent adjustment was adequate or whether there was a sufficient evidentiary basis for the jury’s damages award, because it found that Limelight did not properly raise the issue for appeal, as opposed to the distinct legal challenge on the availability of lost profits.
The current remand order additionally confirms the Federal Circuit’s unanimous (per curium) en banc ruling on remand from the Supreme Court ruling (IP Update, Vol. 17, No. 6) that reinstated its affirmance of the jury’s verdict of infringement against Limelight for infringing a web content delivery patent even though Limelight’s customers carried out some of the steps so long as “all method steps can be attributed to a single entity.”(See IP Update, Vol. 18, No. 6 and report at 2015 WL 4760450.)
Patents / Safe Harbor Provision of § 271(e) / Infringement Under § 271(g)
Federal Circuit Limits the Safe Harbor Provision and the Scope of § 271(g)
Addressing issues of infringement under 35 U.S.C. § 271(g) and the safe harbor provision of § 271(e), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the district court’s ruling of non-infringement under § 271(g) and vacated the district court’s finding of non-infringement under 271(a) to the extent that finding was based on application of the § 271(e) safe harbor provision. Momenta Pharm., Inc. v. Teva Pharm., Inc. and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Case Nos. 14-1274, -1277 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 10, 2015) (Wallach, J.) (Dyk, J., concurring in part, dissenting in part).
Enoxaparin is an anticoagulant that helps to prevent blood clots. Momenta markets a generic version of enoxaparin, and is the assignee of a patent directed to a process used to ensure each batch of generic enoxaparin meets certain quality standards. Teva and Amphastar sought to enter the generic enoxaparin market. Teva used an Italian company to manufacture, analyze, test, package and label Teva’s generic version of enoxaparin, which Teva then imported into the United States. Unlike Teva, Amphastar manufactures its enoxaparin product within the United States. Momenta sued Teva and Amphastar for infringement of its patented process. The district court granted summary judgment that Teva’s and Amphastar’s sales in the United States did not constitute infringement under § 271(g) and that their conduct fell within the safe harbor from infringement provided by § 271(e). Momenta appealed.
Section 271(g) prohibits selling “within the United States a product which is made by a process patented in the United States.” In this case, the issue for the Court was whether Teva’s enoxaparin product was “made by” the claimed method. The Court ruled that the word “made,” as used in § 271(g), means “manufacture” and extends to the creation or transformation of a product, but does not extend to quality control steps, including testing to evaluate the properties of an already-synthesized substance. Because Momenta’s claimed process only involved evaluation of the properties of material that had already been made, the Court found that Teva’s and Amphastar’s enoxaparin product was not “made by” the claimed process.
Momenta also argues Amphastar’s use of the patented method within the United States infringes under § 271(a) and is not protected by the § 271(e)(1) safe harbor. The safe harbor provision of § 271(e) shields from infringement certain activities relating to submission of information to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including, for example, allowing generic drug manufacturers to perform the testing required for FDA approval before the patents in question expire. The safe harbor provision broadly encompasses pre-approval activities but does not shield post-approval “information that may be routinely reported to the FDA.”
In this case, the question for the Court was whether the information generated by Amphastar’s performance of the claimed process is of the type that is routinely (i.e., repeatedly, habitually, regularly) reported to the FDA. According to the Court, because Amphastar’s allegedly infringing activities involved post-approval quality control testing of each and every batch of enoxaparin, the information generated was of the type “routinely” recorded, retained and reported in accordance with FDA regulations and, therefore, was not protected by the § 271(e) safe harbor. Here, the Court drew a distinction between information that is “routinely” recorded and reported in this manner and “new” information that has not been previously submitted to the FDA. According to the Court, “new” information is information that may form the basis for supplemental applications or post-approval clinical trial results. Because the district court erred in finding that Amphastar’s activities fall within the § 271(e) safe harbor, the Court remanded the case to the district court to analyze the question of infringement under. § 271(a).
Judge Dyk dissented from the majority ruling as to non-infringement under § 271(g). According to Dyk, whether a particular product was “made by” a claimed process should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, in the context of enoxaparin, the claimed process is an integral part of the manufacturing process that should be covered under § 271(g).
Judge Dyk also noted that the majority’s decision may create a loophole in the law of § 271(g) infringement with respect to purification and other quality-control processes. Specifically, the material subject to the claimed process was removed from, and not returned to, the commercial batch. As a result, according to the majority, the material that became the final commercial product was not “transformed by” the claimed process. By parsing the process in this way, the majority drew a distinction between quality control steps done using samples that are incorporated in the final product, which may fall within the purview of § 271(g), and quality control steps done using samples not incorporated into the final commercial product, which may be exempt from § 271(g).
Patents / Negative Limitation / Written Description
Written Description Standard for Negative Claim Limitations
Do negative claim limitations need to adhere to a heightened written description standard? That was the question the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit addressed in an appeal from a inter partes reexamination, rejecting a heightened standard, the Court concluded that “properly described, alternative features are sufficient to satisfy the written description standard of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1.” Inphi Corp. v. Netlist, Inc., Case No. 15-1179 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 13, 2015) (O’Malley, J.).
Inphi petitioned for inter partes reexamination of a Netlist patent directed to a memory module. After the examiner rejected more than 30 claims as obvious, the patent owner, Netlist, amended the claims to include a negative limitation, after which the examiner withdrew his objections.
As background, the patent relates to computer memory modules that comprise a printed circuit with upwards of a dozen “random access memory” (RAM) chips (sometime on both sides of the circuit board) for short-term storage. When plugged into a computer’s memory slot, a memory module receives multiple command and control signals that are defined by the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council (JEDEC)—a standards body much like the IEEE, but with a focus on computer memory. While memory modules are typically required to send and receive standard signals to be compatible with computer memory systems, memory module makers are free to adjust on-module signaling to improve, for example, capacity and/or performance. The Netlist patent claims methods and apparatus for such improvements.
To save the claims, Netlist added a limitation excluding the use of three standard signals —CAS, RAS, and bank-address signals—as “chip select” signals, but allowing the use of other standard signals as “chip select” signal.
After the examiner withdrew his objection, the requestor, Inphi appealed the amended claims to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (Board), arguing Netlist introduced a negative claim limitation lacking support from the specification and, as a result, failing to satisfy the written description requirement (§ 112, ¶ 1). The Board affirmed the examiner’s allowance of the amended claims and denied Inphi’s request for a rehearing. Inphi appealed.
Relying on Santarus v. Par Pharm., (IP Update, Vol. 15, No. 10), Inphi argued that the Court’s precedent demanded a heightened written description standard for negative claim limitations requiring that the specification “describe[e] a reason to exclude the relevant limitation.” Inphi further asserted that the “reason to exclude” necessitates something more that describing alternative features—such as describing the advantages of excluding the feature, or the disadvantages of including it—and that Netlist’s patent failed to expressly articulate a reason to exclude the RAS, CAS and bank address signals. The Federal Circuit took issue with Inphi’s recitation of the standard.
Reconciling its decision in Santarus with its existing jurisprudence on written description, the Court clarified that Santarus describes one way of satisfying a negative limitation, not the only way. Listing advantages and/or disadvantages of the claim exclusion is therefore unnecessary when the specification “properly describes alternative feature of the patented invention.”
Applying the deferential substantial evidence standard, the Court concluded that the patent specification and JEDEC documents incorporated by reference supported the Board’s finding that Netlist had adequately described the added negative limitation.
Practice Note: For future guidance, the Federal Circuit noted that if the specification foreclosed on the negative limitation, then the amendment would be improper and the patent invalid—as was the case with In re Bimeda Research & Dev. Ltd., (IP Update, Vol. 16, No. 8).
Patents / Claim Construction / Negative Limitation
A Negative Claim Limitation Lacking Support In Specification Can Narrow Claim Scope
Addressing the issue of whether the district court properly relied on dictionary definitions when construing a negative claim limitation that was the basis for a summary judgement of non-infringement, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit answered in the affirmative, holding that courts can rely on dictionaries so long as the dictionary definition does not contradict any definition found in or ascertained by a reading of the intrinsic evidence. Imaginal Systematic, LLC v. Leggett & Platt, Case No. 14-1845 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 10, 2015) (O’Malley, J.).
Leggett & Platt (L&P) designs and manufactures equipment used to assemble box springs. Imaginal Systematic (Imaginal) filed suit against L&P alleging that an L&P stapling machine infringed an Imaginal patent directed toward a process of assembling box springs.
The district court granted summary judgement of non-infringement on the grounds that L&P stapling machine that used a camera as an input to a computer does not satisfy a claim limitation requiring the stapler not use vision- or sight-based control. Imaginal appealed, arguing that the district court improperly constructed the negative claim limitation to obviate infringement. Imaginal asserted that the district court defined the negative limitation too broadly.
The asserted claim requires moving a fastener tool “without the use of a vision guidance tool.” Since such a negative limitation is exclusionary rather than inclusionary, the typical arguments regarding claim breadth asserted by parties in litigation are reversed. Typically, patentees will argue for a broad construction of a claim element so as to encompass an accused product, while accused infringers will seek a narrow construction so as to avoid infringement. However, when a negative limitation is in issue, it is the patentee who will typically argue for a narrow construction in order preserve the claim scope, while the accused infringer will argue for a broader construction which tends to limit the claim scope.
Patentees frequently act as their own lexicographers, which is why courts initially refer to the specification when construing claim terms. However, when the specification alone is insufficient for claim construction, courts are free to rely on dictionaries. In this case, the specification did not explicitly define the term “vision guidance tool,” and so the court looked to the ordinary dictionary meaning of the words “vision” and “guidance.” The court’s construction resulted in a construction of a negative claim limitation that was sufficiently broad to exclude the accused product.
Imaginal’s argument that the limitation should be construed to only exclude the vision guidance system disclosed in the specification failed because while the patentee could have defined the term such that it was restricted to a specific embodiment, it did chose not do to.
Practice Note: If required to introduce a negative claim limitation during prosecution, practitioners should try to insure the intrinsic evidence will support a narrow construction.
Patents / IPR / Claim Construction
Claim Construction—It Depends On the Meaning of “Is”
Addressing claim construction issues in the context of an inter partes review, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit concluded that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB or Board) construction of the term “is connected” was erroneous, even under the broadest reasonable interpretation (BRI) standard. Straight Path IP Group, Inc. v. Sipnet EU S.R.O., Case No. 15-1212 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 25, 2015) (Taranto, J.) (Dyk, J. dissenting).
The patent at issue, held by Straight Path, described a system for allowing voice and video communications despite changing IP addresses in which the system would query a server as to whether a user “is connected to a computer network” by having the server search the database for “any stored information corresponding” to the user. Relying on a small portion of the specification, the PTAB agreed with the petitioner, Sipnet, that the term “is connected to a computer network” included users that had previously been connected or registered with the server, even where those users were no longer connected at the time of the query. This broad interpretation invalidated many of the patent’s claim as anticipated or obvious in light of prior art. Straight path appealed.
Conducting a de novo review, the Federal Circuit overturned the Board’s construction of the contested claim limitation. According to the Court, the present tense “is” in the claim term “is connected to the computer network” plainly means that the query transmitted to the server seeks to determine whether the second unit is connected at the time the query is sent. The Court went on to explain that, where the claim language is particularly clear, “the specification plays a more limited role than in the common situation where claim terms are uncertain in meaning.” The Court explained that unless there is a disclaimer or redefinition, either explicit or implicit, the proper construction of any claim language must, among other things, “stay[] true to the claim language.”
In this case, the specification does not provide a basis for reasonably adopting a construction that contradicts the plain meaning of the claim language. Rather, the portion of the specification cited by the Board—which says no more than that the unit is active and online at the time of registration—does not expressly or implicitly redefine the phrase “is connected.” Indeed, as the Federal Circuit noted, the specification further explains that the server “may use the timestamps to update the [online] status of each processing unit”; meaning that the specification recognizes the temporal nature of the status of actually being online.
Judge Dyk dissented from the majority, relying on Phillips to argue that the specification is always highly relevant to the claim construction. He also referenced prior Federal Circuit cases in which the Court had found, based on the specification, that claims requiring “real time data” did not require instantaneous data.
Patents / Claim Construction
Unless Defined Beyond Ordinary Meaning, Narrow Terms Are Bounded by Their Ordinary Meaning
Addressing claim construction issues, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court’s summary judgment ruling, finding that the district court properly construed the disputed claim limitation based on its ordinary meaning. Advanced Steel Recovery, LLC v. X-Body Equipment, Inc., Case No. 14-1829 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 12, 2015) (Stoll, J.).
Advanced Steel sued X-Body alleging infringement of a patent related to loading shipping containers with bulk material for storage or transport. At issue was the proper construction of the term “proximate end.” Noting that the specification did not expressly define this term, the district court construed “proximate end” to mean “the extreme or last part lengthwise.” Based on this construction, the district court found that the “connection point” of the accused device was not at the “proximate end” and granted summary judgment of non-infringement in X-Body’s favor. Advanced Steel appealed.
On appeal, Advanced Steel faulted the district court for narrowly construing “proximate end” to mean the extreme or absolute edge of the container packer. According to Advanced Steel, the term should have been construed as the “back half” or “the portion or region that is opposite the distal end.” But, as the Federal Circuit explained, Advanced Steel’s argument misrepresents the district court’s construction. The district court did not actually construe “proximate end” as the “extreme edge,” “absolute edge,” but instead used the disjunctive “or” to show that the proximate end of the container packer includes not just the “extreme” end, but also the “last part.” The Court found that the district court’s construction was consistent with the plain and ordinary meaning of the claim term, and consistent with the specification, which in every figure shows the disputed connection point being at the extreme edge. The Court rejected Advanced Steel’s argument that the patent depicted the “proximate end” as being offset from the absolute edge, stating that the district court’s construction of “proximate end” allowed for such an offset to coexist. The Court also rejected Advanced Steel’s reliance on alternative dictionary definitions, explaining that these dictionaries’ definitions were not inconsistent with the district court’s construction.
In affirming the district court’s no literal infringement ruling, the Court agreed that the “connection point” of the accused device was not at the “proximate end” because it was nearly one-third away from the extreme end. As for the doctrine of equivalents, the Court agreed that the range of equivalents did not extend to the connection point of the accused device. Here, the Court found that Advanced Steel failed to meet its burden of showing that the accused device performed substantially the same way as the claimed invention, explaining that Advanced Steel’s expert referred to features of the accused device that corresponded to other claim limitations.
Practice Note: Claim terms that appear as narrow or limiting on their face will be interpreted as such unless the specification contains additional definitions or descriptions showing that one of ordinary skill in the art intended to define the claim terms beyond their ordinary meaning.
Patents / IPR / Evidence
Federal Circuit Supports PTAB’s “One-Bite” Petition Procedural Rules but Vacates PTAB Opinion
David Mlaver
While the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit supported the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB or Board) application of procedural rules to limit the petitioners to one bite at the IPR petition apple, it nonetheless vacated and remanded a Board opinion based on a possible misapplication of those rules. Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc. v. Verinata Health Inc., Case Nos. 15-1215; -1226 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 16, 2015) (Taranto, J.).
Challenging another patent concerning prenatal diagnostic methods (Ariosa Diagnostics, v. Sequenom, IP Update, Vol. 18, No. 7), Ariosa Diagnostics filed a petition for inter partes review, asserting that the patent claims were obvious over several prior art references. Two expert declarations filed along with Ariosa’s petition each referred to an exhibit as evidence of the background knowledge of one or ordinary skill. The petition did not explicitly rely on the exhibit as a ground of unpatentability.
In contrast to its petition, Ariosa’s reply focused more heavily on the teachings of the exhibit as substantive prior art. In its reply the petitioner even submitted a new expert declaration that included testimony going to patentability based on the exhibit. The Board viewed this as a new argument, replacing the teachings of the originally cited references upon which patentability arguments in the petition were based, with the teachings of the exhibit. Because “a reply may only respond to arguments raised in the corresponding . . . patent owner response” and the Board did not see “why [the exhibit] could not have been presented as part of the asserted ground of unpatentability in the first instance,” the Board decided it would accord “this aspect of [the expert’s] testimony no weight.”
Separately, the Board also rejected the petitioner’s reliance in its reply on newly identified portions of the cited prior art references. The petitioner had tried to use these portions to rebut arguments that two of the cited references could not be combined. The Board ultimately concluded that the petitioner had not established obviousness by a preponderance of the evidence and upheld the challenged claims. The petitioner appealed.
The Federal Circuit vacated and remanded the Board’s decision while expressing full support for the Board’s enforcement of its procedural rules. First, regarding the testimony based on the exhibit, the Federal Circuit found that the arguments based on the exhibit were properly raised in the Petition so the testimony could not have been properly excluded as a new argument. The Court stated that there were permissible grounds for the Board to exclude the evidence, but it could not discern the grounds upon which the evidence was given no weight. Further, the Federal Circuit could not discern whether any error in that regard had a dispositive effect. Thus, the Court vacated the Board’s order and remanded to give the Board an opportunity to explain the effect of the erroneous “no weight” determination. Second, regarding the newly identified portions of the previously cited references, the Federal Circuit affirmed the Board’s exclusion of the evidence as properly grounded in applicable regulations and congressional intent to balance fairness and expediency. In sum, the Federal Circuit upheld the Board’s practice of strictly applying procedural rules to promote expediency even as it remanded the order for the Board to consider whether it had applied those rules correctly.
Practice Note: The PTAB practice of requiring petitioners to make all of their arguments and cite all of their evidence in the Petition is sanctioned by the Federal Circuit. Subject (of course) to page limitations, petitioners should err on the side of over-inclusiveness when presenting evidence in their petitions.
Patents / IPR / Obviousness
Addressing issues of obviousness and procedural issues related to the use of declarations, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part a decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board), finding that all claims of the patent at issue were invalid. Belden Inc. v. Berk-Tek LLC, Case No. 14-1575 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 5, 2015) (Taranto, J.).
Appellant Belden owns the patent at issue, which relates to a method of producing a transmission cable. Petitioner and cross-appellant Berk-Tek challenged the validity of the patent’s claims in an inter partes review (IPR), arguing that they are obvious in view of a combination of prior art references. The Board ultimately concluded that some of the claims were obvious, but that other claims were patentable. Specifically the Board found that certain dependent claims relating to twisted pairs of conductors were patentable because Berk-Tek had not explained why a person of ordinary skill in the art would have had sufficient reason to combine the references as proposed. The patent owner appealed.
On appeal, the Federal Circuit agreed with the Board’s conclusion that certain claims were obvious, but then went on to find that the remaining claims, the patentability of which had been confirmed by the Board, were obvious as well. Despite reviewing the Board’s factual findings under the substantial-evidence standard of review, the Court found that the Board erred in concluding that the prior art did not provide a sufficient reason for making the proposed combination. The Court noted that the Board had identified, in a prior art reference, the importance of aligning conductors with a core for subsequent twisting in a stranding device. According to the Court, this evidence pointed to a motivation of a skilled artisan to arrive at the methods of the dependent claims in question.
The Federal Circuit also affirmed the Board’s denial of Belden’s motion to exclude an expert declaration that Berk-Tek had submitted as part of its reply. Belden’s motion to strike the declaration argued that Berk-Tek should have submitted it as part of the original petition because it was necessary to support Belden’s prima facie case of obviousness. The Board disagreed, concluding that the declaration was not necessary to establish a prima facie case and also that the declaration was responsive to the arguments and evidence submitted in Belden’s response. In affirming the Board’s decision, the Court noted that the Board provided Belden with adequate opportunities to address the declaration, including an opportunity to cross-examine the declarant. Belden could also have sought additional procedural opportunities to rebut the declaration, such as disputing the substance of the declaration at oral hearing, moving for permission to submit a sur-reply and requesting that the Board waive or suspend any regulation that Belden believed would impair its ability to respond to the declaration. Without the Board’s denial of any such requests, the Court was unable to conclude that Belden was denied a meaningful opportunity to respond to the grounds of rejection.
Patents / Obviousness
Directing a Known Treatment to a Sub-Population of Patients Is Obvious
Addressing obviousness issues, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the district court’s invalidity conclusion, agreeing that the elements present in the prior art—including earlier disclosed genus claims—would have given a person of ordinary skill a reasonable expectation of successfully treating a subset of patients. Prometheus Labs, Inc. v. Roxane Labs., Inc., Case Nos. 14-1634, -1635 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 10, 2015) (Dyk, J.).
In 2009, Roxane filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) seeking approval to sell a generic version of the branded pharmaceutical Lotronex. Lotronex is a Prometheus product used to treat various irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. Prometheus responded by filing a district court action against Roxane.
IBS is a condition with multiple forms, each form diagnosed based on a patient’s symptoms. For example, IBS-D refers to diarrhea-predominant symptoms, IBS-C refers to constipation-predominant symptoms, and IBS-M refers to mixed symptoms. The asserted patent’s claims are directed to treatment of female IBS patients with IBS-D who have experienced diarrhea-predominant symptoms for at least six months and who have moderate pain. The asserted patent followed an earlier Prometheus patent (the “prior art patent”), now expired, that also covered treating IBS symptoms with alosetron but did not distinguish between the various forms of the condition.
Following a bench trial, the district court found all of the asserted claims obvious. According to the district court, the prior art patent taught treatment of IBS with alosetron in a manner virtually identical to the asserted claims, and the results of the asserted claims were not unexpected in view of research findings that the drug would have increased efficacy for female IBS-D patients exhibiting symptoms for more than six months. The district court also concluded that the remaining evidence relating to secondary considerations of non-obviousness was insufficient to overcome the showing of insubstantial differences between the claimed inventions and the prior art. Prometheus appealed.
On appeal, the Federal Circuit affirmed the conclusion of obviousness under § 103, finding that the district court’s opinion was supported by specific evidence showing that the limitations of the asserted claims (i.e., IBS-D symptoms or female patients with symptoms for more than six months) were either known in the medical literature or common practice.
Prometheus also argued that secondary considerations of non-obviousness in the form of commercial success, unexpected results and long-felt need overcame the teachings of the prior art. The Federal Circuit disagreed, noting that Prometheus did not submit evidence demonstrating a nexus between the commercial success of the branded drug and the asserted patent. Instead, the drug’s commercial success could be attributed to other variables such as the drug compound disclosed in the prior art patent, marketing campaigns and pricing of the product to stimulate sales. The Federal Circuit confirmed that while the burden of proof to demonstrate obviousness always rests with the party challenging validity, once a prima facie case of invalidity has been introduced through appropriate evidence, the patentee is well advised to introduce rebuttal evidence. In other words, here, Roxane had the burden of proof but Prometheus had the burden of production for secondary considerations such as commercial success.
Practice Note: The opinion discusses circumstances where a narrow species claim can be non-obvious and patent-eligible despite an earlier disclosure of a genus, noting in dicta that the genus-species distinction “may have particular relevance in the field of personalized medicine.” The decision seems to offer important guidance as to when claims directed to a particular subset of patients may be patent eligible, noting that directing a specific treatment to patients with a particular gene may reflect a new and useful invention even if the treatment method was generally known in the prior art.
Patents / Certificate of Correction
Propriety of a Certificate of Correction Requires Assessment of the Teachings of the Specification as a Whole
K. Nicole Clouse, PhD
In affirming that a certificate of correction may properly be used to correct a later-discovered error in a chemical diagram, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit looked to the teachings of the specification as a whole to determine that the certificate merely conformed the erroneous diagram to the rest of the specification and did not change the scope of the claims. Cubist Pharms., Inc. v. Hospira, Inc., Case Nos. 15-1197; -1204; -1259 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 12, 2015) (Bryson, J.).
The patent at issue relates to novel pharmaceutical formulations of daptomycin, a prior art antibiotic originally discovered by Eli Lilly in the 1980s. The specification and claims refer to daptomycin as “Formula 3,” and the specification describes the identity of Formula 3 in three different ways. First, the specification refers to the compound as an “A-21978C cyclic peptide” and cites to another U.S. patent as describing such peptides as the result of a very specific bacterial fermentation process. Second, the specification refers to the Formula 3 compound as “LY146032,” which was the internal code name used by Eli Lilly to refer to daptomycin. Third, the specification contained a diagram depicting the compound’s chemical structure.
It turned out that the structural diagram of the compound identified as Formula 3 and depicting daptomycin was inaccurate in one respect. The chemical diagram mistakenly labeled the amino acid asparagine as the “L” stereoisomer, rather than the “D” stereoisomer. At the time the patent was filed, it was universally believed that the daptomycin compound included the L-isomer of asparagine. Many years after the patent issued, however, researchers determined that the compound known as daptomycin actually contained the D-isomer, not the L-isomer. Cubist successfully obtained a certificate of correction from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that substituted the D-isomer for the L-isomer.
Hospira argued that the USPTO erred by issuing the certificate of correction, because the change in the structural diagram resulted in a broadening of the claims from the L-isomer compound to the D-isomer compound. Hospira noted that this difference was meaningful because, although daptomycin—which contains the D-isomer—is a very powerful antibiotic, the L-isomer version of the compound is a much less effective antibiotic.
The district court and Federal Circuit agreed that the certificate of correction was appropriately issued because it did not, as Hospira alleged, cause an alteration in claim scope. In particular, because the “specification as a whole” made clear that the compound being claimed as “Formula 3” was always intended to be the prior art compound daptomycin, “D-asparagine was covered both before and after correction.” As one example, the Court noted that the particular bacterial fermentation process cited in the patent is one that necessarily and inevitably results in daptomycin, not the L-isomer variant. Moreover, the Court noted that it was well known in the art that the Lilly code LY146032 referred to daptomycin, not the L-isomer variant. According to the Court, even though the patentee and the art in general were originally mistaken about the correct asparagine isomer in daptomycin, there was no mistake or doubt that the patentee did, in fact, intend to refer to daptomycin in the patent. For these reasons, the certificate merely served to “conform the structural diagram of Formula 3 to the compound described in the specification and covered by the claims.”
In a related argument, Hospira argued that the claims were invalid for lack of written description because the specification did not disclose the features or structure of daptomycin containing the D-isomer. The Court rejected this argument as well, again invoking the teachings of the specification as a whole. In particular, the Court noted that “Formula 3” in the claims clearly refers to daptomycin and that the specification describes “relevant identifying characteristics” that are sufficient to distinguish daptomycin from other compounds not falling within the scope of the claims. The Court concluded that a skilled person reading the specification would understand the inventors to be in possession of daptomycin, notwithstanding the error in the original structural diagram of Formula 3.
Patents / ITC / Importation
Violation of ITC Consent Order Can Be Based on “Infringement” of Invalid Claims
Reviewing the International Trade Commission’s (ITC or Commission) finding of a violation of a consent order, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit concluded that a subsequent finding that the patents for which the violation was asserted were invalid did not require either the violation or fine to be overturned. DeLorme Publishing Co. et al. v. Int’l Trade Comm’n, Case No. 14-1572 (Fed. Cir., Nov. 12, 2015) (Moore, J.) (Taranto, J., dissenting in part).
The case arose from a Commission enforcement action based on a consent order entered into by appellant DeLorme in April 2013, in which it agreed not to import products that infringed the claims of a patent owned by BriarTek IP “until the expiration, invalidation, and/or unenforceability of the [. . . ] Patent.” One month later, BriarTek complained that DeLorme was violating the consent order by importing non-infringing components, which were then turned into infringing products. The Commission began an enforcement proceeding, found there was a violation and fined DeLorme over $6 million. DeLorme appealed. In parallel with the enforcement proceeding, DeLorme filed a declaratory judgment action seeking invalidation of all claims asserted at the Commission. After the Commission’s ruling, the district court granted summary judgment that all of the claims which DeLorme was accused of infringing at the ITC were invalid. BriarTek appealed, and the district court’s ruling was sent to the same panel.
DeLorme made two arguments on appeal: that the consent order did not reach importation of non-infringing products which became infringing after importation and that the subsequent district court invalidity ruling nullified the consent order. The panel disagreed with both arguments.
As for the importation argument, the panel found that the consent order prohibited the “sale or offer for sale after importation” of products that infringed BriarTek’s patents, and that was sufficiently broad to reach DeLorme’s conduct. As for the nullification argument, the panel found that the language allowing for importation “until…invalidation…of the Patent” was prospective-looking, not retroactive, and therefore until there was a final ruling on invalidity DeLorme could be found in violation of the consent order.
Ironically, the panel also unanimously upheld the district court’s finding that the claims on which the violation was based were invalid. However, the majority also noted that “[b]ecause our concurrently issued affirmance … is still reviewable, the Consent Order continues to be binding on DeLorme even now” and upheld the Commission’s fine.
Judge Taranto dissented based on the panel’s affirmance of the district court invalidity ruling arguing that the case should be remanded to the Commission for consideration of whether the invalidity finding should have an effect on the fine for violation.
AIA / CBM / Standing
Bare Allegations of Customer Indemnification Not Enough for CBM Standing
In a decision denying institution on a covered business method (CBM) review petition, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) declined to institute a proceeding, finding that the petitioner lacked of standing. The Board concluded that merely having a customer-supplier relationship and an indemnity agreement with an accused infringer did not confer standing on a supplier sufficient to pursue a CBM review on behalf of its customer. Acxiom Corp. v. Phoenix Licensing, LLC, CBM2015-00134 (Nov. 19, 2015) (S. G. White, APJ).
The case began when Phoenix Licensing sued two of Acxiom’s clients, Gerber Life Insurance and AAA Life Insurance, for patent infringement related to services purchased from Acxiom. Gerber then sought indemnification from Acxiom. Acxiom and its clients brought CBM petitions against seven of Phoenix’s patents. After Acxiom’s clients settled, leaving it alone on the CBM petitions, Phoenix called Acxiom’s standing into question.
For a party to have standing to file a CBM petition, § 18(a)(1)(B) of the America Invents Act (AIA) requires a patentee to allege infringement against that party or another party they have a special relationship with, such as being a privy or a real-party-in-interest. Acxiom argued that it qualified as either a real-party-in-interest or privy of Gerber because of its customer-supplier relationship and Gerber’s indemnification demand. The Board disagreed, citing Acxiom’s failure to produce sufficient evidence to prove the special relationship.
Acxiom had submitted two pieces of evidence relevant to special relationship with Gerber: a “Services and Data” agreement between the companies and a declaration from Acxiom’s senior account executive responsible for Gerber. With respect to the Services and Data agreement, the Board noted that Acxiom heavily redacted the contract, blacking out all but two paragraphs of the 12-page document. One paragraph showed that Acxiom agreed to provide services to Gerber but did not explain the nature of the services. The second paragraph provided for indemnification, as long as a party made a proper written demand. The declaration merely stated that Gerber made such a demand.
The Board concluded that the evidence was insufficient to prove privity or a relationship that could confer standing. For instance, Acxiom failed to provide the actual demand for indemnification or any correspondence related to it. The evidence also did not show that the agreement applied over the time period when Gerber could ask for indemnification. Finally, the Board noted that the contract only included an agreement to provide services. Without more clarity on the nature of those services, the Board could not conclude that there was any type of “special relationship” between Gerber and Acxiom. Consequently, the Board denied institution of the CBM review.
Practice Note: The America Invents Act imposes stricter standing requirements for CBM reviews than for IPR proceedings. A CBM petitioner must ensure that if it is not a directly accused infringer, it submits sufficient evidence to meet the CBM standing requirements in order to sustain its petition.
AIA / CBM / Patent Eligibility
A Solution to Business Problems May Not Be a Technological Invention
Addressing the standard for instituting a covered business method (CBM) review, as well as patent eligibility issues under 35 U.S.C. § 101, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) found patents related to payment data eligible for CBM review and that the petitioners would more likely than not prevail on their Section 101 challenge. Apple Inc. v. Smartflash LLC CBM2015-00121 (PTAB, November 10, 2015) (Anderson, APJ); Apple Inc. v. Smartflash LLC CBM2015-00123 (PTAB, November 10, 2015) (Plenzler, APJ); Apple Inc. v. Smartflash LLCCBM2015-00124 (PTAB, November 10, 2015) (Elluru, APJ); Apple Inc. v. Smartflash LLC CBM2015-00127 (PTAB, November 10, 2015) (Elluru, APJ); Google Inc. v. Smartflash LLC CBM2015-00125 (PTAB, November 16, 2015) (Elluru, APJ); Google Inc. v. Smartflash LLCCBM2015-00126 (PTAB, November 16, 2015).
The petitioners sought CBM reviews for patents related to data storage and access systems that enable downloading and paying for data. AIA § 18(d)(1) defines the term “covered business method patent” as a “patent that claims a method or corresponding apparatus for performing data processing or other operations used in the practice, administration, or management of a financial product or service, except that the term does not include patents for technological inventions.” The petitioners argued that the claims were directed to payment data (“transmitting the requested data in connection with payment validation,” in one of the challenged patents, and “performing data processing and other operations used in practice, administration, or management of a financial activity and service,” in another of the challenged patents).
The patent owner, Smartflash, argued that the patents were not CBM-eligible. According to the patent owner, AIA § 18(d)(1) should be interpreted narrowly to cover only technology used specifically in the financial or banking industry. The Board disagreed, noting that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has expressly determined that “the definition of ‘covered business method patent’ is not limited to products and services of only the financial industry.” Moreover the legislative history indicates that the phrase “financial product or service” is to be interpreted broadly.
The Board also concluded that patents do not fall within § 18(d)(1)’s exclusion for “technological inventions,” because their claims do not recites a technological feature that is novel and unobvious over the prior art. Moreover, according to the Board, the problem being solved by the claims of these patents was a “business problem—data piracy.” For these reasons, the Board found that these patents were eligible for CBM review.
On the merits, the Board concluded that the petitioner would more likely than not prevail on its claim that the patents are not direct to eligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101. The Board was not persuaded by the patent owner’s arguments that the claimed solution is “necessarily rooted in computer technology in order to overcome a problem specifically arising in the realm of computer networks,” which was found eligible by the federal Circuit in DDR Holdings v. Hotels.Com (IP Update, Vol. 18, No. 1). Instead, the Board found that the claims merely apply conventional computer processes to restrict access to data based on payment, which is not sufficient to “transform the nature of the claim” into a patent-eligible application of an abstract idea.
AIA / IPR / Termination
Settle with All Stakeholders Before Trying to Terminate an IPR
In a case where the patent owner settled out of an IPR proceeding with the petitioners but not with a party seeking joinder, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) instituted inter partes review of all the challenged claims based on the joining party’s petition and granted its joinder motion. Qualcomm Inc. v. Bandspeed, Inc., IPR2015-00314;-01577 (PTAB, Nov. 16, 2015) (Boucher, APJ).
Marvell Semiconductor and MediaTek filed a petition to institute inter partes review of certain claims of a patent owned by Bandspeed. Bandspeed did not file a preliminary response. Soon after Marvell and the patent owner settled the underlying dispute and filed a joint motion to terminate that was granted. The next day, the PTAB instituted an inter partes review based on the MediaTek petition. Soon afterwards Qualcomm filed a petition along with a motion seeking to join both the MediaTek and Marvell IPR petitions.
While Qualcomm’s motion was pending, MediaTek settled with the patent owner and the parties jointly filed a motion to terminate that was granted by the Board, but only as to MediaTek, not the patent owner. The PTAB stated that it would revisit the Motion to Terminate as to the patent owner after ruling on the pending joinder motion. The patent owner filed a paper it called a preliminary response to Qualcomm’s petition, but according to PTAB “the Preliminary Response [did] not respond to any of the arguments and evidence presented in the Qualcomm Petition, aside from indicating that absent joinder, Qualcomm would be barred from filing a petition under 35 U.S.C. § 315(b).” In the Board’s view, “Patent Owner used the Preliminary Response as an unauthorized sur-reply to the Motion for Joinder.” Since the patent owner did not seek, nor did the PTAB grant authorization for the additional briefing on the joinder motion, the PTAB did not consider arguments presented by the patent owner in its preliminary response to the Qualcomm petitions.
Soon after, the Board granted Qualcomm’s Motion for Joinder, noting that Qualcomm’s petition was “in all material respects the same as the petition in” the Marvell/MediaTek IPR petitions. Further, the expert declaration relied on by Qualcomm appeared to be an exact copy of the expert declaration as part of the Marvell/MediaTek petition. Accordingly, the PTAB instituted an inter partes review on the same grounds.
The filing date of Qualcomm’s petition satisfied the one month joinder requirement of 37 CFR 42.122(b). In permitting Qualcomm’s joinder, the PTAB explained:
If the Director institutes an inter partes review, the Director, in his or her discretion, may join as a party to that inter partes review any person who properly files a petition under § 311 that the Director, after receiving a preliminary response under § 313 or the expiration of the time for filing such a response, determines warrants the institution of an inter partes review under § 314.
The patent owner opposed Qualcomm’s Motion for Joinder, arguing that it would discourage early settlement. Specifically, the patent owner argued as follows:
A contrary decision would mean far fewer settlements will occur in multi-defendant cases until at least one month after institution of an IPR (possibly several months after institution if the original petitioner and patent owner must wait to see if another defendant is permitted to join after that defendant files a motion to join) because the patent owner will always be concerned that even if it settles with the original petitioner, another defendant will seek to join or be permitted to join the instituted IPR that would otherwise likely be terminated, depriving the patent owner of much of the value of its settlement with the original petitioner.
The PTAB was unpersuaded. It characterized the patent owner’s argument as “speculative attorney argument unsupported by evidence,” noting that MediaTek did not oppose the joinder and yet the patent owner was able to reach settlement with MediaTek. The PTAB stated that it was “unpersuaded that joinder in this case will, as a policy matter, discourage settlement.”
AIA / IPR / Standing
"Exclusive Ownership” Is Not Necessary for Standing in an IPR
Addressing the standing requirement for participating in an inter partes review (IPR), the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) held that, unlike district court, there is no “exclusive ownership” requirement for a patent owner to participate in an IPR proceeding. Legend3D Inc. v. Prime Focus Creative Services Canada Inc., IPR2015-01350 (PTAB, Nov. 19, 2015) (Kinder, APJ).
The petitioner, Legend3D, filed a petition to institute an IPR, Prime Focus Creative Services Canada (PFCSC) filed a power of attorney designating certain practitioners as counsel of record, along with a statement under 37 C.F.R. 3.73(b) detailing ownership changes of the patent at issue. PFCSC’s preliminary response stated that it is the patent owner and that Legend3D’s petition should be denied or dismissed for failing to identify all of the real-parties-in-interest. Specifically, PFCSC argued that two entities—Northwater Capital and Augustus Ventures – have a substantial financial interest in Legend3D and therefore these companies could have exercised control over the Petition.
As part of its response, Legend3D challenged PFCSC’s standing to participate in the IPR, arguing that a security agreement purportedly transferred title of the patent from PFCSC to a financial institute. According to Legend3D, the conveyed interest is actually a mortgage, which resulted in a full transfer of title and ownership of the patent at issue. Citing Waterman v. Mackenzie, Legend3D argued that because the financial institute is the only rightful patent owner, it must be a party to the IPR, so PFCSC lacks standing to file a preliminary response.
The Board rejected the petitioner’s reliance on Waterman, explaining that Waterman only addresses the issue of standing to bring a patent infringement suit in district court. By contrast, there is no similar exclusive ownership requirement for a patent owner to prosecute an IPR proceeding before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Rather, pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §42.9 “[a]n owner of a part interest in the subject patent may move to act to the exclusion of an inventor or a co-owner” where a co-owner is unable or refuses to prosecute the proceeding. The Board determined PFCSC, as the patent owner, met the requirements to participate in the IPR by filing the appropriate notices identifying itself as the patent owner and real-party-in-interest and identifying lead counsel.
The Board also noted the petitioner’s request for additional discovery on the standing issue was “troubling” because discovery for an IPR does not being until a trial is instituted. Any pre-institution discovery must be closely scrutinized. At this point, the petitioner did not persuade the Board, beyond speculation, that additional discovery will establish that PFCSC does not have a right to participate in the proceedings.
AIA / IPR / Consolidation
Addressing the issue of the utility of consolidating an inter partes review (IPR) with an ex parte reexamination proceeding, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (PTO) Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) denied a request to consolidate an IPR and reexamination proceeding, finding inherent tension between the two as well as jurisdictional issues. After reviewing the statutory basis for consolidation and the purpose of IPRs and reexamination proceedings, the Board denied the Petitioner’s attempt to inject amended claims pending in a reexamination proceeding, into an IPR proceeding. Ford Motor Co. v. Signal IP, Inc., Case No. IPR 2015-00860 (PTAB, Nov. 17, 2015) (Cocks, APJ).
The challenged patent is directed at a control system for a hybrid car or other vehicle. The petitioner, Ford, filed a motion to consolidate two separate IPRs and a reexamination proceeding. Ford’s petition requested the Board exercise its discretion under 35 U.S.C. § 315(d) to combine the three proceedings. The focus of Ford’s motion were amended claims pending in the reexamination proceeding that would, at the conclusion of the reexam, become ripe for assertion against it in a related litigation.
In denying the motion, the Board initially pointed out the inherent tension between an IPR and reexamination proceeding. An IPR is adjudicatory in nature, while a reexamination proceeding is simply an examination. Also IPRs are governed by specific and accelerated time periods for consideration and resolution as mandated by Congress. Reexamination proceedings are not subject to similar temporal restrictions. These procedural differences discourage consolidation.
The Board further pointed to the facts of the motion to show this was especially an inappropriate instance for consolidation. All of the claims at issue in the IPRs had been disclaimed or would be cancelled upon the issuance of the reexamination certificate. Although the reexamination proceeding was stayed, once the IPR was complete the stay would be lifted and the reexamination proceeding could then resume, providing the patent owner the opportunity to quickly resolve (in the reexamination) all disclaimed and cancelled claims involved in the IPRs without disturbing the IPR schedule. This would be in line with the Board’s goal of a just, speedy and inexpensive resolution of the proceedings.
Importantly, the Board recognized that Ford’s particular concern in its request for consolidation were new claims that had been added via amendment during the reexamination proceedings, claims that could be asserted against Ford in the pending litigation. Ford argued it would not be able to challenge them through IPR. However, the Board rejected this argument as a basis for granting the motion as the scenario was only a hypothetical at the time and there remained other forums for a party to challenge the patentability of amended claims in a reexam.
Further, the Board pointed out the new claims Ford sought to challenge were not yet patent claims and that, under § 311(b), IPRs can only be used to challenge issued claims. Therefore, amended claims pending in a reexamination were not within the scope of this statute. Similarly, the Board found that Ford provided no explanation as to how § 315(d), which is directed to proposed amendments to claims during an IPR, provided jurisdiction to evaluate amended claims pending in a reexamination proceedings.
AIA / IPR / Time Bar
Clarifying the meaning of “complaint” for purposes of the 35 U.S.C. § 315(b) one-year time bar for instituting an inter partes review (IPR), the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) concluded that a proceeding in a foreign country does not trigger the § 315(b) bar. Micron Tech. Inc. v. Mass. Institute of Tech., et al., IPR2015-01087 (PTAB, Nov. 5, 2015) (Galligan, APJ).
The petitioner, Micron, requested IPR of an MIT patent relating to using a laser in cutting parts of a circuit. Under §315(b), an IPR “may not be instituted if the petition requesting the proceedings is filed more than 1 year after the date on which the petitioner, real party in interest, or privy of the petitioner is served with a complaint alleging infringement of the patent.” MIT argued that Micron’s request should be rejected as time-barred because Micron was served with a complaint more than one year before the petition was filed. Specifically, Micron was served with a “Petition for Corporate Reorganization Claim Assessment,” filed in Tokyo District Court on December 22, 2012. MIT contended that this is a “complaint” within the meaning of § 315(b).
MIT argued that the Petition for Corporate Reorganization Claim Assessment is “materially indistinguishable from ordinary infringement litigation” in the United States because it follows comparable procedures and imposes comparable consequences. MIT noted that the petitioner itself asserted that a U.S. litigation over the same patent was “redundant” with the Japanese proceedings. MIT also cited three prior PTAB decisions for the proposition that the term “complaint” in § 315(b) is not limited to formal complaints in federal court, as well as a policy argument that its interpretation of § 315(b) prevented petitioners from using the IPR as a tool for harassment and duplicative litigation.
The Board was not persuaded. According to the Board, none of the decisions cited by MIT determined that a proceeding in a foreign country triggered a bar under § 315(b). Moreover, the record did not contain any authority that a Japanese bankruptcy court can render a decision that is legally binding in the United States concerning the validity of a U.S. patent. For these reasons, the Board concluded that Micron’s petition was not time-barred under § 315(b).
AIA / IPR / FWD
It Can Happen: PTAB Alters Final Written Decision on Rehearing
In a rare decision granting a petitioner’s rehearing request, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) reversed its earlier position in a final written decision where it found that the petitioner had not shown that certain dependent claims of a challenged patent were unpatentable, explaining that its earlier decision overlooked a material fact and found that the petitioner had shown by a preponderance of evidence and that two challenged dependent claims would have been obvious. In granting the rehearing request, the Board explained that when overlooking a material statement in a petition is sufficient grounds to grant rehearing. Square, Inc. v. REM Holdings 3, LLC, Case IPR2014-00312 (PTAB, Nov. 20, 2015) (Bisk, APJ.)
After filing its petition for inter partes review (IPR) of a REM patent directed to magnetic card readers used with cellular phones, the Board instituted review of all claims (1-17) of the patent on grounds of obviousness. After the trial, the Board issued its final written decision in which it found that claims 1, 2, 6-7 and 10-17 had been shown to be unpatentable. The Board found, however, that the petitioner had failed to meet its burden of proof that dependent claims 3-5 and 8-9 were unpatentable. Square filed a request for rehearing, explaining that the Board had overlooked a prior art teaching that the petitioner cited showing the feature the Board found to be missing in the art.
In its initial final written decision, the Board concluded that claims 4 and 9 had not been demonstrated to be unpatentable, further noting that review of claims 3 and 8 had been instituted based on a combination of the same two prior art references asserted against claims 4 and 9 but also a third prior art reference. The Board initially agreed with the patent owner that, for the asserted ground of invalidity against claim 4 and 9, the petition referred only to a figure in one of the two primary references for a teaching of the limitation “the read head and said one or more resistors are contained within a housing,” and the Board was not persuaded that the primary references taught that limitation. In its rehearing request, the petitioner explained that the Board had failed to discern that the original petition provided an independent description regarding the third reference and its teaching of the feature recited in claims 4 and 9.
In the rehearing decision, the Board agreed that it had indeed overlooked the portion of the claim chart in the petition where the petitioner had specifically stated that the third reference taught the subject limitation. Summarizing the testimony given at the oral hearing, the Board noted that it had agreed with the petitioner that the third reference taught a housing for enclosing components, but it had concluded that it was constrained by “insufficient facts in the record to support that claims 4 and 9 are unpatentable” over the three-reference combination proposed by petitioner. Responding to this point, in a reply authorized by the Board, the patent owner argued that the original petition failed to describe that the third reference taught the subject limitation, not that the reference did not actually teach it. The Board, acknowledging it had overlooked the specific claim chart statement about the third reference, concluded that the petitioner had met its burden for granting rehearing with respect to claims 4 and 9. However, the Board left undisturbed its initial decision regarding claims 3, 5 and 8.
Practice Note: In denying rehearing for claims 3 and 8, the Board noted that petitioner had, for the first time in the proceeding, advanced the argument in the rehearing request that the patent owner had acquiesced that the subject matter of those claims was found in the prior art. The petitioner acknowledged that these arguments were new but urged the Board to waive its rule against such a new argument in “the interests of justice” and “to prevent the Federal Circuit from being forced to reverse and remand this case.” The Board declined, noting that it had not instituted review of those claims on the ground including the third reference, so its decision regarding claims 4 and 9 was left undisturbed.
AIA / IPR / Procedure
PTAB Grants Patent Owner Request for Sur-reply to Defend Reduction to Practice Claim
Alexander P. Ott
Addressing whether a patent owner may file a sur -reply brief in an inter partes review (IPR) proceeding, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) granted the request, but limited the size of the sur-reply and the scope to an issue that first arose in petitioners reply brief. HTC Corp. v. NFC Technology, LLC, Case No. IPR2014-001198 (PTAB Nov. 19, 2015) (Arpin, APJ).
NFC sued HTC for patent infringement on two patents related to near field communication technology; HTC filed petitions for inter partes review against both patents. The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) instituted the review proceedings and the district court stayed the litigation.
In one of its petitions, HTC relied on a prior art patent whose priority date was less than two months earlier than the patent under review. In response, the patent owner, NFC attempted to antedate the prior art patent by establishing an earlier reduction to practice. NFC’s response was accompanied by various exhibits, as well as declarations by the inventor and others who worked on his team.
The petitioner deposed all of the declarants except for one. The hold-out declarant resided in France and refused to travel to the U.S. for a deposition based on unspecified personal reasons. After the Board rejected patent owner’s offer of a videoconference deposition, the petitioner moved to strike that particular declaration. The Board interpreted its rules as requiring parties to make their declarants available for deposition in the United States and consequently granted the motion. The declaration was thus expunged from the record, and those portions of patent owner’s responsive brief that relied on the declaration were given no weight. The petitioner then filed its reply brief, which disputed the reduction to practice claim for, among other things, lack of corroboration.
The patent owner sought permission to file a sur-reply, arguing that, because it bore the burden of showing reduction to practice, it should be given the opportunity to respond to the arguments and evidence raised in the petitioner’s reply. The Board granted the motion, citing a Federal Circuit opinion that blessed such sur-replies, as well as prior Board decisions that authorized sur-replies in similar situations. However, the Board limited the sur-reply to a mere five pages and restricted its scope to only allow patent owner to address the petitioner’s arguments regarding the reduction to practice issue. The Board also barred the patent owner from introducing any new evidence or additional testimony along with its sur-reply.
Trade Secrets / Misappropriation
Single Claim Approach for Trade Secret Misappropriation
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court decision holding that a plaintiff is precluded from filing a claim based on alleged ongoing misbehavior when an allegation of trade secrets misappropriation has been resolved, and the plaintiff’s prior attempt to get an injunction or forward-looking relief was rejected. Allied Erecting & Dismantling Co. v. Genesis Equip. & Mfg., Case No. 14-3563 (6th Cir., Nov. 3, 2015) (Norris, J.).(concurrence, White, J)
Allied Erecting & Dismantling (Allied), founded in 1973 by John Ramun, is in the field of industrial dismantling and scrap processing, including the design, development, and manufacture of related specialized equipment. Allied is a direct competitor of Genesis Equip & Mfg. (“Genesis”). While John Ramun’s son Mark worked at Allied, they developed innovative multi-use demolition machine attachments, called the Allied MT. Various sizes and types of jawsets, including a steel beam cutter and a concrete crusher were available, allowing the Allied MT operator to perform different tasks with just one tool. Mark had detailed information relating to the Allied MT and the related trade secrets. When Mark left the company, he took a laptop with him that contained 15,000 pages of documents. Two years later, Mark joined Allied’s competitor Genesis. Sometime thereafter, Genesis released its own multiuse tool called the LXP and the Versi Pro. Allied filed a lawsuit based on the misappropriation of the Allied MT trade secrets by Genesis and Mark Ramun.
The district court held Genesis and Mark Ramun jointly and severally liable for misappropriation of Allied’s trade secrets under the Ohio Uniform Trade Secrets Act and awarded damages based on unjust enrichment. The jury did not award damages for Allied’s lost profits or any punitive damages against Genesis. The court further refused to grant Allied’s motion for a permanent injunction against Genesis. On appeal, 6th Circuit affirmed the district court’s refusal to grant Allied an injunction or royalties going forward.
Allied then brought a new action against Genesis, alleging that Genesis continued to sell equipment that was based on the misappropriated Allied MT technology and trade secrets. Allied also alleged that Genesis’s use of the Allied MT after the verdict triggered a new claim and triggered a new statute of limitations start date. The district court disagreed, concluding that the use of Allied’s trade secrets by Genesis constituted a continuing misappropriation that related back to a single claim, namely the wrongful acquisition of the Allied MT secrets in 2003 that was discovered in 2005, and that therefore the new lawsuit was time-barred. Allied appealed.
The 6th Circuit affirmed dismissal of the subsequent suit under the Ohio Uniform Trade Secrets Act, finding that the “single claim approach” of the uniform trade secrets statute means that once a trade secrets owner is denied forward-looking relief, like an injunction or ongoing royalties, the misappropriator cannot be sued again for using the secrets that it has now effectively paid for.
Paul Devinsky
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507559
|
__label__wiki
| 0.853024
| 0.853024
|
Resilient Spieth rallies, stays in contention at Masters
by: MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer
Posted: Mar 22, 2019 / 01:39 PM EDT / Updated: Mar 22, 2019 / 01:39 PM EDT
AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 06: Jordan Spieth of the United States plays his shot from the 14th tee during the second round of the 2018 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6, 2018 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Given Jordan Spieth’s past experiences at Augusta National, there was no reason to panic.
It was the front nine. It was the second round. It was nowhere near the worst he’s been through at the Masters.
So Spieth remained calm despite losing a two-shot lead on the first two holes. He excused it as typical “punches” from a daunting golf course in difficult conditions. He responded by making two birdies over the final six holes, helping him recover from the inauspicious start.
He finished with a 2-over 74 that left him 4 under for the tournament. He trails leader Patrick Reed by five strokes heading into the third round.
“I’ve taken a lot of punches on this golf course, and in tournaments in general,” Spieth said. “I told (caddy) Michael (Greller), `Look, when this course plays tough, I’m good for a double here or some bogeys there. Let’s make these the only ones.'”
Spieth began the day at 6 under. He squandered that before more than half the field teed off.
The 2015 Masters champion pushed his tee shot at the par-4 first way right. He failed to get his second shot back to the fairway and then left his third one short of the green. He missed an 11-footer for bogey.
He pulled his second tee shot left and then missed a 5-footer for par.
It opened the door for everyone else on the leaderboard. It also could have been a devastating start for Spieth.
But he took it in stride, chatting with his caddy and talking to himself to not get overly frustrated.
The rough start probably should have been expected given what Spieth endured at Augusta National just two years ago.
Spieth had a commanding lead at the turn in 2016 before stumbling on Nos. 10 and 11, both par 4s. He bogeyed both, and really unraveled at the par-3 12th.
Spieth’s tee shot came up short, landed on a downslope and hopped into Rae’s Creek. He then took a drop and hit a fat wedge that also splashed. Spieth settled for a quadruple-bogey 7 and lost his lead to Danny Willett.
Spieth recovered with by making two birdies over the last six holes, but it wasn’t enough. He finished second, three shots back of Willett.
Compared to that, this was nothing.
“I’m not going to downgrade my skill level, but I’m also not going to downgrade my ability to take punches and fight back on this course,” he said. “Good starts are really nice out here. Bad starts are tough to come back from. If I look at it one way, I mean, in 2016, I went bogey, bogey, quad and then was able to rebound from that.
“So what’s the first couple holes on a Friday start mean? It doesn’t really mean much to me. It means let’s figure out what was wrong and fix it. But it’s not going to affect the outcome of this tournament off of those two holes. I’m still in a great position.”
Spieth credited a par save at No. 9 with turning around his day.
After his tee shot landed in a foot in the right rough, he flew the green with his second shot. He putted from the fringe to 6 feet and then drained it, flashing the kind of putter prowess that carried him (10 putts) on the back nine in the opening round Thursday.
“I thought that my two-putt save on No. 9 was really, really big,” he said. “When that went in, I thought, `OK, forget about everything that’s happened here. Let’s try and shoot 2 under on the back nine.’ And that was the goal, and, you know, I almost did one better there.”
Spieth’s 15-foot birdie putt on No. 18 burned the edge.
And now he’s headed into the weekend feeling confident he’s got a shot at slipping on a second green jacket.
“To come back from 3 over through two holes and only shoot 2 over with a limited number of (good) looks, it’s not so bad,” he said. “I’m still in this golf tournament. With the way the back nine was playing today, the wheels could have come off there. But I made some nice par saves and was able to grind out some phenomenal second-shot iron shots and good two-putt birdies.”
News / 5 mins ago
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507561
|
__label__wiki
| 0.914425
| 0.914425
|
Chapter: Appendix D: Biographical Information
« Previous: Appendix C: Seattle Public Utilities Treatment Plant, Design-Build-Operate Project, Risk-Sharing Matrix
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Biographical Information." National Research Council. 2002. Privatization of Water Services in the United States: An Assessment of Issues and Experience. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10135.
CHARLES W. HOWE, Chair, is a professor of economics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Howe is currently serving as the lead author on the water resources chapter for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as well as serving as a member of the World Water Vision group sponsored by the World Bank and UNESCO. Dr. Howe has contributed to several National Research Council (NRC) programs, including the Water Science and Technology Board (committee member, Irrigation-Induced Water Quality Problems) and the Climate Board (chair, panel on climate research; member of the board). Dr. Howe received his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in economics from Stanford University and his B.A. degree in economics and business administration from Rice University.
JEAN E. AUER is the former mayor of Hillsborough, California. Ms. Auer has been active in California and U.S. water management issues over the past three decades. She has worked with the California State Water Resources Control Board (public member, 1972-1977) and with the League of Women Voters Water Resources Task Force (1984-985). She was a director of the American States Water Company (1995) and serves on the Water Education Foundation Board (1992-1995). Ms. Auer received her B.A. degree (cum laude) in education from Ohio University.
JANICE A. BEECHER is a principal with Beecher Policy Research, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Beecher’s areas of expertise include regulatory policy-making and decision-making. She was previously a senior research scientist and the director of regulatory studies at the Center for Urban
Policy and the Environment, School of Public Affairs, Indiana University (Indianapolis). She has also managed the water research program at the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) at Ohio State University. Dr. Beecher has a B.A. degree in economics, political science, and history from Elmhurst College and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Northwestern University.
CHARLES A. BUESCHER, JR., is the associate director of the School of Environmental Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Buescher has served as executive vice-president of the Continental Water Company and has served as chairman of the board for the following: St. Louis County Water Corporation, Northern Illinois Water Corporation, Northwest Indiana Corporation, and the Long Island Water Corporation. Mr. Buescher served on the NRC Committee on Water Treatment Chemicals, 1980-1982. Mr. Buescher received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in civil engineering from Washington University.
LARRY CHERTOFF is the executive director of the Water Industry Council, the trade association that represents national private water and wastewater companies. Mr. Chertoff is also the former principal quantitative analyst (chief economist) for New York City’s Environmental Protection Administration and the president of Environmental Market Analysis, Inc. He also serves as advisor to the New York City Comptroller and the New York City Office of the Public Advocate. Mr. Chertoff received his B.A. degree in economics from New York University and holds M.A. degrees in economics (public regulations) and education from the New School of Social Research and Hofstra University.
JEROME B. GILBERT (NAE) is a consulting engineer who provides advice on water management, water transfers and rights, regulatory compliance, and rate analysis. Mr. Gilbert was the general manager and chief engineer (1981-1991) for the East Bay Municipal Utility District (MUD) in the Oakland, California, region and is a consultant to several large U.S. cities. He is currently chair of the Management and Policy Council of the International Water Association. Mr. Gilbert was a member of the NRC Water Science and Technology Board (1982-1986) and served on several NRC committees. Mr. Gilbert holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Stanford University, respectively.
RICHARD HOWITT is professor of economics at the University of California-Davis. Dr. Howitt’s research focuses on resource and environmental economics, quantitative methods, and econometrics. Much of his research has focused on California’s water resources, including water markets in the San Joaquin Valley and the Westlands Water District. Dr. Howitt received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from the University of California-Davis.
DANIEL A. OKUN (NAE) is Kenan Professor Emeritus of environmental engineering at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He started teaching at UNC more than four decades ago. He earned a B.S.C.E. from Cooper Union, an M.S.C.E. from California Institute of Technology, and an Sc.D. in sanitary engineering from Harvard University. His career in environmental engineering spans more than 60 years. His primary interests are in the scientific, technical, and institutional issues in water management in the United States and abroad. He is a former Water Science and Technology Board chair and has served on numerous NRC committees.
DAVID E. RAGER is the chief executive officer of Cincinnati Water Works. Mr. Rager previously served as assistant city manager for Cincinnati, as well as the director of the city’s Safety Department. As CEO of Cincinnati Water Works, he has worked to institute private business practices within the utility, including the utilization of employee work teams and customer focus groups and use of new technologies to manage costs. Mr. Rager holds a B.A. degree in urban planning and design from the University of Cincinnati and an M.B.A. degree from Xavier University.
WILLIAM G. REINHARDT is the editor/publisher of Public Works Financing/PWF International, an independent monthly journal focused on issues related to merging project financing structures with public works development. Mr. Reinhardt has participated on several panels and has advised numerous governments and organizations on various issues related to infrastructure finance and privatization, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Organization of American States, and U.S. Agency for International Development and the governments of Mexico and Spain. Mr. Reinhardt received his B.A. degree from Gettysburg College.
WILLIAM STASIUK is a former deputy commissioner for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the former director of the Bureau of Water Supply, Quality, and Protection. Much of Dr. Stasiuk’s experience has been with the New York State Department of Health and the State Department of Environmental Conservation. He worked for these two agencies in a variety of positions between 1966 and 1996. His past positions include director, Center for Environmental Health, 1985-1996, and associate director, Division of Environmental Health, 1978-1981. Dr. Stasiuk received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from Manhattan College, his M.S. degree in sanitary engineering from Manhattan College, and his Ph.D. degree in environmental engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
JEFFREY W. JACOBS is a senior staff officer with the National Research Council’s Water Science and Technology Board and served as this committee’s study director. Dr. Jacobs’ research interests include institutional and policy arrangements for water resources management and international cooperation in water development. He has studied these issues extensively in the Mekong River basin of Southeast Asia and has also conducted comparative studies in water policy in the Mekong and Mississippi River systems. Dr. Jacobs received his Ph.D. degree in geography from the University of Colorado-Boulder.
ELLEN A. DE GUZMAN is a research associate at the NRC’s Water Science and Technology Board. She received her B.A. degree from the University of the Philippines. She has worked with a number of studies including among the most recent, Committee to Review the New York City Watershed Management Strategy, Committee on Drinking Water Contaminants (Phase II), Committee on Risk-Based Analyses for Flood Damage Reduction, Committee on Intrinsic Remediation, and Committee to Assess the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Water Resources Project Planning Procedures. She co-edits the WSTB newsletter and manages the WSTB homepage.
Next: Index »
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507564
|
__label__wiki
| 0.87344
| 0.87344
|
How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures (2018)
Chapter: Front Matter
Page i Share Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2018. How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/24783.
How People Learn II
Learners, Contexts,
and Cultures
Committee on How People Learn II:
The Science and Practice of Learning
Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences
Board on Science Education
A Consensus Study Report of
www.nap.edu
Page ii Share Cite
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS • 500 Fifth Street, NW • Washington, D.C. 20001
This activity was supported by grants and awards from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (Grant No. 2014-3-06), the American Educational Research Association (unnumbered award), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Grant No. OPP1110470), the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education (Grant No. R305U150005), the Teagle Foundation (unnumbered award), the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Grant No. 2014-1118), with additional support from the National Academy of Sciences’ W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fund and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Presidents’ Circle Fund. Support for the work of the Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences is provided primarily by a grant from the National Science Foundation (Award No. BCS-1729167). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-45964-8
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-45964-8
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018957415
Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/24783
Additional copies of this publication are available for sale from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu.
Copyright 2018 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.17226/24783.
Page iii Share Cite
The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president.
The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president.
The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine.
Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org.
Page iv Share Cite
Consensus Study Reports published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine document the evidence-based consensus on the study’s statement of task by an authoring committee of experts. Reports typically include findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on information gathered by the committee and the committee’s deliberations. Each report has been subjected to a rigorous and independent peer-review process and it represents the position of the National Academies on the statement of task.
Proceedings published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine chronicle the presentations and discussions at a workshop, symposium, or other event convened by the National Academies. The statements and opinions contained in proceedings are those of the participants and are not endorsed by other participants, the planning committee, or the National Academies.
For information about other products and activities of the National Academies, please visit www.nationalacademies.org/about/whatwedo.
Page v Share Cite
COMMITTEE ON HOW PEOPLE LEARN II: THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF LEARNING
CORA BAGLEY MARRETT (Chair), Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin–Madison
PATRICIA J. BAUER, Department of Psychology, Emory University
CYNTHIA BEALL (NAS), Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve
MARGARET E. BEIER, Department of Psychology, Rice University
DAVID B. DANIEL, Department of Psychology, James Madison University
ROBERT L. GOLDSTONE, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University
ARTHUR C. GRAESSER, Department of Psychology and Institute of Intelligent Systems, University of Memphis
MARY HELEN IMMORDINO-YANG, Rossier School of Education, University of Southern California
RUTH KANFER, School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology
JEFFREY D. KARPICKE, Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University
BARBARA M. MEANS, Learning Sciences Research, Digital Promise
DOUGLAS L. MEDIN (NAS), Department of Psychology, Northwestern University
LINDA NATHAN, Center for Artistry and Scholarship
ANNEMARIE SULLIVAN PALINCSAR, School of Education, University of Michigan
DANIEL L. SCHWARTZ, School of Education, Stanford University
ZEWELANJI N. SERPELL, Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University
SUJEETA BHATT, Study Director
TINA WINTERS, Associate Program Officer
RENÉE L. WILSON GAINES, Senior Program Assistant
HEIDI SCHWEINGRUBER, Director, Board on Science Education
BARBARA A. WANCHISEN, Director, Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences
Page vi Share Cite
SUSAN T. FISKE (Chair), Department of Psychology and Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
JOHN BAUGH, Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis
LAURA L. CARSTENSEN, Department of Psychology, Stanford University
JUDY DUBNO, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina
JENNIFER EBERHARDT, Department of Psychology, Stanford University
DANIEL R. ILGEN, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University
NANCY G. KANWISHER, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
JANICE KIECOLT-GLASER, Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
BILL MAURER, School of Social Sciences, University of California, Irvine
STEVEN E. PETERSEN, Department of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University Medical School
DANA M. SMALL, Department of Psychiatry, Yale Medical School
TIMOTHY J. STRAUMAN, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University
JEREMY M. WOLFE, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Departments of Ophthalmology and Radiology, Harvard Medical School
BARBARA A. WANCHISEN, Director
Page vii Share Cite
ADAM GAMORAN (Chair), William T. Grant Foundation, New York, NY
GEORGE BOGGS, Palomar College, San Marcos, CA (emeritus)
MELANIE COOPER, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University
RODOLFO DIRZO, Department of Biology, Stanford University
JACQUELYNNE ECCLES, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan
JOSEPH FRANCISCO, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska
MARGARET A. HONEY, New York Hall of Science, New York City
MATTHEW KREHBIEL, Kansas State Department of Education, Topeka
MICHAEL LACH, Urban Education Institute, University of Chicago
LYNN S. LIBEN, Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University
CATHY MANDUCA, Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College
JOHN MATHER, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
BRIAN REISER, School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University
MARSHALL “MIKE” SMITH, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Stanford, CA
ROBERTA TANNER, Thompson School District, Loveland, CO
SUZANNE WILSON, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut
YU XIE, Department of Sociology, University of Michigan
HEIDI SCHWEINGRUBER, Director
Page viii Share Cite
This page intentionally left blank.
Page ix Share Cite
There are many reasons to be curious about the way people learn, and the past several decades have seen an explosion of research that has substantially expanded understanding of brain processes and what they mean for individual learning, schooling, and policy. In 2000, the report How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition (National Research Council, 2000; hereafter referred to as HPL I) was published and its influence has been both wide and deep, but 20 years later the research landscape has evolved still further. How People Learn II provides a much-needed update.
This book does not presume to provide answers to specific educational dilemmas—recipes for teaching or the proverbial “what to do on Monday morning.” Instead, the committee hopes that the book will be a tool that can enrich discussions about research and practice in education and learning for people of all ages. We have tried to present the existing scientific evidence in the most straightforward, accurate, and complete way that we can, and to synthesize and interpret the findings creatively. However, the practical applications that derive from the science will never be completely straightforward because the real world is highly complicated, with many moving parts and hidden complexities. The committee therefore asks you, the reader, to think critically about the findings we present in relation to your own work, and about how the findings reviewed here square with evidence and policies used to justify educational strategies, policies, and research questions in your professional context. Only through active debates and attempts to contextualize and adapt the findings beyond the narrow settings in which they often were studied will we create significantly new understanding and better policy and practice as they relate to learning.
Page x Share Cite
This report is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the American Educational Research Association, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Institute of Education Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education, the Teagle Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, with additional support from the National Academy of Sciences’ W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fund and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Presidents’ Circle Fund. We especially acknowledge Ed Dieterle (formerly with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) who provided vision and enthusiasm for making this report a reality. We are grateful for the substantive core support to the Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences received from federal agencies, particularly the National Science Foundation’s Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate and the National Institute on Aging’s Division of Behavioral and Social Research, which ensured necessary oversight on the project. We also appreciate the funds provided by the American Psychological Association.
Over the course of the study, committee members benefited from discussion and presentations by the many individuals who participated in our three fact-finding meetings. At the first committee meeting, Marc Chun (Hewlett Foundation), Felice Levine (American Educational Research Association), and Daniel Goroff (Sloan Foundation) each provided valuable background information on the goals of the study’s sponsors. In addition, Marianella Casasola (Cornell University) provided an overview of the research on thought and language in the bilingual infant. Barbara Rogoff (University of California, Santa Cruz) shared reflections on understanding cultural differences that influence how, why, and where people learn; and Guinevere Eden (Georgetown University) provided a review of the most recent neuroimaging research on reading and reading disabilities. Finally, members of the HPL I authoring committee provided insights on how best to approach the study process in order to meld ideas from diverse disciplines to maximize the impact of the report for research and practice. The HPL I committee members included Barbara Means (SRI International), Jose Mestre (University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign), Linda Nathan (Boston University), Penelope Peterson (Northwestern University), and Barbara Rogoff. The Webcast audience for this first meeting included individuals from the United States and several other countries: Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, and Taiwan.
At the second meeting, three committee members (Patricia Bauer, David Daniel, and Jeff Karpicke) briefed the committee and audience on the evidence regarding cognitive and developmental factors affecting learning in context. Robert Mislevy (Educational Testing Service) provided insights on how developments in psychology and technology challenge assessment in learning contexts, and Kevin Crowley (University of Pittsburgh) provided an overview of learning in informal settings. Finally, Elizabeth Albro (Institute of Education Sciences) shared the perspectives of the sponsor with the committee. The Webcast audience included individuals from Canada and the United States.
Page xi Share Cite
The third committee meeting included discussions from two different panels: (1) Panel on Learning in Adulthood and the Use of Technology for Learning in Adulthood and (2) Panel on Learning Disabilities, Universal Design for Learning, and Assistive Technology. The Learning in Adulthood panelists were Philip Ackerman (Georgia Institute of Technology), Walter Boot (Florida State University), and Ursula Staudinger (Columbia University). The Learning Disabilities and Universal Design for Learning panel included Donald Compton (Florida State University), Jack Fletcher (University of Houston), and David Rose (CAST). The Webcast audience for this meeting included individuals from Brazil, Canada, and the United States.
This Consensus Study Report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published report as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process.
We thank the following individuals for their review of this report: Daniel E. Atkins, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan (emeritus); Philip Bell, Learning Sciences and Human Development, University of Washington; John Dunlosky, Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University; Kris Gutiérrez, Educational Policy and Language, Literacy and Culture, University of California, Berkeley; Kenji Hakuta, School of Education, Stanford University; Karen R. Harris, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University; David Klahr, Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University; Kenneth R. Koedinger, Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center, Carnegie Mellon University; Gloria Ladson-Billings, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Lisa Linnenbrink-Garcia, Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, Michigan State University; Bruce McCandliss, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University; James W. Pellegrino, Learning Sciences Research Institute, College of Education, University of Illinois at Chicago; Diana C. Pullin, Lynch School of Education, Boston College; Barbara Rogoff, Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz; Lorrie A. Shepard, Laboratory of Educational Research, School of Education, University of Colorado Boulder; and Brian A. Wandell, Department of Psychology, Stanford University.
Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations of this report nor did they see the final draft before its release.
The review of this report was overseen by Michael I. Posner, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon (emeritus), and Greg J. Duncan, School of Education, University of California, Irvine. They were responsible for making
Page xii Share Cite
certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the authoring committee and the National Academies.
Thanks are also due to the project staff and staff of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE). In particular, special thanks to Tina Winters, associate program officer, who was instrumental in organizing data-gathering opportunities for the committee, agenda development, facilitation of commissioned paper selection and contracting, and invaluable assistance in the writing and development of the committee’s final report. Renée Wilson Gaines, senior program assistant, also provided critical support to the study process by managing the study’s logistical and administrative needs, making sure meetings and workshops ran efficiently and smoothly, obtaining copyright permissions, and engaging in other essential report activities. Appreciation is also extended to Barbara Wanchisen, director of the Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences, and Heidi Schweingruber, director of the Board on Science Education, for their leadership, guidance, oversight of, and support for the study. We are also indebted to the National Academies consultant Robert Katt for final editing of the manuscript. We are particularly grateful to Patricia Morison and Alexandra Beatty for their support and significant assistance with improving the flow of the report. We thank the Executive Office staff of DBASSE, especially Kirsten Sampson-Snyder, who managed the review process, Yvonne Wise, who oversaw the final publication process, and Lisa Alston for financial oversight. Finally, we would like to thank the Research Center at the National Academies for their valuable support in conducting literature and data reviews, generating impact summaries, and supporting general research.
Cora Bagley Marrett, Chair
Page xiii Share Cite
Charge to the Committee
Contributions of HPL I
Interpreting the Charge
Gathering Evidence to Address the Charge
Treatment of Evidence
Guide to This Report
2 Context and Culture
The Cultural Nature of Learning
Defining Culture
The Role of Culture in Learning and Development
Learning as Social Activity
The Dynamic Interaction of Culture, Biology, and Context
Social and Emotional Influences
Physical Influences
3 Types of Learning and the Developing Brain
Three Learning Scenarios
Basic Types of Learning
Integrating Types of Learning
Page xiv Share Cite
Learning and the Brain
Prenatal and Lifelong Brain Development and Maturation
Brain Adaptation in Response to Learning
Evidence of Learning-Related Changes in the Brain Throughout the Life Span
4 Processes That Support Learning
Orchestrating Learning
Self-Regulation of Learning
Reconstructing Memories
Working and Long-Term Memory
Memory for Episodes of Learning
5 Knowledge and Reasoning
Building a Knowledge Base
Benefits of Expertise
Bias as a Natural Side Effect of Knowledge
Knowledge Integration and Reasoning
Inferential Reasoning
Age-Related Changes in Knowledge and Reasoning
Effects of Culture on Reasoning
Strategies to Support Learning
Strategies for Knowledge Retention
Strategies for Understanding and Integration
6 Motivation to Learn
Theoretical Perspectives
Learners’ Beliefs and Values
External Rewards
Effects of Choice
The Importance of Goals
Types of Goals
Influence of Teachers on Learners’ Goals
Learning Goals and Other Goals
Page xv Share Cite
Future Identities and Long-Term Persistence
Social and Cultural Influences on Motivation
Cross-Cultural Differences in Learners’ Self-Construals
Social Identity and Motivation Processes
Stereotype Threat
Interventions to Improve Motivation
7 Implications for Learning in School
Culture and Learning in School
School and Classroom Contexts
Shifting from “Deficit” to “Asset” Models
Discipline-Specific Learning
Engaging and Empowering Learners
Self-Regulated Learning
Instructional Approaches for Engaging the Learner
Assessing Learning
Providing Feedback to Learners
Connecting Assessment to Evidence about How Students Learn
8 Digital Technology
Aligning Technologies with Learning Goals
Affordances of Learning Technologies
Learning Through Repetition
Deeper Learning with Models
Collaborative and Cooperative Learning
Technology-Supported Self-Regulated Learning
Technologies that Stimulate Active Learning
Learning Through Game Play
Leveraging Stories and Favorite Characters
Empowering Learners as Producers and Creators
Conversational Agents
Technologies for Instruction
Linking Formal and Informal Learning
Orchestrating Instruction
Writing Instruction
Opportunities and Challenges
Digital Dashboards
Page xvi Share Cite
Mobile Personal Devices
Problematic Features of Technology
Technology for Learning in Later Life
The Digital Divide
A Systematic Approach to Implementation
9 Learning Across the Life Span
Changes That Occur with Age
Reasoning and Knowledge
Motivation for Learning
Learning Activities and Environments
Causes of Learning Disabilities
Reading Disabilities
Mathematics Disabilities
Learning Disabilities in Adults
Postsecondary Educational Experiences
Determining Whether People Learn in the Workplace
Training Transfer
Autonomous Workplace Learning
Self-Regulated Learning in the Workplace
The Importance of Active Engagement
Fostering Lifelong Learning
10 Research Agenda
The Dynamic Nature of Learning
A History of the How People Learn Studies and Their Use
B List of Relevant Reports Published by the National Academies Press
C Study Populations in Research on Learning
D Committee and Staff Biographies
Page xvii Share Cite
Tables, Figures, and Boxes
3-1 Models of Age-Related Change in Brain Structures That Affect Learning
6-1 Mindsets, Goals, and Their Implications for Learning
6-2 Achievement Goals and Classroom Climate
8-1 Principles of Universal Design
3-1 User interface for the Foldit game
3-2 Pattern recognition
3-3 The McCullough effect, part 1
3-5 Unaided pattern interpretation
3-6 Hints for pattern interpretation in previous figure
3-7 Abductive reasoning in a machine-learning system
3-8 Children’s mental models of the Earth
3-9 Mean cortical thickness across the adult life span
5-1 Depiction of memory integration
5-1-1 Mean amplitude of the neural response at the centro-parietal sites to well-known, novel, and integration facts during first and second presentation
Page xviii Share Cite
6-1 Effect of supportive, safe conditions in reducing stereotype threat
7-1 Simplified representation of three critical components of the evidence-centered design process and their reciprocal relationships
8-1 The Tactical Language and Culture Training System (TLCTS)
8-2 Screenshot of conversational agents (a tutor and a peer) discussing an experiment with a student
9-1 Examples of autonomous (self-directed) and mandated learning in formal and informal settings
1-1 Statement of Task
1-2 History of HPL I
3-1 Critical and Sensitive Periods in Development
3-2 Evidence of Expertise Development and Changes in the Brain
4-1 A Curriculum-Based Executive Function Intervention
4-2 Helping Children Develop Memory Skills
5-1 Examples of Developmental Differences in the Process of Knowledge Acquisition
6-1 What You Praise Makes a Difference
6-2 Learners’ Perceptions of the Learning Environment Can Inadvertently Undermine Motivation
6-3 Basketball, Mathematics, and Identity
7-1 Do Students Have a Dominant Learning Style?
7-2 Scoring Rubric from Construct Map for Student Understanding of Earth in the Solar System
7-3 Diagnostic Item Based on Construct Map for Student Understanding of Earth in the Solar System
8-1 Key Affordances of Learning Technologies
8-2 Web-Based Technologies for Group Learning
8-3 Mayer’s Principles to Guide Multimedia Learning
9-1 The Meyerhoff Scholars Program
Next: Summary »
How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures Get This Book
There are many reasons to be curious about the way people learn, and the past several decades have seen an explosion of research that has important implications for individual learning, schooling, workforce training, and policy.
In 2000, How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition was published and its influence has been wide and deep. The report summarized insights on the nature of learning in school-aged children; described principles for the design of effective learning environments; and provided examples of how that could be implemented in the classroom.
Since then, researchers have continued to investigate the nature of learning and have generated new findings related to the neurological processes involved in learning, individual and cultural variability related to learning, and educational technologies. In addition to expanding scientific understanding of the mechanisms of learning and how the brain adapts throughout the lifespan, there have been important discoveries about influences on learning, particularly sociocultural factors and the structure of learning environments.
How People Learn II: Learners, Contexts, and Cultures provides a much-needed update incorporating insights gained from this research over the past decade. The book expands on the foundation laid out in the 2000 report and takes an in-depth look at the constellation of influences that affect individual learning. How People Learn II will become an indispensable resource to understand learning throughout the lifespan for educators of students and adults.
Front Matter i–xviii
Summary 1–10
2 Context and Culture 21–34
3 Types of Learning and the Developing Brain 35–68
4 Processes That Support Learning 69–84
5 Knowledge and Reasoning 85–108
6 Motivation to Learn 109–134
7 Implications for Learning in School 135–162
8 Digital Technology 163–196
9 Learning Across the Life Span 197–224
10 Research Agenda 225–232
Appendix A: History of the How People Learn Studies and Their Use 295–298
Appendix B: List of Relevant Reports Published by the National Academies Press 299–314
Appendix C: Study Populations in Research on Learning 315–318
Appendix D: Committee and Staff Biographies 319–328
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507565
|
__label__cc
| 0.678066
| 0.321934
|
NURTURING MARRIAGE®
Our Foundational Analogy
6 Pillars to Nurturing Marriage
Values to Live By
Routines and Rituals
LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND: A CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE DEVOTIONAL
Join the Community >
Nurturing Marriage Conversations Facebook Group
Jon & Angela Ellsworth
We sat down with Jon & Angela Ellsworth to dive a little deeper into three aspects of married life: Work/Life Balance; Finances; and Sex.
These two are incredibly fun, real, and inspiring. Their life experiences stem from ten years of marriage, four children, busy work schedules, and community and church involvement. Jon & Angela are financially savvy, determined to keep family first, and still completely in love. One of our favorite tips from them is that sex should be about your spouse - about meeting their needs. This is an interview you won’t want to miss!
Years Married: 10
Kids: 4 (2 boys, 2 girls)
Photography: https://www.facebook.com/angelaellsworthphotography
Etsy: http://www.minimoments.etsy.com/
Q. How do you both balance work, marriage, and family life?
J: I work for a home-building company. It’s a pretty big corporation and recently I’ve gone through a little bit of a transition. Now I’m in a more corporate world as of late, which creates more challenges when it comes to balance. We went through a period of time, last summer, where I was working a lot of hours - probably sixty a week, which for me was a lot. Maybe I’m a wuss.
A: Yeah, I think we’re kind of wusses. With four kids.
J: For me, balance comes when I can get home and jump right into helping out. We always eat dinner together as a family and we bathe kids and put kids to bed together. That’s a time for me to wind down with the kids, to talk to them a little bit. After that, Ange and I have our time. I also have a goal to get at least one chore done before bed - either doing the dishes, or sweeping, folding laundry or any little thing I can do (if I have energy to do it).
A: He is also on the planning commission for our city, and he is super involved in our church (which takes him away quite often).
J: The planning commission is only one or two nights a month, but those meetings are usually during a busy week, right when I have my heart set on having some down-time and winding down. It’s not a terrible obstacle, though. Sometimes I have assignments and things to work on at night, but it usually isn’t a big deal. I am also very involved at church which keeps me busy.
Q. And what about you, Angela?
A: I am a photographer, and then I also own a little etsy shop (I paint), and that keeps me pretty busy during the holidays. And then I am also involved at church, and I am a scout leader - the Wolves. They are eight years old. I have several boys come to my home every Tuesday night and I get to pretend to throw a birthday party (practically) every week to entertain them.
Q. You are both busy. How do you stay connected throughout the day? And how do you support each other, and make time for each other and for your marriage?
A: Jon is the most helpful husband. He comes home and scoops up our two-year-old, gives everybody kisses, and then he comes and helps me with dinner. Sometimes he makes dinner. We have dinner and we’ll talk, and he always lets me tell him about my day (sometimes that means I’m venting). And then Jon tells me about his day, which is nice. Talking together about our days provides emotional support to both of us. We both care about what is going on in the other person’s life. Also, he’ll make light of situations that are stressful. So instead of freaking out, I’m laughing about something. He’ll help me turn it into a joke or he’ll pat me on the butt and make me smile. And he always gives me kisses when he gets home, and I always need a big hug - one that lasts a long time!
A: At night we do spend our time together doing individual things, but we usually always watch Jimmy Fallon together. Laughing together is good. I’m usually editing pictures or painting or learning something photography-wise, and he’s either working on something or watching something on wimp.com. He likes to chill and watch movies and I don’t really do that. I don’t chill very well. I like to, like, be learning--
J: (teasing) I don’t like to learn.
Q. How do you guys stay connected through the day?
J: The way we operate is more the necessities - things like “What’s your schedule?” “Are you on your way home?” etc. If there is something bigger going on that day, like if I have an important meeting, I’ll call in afterwards or send Ange a text to let her know how it went.
A: I do text him cute pictures of the boys and he really likes that. Realistically, Jon’s pretty busy at work and there’s not a lot of time to chat. When we’re together in person we feel very connected; we’re a really good team with these four kids. Our parenting styles and goals are very aligned and we work well together.
J: I think the connection for us comes at the beginning of the day. In the morning we are all together, trying to get out the door. We take time to say goodbye to everyone and to hug and kiss. We talk about what is ahead for each of us during the day. It’s important for me to remember that Ange is working pretty hard during the day with the kids, so it’s helpful for me to take some time to appreciate her before I head out for the day.
J: Other than that, if there are important things going on, we’ll keep in touch. The other day, I was going into a meeting with the president of our local division and Ange sent me a text about the budget (stressful text!). I responded, “I’m going into a meeting with the president of the division!” She was so sorry! I made a point after the meeting to reach out to her and tell her that everything went well and that she could get mad at me about the budget now.
A: And I wasn’t really mad at him, I was just informing him…
J: It is important to keep lines of communication open.
Q. That is a perfect segue into finances. Who handles the finances in your marriage? What does budgeting look like? How do you handle financial topics that you don’t see eye-to-eye on?
J: Ange handles it. She might not admit it, but I think she likes it that way. She has her own method of doing it, and I have no objections to anything she does. We are united on savings goals, and that shapes a lot of our budget. Ange informs me each month as to overages (especially MY overages) and where we can do better. Honestly, finances is probably the point of greatest contention in our marriage. That is probably because of me, because I like to spend money.
A: No, you don’t, we just don’t have a lot of extra.
J: And I spend it.
A: Yeah.
J: I own that. It’s taken ten years for my defenses to come down; to recognize that’s where I’m an idiot in life, and Ange is there to help me. I think she’s less mad at me lately about how much money I spend.
Q. How often do you two communicate about money and about where you are at each month?
J: About every six weeks. I get a friendly text every now and then, encouraging me to “tone it down.” Ange is really good at pulling money out of our cash flow and setting it aside for the things we want to do. For example, we’re planning a ten-year anniversary trip, and so we are saving specifically for that.
A: We’ve saved for over a year now so that we could go on a second honeymoon without worrying about anything.
J: So our savings goals are aligned and we don’t touch that money. And then Angela monitors the rest of the money.
A: I keep a Google spreadsheet with different categories - areas where we spend our money. In another section of the spreadsheet I have those same categories with our allotted budget for the month. We pay for everything with credit cards (that are set up on automatic payments) and we pay everything in full every single month. We never are in debt. I’m afraid of being in debt, it’s just not how I function, so I get really freaked out if we don’t have a certain amount of money in savings just as cushion. We don’t fight about whether or not we can buy gas, I just always want to keep us at a good level so we can feel peace. At the end of each month I go through the credit cards and itemize things and put all the numbers into the spreadsheet. I also try and keep track of all of our cash - the money that I bring in from different things that I do. At the beginning of the month we talk about our plan and what expenses we have coming up - if we need to get the oil changed in our cars this month, or if we have some medical expenses coming up. Then, at the end of the month we see how well we did with the plan. We should do it every week, but we don’t.
J: We’ve dabbled in a lot of other finance trackers, but for one reason or another they haven’t worked out for us. The way that Ange does it is probably as accurate as you can do it. It’s literally just recording every transaction. We can see our balances day in and day out, and our savings being separate, we don’t necessarily worry about that balance dropping. What we do is useful for how we look at money.
Q. When you partition off money for causes, do you have a specific savings account? How does that work for you? How many accounts are you juggling?
A: We have several savings accounts. One account has savings, one is a checking account and then we have a line of credit. We use the checking account most often. There’s hardly anything in that savings account currently. The line of credit is used rarely, but it’s a great buffer. We’ve never bounced checks. I believe it’s important for every family to have a good line of credit. The savings account has multiple money market accounts, and I’ve specifically named them. One is for a trip to Disneyland that we would like to take. One is for our ten-year anniversary trip. One is for money to save towards a future home. And then one is just a savings account that is the cushion - which is like a certain dollar amount that we never want to go under.
A: You know, money comes in, and pretty much all the money goes out at the end of the month. So savings for us comes from tax refunds, and then extra things that I do on the side to earn money. We’ve saved for big purchases that way, and then Jon was unemployed...he has been laid off twice in our marriage. Once for a very short time, for two months, and once for a long time - eight months. That was while I was pregnant with our youngest son, and we didn’t have health insurance for awhile. That was a very stressful time…
Q. Can you tell us more about that time and how you worked through it? How did it nurture your marriage?
A: That was a really stressful time in our lives, for sure. Our daughter was in kindergarten in a charter school that we really loved, and it was twenty-five minutes away, so gas money was an issue. We did collect unemployment, but it just covered our bases...anyways we were able to make it. And we still never went into debt after eight months. We just really lived frugally, and we didn’t spend money.
J: We didn’t set out at the beginning of our marriage with guiding principles when it comes to finances, except for “Don’t go into debt.” That was Ange’s thing. We just recently paid off all my student loans, and that’s a good feeling. Make that a priority: pay off debt. We communicate about finances quite a bit. We talk about our goals a lot.
A: If I want to spend money somewhere, I don’t ever spend money without knowing where the money’s coming from. So if I’m going to go buy some clothes, I have to think to myself, “Where is this money coming from?” And a lot of times I will do something extra, like giving plasma or something like that. I did plasma for the summer and saved money so that we could go and do these little vacations with our kids. I’ll also cash in our credit card points so that I have money to go and spend on something specific. I always know where the money is coming from for extra purchases.
J: Yeah, Ange is really strict on herself about that. And I’m less strict on her.
A: He never gets mad at me if I spend money.
J: Not even that. I’ll go spend the money that she is thinking about spending! For example, I can’t remember if it was her birthday, or our anniversary, but I bought some boots from Nordstrom - NICE boots for her.
A: They were $250 boots, and they were shipped to me. I freaked out. It wasn’t our anniversary, Jon got a bonus from work and decided to spend it on me. He bought them just to be nice. That was so kind of him. Those boots will last forever.
J: So, just so you can see, there’s compatibility here with our finances, but we’re pretty well opposite as far as mindset. We really don’t see eye-to-eye. Ange wants to know exactly where the money’s coming from. I think more like, “You need nice shampoo, I’m going to buy it because you want/need it!” Or, I’ll say, “You need clothes, and I’m going to buy them!”
A: Jon really doesn’t buy a ton of stuff, he just likes to spend money on food (restaurants).
Q. Let’s jump into intimacy. What does it mean to you, by way of brief definition, to have an intimate relationship with your spouse?
J: Obviously there’s sex involved, but that’s the easy answer. Emotional intimacy is important too. Recently Ange had a friend of hers - a family that’s almost a mirror image of ours. Children are the same age, two boys, two girls. The youngest boy, just two years old, had cancer and passed away. Ange was involved in taking pictures a week before he passed away. It was really a sacred experience for her. She was able to share her deep thoughts and feelings about it with me. I think a really big part of intimacy is being able to share those experiences, and talk about them together - whether it’s a hard situation like that, or whether it’s a victory, a success of some kind. Intimacy is being able to recognize the emotional level of your spouse and being able to share in it. However, there’s no way I’m ever going to be as excited as Ange can be about things.
A: Yeah, I get excited over anything and everything.
J: At the same time, she knows how to deal with my excitement, if it ever happens. She knows how to help me feel loved, and comforted, and comfortable, and safe. I think intimacy is sharing a lot, but it’s also a comfort thing, it’s a safety thing, I think.
A: Yeah, I can trust him with my feelings. Taking pictures for that family was life changing. I didn’t come out of it the same person. Jon and I could talk about that - about very deep things together. He knows everything about me, all of the bad, all of the good, and I still trust him 100% and I know he loves me. He always supports me.
J: Intimacy is vulnerability. Ange knows everything about me as well, and she’s still right there by my side. That’s a huge deal. There’s a lot of forgiveness too, probably.
A: Sharing your deepest thoughts. Your deepest feelings, your deepest secrets. We know all of that about each other. We know mistakes we’ve made in the past, and there aren’t any secrets. I value that, that we can talk about those things.
Q. How does the intimacy you have developed in your marriage, strengthen your confidence in each other and your loyalty to each other?
J: Whenever I think of intimacy, or a great marriage relationship where the person that you’re married to is a true heart-to-heart connection, I think of one of my favorite movies, Clear and Present Danger, a Tom Clancy book-turned-movie. Harrison Ford is in it, so it’s a good movie obviously. In the movie, Harrison Ford gets a phone call informing him that his friend just passed away from cancer. He takes the call and he doesn’t really say anything over the phone. After hearing that his friend passed away he replies by saying, “When?” At that point, he holds out his hand, and he’s got a look on his face, and his wife just kind of knows what has happened. She goes over to him and holds his hand and gets close to him. That is what intimacy looks like to me.
Q. What advice could you share that would help couples improve their sexual intimacy together?
J: Ange, why don’t you answer that.
A: Oh, brother.
J: ‘Cause I could write a book on this.
A: I tease Jon that he should write a book about sex. He just gets it. Ok, I would encourage couples to feel emotionally connected. I think that’s probably the base of being able to have a really great time having sex together. Sometimes when I don’t feel emotionally connected to Jon, I’ll just flat out tell him, “Honey I don’t feel emotionally connected to you.” He’ll be trying to do something to initiate sex, and I know that’s what’s coming, and I really like having sex with him, but I just have to feel emotionally connected first. Sometimes all it will take is me just saying to him flat out what I need, “Honey, tell me something that you love about me.” And then I feel better. Or just cuddling with him for a little bit helps me feel connected to him. Or letting me talk and tell him things that are troubling my heart. And then it’s just like we’re best friends in that moment, and then we can start kissing. The nice thing with Jon is that sex has never been like, “Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am!” There’s always been cuddling and expressions of gentleness and love. He is always doing things that he knows make me feel good, and I try and do things that make him feel good. It’s not just a quick thing that we want to get over with.
J: Yeah, Ange will stop everything and say, “I don’t feel emotionally connected right now.” For me I’ll usually laugh, because for me it’s kind of play time for the married couple. It’s time to have fun.
A: Everyone feels love in different ways. Jon definitely feels love through having sex.
J: For me it’s kind of my no-stress time, or at least it should be. It’s fun for me. So I don’t really worry about the emotional connection, necessarily.
A: He never asks though and says, “Please have sex with me,” or something like that. If he wants sex, he knows what to do to help me feel happy and loved. And then we end up both wanting to have sex.
J: I’ll do what it takes to make it happen, but part of what motivates me is making Ange feel good. If she’s enjoying it then I enjoy it. I feed off of that. So if she says “I’m emotionally disconnected,” I really will do anything to help her feel connected. I’ll say, “Alright, let’s cuddle for a bit, then.”
A: He never makes me feel bad about that either. And I’ll totally tell him if something is feeling good or not feeling good. I think it’s very important for couples to communicate about sex, and to not be embarrassed. Jon touched on the most important thing, though, in sex you should always put your spouse first.
Q. Do you ever find yourself too tired for sex? What is your approach to how often sex happens?
A: I probably don’t initiate enough because I am very tired with four little kids to take care of. I have a lot of emotional ups and downs during the day and they kind of wear me out. Plus, I do a lot of my photography business at the very end of the day, which means we usually stay up until midnight. However, I don’t often say no because it’s not like a question he asks. It’s more of a thing he does. I might initially feel like, “I’m too tired,” but he works his charm and then it just flows naturally.
Q. How does having sex and being close intimately, nurture your marriage?
A: It’s the one thing that you share with only your spouse. It’s something that’s very special and a time when you’re being your most vulnerable self. You’re literally standing there naked, insecurities and all. And I trust Jon completely.
J: Well for me, I think a big part of a healthy sex life with your spouse is that it is a protection. If you pay attention to each other's sexual needs and share in the experience together, then it’s not just one person having a great time and the other not caring. A healthy sex life is a protection from a lot of things. There are a lot of temptations that could creep in. It’s important to take time for sex, to be vulnerable, to get over the tiredness, and to go for it. I’ll always want it even though it’s not always convenient and it takes a lot out of us. For me, I think it’s a protection. It shields me, in particular, from a lot. It’s something that really, really nurtures our marriage.
A: There are many marriages that have to battle pornography, sex addiction, and other unhealthy practices. Some men require sex every night. That isn’t healthy either. A healthy sex life really is a great protection. I remember one of my friends saying, “Once you have kids you don’t really have sex that much anymore.” I thought to myself, “That’s not true for us.” Married couples should be having sex fairly often. For us that’s realistically like once a week, maybe twice a week. And sometimes several times a week. Sex helps us to feel closer as a couple and it helps us to show our love for one another.
Ilene Ellsworth
Jon & Ange, I just now read your comments on nurturing your marriage! Wonderful! Your love AND deep respect for each other is so clear! (not all couples have both of these qualities) Thank you for sharing them! I will write more later....need to get to bed - we have the Temple tomorrow. Love you both...hugs to Mia, Claire, Owen & Lucas.
Aaron & April link
Illene, Thanks for your comment! Jon & Ange are pretty incredible. This interview is bound to encourage others in their efforts to nurture their marriages!
Couples
"There is properly no history; only biography."
You Know You Want to Read
15 Tricks to Help You Learn How to Talk to Your Spouse Again
3 Reasons You & Your Spouse Need a Bucket List
How Being "Mad" is Hurting Your Relationship
17 Gestures That Make Men Feel Loved
Why You Should Still Ask Your Spouse Out on Dates
Foreplay Isn't Always What You Think
3 Reasons to Keep Trying to Be Intimate With Your Partner
5 Tips for Dealing with In-Laws Who Feel Like Out-Laws
Everybody Loves These
Doing Things Your Lover Loves Because You Love Your Lover
40 Fabulous Spring Date Ideas
4 Tips to Creating the Marriage You Want
What is Your Apology Language?
How to Create Bedtime Rituals That Will Nurture Your Marriage
5 Things Great Listeners Do
The Little Things | Date Night | Intimacy | Values to Live By | Routines and Rituals | Conflict Resolution
Featured Couples | On a Lighter Note | Studies Show | Shareable Quotes | Commenting Policy
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507568
|
__label__wiki
| 0.818739
| 0.818739
|
The Brands That Kowtow to China
Bobby Yip/Reuters
Security staff guarding the Mercedes-Benz booth at an autoshow in Guangzhou, China, in November 2017
A couple of years ago, a satirist on Taiwan, the democratic self-governing island that China claims as a province, created an online “Apologize to China” contest. Shortly before, an eighteen-year-old Taiwanese pop singer named Chou Tzu-yu had prompted patriotic outrage in mainland China when it was discovered that she had waved a Taiwanese flag on South Korean television, a gesture taken as disrespect for the sacrosanct One China idea. Facing furious demands that she be banned from performing in China, Chou made a video in which she tearfully begged for forgiveness for her offense, which itself aroused a good deal of dismay on Taiwan about Chinese bullying of a naive teenager. Hence the “Apologize to China” contest.
It was a joke, but there’s been no joking as the apologies to China have come thick and fast in recent weeks, issued not by teenage singers but by some of the largest and richest multinational corporations in the world—the German luxury car manufacturer Daimler, the Marriott Hotel chain, Delta Airlines, and others. Like Chou Tzu-yu’s statement of regret, moreover, the apologies have been striking in their abjectness, their reaffirmation of China’s position on crucial issues like Taiwan and Tibet, even the use of boilerplate language right out of China’s propaganda lexicon.
Though they have been covered in the press, these apologies have received relatively little attention in the home countries of the companies involved. Yet they would seem to reflect two important trends, at a time when Western governments and experts on China are expressing ever-greater worries about the challenge to liberal-democratic values from the rise of authoritarian China—strikingly illustrated this week by Beijing’s announced intention of doing away with presidential term limits, a move aimed at concentrating even more power in the hands of the Communist Party leader, Xi Jinping, who is already the object of personality-cult-like veneration. One of these trends is China’s increasingly aggressive effort to control the public discourse about itself, not only in China itself but in other countries as well. The second is the evident willingness, even the eagerness, of major corporations doing business in China to accede to Beijing’s demands.
The Daimler incident came when the publicity department of its subsidiary Mercedes-Benz posted a photo of a sleek, white car on Instagram, which is itself blocked in China, along with what was clearly intended as an inspirational quote from the Dalai Lama: “Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.” The Dalai Lama is officially viewed by China as a major public enemy—a “splittist” and a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” So when the Internet in China lit up with complaints about Mercedes-Benz’s favorable reference to him, the corporation took rapid steps to halt a looming public relations disaster.
“We fully understand this incident has hurt the feelings of Chinese people,” Daimler said, vowing to “take steps to deepen our understanding of Chinese culture and values.” A couple of days later, People’s Daily, evidently not satisfied with this expression of contrition, said that Daimler, too, was an “enemy of the Chinese people.” This might have seemed harsh given the offense—citing an epigram from a Nobel Peace Prize laureate on a website not even visible in China—but the company hastened to issue a second apology. Daimler’s chairman Dieter Zetsche wrote to the Chinese ambassador in Germany, expressing regret for “the hurt and grief that its negligent and insensitive mistake has caused to the Chinese people.”
Such would appear to be the moral cost of becoming dependent on doing business in China. Ten years ago, Mercedes sold fewer than 30,000 cars in China. Last year, its sales were more than 600,000 vehicles, which made China Daimler’s largest market by far—fully a quarter of the Mercedes brand’s global sales. It’s therefore not hard to understand why, when faced with the choice between defending the principle of free speech and yielding to China’s demands, Daimler readily chose the latter.
The other companies that have also recently issued apologies to China—Delta Airlines, Qantas Airlines, the clothing designer Zara, the medical instruments maker Medtronic, and the Marriott International hotel chain (which includes luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis)—all appear to have the same reason to placate China as Daimler did. According to a Marriott press release, for example, 8 percent of the global total of the company’s rooms are in what it calls “Greater China,” meaning China plus Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. That’s already a lot, but it will be more. Marriott says that 19 percent of the hotels currently being developed are also in Greater China, which clearly makes the country a major area of expansion for the chain.
Marriott’s apology stemmed from an online customer survey that included a dropdown menu showing Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau as separate “countries.” This aroused patriotic fury on social media in China, which led to the government’s demand that Marriott shut down its six Chinese-language websites and apps for a week. Marriott responded with a dutiful apology, reaffirming its “respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China” and vowing “to actively seek advice and direction from [Chinese] government departments” in the future. Worse than promising to take direction from a one-party dictatorship was the company’s response to an incident that followed the appearance of its customer survey. When a pro-Tibet group tweeted approval of the survey’s identification of Tibet as a country, and a Marriott employee used a corporate Twitter account to “like” the tweet, Marriott fired that employee.
For years, it has been common practice among airlines and other companies to list Taiwan separately from China, and Beijing has raised no objection. That it suddenly finds the practice offensive, and is demanding that companies put an end to it, could simply be part of China’s program to increase Taiwan’s international isolation, to make it pay for its election of a pro-independence president, Tsai Ing-wen, in May 2016. But China’s increased prickliness is not an isolated phenomenon. It seems part and parcel of a broader, more aggressive, and self-confident stance in the world that Xi has engineered over the past five years—and which includes an effort to shape and even censor the discourse on China in other countries.
A new study by two independent research organizations in Germany—the Mercator Institute for China Studies and the Global Public Policy Institute—provides what is probably the most comprehensive and deeply researched description of what it calls Beijing’s “political influencing efforts.” The study is mostly concerned with Europe, but it draws on examples from around the world to depict an elaborate program involving several important government and party bureaus through which China seeks to gain what the report describes as “preemptive obedience.” That includes demanding support for such policies as its One-Belt-One-Road infrastructure projects, its island-building in the South China Sea, and its moves to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, to build what it calls “strategic partnerships” with other authoritarian countries, to prevent honoring or legitimizing the Dalai Lama, to present its one-party system as a superior alternative to Western-style democracy, and to head off international criticism of its human rights violations.
China even acknowledges this stepped-up effort. In his much-publicized speech to the Nineteenth Party Congress last fall, Xi cited among the achievements of his first five years in office “a further rise in China’s international influence, ability to inspire, and power to shape.” In his presentation, this increased influence is China’s “great new contribution to global peace and development.” Others, though, see it as bullying and threatening behavior. During last month’s confirmation hearing as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, the American diplomat Susan Thornton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that “we will not abide Chinese attempts… to coerce countries in the region.” The German institutes’ announcement of their report speaks of China’s “promotion of its authoritarian ideals,” which, it warns, poses “a significant challenge to liberal-democracy as well as to European values and interests.”
The German report shows how China uses “economic statecraft” to advance its goals in countries like austerity-straitened Greece and neo-authoritarian Hungary, whose populist leader Viktor Orbán has forged close ties to China. In March 2017, for example, Hungary refused to sign a joint European Union letter denouncing the torture of human rights lawyers in China. In June that year, Greece blocked an EU statement at the UN Human Rights Council criticizing China’s human rights record. It was the first time the EU had failed to deliver a joint statement on Chinese human rights violations.
There have been other recent instances in which foreign entities have yielded to censorious Chinese demands. The tech giant Apple removed from its App Store in China the VPN software most commonly used to circumvent Chinese Internet censorship. The publisher Cambridge University Press initially removed some 315 articles from the China Quarterly, the main scholarly journal on contemporary China, to placate Chinese threats to close its website in China. Later, CUP announced that in defense of academic freedom it would not delete the articles after all, and it remains unclear now whether or not China will permit access to its website. Another publisher, Australia’s Allen & Unwin, canceled publication of Silent Invasion, a book by a university professor, Clive Hamilton, that described Chinese interference in Australian political and intellectual life. The refusal to publish the book seemed to illustrate Hamilton’s very point, though another, braver publisher than Allen & Unwin has announced that it will soon make his work available. The German institutes’ report cites a comment in Global Times, an English-language mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party, that seems to affirm the authorities’ attitude that economic ties with China ought to come with political conditions. Australia, the paper said, is “economically dependent on China,” but “it shows little gratitude.”
Not all China’s efforts at censorship outside the country are successful; many are not. Just in recent days, the Chinese embassy in South Africa issued violent objections to a visit there by Lobsang Sangay, the president of Tibet’s government in exile, threatening that the visit would affect Chinese investment in South Africa. Global Times described in glowing terms protests by “hundreds of locals and members of the Chinese community in South Africa” that sought to force the law faculty at Stellenbosch University to cancel a scheduled speech by Sangay. Sangay was able to visit South Africa because he has an American passport and needed no visa, and the address at the university was not canceled. The pro-Chinese press portrayed the demonstration as a spontaneous popular revolt representing the feelings of a majority of South Africans, who—unlike the Australians—are grateful for the economic benefits they derive from China. But South African members of parliament condemned the protests, which the Tibetan Review reported were “orchestrated by the Chinese embassy and led by its officials with a rented crowd of about thirty persons.” One opposition parliamentarian, Sandy Kalyan, likened China’s threat of withholding investment to “a child throwing a tantrum.”
The ferocity of China’s complaints has, however, led many Western and other governments, including South Africa’s, to decline to meet with the Dalai Lama. The threats of economic retaliation, the mobilization of patriotic social-media fury, rigged protests, and demands for apology—for any activity involving Tibetan resistance to China’s repressive rule, any statement favorable to the Dalai Lama, or any expression of sympathy for the desire of democratic Taiwan not to become part of authoritarian China—are now well-established practices employed by China to enforce obedience to its dictates, beyond China’s borders as well as within them. Stellenbosch University resisted the pressure, but Daimler, Marriott, Delta, and other multinational corporations yielded to it. This does not augur well for the defense of liberal values in a world where China’s economic and political power, and its geographical reach, are only growing.
Did Mao Kill Most?
China’s Art of Containment
Geremie Barmé
US Education, Chinese Rules
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507570
|
__label__wiki
| 0.87373
| 0.87373
|
Briefing|Black Friday, Venezuela, Florence Henderson: Your Friday Briefing
https://nyti.ms/2gn5P7b
Black Friday, Venezuela, Florence Henderson: Your Friday Briefing
Shoppers at Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan during the Black Friday sales.Credit...Andrew Kelly/Reuters
By Sean Alfano
(Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.)
Here’s what you need to know:
• The next secretary of state.
The naming of the nation’s top diplomat isn’t expected before next week, but Republicans already appear divided over the top contenders for the job: Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, and Rudolph W. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor.
Mr. Romney’s previous criticism of President-elect Donald J. Trump and Mr. Giuliani’s foreign business dealings are viewed by rival factions as strikes against them. Gen. John Kelly of the Marines, and David H. Petraeus, the retired general and former C.I.A. director, have surfaced as alternative choices.
• Trump’s economic team.
The president-elect is expected to select the billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as commerce secretary, which would make him the latest major Republican donor to join the administration. Todd Ricketts, an owner of the Chicago Cubs, is likely to be chosen as the deputy secretary.
This week, Mr. Trump said he would name Betsy DeVos, another prominent donor and a proponent of giving families taxpayer money to attend private schools, as his education secretary.
• Green Party candidate pushes for recount.
Jill Stein’s campaign said on Thursday that it had enough financing to pay for a review of the election results in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, states that Mr. Trump narrowly won.
The effort was not intended to help Hillary Clinton, whose supporters have also called for a recount in those states, the campaign said.
• War on ISIS.
With a series of drone strikes, American and allied forces have killed some of the most important members of the Islamic State’s social media operations, a group the F.B.I. calls “the Legion.”
On Thursday, at least 80 people died in Iraq after an Islamic State suicide bomb attack targeting Shiite pilgrims. In Syria, the U.S. military suffered its first combat death in its fight there against the militant group.
• Fleeing Venezuela.
Venezuela was once one of Latin America’s richest countries because of its oil wealth, but its economic collapse has thousands of desperate residents streaming across the Amazon Basin to reach Brazil.
“We’re already seeing Venezuelan lawyers working as supermarket cashiers, Venezuelan women resorting to prostitution, indigenous Venezuelans begging at traffic intersections,” a Brazilian official said.
• Crisis in California.
The Salinas Valley is called the salad bowl of the nation. But the workers who pick the crops there are facing poverty and malnutrition.
“The people who grow our food can’t afford to eat it, and they are sicker because of it,” said an advocate for farmworkers.
• Black Friday is here. We’ll be reporting from malls around the country, collecting stories from shoppers.
And if your shopping will be done online, give our new holiday gift guide a look. It includes reviews for popular products to help you find good deals and avoid bad ones.
• With cannabis cultivation becoming a big business in states where it is legal, power companies are struggling to handle the intensive energy demands needed for the crop.
A utility in Washington State offers grants to marijuana makers to switch to more efficient LED grow lights, which can cost up to $1,600 each.
• How much is enough? That is the question of almost every inquiry into personal finances, our columnist writes.
Elizabeth Warren offered a bit of advice during her time as a professor: Spend 50 percent on needs, 30 percent on wants and 20 percent on savings.
• U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday; the markets were closed Thursday for Thanksgiving. Here’s a snapshot of global markets.
• In memoriam.
Florence Henderson, the actress known best as the mom on “The Brady Bunch,” died on Thursday. She was 82.
Once asked how she would like to be remembered, she said, “Probably as someone who survived for a long time in a very tough business and, hopefully, managed to retain a sense of humanity.”
• Sandy slopes.
Snowboarding can be difficult to practice if there’s no snow. Our latest 360 video looks at how teenagers in Peru make do with sand.
Peruvian teenagers dream of snowboarding. There’s only one problem: There’s no snow. Watch how they make do with sand instead.CreditCredit...Kassie Bracken/The New York Times. Technology by Samsung.
• At the movies.
Our movie critics parsed Hollywood’s latest offerings and chose five films worth seeing this weekend: “Moana,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Bad Santa 2,” “Arrival” and “Almost Christmas.”
• What to read.
Year-end lists are appearing. Here’s one compiling the 100 notable books of 2016. Our critics also offer suggestions on books to give as holiday gifts.
• Recipe of the day.
For something light, try this farro salad with tomatoes, arugula and pistachios.
More than a billion tons of food is wasted each year, according to a U.N. agency, and the United States is the among the biggest offenders.
The country wastes about 400 pounds of food per person, yet one in seven Americans goes hungry each day, according to one estimate.
Thanksgiving dinner being served in Scranton, Pa. The United States wastes about 400 pounds of food per person each year, yet thousands of Americans go hungry.Credit...Butch Comegys/The Times & Tribune, via Associated Press
But amid the gloomy news, a recent report by Harvard University outlined several innovative efforts taking place worldwide to minimize waste.
A pair of apps attack the problem in two ways. One in San Francisco locates places with unused food so that it can be driven to shelters and churches. Another serving the European Union alerts consumers to deals on items nearing their expiration dates.
Inhospitable climates can also contribute to food waste. A solar-powered refrigerator has been used to preserve food in a particularly hot region of India.
Sometimes it’s a matter of looks. Misshapen fruits and vegetables are often tossed. A company in Germany picks up “odd-looking” edibles and cooks them for catered events. Many French supermarkets offer discounts on “ugly” fruits and vegetables — sometimes as much as 30 percent.
The kitchen is also a focal point of a three-pronged program in Washington. Unemployed residents are trained to be chefs. Using unwanted food, they make meals for the homeless.
As for how we can reduce food waste at home, an expert offers a simple tip: Buy less and freeze more.
Kenneth R. Rosen contributed reporting.
Photographs may appear out of order for some readers. Viewing this version of the briefing should help.
Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated on the web all morning.
What would you like to see here? Contact us at briefing@nytimes.com.
You can sign up here to get the briefing delivered to your inbox.
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507571
|
__label__wiki
| 0.972795
| 0.972795
|
Tags: North Korea | icbm | hawaii | false alarm | crying wolf | nuclear weapons | missile
Report: Hawaii Nuke Alarmist Receiving Death Threats
Executive Director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Toby Clairmont says police are looking into death threats made against Saturday's accidental button pusher. (Jennifer Sinco Kelleher/AP)
By Cathy Burke | Tuesday, 16 January 2018 06:03 PM
The Hawaii state warning officer who accidentally sent a false alert about a missile attack last Saturday has reportedly been deluged with dozens of death threats.
Toby Clairmont, executive director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said police are investigating threats made against the man and his family, Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
The newspaper reported the button-pusher is one of 10 warning officers entrusted with alerting island residents and visitors of both natural and man-made threats against Hawaii.
"This person is distraught that they've received death threats," Clairmont told the Star-Advertiser. "This is hard. What can be worse than this? Running over a child in a crosswalk and you realize you did it? It's that kind of feeling. . . . This employee is not doing well. We need to help them, too."
The employee has not been disciplined and is cooperating with an ongoing investigation that will be included in a report to Gov. David Ige, D-Hawaii, and the state legislature by Friday, Clairmont told the newspaper.
He faces possible disciplinary action, he added.
According to the Star-Advertiser, four people were inside the state's emergency operations centers inside Diamond Head crater Saturday when the alert was sounded — including a supervisor who also was coming on duty during a shift change.
"It's not as easy saying it was one person doing this," Clairmont told the Star-Advertiser. "It would be very unjust to put our finger on one person. . . . There were at least four people in the room at the time, including a supervisor and three warning officers. That's what leads us to believe it's not as simple as people think. Maybe something was said in the room that was misinterpreted. Maybe there were too many people in the room."
But it was, finally, only one officer who "clicked the button," Clairmont said, describing him as "a very well-trained and seasoned employee."
"He's not someone we hired off the street," he told the outlet. "This was someone we could depend on. There had to be more to it."
Jim Carrey on Hawaii Nuke Alert: 'I Had 10 Minutes to Live'
Japan Issues False North Korean Missile Alert Days After Hawaii Blunder
Police are reportedly investigating dozens of death threats against the Hawaii state warning officer who accidentally sent a false alert about a missile attack last Saturday.
icbm, hawaii, false alarm, crying wolf, nuclear weapons, missile
Tuesday, 16 January 2018 06:03 PM
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507573
|
__label__wiki
| 0.590843
| 0.590843
|
Meeting the Swedish makers of a Ugandan-inspired film
Bobi Wine thrills fellow IUEA students
In Pictures:The Nile Gold Jazz and Soul Safari...
By Joseph Kizza
Added 7th October 2016 11:28 AM
I meet the directors who were inspired to make a film by a Ugandan cycling advocate, Amanda Ngabirano.
“Amanda is a force in itself worth capturing and we were all blown away by her energy, her passion, and how she wanted to include everyone in society.”
Cycologic is a short film that brings to life the efforts of Ugandan urban planning lecturer Amanda Ngabirano to transform Uganda into a more bicycle-friendly environment. New Vision's Joseph Kizza caught up with two of the three film directors in Kampala for a thought-provoking indepth interview about their lives, their aspirations and most importantly, their film.
Film title: Cycologic
Directors: Elsa Löwdin, Veronica Pålsson & Emilia Stålhammar
First screening in Uganda: At Bayimba International Festival (September 18, 2016)
To begin with, who is Elsa? Who is Veronica?
Elsa: Well, I am from Stockholm, Sweden. I am a person who has always been interested in discovering different cultures, which led to my traveling a lot since I graduated from High School. I have been living in Berlin [Germany] for two years because I had always wanted to try out what it is like to live in another country and I love the culture I found in Berlin. I grew up in quite a cultural home, I guess – with art and culture being constantly present, which I guess affected me a lot. I felt very creative but it was hard finding my niche. Actually I’ve always known that I wanted to work with film. Film has been my biggest passion – since I was 10. But I never really dared to try it out until I started this school – The Swedish Red Cross University College – one year ago. And that combined everything that I am interested in. I mean, documentary film combines discovering society and meeting new people and trying to capture a story using a camera. Every year, the school comes to Uganda for students to make their film projects.
Veronica: Well, I am quite a simple person [laughs]. We are actually similar, me and Elsa. I am not from Stockholm; I grew up in a small city in the north of Sweden called Umeå. I’ve always been very creative, I’ve always been doing art, music, dancing, photography. Like, I have always wanted to express myself creatively – I always needed it. And somehow, I’ve been hoping that I would find my way to actually work with it to make a living – being creative, that is. I’ve always been independent, and I’ve traveled a lot – just like Elsa. We are not different [laughs]. That’s why we are a good team. I’ve always been interested in languages and cultures from different parts of the world – all parts of the world. And also adventure and new experiences, so I love traveling, mostly by myself to really get connected to a new place and learn about it.
How long have you been in the filmmaking industry? Is your niche documentaries/short films or have you also ventured into feature filmmaking?
Elsa: Well, like I said, I knew since I was 10 I wanted to work with film and since I was 17 I knew I wanted to do documentary films. But I haven’t actually done anything with it; tried it out only one year ago when I was at school. So we are quite fresh when it comes to filmmaking.
Veronica: Yeah, we’re new in the business.
Elsa: We are super fresh. We’ve just made one short film.
So, according to you, why is a documentary important? What impact does it have on an audience, or generally speaking, the society? Why should documentaries be made?
Elsa: I think it is important. I think in general it is important to listen to each other and create understanding for each other, because how are we going to get along on this planet if we don’t understand each other and understand our differences and our similarities? So I really think it is important that we communicate and you can do that in many different forms and one of those is documentaries, where it’s very direct – you see it and you hear it and you feel it. Like, it’s a very direct form of media.
Veronica: We try to make documentaries that we connect to. That are not only just informative but also more emotional. I think that’s super important. One of the most important things I could do is to help people connect and understand each other.
Elsa: And I think it’s powerful how much you can access someone’s understanding by film. Personally why I like documentary is how available or accessible it is: you just need a camera and a microphone and the story. Instead of doing, for example, a fiction movie which commands so much work, and so many people need to be involved. I also like how wide the documentary genre is. It’s just up to me, especially considering that I love to experiment.
I believe that sometimes, filmmakers try to reveal certain aspects of themselves or personal experiences through their work. Is it the same with you? Would you say that of ‘Cycologic’?
Veronica: I don’t feel that I need to reflect my thoughts and feelings on others. For me it’s more important to be like the portal between something, to help two different groups to communicate. I’m just the media, I’m just like the one capturing this process and sharing it. I don’t really feel like I am out there to change the world by preaching what I believe in. I just want to be that portal.
Speaking of Cycologic, why Amanda? Why Africa? Why Uganda? Why, of all things, bicycles? And, why that film title? In a previous interview, you said you stumbled across an article by Amanda. How did that inspire you?
Veronica: Well, we knew we were coming to Uganda. We knew that even when we started our program – we would spend two months in Uganda, any city, and we would make a documentary. That’s what we knew. So we were bundled together: me, Elsa and Emilia as a team. So we started like thinking ‘what kind of movie do we want to make?’ And we quickly agreed that we wanted to make a film that (…) is inspiring and that’s not about an issue, not about a problem, not about diseases or starvation. We simply wanted something inspiring. That was our starting point.
Elsa: I mean, in general we think, we often miss in media circumstances a wider perspective or documentation of many countries from Africa. Yet it’s pretty much the same things we face too – like starvation, poverty, etc. Of course, those things exist too . . .
Veronica: . . . it’s very important for them to be covered too but we just felt that there’s a shortage of the positive stories.
Elsa: There’s so much more than that [the negative aspects often reported about Africa] and most of the time we don’t see that in Sweden or other European countries in general. So we wanted to capture the positive in our documentary.
Veronica: Also, the second thing we agreed on is, we found that generally women are under-represented in the media and in story-telling. So we were really determined that we wanted a female character. We wanted to be connected to a female perspective. Not just because the character is a woman but because she is a member of the society, like anyone else. Well yeah, that’s how we started. We had a lot of ideas.
Elsa: On why we chose to focus on cycling, we talked to many people to try and get a general idea, and we heard something about bicycles being made out of bamboo and immediately thought ‘Oh, this could be something!’. So when we Googled about bicycles, we came across an article by Amanda and thought there’s something special about this lady. So I guess it started off more like an interest about who Amanda is and what she wants to do in her society and what she is doing. So when we arrived in Uganda we had already a few ideas on what we could do but we just hadn’t settled for any. In fact, we had an appointment with Amanda and as soon as we met her, we knew – even without talking to each other – while talking to her in her office what we were going to do. First of all, Amanda is a force in itself worth capturing and we were all blown away by her energy, her passion, and how she wanted to include everyone in society and how she thinks of every kind of aspect, how she lives as she learns, which in my opinion every true leader should do. One of the things that she said that intrigued us was that females here don’t ride bicycles because they want to look nice and they want to carry their handbag, wear their high-heel shoes and dresses, and that’s why they think that they can’t ride a bicycle because it can’t provide for that. But Amanda says ‘Oh yeah you can!’ She brings her high-heels and handbag and skirt to the bicycle to show that you can. It works!
Veronica: Amanda (pictured above riding within Makerere University, where she is a lecturer) a living example of everything she’s trying to advocate for. She is so true to her goal. Society needs people like her.
Elsa: Hundreds of people like her. But they are quite rare.
Veronica: She’s very unique, in a way.
Elsa: And in every kind of society, there’s positive change being created thanks to such people as Amanda who work with passion for the betterment of their societies. And those are the people in the end that are most important for a society. Well, I mean, that’s what history taught us.
How did the physical environment here affect your drive to go ahead with your project?
Elsa: The first two weeks, I was the more skeptical. I would be like ‘I don’t want to cross this street, I can’t do this!’ But as soon as we understood the system, we were like it’s just a fine society. We also observed that people [controlling] traffic have so much respect for each other and understand each other. So as soon as we got back we were fine. But of course, we were filming in the most intense environment. We were standing in the middle of the roads in this heavy traffic while filming.
Veronica: We were sitting on a boda [facing] backwards, with one in the middle holding the one holding the camera. So yeah it was intense and I think we thought many times like ‘what are we doing?’ [laughs]. But the story kept us going. There’s something about Amanda – her character, her power, is an inspiration. And also something that attracted me to the question of bicycles was that it’s something simple, very original. It’s a very small question in society but through this interest she had, she managed to connect bicycles and cycling to so many things. At first we were just interested in her and her story then we realized that there’re all these things. So it just became bigger and bigger and we learnt more things.
Elsa: It combines health, feminism, social justice, lifestyle, environment . . .
Veronica: . . . and also an identity for East Africa, like people’s struggles. That’s also connected to why we chose the name ‘Cycologic’, because people don’t believe it [having cycling lanes]. They don’t see it, they don’t believe it’s ever going to happen: bicycle lanes. ‘It’s not for us, maybe it works in the Western countries’, they think. ‘Maybe in Europe, fine, but not here’. And that has been one of Amanda’s biggest struggles, to make people believe. We can have it [bicycle lanes] and it can be great and make our urban environment so much better. But people are like ‘we don’t see it’. So it’s all about the mindset and the mistrust to change. We did a lot of field work, we talked to people on the streets and also a lot of interviews to get opinions and everyone agrees that the traffic is terrible. Everyone agrees that it’s a huge problem but they don’t see a diversity of solutions. Most of them talked about flyovers, bigger roads, changing the whole city and when we talked about maybe changing what already exists, they didn’t see the picture. They didn’t believe in it.
So what does it take to change such attitudes? It’s one thing producing a potentially award-winning documentary that touches on a very critical issue (s) in a given society, and it’s another providing a solution to the said subject. Have you addressed this important hurdle with your film Cycologic? Are you offering ways of how the problem can be solved?
Elsa: For changing the mindset, I think it’s by showing an example. They need to see that it works before they can believe in it, because they haven’t seen it. So it’s difficult to imagine something that you haven’t seen or been a part of. But for the film, we think of it as one tool to use in this question. We can use the film as a start-up for like giving people the idea of what it could be about. Amanda and the film could work together to get out the message of the documentary and hopefully effect it . . .
Veronica: . . . yeah, because the film definitely doesn’t have all the answers. It’s more to create interest and awareness and stir some new thoughts. And when people see it, it can perhaps plant some seeds of change inside their minds.
With the inevitable question of funding, how did you manage to bring your docu-film to the screen? First, of course at the Malmo Festival in Sweden, then here in Uganda at the Bayimba Festival.
Veronica: Aside from our hard work, we had the support from the school. They helped us with the equipment, and such things like the trip over here was on us.
Elsa: We are very lucky to have the project in Sweden, because when you study you can get a loan from the government, so you don’t have to work while studying and using your own money. So we could do the project because of the loans we can take from studying. But still, we have to give it back [pay back the loan].
Veronica: It’s a low-budget project. Instead we spent a lot of time. When we came back, we spent two months doing research and recording and when we went back to Sweden, we started editing. The first weeks were a process of doing research. We were driven by ambition and passion.
And what about funding for, I believe, future film projects?
Veronica: Well, we know it’s a struggle, the film business. It’s a big deal and so in reality it’s hard to get funding. We will probably look to sponsors, foundations, companies, etc.
Elsa: Ever since we started, we’ve had people in the business telling us how hard it is, and you can only do it if you really, really love it. Otherwise you will not succeed. Although I find the constant comments that the film industry is a hard place to be very uninspiring. It’s a slap in the face. But we are determined and we are up for the challenge.
Veronica: Well, for Cycologic, the biggest part of our research was talking to people connected to traffic or cycling or somehow transport. So yeah we had a lot of interviews that’s not in the movie. It was for our full understanding of the dilemma. We also had a long interview with a man, presumably in his 70s, – Moses – who has been riding a bicycle since he was young. It turned out to be a great informative interview for us and the subject. Most of the people we talked to were sweet and intrigued by our kind of interest. They were surprised. When we would tell them what we were doing, they would be like [gestures with a look of awe].
In the African context and mostly in the urban areas, it’s rare to find a female riding a bicycle, especially an adult. That mode of transport is widely seen as for males. Do you see the bicycle as a tool that can break such stereotypes? Can a bicycle be an agent of social change?
Veronica: Well, it’s a part of this movement of changing existing stereotypes, changing the mindset, pushing the discussion in this context. So I think it could be part of it. That’s what we wanted. That was our goal – to have this inspiring woman [Amanda] doing something against the norms. It crashes the stereotypes and that’s what she is doing. She is doing it every day, all the time, everywhere. And we just decided to capture this because we found this to be something valuable for more people to see. So we wish the bicycle to be part of this change. That’s our ambition. It would be wonderful if it did.
We live in a generation where women are becoming emancipated. Do you feel there’s any link between a woman, a bicycle and development?
Veronica: I definitely think there is a connection. And I think when you talk about independence, I think that’s the key word to what something as simple as a bicycle could do for women in a society. Like the situation is now, women are being emancipated more and more. They are becoming more liberated but still in many households, when there’s a car, the car belongs to the man and not the woman. Yet in most cases it is the woman who does the errands – drops and picks the kids from school, shopping, everything. And in many cases she doesn’t have her own vehicle to get from point A to B. And so that’s one of the gaps for which the bicycle could be the starting point for compensating this gulf for the women in order to create a better sense of independence for them. It should also create confidence among women in a way that they don’t have to be dependent on a man all the time. The bicycle is so simple but it can be key in filling that gap.
Elsa: And also just how society looks at women, that women have to be protected and a girl should just be a girl and not be allowed to get dirty and adventurous, and if we are stuck in those ideas of how a woman should behave, we will never develop and crash the existing norms. You have to start somewhere and a female on a bicycle could improve many of those things that in many countries are thought of as stuff a woman should not do – like be on her own, have her own way of movement, etc. So if we have more women on the bike, then the quicker we can do away with the social imbalances in society.
Veronica: It’s about women doing something by choice and not because there is no other option. Like Amanda (pictured below), she could be driving her car, but she chooses to ride her bicycle because she wants to.
So how did it go at the Malmo Festival (Sweden) on its first release?
Elsa: Malmo was great, actually. There was a big turnout, more than we had expected. Afterwards, we talked about it, our own thoughts, about making the film. There was also a Q&A [question and answer session], and there were a lot of questions. People were very much interested! To me, it’s a big deal showing Cycologic here in Kampala, and in fact it’s the most nervous part of doing it. You see, we came here and tried to capture a city we knew very little about and so we didn’t really know what the locals would think about it. And that’s the scariest part. We don’t want to inadvertently insult anyone. Generally, it’s hard to say what people are going to say about it here. Hopefully, we can contribute to the change of people’s mindsets here. We want to get the movie out there in many different ways – on TV, etc.
(I show them this picture below, brief them what it was all about . . .)
Mid last year, KCCA started marking off bicycle and bus lanes, but the project didn’t go far. In the wake of your film, what’s your message to local authorities and the public at large?
Elsa: When I see this picture, it makes me think that it’s important to work with what you have, and what you have now is such a mess. So a lane like that painted on the road won’t make a difference. You have to start with, uhm, ‘how do we organize this in a sustainable way?’ And Amanda’s idea of the project is one way, because you make something new you haven’t tried before. There is a vision that this could work, and we don’t know if doesn’t until we try it out.
Veronica: Like for real, by the way. Not just something like painting a line on the road. You just can’t paint a bicycle lane; you have to think about the cars, the bodas. You have to like put all the pieces together for it to work. It’s all here [points to the head, denoting mindset] and it’s a mess. They need to find proper structures for all these groups [of road users].
Elsa: Another message to the authorities is to learn from the mistakes that Europe has done. Because we have the impression that in general there is a wish to try to create the same kind of environment that exists in the Western world – which is very understandable – but the situation in general when it comes to environment that we have in Europe doesn’t work. So learn from the mistakes that we made in Europe of building too many highways and flyovers and bringing too many cars. To learn from that, you need to think in a new way. Uganda is unique, so you don’t have to become like a country that already exists. Do what is suitable for Uganda.
Veronica: Like we’ve said, it’s hard to reach authorities. It’s hard to reach the politicians to change whatever you are striving to do because it’s so integrated, it’s so complicated . And everyone is thinking about themselves. But one way to do it is to start at the grassroots level. Go in the people’s minds, especially the ones being affected by this, the ones living in the society. Start planting the idea in their heads and eventually, maybe it becomes a movement and then a general opinion. Maybe some people will start to ask for more and eventually the politicians have to help them.
And at a time when climate change is a staple of global discussion, what are your thoughts on the role of man in, say, global warming, which is caused by for example emissions from vehicles etc? Is this the time the world should embrace more cycling? Also, with a large part of the global population becoming obese, could the bike be one of solutions?
Veronica: Oh yes, sure. Well, like Amanda keeps saying, people are already riding the bicycles. The cyclists are here and they need to be provided for. So just start with them – think about the environment, think about health and safety, think about the traffic, think about the society, think about the stereotypes. It’s all connected. It’s as simple as that. Cyclists are in danger all the time on the road, as are pedestrians.
Elsa: No one should be forced to jump on a bike. But provide for those who are already doing it. That’s all I am asking for. And that’s what Amanda is advocating for: everyone should be included – regardless of sex, age, status, economic level.
Where can one access the film?
Veronica: Well, for now we have done the screening first here in Kampala. Interestingly, it’s been shown all over Europe. It’s been really appreciated in Europe and our goal now is to spread it here [in Uganda] and that’s why it was very important for us to come back here and it be organically part of it. And for the public, feel free to reach to us. You could probably feel that ‘well yeah, it should be shown here’, so feel free to let us know. We want to show this film, we want everyone to see it. But it’s not yet online. We have a Facebook page: CYCOLOGIC, where we post the different screenings of the film and related information.
And, feel free to reach out to us via email in case of anything related to the film:
elsalowdin@gmail.com
veronica.palsson@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: @cycologicdocumentary
ALSO RELATED TO THIS ARTICLE
Amanda Ngabirano: the Ugandan who inspired Swedish filmmakers
Cycologic,
Swedish film industry,
Amanda Ngabirano
Reflections on Ugandan who inspired ‘Cycologic’
Amanda Ngabirano: the Ugandan who inspired Swedish filmmakers...
After quitting FDC, Muntu unveils next move
How Uganda's 56th independence fete unfolded
MP Zaake's bitter-sweet homecoming
In pictures: Morning rain batters Kampala
Uganda's best teachers of 2018 honoured
Patrick Kaddu goal sends Uganda to AFCON 2019 finals
IMF trims global growth estimates
|
cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1507574
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.