The Taliban entered Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, following a week of rapid territorial gains from retreating government forces battling to hold off the Islamist militant group. President Ashraf Ghani has fled the war-torn country.
Afghanistan being rugged and mountainous, ethnically heterogeneous, and poorly developed; foreign powers are now intervening on both sides of the conflict. Its leadership was demoralized by the unseemly haste of the US troops’ withdrawal.
Let us learn some key facts about the Taliban’s history and ideology.
Who are the Taliban?
The Taliban (literally meaning “students”) or Taleban, who refer to themselves as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) are a Sunni Islamic fundamentalist political movement and military organization in Afghanistan currently waging war (an insurgency, or jihad) within that country.
A history of the Taliban
- The Taliban emerged in 1994 around the southern Afghan city of Kandahar.
- It was one of the factions fighting a civil war for control of the country following the withdrawal of the Soviet Union and subsequent collapse of the government.
- It originally drew members from so-called “mujahideen” fighters who, with support from the United States, repelled Soviet forces in the 1980s.
- About 90,000 Afghans, including several bountied terrorists, were trained by Pakistan’s ISI during the 1980s.
- Hence it can be concluded that the Taliban have arisen from those US-Saudi-Pakistan-supported Mujahedeen: The West helped the Taliban to fight the Soviet takeover of Afghanistan.
What is its ideology?
At the core of its diplomacy lies the untenable violent extremism based on radical religious ideology.
- During its five years in power, the Taliban enforced a strict version of Sharia law.
- Women were predominantly barred from working or studying, and were confined to their homes unless accompanied by a male guardian.
- Public executions and floggings were common, Western films and books were banned, and cultural artifacts seen as blasphemous under Islam were destroyed.
International recognition of the Taliban
- Only four countries, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Russia and Saudi Arabia, recognized the Taliban government when it was in power.
- The vast majority of other countries, along with the United Nations, instead recognized a group holding provinces to the north of Kabul as the rightful government-in-waiting.
- The United States and the United Nations imposed sanctions on the Taliban, and most countries show little sign it will recognize the group diplomatically.
- Other countries such as China have begun cautiously signaling they may recognize the Taliban as a legitimate regime.
- The United States invasion of Afghanistan occurred after the September 11 attacks in late 2001 and was supported by close US allies.
- Its public aims were to dismantle al-Qaeda and deny it a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by removing the Taliban from power.
- US President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden and expel al-Qaeda; bin Laden had already been wanted by the FBI since 1998.
- The Taliban declined to extradite him unless given what they deemed convincing evidence of his involvement in the 9/11 attacks and ignored demands to shut down terrorist bases and hand over other terrorist suspects apart from bin Laden.
- The US demand was dismissed by the Taliban with meaningless delaying tactics. Disgusted with it, the US launched Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001.
Afghan Peace Process
- The Afghan peace process comprises the proposals and negotiations in a bid to end the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
- This ‘US-Taliban deal signed in February 2020 was seen in India as a “victory for Taliban and Pakistan”.
- Besides the US, major powers such as China, India, Russia, as well as NATO play a part that they see as facilitating the peace process.
- The peace process has not made much headway mainly because violence by the Taliban continues unabated.
- The Taliban now view this as an important milestone and is busy trying to establish their military superiority on the ground.
Why did the US quit?
- Huge cost: The Afghan war is estimated to have cost $2-trillion, with more than 3,500 American and coalition soldiers killed. Afghanistan lost hundreds of thousands of people, both civilians and soldiers.
- Failure in curbing insurgency: After all these, the Taliban is at its strongest moment since the U.S. launched the war. The insurgents’ control or contest the government control in half of the country, mainly in its hinterlands.
- Face saving: The US better recognized its defeat and considered not to sacrifice more American soldiers and inflict more suffering on the Afghan people.
- Global recognition to Taliban: Taliban is now more organized as an organization with diplomats on par with modern democratic nations with state apparatus propaganda.
What are the implications of the deal for India?
- India has been backing the Ghani-led government and was among very few countries to congratulate Ghani on his victory.
- There has not been formal contact with top Taliban leaders, the Indian mission has a fair amount of access to the Pashtun community throughout Afghanistan through community development projects of about $3 billion.
- Due to so, although the Pakistan military and its ally Taliban have become dominant players in Kabul’s power circles, South Block insiders insist that it is not all that grim for New Delhi.
- These high-impact projects, diplomats feel India has gained goodwill among ordinary Afghans, the majority of whom are Pashtuns and some may be aligned with the Taliban as well.
What are India’s key investments in Afghanistan?
India’s contribution has been phenomenal in every area in Afghanistan since India built the Afghan Parliament. India has been a major military and developmental assistance partner for Afghanistan. Let us have a look at various projects India has built across Afghanistan.
A soft corner
- Afghanistan is vital to India’s strategic interests in the region.
- It is also perhaps the only SAARC nation whose people have much affection for India.
- Taliban takeover would mean a reversal of nearly 20 years of rebuilding a relationship that goes back centuries.
Projects across the country
(1) Salma Dam:
- It is one of India’s high-visibility projects is located — the 42MW Salma Dam in Herat province.
(2) Zaranj-Delaram Highway:
- The other high-profile project was the 218-km Zaranj-Delaram highway built by the Border Roads Organisation.
- India had transported 75,000 tonnes of wheat through Chabahar to Afghanistan during the pandemic.
(3) Parliament building:
- The Afghan Parliament in Kabul was built by India at $90 million. It was opened in 2015.
(4) Stor Palace:
- It is the restored Stor Palace in Kabul, originally built in the late 19th century, and which was the setting for the 1919 Rawalpindi Agreement by which Afghanistan became an independent country.
(5) Power Infrastructure:
- Other Indian projects in Afghanistan include the rebuilding of power infrastructure such as the 220kV DC transmission line from Pul-e-Khumri, to the north of Kabul.
(6) Health Infrastructure:
- India has reconstructed a children’s hospital it had helped build in Kabul in 1972 —named Indira Gandhi Institute for Child Health in 1985 — that was in shambles after the war.
- ‘Indian Medical Missions’ have held free consultation camps in several areas. Thousands who lost their limbs after stepping on mines left over from the war have been fitted with the Jaipur Foot.
- India gifted 400 buses and 200 mini-buses for urban transportation, 105 utility vehicles for municipalities, 285 military vehicles for the Afghan National Army, and 10 ambulances for public hospitals in five cities.
- It also gave three Air India aircraft to Ariana, the Afghan national carrier, when it was restarting operations.
(8) Ongoing Projects:
- Shatoot Dam: India had concluded with Afghanistan an agreement for the construction of the Shatoot Dam in Kabul district, which would provide safe drinking water to 2 million residents.
- The India-Afghanistan trade has grown with the establishment of an air freight corridor in 2017.
- In 2019-20, bilateral trade crossed $1.3 billion. The balance of trade is heavily tilted — exports from India are worth approximately $900 million, while Afghanistan’s exports to India are about $500 million.
- Afghan exports are mainly fresh and dried fruit.
- Exports include pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, computers and related materials, cement, and sugar.
- Trade through Chabahar started in 2017 but is restricted by the absence of connectivity from the port to the Afghan border.
India and the Taliban
- A Qatari official revealed that there was a “quiet visit by Indian officials to speak with the Taliban”.
- India wants to play a positive role and sabotage those countries that support other terror groups in Afghan.
- India is pressing on a peace process all around Afghanistan so that all countries shall be peaceful.
Why Taliban’s control over Afghanistan is a matter of concern for India and the world?
(1) Border issues and export of terrorism:
- The Taliban is occupying the border areas with other countries instead of central Afghanistan and have taken control of the districts bordering Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
- The Taliban is only 400 km away from the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The Taliban have captured the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, which borders PoK.
- If Taliban establish their government by capturing all the districts of Afghanistan, then they will be able to easily send their terrorists to Jammu and Kashmir and help Pakistan.
(2) China factor:
- Apart from Pakistan, China can also become a challenge for India. That is because while Pakistan has influence over the Taliban, China is currently the biggest investor for Afghanistan.
- At present, there are big Chinese projects going on in Afghanistan and the Taliban knows that if it wants to keep its position strong then it will need Chinese money the most.
(3) Violence and loss of lives:
- India is concerned over the violence and loss of lives in Afghanistan. Violence has increased manifold after peace talks have started.
- It supports zero tolerance against violence.
(5) India’s investments are at stake:
- India, which has committed $3 billion in development aid and reconstruction activities, backs the Ashraf Ghani government in the war-torn country.
- New Delhi wants an all-inclusive “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled” peace process—not one that is remote-controlled by Pakistan, seen as the backers of the Taliban.
(7) Neighborhood first:
- Afghanistan is a part of India’s extended neighborhood and a link to Central Asia.
(8) Pakistan controlling Afghan policy on India:
- Taliban’s extremist ideology leans heavily towards Pakistan’s official foreign policy towards India. A Taliban-controlled government in Kabul would mean Pakistan controlling Afghan policy on India.
Reasons for Taliban’s success in Afghanistan:
1. Lack of national sentiment in the Afghan army:
- The Afghan national army could never exist. The United States spent billions of dollars on their build-up and salaries, but there were several allegations of corruption in reaching out to those salaries soldiers.
- Many soldiers did not exist – they were only on paper and their salaries were being eaten by the officer.
- Many soldiers from various gangs lacked national spirit. So they started running away as soon as they saw the enemy.
2. The Taliban have a close understanding of local geography:
- The Afghan army had sophisticated weapons and aircraft, but it was difficult to maintain them. Also, the Taliban tracked down and killed their pilots.
- The American weapons of Afghan soldiers who had fled the war were easily available to those who fought for the Taliban. The Taliban already had weapons from the Soviet invasion.
- The Taliban had a close knowledge of local geography. There was also the help of many locals. Therefore, even though the weapons were slightly less, the deficiency was filled with this information.
3. Taliban gets revenue from drug trafficking:
- The Taliban generates huge revenue from drug trafficking. They closed each border and tightened the financial pulses of the government in Kabul.
4. Government fails to instill confidence in soldiers to fight:
- Although the United States had formed a democratic government in Afghanistan, the local people had a similar image of the Western rule. Therefore, the army and the people also did not trust the government.
- When the Taliban troops arrived to Kabul, it was President Ashraf Ghani who stepped out.
- Therefore, the national army was in a state of disrepair. The government failed to instill confidence in the soldiers to fight.
5. Efficient propaganda and intelligence:
- The Taliban are a revolutionary movement, deeply opposed to the Afghan tribal system and focused on the rebuilding of the Islamic Emirate.
- Their propaganda and intelligence are efficient, and the local autonomy of their commanders in the field allows them both flexibility and cohesion.
6. Use of local sentiments:
- They have made clever use of ethnic tensions, the rejection of foreign forces by the Afghan people, and the lack of local administration to gain support in the population.
- Doing so, they have achieved their objectives isolating the local Afghan administration, and establishing a parallel administration.
Pakistan’s affinity with the Taliban
- The Pakistani security and political establishment is now savoring the Taliban victory.
- While this is not possible to verify, Pakistan’s has undeniable in providing the Taliban shelter on its territory.
- The safe havens had existed from virtually the start of the US “war on terror” in 2001.
- The US was aware of this, but because its need for Pakistan as a logistics back end for the war in Afghanistan was greater.
- Concerns: An immediate fallout would be an influx of refugees, which would be a drain on Pakistan’s slender resources.
Taliban as a proxy
Over the last three decades, Pakistan has viewed the Taliban as serving a two-fold purpose:
- First, a Taliban regime in Kabul and its umbilical connection with Pakistan would ensure the Pakistan military a free pass over Afghanistan, territory that it has coveted for “strategic depth” in its enmity with India.
- Second, ensuring Pakistan agency over Afghan routes into Central Asia.
Why China is supporting the Taliban?
- Security of CPEC projects in Pakistan is the prime Chinese concern.
- China today commands an economy worth $14.7 trillion — more than 17 times its size in 1996 — and a massive trade-and-infrastructure initiative that stretches across the Eurasian landmass.
- Beijing’s fears about Islamist extremism among its own Uyghur minority have also deepened in recent years, leading it to build a vast police state adjacent to Afghanistan.
What next for India
- As India considers its options, it is fairly certain that while India will lose influence in Afghanistan, the India-Pakistan relationship will acquire one more layer of difficulty due to the Taliban comeback.
- Like all radical groups, the Taliban will have trouble balancing its religious ideology with the imperatives of state interests.
- India would want to carefully watch how this tension plays out. Equally important is the nature of the relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan.
- India must fully prepare for a renewal of cross-border terror, but there is a lot less global acceptance of terrorism today than in the permissive 1990s.
- In the short-term, the Afghan people—especially women—must be spared violence and brutality arising from the Taliban regime’s assumption of power.
- Over the longer term, they must be allowed to live under the broad norms of the 21st century, assured of their safety, dignity and liberty.
- Taliban have several sections that are both radical and some want talks with the international community.
- So international organizations like the UN must come forward to stop the sponsor of terrorism.
- Nations should come together against the Taliban so that it can’t move forward without any foreign aid.
- Aid and developmental cooperation through the UN, India, USA must be done simultaneously for the restoration of democracy.
- Tangible demonstration of commitment is required from all stakeholders for a political settlement and to have a permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan.


On December 15, 2020, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its decision regarding the conservation status of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), an important, yet extremely imperiled pollinator. The decision whether to list the butterfly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been anticipated since 2014 when the USFWS received a petition requesting the Monarch butterfly’s protection under the Act. Populations of western Monarchs have drastically declined by more than 99% since the 1980s. Eastern Monarchs follow closely behind at 80%. This reduction in population would be comparable to losing every living person in the U.S., minus those in Florida and Ohio. The USFWS announced that while listing the Monarch under the Endangered Species Act is “warranted,” it is “precluded by higher priority actions.” Officials at the USFWS believe there are other listing actions that take precedence at this time. The Monarch is now designated as a candidate species for listing, meaning its status will be annually reviewed until it is no longer a candidate. Candidate species have no statutory protection under the ESA. Currently, there are more than 160 species ahead of the Monarch waiting to be listed.
Causes for the Monarch’s population decline are attributed to large-scale threats such as climate change and the reduction of their sole host plant: milkweed (Asclepias). Monarchs are temperature-sensitive species. Changes in climate can affect migration, reproduction, and wintering habitats. Unpredicted flowering seasons limit their ability to complete their migration. Increased use of pesticides, mowing, and wildfires are all responsible for the decline in milkweed. Milkweed is the only source of food for larval Monarchs. Without it, caterpillars are unable to metamorphose into butterflies.
If the Monarch still warrants federal protection by 2024, the agency will propose to list it. Being listed on the ESA would require the government to produce and finance a nationwide recovery plan that would help to restore long-term, healthy populations. It would make it illegal to intentionally kill these insects or modify their habitat without a permit. Federal activities that could harm critical habitat and survival, such as construction and registration of pesticides, would become heavily scrutinized.
In the interim, more than 30 non-federal companies and agencies that manage lands used for electric power generation, transmission and distribution (including solar), oil and gas transportation, and transportation (including roads and railways) have committed to participate in a nationwide Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for Monarch Butterflies. A CCAA is a formal agreement between the USFWS and one or more additional parties. The goal of the agreement is to manage conservation needs of at-risk species before they become listed. This specific agreement is aimed towards influencing voluntary conservation on energy and transportation rights-of-way that will result in a net benefit to Monarchs. The agreement aims to enroll up to 26 million acres of lands contributing to more than 300 million stems of milkweed and 2.3 million acres of Monarch foraging habitat.
In the event the Monarch butterfly becomes listed, CCAA participants won’t need to comply with additional land, water, and resource use limitations or conservation measures on non-federal lands beyond those outlined in the agreement. The agreement contains measures established to minimize or diminish key threats to the Monarch butterflies caused by ongoing operations, maintenance, and modernization activities on rights-of-way. Periodic grading and vegetation clearing, structural maintenance and repairs, and replacement or modification of above- and below-ground infrastructure are all examples of activities that may pose a threat to Monarchs.
CCAA participants will identify lands they wish to enroll in the program. They will then adopt and implement conservation measures to create and maintain a proportion of their enrolled lands as Monarch habitat each year. The Monarch habitat will be monitored and reported on throughout the duration of the agreement (25 years). The participants will create, enhance, and maintain habitat for the butterflies.
Examples of measures include:
- adjusting the timing of mowing and other vegetation management practices;
- modifying and minimizing herbicide use to promote the growth of milkweed;
- using local seed mixes containing diverse native wildflowers;
- reducing grazing in Monarch habitat during peak breeding and migration periods;
- removing dense woody plants and invasive species to promote grassland habitats; and
- monitoring the quantity and quality of Monarch habitat.
Eligible lands include:
- electric utility rights-of-way such as those for transmission and distribution power lines;
- substation parcels;
- electric generation sites;
- oil and gas rights-of-way;
- transportation rights-of-way such as access-controlled highways, highways, county and local roadways, railroad rights-of-way; and
- transportation parcels.
Additional eligible applicants may be enrolled in the CCAA at any time before an effective date of a final rule listing the Monarch as threatened or endangered under the ESA is determined. Specific information can be found at Monarch CCAA Webinars and Case Studies – Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group (uic.edu).
As described above, CCAAs can be useful tools that ensure conservation of imperiled species while also providing assurances to industry that their projects can be implemented. CEC consultants are experts at developing and implementing CCAAs. We understand how to identify species conservation needs while overlaying the potential impacts from a large variety of actions. In this manner, we can help our clients make important project permitting decisions while navigating a wide variety of ESA compliance options.


Trauma ~ PTSD Recovery
Trauma can be a single event or frequently is a series of traumatic events that are repeated over time, causing an individual to become overwhelmed with painful and frightening emotions.
Trauma survivors may have experienced childhood trauma in the form of an abusive parent or loved one. This type of abusive trauma may take the form of demanding, demeaning verbal attacks or physical or sexual abuse.
No matter what the type of childhood trauma, the negative impact on survivors is deep and lasting. Just as two people may not experience an event in the same way, no two people react to a stressful, traumatic event in the same way. While one person may find the ability to cope with a traumatic event, another may be unable to deal with the traumatic experiences.
What are the Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
When a person is unable to deal with traumatic events, he or she will often feel isolated and struggle with ever-present feelings of worry, fear and worthlessness. Trauma sufferers often have difficulty in relationships and in dealing with emotional challenges, as well as low self-esteem due to the traumatic experiences.
Trauma victims are haunted by memories that feel completely real and can cause the survivors to become silent sufferers who believe that their lives are destined to repeat past events. Experiences in a person’s life can trigger recurring experiences of the original trauma, which makes healing from the original trauma an extremely important goal. It is also common for trauma survivors to have issues with drug addiction, alcohol addiction or and eating disorders as they attempt to cope with the original issues and associated painful feelings.


- William C. Evans
This applet shows the solutions for the angles and speeds of two objects after an offset elastic collision. The lighter circle represents an initially-stationary object, of mass m2, while the darker circle is the moving object, with speed v1 and mass m1. The motion is from left to right horizontally. The grey dashed vector represents v1. The collision is controlled by the "impact parameter" b, which is the vertical distance between the circles' centers. The radii of the circles can be adjusted, independently of the masses. The "impact parameter ratio" is b/(r1+r2). The relation between r1, r2, and b will set up the geometry of the collision, while m1, m2, and v1 control the momenta and kinetic energy. The vectors represent the after-collision velocities. Their angles are measured from the horizontal, positive counterclockwise, as usual. Clicking and dragging the plot area will allow the image to be centered, as needed. The implementation has been tested, but of course not exhaustively, since so many parameter combinations are possible. (Please contact the author of this applet if any incorrect results are noted; send the exact setup, so the problem can be reproduced.) Setting b=0 will produce the usual 1D collision cases. Having the circles with the same radii is a good idea, since the circle size might easily be confused with its mass. Note that if the impact parameter ratio is greater than unity, the moving object disappears; this is a way of showing that there was no collision. The mathematics implemented in this applet was taken from a PDF (attached) found with a Google search. The author is Dr. J. B. Tatum, and this material can be found at www.astro.uvic.ca/~tatum, under "Classical Mechanics" Chapter 5. Some additional material was found in a paper by C.E. Mungan and T.C. Lipscombe, "Oblique elastic collisions of two smooth round objects", in Eur. J. Phys. 39 (2018).


This resolution sought to allow Iraq to make limited oil sales; however, strict financial conditions were applied. Predictably, Iraq denounced the resolution.
Competing Aims, Interests, and Strategies
The origins of the Iraqi threat to the stability of the Middle East region greatly predated the appearance of Saddam Hussein as Iraqi leader or the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. With the fall of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, European nations gained political control of the countries of the Middle East region. Britain gained control of Iraq, what is now Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. At the end of the Second World War, when independence from colonial occupying nations came into vogue, Britain arbitrarily and without historical justification carved the state of Kuwait out of Iraq before relinquishing political control over the area. The British wanted to divide the oil reserves to prevent an Arab leader from gaining too great a control over the resource, and they wanted a leader, which they found in Kuwait, who would assure continued and uninterrupted western access to the resource. Ever since that time, Iraq, regardless of who its leader was, has endorsed a policy of incorporating Kuwait into Iraq.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Ba'ath Party, of which Saddam Hussein is a member, gained political control in several Arab states. The Ba'athist leaders in the several countries soon has a falling out, and bitter rivalries developed. One of the bitterest of these rivalries is that between Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Hafez al-Assad, the leader of Syria. This rivalry was the basis for Syria's joining of the Allied coalition against Iraq in the Gulf War. A concern for the fate of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia had nothing to do with Syria's action.
In the 1940s, the state of Israel was created out of a part of Palestine through the actions of the major western countries and the Soviet Union. The Arab states bitterly opposed this ...
Evolution of the Problem in Iraq and the United Nations. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 09:29, July 27, 2016, from http://www.collegetermpapers.com/viewpaper/1303516616.html


According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ozone season in the Dallas/Fort
Worth area begins May and goes through October. What is ozone and what can be done to reduce ozone pollution? Ozone is a gas that occurs in the Earth’s upper atmosphere and at ground level. It can be good or bad, depending on where it is found. For current Ozone Activity visit www.nctcog.org
Reduce the “bad ozone” or ozone-forming emissions by:
For more information about Air North Texas' Go Green Breathe Clean, a campaign for clean air, visit www.airnorthtexas.org
Where do the pollutants that form ozone come from?
Pollutants that contribute to ground-level ozone formation come from many different types of sources. As you learned, these pollutants are NOxand VOCs. The figure below shows the sources of these pollutants, which include point and area sources such as electrical generation plants, non-road engines such as lawnmowers and airplanes, on-road vehicles including cars and trucks, and miscellaneous sources such as trees and fires. In the DFW region pollution from cars and trucks, or on-road vehicles, contribute approximately 45 percent of the NOxpollution that leads to ozone formation.
Why do we care about the ozone?
The EPA sets federal standards for air pollutants according to health-based criteria. When levels are near or above the National Ambient Air Quality Standards an Ozone Watch or Warning is issued. The EPA has established levels at which ozone is unhealthy for humans. Ozone irritates the lining of the lungs, can aggravate respiratory conditions, and can make breathing more difficult for some people such as young children, seniors, asthma sufferers and those with respiratory diseases.The Watch and Warning system using the Air Quality Index (AQI) colors, was developed to notify citizens that ozone concentrations are close to exceeding or do exceed healthy levels of ozone and that outside activities might be unhealthy for sensitive groups. For most of the population, exposure for long periods of time to higher ozone levels indicated by the color purple on the AQI are unhealthy.
For more information about climate change and transportation, click here


“After breaking the loaves, [Jesus] distributed them to the disciples, the disciples in turn to the crowds.”
1-3. Describe how Jesus fed a large crowd in the vicinity of Bethsaida. (See opening image.)
IMAGINE the scene. (Read Matthew 14:14-21.) It is just before the Passover of 32 C.E. A crowd of some 5,000 men, besides women and young children, are with Jesus and his disciples at a deserted place in the vicinity of Bethsaida, a village on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.
2 Upon seeing the crowd, Jesus is moved with pity for the people, so he heals the sick among them and teaches them many things about God’s Kingdom. When it gets late, the disciples urge Jesus to dismiss the people so that they might go to nearby villages and buy some food for themselves. But Jesus tells his disciples: “You give them something to eat.” His words must seem puzzling to them, for the provisions at hand are meager at best
3 Moved by compassion, Jesus performs a miracle
4. (a) Jesus was even more concerned about providing what kind of food, and why? (b) What will we discuss in this study article and in the next one?
John 6:26, 27; 17:3) Moved by the same compassion that impelled him to feed bread and fish to the crowds, Jesus spent many hours personally teaching his followers. (Mark 6:34) But he was aware that his time on earth would be short and that he would return to heaven. (Matt. 16:21; John 14:12) How would the heavenly Jesus keep his followers on earth well-fed spiritually? He would follow a similar pattern
JESUS CHOOSES THE FEW
5, 6. (a) What weighty decision did Jesus make in order to ensure that his followers would be well-fed spiritually after his death? (b) How did Jesus prepare his apostles for taking on a key role after his death?
5 A responsible family head makes arrangements so that his family will be cared for in the event of his death. Similarly, Jesus
6 After praying all night, Jesus gathered his disciples and from among them chose 12 apostles. (Luke 6:12-16) For the next two years, he was especially close to the 12, teaching them both by word and by example. He knew that they had much to learn; in fact, they continued to be called “disciples.” (Matt. 11:1; 20:17) He gave them valuable personal counsel and extensive training in the ministry. (Matt. 10:1-42; 20:20-23; Luke 8:1; 9:52-55) He was evidently preparing them for a key role after his death and return to heaven.
7. How did Jesus provide a clue about what would be the primary concern of the apostles?
7 What would be the role of the apostles? As Pentecost 33 C.E. drew near, it was clear that the apostles would serve in an “office of oversight.” (Acts 1:20) What, though, would be their primary concern? Following his resurrection, Jesus provided a clue in a conversation he had with the apostle Peter. (Read John 21:1, 2, 15-17.) In the presence of some of the other apostles, Jesus told Peter: “Feed my little sheep.” Jesus thereby indicated that his apostles would be among the few through whom he would provide spiritual food to the many. What a touching and telling indication of how Jesus feels about his “little sheep”! *
FEEDING THE MANY FROM PENTECOST ONWARD
8. How did new believers at Pentecost show that they clearly recognized the channel that Christ was using?
8 Starting at Pentecost 33 C.E., the resurrected Christ used his apostles as the channel through which he fed the rest of his anointed disciples. (Read Acts 2:41, 42.) That channel was clearly recognized by the Jews and proselytes who became spirit-anointed Christians that day. Unhesitatingly, they “continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles.” According to one scholar, the Greek verb rendered “continued devoting themselves” can mean having “a steadfast and singleminded fidelity to a certain course of action.” The new believers had a deep hunger for spiritual food, and they knew exactly where to get it. With unwavering loyalty, they looked to the apostles to explain the words and deeds of Jesus and to shed fresh light on the meaning of the scriptures pertaining to him. *
9. How did the apostles show that they kept their responsibility to feed Jesus’ sheep clearly in focus?
9 The apostles kept their responsibility to feed Jesus’ sheep clearly in focus. For example, notice how they handled a sensitive and potentially divisive issue that arose in the newly formed congregation. Ironically, the matter involved food
10. How did Christ use the apostles and older men in Jerusalem?
10 By 49 C.E., the surviving apostles had been joined by certain other qualified elders. (Read Acts 15:1, 2.) “The apostles and older men in Jerusalem” served as a governing body. As the Head of the congregation, Christ used this small group of qualified men to settle doctrinal issues and to oversee and direct the preaching and teaching of the Kingdom good news.
11, 12. (a) What shows that Jehovah blessed the arrangement by means of which his Son fed the first-century congregations? (b) How was the channel that Christ used for spiritual feeding clearly recognizable?
11 Did Jehovah bless the arrangement by means of which his Son fed the first-century congregations? Most definitely! How can we be sure? The book of Acts gives us this report: “Now as they [the apostle Paul and his traveling companions] traveled on through the cities they would deliver to those there for observance the decrees that had been decided upon by the apostles and older men who were in Jerusalem. Therefore, indeed, the congregations continued to be made firm in the faith and to increase in number from day to day.” (Acts 16:4, 5) Notice that those congregations prospered as a result of their loyal cooperation with the governing body in Jerusalem. Is that not proof of Jehovah’s blessing on the arrangement by means of which his Son fed the congregations? Let us remember that spiritual prosperity is possible only with Jehovah’s rich blessing.
12 Thus far we have seen that Jesus followed a pattern when feeding his followers: He fed many through the hands of a few. The channel he used for spiritual feeding was clearly recognizable. After all, the apostles
WHEN THE WEEDS WERE MANY AND THE BLADES OF WHEAT FEW
13, 14. (a) What warning did Jesus give about an attack, and when did his words begin to come true? (b) From what two quarters would the attack come? (See endnote.)
13 Jesus foretold that the Christian congregation would come under attack. Remember, in his prophetic illustration of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus warned that a newly planted field of wheat (anointed Christians) would be oversown with weeds (imitation Christians). The groups, he said, would be allowed to grow side by side
14 The apostasy made some inroads in the first century, but Jesus’ faithful apostles acted “as a restraint,” holding back the contamination and influence of false teachings. (2 Thess. 2:3, 6, 7) However, once the last of the apostles died, the apostasy took root and flourished during a long growing season that lasted for many centuries. Additionally, during that time, the weeds became many and the blades of wheat were few. There was no consistent, organized channel for dispensing spiritual food. That would eventually change. But the question is, When?
—WHO WOULD DO THE FEEDING?
15, 16. The Bible Students’ diligent study of the Scriptures yielded what results, and what question arises?
15 As the end of the growing season neared, there were strong stirrings of interest in Bible truth. Recall that in the 1870’s, a small group of sincere truth-seekers got together and formed Bible classes apart from the weeds
16 The Bible Students’ diligent study of the Scriptures yielded rich results. Those loyal men and women exposed false doctrines and spread spiritual truths, publishing and distributing Bible literature far and wide. Their work won the hearts and convinced the minds of many who were hungering and thirsting for spiritual truth. An intriguing question therefore arises: Were the Bible Students in the years that led up to 1914 the appointed channel through which Christ would feed his sheep? No. They were still in the growing season, and the arrangement for a channel to provide spiritual food was still taking shape. The time had not yet come for the weedlike imitation Christians to be separated from the true Christian wheat.
17. What important developments began to unfold in 1914?
17 As we learned in the preceding article, the harvest season began in 1914. In that year, a number of important developments began to unfold. Jesus was enthroned as King, and the last days began. (Rev. 11:15) From 1914 to the early part of 1919, Jesus accompanied his Father to the spiritual temple to do a much-needed inspection and cleansing work. * (Mal. 3:1-4) Then, starting in 1919, it was time to begin gathering the wheat. Was it finally the time for Christ to appoint one organized channel to dispense spiritual food? Yes, indeed!
18. Jesus foretold that he would make what appointment, and what was the critical question as the last days got under way?
18 In his prophecy about the time of the end, Jesus foretold that he would appoint a channel to give out spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matt. 24:45-47) Which channel would he use? True to the pattern he set in the first century, Jesus would once again feed many through the hands of a few. But as the last days were just getting under way, the critical question was, Who will be the few? That and other questions about Jesus’ prophecy will be discussed in the next article.
^ par. 3 Paragraph 3: On a later occasion, when Jesus miraculously fed 4,000 men, besides women and children, he again gave the food “to the disciples, the disciples in turn to the crowds.”
^ par. 7 Paragraph 7: During Peter’s lifetime, the “little sheep” who would be fed all cherished the heavenly hope.
^ par. 8 Paragraph 8: The fact that new believers “continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles” implies that the apostles were teaching on a regular basis. Some of the apostles’ teaching was permanently recorded in the inspired books that are now part of the Christian Greek Scriptures.
^ par. 12 Paragraph 12: While others besides the apostles received miraculous gifts of the spirit, it seems that in most cases, the miraculous gifts were passed on to others directly by or in the presence of an apostle.
^ par. 13 Paragraph 13: The apostle Paul’s words found at Acts 20:29, 30 show that the congregation would be attacked from two quarters. First, imitation Christians (“weeds”) would “enter in among” true Christians. Second, “from among” true Christians, some would become apostates, speaking “twisted things.”


Landfill is generally considered when adequate incineration facilities are not available. The site of landfill should be away from any possible pollution of ground water and rivers. Only the bio-medical risk waste is buried in a landfill designed for this purpose, to maximize the life of the site. Hospital Waste daily collected from is taken by the Municipal solid waste collection Authorities to their landfill dumps, which are a few kilometers outside of the city. Here is a case study of Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar (HMC). This is done by using Municipal community trucks, some of which are covered, while some are not covered. They are then taken to the landfill, which is on Charsadda Road.
Some times different color containers are used to collect the hospital waste following is the brief summary of such containers along with their respective color code.
Solid Waste Container and Color Coding
|WASTE TYPE||RISK WASTE||NON-RISK WASTE||SHARPS|
|Characteristics||Hard and leak proof||Hard and leak proof||Puncture resistant and leak proof|
|Receptacle type||Bin with sliding lid and lined with plastic bag||Bin with sliding lid and lined with plastic bag||Bin with sliding lid and with plastic bag|
|Final disposal||Incineration + landfill||Sanitary landfill||Incineration + landfill|
|Capacity||50 liter||50 liter||50 liter|


From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Delimitation
Mains level : Read the attached story
The newly created UT of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) will be the only one in the country to undergo a delimitation exercise based on the population figures recorded in the 2011 census.
Delimitation in J&K
- The latest readjustment of boundaries of constituencies in other States and UTs has been done on the basis of 2001 census and in future it will be carried out according to the 2031 census.
- As per 2011 Census, the population in Kashmir region is 68,88,475, Jammu has a population of 53,78,538 and Ladakh has 2,74,289.
- Delimitation was last done in J&K in the year 1995.
The legal basis for delimitation
- Section 63 was introduced in the J&K Reorganisation Act so that delimitation exercise can be conducted smoothly without overlapping with other provisions of Delimitation Commission Act, 2002.
- It is a saving clause and since J&K is a UT, it now has constitutional safeguards.
- The provision did not require any separate legislation as it was incorporated in the primary Act.
- It says that “until the relevant figures for the first census taken after the year 2026 have been published,” it shall not be necessary to readjust the constituencies.
- And any reference to the “latest census figures” in shall be construed as a reference to the 2011 census figures.
- The delimitation will be done for 90 seats as 24 seats fall in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).


Country, Date of election
Alicja has created a hands-on, civic educational model to teach Polish children about participatory Democracy. Her schools encourage student involvement at all levels, from curricular design to student discipline, and lay a strong foundation for responsible citizenship.
The deficiencies in post–communist civil societies have been much discussed. In Poland, as in the rest of Central and Eastern Europe, the habit of democracy will take time to become fully ingrained. Volunteerism is very low, and with the exception of the former members of Solidarity, citizens are unused to organizing around common political objectives. Many agree that the solution lies with the new generation–that while old habits die slowly, children who have not been conditioned by the communist era can learn quickly.
In pursuit of her goals, workshops and teacher training in a variety of social service venues have been instituted in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. As a result Zespół Szkół Społecznych (SPLOT) was created as an independent school in 1989, and remains the cornerstone of MTO. MTO over the years has developed as an NGO incubator in the Balkans, Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan. MTO supports the development of NGOs in CEE countries, promoting cooperation between NGOs and public administration, providing training and international exchange opportunities for all types of schools, as well as playing an active part in international educational and civil society–building networks.
Alicja designed and implemented an innovative school model in which students are trained in democratic procedures, both theoretically and in practice. Today, she has begun building an international network of schools to which her idea is being introduced. Teachers and students are participating in educative exchange programs in East Central Europe, the Baltics, the former Soviet Union, and the Balkans.
Mission of the Educational Society for Malopolska (MTO) is to equip future generations with the tools needed for success as responsible global citizens. Małopolskie Towarzystwo Oświatowe (MTO) was created with two goals in mind: to support innovative teachers and teaching methods that would work towards an open and tolerant Europe, and to create an independent school that would put those teaching methods into practice
Alicja was an important member of Solidarity when it was still underground–she was a member of the Solidarity Education Board, which planned reforms to the Polish educational system. After the changes in 1989, Alicja did not want to teach for the state again, and began in earnest to establish a truly independent, non–state, non–religious school.


The Big Picture and the Ripple Effect The Big Picture question helps students focus on the beginning and ending of a time period, so they can see the major changes and continuities in that period.
The teaching of the Bible contains different views about whether or not war is right, and Many students did not write essays that truly Change over time essay example the patterns of change and continuities over time. Vladimir organized mass baptisms for his subjects, forcing conversions by military pressure.
Now the people of this area start to build and construct new tools to use. Compassion is perhaps the most valuable and important ethical principle. Moreover, the organizer emphasizes the key Change over time essay example points between the major events to help students analyze the causes of change in the period.
The religion is still very important and is very important in everyday life. I hope you noticed that I said "theoretically. The Big Picture questions students should ask are about the causes of the changes or continuities in any of these themes over a long period of time.
The students also could explain that the spread of Islam beyond the Arabian Peninsula to Spain and Eastern Europe, West Africa, and South Asia did not change every cultural, economic, and political feature in those regions. Charting the Future of Teaching the Past.
That "impact" might at first glance seem like a meteor coming from outer space and leaving a big hole in the ground or causing a large tidal wave.
The priest start to be more important to the culture and the religion starts to become more complex and guides daily life. It is believed that the plague originated from the plains of central Asia, and traveled to Europe through the silk road.
The economy and intellectual arts were eradicated because everyone was dying rather than working in the fields and manufacturing goods or ideas. Seeing Broader Patterns When we look at any world history curriculum, we can see patterns of outside forces that caused dramatic changes: The students who continued to struggle with the habit of moving from global to local and local to global also did poorly on the change-over-time question.
Continuity in demographic, political, and social in BCE becomes more advanced.
As we teach the content of the crises that punctuate our syllabi, let us try to help students see the larger patterns. What happened to the social status of slaves and serfs from the beginning to the end of this time period in the Caribbean or Russia, respectively?
Religion can be very confusing to me because of the different definitions on the multiple religions. The people start to use a spoken language to communicate. In AP World History, we have five themes that serve as the major patterns of the course: I show them that any particular region of the world can be seen as a body of water that is "impacted" or "affected" by an outside force.
Gender The Change over time essay example starts out of Africa and the people start to settle and create city-states in 6 continents. The ripple effects students might have used as detail to support generalizations about changes could be about how repeated interactions with Muslims changed language, food, gender roles, social standing of different professions or ethnic groups, attitudes toward other belief systems, and bureaucratic structures that affected taxation or commercial law.
There is a small amount of research and plenty of anecdotal experience that shows how some teachers are being successful in showing students how to write change-over-time essays by identifying the right sort of questions that highlight the larger patterns of world history.
They are the graphic organizer and the swingometer. How can we teach students to write continuity and change-over-time essays? They also can keep track of the major continuities in the time period. Be sure to discuss continuities as well as changes.
The change analysis chart helps students take notes as they proceed through a unit. For example, if the Big Question is about the nature of progress in the period tothen the students can record examples of progress, regression, and continuity on the swingometer.
For example a change is the social classes become more defined in this time. He used Christianity to unite the people under his rule. An ambitious church patriarch in Constantinople raised several old questions about Christianity, causing this great split. Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: One continuity and two changes in Europe from CE to CE was importance of the church, the splitting of the church into two branches, and the dissolving of structure in Europe caused by the black plague, respectively.
The way that God, our Creator, intends for us to live is known by every human being. Oftentimes we ask students to analyze cause and effect or explain differences between two opposite types of political, economic, or social systems.How to Write a CCOT Essay: Continuity & Change over Time (Part B/#2) 1.
The Big Picture: Basically, a continuity and change over time essay is a comparison essay where time. Change-over-Time: The Silk Road ( B.
Throughout history, trade has always brought an economic growth and spread of culture and ideas. Some trade routes stand out as major points in history. One example is the Silk Road which linked China to the West from the 2nd century B.C.E.
to the late 15th /5(10). Change over Time Essay (Europe from to ) Essay Sample In Europe from CE to CE, a continuity was the importance of the Church, and two changes were the split of the church into two branches, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, and the.
Change over Time; Change over Time. 5 May Gender; political, and social. For example a change is the social classes become more defined in this time. The priest start to be more important to the culture and the religion starts to become more complex and guides daily life.
Haven't found the Essay You Want? Get your Custom Essay. A limited time offer! Get custom essay sample written according to your requirements. urgent 3h delivery guaranteed. Order now *As the title indicates, this is a change/continuity AP essay written for World History class.
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for. Change Over Time Essay Essay Sample. Between CE and CE, the Mediterranean region experienced both changes and continuities. Throughout this period, the Roman Empire encountered changes in political systems and culture.Download


Not just for oil and gas
These protection methods benefitted mining operations but were soon extended to many other industries, oil and gas in the first place. But the risk of explosion exists in a variety of other sectors, such as transportation – including aerospace – furniture manufacturing, automotive manufacturing and repair, pharmaceuticals, food processing, grain handling and storage, sugar refineries.
Today the use of explosion-proof equipment for hazardous areas is mandatory in most countries around the world and is often included in national or regional – European Union - legislation. The number of accidents in explosive atmosphere is low.
Specific types of protection
Standardization has played a major role in the development of explosion-proof equipment for the Ex sector. IEC International Standards prepared by IEC Technical Committee (TC) 31: Equipment for explosive atmospheres, and its Subcommittees, in particular, have helped manufacturers worldwide in designing and producing safe systems, equipment and components.
As part of the IEC 60079 series of International Standards on explosive atmospheres, several publications provide specifications for the different types of protection used in Ex areas. These include:
Flameproof protection “d”
This type of protection is an enclosure in which any parts that may ignite in an explosive atmosphere are placed. The enclosure has the internal strength required to withstand the pressure that will develop if a mixture explodes. A second characteristic of this form of explosion protection technique is that this type of enclosure prevents the flames from the internal explosion from transferring to the explosive atmosphere surrounding it. When incorporated with an appropriate IP rating, such enclosures may also protect their internal components from adverse environmental elements like humidity, dirt, dust or water. This type of enclosure prevents the explosion from transferring to the explosive atmosphere surrounding it.
Encapsulation protection “m”
Encapsulation is a type of protection in which the parts that can ignite an explosive atmosphere are enclosed in a resin. The resin must be sufficiently resistant to environmental influences so that the explosive atmosphere cannot be ignited by either sparking or heating, which may occur within the device. This is used with electronic devices.
Increased Safety - Protection “e”
Explosive mixtures can penetrate the enclosure but cannot be ignited.
The arcing components of the switch are encased in a glass tube. The connecting wires are fused to the glass sealing the unit to prevent any ingress of flammable gases.
Oil Immersion - protection “o”
The electrical equipment is immersed in a protective liquid to prevent the ignition of the potentially explosive atmosphere above the liquid or outside the enclosure.
Pressurized protection “p”
This type of protection prevents the external atmosphere from entering the enclosure by maintaining a protective gas inside at a pressure higher than the surrounding atmosphere.
Powder filling protection “q”
The enclosure is filled with a finely grained powder (sand, quartz, glass balls) that fixes and surrounds all electrical parts to prevent the ignition of an external explosive atmosphere.
Reliance on IECEx for safe equipment...
To make sure that the equipment purchased meets the very strict requirements specified in the IEC 60079 series of International Standards, as well as those put in place by national or regional regulations and legislation, the Ex industry can rely on IECEx, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres, for testing and certification.
An IECEx certificate provides clear proof of compliance with International Standards, an important assurance for anyone responsible for the safety of those working in such areas.
...and for repair and maintenance
Because Ex equipment has a much higher capital cost than the same equipment used elsewhere, repairing it is often more cost-effective than replacing it. The IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme assesses and certifies that organizations and workshops that provide repair and overhaul services to the Ex industry do so according to the strict requirements of IEC 60079-19, Explosive atmospheres – Part 19: Equipment repair, overhaul and reclamation. This ensures that unique Ex safety features are not compromised during the repair or overhaul process. The system includes on-site audits prior to issuing the IECEx Certificate and periodic audit reports.
The IECEx Certified Service Facilities Scheme also covers other Ex related services including, installation and inspection of Ex equipment and installations.
High level of safety for Ex workforce
To cover all safety aspects in Ex environments and to complement the Certified Equipment Scheme, IECEx has developed the IECEx Certification of Personnel Competence Scheme for assessing and certifying individuals working in potentially hazardous areas.
The IECEx CoPC (Certificate of Personnel Competence) provides independent proof that the certificate holder has the required qualifications and experience for working on electrical equipment located in hazardous areas and can implement IEC International Standards covering explosive atmospheres.
For the CoPC, competence is defined as "the ability to apply knowledge" rather than simply assessing knowledge. In this sense, the assessment of persons includes assessing their ability to perform certain Ex-related tasks.


First thing to know is that PAHs are virtually insoluble in water. That’s why the focus is on whether PAHs in sediment can be a health hazard to people – and PAHs are rarely found to be a cause of concern even in highly urbanized areas. For example, the City of Austin, Texas was worried about whether PAHs in sediments in Barton Springs Pool – a beautiful recreational area in downtown Austin with a spring-fed swimming pool – might pose a health risk to people swimming in the pool. So they requested the US Public Health Service, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Health, conduct a “health consultation” to evaluate whether the City should be concerned about the health of citizens swimming in Barton Springs Pool. The health consultation report, posted here, contains the following conclusions: “We did not find any information to support contention that swimming every day in Barton Springs would result in adverse health effects. Thus, we have concluded that swimming and playing in Barton Springs Pool poses no apparent public health hazard.” The City asked the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the US Environmental Protection Agency to review the Health Consultation. Assured by the findings of the Health Consultation, the City re-opened Barton Springs Pool.
Another thing to know is that PavementCouncil.org has taken a hard look at whether sealers applied to paved surfaces are contributing in any significant way to PAHs in sediments. We’ve funded scientists to look at the data the USGS uses to claim sealers are a problem and to look at other data (there’s a LOT of data available for PAHs in sediments!). We’ve funded scientists to collect new data to help answer questions. With a very few exceptions (mostly, samples collected right next to sealed lots) the PAH signature of RTS is not identifiable in sediments. Take a look at the Research page on this web site – there are many links to papers and presentations documenting efforts to identify whether RTS is an important source of PAHs in sediments. PavementCouncil.org has filed a Data Quality Act Petition asking the USGS to cease disseminating their flawed interpretations of the data. The flaws in USGS interpretations of sediment PAH data are further documented in PCTC White Paper 1301.
To try to minimize any possible release of RTS to sediments, PavementCouncil.org recommends that sealer applicators follow our Best Management Practices.


Remote sensing is defined as “The art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment, through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting imagery and digital representations of energy patterns derived from non-contact sensor systems”.
According to India’s National Remote Sensing Agency- “Remote Sensing is the technique of acquiring information about objects on the earth’s surface without physically coming into contact with them”.
Principles of remote sensing
- Detection and discrimination of objects or surface features means detecting and recording of radiant energy reflected or emitted by objects or surface.
- Different objects return different amount of energy in different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, incident upon it.
- Depend upon the property of material (physical, structural, and chemical), surface roughness, angle of incidence, intensity, and wavelength of radiant energy.
Components of remote sensing
These are the components involved in remote sensing process
- Energy Source or Illumination (A)
- Radiation and the Atmosphere (B)
- Interaction with the Target (C)
- Recording of Energy by the Sensor (D)
- Transmission, Reception, and Processing (E)
- Interpretation and Analysis (F)
- Application (G)
1 Energy Source or Illumination (A)
The first requirement for remote sensing is to have an energy source of electromagnetic radiation to illuminate the target. Sensors can use either external Energy source(Sun) or have their own energy source of illumination.
- Sensors using external source of energy are called Passive remote sensor.
- Sensors Sensors using their own energy source called Active remote sensor.
2 Energy Interactions with Atmosphere (B)
The energy travels from the source to the target, It passes through the earth’s atmosphere which contains obstacles such as haze, clouds, smog etc.
3 Interaction with the Target (C)
The electromagnetic Radiation that is not absorbed or scattered in the atmosphere can reach and interact with the Earth’s surface.
4 Recording of Energy by the Sensor (D)
When the energy has been scattered by, or emitted from the target, It is collected through a sensor (remote – not in contact with the target) and record the electromagnetic radiation.
5 Transmission, Reception, and Processing(E)
The energy recorded by the sensor has to be transmitted, often in electronic form, to a receiving and processing station where the data are processed into an image (hardcopy and/or digital).
6 Interpretation and Analysis (F)
The processed image is interpreted and analyzed, visually or digitally or electronically, to extract information about the target which was illuminated.
7 Application (G)
- Geology: it is used for geological mapping;
- Hydrology: Used in monitoring wetlands and snow cover;
- Agriculture: Helps in identification of type of crop , crop condition monitoring, soil moisture measurement, and soil tillage and crop residue identification.
- Forestry: Useful clear-cuts and linear features mapping, biomass estimation, species identification and fire scar mapping;
- Oceanography: sea ice identification, coastal wind field measurement, and wave slope measurement.
- Shipping: for ship detection and classification. Coastal Zone: for shoreline detection, substrate mapping, slick detection and general vegetation mapping.
- Military/Security Applications: Helps in detecting or locating metal objects.
Limitations of Remote Sensing
- Its utility is often oversold.
- It is not a solution that will provide all the information needed for conducting physical, biological, or a science.
- It simply provides some spatial, spectral, and temporal information.


Grass Seed Fun
This lesson developed by Leona
Recommended Ages: Preschool and Early Elementary
How does regular yard grass grow?
What You Need
- 2 or 3 white styrofoam cups
- Grass seed
- Potting soil
- Felt Pens
- Pipe cleaners
What You Do
What Is Happening
- Fill your cups 2/3 full with potting soil
- Sprinkle some grass seed onto the soil in both cups.
- Put about 2 tablespoons of potting soil on top of the seeds. Be
sure they are covered up.
- Sprinkle some water on top of the soil. Don't put too much water in the
cups. The soil should just be moist....not drenched!
- Put the cups on a table or shelf near a window where plenty of
sunshine will come in.
- Watch what happens over the next few days. As the soil totally dries out,
sprinkle a little more water on it.
- Watch as the grass seeds grow. From one cup, pluck out a piece of grass.
Take a look at what it looks like from top to bottom.
- As the grass seed grows, you can take scissors and "cut" your grass!
- Take one of the cups and make a grass head! use your felt pens to draw
eyes, a nose, and a mouth. You can use pipe cleaners to fold and put into
the sides of the cup for ears that stick out! Trim the "hair" to the syle and
length you prefer!
All plants, even blades of grass, need soil, sunlight and water to grow. Each blade of grass is its own little plant. Some plants grow really fast- like grass! That's why it has to be trimmed so often during our growing season. Some plants don't grow


A chunky Tudorbethan mausoleum guarded by four stone griffins which gaze out over the countryside from their high perches on the four turrets at the corners. The ashlar building is of two storeys with a low pitched roof hidden behind a crenellated parapet. The seated marble figure of the 2nd Earl, carved by the sculptor E B Stephens in 1863, can be seen in the chapel on the upper floor. Below this steps lead down to the entrance of the burial vault in the basement.
B. Band of London
Grade II (England and Wales)
Members of the Lowther family are said to have lived in Lowther for 1000 years and there are many memorials to them in the church. But the first Lowther Castle was not finished until the end of the 17th century, at which time the church was also substantially rebuilt. In 1720 however the newly completed house was largely burnt down and not replaced until 1811 when the present castle, designed by Smirke and sadly now also a ruin, was brought to completion. The mausoleum which stands on a mount in the churchyard is later still; it was built during the life of William Lowther, 2nd Earl of Lonsdale (1787-1872) for the reception of his own remains.
The stonework is good, but there are weeds and lichen growing over the lower parts of the building (1997).
BoE: Cumberland and Westmorland (1967), 273-4.
If you're visiting this mausoleum and would like to take this information with you, why not download and print the PDF using the link below:


In 1900, San Francisco’s intense love–hate relationship with Chinatown was as passionate as ever. The Chinese quarter, Tangrenbu, was a segregated section of San Francisco not far from the docks and near the business center of the city that evoked for non-Chinese mystery, exoticism, as well as danger. It had shops, stores, restaurants, drug stores, gambling dens, opium cellars, brothels, temples, and more than 20,000 Chinese speaking their own language and living their own life untouched by American ideas.
The intolerance of people who were different stemmed from resentment and fear. The reluctance of the Chinese to assimilate into American society was annoying to westerners who regarded themselves as superior to the Chinese. However these differences and inequities had existed since the mid–1800s, as had persecution of the Chinese and constant hostilities between westerners and Chinese. It was not the myth of Chinatown inequities as the incomparable growth of the "city within a city" that created and perpetuated the hostilities — exacerbated by Chinatown’s growing economic threat which prompted persecution and discrimination.
Before midnight on April 18, 1906, more than 15,000 Chinese would be forced from their homes. What men had failed to accomplish during the previous four decades, nature did in three days.– unknown San Francisco resident. Men carried boxes in their arms and on their heads. Women with bound feet perched on embroidered three–inch platform shoes found themselves in public for the first time since their youth, teetering along in a frantic movement of people. Together with thousands of homeless San Francisco refugees, the displaced Chinese started their exodus.
The permanent relocation of Chinatown had been broached previously, however, it was so controversial and racist that it never advanced. The earthquake and subsequent fires leveled Chinatown and abruptly put an end to its isolated and self-contained way of life, but not to the divisive issue. Ironically, because the immigration records and vital statistics at City Hall were destroyed, many Chinese were able to claim citizenship, and then send for their children and families in China.
After the earthquake and fires, the real estate interests of the city saw an opportunity to take full advantage of this prime land. The total value of the real estate in Chinatown was estimated at $6 million; it was believed that if the occupants were relocated and modern improvements were made, the property would be worth $25 million. The city fathers had no intention of allowing Chinatown to be rebuilt in its own neighborhood, on valuable land next to the Financial District. Chinese leaders organized and effectively protested this effort to "remove Chinatown."
One plan, backed by former Mayor Phelan, did not allow San Franciscans to rebuild quickly, demanded some property owners to abandon their previous sites, and was prohibitively expensive. These contentious issues worked in favor of the Chinese. Ultimately, Chinese leaders convinced municipal leaders and the neighborhood's landlords that the "New" Chinatown should be rebuilt in a distinctive Oriental style that would attract more tourism and business, boosting San Francisco's economy. And most importantly, it was rebuilt at its original site.


By this time of year, most gardeners are ready to fall in their tracks, exhausted from months of weeding.
I see many people pull weeds up by the roots, stuff them into plastic bags and put them out in the garbage-permanently banning these invaders from their property. So, if this is a successful method, why do you have to do it again next week? Is this the most environmentally friendly way of getting rid of weeds by using a plastic bag and taking up landfill space? The simple answer is “no”!
There is a method that makes weeding easier, takes less time and makes the gardener a better steward of the environment. This weeding method is called chop and drop. The basics of this method is that you cut the weed off at the base of the plant and cut the upper portion of the weed into small sections leaving it in the garden. What!!!!? Isn’t this garden hearsay!!! Well, let’s look at the science and biology of weeds.
Most weeds that we battle in the garden and landscape are annuals. This means that they only live for one year, sprouting next year from seeds that can lay dormant for decades. Many annuals grow best in disturbed soil. Deep cultivating, pulling weeds up by their roots, digging dogs, and rototilling all create perfect conditions for weeds to germinate. It is true that annual weeds that are cut off at the soil surface can regrow from the roots during the growing
season. However, pulling them out just opens a fresh wound in the soil that is soon taken over by new weeds. The existing weed root system that is left in place by the chop and drop method actually discourages new weeds from sprouting.
Weeds can create benefits in their initial growth and in their demise. Since weeds concentrate micro-nutrients that might be missing in your soil, finding a way to incorporate them into the surface of the garden or landscape is essential.
Leaving weed roots in the ground allows them to die at the end of the growing season releasing the nutrients they process. The cut-off top of the plant will also decompose returning it’s nutrients to the soil. Weed stems and roots also contribute a significant amount of organic material to the soil.
Chop and drop is not magic. Just like other weeding methods, chop and drop needs to be periodically repeated during the growing season. However with chop and drop you are going to do a lot less work which leaves time for everything else you want to do!


One of the most difficult decision to make for both IVF Specialists (and our patients) is picking the number of embryos to transfer to the womb. In this blog & video interview, Dr. Trolice explains the responsible way to go about making this choice.
An IVF cycle is a complex series of events all with the sole purpose of helping a woman deliver one healthy baby. Beginning with the decision to pursue IVF, the woman and/or couple undergo pre-cycle testing including procedures and blood-work to
optimize the outcome of the cycle.
While on injectable hormones to stimulate multiple egg development, the woman receives ultrasound monitoring of the follicles (follicular cysts with eggs) of her ovaries along with blood-work to measure hormone levels.
Once the follicles grow to appropriate size, the woman is injected with a maturation hormone followed by egg retrieval approximately 36 hours later. The eggs are removed from the ovaries through needle aspiration, sperm are added later the same day, then embryos develop usually up to five – six days.
Of all involved, one of the most anxiety-provoking aspects for the woman/couple is the decision on the number of embryos to transfer. The goal is to maximize a single healthy live birth and minimize multiple births.
Understanding Embryo Transfer Guidelines
The following FACT SHEET and GUIDE will help you understand the risks of a multiple baby pregnancy including miscarriage, low birth weight, birthing complications and birth defects.
Why Do I Need to Worry about a Multiple Pregnancy?
BOOKLET: Multiple Pregnancy & Birth
Fortunately, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has offered guidelines for physicians on recommending the number of embryos to transfer.
With more evidence demonstrating the advantage of a blastocyst (day 5 embryo) transfer, many IVF centers are encouraging patients to avoid cleavage stage (day 2 -3) embryo transfer, particularly in younger good prognosis patients. If all IVF cycles allow transfer on day 5, less than 10% of cycles would result in no embryos developing for transfer. An unanswerable question is whether an embryo that does not grow to day 5 would have resulted in a pregnancy had it been transferred on day 3?
Blastocyst transfer (BT) is more physiologic, meaning the embryo is placed intrauterine at the time occurring in a natural cycle. Further, BT allows for better selection of embryos for a single embryo transfer as well as the number of extra embryos available for freezing.
Additionally, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) provides a fact sheet to educate patients on elective single embryo transfer eSET.
The following patient description is the optimal candidate for eSET:
- Younger than 35 years (35 – 40 is still an option with top quality Blastocyst Embryos)
- Undergoing their first assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle
- Had a previously successful pregnancy using an ART cycle
- Has a relatively large number of high-quality embryos
- Has embryos available for cryopreservation (freezing to use in a later cycle)
ARTICLE FAST FACTS
- At the blastocyst stage, eSET pregnancy rate is equivalent to double embryo transfer (DET), but the latter has a much higher multiple pregnancy rate.
- Frozen embryo transfer number guidelines should be the same as fresh embryo transfer.
- Cumulative pregnancy rates of fresh and frozen cycles are the same with eSET vs. DET.
We are Central Florida’s most successful IVF Program.


The following excerpt and related link are provided as a benefit to ITD employees at the request of Human Resources .
Behavioral Health is the term used to describe what has long been known as mental health. It is a term that has been adopted for two reasons.
First, to address the often negative reaction to the word "mental."
Second, to broaden the discussion to include the habits, emotions, behaviors and choices that often reflect our mental health. The term "mental" was not only loaded with negative connotations, it also implied that the scope was limited to the function of the brain. Stigma around mental health is still a serious health issue in this country and a limitation for people who may otherwise benefit from assistance.
Behavioral Health is a more holistic approach to the relationship between our physical health and our environment. It implies that how we act and behave in the world is not limited to a single organ: the brain. Behavioral Health involves a greater appreciation for how the world shapes and influences our behavior as well as how our behavior influences the world around us.
Behavioral Health is concerned with more than the space between our ears. It is concerned with finding pleasure in being alive. Connecting with people. Feeling good about our total quality of fife. Our ability to face challenges. Thinking and acting reasonably to avoid crisis.
There comes a time, however, when seeking professional assistance and guidance is more effective and productive. Professional behavioral (mental) health providers such as: licensed counselors, social workers, and psychologists, are trained in understanding the relationship between a healthy mind, body, loved ones, behaviors, and work.
More important, they have training in facilitating change that lasts. They can help us return to peace of mind and peak performance. The help they provide is often called therapy or counseling.
To read more, please check out information from ITD’s behavioral health provider, Business Psychology Associates, at http://www.bpahealth.com/e_whatisbehavioralhealth.html


On exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art is one of Pablo Picasso's well-known painting, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," ("The Women of Avignon"; Paris, June-July 1907. Oil on canvas, 8' x 7' 8"). Photo was taken on October 29, 2010.
MoMA gallery caption:
The result of months of preparation and revision, this painting revolutionized the art world when first seen in Picasso's studio. Its monumental size underscored the shocking incoherence resulting from the outright sabotage of conventional representation. Picasso drew on sources as diverse as Iberian sculpture, African tribal masks, and El Greco's painting to make this startling composition. In the preparatory studies, the figure at left was a sailor entering a brothel. Picasso, wanting no anecdotal detail to interfere with the sheer impact of the work, decided to eliminate it in the final painting. The only remaining allusion to the brothel lies in the title: Avignon was a street in Barcelona famed for its brothel.


From the Scout Law….
A Scout is Thrifty. A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.
The scout calendar year runs from January to December and introductory dues for new Scouts are $50.00 for the first year. The first year in scouting is an expensive year for new Scout parents (i.e., uniforms, camping equipment, Cub Scout Pack dues, etc.). However, the actual cost of the program (“Dues”) on a year-to-year basis is approximately $150.00 per boy. This amount is re-evaluated every year by the Adult Troop Committee. There are several ways for boys and families to meet the $150.00 goal including our annual troop fundraiser – Wreath Sales, but no one is excluded purely due to inability to pay.
Dues do not include activity fees for weekend camping trips and food that usually run $20.00. Permission slips and money are collected prior to events. In addition, the cost of Summer Camp is usually around $290.00. A medical examination is needed for Summer Camp participants. Cost of High Adventure Trips differs greatly.


Mains Paper 2: IR | Bilateral, regional & global groupings & agreements involving India &/or affecting India’s interests
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), MTCR, Australia Group
Mains level: Importance of joining NSG and other export control regimes by India
- P5 countries have recently concluded their meetings to discuss issues related to nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
China maintains Status-quo
- China has once again refused to dilute its stand on India’s entry into the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
- It asserted that New Delhi must sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty to gain entry as there is no precedent for the inclusion of non-NPT countries.
- China has been opposing India’s entry into the 48-member NSG on the ground that India is not a signatory to the NPT.
- The other P5 members, including the US and Russia backed its case based on New Delhi’s non-proliferation record.
- China along with P5 has decided to uphold the NPT mechanism.
Pakistan: the elephant in the room
- China has sought to club India and Pakistan together, on the basis of both being non-signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
- It has asked the NSG countries to adopt a “criteria-based approach” — which essentially means that either both can get into the group or none.
- But most of the NSG countries, including the US, France and UK, make a clear distinction between India and Pakistan’s nuclear non-proliferation track record.
Why NSG for India?
- The NSG is the top club of countries which controls access to technology and guards against proliferation. Its membership is important for India to access cutting-edge high technology.
- Pakistan has violated all norms of nuclear non-proliferation and had links with the North Korean nuclear programme.
- The P5+1 refers to the UN Security Council’s five permanent members (the P5); namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; plus Germany.
- It is a group of six world powers which, in 2006, joined together in diplomatic efforts with Iran with regard to its nuclear program.


Born July 24, 1783, in Caracas, Venezuela; died Dec. 17, 1830, near Santa Marta, Colombia. One of the leaders of the independence struggle of the Spanish colonies in America. Born into a noble Creole family.
Bolívar spent his youth in Europe, in Spain, France, and Italy. Returning to his homeland, he took an active part in the overthrow of Spanish rule in Venezuela (1810) and in its proclamation as a republic (1811). After the latter was smashed by the Spanish, Bolívar settled down in New Granada (now Colombia). In 1813 his troops occupied Caracas; the second Venezuelan republic, headed by Bolívar, was established. However, he was defeated in 1814 and was forced to leave his homeland. A band led by Bolívar once again settled on the shores of Venezuela in 1816. The abolition of slavery (1816) and the decree allocating land to soldiers of the liberation army (1817) helped him obtain the support of the broad masses. In 1819 his troops liberated New Granada, and he was chosen president of the republic of Gran Colombia, which included Venezuela and New Granada. Concluding the rout of the major Spanish forces in Venezuela (1821), Bolivar’s army liberated the province of Quito (present-day Ecuador) in 1822, which was subsequently joined to Gran Colombia. In 1824 he smashed the Spanish forces on the territory of Peru, and in 1825 he became head of the republic of Bolivia—so-named in his honor—which was forming in upper Peru. In the effort to rally and unite the new states of Latin America, Bolívar called a continental congress in Panama (1826). However, he did not succeed in realizing his plans. The separatist actions that began led to the overthrow of Bolivar’s regime in Peru and Bolivia, and they threatened to separate Venezuela and Quito from Colombia. Bolívar retired at the beginning of 1830.
Bolivar’s activity, which aimed at the liquidation of the colonial regime with its characteristic feudal features, objectively furthered the bourgeois development of the countries of South America.
Obras completas, vols. 1–2. Havana, 1947.
Marx, K. “Bolivar-i-Ponte.” In K. Marx and F. Engels, Soch., 2nd ed., vol. 14.
Lavretskii, I. R. Bolivar, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1966. (Bibliography.)
M. S. AL’PEROVICH
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.


While small farms represent the dominant form of production agriculture in the world, typical agricultural knowledge and technology development models have often failed to improve small farm productivity, enhance resource conservation, reduce rural poverty, or improve regional food security.
A new research study in organic farming–a unique value-added form of agriculture–has been undertaken to help address inadequacies in the current knowledge of the organic market as well as provide innovative new options for struggling small farmers. Rutgers, in partnership with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, was awarded a $99,803 grant for the study of consumer perceptions and behaviors in the Mid-Atlantic region in order to enable growers to capitalize on the organic market. The grant was awarded through the USDA’s Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program, which provides matching funds to state departments of Agriculture, state agricultural experiment stations, and other state agencies to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system.
Rutgers faculty participating in the project are Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics members, Professor Ramu Govindasamy (Principal Investigator), Instructor Isaac Vellangany, and Postdoctoral Associate Surendran Arumugam; Extension Specialist in Soil Science Joseph Heckman, Department of Plant Biology and Pathology; and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents Rick Vanvranken, Atlantic County; Meredith Melendez, Mercer County; Wes Kline, Cumberland County; and Jenny Carleo (CC’99, GSNB ’03), Cape May County. The goal of this research is to enhance both the net profits and the sustainability of small farms choosing to service the organic niche market.


A new United Nations report written by 91 scientists from 40 countries is signaling that by 2040 earth will be in a climate change crisis. Seas will continue to rise, affecting between 30-80 million people and marine life including whales and polar bears. Droughts and food shortages will intensify, and coral reefs, which provide food and coastal protection for half a billion people, will die off.
Earth has already warmed by one degree and is on course to warm 2.7 degrees, the report, issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, noted. Despite this, the Trump administration signaled it is pulling out of the Paris agreement and continues to push fossil fuel energy over green energy.
It’s frustrating — we know. But there are things every single one of us can do now to help the planet, and that’s empowering.
Here are 10:
1. Get involved Take a few minutes to contact your political representatives and the media to tell them you want immediate action on climate change. Remind them that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will also build healthier communities, spur economic innovation and create new jobs. And when you are at the polls this November, vote for politicians who support effective climate policy
2. Cutback on your waste Garbage buried in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Keep stuff out of landfills by composting kitchen scraps and garden trimmings, and recycling paper, plastic, metal and glass. Let store managers and manufacturers know you want products with minimal or recyclable packaging.
3. Change the way you think about transportation Walk or bike whenever possible. Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, but your overall level of health will improve, and you will save money on parking and gasoline. Take public transit or carpool whenever possible. When purchasing a vehicle look for one with better mileage. Increase your fuel economy when driving by sticking to posted speed limits and avoiding rapid acceleration and excessive braking. Plan and combine trips and errands. This will save you both time and money as well as reduce wear and tear on your vehicle. When travelling long distances, try to take a train or bus rather than flying or driving.
4. Make every drop count Conserve water by fixing drips and leaks, and by installing low-flow shower heads and toilets. Challenge yourself to a speed shower. Turn off water while brushing teeth or shaving. Treating and transporting water requires energy, while water conservation results in reduced energy requirements and carbon emissions.
5. Switch to “green power” Research where your power is coming from—wind, water, coal, or solar—and talk to your power provider to determine if a greater percentage could be coming from renewable resources. Encourage power providers to switch to green power and, if possible and/or economically viable, switch to a company offering power from renewable resources.
6. Think about what you’re planting When gardening, select native plants that are well suited to your climate and require minimal watering and attention. Better yet, plant a tree, and it will provide shade and soak up carbon from the atmosphere.
7. Make smarter food choices: Meat and dairy production are both contributing greatly to climate change. Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath. We recommend adopting a plant-based lifestyle. Check out our guides here.
8. Repurpose Rather than discarding or recycling clothing and household goods, give them a chance at a second life. Gently used clothing can be donated to charity or exchanged with friends and family. Old T-shirts can be repurposed into rags for cleaning. Household goods can be donated to charity or sold at a garage sale. Through repurposing, the amount of waste being sent to landfill sites is reduced, there is no need to use energy for recycling, and others can benefit from your used items.
9. Stop Cutting Down Trees Every year, 33 million acres of forests are cut down. Timber harvesting in the tropics alone contributes 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere. That represents 20 percent of human-made greenhouse gas emissions and a source that could be avoided relatively easily. And when purchasing wood products, such as furniture or flooring, buy used goods or, failing that, wood certified to have been sustainably harvested. The Amazon and other forests are not just the lungs of the earth, they may also be humanity’s best short-term hope for limiting climate change.
10. Support and donate Please consider becoming a member of Friends of Animals and helping us mitigate the disastrous effects of climate change on our environment and the wildlife who rely on it. You can also join us on social media and sign up for our email alerts here.


The Pakistan government recently issued seven special permits to Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and his family members to hunt Houbara Bustard bird for the 2020-2021 hunting season. This bird is internationally protected.
- The Prime Minister Imran Khan has opposed such permits for Arab royals in the past. But, he himself approved the special pass this time.
- During 2014, A Saudi prince, Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, had gunned down 1,977 birds on reserved and protected areas in 21 days. His family members killed another 123 birds. Thus, in Total, 2,100 were hunted.
- Following this event, the supreme court of Pakistan had banned the hunting of Houbara Bustard in 2015.
The Houbara Bustard is scientifically known as the Chlamydotis undulata. It is also known as African houbara. The bird is native to North Africa and southwestern Asia. It lives in the arid habitats. In the year 2014, the bird was listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In the Europe, its population is restricted to the Canary Islands. Since 2015, the bird has been assessed as Near Threatened.
The bird is dull brown and having black markings on the wings. It has a greyish neck and a black ruff along the side of the neck. The Male birds are larger and heavier than female birds.
What were the concerns?
The houbara bustard is hunted by falconers and by hunters with guns in several countries. Because of which, the population has declined in the two decades before 2004. However, with several conservation efforts, the population have been increasing since then.
How they are conserved?
The birds are conserved by the efforts of the global leader called the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IHFC). The global leader has developed global conservation strategy and was implemented over the past forty years. This was implemented with the objective to ensure that this species has a sustainable future.
International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IHFC)
It was created in the year 2006. The IHFC was created in order to further the original programme by managing the international assets. The Houbara conservation programme is also supported by the government of Abu Dhabi.
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What is accretion interest expense?
Accretion is the periodic recognition of an expense associated with an increase in the present value of a liability over time. This expense is recognized as an operating expense in the statement of income. In practice, accretion expense is commonly recognized in relation to an asset retirement obligation (AROs).
How do you record accretion expenses?
Generally, accretion is recognized as an operating expense in the statement of income and often associated with an asset retirement obligation. The journal entry to record this cost would be a debit to accretion expense, offset by a credit to the ARO liability.
How do you calculate interest accretion?
The rate of accretion is determined by dividing the discount by the number of years in the term. In the case of zero coupon bonds, the interest acquired is not compounding. While the bond’s value increases based on the agreed-upon interest rate, it must be held for the agreed-upon term before it can be cashed out.
How is accretion expense calculated ARO?
Calculate the credit-adjusted risk-free rate. Note any increase in the carrying amount of the ARO liability as an accretion expense by multiplying the beginning liability by the credit-adjusted risk-free rate for when the liability was first measured.
Is accretion expense part of Ebitda?
As such, in order to make our EBITDA amount comparable with those companies that choose to include the accretion expense in their DD&A expense we have excluded the accretion expense from our EBITDA number and made the readers aware of that fact by way of the reconciliation between net income and EBITDA.
What is an example of accretion?
Accretion means an extension or addition of length or overall size. An example of an accretion is when a highway is lengthened. noun. 1. Growth or increase in size by gradual external addition, fusion, or inclusion.
Is accretion expense tax deductible?
The accretion expense associated with the ARO is not deductible for tax because the all events test of IRC § has not been met. The all events test requires that all events have occurred which determine the fact of liability and the amount of such liability can be determined with reasonable accuracy.
What is loan accretion?
Accretion is a finance term that refers to the increment in the value of a bond after purchasing it at a discount and holding it until the maturity date. A bond is said to be purchased at a discount price when the purchase price falls below its par value.
What is bond amortization and accretion?
Amortization or accretion calculations are used to adjust the cost basis from the purchase amount to the expected redemption amount. This spreads out the gain or loss over the remaining life of the bond instead of recognizing the gain or loss in the year of the bondâ€™s redemption.
What is ARO and Arc?
– Debit—Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO) – Credit—Capitalized Asset Retirement Costs (ARC) Upward Revisions in Settlement Costs of the ARO. Unlike changes in settlement dates or downward revisions in settlement. costs, upward revisions of undiscounted future cash flows (i.e., estimated.
How does ARO work?
An asset retirement obligation (ARO) is a legal obligation that is associated with the retirement of a tangible, long-term asset. It is generally applicable when a company is responsible for removing equipment or cleaning up hazardous materials at some agreed-upon future date.
What is ARO in oil and gas?
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 410-20 describes an asset retirement obligation (ARO) as unavoidable cost associated with retiring a long-lived asset that arises as a result of either the acquisition, construction, or development of an asset.
How to calculate your interest expense?
The amount of principal outstanding on the loan
What are the examples of accrued expenses?
Primary examples of accrued expenses are salaries payable and interest payable. Salaries payable are wages earned by employees in one accounting period but not paid until the next, while interest payable is interest expense that has been incurred but not yet paid.
What is the difference between accrued and prepaid expense?
Accrual Accounting. There are two types of accounting methods: the accrual method and the cash method.
Is depreciation accounted for as an accrued expense?
Accrual accounting factors in the depreciation concept and each year, we can claim depreciation as an expense. Financial statements prepared on a cash basis will not show this decrease in value. The asset will continue to be shown at its original cost.