text:
Green Turtle Cay
St. Martin/St. Maarten
Rum Reviews
🇭🇹Haiti
Leaping Into Adventure in Southern Haiti
Around about 20 pounds and four years ago, I lived one of my most memorable travel adventures ever in the wilds of southern Haiti. It was there, just west of the storied city of Jacmel, where I found myself trekking through the bush, hopscotching rocks across streams, rappelling down a ravine, and finally reveling in the sanguine seclusion of Bassin Bleu.
A series of natural pools and waterfalls along the Petite Rivière de Jacmel, Bassin Bleu is renowned for the generally electric blue-green hues of the water here. (More on why I say "generally" in a future post.)
Scaling the heights to leap from caves hidden within the falls only adds to the thrills, of course.
To get in on this uncommon adventure, or enjoy most any aspect of the best of Haiti, you'll want to reach out to my friends Cyril Pressoir at Tour Haiti or Pierre "Bobby" Chavet at Agence Citadelle. Both men head two of the top, most trusted tour operators in the country. Even better, they're also amazing people and good friends.
If you want me to put you direct contact with either, drop me a line.
Wish you were here…?
Last updated by Steve Bennett on 12/09/2018 .
wywh
wywh2018
Surfing in Southern Haiti: Wish You Were Here
What's the next new hot spot for surfing in the Caribbean? How about Haiti?
Catching Some Shade in Southern Haiti: Wish You Were Here
Shade is never at a premium along the succulent sandy shores of Port-Salut.
Experience The Beautiful Side Of Haiti
Haiti, just like everywhere else, is not all one thing. What's bad is bad there. What's good... well... some of it is like this...
Over 150,000 fans can't be wrong. Follow us.
Uncommon Caribbean
is Steve and Patrick Bennett, two brothers from St. Croix changing the way people think about travels to the Caribbean by putting authentic aspects of island life and the region's unique cultural heritage in the spotlight ahead of the glitzy, one-size fits all tourist trap image popularized over the years. Read more...
All content and images © Uncommon Caribbean unless otherwise noted.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Riding Apparel like breeches, riding shirts or riding jackets for Ladies, Men or Kids. Top brands of riding apparel like Ovation, Horseware or Irideon at great prices from Equestrian Collections - Ride in Style!
Gift giving for riders is made easy on Equestrian Collections! Riders will always welcome gifts of riding apparel like boot socks, riding gloves, stock ties or stock pins. For more luxury gifts, a beautiful new show shirt or show jacket will be sure to delight. Check out the Equestrian Collections Holiday Gift Guide for more ideas for people on your gift list.


text:
HomeNewsReturn to in-person council meetings
Return to in-person council meetings
September 10, 2020 R. Comfort – Leader staff News
MORRISBURG – Tuesday night, South Dundas council returned to fully in-person public council meetings in its council chambers here in Morrisburg for the first time in almost six months.
All South Dundas council meetings have been held virtually since late March when the state of emergency was declared by the Province for the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I am happy to go back into chambers," said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, in advance of the Tuesday night meeting. "It's not that the Webex meetings didn't work, rather it just feels more personable," said Byvelds. "Counties have been back for the last two meetings and it just has a better feel to it."
"I am thrilled to be safely back," said South Dundas deputy mayor Kirsten Gardner. "While video conferencing is a good alternative, meeting in-person to discuss and debate a variety of issues seems to be a better option for connecting as a group and working as a team."
"I'm glad to be going back to in-person meetings for the simple reason that I think we get more done sitting at the table," said South Dundas councillor Donald Lewis.
"I'm glad to be having an in-person meeting," agreed South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan. "It adds to better discussions and decision-making."
"I think it makes the meeting more personal and I think you can express yourself better," said South Dundas councillor Lloyd Wells.
Asked what they have learned throughout this online meeting process, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvleds said: "It taught us that we can have meetings virtually."
"As much as it was a learning experience, I do believe we did a good job of adapting to it," he said, adding that it did give residents the opportunity to see council in action while staying home.
"I'm no stranger to meeting online and via teleconference and have always felt that meeting in-person is a better option," said Gardner. "This experience highlighted how important it is to have different options for our meetings, not just for our council but also to be available in multiple formats for the engagement of our South Dundas residents."
"A lot of citizens followed our online meetings and gave us a lot of feedback," said Lewis.
Mellan and Wells agreed that there were many technical difficulties with Webex.
"I couldn't always see everyone or hear clearly the full discussion from council and staff," said Mellan, saying it was likely due to internet connection issues.
"There always seems to be technical problems," said Wells.
Going forward council plans to continue broadcasting all its meetings live online.
The September 8th meeting was an exception due to a technical issue.
"By having meetings online we have created a new expectation," said Byvelds. "This experience worked well. I believe we would have moved to this format eventually anyway. This forced our hand sooner."
Gardner said that she absolutely wants online meetings to continue. "I love seeing our residents engaged in municipal meetings. This experience highlighted how much people want to find out more information and see their council in action. I would also add that it supports transparency and provides some clarification on why decisions are made."
"It lets citizens follow what's going on at the council table," said Lewis adding that not a lot of people want to sit at a council meeting.
Mellan said that he likes that people can see and hear council business at their convenience rather than getting their information from the coffee clubs.
"It's great to have our meetings online," said Wells. "It's a really easy way for the public to tune-in on what's going on in the municipality and with the council."
Brinston
In-Person meetings
Morrisburg
Jr. C hockey aims to return to ice in December
Editorial – Conversation, then action


Ljubljana, 14 December - Energy trader Petrol plans to generate EUR 5.6bn in sales revenue at group level in 2019 and a net profit of EUR 96.7m. The business plan, approved by the supervisory board and released on Friday, envisages EUR 101m in fixed asset investments. It is announcing a focus on innovative business models and 18 new service stations for a total of 515.
The news item consists of 1.252 characters (without spaces) or 247 words words.


cocktail table black cocktail table black clothes.
cocktail table black cocktailtable4 cocktail table black cloth.
cocktail table black global views reflective column cocktail table black cerused oak 2563 cocktail table black cloth dolls.
cocktail table black cocktail table with black linen blazer.
cocktail table black about this item amazoncom inch round adjustable height cocktail table black inch round adjustable height cocktail table black granite by banquet tables pro.
cocktail table black aico furniture sky tower cocktail table black ice 9025601 805 cocktail table with black linen jacket.
cocktail table black mariner cocktail table black cocktail table with black linen dress.
cocktail table black accent and occasional furniture tribute lift top cocktail table black cocktail table black cloth tablecloths.
cocktail table black gavelston black lift top cocktail table square cocktail table black metal legs.
cocktail table black michael amini 9025601 805 sky tower cocktail table black ice cocktail table black cloth texture.
cocktail table black ashley furniture signature design beckendorf casual rectangular cocktail table black cocktail table black cloth napkins.
cocktail table black harper blvd quaker metalglass oval cocktail table black cocktail table black cloth napkins.
cocktail table black parlone cocktail table with black linen cabinet.
cocktail table black titanpro 32 blow molded plastic folding cocktail table black cocktail table with black linen jacket.
cocktail table black home cocktails cocktail tables black cocktail table sets.
cocktail table black wild ride tessellated stone cocktail table black for sale cocktail table black cloth napkins.
cocktail table black iveecky 36 inch round by 42 inch spandex tablecloth for cocktail table black cocktail table black belly bar.
cocktail table black abaco medium cocktail table black square cocktail table black metal legs.
cocktail table black butler specialty millard black licorice cocktail table black licorice target cocktail table with black linen dress.
cocktail table black charleston wedding vow renewal at magnolia plantation via dana cubbage photography black wedding decor chelsea house home hope house cocktail table black free chelsea house home hope house cocktail table black.
cocktail table black castle island rectangular cocktail table dark brown outdoor by ashley cocktail table black cloth tape.
cocktail table black living on the edge large cocktail table black and brown cocktail table with black linen blazer.
cocktail table black ryll side table ryll cocktail table black cocktail table with black linen jacket.
cocktail table black cocktail table black.


text:
Horka je zámek ve vsi Horka II jihovýchodně od Zruče nad Sázavou v okrese Kutná Hora ve Středočeském kraji. Jeho předchůdcem byla tvrz založené Oldřichem Malovcem z Malovic ve druhé polovině šestnáctého století jako centrum malého šlechtického statku. Tvrz po roce 1642 ztratila svou sídelní funkci a vrchnostenským sídlem se znovu stala po roce 1748. V letech 1765–1770 byla přestavěna na barokní zámek, jehož dochovaná podoba je výsledkem klasicistních úprav. Zámek slouží jako sídlo obecního úřadu a je chráněn jako kulturní památka.

Historie
Na místě vesnice Horka II stávala vesnice Sloupná, kterou roku 1553 koupil Pavel Malovec z Malovic. Když v roce 1557 zemřel, rozdělilo se jeho pět synů o majetek, přičemž Sloupná připadla nejstaršímu synovi Oldřichu Malovcovi. Ten přestavěl starý selský dvůr na poplužní a nechal u něj postavit tvrz. První písemná zmínka o ní pochází z roku 1578. Vzhledem k její poloze na okraji svahu údolí Sázavy bývala označována, po dobu více než sta let, jako Horka nad Sloupnou.

Oldřich Malovec zemřel nejpozději roku 1583. Ačkoliv po něm zůstala vdova Maruše z Lastvic, poručníkem jejích nezletilých dětí se stal Jan z Malovic a na Štěpánově. Po dosažení dospělosti dostal Mstidruh Václav Malovec vesnici Chabeřice, zatímco o Horku vlastnil Pavel, který zemřel v roce 1595 na zranění utržené při roztržce na hostině na libodřické tvrzi. Oldřichův synovec Věnek poté vyplatil jeho děti, a Horku držel sám až do své smrti v květnu roku 1616. Zemřel bezdětný a statku se ujala jeho příbuzná Anna Mírkova z Malovic, která tvrz Horku s poplužním dvorem, vsí Sloupnou a částí Sázavy prodala 30. června 1616 za 2 950 kop míšeňských grošů Janovi mladšímu Řísnickému z Řísnice. Nový majitel zemřel v roce 1618 a statek po něm převzal Mikuláš Řísnický, který jej 10. září 1629 prodal Marii Anně Lukavecké, rozené Pešíkové z Komárova († 1642) za 2 775 kop míšeňských grošů. Majetek po ní zdědila, snad její dcera, Bohunka Slavníkovcová, která Horku s vesnicí Čejtice hned v roce 1642 prodala za pět tisíc zlatých Limíru Vidunovi Obyteckému z Obytec. Ten ji připojil k soutickému panství. Tvrz Horka tak ztratila funkci vrchnostenského sídla a začala pustnout.

Centrem panství tvořeného třemi vesnicemi se Horka znovu stala v roce 1748, kdy ji koupil František Antonín Ragersdorf. Od něj ji roku 1759 koupil Václav František Obytecký z Obytec a v roce 1765 ji prodal Janu Adolfu Trauttmansdorffovi. Za něj byla stará tvrz v letech 1765–1770 přestavěna na barokní zámek s kaplí svatého Josefa. V roce 1782 zámek po otci zdědil Jan Adolf Šebestián Trauttmansdorff a roku 1807 celý statek prodal Václavu Šporkovi. Od Václavova syna Jana Josefa Šporka Horku a tři vesnice roku 1845 koupil Josef Štangler, jehož potomkům zámek patřil do roku 1949.

V letech 1971–1974 prošla zámecká budova rozsáhlou opravou a poté sloužila jako sídlo místního národního výboru, knihovny a nacházelo se v ní pohostinství a byty.

Stavební podoba
Podle popisu z roku 1759 tvořila původní tvrz obdélná budova se zděným přízemím, dřevěným patrem a šindelovou střechou. Při barokní přestavbě byla roku 1769 k východní straně budovy přistavěna kaple s rokokově zařízeným interiérem zdobeným nástěnnými malbami. Uvnitř se nachází rámový hlavní oltář svatého Josefa a boční oltář zasvěcený svatému Janovi Nepomuckému.

Jednopatrová zámecká budova má sedm okenních os. Hlavní průčelí zdůrazňuje středový rizalit s balkonem. Rizalit je zakončen tympanonem. Na opačné straně se nachází sloupy podepřená terasa. Podoba fasád vychází z neoklasicistních úprav provedených za Josefa Štanglera po roce 1845. Erb jeho rodiny je umístěn nad hlavním vstupem. Prostory v interiéru mají klenuté stropy, zatímco v prvním patře jsou stropy ploché.

K památkově chráněným objektům dvora patří zámek s kaplí a ohradní zeď se dvěma branami. Budovy přilehlého hospodářského dvora jsou ve špatném stavu.

Odkazy

Reference

Související články
 Seznam zámků ve Středočeském kraji

Externí odkazy
 Ottův slovník naučný. Svazek 16. Praha: Jan Otto, 1900.Heslo Malovec (autor August Sedláček), s. 723–727.

Barokní zámky v okrese Kutná Hora
Horka II
Kulturní památky v okrese Kutná Hora
Horka II

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Following the unanticipated and quite frankly phenomenal success of last year's rugby 7s tournaments, the prospect of the squad reuniting under the Pod sponsorship for the 2011 season was a sure bet.
Consisting of existing squad members along with some new faces, our line-up of local lads is the strongest yet and with the newly designed 'tight is right' kit the team are raring to go.
Just as well, considering our first tournament this Sunday 8th May ULR7s, where we'll be facing none other than the full England Squad, Dig Deep. First aid kits at the ready there's no doubting our team of local lads will give everything they've got. Anything for a challenge.
As always Moz our photographer will be documenting the games and all photos will be available to download for free from the Pod Gallery.
For those who can't make the tournaments, we'll be running a live commentary of the games via the Pod Rugby7s Twitter account & to keep up-dated direct from the rugby team and coaches, 'Like' the Pod Rugby 7s Facebook page.
Visit the Pod Sponsorship page for a more detailed account of the sevens tournaments.


text:
Home / Background
Last Update: 03:34 AM 20-08-2019
Photo: Copyright Action contre la faim
ACBAR structure
Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief & development (ACBAR) is a national, independent, non-government organization (NGO) that provides a platform for information-sharing and networking for national and international NGOs in Afghanistan.
ACBAR was created in Peshawar, Pakistan, in August 1988 in response to the demand from NGOs working with Afghan refugees in Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan to coordinate assistance and delivery of services more efficiently.
ACBAR's main office or secretariat has been based in Kabul since 2002. ACBAR also has four provincial managers based in member's offices in Jalalabad, Mazar-e-Sherif, Herat, Kunduz and Kandahar
ACBAR has a democratic structure with the General Assembly, in which all members are represented, as the highest decision making body of ACBAR. The General Assembly meets twice a year.
ACBAR's Steering Committee consists of 15 member NGOs led by the Chair and supported by a Vice-Chair and a Treasurer.
ACBAR Core Activities
Activities focus on information sharing, coordination, advocacy with NGO members, the government, UN, donors and wider civil society. It also provides capacity building support to its members. These activities are managed by different departments in the secretariat.
Information and Coordination Activities
The information-coordination department is responsible for providing essential information to NGO members, facilitating coordination mechanisms and collecting data on NGO members. Essential information is provided to members via email.
Sectoral information and issues are circulated to members working in those relevant sectors and humanitarian information is sent to those members working in the humanitarian sector.
ACBAR updates its members on key issues, regulations and government legislation and acts as a mediator between its members and the Government when required.
Advocacy and Communication Activities
ACBAR plays a leading role in representing and defending the interests of its member NGOs, especially with the government but also with the international community. ACBAR actively promotes the position of NGOs and responds to issues or problems faced by the NGO community. For this, maintaining relationships and open communication channels with key players and decision makers able to influence the work of NGOs in Afghanistan is an essential task of ACBAR.
Capacity Building Activities
ACBAR's has two capacity building programmes. In the training programme ACBAR trainers provide a variety of training modules to NGO partners and wider civil society in all the main provincial cities in Afghanistan.
ACBAR also created the Twinning Programme for national NGOs to be supported and mentored by International NGOs in the humanitarian sector. The mentoring provided by INGO partners is to help build up the management and leadership of the national organisation as well as share institutional knowledge.
Read more about Capacity Building
Read more about Twinning Program
Developing and Promoting NGO transparency and accountability
In helping members to demonstrate their legitimacy and accountability, ACBAR has spearheaded the establishment of a voluntary Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is a national NGO code established in Afghanistan in 2004 and is mandatory for all ACBAR members to sign and respect as a condition of membership.


The Second Regiment building was also known as the "Dame House" because most or all of the cost of construction was paid by Harriet P. Dame, the hero of the 1901, 25th reunion. Dame, who had passed away the previous year of 1900, was deemed the "Florence Nightingale of New Hampshire" at the very first, 1875 reunion. For nearly five years, she had accompanied the Second Regiment as an army nurse. The Second was one of the two most active NH regiments during the war (the Fifth was the other). Dame had her own, private room and balcony on the second floor of the house. The house was intentionally demolished in 1993 due to its poor condition.


Are Men Allowed To Wear Full Lace Wigs?
It's becoming a common trend to see men wearing full lace wigs. Similar to women, some men may consider the option to provide temporarily relief from mild to severe hair loss. Due to the craftsmanship of the wig to appear undetectable to the naked eye, it's not a surprise that it's an appealing alternative for different individuals, races and cultures.
Men generally prefer the use of adhesives to apply their hair unit, to prevent embarrassing situations. However, clips are becoming the norm for individuals with mild hair loss that prefer a hairpiece that can be removed on a daily basis.
Similar to some women, there are some men out there that would rather purchase a lace wig at a very low cost, and end up choosing a synthetic unit. However after wearing the unit in public, many have found that a synthetic full lace wig is easily detectable due to the low hair quality and triggers odd stares and comments amongst their peers. Many will admit after such an experience that the cost factor is no longer one of their concerns when it comes to their appearance and self esteem.
In addition, many transvestites and homosexuals have opened their horizons about full lace wigs. However, due to stereotypical views, some distributors/vendors make it difficult for them to communicate their needs and wants with the product. The Lace Wigs Store and Kapenzo Hair provide discrete services for all men and women including transvestites. Our services range from in stock wigs that can be altered to fit each individual style, custom made wigs for specific requirements and application services.


text:
Capital punishment and Australian foreign policy
Policy Briefs | 09 August 2006
In this Policy Brief, Dr Michael Fullilove examines how the Australian Government implements its stated opposition to the death penalty. He finds that while Australia is an effective advocate for Australian nationals on death row, we do less than we could in relation to universal abolition. Michael Fullilove
Michael Fullilove
Capital punishment in Asia and the world
Why is the death penalty an issue for Australia?
Australians on death row
Universal abolition
Australia is an abolitionist country. Both the Australian Government and the Opposition are opposed to capital punishment. Australia engages in modest advocacy against the death penalty but most of Canberra's efforts are directed toward cases involving Australian citizens. These are likely to continue to occur: our closest Asian neighbours retain the death penalty, and Australian nationals will probably continue to commit criminal acts carrying this penalty. Situations involving Australians often do violence to bilateral relations. For example, the looming execution of Van Tuong Nguyen last year led to calls from Australian commentators for trade and business sanctions against Singapore, and charges of hypocrisy being levelled against Australia in the regional press.
The problem, then, is twofold: Australian diplomacy is making little progress toward universal abolition, a bipartisan national policy; and our bilateral relationships are being damaged because of our perceived hypocrisy on the issue.
Australia is an effective advocate for our nationals on death row. However, we should accelerate our efforts on comprehensive abolition, in two ways:
Australian political leaders should bring some consistency to their rhetoric on the death penalty; and
Australia should initiate a regional coalition against capital punishment. In the past decade five Asian states have done away with the death penalty. In partnership with abolitionist Asian states, we should devise creative ways to nudge others toward abolition.
Speaking with one voice on capital punishment and leading from the front would increase our chances of making a difference. It would also disarm those regional critics who charge that Australia cares only about its own. In other words a forward-leaning policy would conform with Australian interests as well as Australian values. It would be the smart thing to do as well as the right thing.
The death penalty is an ugly feature of the world in which we live. 71 countries and territories retain and use the death penalty. Accurate numbers are impossible to obtain because many countries refuse to produce official statistics on death sentences and executions. However, Amnesty International estimates that at least 2,148 people were executed in 2005 and 5,186 people were sentenced to death. The global death row accommodates at least 20,000 individuals. These are minimum figures: the actual totals are probably much higher.1
The Asian region, in which Australia does much of its commercial and diplomatic business, is world's best practice when it comes to executing people. Fifteen Asian states retain the death penalty for ordinary crimes: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.2 China and Singapore in particular have distinguished themselves. Public reports indicate that at least 1,770 people were executed in China last year, which represents more than 80% of known executions worldwide. (Again, the true number is likely to be much higher than this.) In the period 1999-2003, Singapore boasted by far the highest per capita execution rate in the world: 6.9 executions per 1 million people. Since 2000, methods of execution in Asia have included hanging (Japan and Singapore), shooting by firing squad or with a single bullet to the back of the head (China, Taiwan and Vietnam), and lethal injection (China and Thailand).3
However, the news is not all bad for those who oppose capital punishment; indeed, progress is being made. Since 1990, over forty countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes. In our own region, five Asian states have abolished the death penalty in the past decade and a half: Cambodia (1989), Nepal (1997), Timor-Leste (1999), Bhutan (2004), and the Philippines, where President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo signed a bill outlawing the death penalty on 24 June this year. In addition, Brunei Darussalam, Maldives, Myanmar and Sri Lanka are regarded as abolitionist in practice, even if not at law.4
The persistence of capital punishment in our region and around the world is an issue for Australia, and not only when the condemned person is an Australian national.5 In the case of Australians, of course, the case is black and white. All governments have a consular responsibility to assist their nationals when they are in difficulties abroad, especially when their lives are at risk. Shortly after the execution of Nguyen Tuong Van last December, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer stated the position plainly: 'We will always make representations on behalf of Australian citizens who are given the death penalty. We will always seek clemency on their behalf.'6
Van Nguyen was the first Australian to be executed in Singapore since its independence and the first to be executed overseas since 1993. However he is unlikely to be the last. Currently, at least four Australian nationals are at serious risk of execution: 7
Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran of the Bali Nine, sentenced to death in February for attempted heroin smuggling, are appealing their convictions. Recent comments by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono indicated that clemency is unlikely to be awarded to convicted drug traffickers.
Trinh Huu, sentenced to death last December in Vietnam for drug trafficking, had his appeal rejected in April. He has applied for clemency.
An unnamed Australian in Lebanon is facing murder charges which could lead to a sentence of death. The case has not yet gone to trial.
Furthermore, other Australians are likely to join them on death row. Many of our closest neighbours, including our key source and transit countries, retain the death penalty for drug trafficking and other serious offences. Given the frailties of human nature, Australian nationals are likely to commit these crimes – in particular the carriage of commercial quantities of illegal drugs – and to be called to account for them.
Quite apart from Australia's specific responsibility in the case of Australians facing the death penalty, however, we should also be active on the question of universal abolition, for reasons of both values and interests.
State-sanctioned killing clearly engages Australian values. Opponents of capital punishment make a variety of persuasive arguments: that it offends human dignity; that it brutalises the societies which employ it; that innocent people will be executed because of the inability of legal systems (especially, but certainly not only, in the developing world) to eliminate error and prejudice; that it causes unacceptable suffering to the condemned and their innocent loved ones; that it is does not deter the commission of crime. One of the most compelling historical critiques of capital punishment was George Orwell's account of a hanging in colonial Burma. Walking behind the condemned man on the way to the gallows, Orwell noticed him step slightly aside to avoid a puddle on the path:
'It is curious, but till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man. When I saw the prisoner step aside to avoid the puddle, I saw the mystery, the unspeakable wrongness, of cutting a life short when it is in full tide. This man was not dying, he was alive just as we were alive. All the organs of his body were working – bowels digesting food, skin renewing itself, nails growing, tissues forming – all toiling away in solemn foolery. His nails would still be growing when he stood on the drop, when he was falling through the air with a second to live. His eyes saw the yellow gravel and the grey walls, and his brain still remembered, foresaw, reasoned – reasoned even about puddles. He and we were a party of men walking together, seeing, hearing, feeling, understanding the same world; and in two minutes, with a sudden snap, one of us would be gone – one mind less, one world less.'8
Australian public opinion is divided on the merits of capital punishment. Poll results vary depending on the question asked and the salience of the issue at the time of polling. For example, in November 2005, Roy Morgan found that only 27% of respondents believed the penalty for murder should be death – the lowest figure ever recorded and half of what it was a decade ago. On the other hand Morgan recorded that 47% of Australians believed that Van Nguyen's death penalty should be carried out. In August 2003, Newspoll found that a majority of respondents supported the reintroduction of capital punishment for terror attacks committed in Australia.9
Ultimately, it is not necessary to litigate the pros and cons of the issue. We do not start with a blank sheet. The Australian Government is opposed to capital punishment. The last Australian executed in this country was Ronald Ryan in 1967. The death penalty has been abolished by the Commonwealth of Australia and all its States and Territories. Canberra has acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which prohibits the execution of any person within the jurisdictions of the states party to it.10 Official documents set out Australia's opposition to the death penalty on the universal ground that it is 'an inhumane form of punishment which violates the most fundamental human right – the right to life.' We consistently sign up to UN resolutions calling upon all states to abolish it. Furthermore, at the political level an effective consensus exists that capital punishment is bad and Australia should work against it. Prime Minister John Howard has said 'I don't believe in capital punishment' and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has confirmed 'the Australian Government has a longstanding policy of opposition to the death penalty.' The alternative Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Kim Beazley and Kevin Rudd, have stated that Labor is opposed to the death penalty worldwide. The other political parties concur.11
Unless and until our elected representatives decide otherwise, the settled policy of the Australian Government is to oppose capital punishment. Successive governments have indicated that the death penalty offends Australian values – and as Prime Minister Howard has rightly said (albeit in another context): 'in the end a nation's foreign policy must be values-based.'12
Maintaining our opposition to the death penalty in relation to foreigners as well as Australians conforms with our values. It also serves our national interests.13 Four Australians currently sit on death row and in all likelihood, others will join them there. The best position from which to petition foreign governments on behalf of our nationals is that of consistent and strong opposition to the death penalty regardless of the nationality of the condemned. Such a stance would enable the government to deal with the issue positively and continually, rather than negatively and sporadically. It would increase the momentum toward universal prohibition and bulletproof us against claims of hypocrisy.
If, on the other hand, we create a perception that we are concerned only or principally with capital punishment when it involves Australians, then we open ourselves to accusations of special pleading. Indeed, these accusations are already being made. In the lead- up to Van Nguyen's execution, for instance, the Singaporean and Malaysian press contained statements to the effect that, as a commentator for The Straits Times put it, 'Australians…practise double standards.' 'Singaporeans live under the very same laws that convicted Nguyen', stated another columnist. 'Are the Australian government and people suggesting that because he carried an Australian passport, he is therefore above our laws?'14 Anecdotal evidence confirms that this perception exists in a number of southeast Asian countries. The best way to disarm these kinds of critics is to act consistently.
It is understandable and appropriate that Australia places a particular priority on the welfare of its own citizens. It would be naïve to imagine that any national government would ever be indifferent to the kind of passport held by an individual facing execution – nor should it be. However, vigorous opposition to capital punishment in general is likely to bolster a government's credibility in opposing certain specific executions.
If it accords with Australian values and serves Australian interests to lobby for our nationals on death row and pursue universal abolition – and furthermore it is our stated policy to do so – then how well are we performing? The answer is: fairly well on the consular side, and fairly modestly on the universal side.
In relation to Australian nationals, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) always seeks clemency for Australians sentenced to death. It takes a pragmatic approach to each case, using the arguments it judges are most likely to find success. In some cases, for example, the emphasis is put on an individual's personal circumstances; in others, on the strength of the bilateral relationship. Generally DFAT prefers high-level political representations to interventions in local judicial processes, unless there is strong evidence that due process has not been followed. Representations are made by senior officials, the Foreign Minister, and on occasion, the highest officeholders in the land. In the case of Van Nguyen, for example, several dozen written and personal representations were made to the President, Prime Minister and other senior ministers of Singapore by the Australian Governor-General, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Trade Minister, Attorney- General, Justice Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, as well as our High Commissioner in Singapore and other officials.15
It is not easy to judge the effectiveness of diplomacy that is often quiet. Certainly it is vigorous, as one would expect, and as the political imperative requires. There was criticism of the Government's handling of Van Nguyen's case, but it is hard to imagine what more Canberra could have done that would have altered Singapore's implacable, clinical determination to put him to death. Furthermore, our consular efforts have their successes as well as failures: earlier this year, for example, the President of Vietnam commuted the death sentences of Australian citizen Mai Cong Thanh and Australian permanent resident Nguyen Van Chinh after a full-court diplomatic press by Canberra, including personal lobbying by Mr Howard.16
As Van Nguyen's execution loomed last year, a number of politicians suggested that Canberra should up the ante by interrupting bilateral trade or limiting the Australian activities of Singaporean businesses. Liberal backbencher Bruce Baird MP, for example, argued the Government should take Singapore's behaviour into account when considering whether Singapore Airlines should be given access to the Sydney-Los Angeles air route; Greens Senator Kerry Nettle raised the possibility of trade sanctions and even military sanctions.17 These kinds of prescriptions are flawed. They would fail the effectiveness test, as they would be highly unlikely to save any Australian lives. Sovereign governments tend not to take well to bullying, especially by a middle-sized power. They would damage other Australian interests and make us a less effective international player. Finally, their limitation to cases involving Australian citizens would undermine the moral strength of our abolitionist position.
In relation to Australians on death row, then, the Government is reasonably effective. In relation to universal abolition, however, we do less than we should.
Certainly, we oppose the death penalty at the multilateral and bilateral levels. We join other abolitionist states in co-sponsoring an annual UN resolution calling upon all states to abolish or limit the death penalty.18 At the request of the European Union, which takes the lead on these resolutions, Australia has lobbied Pacific Island countries to join the ranks of the co- sponsors.
From time to time Australia also makes bilateral representations on behalf of non- Australians on death row, usually on the basis of information provided by Amnesty International. Sometimes those representations are made within the context of the ongoing human rights dialogues Australia maintains with China, Vietnam and Iran. Current and former Australian diplomats involved with the making of such representations differ on their value. Speaking off the record, one said that representations are 'very formulaic… the point is to make no waves but to be able to tell the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) we've done it.' Another observed that the making of representations gives the Foreign Minister a story to tell the human rights NGOs at his biannual meeting with them. A third official, by contrast, was more positive, saying the effect of representations is in the nature of 'water dripping on stone.' He argued that 'a structured diplomatic exchange' can initiate a useful discussion, although it depends on whether the official 'reads it off a sheet or delivers it with conviction'.
In sum, the Australian Government serves in the ranks of the anti-death penalty forces. However the issue is not accorded a high diplomatic priority. Few observers would identify Canberra as a leader in the international abolition movement.
Australia should take universal abolition more seriously and accelerate its efforts on this bipartisan policy issue. There are two steps Australia should take.
1. Be consistent in our public comments
In the advocacy of human rights, consistency is a virtue. The Australian international relations scholar R.J. Vincent observed that 'finding its place in the empire of circumstance is more damaging to human rights policy than it might be to other items of foreign policy, because… it is on the substance and appearance of even- handedness that a successful human rights policy depends.' Of course, true consistency is only possible for angels, not governments. No Australian government will ever be as exercised by the execution of someone from Mumbai as it is by the execution of someone from Melbourne. Different circumstances require different approaches.19 That said, a general consistency of direction is essential.
However it is difficult to discern such consistency in the recent comments of Australian politicians about the death penalty; instead, we have seen blatant and apparently deliberate departures from Australia's official position. For example, in February 2003 Mr Howard said that if the perpetrators of the 2002 Bali bombing, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians, were sentenced to death there 'won't be any protest from Australia'. The following month the Prime Minister told America's Fox 9 News Channel that he would welcome the execution of Osama Bin Laden.20 In August 2003, the then Labor frontbencher Mark Latham rejoiced in the sentencing of Bali bomber Amrozi to death by firing squad: 'I think it's a day where all political parties should be celebrating, thankful for the fact that one of the bastards has been got and he's going to face the full weight of the law in the jurisdiction where this act of evil was committed.'21
The capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 produced a rare example of unanimity between Mr Latham, the newly elected Opposition Leader, and his opponent Mr Howard, who both declared they would not object to his execution.22
This kind of inconsistency erodes the abolitionist underpinnings of our stance. It makes us look hypocritical when we ask for our own people to be spared. As a commentator remarked in The Straits Times in December 2005: 'those who are most critical of the Singapore authorities in the Nguyen case are silent when it comes to Amrozi, who is on death row in Indonesia for his role in the Bali bombing which killed many Australians… Is this a case of double standards – death for Amrozi because he killed Australians, leniency for Nguyen because he is Australian? Why is the death penalty 'barbaric' in one case, but not the other?'23
Opposing capital punishment in all cases, including the hardest cases, buttresses our position in relation to Australians on death row. Our political leaders should ensure that Australia's principled opposition to the death penalty is reflected in their public comments. They should resist the temptation to play to the gallery, even in relation to individuals who have caused great suffering to Australians and in relation to important friends and allies such as Indonesia and the United States.
2. Initiate a regional coalition against the death penalty
We need to get our death penalty rhetoric right. We also need to create some diplomatic reality behind it. The Government should signal that universal abolition is an Australian diplomatic priority and devise a strategy to advance the issue.
One approach would be to work more closely with the Europeans, who form the most strictly abolitionist international bloc. Some Australian officials criticise the Europeans' approach as 'press release diplomacy', but it is impossible to deny the impact that their sustained advocacy has had on the issue generally or in particular cases such as the Philippines and Turkey, which limited its application of the death penalty in order to boost its case for entry to the European Union.
However a better approach would be for Australia to start its work in Asia, the region where we deploy our greatest diplomatic resources and which also happens to be the location of most of the world's executions. Australia has an activist diplomatic tradition within the region and some experience in building constituencies for particular initiatives, as demonstrated by our work on the Cambodian peace process and the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). Australia should initiate a regional coalition of Asian states opposed to the death penalty, in order to build on the momentum created by its abolition in five Asian jurisdictions in the past decade. If we make common cause with Cambodians, Nepalese, East Timorese, Bhutanese, Filipinos and others, we will increase our points of influence and decrease the ability of death penalty proponents to accuse us of neo- colonialism.
The work of the coalition should be guided by the principles of effectiveness and prudence. The issuing of loud condemnations and the indiscriminate raising of trade and military sanctions would leave Australia poor and friendless, and furthermore would be unlikely to save a single life. Instead we should look for creative approaches to nudge regional countries toward abolition.
There are a number of ways to structure the coalition's work, none of it absolutist in tone. Megaphones need not be employed. We may find it politic to focus our resources on de facto abolitionist countries such as Sri Lanka, and seek to move them up the spectrum towards formal abolition. A particular opportunity exists in the case of South Korea, which has not executed anyone since 1998 but maintains a death row of sixty-odd individuals. There is a growing movement in South Korea to abolish capital punishment in favour of life imprisonment without parole, which is supported by former President Kim Dae-jung and was kicked along this year by the Justice Ministry's announcement that it will study the case for abolition. A similar debate is stirring in Malaysia, led by the Bar Council and a Cabinet Minister.24 Ultimately this issue will be decided in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur, of course, but a regional grouping may be able to influence the thinking in those and other capitals.
There are other strategies we could employ, all of them more nuanced than simply demanding universal abolition immediately. For example, the coalition could encourage retentionist countries to:
• Announce a moratorium on executions as part of a move toward complete abolition;
• Restrict the number and type of offences for which capital punishment is imposed;
• Abolish mandatory death penalties (such as the one according to which Van Nguyen was executed);
• Release comprehensive official statistics about their use of the death penalty;
• Guarantee that death sentences will not be carried out on children, pregnant women, new mothers, or the insane; and that it will only be applied after a fair trial, and when the individual's guilt has been established by clear evidence, leaving no room for alternative explanation;
• Institute safeguards to protect the rights of those on death row, for example the right to appeal to a court of higher jurisdiction, the right to seek a pardon or commutation, and the right not to be executed pending any such appeal.25
The regional coalition should be inter- governmental in nature, but the Government could also consider appointing a high-level advisory body composed of eminent people. An Australian example of this model was the Keating Government's Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, whose membership included Robert McNamara, Michel Rocard, Richard Butler and Robert O'Neill and which produced an impressive report in 1996.26 An example which achieved considerably more success was Canada's International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS), which was co-chaired by former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and whose membership included Michael Ignatieff, Fidel Ramos and Ramesh Thakur. The ICISS's highly influential report, The Responsibility to Protect, argued for the existence of an emerging norm, after Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda and Kosovo, that a collective international responsibility to protect civilians exists in the case of genocide, ethnic cleansing and widespread violations of human rights. That idea has been embraced widely and was adopted by national heads of government at the UN's 2005 World Summit in New York.27 A high-level advisory group of this kind could generate ideas and provide political cover for the regional coalition.
By being inconsistent and declaratory about capital punishment, we look hypocritical and weak. Stepping up our efforts toward universal abolition, by contrast, would not only be the right thing to do but the smart thing. If we put our shoulder to this wheel, we may even be able to move it a little; certainly, wheels rarely move without pushing.
I am grateful for the excellent research assistance provided by Moya Collett, a PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales. Joanne Bottcher was as efficient as ever. Thanks also to my interviewees and readers, including: Tim Goodwin of Amnesty International, a leading death penalty opponent; John North of the Law Council of Australia; Allan Gyngell and Dr Malcolm Cook of the Lowy Institute; and various Australian officials.
Amnesty International, Facts and figures on the death penalty: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty- facts-eng.
, Abolitionist and retentionist countries: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty- countries-eng.
Beazley, Kim, Interview with Philip Clark, Radio 2GB, 14 February 2006, http://www.alp.org.au/media/0206/riloo141.php.
Cagahastian, David, Bill abolishing death penalty signed – all death sentences now commuted to life. Manila Bulletin, 25 June 2006.
Camus, Albert, Reflections on the guillotine. Translated from the French by Richard Howard. Michigan City, Fridtjof-Karla Publications, 1959.
Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Report of the Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Canberra, Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 1996: http://www.dfat.gov.au/cc/cchome.html.
Carlyon, Patrick, Swinging voters. The Bulletin, 1 March 2006.
Carr, E.H., The twenty years' crisis 1919-1939: an introduction to the study of international relations. London, Macmillan, 1970.
China's world record – 8,000 dead?, Asia Death Penalty blog, 1 March 2006: http://asiadeathpenalty.blogspot.com/2006/03/c hinas-world-record-8000-dead.html.
Dae-woong, Jin, Former President Kim calls for end to death penalty. The Korea Herald, 27 February 2006.
Debates rekindled on death penalty. The Korea Times, 23 February 2006.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Human Rights Manual. Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia, 2004: http://www.dfat.gov.au/hr/hr_manual_2004/hr
_manual.pdf.
, What we do: http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/whatwedo.html.
Donnelly, Jack, Universal human rights in theory and practice. Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 1989.
Downer, Alexander, House of Representatives Hansard, 14 February 2006, p.3: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr1 40206.pdf.
, House of Representatives Hansard, 13 February 2006: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr1 30206.pdf.
, List of representations to Singapore Ministers and President, 28
November 2005: http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/200 5/nguyen_van_tuong_representation_singapore. html.
Fernandez, Warren, Real villains in Nguyen case. The Straits Times, 3 December 2005.
Grattan, Michelle, Airline row linked to Nguyen. The Age, 24 November 2005, p.1.
Greens say increase pressure on Singapore. AAP, 27 November 2005.
Greens, The, Government doesn't abhor death penalty. Media release, 29 November 2005: http://www.bobbrown.org.au/600_media_sub. php?deptItemID=1833.
Harries, Owen, Morality and foreign policy. CIS Occasional Paper 94. Sydney, Centre for Independent Studies, 2005.
Hearing on death penalty. The Korea Herald, 3 April 2006.
Howard, John, Interview on Fox 9 News Channel, 7 March 2003: http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Intervie w261.html.
, Joint press conference with then British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, November 2003: http://www.pm.gov.au/News/interviews/Intervi ew564.html.
Koestler, Arthur, Reflections on hanging. London, Victor Gollancz, 1956.
Lasry, Lex, Australia and the death penalty – are we really against it? Costello Lecture, Monash University, 29 March 2006: http://www.law.monash.edu.au/alumni/events/d eathpenalty.pdf.
Lewis, Steve, Terrorists should die: poll – majority in support of Amrozi execution. The Australian, 19 August 2003, p.1.
Loo Kok Wee, Wilson, Australians shouldn't get special treatment. The Straits Times, 30 November 2005.
Malaysian law minister supports abolishing death penalty. Dow Jones International News, 21 March 2006.
Morgenthau, Hans J., Human Rights and Foreign Policy. New York, Council on Religious and International Affairs, 1979.
, Interview on Sunday Sunrise, Channel 7, 16 February 2003: http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Intervie w244.html.
, Interview with Neil Mitchell, Radio 3AW, 2 December 2005: http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Intervie w1709.html.
, Politics among nations: the struggle for power and peace. 6th rev ed. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1985.
Ooi Chen Ni, Pauline, Does Aussie passport put one above law? The Straits Times, 23 November 2005.
Orwell, George, 'A hanging', in Shooting an elephant and other essays. London, Secker and Warburg, 1953.
The question of the death penalty: seventh quinquennial report of the Secretary-General to the UN Economic and Social Council, 9 March 2005, E/2005/3:
http://www.un.org/docs/ecosoc/documents.asp? id=880.
Roxon, Nicola, Call to action on anniversary of Death Penalty Protocol. Australian Labor Party media statement, 11 July 2006: http://www.alp.org.au/media/0706/msag110.php.
Roy Morgan Research, Australians divided over hanging of Van Nguyen. Finding No. 3947, 1 December 2005: http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2005/3 947/.
Rudd, Kevin, Doorstop interview, 4 December 2005:
http://www.alp.org.au/media/1205/dsifaistra04 0.php.
Soorian, A., Australia's double standards. New Straits Times, 25 November 2005.
Stott-Despoja, Natasha, Senate Hansard, 28 November 2005, p.59: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/dailys/ds 281105.pdf.
Teo, Laurel, To hang or not to hang? activists must be consistent. The Straits Times, 11 November 2005.
United Nations. Economic and Social Council, The question of the death penalty: report of the
Secretary-General, E/CN.4/2006/83, 10 February 2006: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/sessio ns/62/listdocs.htm.
United Nations. General Assembly, 2005 World Summit Outcome, 15 September 2005: http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N0 5/487/60/PDF/N0548760.pdf?OpenElement.
United Nations. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Second optional protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_opt2.htm.
, The question of the death penalty: Human Rights Resolution 2005/59: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/E/CHR/resolutio ns/E-CN_4-RES-2005-59.doc.
Vincent, R. J., Human rights and international relations. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1986.
1 This Policy Brief uses statistics from Amnesty International (AI), which are generally regarded as being authoritative and up-to-date: see AI, Facts and figures on the death penalty : http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-facts-eng; Abolitionist and retentionist countries: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-
countries-eng. United Nations (UN) estimates contain marginally different country counts, based on a different definition of countries that are de facto abolitionist: see The question of the death penalty. Report of the Secretary-General to the UN Economic and Social Council, E/CN.4/2006/83, 10 February 2006: http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/sessions/62/ listdocs.htm.
2 'Asia' is defined as northeast, south and southeast Asia. AI, Abolitionist and retentionist countries: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-
countries-eng.
3 AI, Facts and figures on the death penalty: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-facts-eng; The question of the death penalty, Seventh quinquennial report of the Secretary-General to the UN Economic and Social Council, 9 March 2005, E/2005/3: http://www.un.org/docs/ecosoc/documents.asp?id=8 80, table 2 and paragraph 48. Earlier this year it was reported that a Chinese legal scholar had estimated, based on information from local officials and judges, that approximately 8,000 people are executed in China each year: see China's world record – 8,000 dead? 1 March 2006: http://asiadeathpenalty.blogspot.com/2006/03/chinas
-world-record-8000-dead.html.
4 The question of the death penalty. Report of the Secretary-General to the UN Economic and Social Council, E/CN.4/2006/83, 10 February 2006,
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/sessions/62/ listdocs.htm; AI, Abolitionist and retentionist countries:
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-countries-eng. AI defines 'abolitionist in practice' as including countries which retain the death penalty but have not executed anyone for a decade and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions. On the Philippines, see David Cagahastian, Bill abolishing death penalty signed – all death sentences now commuted to life, Manila Bulletin, 25 June 2006.
5 This Policy Brief examines capital punishment in Australian foreign policy. It does not deal with the related issues of international criminal cooperation, for example extradition, mutual legal assistance and police-to-police cooperation.
6 House of Representatives Hansard, 13 February 2006, p.3: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr13020 6.pdf. See also What we do:
:http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/whatwedo.html.
7 Other Australians are also in danger, although the risk is less immediate than for these four. Dr Aggrey Kiyingi is on trial for murder in Uganda, but it had been thought that if convicted he would be unlikely to receive the death penalty. Recent media coverage, however, appears to indicate that execution is a real possibility. Henry Chhin is serving a 'suspended death sentence' in China, which will probably be reviewed in September 2007 and either commuted or carried out.
8 George Orwell, 'A hanging', in Shooting an elephant and other essays. London, Secker and Warburg, 1953, pp.13-14. See also Albert Camus, Reflections on the guillotine. Michigan City, Fridtjof-Karla Publications, 1959; Arthur Koestler, Reflections on hanging. London, Victor Gollancz, 1956; Hugo Adam Bedau and Paul G. Cassell, eds, Debating the death penalty: should America have capital punishment? The experts on both sides make their best case. New York, Oxford University Press, 2004.
9 Roy Morgan, Australians divided over hanging of Van Nguyen, Finding No. 3947, 1 December 2005: http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2005/3947/; Steve Lewis, Terrorists should die: poll – majority in support of Amrozi execution, The Australian, 19 August 2003, p.1. See also Patrick Carlyon, Swinging voters, The Bulletin, 1 March 2006.
10 Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_opt2.htm. Australia acceded to the Protocol on 2 October 1990, however it has not yet been incorporated into Australian domestic law by an Act of the Australian Parliament.
11 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Human Rights Manual. Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia, 2004, p.33: http://www.dfat.gov.au/hr/hr_manual_2004/hr_man ual.pdf; John Howard, Interview with Neil Mitchell, Radio 3AW, 2 December 2005: http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Interview170 9.html; Alexander Downer, House of Representatives Hansard, 14 February 2006, p.3: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr14020 6.pdf; Kim Beazley, Interview with Philip Clark, Radio 2GB, 14 February 2006: http://www.alp.org.au/media/0206/riloo141.php; Kevin Rudd, Doorstop interview, 4 December 2005: http://www.alp.org.au/media/1205/dsifaistra040.php; see also Nicola Roxon, Call to action on anniversary of Death Penalty Protocol, media statement 1 July 2006: http://www.alp.org.au/media/0706/msag110.php. Regarding Democrat and Green opposition to capital punishment, see: Government doesn't abhor death penalty, 29 November 2005: http://www.bobbrown.org.au/600_media_sub.php?d eptItemID=1833; Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja, Senate Hansard, 28 November 2005, p.59: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/dailys/ds2811 05.pdf. An official from the Nationals' Federal Secretariat indicated by private communication that the Nationals' policy conforms with the Government's.
12 John Howard, Joint press conference with then British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, November 2003: http://www.pm.gov.au/News/interviews/Interview56 4.html.
13 A Policy Brief is not the appropriate venue for a discussion of the relationship between values, interests and foreign policy. However Owen Harries was surely correct when he argued in his recent elegant survey that the 'characteristic fault of realism is that it believes the application of a morality to foreign policy to be negligible, if not entirely irrelevant.' E.H. Carr argued similarly that 'it is an unreal kind of realism which ignores the element of morality in any world order.' Harries followed Edmund Burke, Hans J. Morgenthau and others in advocating a morality of prudence. Some realist scholars allow that human rights advocacy, for example, has a legitimate place in diplomacy so long as it is not pursued in a categorical or absolute way; sometimes it can even promote other state interests. Jack Donnelly has argued persuasively that realism 'provides no good theoretical ground for excluding human rights before the fact. In certain (contingent) circumstances it may be unwise to pursue human rights, but that must be determined empirically, case by case.' See Owen Harries, Morality and foreign policy. Sydney, CIS Occasional Paper 94, 2005, p.23; E.H. Carr, The twenty years' crisis 1919-1939: an introduction to the study of international relations. London, Macmillan, 1970, p.235; Hans J. Morgenthau, Politics among nations: the struggle for power and peace. , 6th rev ed. New York, McGraw- Hill, 1985, pp.10-11, 14-15, 236-237; Hans J. Morgenthau, Human rights and foreign policy. New York, Council on Religious and International Affairs, 1979, p.6; Jack Donnelly, Universal human rights in theory and practice. Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 1989, p.232.
14 See e.g. Wilson Loo Kok Wee, Australians shouldn't get special treatment, The Straits Times, 30 November 2005; Pauline Ooi Chen Ni, Does Aussie passport put one above law? The Straits Times, 23 November 2005; A. Soorian, Australia's double standards, New Straits Times, 25 November 2005.
15 Alexander Downer, List of representations to Singapore Ministers and President, 28 November 2005: http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2005/ngu yen_van_tuong_representation_singapore.html.
16 DFAT provides general consular assistance to Australian citizens and permanent residents equally, with the exception of some financial transactions such as prisoner loans. Australian permanent residents sentenced to death are dealt with in exactly the same way as Australian citizens.
17 'Michelle Grattan, Airline row linked to Nguyen, The Age, 24 November 2005, p.1; Greens say increase pressure on Singapore, AAP, 27 November 2005.
18 See e.g. Resolution 2005/59 at the Commission on Human Rights: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/E/CHR/resolutions/E- CN_4-RES-2005-59.doc. Abolitionist resolutions are generally put in similar terms in several UN forums including the Commission on Human Rights (now replaced by the Human Rights Council) and the Economic and Social Council.
19 R.J. Vincent, Human rights and international relations. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1986, p.136. On the importance of judgment in differentiating between cases, see Owen Harries, Morality and foreign policy, p.18.
20 John Howard, Interview on Sunday Sunrise, Channel 7, 16 February 2003: http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Interview244.html; John Howard, Interview on Fox 9 News Channel, 7 March 2003: http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Interview261.html.
21 Mark Latham quoted on Lateline, ABC Television, 9 August 2003: http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s92063 8.htm.
22 Mark Latham and John Howard quoted on The World Today, ABC Radio, 15 December 2003: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s10 10314.htm. Other examples are cited in Lex Lasry, Australia and the death penalty – Are we really against it? Costello Lecture, Monash University, 29 March 2006.
23 Warren Fernandez, Real villains in Nguyen case, The Straits Times, 3 December 2005. See also Laurel Teo, To hang or not to hang? Activists must be consistent, The Straits Times, 11 November 2005.
24 On South Korea, see e.g. Hearing on death penalty, The Korea Herald, 3 April 2006; Jin Dae- woong, Former President Kim calls for end to death penalty, The Korea Herald, 27 February 2006; Debates rekindled on death penalty, The Korea Times, 23 February 2006. On Malaysia, see e.g. Malaysian law minister supports abolishing death penalty, Dow Jones International News, 21 March 2006.
25 These kinds of limitations are included in the various UN resolutions on capital punishment, e.g. Resolution 2005/59 at the Commission on Human Rights: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/E/CHR/resolutions/E- CN_4-RES-2005-59.doc.
26 Report of the Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Canberra, Australian Government, 1996: http://www.dfat.gov.au/cc/cchome.html.
27 See 2005 World Summit Outcome, 15 September 2005, paragraphs 138-139: http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N05/48 7/60/PDF/N0548760.pdf?OpenElement.
Download the Policy Brief here.


text:
Home » 2018 Innovation Issue: Doctors use VR to try to reduce ICU delirium
2018 Innovation Issue: Doctors use VR to try to reduce ICU delirium
May 30, 2018 | Lesley Weidenbener
Keywords Colleges and Universities / Education & Workforce Development / Eskenazi Health / Health Care / Health Care & Insurance / Health Care & Life Sciences / Hospitals / Indiana University / Innovation Issue 2018 / IU Medical Center / Mental Health / Regenstrief Institute / Technology
Receive IBJ News In Your Inbox
Related News and Opinion
House passes bill to prevent companies from forcing employees to be microchipped
Evansville coach fired amid misconduct allegations; Lickliter hired
Lilly to build $470M manufacturing plant in North Carolina
New High Alpha firm creates tech to connect citizens to police
Lilly kills R&D deal in speed bump on quest to become big cancer player
A stay in a hospital's intensive care unit is meant to heal patients physically, but too much time there can have the opposite impact on their mental health and brain function.
That's why Dr. Babar Khan, a research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute, launched the Critical Care Recovery Center at Eskenazi Health. It's a place where patients who spent at least two days on a mechanical ventilation machine in ICU come for outpatient therapy after they're released.
Those patients face "a set of unique problems with memory, attention, brain dysfunction, delirium," Khan said. "We call it post-intensive-care syndrome."
Now Khan is seeking to intervene while patients are in ICU—and virtual reality is one of the tools. His team this spring launched a pilot program in which patients don VR headsets to take walks on the beach, through a park or in other calming locations.
"Delirium or confusion happens because of the lack of arousal and inattention in the ICU," sometimes caused by medication, Khan said. "Patients spend day after day in a hospital room. We're trying to create a different context or different reality, show them something that is more like a normal setting."
Dr. Dmitriy Golovyan, an IU School of Medicine pulmonary and critical care fellow who works with the Regenstrief Institute, hatched the idea with Wen Krogg, an Indiana University media arts and science graduate student, who created the VR content.
"The virtual reality goggles are like the IV," Golovyan said in a statement about the program. "The content that Wen created is the therapy. Luckily, we have the resources at IU School of Informatics, School of Medicine and at Regenstrief Institute to test this therapy to determine if it's effective for our patients."
Krogg used three-dimensional modeling and game engineering to develop the program, through which she takes patients out of the hospital room in a virtual tram, while a fan provides wind and a heat lamp replicates the sun. The patients can use limited head and trigger movements to control their VR activity.
Golovyan said it's possible VR treatment could help control patients' pain and anxiety, which might reduce the need for medication.
"The initial work is pretty encouraging," Kahn said. "But this is just a start. There's no conclusion yet."
He said the team doesn't have enough information to know how often patients would need to use VR to see results.
"We are doing feasibility and testing it," Khan said. "We're going to start with a very low stimulus to see how they tolerate it."
He said the goal will be to use VR with patients about 30 minutes twice a day to start and perhaps personalize the experiences. But, Khan said, "ultimately it will be up to them."•
Read more Innovation Issue stories.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
Editor's note: IBJ is now using a new comment system. Your Disqus account will no longer work on the IBJ site. Instead, you can leave a comment on stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Past comments are not currently showing up on stories, but they will be added in the coming weeks. Please note our updated comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.


text:
Daniel S. Pena, Sr. earned the nickname of the "$50 Billion Man" because of his high drive for success. He is the founder of Quantum Leap Advantage (QLA) Methodology, a well-respected author, and his mentees have a combined net worth of more than $6 trillion.
As of 2019, Dan Pena has a net worth estimated in $ 450 million.
Early Life of Dan Pena
Pena did not come from a family with generational wealth. His father was somewhat famous because of his role as the lead investigator of the Robert F. Kennedy assassination, but that was the extent of their fame.
It was a military household since Pena's father served as a Lieutenant Commander in World War II and Korea before becoming a CIA operative. His home was a place where tough love was the practice.
Crime and violence were also prominent in East Los Angeles in the late 1950s when Pena was a child.
It took several stints in jail for alcoholism before life began to change for Dan Pena during his high school years. His father even told local officers to beat him if he was misbehaving in public.
Pena would eventually earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Fernando Valley State College in 1971.
Career Launch for Dan Pena
Pena took the foundation of his education to turn an $820 investment into a company worth over $450 million. Great Western Resources Inc. formed in 1980, provided natural resources like petroleum to the market. He served as the CEO of the organization until he and the Board of Directors had a falling out about a decade later.
It was a global operation that involved drilling, onshore, and offshore that had 22 coal mines at the height of its influence.
Pena then used his experience to form an independent consultancy firm called The Guthrie Group in 1997. He is still active as the Chairman and Founder.
Dan Pena's Famous House
Pena currently resides in Guthrie Castle, which is located in Angus Scotland. It was initially constructed in the 15th century, although the structures were updated in the 19th century to reflect modern needs.
Guthrie Castle was purchased in 1984 by Pena from the Guthrie family after it had stayed in their family for over 400 years. He restored the home to its original condition, added a golf course, and then opened it to the public for about 15 years beginning in 2003 to host weddings and corporate functions.
It now serves as Pena's private home once again.
Dan Pena's Exclusive Seminar
Pena provides week-long seminars at Guthrie Castle using his QLA Methodology that takes participants through the foundational steps of being successful. Workshops include information about how to raise capital, how to overcome obstacles when pursuing an idea, and the seven necessary steps to achieve "super success."
The philosophy of Pena and his mentees is straightforward: there are no free lunches. Each person must work hard to earn what they get in life. If you have the guts to follow his steps, then you can start obtaining the wealth that can support your family for multiple generations.
The consensus of Dan Pena's seminars is positive when reviewing forums, blogs, and websites which discuss QLA Methodology. There is no fluff or feel-good stuff to worry about with his workshops. His focus is on growth. You can live a comfortable life and relax, or you can choose to pursue your goals and dreams.
If you choose the latter, then Dan Pena can help you find the success you want.
Previous Post What Is a Solo Ad and How to Run One Next Post How to Write a Winning Business Proposal in 2019


In accordance with Sections 7-433 and 7-436 of the Education Article and Section 14-501 of the Health-General Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, a youth sports program that uses a public school facility shall provide to the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism an acknowledgment form for all of its athletic activities to comply with requirements under the law concerning concussions, head injuries, and sudden cardiac arrests of participants. Signing the form confirms that you are aware of and have been provided with additional facts and guidelines on Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest for youth sports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All youth utilizing or participating in classes, events, programs, or leagues that meet the criteria will be required to have a signed form on file with the either Charles County Recreation, Parks & Tourism or with the activities sponsoring agency. For Charles County Recreation, Parks & Tourism programs, this information will be obtained during the registration process.
What is a concussion? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging the brain cells.
How to spot a possible concussion: children and teens who show or report one or more of the signs and symptoms listed below—or simply say they just "don't feel right" after a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body—may have a concussion or other serious brain injury.
Definition: Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a potentially fatal condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA in student-athletes is rare; the chance of SCA occurring to any individual student-athlete is about one in 100,000. However, a student-athletes risk of SCA is nearly four times that of non-athletes due to the increased demands on the heart during exercise.


Extra level membership – thank you!
Thank you to new subscriber hhelen from the UK who has just signed up for Extra Membership Level 3. I really appreciate your support! Your Grrrobot model is all packed up and will ship out in the morning.
I introduced the extra level memberships so that anyone who was willing and able could contribute a little extra to maintaining the robives.com website. All members will of course receive my undying gratitude, extra members also receive a made up model of your choice just like this one which hhelen chose. With your permission I'll also send a message of thanks via the blog.
Thank you hhelen! I hope you like your Grrrobot!
← Scallop, 3D file and pdf file to download and experiment with.


East View Map Link (EVML) is a certified supplier of Secretaria de Marina (SEM) nautical charts. Our exclusive print-on-demand agreement provides mariners with the highest quality historical approved nautical charts. Our Coatzacoalcos - Pajaritos nautical chart (Map Index 831.3) is printed standard using high resolution, heavyweight and acid free paper. Additional paper types and format options are available.