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Uproar after scholar bans excavation of Egyptian mummies - Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/01/egypt-scholar-islam-ban-digging-mummies-pharaos-archeology.html
Uproar after scholar bans excavation of Egyptian mummies
As Egypt carries out intensive excavation works, leading to major discoveries in recent months, an Egyptian Al-Azhar scholar stirred a heated debate after stating that displaying mummies is against Islam.
A worker disinfects the Royal Mummies Hall at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square amid the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 23, 2020. Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images.
Mohamed Sabry
Egyptian scholar Ahmed Karima recently sparked heated controversy after he banned the excavation of tombs of ancient Egyptians at a time when Egypt is struggling to revive its vital tourism industry from the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Karima, a professor of comparative jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, said the exhumation of graves is prohibited under Islamic teachings. "Extracting the bodies of the ancient Pharaohs and putting them on display in return for dollars from visitors is forbidden," Karima said in televised statements Jan. 19 on state-run television.
Karima said digging up the graves violates the dignity of the dead and the Islamic religion forbids their desecration. "Bodies of the dead cannot be exhumed unless for the purpose of scientific search," the scholar said.
"The grave is a blessing from God to house the human being after his demise," he added.
Karima said Islam calls for honoring the human being after death. "Museums can exhibit the treasures of the Pharaohs, talk about [their civilization] and about the mummification, but without displaying their dead bodies."
Ayman Ashmawi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, declined a request by Al-Monitor for comment.
Renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass lashed out at Karima, saying his religious views apply to tomb robbers, not archaeologists. "We do not excavate the graves of Muslims, Christians or Jews," Hawass said in Jan. 20 statements to Egypt's Sada al-Balad channel. He said archaeologists and the Ministry of Antiquities are working to revive the greatness of the Pharaohs and their civilization.
"The opinion of Sheikh Karima can be applied to thieves who tamper with graves and destroy mummies, but archaeologists work to immortalize these people, as they restore their coffins, graves and mummies, because the presence of these coffins inside the wells exposes them to decomposition and fragmentation," Hawass said.
Hawass, a former minister of state for antiquities, said Karima's statements were only meant for publicity and fame. He added that putting the ancient mummies on public display was not humiliation of the ancestors.
"The mummies will be exhibited at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in a civilized way, with a detailed explanation of each mummy and the historical era in which it lived," he said.
Liberal columnist and TV host Khaled Montaser, who is known for his Reformist views, was also critical of Karima's religious view. He said Karima's opinion was negative propaganda before the planned inauguration of the Egyptian Grand Museum.
The museum, one of the largest in the world, is set to be opened later this year and will showcase nearly 60,000 artifacts, with 5,000 relics from Tutankhamun's collection, including 2,000 artifacts that will be displayed for the first time.
The Egyptian government is pinning high hopes on the Grand Egyptian Museum, near the Giza Pyramids, to boost the recovery of the tourism industry, which has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani said Jan. 4 that the number of tourists to Egypt dropped to 3.5 million in 2020 from 13.1 million in 2019. Revenues of the tourism sector also plunged last year to $4 billion, with nearly a 70% drop due to the virus outbreak.
A key source of foreign currency, the tourism industry accounts for up to 15% of Egypt's national output. In an effort to revive the vital industry, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait on Jan. 6 allocated 6.3 billion Egyptian pounds ($400.7 million) to support the tourism, culture and aviation sectors during the pandemic. Maait said 3.2 billion pounds ($203.5 million) were allocated to the tourism and cultural sectors and 3.1 billion pounds ($197.1 million) to the aviation sector to help them withstand the repercussions of the pandemic.
The Egyptian government has carried out extensive digging operations in recent years, resulting in a string of archaeological discoveries, reviving hopes that the findings can boost the recovery of the tourism industry.
The debate about public display of ancient mummies dates back decades. In 1980, then-President Anwar Sadat ordered the Royal Mummy Room at the Egyptian Museum closed, saying that the display of the remains violated religious concepts and desecrated the dead. The ban remained in place for seven years before the ancient royal mummies were put back on display again in 1987. Sadat was assassinated by Islamist extremists in 1981.
Hajjaji Ibrahim, archaeology professor at Tanta University, agrees with Karima that the practice of exhibiting the ancient mummies of the Pharaohs must stop.
"There is nothing in traditions or Islamic teachings that allow the public display of the dead bodies to visitors," Ibrahim told Al-Monitor by phone. "We can exhume the tombs for the purpose of scientific research and put the bodies back [in] the graves."
Ibrahim continued, "All the dead and their graves have dignity, and this must be respected. This applies to all, whether Islamic, Christian, Greco-Roman or ancient Egyptian."
Ibrahim disputed the argument that archaeologists were working to celebrate ancient Egyptian civilization. "The achievements of the Pharaohs can be exhibited, but not their dead bodies," he said.
He wondered, "Would those who support the public display of the royal mummies at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization agree to have their bodies exhibited after their death?"
Today is the third anniversary of King Rameses II at Grand Egyptian Museum - EgyptToday
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/96849/Today-is-the-third-anniversary-of-King-Rameses-II-at
Today is the third anniversary of King Rameses II at Grand Egyptian Museum
Angy Essam
Mon, 25 Jan 2021 - 09:19 GMT
File: The statue of Rameses II.
CAIRO - 25 January 2021:On January 25, 2018 the statue of Rameses II was moved to its permanent location in the Grand Hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM).
Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum construction work is about 97% complete.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is one of the largest museums in the world dedicated to one civilization and the whole world awaits its scheduled opening this year.
When it opens, it will contain more than 50 000 artefacts including the full collection of King Tutankhamun presented all together for the first time in history to the public.
The GEM project is the focus of attention for the Egyptian government, which removes any obstacles that may affect its completion.
When the museum complex opens, the world will see wonders that can only be found in this great cultural edifice.
The striking museum facade was made with Egyptian materials and saved more than $ 180 million costing 10% of the original estimated cost.
Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum(GEM) is ensuring the safety of all employees and providing them with support when dealing with the global pandemic.
A booklet has been issued by the museum entitled 'We Have Never Stopped: In the Face of Corona' to document all the precautionary measures that have been taken since March 2020.
The contents cover museum directives on how to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic that will also serve as a strong foundation for workers dealing with future outbreaks.
These guidelines have allowed the museum to achieve a balance between the health and safety of the staff while sustaining continued work essential for the project's success.
The work has been never stopped as all strive to complete this great institution, which is the dream of every lover of the Egyptian civilisation and its heritage.
In the framework of continuous communication and cooperation a joint proposal between the Egyptian Embassy in Japan (under the direction of Ambassador Ayman Kamel) and Grand Egyptian Museum Project (under the direction of Major General Atef Moftah, the General Supervisor of the GEM Project and Surrounding Area) was undertaken.
They proposed an idea to promote GEM before the official opening by creating a symbol of friendship which will be sponsored and marketed by the Egyptian Embassy in Japan through magazines as an innovative way of encouraging people in Japan to visit Egypt and GEM.
The idea was presented to the museum's Board of Directors and was made supported from initial process steps to the promotional plan, final design and approval.
The General Supervisor of GEM prepared the design of the friendship symbol, a shape that merge a symbol shared by both Egyptian and Japanese civilisations, the sun disk with the unique facade of GEM'.
Following endorsement of the design by the board, the promotional plan was put into action.
It was agreed that Egypt International Station magazine, headquartered in Japan under the direction of editor-in-chief Mr. Abdel-Rahman Yunus, would implement the promotional campaign.
The magazine participated in a competition in which 475 magazines from all over Japan took part.
The Egyptian-Japanese Symbol of Friendship won first prize for its distinguished design and the associated promotional campaign.
A triumph as this is one of the most important prizes awarded by the Japan Tourism Authority.
Moftah received on behalf of the Grand Egyptian Museum's Conservation Centre two ISO certificates: a certificate of accreditation of international standards for environmental management systems (ISO 14001: 2015) and certification of the international standard specifications for the quality management systems (ISO90
The certificates were presented by Engineer Mohamed Habib, General Manager of OSS Middle East and Dr. Tarek Rizk, consultant of OSS Middle East and witnessed by Dr. Hussein Kamal, General Director of the GEM Conservation Center, Dr. Eissa Zidan, Director of Executive Affairs of GEM Conservation and Transportation, and Dr. Elshimaa Eid, Head of Health and Safety at GEM.
These two certifications are in addition to the ISO certificate for occupational safety and health (ISO45001: 2018) which the museum had obtained last September.
GEM has obtained three ISO certificates in less than 60 days, the first time a museum obtains these three certificates at both the regional and international level.
These achievements serve as confirmation to the constant efforts of the Grand Egyptian Museum to apply all international scientific standards, such as quality assurance, planning, performance evaluation, as well as achieving environmental sustainability.
Obtaining these ISO certificates shows the positive impact the museum has in the area and it is hope this will continue to be reflected in local and international tourism, as GEM leads the way in occupational health and safety, environmental sustainability and quality control, mechanisms specially designed to measure and ensure visitors' satisfaction.
It is worth noting that the museum had issued a booklet entitled 'We Have Never Stopped Facing Corona' to document all actions taken in this unprecedented global pandemic.
Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities previously announced that the Grand Egyptian Museum will be inaugurated on June,2020.
The display vitrines for the King Tutankhamun galleries are 100% completed and are currently undergoing testing.
He added that 90% of the artefacts for the Grand Staircase have been installed, and the control systems and surveillance cameras are also being finalised.
Regarding the implementation of the cable-car idea, Moftah stated that a study is currently being undertaken to connect the beginning of the Fayoum Road with the museum.
The cable-car is not intended to extend to the top of the Giza Plateau pyramids. It is expected that the cable-car will transport tourists from the GEM's hotel area to the bottom of the Giza Plateau, running parallel to the Fayoum Road and on the other side of Al-Masaken sub-district where there will be access terminals for the new entrance and exit.
He stressed that the idea came after the State's vision of establishing the largest museum in the world on an area of 3800 acres.
The museum's overall area includes the 117 acres of the Giza Plateau and the area that links the GEM to the Giza Pyramids, where the Armed Forces Shooting Club once stood, bringing the total area of the museum to 3800 acres.
On the relationship between the GEM and the Fayoum Road, the General stated that the Fayoum Road will be developed and linked to the museum through tourist walking trails.
Furthermore, there is currently a study being conducted to provide a direct link between Cairo Airport and hotels that will be developed within the museum area, located between Fayoum Road and the GEM.
Visitors will be able to move freely within the museum area, from the GEM to the Giza Plateau, in a variety of ways, either on foot, golf-buggy or cable-car.
Moftah also commented on the recent discovery in Saqqara, saying: "I requested that the Saqqara Cache be added to the artefacts scheduled for display in the GEM, as well as the Asasif Cache, both will join the museum's exhibition programme. We will prepare two exhibition halls of the GEM to be called the 'Hidden Hall' to hold the coffins. The GEM has two museum exhibition halls with a total area of 2500 square meters, in addition to three halls measuring 600 square meters for temporary displays and exhibitions of both ancient and modern art".
The Grand Egyptian Museum will be the largest museum in the world dedicated to ancient Egyptian culture.
This is one of a kind museum is tailor made to preserve and exhibits Egypt precious national heritage with state-of-the-art conservation laboratories, along with educational facilities, temporary exhibition halls, a children's museum, a conference centre, restaurants, cafes, shops and large gardens for everyone to enjoy.
GEM will house over 5000 artifacts of Egypt's most famous king Tutankhamun, from his royal tomb, many never seen in public before. The Main Galleries show material from the Prehistoric to the Roman periods, while our entrance areas focus on Kingship and Power.
All GEM exhibitions will be contextualised for the visitor, with stories, texts, digital interactives and media displays.
The cherry on top that Grand Egyptian Museum will contain the first ever hanging obelisk on show at the entrance of the museum.
GEM's Executive Affairs for Restoration and Transportation of Antiquities Eissa Zidan previously said that the restoration and construction of the world's first hanging obelisk was completed and placed in front of the main facade of the museum, the bottom of the obelisk will contain the cartridges of King Ramses II.
Zidan added that the aim of the obelisk design made by Major General Atef Moftah, is to make GEM's visitor able see the cartridge from below.
The design allows the visitor to enter the obelisk base to see the archaeological base below it and by looking at the top of the obelisk, cartridges of King Ramesses II can be seen.
Zidan further explained that the design of the obelisk is unique in the world, where the obelisk will be hung on four columns, taking into account the loads and vibrations on the body of the obelisk. The hanging obelisk will be the first artefact to receive the visitor outside the lobby of the museum.
GEM's Executive Affairs for Restoration and Transportation of Antiquities confirmed the completion of the obelisk restoration work, including mechanical and chemical cleaning, and strengthening of cracks in it, pointing out that the reassembling the obelisk is currently being completed.
He added that the word (Egypt) will be engraved in all languages of the world on the the columns and on the sides of the base bearing the obelisk, so that this design becomes a mix between the Egyptian genius in the past, present and future.
The inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum is one of the main events that Egypt and the whole world is waiting for in 2020.
More than 49,603 artifacts were moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum so far.
One of the most important transferred artifacts were the statues of King Ramses II, Sekhmet and Seti, in addition to a huge pink-granite portray of Ramses VI, and another distinguished set of statues that express the mastery of ancient Egyptian art.
Also a statue of King Khafra made of alabaster and a statue of the priest Kay made of colored limestone, depicting the priest sitting on a seat with a half backrest, beside his left foot is a small statue of his wife and a sarcophagus of king Senusert I was transferred to GEM.
On October 19, 2019 ministry of antiquities announced the discovery of the largest cache in the cemetery of El-Assasif by the Egyptian archaeological mission. A total of 30 coffins spanning back to the 22nd Pharaonic Dynasty were discovered and placed in a warehouse to protect them from thievery.
The 30 archaeological coffins have been transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The cache was buried one meter from the surface of the ground. The first row consisted of 18 coffins and the second consisted of 12 coffins for men, women, and 3 children.
For the first time GEM will display Tutankhmaum treasures in one place. The total number of antiquities belonging to King Tutankhamen is 5398. Among king Tut's artefacts that was transferred is his coffin.
The transferred coffin is one of the three coffins of Tutankhmaum, portraying the golden king as God Osiris. The coffin was discovered in King Tut's burial chamber in 1922. The outer ark is made of gilded wood.
The hands are clipped with gold foil, crossed across the chest, while holding royal decals inlaid with blue and red glass beads. It is 223.5 cm in length, 86.8 cm in diameter, while its height is 105.5 cm. The ark contains silver handles on both sides that were used to move the lid.
Minister of Antiquities announced that 50000 artifacts will be displayed in the Grand Egyptian Museum.
60K bees help Dutch artist in creating statue of Nefertiti - EgyptToday
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/96788/60K-bees-help-Dutch-artist-in-creating-statue-of-Nefertiti
60K bees help Dutch artist in creating statue of Nefertiti
Egypt Today staff
Sun, 24 Jan 2021 - 01:58 GMT
Nefertiti head bust made of honeycomb and beeswax - Press photo
CAIRO – 24 January 2021: Passion for the ancient Egyptian civilization is still taking the world by storm. Recently, a Dutch artist used 60,000 bees, along with their beeswax and honeycomb, to recreate the bust of Nefertiti.
My Modern Met website stated that Nefertiti is one of the most famous figures in ancient Egypt, along with the pharaoh Akhenaten, who lead an era of tumultuous religious unrest.
Dutch artist Tomás-Libertine spent two years building the "new queen", beginning with building a 3D model of the original bust before being provided assistance from the 60,000 bees that brought the piece back to life.
The two-year process took place along several phases, and was shown at Kunst Hal in Rotterdam in the summer of 2019 as a live installation. During this time, visitors had the opportunity to observe the bee building process for the museum's artwork.
Queen Nefertiti head bust made of honeycomb & beeswax - Press photo
The bee colony occupied the empty frame and added honeycomb and beeswax, slowly giving the statue its shape.
The bees colony occupying the empty frame - Press photo
In 2020, the open-air bust was completed in Slovakia and was exhibited as part of the Melancholia Solo exhibition of Tomás Libertine at the Rademakers Gallery in Amsterdam.
The final head bust exhibited - Press photo
Libertine says natural beeswax is one of the most durable natural materials, and this statue will "easily last for thousands of years" if kept in a suitable environment.
Posted by Glenn Meyer at 11:43 AM No comments:
Lecture from Dr. Claire Malleson, Director of Archaeological Science
The Egypt Exploration Society will be offering a free online lecture this week from Dr. Claire Malleson, AERA's Director of Archaeological Science.
The economy of "building" the pyramids:
When people ask "how were the pyramids built?" they are usually thinking about the engineering of the construction, not about the phenomenal level of careful planning and logistics that had to be in place in order for the project to even begin to be possible. One critically important aspect that is rarely considered is the provision of food – bread, meat, beer, fish – to the teams involved. This talk will present current research on evidence for the logistics of providing to the "workers" at Giza in the 3rd Millennium BC.
This lecture will be offered twice, but will not be recorded. To register, visit the EES website & book your spot now:
Click here to register for January 26th from 6am-7am (ET), 11am-12pm (UK)
Click here to register for January 28th from 12pm-1pm (ET), 5-6pm (UK)
Dr. Claire Malleson is the Assistant Professor of Archaeology at the American University of Beirut and Director of Archaeological Science for Ancient Egypt Research Associates. She specializes in the study of ancient Egyptian plant remains and agriculture.
We wish to thank our friends at the Egypt Exploration Society for hosting this lecture!
Join AERA and help us explore further
Our members and donors support our excavations in Egypt, field school training, rescue archaeology, conservation, education and outreach. Members receive printed copies of AERAgrams and annual reports as soon as they are published.
Become an AERA member
AERA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, nonprofit organization. Your membership or donation is tax deductible.
Looking for another way to help support AERA's work? Use this link when you shop at Amazon and they will donate to us at no cost to you: smile.amazon.com/ch/36-3325468
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Critical Care Techniques| November 01 2012
Communication by Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit: Qualitative Analysis of Domains of Patient-Centered Care
Christopher G. Slatore, MD, MS
Christopher G. Slatore is an investigator, Health Services Research and Development, a staff physician, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, and an assistant professor, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland. Lissi Hansen is an associate professor, School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Science University. Linda Ganzini is a psychiatrist and director, Health Services Research and Development, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Nancy Press is a professor, School of Nursing and Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University. Molly L. Osborne is a professor of medicine, integrated ethics program officer, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, interim associate dean for education, associate dean for student affairs, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University. Mark S. Chesnutt is a staff physician, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, director, Critical Care, Patient Care Services Division, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and a clinical professor, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University. Richard A. Mularski is an investigator and senior staff physician, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Portland, Oregon, and an affiliate associate professor of medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University.
Corresponding author: Christopher G. Slatore, md, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd, R&D 66, Portland, OR 97239 (e-mail: christopher.slatore@va.gov).
Lissi Hansen, RN, PhD
Linda Ganzini, MD, MPH
Nancy Press, PhD
Molly L. Osborne, MD, PhD
Mark S. Chesnutt, MD
Richard A. Mularski, MD, MSHS, MCR
Christopher G. Slatore, Lissi Hansen, Linda Ganzini, Nancy Press, Molly L. Osborne, Mark S. Chesnutt, Richard A. Mularski; Communication by Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit: Qualitative Analysis of Domains of Patient-Centered Care. Am J Crit Care 1 November 2012; 21 (6): 410–418. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2012124
High-quality communication is a key determinant and facilitator of patient-centered care. Nurses engage in most of the communication with patients and patients' families in the intensive care unit.
To perform a qualitative analysis of nurses' communications.
Ethnographic observations of 315 hours of interactions and 53 semistructured interviews with 33 nurses were conducted in a 26-bed cardiac-medical intensive care unit in an academic hospital and a 26-bed general intensive care unit in a Veterans Affairs hospital in Portland, Oregon. Communication interactions were categorized into 5 domains of patient-centered care. Interviews were analyzed to identify major themes in nurses' roles and preferences for communicating with patients and patients' families within the domains.
Most communication occurred in the domains of biopsychosocial information exchange, patient as person, and clinician as person. Nurses endorsed the importance of the domains of shared power and responsibility and therapeutic alliance but had relatively few communication interactions in these areas. Communication behaviors were strongly influenced by the nurses' roles as translators of information between physicians and patients and the patients' families and what the nurses were and were not willing to communicate to patients and patients' families.
Critical care, including communication, is a collaborative effort. Understanding how nurses engage in patient-centered communication in the intensive care unit can guide future interventions to improve patient-centered care.
Web Of Science (39)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Japan Climate Resilience Policy Indicator
Part of Climate Resilience Policy Indicator
Country report
Both the temperature and the number of days with heavy rainfall have increased in Japan. This trend is likely to persist until the end of this century, affecting energy consumption and peak demand.
Japan is highly exposed to the risk of tropical cyclones, with their frequency and intensity expected to increase over the course of the century. Intense tropical cyclones can pose a significant threat to energy supply reliability, causing disruptions such as those created by typhoons Faxai and Hagibis in 2019.
With adoption of the Climate Change Adaptation Law in 2018, Japan established a legal foundation for climate change adaptation. It then completed a comprehensive assessment of climate change impacts and established a Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The Strategic Energy Plan (2018) and the Act for Establishing Energy Supply Resilience (June 2020) cover energy sector resilience to natural disasters. However, strategic planning to enhance climate change adaptation and resilience in the energy sector is still at an initial stage, partly because there has not been extensive research on the impact of climate change on energy systems.
Climate hazard assessment
Level of floods, drought and tropical cyclones in Japan, 2000-2020
Openexpand
Level of warming in Japan, 2000-2020
Japan's average annual temperature rose 1.24°C per century since 1898. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, temperature increases were more pronounced in the spring and autumn than in the winter and summer over the last century. The number of hot days (above 35°C) increased in the last century, while the number of extreme cold days decreased. Geographically, the increase in temperature has been more pronounced in urban areas than in rural ones, with Tokyo's average temperature climbing twice as quickly as that of rural areas.
Compared with the end of the 20th century, annual average temperature is projected to increase by 1.1°C to 4.4°C over the next century, depending on the future level of greenhouse gas concentrations. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to rise, but winter temperatures will likely increase more than summer ones.
With fewer heating degree days (HDDs) and a greater number of cooling degree days (CDDs) in the past two decades, the overall temperature increase has reduced winter heating needs but boosted cooling in the summer. Some studies indicate that summer peak electricity demand may increase as a result of higher cooling needs, except in the northern islands of Hokkaido, where electricity demand is highest in winter.
Temperature in Japan, 2000-2020
Cooling degree days in Japan, 2000-2020
Heating degree days in Japan, 2000-2020
Japan's annual mean precipitation has shown wide-ranging interannual variability, and no clear long-term trend has been identified for annual rainfall levels in the 20th century. However, the number of heavy precipitation days annually increased significantly from 1901 to 2019 and there are fewer days with little or no rainfall.
Although climate projections do not establish a clear trend for annual precipitation, they suggest that heavy and short-term intense rains will become more frequent across the country in 2076-2095 than they were at the end of the 20th century1. The number of dry days per year is also projected to increase steadily.
Tropical cyclones and storms##2##
Regarding extreme weather events, tropical cyclones, also called as typhoons, are Japan's greatest concern. Although the trend for the number of tropical cyclones is not clear, climate projections suggest that their intensity around Japan may increase in the future. In fact, the INFORM Risk Index gives Japan the highest score for physical exposure to tropical cyclones. Indeed, tropical cyclones have repeatedly caused blackouts in Japan, compromising electricity supply reliability. For instance, Typhoon Faxai damaged the electricity grid in the Tokyo area in September 2019, leaving some 900 000 households without power. Typhoon Hagibis, which struck the same region one month later, again caused power outages for 27 000 homes.
The 2018 Climate Change Adaptation Law established the legal foundation for adaptation measures in Japan, mandating adoption of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan in 2018 (to be renewed every five years) and requiring the development of information systems, reinforcement of regional-level adaptation, and international co‑operation. Regional governments are encouraged to draw up their own adaptation plans and set up local adaptation centres to act as hubs for the collection, analysis and provision of local climate risk data and information on adaptation measures.
To support the implementation of adaptation measures based on the Climate Change Adaptation Law and the Adaptation Plan, the Climate Change Adaptation Information Platform (A-PLAT) provides centralised information related to the impacts of climate change. It aims to help local governments, businesses and individuals develop climate change adaptation measures.
The Climate Change Adaptation Plan introduces seven basic strategies, including incorporating climate change adaptation into relevant policies; developing a scientific research; collecting and analysing climate information; adapting programmes to regional features; improving public awareness; providing aid for climate change adaptation in developing countries; and cross-governmental co‑operation. The Plan estimates the importance of energy sector adaptation as "not high" and the urgency for adaptation as "low", citing a lack of consensus on the climate impacts on energy systems. Accumulating scientific knowledge on domestic and overseas climate impacts in collaboration with businesses was suggested as an adaptation action.
The 2020 Climate Change Impact Assessment Report, which provides an overview of climate change impacts in seven sectors, assesses the energy sector under the category of "industry and economic affairs", consistent with the Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The report reaffirms the view of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan, estimating the level of importance as "not high" and the urgency for adaptation as "low" for the energy sector. It states that there is little concrete research on the impacts of climate change on energy systems, even though Japan has witnessed soaring electricity demand during heatwaves and physical damage by strong typhoons.
Nevertheless, even though strategic planning specific to energy sector climate resilience is in its infancy because its importance is hardly recognised, climate-related disasters such as storms and floods have been well managed under natural disaster risk management strategies. As one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, Japan has taken in-depth measures in response to natural disasters, including earthquakes, windstorms and floods, to ensure energy supply stability. The Strategic Energy Plan, which aims for balance among the issues of energy security, economic efficiency and the environment (with safety as the basic premise), recognises the importance of being resilient to natural disasters and supply crises.
Meanwhile, the June 2020 Act for Establishing Energy Supply Resilience goes a step further, stipulating the establishment of a collective action plan for electricity network operators to ensure electricity supply reliability in cases of disaster. While specification to climate resilience is limited, the approach of leveraging policies already in place for responding to natural disasters has been sufficient to manage earthquakes and windstorms. The draft Japan's 6th Strategic Energy Plan released on 4 August 2021 also focuses on overcoming the challenges that Japan's energy system face, including providing stable energy supply against natural disaster.
Policy readiness for climate resilience
In both high and low greenhouse gas concentration scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5).
Storm indicates any disturbed state of the atmosphere, strongly implying destructive and unpleasant weather. Storms range in scale. Tropical cyclone is the general term for a strong, cyclonic-scale disturbance that originates over tropical oceans. In this article, we used these general terms, tropical cyclones and storms, but those can be divided into different categories in detail. A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with one-minute average surface winds between 18 and 32 m/s. Beyond 32 m/s, a tropical cyclone is called hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone depending on the geographic location. Hurricanes refer to the high intensity cyclones that form in the south Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific; typhoons in the northwest Pacific; and the more general term cyclone in the South Pacific and Indian ocean.


Our customers have spoken, and we have listened. Not only are we adding more and more destinations to our already expansive global network*, we are also increasing the frequency of services on some of our most popular routes across three continents to give our passengers more choice and greater options.
Currently served daily from Hong Kong, we're going to be adding an additional three weekly flights to the German commercial and cultural hub from 31 March 2019, departing Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flight CX283 leaves Hong Kong at 12:30, arriving into Frankfurt at 18:40. The late evening return departure of CX282, meanwhile, allows customers to maximise their time on their final day in Europe. These additional flights will be operated by our Airbus A350-900 aircraft, which feature Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins, Wi-Fi connectivity and our latest inflight entertainment system across all three classes.
The cosmopolitan South Australian capital is the gateway to the state's flourishing wine region - and we'll be raising a glass to the addition of a sixth weekly flight from Hong Kong starting 28 October 2018. As well as providing the extra service, which will be operated by Airbus A330-300 aircraft, we will be introducing a new schedule to Adelaide, which sees three weekly flights departing Hong Kong overnight, and three in the morning hours. From Adelaide, return flights will move from an early morning departure to afternoons and late evenings. This split schedule gives customers greater choice and improved connectivity to and from European destinations via our Hong Kong hub.
The elegant boulevards, world-class restaurants, historic museums and charming neighbourhoods of the Spanish capital are going to be more accessible than ever before next summer. Between June and October 2019, we're going to be adding two weekly flights between Hong Kong and Madrid - on Mondays and Wednesdays; turning this five-times-weekly service into a daily operation. The new flights will be operated by our Airbus A350-900 aircraft.


Times are good, so why don't we save for the bad times?
Take a good look around you, and then savor the moment.
Unemployment in Utah just fell to 3 percent, which is just a little better than the national rate of 3.8 percent. Billboards aimed a business owners are popping up along the Wasatch Front. They offer to help companies hire the right kind of employee in an age when almost no one with qualifications is looking for a job.
Gas prices are up, but it isn't clear whether people are changing their summer vacation plans. Just whip out the credit cards and go.
Do we really need that roads/transit tax hike right now?
You and I know taxes don't exist in a vacuum. When politicians on the city, county, state and federal levels begin chattering about raising them, and about how little their share will cost you, no one, except you, is adding up the total damage.
I like interactive websites that let you pretend you're a politician faced with a difficult problem. The U.S. Geological Survey site has one that makes you a mayor in a city with a water crisis. What will you do?
Fortunately, I know the answer to that, because the website also calculates the total results from everyone who plays, broken down by state.
Cynicism, that hardiest of weeds on the soul, requires only an example or two to take root, and then it feeds well on mere suspicions.
And right now, some members of the new board overseeing the Utah Inland Port Authority, including outgoing House Speaker Greg Hughes, are, to put it delicately, weed food.
Two recent news stories have made me think about the future with fear and trepidation.
One is the report by the trustees of Social Security that said the nation's premiere retirement account is bringing in less than it needs for the first time since 1982, and that Medicare isn't doing well, either.
The second is that the fertility rate in the U.S. has dropped to a record low, a rate of less than 1.8 children per woman. Demographers define the replacement rate — the rate at which the current generation can replace itself without declining — at 2.1. We haven't been there in a while.
The two are related. It shouldn't be too difficult to see that.
The Olympia development may be a mammoth housing and commercial project that — like Oz on a western horizon so distant it would catch the morning sun even later than Daybreak — would lure about 30,000 people into mostly high-density housing on a 930-acre swath of unincorporated desert west of Herriman.
Frankly, I was surprised by how little attention the news out of Washington got on Tuesday — that the Social Security program has to dip into its trust fund for the first time since 1982.
Oh, there were stories in the major media. You may have heard it on morning radio programs.
Why give mammoth Facebook a tax break on data center?
A little more than 10 years ago, Google decided to pit North and South Carolina against each other in a competition to win a large, new data center. Only after getting promises of big tax incentives from each did the company reveal that (surprise!) it was going to build two centers after all, one in each state.


Nicholas Shaxson's "Treasure Islands" had been on my reading list for many years, by the time I finally picked it up I did so not expecting that it would take me on a journey to a documentary. Tax Havens and financial secrecy are never out of the press these days, and so when I made contact with Nicholas Shaxson to see if he would be willing to take part in yet another documentary on the topic he replied he would but diplomatically added that, "the field is slowly becoming more crowded." After reading "Treasure Islands," I realized that there was an interesting, coherent and self-contained story that had not been told, the story of Britain's transformation from a colonial power to a financial power, and the myriad and obscure financial structures created by City of London financial interests that lie at the heart of this transformation. Today, Britain and its dependencies are by far the largest global player in the world of financial secrecy and international finance. This documentary explores how Britain came to hold this position and what impact this has had on Britain and the world.
After 4 months of research and writing, the various parts of the story began to fall into place. It also became apparent that there was one person who had already figured out the story, that person was John Christensen, a former economic adviser to Jersey and the co-founder of the Tax Justice Network. John Christensen agreed to be a producer on this film and his expertise and experience have been invaluable in its production.
I'd also like to give special thanks to Sean Boucher who spent 4 months working with me and wrote the majority of the soundtrack, and Executive Producer Simeon Roberts who will make sure the film reaches the widest possible audience. It would take too long to individually thank every person who contributed to the film, or the numerous translators who will be making the film available in their respective languages. This film received no funding, it is thanks to everyone who was willing to give their time and expertise that its creation was possible. We sent hundreds of emails to broadcasters and funding bodies, but not a single one deemed the film worthy of support. We disagree, we think this film is interesting and relevant in today's world and we hope you think so too.
Please consider supporting future documentaries by becoming a Patron.
Business boomed. And not only in Jersey. With support from British government departments, other British dependencies vied for a slice of the action. Bermuda chased the offshore reinsurance market. The British Cayman Islands chased business from North America. Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, the Turks & Caicos islands, and others, also piled in to offshore financial services.
Michael Hudson explains the origins of offshore.
Prem Sikka's court case for the release of the Sandstorm Report.
Eva Joly is a French anti-corruption activist, magistrate and MEP for the Europe Écologie political party. She is the Vice-Chair of the Panama Committee of Inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion. She was an investigating magistrate in a number of high profile corruption cases, including the Elf Scandal, which the UK Guardian called 'the biggest fraud inquiry in Europe since the Second World War…'.
Dr. Attiya Waris is a Kenyan academic whose interests include tax justice and human rights in developing countries. She is the Author of a number of books and articles on development, tax and human rights in developing countries.


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Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 1/20/20 Predictions & Odds
Warriors vs. Blazers Prediction
Can the Golden State Warriors find enough offense to compete on the road with the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at 10PM ET?
527 Golden State Warriors vs. 528 Portland Trail Blazers
10PM ET – Moda Center
According to the latest oddsmakers, the Blazers are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -6.5 points against the Warriors. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 221 points. The public betting currently has 54 percent going on the Warriors as the road underdog. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Warriors end long skid
Golden State ended a long losing streak on Saturday with a 109-95 win over Orlando at home. The Warriors are 10-34 on the season, 3-19 on the road, 21-23 against the spread and 26-18 with the under.
The Warriors are struggling on both sides of the floor this year. The offense is averaging just 105.2 points per game while shooting 42.9 percent. Defensively, Golden State is giving up 113.2 points per game and opponents shoot 46.9 percent against them. Golden State is being led by D'Angelo Russell, who is averaging 23.2 points and 6.4 assists per game. Alec Burks is adding 15.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest.
Blazers return home
Portland wrapped up a three-game road trip on Saturday in a 119-106 loss at Oklahoma City. The Blazers are just 1-5 against the spread in their last six games. Portland is now 18-26 on the season, 9-10 at home, 16-26-2 against the spread and 22-22 with the over/under total.
The Blazers are putting up 111.5 points per game on offense this season while shooting 45 percent as a team. Defensively, Portland is giving up 113.9 points per game while opponents shoot 44.6 percent against them. The Blazers are without a big piece tonight, as CJ McCollum is out with an ankle injury. He is averaging 21.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. Damian Lillard is leading the team with 27.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists per contest.
The Warriors are 7-18-1 against the spread in their last 26 games following a win and 1-4 ATS in their last five games against a losing team.
The Blazers are 2-8 against the spread in their last 10 games following a loss and 1-5-1 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite.
The home team has won both meetings this season, but the Warriors had Stephen Curry for their win at home. Golden State had a nice win over the Magic on Saturday, but their road performances have been quite lackluster. Their last four road games have been losses by 9 points or more. While Portland is without McCollum, the team still has a lot of offensive weapons and will have the best playing on the floor in Lillard. Both teams struggle on defense and Portland is the more consistent offense while also playing at home.
NBA Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers -6.5


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Interview with an Expert Traveler: Cruise Critic's Carolyn Spencer Brown
by Billie Cohen | October 23, 2014
Carolyn Spencer Brown spends most of her life on cruise ships, but don't mistake that for a life of leisure. As Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic, the hugely popular cruise-review and cruise-trends website, Carolyn is always at work, even when she's at sea. She's constantly reviewing new cruise ships, checking out old favorites, exploring up-and-coming ports, and rediscovering popular ones, all in an effort to make sure her readers have the most up-to-date and intelligent feedback on the cruise experience. And those readers have high standards: They are more than four million strong and make up one of the largest and most vocal cruise-forum communities online. Since she's spent so many years meeting the standards of these discerning travelers and seen so much of the world herself, we thought it was high time we put Carolyn in the hot seat and grilled her about her own travel experiences and strategies. Interestingly, they're not all about cruising.
Editor in Chief, Cruise Critic
Most memorable travel moment:
My husband proposed on top of Rome's Spanish Steps—that was pretty memorable. Alas, I wasn't quite ready so postponed the decision. When he proposed again the next night, while on a cruise sailing out of Italy's Civitavecchia (under a beautiful moonlit sky), I said yes. Italy's special to us for that reason—and also because we met in Naples.
Most embarrassing travel moment:
There are so many. My suitcase is fairly distinctive; it's a large red Rimowa with an orange bag tag. Still, I managed to pick up someone else's large red Rimowa and didn't notice it wasn't mine until I was outside the airport. There was the time I had a five-hour layover in Paris and managed to miss the flight (I still don't know how that happened). Or when, headed to Leipzig, I discovered I'd booked a flight to Dresden by accident; the incredulous look on a cabbie's face at the airport when I asked how much taxi fare would be between the two cities was a tip-off that I wasn't this-close. (Took the train instead).
Touristy spot that's actually worth it, and the trick to doing it right:
Jordan's Petra is haunting and beautiful, and it's on many cruise lines' shore excursion menus. But you can't do it justice in one day (plus, the trip between Petra and the port city of Aqaba is a several-hour bus ride). You need a couple of days and should definitely avoid midday summer heat by visiting early and then again later in the day. Another place I go back to time and time again is Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. The vast estate perched on a mountaintop overlooking the Pacific—and surrounded by a lot of emerald fields with grazing zebras—is so massive that there are at least five different tours you can take through it. I've done them all, at least a couple of times.
Non-touristy spot people might not know about (or have thought much about visiting) but should add to their must-visit list:
I love to bicycle through England's rural villages—not just the well-known ones like Chipping Camden, Lymington, Aldershot, and Rye, but also smaller places, often with just a pub and a few shops—and see what I find.
Name two indispensable apps you use when you travel:
I'm not a huge app user, but the TripAdvisor app is a helpful pal (full disclosure: Cruise Critic is owned by TripAdvisor)—it works offline—and I love Instagram, though the newer version has me a bit confounded.
The travel gadget or gear that has saved your life…or your mind:
The iPad. Always the iPad. I can watch a movie, choose from among tons of books, catch up on Facebook…or simply play solitaire, which is my when-travel-is-stressful go-to.
Whose tweets do you find the most useful and entertaining when you see them in your feed?
I love Bob Payne's tweets—they always make me smile.
Name one way the travel industry can do better.
To parlay the expression "when life makes lemons," when things go wrong, travel companies actually have a chance to win my loyalty—if they handled the situation properly. Too often they exacerbate a bad situation and fail to take responsibility or act in a generous manner—and that's unacceptable, especially when it's their own mistake. Recently I showed up at a Hyatt in Los Angeles hours before check-in. Slightly tense because of a tight day of important meetings, I was impatient and a bit…brusque…and then, it turned out, the reservation didn't exist. The staffer was so lovely—and went above and beyond to try to help, ultimately creating a new booking at the same price I thought I'd paid and finding an available room so I could get settled—that I didn't mind apologizing for the fact that I'd booked the wrong hotel. Oops.
Look into the future and describe one aspect of travel that you think will be different in 20 years:
I'm going to look ahead 20 years in cruise and wager a bet that after all the contemporary styling, and the deconstruction of traditional styles of cruise travel, there's going to be a resurgence in retro cruise traditions like formal nights, set-seating-set-tablemates, and elegant evenings.
Overrated:
B&Bs.
Underrated:
Villa/cottage/flat rentals.
If you were in my car during a road trip, you'd hear me singing…
Henry Mancini's "Two for the Road."
The airplane movie that, unexpectedly, made me bawl was…
The Notebook. It was on Continental Airlines, in the day when there were no personal screens, and everybody was bawling. It was such a common experience that a flight attendant walked up and down the aisle with a box of Kleenex.
When I travel, I'm not afraid of…
Surprises on the ground.
…but I am afraid of…
Surprises in an airplane.
Follow Carolyn and Cruise Critic:
Twitter: @CruiseEditor
Instagram: @carolynspencerbrown
Facebook: Facebook.com/CruiseCritic
Airfarewatchdog Founder George Hobica: Interview with an Expert Traveler
Wendy gets Airfarewatchdog founder and president George Hobica to reveal his best travel tips and his most embarrassing travel moment.
A Day in Athens: How to Spend Your Cruise Shore Excursion
by Wendy Perrin | September 3, 2014
Two ways to make the most of a cruise shore excursion in Athens.
My Favorite Spot in the World for Sunrise
by Wendy Perrin | April 7, 2014
Wendy shares her favorite sunrise spot.
How to Plan the Ideal Italy Trip
by Wendy Perrin | August 4, 2014
Wendy and one of her Trusted Travel Experts outline the perfect 12-day itinerary in Italy…
What Really Makes a Hotel Kid Friendly
by Eric Stoen | January 19, 2016
The Best Places to Travel in 2020: Where to Go Now and Why
Just Back from Iran: The 10 Biggest Surprises
Where to See the Northern Lights and When
by Sara Tucker | October 7, 2019
Watch: How to Choose the Right Cruise
10 Ways to Minimize Holiday Travel Hassles
What It's Like to Fly on a 787 Dreamliner
Christmas and New Year's Trips Loved By Your Fellow Travelers
A Trip to Slovenia:
Unusual Ways To See the World by Water
Fly Smarter in 2023: How to Get the Best International Flights, Seats, and Fares
Favorite Trips
10 Top Dream Trips for 2023
by Brook Wilkinson | January 9, 2023
Nonstop Flights To Make Your Travels Easier in 2023
by Brett Snyder | January 31, 2023
Protect Your Trip—and Your Health—in 2023
Where Everybody's Traveling in 2023: The 10 Most Popular Countries for WOW Trips
by WendyPerrin.com | January 5, 2023


Of the four gospel accounts of Jesus' life and ministry, Matthew is often called the "Jewish Gospel" not in its attempts to convert Jews or refute "outsiders" to Christianity. Matthew's intent was help members of his own Christian community to understand and connect their past to their current and ongoing religious life. Judaism at the time Matthew was written, about 75-80 CE, was experiencing major disruption and change. The Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed in 70 CE bringing political and social change to the region. Matthew's community was finding itself more in line with the Gentiles of the day than the new direction Judaism was heading. Matthew's gospel sought to help Jewish Christians adapt to this social change and remain faithful to scripture and tradition.
Not to be overly dramatic or to make anyone upset, I need to confess that I observe social change in our country today. With the most recent election cycle and the beginning of the Donald Trump presidency, Americans are sensing change in our political climate, which has implications for our social interactions. I've noticed the changes as I drive in my car. I've noticed the changes as I watch my children's basketball and soccer games. I've noticed the changes in simple interactions with others in the grocery store.
As I listen to people talk, the atmosphere is ripe with anxiety and uncertainty. Change is inevitable as we live — nothing stays the same. Yet, in most cases, the change we experience is somewhat predictable. Except for big, life changing events, most of what changes in our experience is small, gradual change to which we can easily adapt.
I have a fear (and I've had it for about 20-25 years) that the Church in America, the expression of the Christian faith in the United States, is more consistent with an American Civil Religion than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What I mean is that the image of God and Jesus Christ is being more and more equated with the values of American society. As we develop a picture of God, we are more likely to develop the "Ideal American" over the "Creator of All." Examples include purely patriotic expressions and songs in worship during national holidays like the 4th of July and Memorial Day and Veterans Day, churches openly expressing American patriotic and nationalistic pride as a way to live the Gospel, and more and more churches being active in political causes and issues.
Hear me clearly, there is nothing wrong with expressing pride in being American, being patriotic. My concern is purely about the blurring of the lines between worship of God and worship of country. I believe the church loses its ability to speak to the ills of our society when we are too actively participating in them. The Church has a clear and distinct voice. Instead of allowing it to blend with the other voices of our culture, we need to maintain its distinctiveness — often at the cost of acceptance.
The Gospel of Matthew contains the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). The Sermon is three consecutive chapters of only Jesus' voice and teaching. Here is a link to an article that was recently published by the Baptist News Network. (https://baptistnews.com/article/the-sermon-on-the-mount-is-counter-cultural-thats-the-point/#.WMrH7BiZNuU) This article is talking about the experience of one preacher that stood in the pulpit one Sunday and read Jesus' words as if it were her sermon. The feedback the preacher received on the content of "her" sermon was hostile, maybe grounds for being fired. (I am hyperbolizing a bit. But from personal experience, I believe the author of the article softens the exchanges she had with her congregants.) What does that say about the Church (Universal, not the congregation) when the words of Jesus are so offensive to some that the preacher should be fired? Have disciples of Jesus become so immersed and enmeshed in our culture that we don't recognize our Leader's own words? While author of the article talked about the countercultural nature of the Gospel is the point, I wonder if the Church (again, Universal, not congregational) no longer values being something different to the culture. After all, it's easier to swim with the current than it is to swim against or across it.
A common saying, attributed to Martin Luther, Abraham Lincoln, Reinhold Niebuhr, Billy Graham, DL Moody and others, ascribes that good Christian preachers must have a newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other. This article walks us through events in 2017 politics as they coincided with Lectionary scripture texts. Most of these political events cut across common Christian understanding of human relationships and calls to serve our neighbor.
In these days of rapid change, the voice of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is a great help to keeping our faith grounded in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Matthew is not out to reinvent 1st Century Jewish thought and life for who believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Matthew was about offering a map of what had been known to them to a new life in Christ Jesus. I wonder if we can find the roots Matthew articulates helpful to keeping us faithful to following Jesus in these days.
I looked up the Baptist minister's comments from your blog. It seems to me he misstated what President Trump has said. He did not say to keep all immigrants out of the U.S.; just to do proper vetting to keep people who would harm our people and country. Just ask the people who have lost loved ones due to the criminal acts by illegal immigrants that had already been convicted of violent crimes that should have been deported. I lost a child at the age of 21 due to an illness for which there is no cure and I can only imagine how painful it is to lose a child murdered by someone who should have never been allowed to stay in this country. It is my understanding from reading about the Muslim religion that they believe in abusing women; killing people who do not believe as they do; and as we have seen recently mass killings all over the world. If we can keep these people out of our country, maybe we as Americans can keep Christianity alive; and be able to witness for our Lord. At least President Trump believes in prayer, is against killing unborn babies that cannot defend for themselves and seems to have some Biblical values. I do not know what is in his heart, but God uses people in many ways as we learn from studying 1st Samuel how God used King Saul, even though he was filled with evil spirits at times. Maybe I am wrong and the Baptist minister is right as I am sure he is much more informed than I, but this was on my heart.


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Kalpana Pradhan is working as a broadcast journalist and media producer, mostly covering human interests, women affairs and hard hitting socio-economic issues. Mainly Indo-Bangla border issues. Her working areas are West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and partly Bihar(eastern part of India).
Being a freelance Radio broadcaster filing news and current affairs programme to BBC Bengali Service and Hindi service(online too),"Asia Calling", Radio France International, DW German Radio and WINGS.
As a freelance news producer she is working for BBC World, Al jazeera TV, Sky news, France 24 channel and Anikmal planet.


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Lifestyle Advice
Personal Finance Wealth
Where the Ultra-Wealthy Live in the United States
By Wendy Connett
Where Do the Ultra-Wealthy Live in America?
Although someone with $10 million dollars might seem very wealthy, only those with $30 million or more in investable assets are categorized as ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs). According to the 2019 World Ultra Wealth Report, the number of UHNWIs has grown to 265,490, and together they own over $32.3 trillion. Half of these extremely wealthy people reside in North America, and the vast majority call the United States home.
The United States' UHNW population grew by 0.8% overall in 2018, a much lower rate than the 9.5% growth seen in 2017. The population's net worth fell by 1.7% in 2018, which was surprising considered the 13% increase in net worth in 2017. The lower growth rates are thought to be the result of a late slump in investor sentiment and global equity markets in 2018.
However, the 2019 World Ultra Wealth Report predicts that the UHNW population will reach 353,550 with a total combined wealth of $43 trillion by 2023.
People with $30 million or more in investable assets are considered to be ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals.
There are 265,490 such people in the world who together own over $32.3 trillion; half of them live in North America.
New York has the highest UHNW population followed by Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
Understanding the Ultra-wealthy
Unsurprisingly, America's wealthiest are primarily concentrated in big cities or major metropolitan areas. Only four of the 50 states – California, Texas, Florida, and Missouri – have more than one city with substantial UHNW populations.
New York may lag behind California in terms of its state ranking but New York City boasts the largest UHNW population of any city in the United States – as well as the world – with 8,980 UHNW individuals as of 2018, according to the latest data from Statista.com.
Here are the five U.S. cities with the most UHNW individuals:
New York City: 8,980
Los Angeles: 5,295
Chicago: 3,350
San Francisco: 2,925
Washington, D.C.: 2,785
States With the Wealthiest Americans
While California can lay claim to having the most UHNW individuals, it can't do the same for having the wealthiest individuals. In fact, according to the 2019 Forbes 400 list, the two wealthiest U.S. citizens live in Washington State: Jeff Bezos, whose net worth is $114 billion, and Bill Gates, with $106 billion. Number three on the list is Warren Buffet in Nebraska with $80.8 billion. California claims spots four, five and six with Mark Zuckerberg ($69.6 billion), Larry Ellison ($65 billion) and Larry Page ($55.5 billion).
U.S. Billionaires
The United States was home to 607 billionaires in 2019, according to Forbes. Billionaire families in the United States have earned their fortunes in a variety of ways, including owning wineries, oil companies, grocery store chains, banks, investment firms, alcoholic beverage companies, chemical manufacturers, and candy empires.
What do these extremely wealthy people do with their fortunes? Many of them support causes that are meaningful to them or start their own charities. For example, the Mars family, which, according to Business Insider is worth over $90 billion, started the Mars Foundation, which supports environmental, educational, and health-related causes.
Wealth-X. "Ultra Wealthy Population Analysis: The World Ultra Wealth Report 2019." Accessed April 4, 2020.
Forbes. "The Forbes 400 2019." Accessed April 4, 2020.
Forbes. "Billionaires 2019." Accessed April 4, 2020.
Business Insider. "Meet the Mars family, Heirs to the Snickers and M&M's Candy Empire, Who Spent Years Avoiding the Limelight and Are America's Third-Wealthiest Family 'Dynasty'." Accessed April 4, 2020.
Where the Ultra-Wealthy Go to School
Problems Ultra-High Net-Worth-Individuals Face
Who Is the Richest Person Ever?
Wealth Management Firms: Which Are the Biggest and Best?
Top 10 Asian American-Owned Banks
Which Are the World's 10 Largest Private Banks?
Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individual (UHNWI)
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) are people with at least $30 million in investable assets. Their ranks continue to grow globally.
Spaniard Amancio Ortega is one of the wealthiest people in the world and founder of the world's largest fashion clothing retailer, Zara.
Silicon Valley is an area in Northern California that is home to a large number of innovative technology companies.
Billionaire Definition
A billionaire is an individual who has assets or a net worth of at least one billion currency units such as dollars, euros or pounds.
The cost of living is the amount a person needs to spend to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare in a particular place.
Gentrification refers to the transformation of a city neighborhood from low to high value, often leading to the displacement of its previous occupants.


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How to switch from Job to Business | Why to do it? | Master Class 5 | DSS Ep 145
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How to switch from Job to Business | Financial Backup | Mr Bhuwan Pant | Master Class 2 | Divya Shlokam Show | Episode 142
How to get New Job after Job Loss ? | Mr Anirban Das | Part 2 | DSS Ep 199
नौकरी छूटने पर नई नौकरी कैसे पाएं ? ; नौकरी ना होने की परिस्थ्ति में कैसे सम्भलें ; दिव्या क्षोलकम एपिसोड – 198 (मास्टर क्लास
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How to get Selected for Job ? | Mr Anirban Das | Divya Shlokam Show Episode 194 _________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you looking for a job? Do


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Elizabeth Bennion in "Antique Medical Instruments," 1979, Sotheby Parke Bernet, London, pictures and describes a similar device with finger pieces on page 108. The photograph is captioned, "Tonsil guillotine, c. 1860, Museum of Historical Medicine, Copenhagen." The text, in part, reads, "Guillotines and forceps were listed in the catalogues from the early nineteenth century and were in two sizes, for adults and children. Tonsil-guillotines are easily recognizable by means of the two parallel sliding rings, one with cutting edge... Unlike many other instruments, the earlier examples tend to be lighter while those of a later date become complicated and cumbersome with elaborate finger pieces. Cased sets with various spare attachments were made c. 1860, but simple steel and brass guillotines have survived from at least ten years earlier." It is our belief that the example here is much earlier than 1850 and thus may in fact represent a prototype!
The short-lived Laing Planetarium Company developed this planetarium model in the late 19th century. Known as a "tellurian," its inventor, Alexander Laing, received a U.S. patent in 1895. A decade later he sold his planetarium interests in 1905 to the Trippensee Planetarium Company of Detroit, Michigan. Thereafter, Trippensee modified the device using their patented chain-driven model which purportedly improved upon Laing's original string-driven model. Rand McNally produced a 3-inch terrestrial globe, copyrighted in 1891, which was incorporated in both versions. Clearly, this example is from the late 1800's.
This sun dial represents the oldest antique we have ever offered in our 35 yearsin business.
Adolph Lietz was born in Leubeck, Germany in 1860. He immigrated to San Francisco in 1879. He soon found employment in the scientific instrument trade working in the instrument shop of Carl Rahsskopff. By 1882, the talented maker and entrepreneur, was able to open his own business. His first business, "Lietz and Mauerhan" lasted only a little over a year. After Mauerhan departed, Lietz partnered with Conrad Weinmann, who had worked alongside Weule during their employ by Carl Rahsskopff in the early years. The company, known as "A. Lietz & Co.," produced surveying instruments and related scientific instruments. The firm was incorporated in 1892 under the name "The A. Lietz Company." In 1910 a complete line of drafting tools and engineering equipment was added. But by 1947, after 65 years of production, the firm discontinued manufacturing.
Samuel Theobald was born in 1846. He began his Baltimore, Maryland medical practice in 1871. Before his appointment at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Theobald was one of the founders of the Baltimore Eye, Ear and Throat Charity Hospital in 1882. In 1889 he founded the Opthamology Department at John's Hopkins Hospital. In addition to teaching at the medical school and working in the dispensary, he was known for the development of "Theobald lachrymal probes," the introduction of boric acid as an effective eye wash, and his book, Prevalent Diseases of the Eye. He was a member of the American Ophthalmological Society for 50 years and served as its 14th President.
The famous scientific instrument-making firm of Keuffel & Esser, respectfully known as "K & E," was founded in July 1867 by Wilhelm J.D. Keuffel and Herman Esser, both German émigrés. They began manufacturing surveying instruments in 1885 and incorporated their company in 1889.
"A Keuffel & Esser Co., New York Railroad transit, serial number 29034, is in the Gurley Museum, manufactured about 1914." (Charles E. Smart, "The Makers of Surveying Instruments In America Since 1700," 1962, Regal Art Press, Troy, New York). A very similar instrument, captioned "1915 Model Gurley Theodolite," is pictured on page (ix).
Ceres and Pallas were originally considered planets. But after 1845 and the discovery of asteroid belt, they were reclassified as asteroids. Uranus was discovered in 1781 but was not officially recognized as planet until 1873.
9.03 ARMILLARY SPHERE. Rare early 19th century model of the solar system made by the famous French globe maker Delamarche as printed on the terrestrial globe in the center. This planetary model is based on the Ptolemaic system devised by early Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemaeus (A.D. 90 – 128) in which he envisioned the solar system as a set of nested spheres. Ptolemy's model depicted the Earth at the center of the solar system, whereas the later (and correct) Copernican system was sun-centered. This exceptional example features a pewter equatorial ring engraved in single degrees, 0 – 360. It is supported on a cast iron strut which also houses the brass Meridian ring divided into quadrants of 90 degrees each. As mounted, the Meridian ring is free to revolve and thus indicates the sun's declination at any time of the year. The broad diagonal paper ring is beautifully engraved with the signs of the Zodiac. The remaining horizontal rings indicate the north and south tropics and the equator. This especially fine model is in a marvelous state of preservation, considering the fact that it is over 200 years old! Museum Quality.
The first maker to produce globes in France for use by the general public was Charles-Francois Delamarche (1740-1817). Delamarche's workshop was on Rue du Foin, St. Jacques au College Me. Gervais', Quartier Latin. Subsequently his addresses were Rue du Jardinet, then No. 7 Rue du Battour, all Paris. Likely this sphere is the work of his son and successor, Felix.
The term Armillary sphere comes from the Latin armilla meaning hoop or bracelet. The earth is shown as a small globe in the center of the sphere which is formed by 2 rings at right angles. The tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (representing the sun's maximum North and South declinations from the Equator) and the Arctic and Antarctic circles are represented by narrower rings. A broad ring crossing the tropic rings represents the ecliptic or path of the sun. The sphere is mounted within a Meridain ring set into the Equatorial ring. Practical use of the Armillary sphere as a solar system teaching aid was superseded by the Orrery in the early 18th century. (A. Major, Maritime Antiques, 1981, Tantivy Press, London).


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Бейсембай Шиналиев — казахский советский партийный и общественный деятель.

Биография
С 1927 года — член КПСС. Окончил Свердловский гидролого-геодезический техникум (1936), курсы при ЦК КПСС (1957) В 1924-1934 годах работал на руководящих должностях в судебной, хозяйственной деятельности, производстве в Акмолинской, Карагандинской, Северо-Казахстанских областях. В 1936-1940 годах — инженер в тресте п/о «Ачполиметалл», в 1940-1952 гг. — инструктор, заведующий отделом, 3-й секретарь и секретарь по угольной промышленности ОК[какого?] КП Казахстана.

Депутат Верховного Совета СССР 3-го и 4-го созывов.

Почётный горняк, кавалер орденов Ленина и Трудового Красного Знамени.

Депутаты Верховного Совета СССР 3-го созыва
Депутаты Верховного Совета СССР 4-го созыва
Почётные горняки СССР

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
namespace IoContent.Sdk
{
	public class ContentClientBaseParameters : ApiClientBaseParameters
	{
		public string ContentType { get; set; }
	}
}


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text:
Rocking and rapping the Karen diaspora
Violet Cho, Guest Contributor - 15 Feb, 2011
Tae Ta Blo Hay Ya A'kwet (Give Me Another Chance) by Eh Law Saw – 2010 – K4L Dream Land Film
Eh Doh Doh Ba Tu Sar Sar (Big Love, Big Suffering) by Saw Kalu – 2011
Give Me Another Chance is the first full-length album of music videos from Sydney-based rapper Eh Law Saw. Big Love, Big Suffering is the first album by Melbourne-based singer/songwriter Saw Kalu, released as an audio CD with accompanying VCD of karoke videos. Both albums are the product of young refugees who arrived in Australia from Thai border camps and their work provides an insight into Karen diasporic youth culture. The singers are S'gaw Karen with Christian backgrounds and they sing in S'gaw language. Give Me Another Chance is hip-hop while Big Love, Big Suffering fits into pop and rock genres.
Love is a key theme in both albums – with songs about break-ups, courtship and relationships. They also intersperse these with messages about the Karen ethno-nationalist struggle, urging young Karen in the diaspora to uphold an ethnic identity and to do something for the liberation movement. Saw Kalu takes up the cause to a fuller extent though, with four songs devoted to nationalist themes, while Eh Law Saw only has one, which he seems unenthusiastic to sing.
Perhaps a first in Karen popular culture, Eh Law Saw also includes themes dealing with drugs, crime and challenges to the 'traditional' authority of pastors, teachers and parents.
Saw Kalu's first song is titled 'I am Karen' and carries an irritatingly didactic message. The song is in a hard rock style, with lots of energy, which is perhaps an attempt to motivate us into action. The clip consists of Saw Kalu and his band performing in rural Victoria, with the coast on the horizon. They use special effects to give a red tinge to the video, evoking a colour in the Karen flag, also associated with bravery. Saw Kalu asks Karen youth to question themselves and attempts to provide himself as a role model:
I am a Karen who loves honesty and I am a Karen who has red blood. Hey! Looking at me, I am a Karen who really loves his people. As a Karen, I will raise my Karen flag so others can know us and we'll maintain Karen heritage given to us by our ancestors. I'm always prepared to do any duty given to me for the sake of my people. I'll do it until I die.
This strong message brings up common themes from the Karen ethno-nationalist struggle, including sacrifice, bravery, unity and loyalty. This shows that this rhetoric continues to resonate amongst some diaspora youth.
The sole specifically nationalist song on Eh Law Saw's album is titled 'My People,' written and co-rapped by Ban Nat. It speaks to young Karen dispersed around the world: "To every Karen who arrived in other countries, we should try hard in our studies, for us to be able to help our people. Our people need us."
The song appeals for Karen unity: "We should defeat the SPDC (the acronym for Burma's government) who oppress our people. There are not two Karen States – there is only one Karen State. To be able to get our country back, unity's the most important factor. It's the time for us to unite and work together."
Interestingly, Ban Nat rather than Eh Law Saw is the driving force behind the song. In the opening scene to 'My People,' Eh Law Saw and Ban Nat are talking in an industrial car park:
Eh Law Saw: Hey kwa (brother)! Why did you come to Australia?
Pan Nat: Because our Karen people are being oppressed and we have to scatter and run for our lives to take refuge in other people's countries. So, isn't it good if we sing a song about our people?
Eh Law Saw: (nodding his head in a tired, uninterested way) good.
Saw Kalu's song 'Young Karen' carries a similar message that all young Karen should unite and work together to help Karen people. It reflects a common feeling of guilt within the diaspora as a result of living in relative comfort in the West while so many suffer back home. These sentiments are very familiar to me but it is interesting to see their transmission to a new generation.
I realise that in the two sets of clips, the Karen ethno-nationalist movement is brought in to the music in different ways. Saw Kalu is much more directly focussed on political cause. Most of his songs are involve a narrow idea of 'Karen,' following a similar discourse that has run through S'gaw Christian-dominated Karen culture and politics since early colonial times. Eh Law Saw, in contrast, provides somewhat of an alternative that might resonate more strongly with diaspora youth. His nationalist message is on the most part, less direct – wearing Karen clothes in the occasional scene, rapping under a Karen flag, rapping in front of a graffitied wall or wearing a T-Shirt honouring assassinated Karen National Union leader Padoh Mahn Sha (pictured).
Interestingly, Eh Law Saw expresses a range of daily issues related to young Karen adapting to their new society. Some of the frustrations centre on youth caught between conservative and controlling parents who expect respect and obedience according to common interpretations of 'Karen culture,' and the desire to try new things, including drugs, hip hop and other elements of what they refer to as 'on the road.' These are grounded in his experience in working-class, suburban Sydney.
In 'the Nature of Young People' is about Karen youth who are rebellious and carefree, spending their time drinking 'happy water,' smoking cigarettes and marijuana. They hang out, wonder around the city at night, stay up late and get up late. They sing that this is a boy's 'nature' in contrast with a girl's 'nature' of dressing sexy, spending too much time in front of the mirror and chatting online and listening to K4L songs. The clip shows Eh Law Saw with a group of friends, hanging out in a park, standing by their car, playing around and drinking at a picnic table by gum trees.
'Bad Boy' also gives a new insight into life for Karen youth growing up in a big Western city. The song is about contradictions between what they are told at home and the reality 'on the street.' The song contrasts the moral messages of Karen parents, teachers and pastors, with the more gritty experiences of Eh Law Saw and his crew. While the message from elders is to rely on God, to stay away from drugs and alcohol and to study hard, those in the song want to use drugs, flirt with girls for fun and experiment. They therefore get called 'bad boy' in the conservative Karen community.
They respond to this in the song, rapping that it is their life and their mind and that their pastors and parents won't change them. The song carries an ambiguous message. The rappers talk about coming back from prison, ostracised by their Karen elders. They wonder if it was right to be a 'bad boy' and if they should have listened to their parents. But then their conclusion is defiant, The closing line of the song goes 'is this a time for me to repent? Shit! (I don't want to do that).' These are real issues – there are already some Karen in Australia who have been charged for the sorts of crimes Eh Law Saw is rapping about.
Saw Kalu and Eh Law Saw have quite different approaches to love. Saw Kalu seems to have internalised bitter experiences of love, which are reflected in all of his romantic songs. In one song, titled 'Tear,' he sings about heartbreak after a girl he loved broke up with him. He describes his feelings as 'burning inside him.' In the chorus, he sings that his tears and suffering as a sign of his love. In the clip, Saw Kalu is lying down. The camera zooms in on his face so we can see his suffering (pictured). This is interspersed with old photographs of him with his girlfriend. This suggests that the song is based on a real relationship, as opposed to the fictional ones that Eh Law Saw has come up with for his videos. In clips like 'Tear,' Saw Kalu sees love, like politics, as something that involves great sacrifice. 'Tear' concludes with a Christian message of forgiveness to his girlfriend for leaving him. There is therefore moral value in his loss.
Eh Law Saw's concept of love is less serious: love me as I love you and if you don't, I'll take my love back and give it someone else. While Saw Kalu focuses on either being dumped or, in one song, experiencing the death of his lover, Eh Law Saw deals with a broader range of romantic topics. These include unrequited love; loving an older girl; loving a younger 'baby' girl; choosing to break up with his girlfriend; and having his girlfriend dump him.
Both artists use a number of female actors in their love-themed music videos. These largely carry a stereotypical image of Karen femininity. Girls pick flowers, stroll in parks, smile shyly and appear quiet. Eh Law Saw also includes stronger images of Karen girls who look assertive – in one clip a girl confronts a boy to tell him that she's found another guy. Despite the stereotyped femininity, girls have power over boys – they seem in control of the relationships and are mostly the ones who decide when it's time to break up.
Eh Law Saw seems more influenced by Burmese rap than the genre's US origins. While musical style reflects a mix of both hip hop traditions, the lyrics and content are on the whole much closer to popular Burmese hip-hop with the preoccupation with romance, in a way fans of American rap would probably see as overly tame and polite. His closing song sounds like a reference to a popular Burmese rap song from Sai Sai Kham Lai with Joe Ja. Only songs like 'Bad Boy' and 'the Nature of Young People' seem closer to lyrics in US gangster rap – although content like this are presumably absent from Burma-based hip hop due to state censorship, which restricts expression on moral as well as political lines.
Saw Kalu's uses a mix of pop and soft and hard rock with some piano. Saw Kalu sounds like he is primarily influenced by Burmese and Karen popular music, such as Iron Cross, Klo and Kweh.
Eh Law Saw is creative in word use and in exploring possibilities of making music in a new way – rather than following conventions commonly used in Karen popular music. He appears surprisingly confident in the way he challenges conservative Christian S'gaw Karen culture in multiple ways: by his use of 'impolite' colloquial S'gaw Karen, English ('Bad Boy' includes the line 'I don't give a fuck'), the inclusion of content challenging the authority of community elders and the open references to drug use, alcohol consumption and crime. However his sexual politics are perhaps more 'traditional' – the most intimate scenes are of young couples holding hands and walking together in parks, although in one of these songs, there is a subversive wink that suggests satirical intent.
I feel like Karen diasporic youth might better relate to Eh Law Saw than Saw Kalu, who is more like a lecturer with heavy moral and political messages that I suspect at least some in his intended audience are fed up with. While Saw Kalu is 'more of the same,' its exciting to see Eh Law Saw pushing multiple boundaries through his musical style and lyrics.
Violet Cho, Guest Contributor


text:
Home Good News
Providing ray of hope with a healing touch
'Santhwanakendram', started in March, has helped poor patients with over 1,000 dialysis procedures, reports Anuja Susan Varghese
Published: 26th September 2021 06:21 AM | Last Updated: 26th September 2021 06:21 AM | A+A A-
By Anuja Susan Varghese
ERNAKULAM: Offering a second chance at life, the Santhwanakendram in Vypeen has become a source of hope and succour for many patients requiring palliative care and regular dialysis. An initiative of the Cancure Foundation, the dialysis centre started functioning in Ochanthuruth in March. And within a short period of six months, it has conducted over 1,000 dialysis procedures. The Santhwanakendram is the result of a group of kindhearted people from various fields coming together to do something good.
The centre has the facility to conduct dialysis for eight patients at a time. Those suffering from renal failure or have lost both kidneys to disease cannot survive without conducting two or three dialyses per week. Such patients form a large part of the centre's beneficiaries. Treatment is provided free of cost to the poor, and even amid the pandemic, the centre remained open throughout.
"We have the support of many private and government hospitals in the district," said R Madhav Chandran, honorary secretary of the Cancure Foundation. "Hospitals, especially in the government sector, usually have long queues of patients for dialysis. For those with acute issues, three dialyses are required per week. But, due to the rush at hospitals, many choose to skip or postpone one or two sessions. We decided to provide a space exclusively for dialysis so that patients are more comfortable."
Shamsudeen P H, 74, a resident of Mulavukad, is one such patient who has been on dialysis for over three years. Burdened with debts after the marriage of two daughters and the huge expenses for his own treatment, Shamsudeen was at his wit's end. "For around six months now, I have been undergoing dialysis at Santhwanakendram without any break in sessions. My financial struggles have also eased," he said.
Saji Chandran, member of the Cancure governing council, said the centre charges an initial registration fee of `350 per patient but nearly 90% of the patients at the facility are given free treatment. "We have a dedicated team to assess the financial and social situation of our patients," he said.