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Other Publications by
Northwestern Faculty and Staff
Reviews by Martin Brady
The Left-Handed Marriage
Leigh Buchanan Bienen, senior lecturer, School of Law (Ontario Review Press, 2001)
These 10 short stories may sprawl a tad in their execution, but, interestingly, so do their characters, themes and locales. Besides presenting a wide range of dramatis personae, Bienen's tales harbor a distinctive flavor of wanderlust, with the scenery shifting rapidly from Kent, England, to Tokyo to New Jersey to Chicago to California to various African nations. Two lengthy stories might more rightly be considered novelettes: "Technician," in which a young man's new job brings him a little too close to the inner workings of the justice system; and the title piece, which tells of a contemporary couple's unique — and irony-filled — approach to midlife crisis. Some stories were originally published in such prestigious literary publications as Mississippi Review, Ontario Review and TriQuarterly.
Zero Tolerance: Resisting the Drive for Punishment in Our Schools — A Handbook for Parents, Students, Educators and Citizens
Bernardine Dohrn, associate clinical professor of law and director of the Children and Family Justice Center, William Ayers and Rick Ayers, eds. (The New Press, 2001)
This full-bodied collection of essays basically assails the "zero tolerance" policy on behavior as it has been instituted in American schools. Originally presented as a means to enforce a prohibition against firearms and other instruments of violence, zero tolerance, as shown here, expanded rather swiftly into an all-encompassing system of disciplinary measures that actually make schools less safe. The end result has been an erosion of trust among teachers, students and the community at large but especially in educational systems with high minority enrollments. The 20 articles offer solid writing, compelling arguments for rethinking the issues and contemporary case studies that are rife with credible anecdotal evidence. The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson provides the foreword.
For Better and for Worse: Welfare Reform and the Well-Being of Children and Families
Greg J. Duncan, professor of education and social policy, and P. Lindsay Chase-Lansdale, professor of education and social policy, eds. (Russell Sage Foundation, 2001)
Conceived from the special perspective of the passage of the Clinton administration's 1996 welfare reform legislation, this collection strives to assess the current status of children and families under the new statutes. Particular attention is focused on the recent effects of the earned- income tax credit and the present-day welfare of children in the new age of work-based safety-net programs for parents. Editors Duncan and Chase-Lansdale provide the book's opening, title essay and the concluding piece, "Lessons Learned." The 30 contributors comprise sociologists, economists and anthropologists from distinguished universities and think tanks.
Gifted Tongues: High School Debate and Adolescent Culture
Gary Alan Fine, professor of sociology (Princeton University Press, 2001)
Members of the high school debate team have always been considered rather singular individuals. Fine's decidedly esoteric but nonetheless sociologically compelling study affirms the typical profile — Caucasian (and, increasingly, Asian) males from upper-middle-class homes who apparently have something to prove. Yet his book also offers a thoughtful portrait of the entire culture of forensics. Fine's major focus is on schools in Minnesota, where debate remains a highly regarded and very cutthroat affair. (Georgia and Texas are also apparently forensics hotbeds.) Fine describes the styles of debate, the competition procedures, the national circuit of teachers and coaches, and the psychosexual gamesmanship (e.g., young lady debaters wear short skirts or sometimes flirt consciously for predominantly male judging panels). He also describes how the keen adolescent mind benefits from and can also suddenly become quite ambivalent about this intense field of personal expression.
Democracy and the Foreigner
Bonnie Honig, professor of political science and director of the Center for Law, Culture and Social Thought (Princeton University Press, 2001)
At its heart, this rather succinct yet well-written and balanced volume addresses the contemporary American dilemma regarding attitudes toward immigrants in our midst. In five basic sections — "Natives and Foreigners," "The Foreigner as Founder," "The Foreigner as Immigrant," "The Foreigner as Citizen," and "The Genres of Democracy" — Honig cites fictional characters (e.g., Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz), biblical figures such as Moses and Ruth, and the writings of, among others, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Sigmund Freud, to define the image of the "foreign-founder," that societal newcomer (or interloper) who may offer a people renewed insight, different yet vital energies or enlightened perspectives. Without stepping into the debate on national identity, Honig simply poses the question, "How can foreigners become a problem-solving resource?" This is a thought-provoking treatise on xenophobia versus xenophilia. The work includes copious notes and bibliography.
Across This Land: A Regional Geography of the United States and Canada
John C. Hudson, professor of geography and director of the Program in Environmental Sciences (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002)
Geography is one of those subjects that holds a wide fascination for many. It's ultimately fun to learn and always useful to know about. Happily, this fact-packed, well-organized and felicitously written book goes miles beyond the mere recitation of state capitals. Drawing upon his nearly 30 years of teaching university-level geography, Hudson offers a comprehensive history of the geological, agricultural, topographical, industrial, social and political development of the United States and Canada. Ten basic sections divide the North American continent (with the exception of Mexico) into general regional features — e.g., "The Lowland South," "The Intermountain West" — within which Hudson discusses such wide-ranging pertinent considerations as soil formation, vegetation, early American travel routes, urban versus rural economies, farming trends, the history of coastal and overland exploration, the impact of immigration, technological changes such as the building of dams and railroads, and endlessly more. Excellent maps offer intriguing information at a glance, and there are also some modest but illustrative black-and-white photos scattered throughout. Each chapter is fully referenced so readers can investigate the subject further. A wonderful addition to any home or school library.
Magic in the Middle Ages
Richard Kieckhefer, professor of religion and history (Cambridge University Press, 2001)
In this reprint of a book first published in 1989, Kieckhefer strives to "examine the full range of medieval magical beliefs and practices." Drawing on a vast array of internationally published historical research into the legend and lore of the Middle Ages, the author focuses on the "monks, parish priests, physicians, surgeon-barbers, midwives, folk healers and diviners with no formal training." Their practices involved sorcery; astrology; herbal medicine; alchemy; the use of protective amulets, talismans and other magical objects; trickery; books of secrets; and, finally, necromancy, i.e., the conjuring of spirits or demons. The text offers an authoritative overview of magic's heritage in myth, classical literature and pagan ritual and concluding chapters on the culminating societal prohibition, condemnation and prosecution of magic's practitioners, including the rise of witch trials.
Marketing Moves: A New Approach to Profits, Growth and Renewal
Philip Kotler, S.C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing, Kellogg School of Management; Dipak C. Jain, dean and Sandy and Morton Goldman Professor in Entrepreneurial Studies and Marketing, Kellogg School of Management; and Suvit Maesincee (Harvard Business School Press, 2002)
When it comes to marketing, Philip Kotler is a one-stop-shopping resource. Here he heads up a team that describes marketing approaches evinced by the rise of the digital economy. Older strategies have not kept pace with the increasingly technology-driven business climate, say the authors, whose text offers good information on identifying market opportunities, building a business infrastructure and designing effective sales schemes buoyed by efficient operational systems. The desired result is a renewal of markets that will provide sound growth and desirable profit margins.
Nothing but the Truth: Why Trial Lawyers Don't, Can't and Shouldn't Have to Tell the Whole Truth
Steven Lubet, professor of law and director of the Program on Advocacy and Professionalism (New York University Press, 2001)
The Alabama district attorney in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird may have played the "race" card, but whoever considered that the book's noblest figure, the admirable Atticus Finch, played the "hysterical female" card when in court he attempted to discredit a local woman's reputation? These and other fascinating angles on evidence gathering and courtroom testimony are the subject of Lubet's eminently readable book, which basically riffs on the notion that lawyers become storytellers when they seek not only the truth but the surest defense for their clients. Seven chapters explore both real-life and fictional trials, the defendants ranging from wild-eyed, fanatical abolitionist John Brown to legendary Old West peace officer Wyatt Earp to, most recently, finance lawyer Sheila McGough, convicted of assisting a con man in his fraudulent schemes.
Money Talks: Speech, Economic Power and the Values of Democracy
Martin H. Redish, Louis and Harriet Ancel Professor of Law and Public Policy (New York University Press, 2001
It might be fairly postulated that oft-published law professor Redish should make some points with U.S. Big Money interests, offering as he does a "coherent theoretical rationale to support the view that restrictions on the expression of the economically powerful or the use of money for expression threaten fundamental First Amendment values." Offering dense, elliptical arguments and citing essential court cases, Redish stands firmly behind the Constitution in his claim.
Beyond College for All: Careers Paths for the Forgotten Half
James E. Rosenbaum, professor of sociology, education and social policy (Russell Sage Foundation, 2001)
An investigation of that rarefied sociological U.S. stratum: non-college-attending high school graduates. After citing Germany and Japan as positive examples that have found better ways to productively incorporate the "forgotten half" into their work forces, Rosenbaum discusses ways to reverse the downward spiral of the U.S. youth labor market; investigates the school-to-work transition and the role played by teachers and counselors; and critiques the apparent lack of formal linkages between schools and business.
Writing to Save Your Life: How to Honor Your Story through Journaling
Michele Weldon, senior lecturer, Medill School of Journalism (Hazelden, 2001)
Based on workshops the author conducts around the country, this handbook offers therapeutic encouragement for those persons looking to deal creatively with life challenges or to enhance or jump-start their writing craft. Weldon provides instructive essays as well as samples of her own writing, all intended to spur creativity and induce thoughtful and dedicated pursuit of the "journaling" experience. A regimen of exercises, dubbed "scribotherapy," is designed to inspire writers to find their own words to come to grips with personal difficulties and, thus, to hasten the healing process.
Garry Wills, adjunct professor of history (Times Books, Henry Holt and Co., 2002)
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills joins the roster of distinguished writers who have contributed to this on-going American Presidents Series under the editorship of historian Arthur M. Schlesinger. Wills serves up a compact yet informative summary of our fourth chief executive's life, with primary focus on his careers as Founding Father, politician and statesman. At 5' feet 4' inches, with a seemingly sickly physical constitution, the landed-gentry Virginian Madison (1751-1836) lived to a ripe old age. In the process he played a vital role at the Constitutional Convention and served in the Washington and Jefferson administrations before ascending to a two-term presidency. Despite some obvious flaws, missteps and singular challenges, his administration included the successful waging of the War of 1812, acquisition of key new territory, the development of an effective U.S. Navy and the young republic's forward steps in the arena of international affairs. Wills further charts Madison's continued post-presidential involvement in the Virginia legislature, and he also drops in a few tidbits about the man's famous wife, Dolley. Schlesinger provides a brief but insightful opening essay on the nature of presidents and their missions.


probably two of the more important decisions to make for many brides, your wedding hair and wedding makeup can make all the difference in helping you feel your absolute best on your big day, and this is coming from a girl who pretty much never wears makeup nowadays and considers it a small miracle if her hair manages to stay presentable from sun up to sun down. the trick to it all, as several past brides have told me, is to let the stylists create a wedding day look that simply enhances, not masks, what the good Lord already gave you. well, when i look at it that way, i'm much more open to the idea.
now, the question regarding hair and makeup is where do you begin your search? as far as things go for me, i first started with what i knew, which was who my sister-in-law kari hired when she and kyle got married back in 2014. she happily gave me some contact information, and i quickly turned around to send the first of many e-mail messages. kyle and kari got married in roswell, georgia, which meant most of their vendors were local to the greater atlanta area. therein was a bit of a problem for me: with our wedding being in peachtree city (practically on the complete opposite side of town and definitely outside the greater atlanta area), i would have to pay travel fees per mile for the stylists to get to me. now, if we were having a remote destination wedding, i'd understandably bite the bullet and pay, but before committing, i decided to investigate and see if we had other options.
as it would end up being the case for many of our vendors, i asked the director at glendalough manor if they had any preferred recommendations for hair and makeup. what do you know, they did! as soon as i was able, i booked the trial appointments and invited the crew to come along for the fun.
now, if you aren't in "the know" in this regard, oftentimes you do a trial or dress rehearsal for hair and makeup before your actual wedding day. i know, i know. among all the other things on our to-do list, you might not feel like you have time for this sort of thing. i used to think that way, too. however, i highly encourage you go through with the trials and here is exactly why.
not so much on the makeup side, but for the hair i had a decent number of ideas from pinterest, magazines, and simply my own imagination. so, armed with visions and excitement, my mom, kari, jamie, and i went to n v hair studio down in peachtree city. the girls made themselves comfortable while i settled into the chair and described to connie my stylist what i was thinking. she listened and looked and quickly got to work teasing and twirling and pinning and placing each hair. it wasn't too long before she gave me the mirror so i could see her work for myself. i looked and looked and looked some more while everyone waited eagerly to hear what i had to say, which ended up being, "i really don't like it." oh no, the horror! what ever shall we do? the girls all jumped in quickly with compliments, hoping to lift my spirits, but after talking through it, what i had originally envisioned really just wasn't me at all, despite the fact that the stylist had pretty much done exactly what i'd asked. i was truly ready to feel defeated as i let the handheld fall to my lap, but connie didn't miss a beat and got right back to work.
1 – even if you come to your appointment (hair, dress, makeup, whatever) with ideas, do try to keep an open mind in case what you think you want isn't what will ultimately work best for you.
2 – trust the experts! they do whatever they do as professionals, day in and day out. that counts for A LOT.
3 – let your bridesmaids or groosmen or parents or friends or whomever be there to support you. in some cases they know you better than you know yourself, so lean on them when you're feeling unsure.
4 – and lastly, speak up for yourself when you have an opinion. although we aren't at our wedding day just yet, i imagine the last thing phillip or i would want is to see something at the ceremony or reception that we just absolutely hate and regret. remember, you're hopefully only getting married once, so make sure the day is as you want it to be.


Daniel Radcliffe will always be remembered for his great work in Harry Potter. However, not even this has prevented him from participating in a variety of projects, all far from the magical touches that once dominated his career.The most recent example of this is Beasts of Burden. This film will show Daniel Radcliffe as a pilot in the service of a cartel he decides to betray to obtain support from the DEA in the treatment of his dying wife. A risky bet for a reference of the fantastic cinema, but that makes sense when we remember his work in titles like Imperium, Swiss Army Man and Jungle.
Being a working, but unknown actor, even one with the talent and looks to have a legitimate shot at making it in Hollywood, has to be a frustrating Animal experience….
StudioCanal has released the first trailer of 'King of Thieves', a film directed by James Marsh ('The theory of everything') from an article based on real events of Mark Seal….


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Gustave Heuzé est un agronome français, enseignant à Grignon et à l'institut agronomique de Paris, inspecteur général honoraire de l'agriculture, connu pour ses ouvrages liés à son enseignement, né à Paris le  et mort à Versailles le .

Biographie

Élève de l'École d'agriculture de Grignon en 1837, il prend, en 1840, la direction de l'École de Grand-Jouan. Puis devient professeur d'agriculture à l'École nationale d'agriculture de Grignon en 1849

De 1850 à 1868, à Grignon, il assure un cours d'agriculture pratique dont les résumés deviennent des livres de référence, et le restent encore aujourd'hui pour partie malgré l'évolution des techniques.

L'histoire naturelle l'emporte sur la chimie et la mécanique. Son ambition est de délivrer un enseignement concret et pragmatique aidant l'agriculteur dans l'étude de ses terres et des assolements les plus adaptés. Et de préciser  les caractères distinctifs des principales plantes de grande culture.

Il devient ensuite professeur à l'Institut agronomique de Paris, lors de la fondation de cet établissement.

Il intervient dans toutes les expositions universelles. En 1862, il est chargé des rapports sur les plantes fourragères. En 1867, de ceux sur les plantes alimentaires. En 1878, il se consacre aux céréales, aux produits farineux, et aux fruits et les légumes. En 1874, à Vienne, il dresse une synthèse sur l'agriculture française.

En 1880, il est nommé inspecteur général de l'agriculture.

Publications principales
 La France agricole (Atlas). Texte intégral sur le site de la Maison des sciences de l'homme de l'Université de Caen.
Le Cours d'agriculture pratique, composé de IX sections et d'autant de livres :
I : Géographie - Météorologie - Agrologie. Devenu ultérieurement : Les climats, les régions et les terrains, puis La France agricole.
II : Matières fertilisantes. 1857,  édition, Librairie L. Hachette, 693 pages. Texte intégral.
III : La pratique de l'agriculture.
IV : Pâturages et prairies naturelles. Données non disponibles
V : Les plantes fourragères. 1861,  édition, Librairie L. Hachette, 584 pages. Texte intégral.
VI : Plantes alimentaires. Les Plantes céréales (Tomes I et II); Les Plantes légumières (Tome III); Les Plantes alimentaires des pays chauds (Tome IV)
VII : Les plantes industrielles (en deux volumes). Volume I : 1859, Librairie L. Hachette, 378 pages. Texte intégral. Volume II.
VIII : Les assolements et les systèmes de culture. 1862, Librairie L. Hachette, 534 pages. Texte intégral.
IX : Arbres et arbustes fruitiers de grande culture.

Distinctions
 Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, le ,
 Officier de la Légion d'honneur, le .

Notes et références

Annexes

Liens externes

  INRA

Agronome français
Officier de la Légion d'honneur
Naissance en septembre 1816
Naissance à Paris
Décès en avril 1907
Décès à Versailles
Décès à 90 ans
Décès en Seine-et-Oise

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Letter supporting HR2668 to restore FTC power to protect consumers
A recent Supreme Court decision severely limits the FTC's ability to recover ill-gotten gains from wrongdoers and then provide restitution to victim-consumers. Excerpt from a downloadable PIRG-backed group letter supporting HR2668, (Cardenas-CA), the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act, which would restore FTC Act Section 13(b) authorities:
"For decades, the FTC relied on Section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act to hold bad actors accountable when they violate the law. Under 13(b), the FTC has returned their ill-gotten gains to harmed consumers and small businesses. Since July 2018, it has returned $11.5 billion to nearly 10 million people across the country. However, the Supreme Court's recent decision in AMG Capital Management, LLC, et al. v. Federal Trade Commission has seriously compromised this valuable law enforcement tool. The Court held that the FTC Act does not give the Commission the authority to get monetary relief in Section 13(b) enforcement actions, and that it is now up to Congress to restore FTC's ability to refund harmed consumers. The decision has already affected ongoing FTC cases and will likely impact millions of consumers if Congress does not act quickly. [...] In October 2020, the bipartisan group of all five FTC commissioners wrote to Congress sounding the alarm that the FTC's authority was being threatened, and urged leaders to clarify the agency's ability to get redress and recover stolen funds. Now that the Supreme Court has issued its decision, swift congressional action is critical. By passing H.R. 2668, Congress will do a great service for the American people and honest businesses. It will discourage scammers, preying on our parents and grandparents and our men and women in uniform, from thumbing their noses at the law."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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bash /google/data/ro/teams/fig/install.sh

sudo apt-get install silversearcher-ag
sudo apt-get install tree

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Powered by Playtech, Cat Queen slot machine is yet another vibrant release that will provide you with a great opportunity to take a peek at the mysterious, ancient world of Egypt and its imperious gods, and give you a chance to unearth some sizeable treasure along the way. The biggest draw of this highly volatile game is certainly the Free Spins feature, which is equipped with Stacked Wilds and can award up to 30 free spins. Stake anywhere between $0.40 and $800 per spin and do your best to outwit the sage gods and get your hands on their massive riches. The top-prize up for grabs equals 1,000 coins and is awarded for landing five Cat Queen icons on a single payline.
Cat Queen video slot features 5 reels, 40 paylines and it's playable from $0.40 per spin. The highest stake can go all the way up to $800, which will definitely appeal to more aspiring high-rollers. The Autoplay feature is at your disposal, too, and can come in handy if you wish to spin the reels automatically, without any interruption for a selected number of times. Those who prefer a fast-paced gameplay can make use of the Turbo Mode button.
The reels are set against an Egyptian temple with extravagantly decorated columns placed on both sides of the paying grid. Once you find yourself inside the ancient pyramid, you will encounter some of the most famous Egyptian gods such as Horus, Seth, and Ankh, as well as Scarab, Bastet, and the Eye of Horus. Don't forget to watch for Pharaoh symbols since they are the most generous ones, granting 200x the bet for landing five of them on a single line. The good news is the symbols can appear stacked, which basically means they can extend to cover all positions on one reel. Wilds are represented by the Cat Queen herself and they can replace all other icons apart from pyramid Scatters.
The only special offered in the features department is the Free Spins feature that will, nonetheless, keep you entertained, given the amazing potential it can bring. So, keep an eye on pyramid Scatters, as landing three, four, or five of them will trigger the Free Spins round and award 15 free games paired with a fixed payout of 5x, 10x, or 50x your bet. Moreover, the feature can be re-triggered, hence, the maximum number of spins you can win the Bonus can reach 30 free spins.
To spice things up a little bit and add more excitement to the gameplay, hit the Double button that will instantly take you to another screen where you will be asked to select a card that is greater in value than the one displayed by a dealer. Needless to say, if you make a correct guess, you will double your win, while an incorrect guess will result in your depleted bankroll. You can also choose to bet only 50% of your win and, potentially, walk away with a 150% cash reward.


PF007 Potato Deep Fryer - Lifco Technical and Trading Co.
This industrial deep fryer is perfect for your commercial kitchen. Utilizing the deep fryers we offer at Lifco Technical Trading Co. can help make your cooking time more efficient and effective in your daily business procedures.


Landscape Design Contracts Ltd was established in 1987. We are one of the most experienced and competitive commercial and domestic landscapers in Edinburgh and West Lothian. Landscape Design Contracts Ltd work with landscaping, paving, drives and patios throughout Central Scotland – we cover all forms of hard and soft landscaping at any scale.
We work with a huge range of products to serve our domestic and commercial clients in all hard and soft aspects of landscape construction and grounds maintenance.
Landscape Design Contracts Ltd have an extensive fleet of both vehicles and machinery. We carry a significant stock of plants, trees, shrubs, turf, aggregates, soils, sands etc, suitable for conditions throughout Edinburgh and Central Scotland. We have a comprehensive range of hard landscaping materials. In addition we have our own landscaping Edinburgh yard, from where we can co-ordinate efficient job requirements to keep us very competitive.
Our clients include some of the most prestigious companies and house builders in the UK. Our West Lothian landscapers are known throughout the country. Many of the fantastic show home gardens and displays you will see with high quality driveways, superior paving and attractive patios were designed and constructed by Landscape Design Contracts Ltd.
No matter what size your landscaping project is, you will receive the same high standard of service from our dedicated professional landscaping teams. Our in-house professionals include Civil Engineers, Landscape Designers, Quantity Surveyors, Estimators and a large team of experienced landscaping Tradesmen. All our staff and managers are suitably qualified and certificated to ensure we deliver great quality and value for money on each project.
Most of our work is repeat business from recommendations. We work with residential clients and businesses that appreciate that we provide a competitive, reliable and professional landscaping service with a consistent quality of workmanship for any project or landscape maintenance requirement.
We hope you will put us to the test, appreciate what we can do with your landscaping project and become one of our regular customers.


Available in three different models, Epson's TM-U220 printers are compact, reliable and fast, and offer all the easy-to-use features important to the retail, restaurant and hospitality industries. Available in Epson Dark gray and Epson Cool White.
Epson"s cost-effective mPOS-friendly TM-T20II, designed for smaller retailers, is fast, reliable and supports all the leading mobile operating systems including iOS, Android and Windows.
The TM-U325 can print receipts speedily thanks to its bi-directional print capability. 4 different models are offered, each tailored to meet a special needs and applications.
The OmniLink TM-T88V-i intelligent printer is ideal for retailers looking for a flexible, mobile POS system. It supports web-based printing from virtually any mobile device, cloud-based services and interactive kiosk displays.
Products and parts from Epson.
The HP Hybrid POS Printer is compatible with the HP rp5810, rp2, rp7 and rp9 Retail Point of Sale Systems.


Elected as John XXIII, the 261st Pope of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City on October 28, 1958.
From the saints I must take the substance, not the accidents of their virtues. I am not St. Aloysius, nor must I seek holiness in his particular way, but according to the requirements of my own nature, my own character and the different conditions of my life. I must not be the dry, bloodless reproduction of a model, however perfect. God desires us to follow the examples of the saints by absorbing the vital sap of their virtues and turning it into our own life-blood, adapting it to our own individual capacities and particular circumstances. If St. Aloysius had been as I am, he would have become holy in a different way.
If God created shadows it was to better emphasize the light.


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(c) Palau de la Música Catalana (new)
Orfeó Català, OBC & Widmann – Beethoven #7: Palau de la Música Catalana
Barcelona, Palau de la Música Catalana — Concert Hall
Best seats Instant e-Ticket Give as a gift card
Sat 18 Feb 2023, 20:00
Category Zona A Zona B ZonaC Quantity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
In this highly‐anticipated concert, hear the mellifluous sounds of classical music by Beethoven and Widmann at Barcelona's treasured and world‐renowned Palau de la Música Catalana.
Widmann, Jörg – With brio
Widmann, Jörg – Violin Concerto No. 2
Widmann, Jörg – commissioned work from the Palau de la Música Catalana for solo choir (absolute premiere)
Beethoven, Ludwig van – Symphony no. 7, in A major, op. 92 "
Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya
The Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya (Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Catalonia) was founded in 1944 under the conducting of Maestro Eduard Toldrà. In 1962, Rafael Ferrer took over until 1967. Since then, the orchestra has been led by the maestros Antoni Ros Marbà (1967‐1978, 1981‐1986), Salvador Mas (1978‐1981), Franz‐Paul Decker (1986‐1991), García Navarro (1991‐1993), Lawrence Foster (1996‐2002), Ernest Martínez Izquierdo (2002‐2006) and Eiji Oue (2006‐2010). From the 2010‐2011 season, the OBC has a new head conductor, Pablo González, a young Asturian recognised mainly as a clear emerging talent on the international scene.
In its more than 60 years of history, the Orchestra has programmed numerous first performances and has made several recordings with Decca, EMI, Auvidis, Koch, Claves, Naxos, Telarc and BIS, amongst others, with works by Montsalvatge, Gerhard, Falla, D'Albert, Albéniz, Donhány, Bartók, Bizet and outstanding international performers. The OBC has been three times awarded the Latin Grammy for the "Best classical music album": in 2000 with the CD La Dolores, in 2004 with the CD Carmen Symphony and in 2006 with the CD Rhapsody in blue. The Orchestra has also been continuously artistically active abroad, with tours of different countries of Europe, Asia and the United States, enabling it to perform in renowned halls such as the Carnegie Hall in New York and to take part in international festivals such as the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall In London.
The Orchestra has received the collaboration of conductors and soloists of great renown, such as Elihau Inbal, Jesús López Cobos, Daniel Barenboim, Christopher Hogwood, Michel Plasson, Emmanuel Krivine, Leonard Slatkin, Dmitri Kitajenko, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Shlomo Mintz, Arcadi Volodos, Victoria de los Angeles, Alicia de Larrocha, Misha Maisky, Pinchas Zukerman, Kiri Te Kanawa, Martha Argerich, Joshua Bell, Barbara Hendricks, Hilary Hahn, Michel Camilo, Ute Lemper, Gidon Kremer, Truls Mörk and Gianluca Cascioli, amongst many others.
The Orchestra is committed to disseminating classical and contemporary music of all cultures and tendencies, giving priority to Catalan composers. At the same time, the Orchestra participates actively in the school concerts and different activities organised by the Auditori Educational Service.
Choir:
Orfeó Català
Larraz, Pablo
Violin:
Widmann, Carolin
Palau de la Música Catalana, c/ Palau de la Música, 4‐6, Barcelona, Spain — Google Maps


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Weekly update: 28 March – 3 April 2022
The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 28 March to 3 April 2022. Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.
Ukraine – 28 March 2022
The UN Secretary-General appealed for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine, so that "serious political negotiations" can advance towards a peace agreement, based on the principles of the United Nations Charter. António Guterres, speaking to reporters outside the Security Council, said that "a cessation of hostilities will allow essential humanitarian aid to be delivered and enable civilians to move around safely. It will save lives, prevent suffering, and protect civilians".
Somalia – 28 March 2022
The Horn of Africa is experiencing the worst drought since 1981, and a shortfall in aid funding is putting the lives of millions of Somalis in danger. With decades of conflict, recurrent climate shocks and disease outbreaks, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the humanitarian situation in Somalia was already grave. Even before the current drought, an estimated 7.7 million Somalis were in need of humanitarian assistance and protection this year – up 30 per cent in one year. The situation has deteriorated, with the current drought wiping out crop harvests and livestock dying due to a lack of water and pasture, depriving many pastoral communities of their only source of income.
United Kingdom (UK) – 29 March 2022
Fair Trials has responded to the Met's announcement that they are issuing an initial 20 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Downing Street during lockdown. Griff Ferris, Legal and Policy Officer says "People at the heart of government have been shown to break repeatedly the draconian and far-reaching criminal laws that they themselves created. Today's announcement not only shows that they treated the public with contempt, but it calls into question the legitimacy of the coronavirus enforcement regime". Fair Trials has previously called for an end to all Covid-related prosecutions in the UK, for all fines and convictions to be rescinded and for criminal records to be deleted.
https://www.fairtrials.org/articles/news/fair-trials-response-to-the-metropolitan-police/
Russia – 29 March 2022
Vladimir Putin's main spokesman has said that sanctions on trade and oligarchs were akin to "total war" against Russia, and that the west has pushed the Kremlin "into the corner" with Nato expansion, as officials prepare for the resumption of peace talks with Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov said in an interview on American television that the punitive sanctions levelled against Russia were "quite unfriendly" and made the country feel as it were at war with the US and its western allies. As the Russian and Ukrainian sides were due to meet in Turkey for a new round of negotiations, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russia was expected to bolster its flagging war effort by sending more than 1,000 mercenaries from the private Wagner military group into eastern Ukraine as the Kremlin continues to suffer heavy losses. The MoD said that it was highly likely that Russia has been forced to redeploy Wagner personnel from Africa and Syria to eastern Ukraine.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/29/russia-compares-sanctions-to-war-as-uk-says-putin-preparing-to-send-1000-mercenaries-to-ukraine
European Court of Human Rights – 29 March 2022
A coalition of MPs and peers from a host of different parties is using the European Court of Human Rights to challenge an alleged failure to investigate Russian interference in UK elections. The legal action has been launched in response to the UK government's refusal to order an inquiry into the findings of the Russia report, published by the intelligence and security committee (ISC) in July 2020, which reported credible evidence of attempts by Russia to interfere with the UK's electoral processes.
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/mar/29/european-court-urged-to-challenge-uk-failure-to-investigate-russia-interference
The governor of Ukraine's Chernihiv region says there is no let-up in attacks by Russia, despite its pledge to reduce military activity there. Delegations from Moscow and Kyiv held three hours of discussions in Istanbul aimed at bringing to a close more than a month of fighting in Ukraine. Ukraine said it had proposed to become a neutral state in exchange for security guarantees. A key aim of Russia's invasion was to stop Ukraine joining the Nato alliance and Russian officials said the talks had moved to a practical stage. Russia's pledge to cut back military activity was met with scepticism. "Ukrainians are not naïve people," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an overnight video address. Mr Zelensky said that initial signs from the peace talks were "positive", but added that they did not "drown out" the explosions of Russian shells.
United States (US) – 30 March 2022
El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, is the last of a group of Islamic State militants - known as the Beatles for their British accents - to face justice. The group is said to have tortured and beheaded hostages in Syria, including several journalists and aid workers. The trial, in Virginia, is expected to last three to four weeks. Mr Elsheikh, who was stripped of his British citizenship in 2018, is charged with taking hostages, resulting in the deaths of four Americans - journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig. He is also charged with conspiring in the deaths of the British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, and Japanese journalists Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. He has denied the charges.
United Kingdom (UK) / Hong Kong – 30 March 2022
The president and deputy president of the Supreme Court have today resigned from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, citing the impact of Beijing's national security law on freedom of expression. Lord Reed said in a statement that 'judges of the Supreme Court cannot continue to sit in Hong Kong without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom and freedom of expression'. Lord Reed and Lord Hodge, the only two of the eight non-permanent UK judges who are currently serving justices of the Supreme Court, submitted their resignations this morning.
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/british-judges-resign-from-hong-kongs-supreme-court/5112041.article
Ukraine / Syria – 31 March 2022
Russia says it has signed up some 16,000 recruits from the Middle East to fight with its forces in Ukraine. Social media in Syria has been flooded with requests for people to join Russian troops in return for up to $7,000 for deployment. One former Syrian regime soldier who has been offered thousands of dollars to fight in the war told BBC News Arabic that his country's broken economy means hundreds of Syrians are putting themselves forward.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-60931180
A Metropolitan police officer has been charged with grievous bodily harm after a black man was shot with a Taser and left paralysed from the chest down. Jordan Walker-Brown was shot with the electronic device in May 2020 in Haringey, north London, leaving him with serious life changing injuries, including damage to his spinal cord. The decision by the CPS to bring charges against the officer, who has not been named, follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) last year. The IOPC's inquiry determined that there was an indication the officer may have committed grievous bodily harm. The constable will appear at Westminster magistrates court on 19 April.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/31/met-police-officer-charged-with-gbh-after-paralysing-man
United Kingdom (UK) / Turkey – 1 April 2022
A London-headquartered port operator could be breaching sanctions laws by allowing Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to dock his $600m (£460m) superyacht Solaris at a port that it operates in Turkey. Legal experts said Global Ports Holding, which has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2007, was taking "a very big risk" by allowing a superyacht owned by a sanctioned individual to use one of its ports.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/01/london-based-port-operator-accused-over-abramovich-600m-superyacht
United Kingdom (UK) / Yemen – 1 April 2022
Yemen could be afflicted by an even worse humanitarian catastrophe if the UK government goes ahead with a plan to designate the Houthi rebels as a terrorist group, leading aid agencies have warned cabinet ministers in a letter. The 11 UK agencies are some of those most active in Yemen, and include Save the Children, Care, the International Rescue Committee and Islamic Relief. In the letter seen by the Guardian, the agencies said: "The likely 'chilling effect' on banks and other commercial actors could prove catastrophic for the millions of Yemenis already at risk from hunger, conflict and disease."
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/01/yemen-uk-houthi-rebels-aid-agencies-letter
Turkey / Saudi Arabia – 1 April 2022
A Turkish prosecutor has asked a court in Istanbul to halt the trial in absentia of 26 Saudi nationals over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The prosecutor said the case should be transferred to Saudi Arabia, which has refused to extradite the defendants. Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed by Saudi agents inside the country's consulate in Istanbul. The head of Amnesty International accused Turkey of "betraying" him. Khashoggi's former fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, said in a statement that she was "heartbroken" by the prosecutor's request, according to Reuters news agency. "No good will come of sending the case to Saudi Arabia," she warned. "We all know the authorities there will do nothing. How do we expect the killers to investigate themselves?"
Yemen – 1 April 2022
The United Nations envoy has said that the warring sides in Yemen's seven-year conflict have agreed to a two-month nationwide truce, starting with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The UN-brokered deal on 1 April between the Saudi-led coalition and the rebel Houthi group is the most significant step yet towards ending a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and pushed millions into hunger. The last coordinated cessation of hostilities nationwide was during peace talks in 2016. Al Jazeera's Kristen Saloomey, reporting from UN headquarters in New York, said that the truce will bring much-needed relief to Yemen after seven years of war.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/1/yemens-warring-parties-agree-to-two-month-truce-un-says


Spinal Twist- still sitting with your legs in front of you, bend one knee to your chest then twist your body and hug your bent leg. Other quick stretches (you can do these at your desk) Clasp your hands behind you and pull back to stretch your chest.
Hold your arm in front of your body and stretch it into your chest.


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Category: Tom Stoppard
Winners of the 2020 Olivier Awards
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical
David Bedella for & Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre – WINNER
Stewart Clarke for Fiddler On The Roof at Playhouse Theatre
Jack Loxton for Dear Evan Hansen at Noël Coward Theatre
Rupert Young for Dear Evan Hansen at Noël Coward Theatre
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical
Lucy Anderson for Dear Evan Hansen at Noël Coward Theatre
Petula Clark for Mary Poppins at Prince Edward Theatre
Cassidy Janson for & Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre – WINNER
Lauren Ward for Dear Evan Hansen at Noël Coward Theatre
Continue reading "Winners of the 2020 Olivier Awards"
News: The Mono Box launch The Monologue Library
I mean, just look at this absolute treasure trove of theatrical talent!
We are proud to announce the launch of THE MONOLOGUE LIBRARY, an audio love letter to the industry. #MonoLibrary is a FREE resource of over 100 monologues recorded by professional actors in isolation to celebrate, commiserate & share speeches that mean something to them now… pic.twitter.com/GuT7Y7wQ1q
— The Mono Box (@TheMonoBox) May 1, 2020
I'm off to listen to Patsy Ferran read Tom Wells, and Gabby Wong read Alexi Kaye Campbell, and Sarah Niles read Winsome Pinnock and…and…
This incredible resource is free but like so many creative endeavours right now, would benefit hugely from your donations here.
Lockdown film review: Tulip Fever (2017)
Despite a mostly good cast, Tulip Fever proves a punishingly dull film – not even self-isolation should drive you to this one
"Amsterdam was captivated by a flower"
The signs weren't good. Tulip Fever was filmed in 2014 but was pushed and pulled around the schedules before it finally surfaced in 2017, notorious producer Harvey Weinstein clearly hoping that some post-production magic would win over reluctant test audiences. Safe to say though, such an amount of chopping and changing does no-one any favours as Justin Chadwick's film remains punishingly dull.
Based on Deborah Moggach's book, with screenplay by Moggach and Tom Stoppard, the story (mainly) centres on Sophia, an orphan whisked out of convent life by a wealthy merchant who wants her essentially as a brood mare, But things ain't clicking in the bedroom, so Sophia tumbles into an affair with the artist her husband has commissioned to do their portrait. And competing for screentime, tulip mania has hit the Netherlands. Continue reading "Lockdown film review: Tulip Fever (2017)"
Posted on March 3, 2020 November 5, 2020
2020 Laurence Olivier Awards nominations
Award season kicks into another gear with the arrival of the nominations for the 2020 Olivier Awards – & Juliet, Fiddler on the Roof and Dear Evan Hansen lead the musicals pack, Death of a Salesman and Rosmersholm the plays
As ever, Laurence giveth and he taketh away and it's all subjective anyway.
I'm really pleased to see the love for Amélie The Musical and The Ocean At The End Of The Lane but a little incredulous that Fairview received no nominations.
The weird category shuffle that often happens has landed on 'Best Entertainment or Comedy Play' and 'Best Family Show' this year, leaving Emilia and Fleabag in a weird place that isn't 'Best New Play' (last year they were divided into 'Best Entertainment and Family' and 'Best New Comedy'.
I had zero desire to see Fiddler on the Roof so can't pass comment there but can't help wishing the supporting role in a musical nominations weren't quite so dominated by DEH.
& Juliet's director Luke Sheppard could rightfully feel snubbed, given the wealth of recognition the rest of the production has received.
And whither Monica Dolan, Lucian Msamati, Melanie La Barrie, the cast of Three Sisters…(oh wait, they won the more significant award earlier in the year!)
Continue reading "2020 Laurence Olivier Awards nominations"
Posted on May 1, 2018 November 10, 2020
The complete 72nd Tony nominations
Farinelli and the King
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two
Latin History for Morons
The Band's Visit
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
Best book of a musical
Itamar Moses for The Band's Visit
Jennifer Lee for Frozen
Tina Fey for Mean Girls
Kyle Jarrow for SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical Continue reading "The complete 72nd Tony nominations"
Nominations for 2017-2018 Outer Critics Circle Awards
John Gassner Playwriting Award
Kate Benson, [PORTO]
Jocelyn Bioh, School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play
Lindsey Ferrentino, Army and the Orphans
Meghan Kennedy, Napoli, Brooklyn
Dominique Morisseau, Pipeline
Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Harry Hadden-Paton, My Fair Lady
Joshua Henry, Carousel
David M. Lutken, Woody Sez
Conor Ryan, Desperate Measures
Ethan Slater, SpongeBob SquarePants
Continue reading "Nominations for 2017-2018 Outer Critics Circle Awards"
Posted on February 13, 2018 November 18, 2019
News: Old Vic bicentenary ambassadors announced
How do you mark a significant birthday? My parents are currently (jointly) turning 140 and are celebrating the occasion with a six month program of events, peaking with an all-day party happening very soon. But if you're the Old Vic and you're turning 200, you open your contacts and see who is free.
Turns out a fair few people are, and so their list currently includes Nikki Amuka-Bird, Sheila Atim, John Boyega, Cate Blanchett, Bertie Carvel, Kim Cattrall, Lily Cole, Alan Cumming, Judi Dench, Michelle Dockery, Rupert Everett, Martin Freeman, Tamsin Greig, David Harewood, Derek Jacobi, Toby Jones, Cush Jumbo, Ben Kingsley, Pearl Mackie, Helen McCrory, Ian McKellen, Bill Nighy, Anika Noni Rose, Maxine Peake, Mark Rylance, Andrew Scott, Tom Stoppard, Stanley Tucci and Julie Walters.
Continue reading "News: Old Vic bicentenary ambassadors announced"
Posted on April 8, 2017 January 21, 2020
Not-a-review: Travesties, Apollo
"It may be nonsense but at least it's not clever nonsense"
The problem with being addicted to theatre is that it can be hard to turn down things, even against your better instincts. I knew I didn't really want to see Travesties so I didn't go to the Menier but sure enough, it transferred into the West End to test my resistance further and I crumbled.
I should not have done.
Booking until 29th April
Posted on April 6, 2015 November 9, 2020
Nominations for 2015 Lucille Lortel Awards
Outstanding Play
Between Riverside and Crazy Produced by Atlantic Theater Company. Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis
Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) Produced by The Public Theater in association with American Repertory Theater. Written by Suzan-Lori Parks
The Invisible Hand Produced by New York Theatre Workshop. Written by Ayad Akhtar
My Mañana Comes Produced by The Playwrights Realm. Written by Elizabeth Irwin
The Nether Produced by MCC Theater. Written by Jennifer Haley
Outstanding Musical
The Fortress of Solitude Produced by The Public Theater in association with Dallas Theater Center. Book by Itamar Moses, Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman. Conceived by Daniel Aukin, Based upon the novel by Jonathan Lethem
Hamilton Produced by The Public Theater. Book, Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Inspired by the book Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
The Lightning Thief Produced by Theatreworks USA Music and Lyrics by Rob Rokicki, Book by Joe Tracz. Adapted from the book by Rick Riordan
Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe Produced by Radio Mouse Entertainment, Martin Hummel, Caiola Productions, Terry Schnuck, Susan Jaffe Tane, Hernreich-Horvath Productions, Catalyst Theatre in association with Fireboat Productions, Mary Cossette, Meredith Lynsey Schade. Written and Composed by Jonathan Christenson
Pretty Filthy Produced by The Civilians in association with Jon B. Platt Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman, Book by Bess Wohl. Conceived by Steve Cosson, Michael Friedman & Bess Wohl Continue reading "Nominations for 2015 Lucille Lortel Awards"
Review: Arcadia, Churchill Theatre Bromley
"When we have found all the mysteries and lost all the meaning, we will be alone on the empty shore"
With London audiences pondering The Hard Question and struggling to find the answer (we're insufficiently classicly-educated apparently, though the journalist getting the name of the play wrong here is hardly a great start to counter that assertion) fans of Tom Stoppard can also catch his more celebrated play Arcadia in this English Touring Theatre and Theatre Royal Brighton co-production, directed by the ever-interesting Blanche McIntyre. I hesitate to call it a nationwide tour as it doesn't appear to heading any further north than Birmingham but it is still a healthy enough trek for this pleasingly complex but affecting play.
As is customary with this playwright, it is a play full of weighty ideas – complex mathematics and chaos theory, entropy and existential truths, and takes place in the same country house drawing room in two time periods simultaneously, 1809 and the present day. Along the length of a fine dining table, the past rubs up against the present as the scientific rigour of the intellect goes head to head with the emotional poetry of the soul as Stoppard ultimately explores what it simply means to be human (and also what stirring rice pudding really represents). It is perhaps easy to get caught up in the density of the detail during the play but it would take the hardest of hearts not to be swept up the heart-breaking swing and sway of the final scene. Continue reading "Review: Arcadia, Churchill Theatre Bromley"


The Bible tells us that the new-born Moses was a fine child, so much so that his mother decided to hide him in order to keep him out of harm's way.
Following the refusal of the midwives to obey his order to kill the Hebrew male babies at birth, the Pharaoh told his own people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile" (Exodus 1:22 Septuagint italicized). The Egyptians viewed the Nile as a god, and this would have been like sacrificing their potential enemies to the god so that he would continue to bless the land annually with fertility.
This story brings so many ideas to mind. Satan wanted to devour the child Jesus, perhaps in a similar way to how crocodiles may have devoured some of the Hebrew boys; Herod ordered the slaughter of the innocents in an attempt to preserve his own throne; and the church, like a mother, should provide a safe place for all its children.
More than that, it reminds me of how our loving God looks at you and at me as his precious children, and that he hides us safely with Jesus. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (I John 3:1), and "your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).
You and I may be surrounded by problems and dangers, but each of us, just like Moses, is a beautiful child of God, and our present and future life is safe, hidden with Christ Jesus in him.
Great loving Father and God, thank you for keeping us safe in you with Christ Jesus, and for your love in calling us your children. In Jesus' name.


From the Hubbardton Forge chandelier collection, this three-light large wrought iron chandelier looks great over a kitchen island or seating area.
42 1/2" wide x 40" high min x 49 3/4" high max x 11 1/2" deep x ceiling canopy is 5 1/2" wide x hang weight of 19 pounds.
Mahogany finish; hand-forged frame; stone glass.
Shades are 5 3/4" high, 11 3/4" deep.


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Field Notes: On the Importance of Being Flexible
The University of Peradeniya.
Probably the most important advice that any of the staff at the US-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission gave our group of Fulbrighters during the pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. was "be flexible." It may sound obvious, but it applies to many aspects of conducting research abroad. In this post, I'll address two areas where adopting a flexible approach proved useful- the aim of the research project and the site where the researcher is stationed. By being flexible, I was able to change my project from one that was going to be difficult to one that was actually possible, and I relocated from Kandy, where I had an affiliation with the University of Peradeniya, to Colombo, where the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) is located.
The nature of my research project completely changed before I had even left D.C. My initial idea was to study public participation in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process by analyzing 3 case studies involving major development projects. N.C. Weerakkody had already written a terrific overview of public participation in EIAs in Sri Lanka, but I intended to do an updated and more fine-grained analysis.
To expand my network and seek the advice of experts in preparation for my project, I arranged meetings with people working for organizations that dealt with Sri Lanka- Bower Group Asia (BGA), National Democratic Institute (NDI), and World Resources Institute (WRI). During the course of those meetings, the general consensus emerged that I would not be in Sri Lanka long enough to gain the trust of villagers affected by large development projects and interview them with the expectation of getting honest and thorough responses. The term of my Fulbright contract was 3.5 months. I would need to be there longer in order to complete my intended project. Thankfully, the creative folks at NDI came up with a slightly different, but achievable endeavor- to assess whether the quality of an EIA varies depending on who funds a given project. Just like that, I altered my plan from case studies and interviews to archival research and quantitative analysis.
With my new project in mind, I planned on being based in Kandy, which was close to the University of Peradeniya. The previous head of the Geography Department, Prof. P. Wickramagamage, had big plans for me- teach 2 undergraduate courses and provide guest lectures in a couple seminars. However, between the time that I had applied for the Fulbright in 2015 and my eventual arrival in 2017, the Department changed hands to Prof. M.A.S. Jayakumara, who was key in writing a letter on my behalf to officials at CEA so that I could make use of their library, but who also didn't have the same kind of teaching commitments in mind (which wasn't necessarily a bad thing since I decided to teach an online course while abroad).
After spending 2 weeks in Kandy, I decided to travel to Colombo for a week so I could try and obtain the EIA reports I needed at CEA, which is located in the Battaramulla area. In only a few days time I realized that this was the place I needed to be. Colombo had the CEA, numerous think tanks, and educational institutions like the International Centre for Ethnic Studies, Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Centre for Environmental Justice, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, and University of Colombo. So, after returning to Kandy I decided I would permanently change venues to Colombo, where I will continue to reside until the end of my Fulbright grant in mid-August. Right now I live in an Airbnb in the neighborhood of Ethul Kotte, directly east of Colombo, in my sixth different residence since I arrived in Sri Lanka on May 3rd.
In both of these instances, the capacity for flexibility paid major dividends. I am now pursuing a project along with a Sri Lankan scholar, Dr. Herath Vidyaratne, that I am confident about, and I am based in an area that has numerous opportunities for research, intellectual stimulation, and, importantly, diverse food options. When conducting research abroad, it is crucial to realize that your plans may change for reasons outside your control and you should be prepared for such eventualities. Staying flexible is a way to still get your research done while not winding up jaded or disappointed that your best scholarly intentions did not materialize into the outcomes you had hoped for.
China in Sri Lanka: Emerging Donors in the Developing World
My Fulbright research project was inspired by an article I read in the New York Times back in July 24, 2015: "China's Global Ambitions, Cash and Strings Attached." I had recently returned to the US from my first visit to mainland China, specifically Xi'an, where I taught international relations at Shaanxi Normal University. My research up to that point had focused on countries in South Asia, namely Nepal and Sri Lanka. But my trip exposed me to the sheer immensity and impressive speed of China's domestic development. Forget "everything is bigger in Texas." China made Texas look like Rhode Island. But it wasn't until I read this NYT article that I began to ponder China's role in the development of other countries.
There are basically two schools of thought regarding the intentions and impacts that so-called emerging donors like China, India, Iran, and Saudi Arabia have on other developing states. One camp argues that emerging donors have nefarious designs on exploiting their fellow industrializing nations. These skeptics contend that emerging donors use some of their newfound wealth to fund development projects abroad that are primarily intended to benefit the lending country through the cultivation of new markets for exporting goods, acquisition of natural resources for manufacturing and energy, and extension of political spheres of influence. Unlike traditional donors such as the US, World Bank, Japan, France, Germany, and the UK, these new actors on the scene do not impose strict human rights, labor, rule of law, or environmental standards on recipient states, thus enabling anti-democratic governments and retarding progress toward Western conceptions of development (Naím 2009).
The other camp argues that claims of ill intentions and attempts to subvert democratization on the behalf of these emerging donors are overblown. China, for example, does not have a readily identifiable development assistance reform package like the Washington Consensus model that prescribed specific institutional and economic changes that countries would need to undertake in order to obtain funding from traditional donors. Some have even declared the idea that a separate "Beijing Consensus" (Ramo 2004) exists a "myth" (Kennedy 2010). Furthermore, empirical scholarship on the relationship between political factors and aid distribution has demonstrated that China is no more likely than Western donors to steer money toward countries based on their politics, and the Asian giant does not deliberately invest in countries based on their availability of natural resources (Dreher and Fuchs 2015; Gellers 2017).
Among emerging donors, China has grown to become a force on the world stage. In 2011, China overtook the World Bank to become the largest lender to developing countries in the world. Interestingly, however, China has a long history of working with or lending to other less-industrialized states. For instance, China has provided development assistance to other countries since 1950, and its approach to foreign aid (i.e. mutual benefit, respect for sovereignty, and self-reliance), was articulated by Premier Zhou Enlai in 1964.
The Sino-Sri Lankan relationship dates back to 1952, when China signed its first trade agreement with a non-communist state, Ceylon (the previous name for Sri Lanka). This Sino-Lanka Rubber Rice Pact signaled the beginning of an important economic partnership in Asia. Today, China is the largest lender to Sri Lanka. In 2016, China loaned Sri Lanka over $440 million, $100 million more than the World Bank and almost $300 million more than the next largest lender, Japan (see below).
Returning to the island in 2017 after a 4 year absence, I have observed signs of growing Chinese influence. As shown in the photos above, China is deeply involved in the development of large infrastructure projects and increasing business opportunities for Chinese living in Sri Lanka. My own research on environmental impact assessments has revealed Chinese funding for road construction, hydropower, and real estate development, most notably the controversial Colombo Port City project. It remains an open question as to what kinds of social, environmental, and economic consequences China's financial stake in Sri Lanka might have. While some believe Chinese investment is "crucial" to the country's development, others ponder whether reliance on Chinese loans will lead to unsustainable debt and land grabs. Only through further research and careful monitoring of impacts will Sri Lankans be able to determine whether and to what extent the 65-year-old Sino-Lankan relationship bears the fruits of improved living and economic conditions that can be enjoyed by all.
Talking Trash: Unpacking Sri Lanka's Waste Management Problem
Both rich and poor burn trash in Sri Lanka.
Logistics remains an issue in waste management.
One of my first days in Sri Lanka, I walked outside the house where I was staying in the Heerassagala neighborhood of Kandy. Instantly my nostrils were hit with an unusual and noxious odor. A musty smell filled the air and I felt a slight stinging in my lungs. Then I beheld the source of this odious aroma- a white plume of smoke emanating from my neighbor's home. Like many other Sri Lankans, my neighbor was resorting to burning his trash in a cement pit an effort to get rid of it. This was my baptism by fire, my rude introduction to Sri Lanka's waste management problem.
According to the Waste Management Authority of the Western Province, this region of Sri Lanka occupies less than 6% of the island, but is responsible for 60% of the waste generated. Perhaps more importantly, 35% of waste is not collected at all, and in a survey conducted for an environmental impact assessment report in 2012, 96% of the respondents admitted to burning their waste. Such practices have deleterious impacts on humans and the environment, as burning trash produces harmful gases that are released into the atmosphere. These gases can negatively impact human health and contribute to climate change.
Sri Lanka's inability to adequately collect, process, and reduce waste made national headlines recently when a waste dump in Colombo collapsed, killing at least 28 people. This catastrophe was aggravated by several related issues- unsafe housing conditions, unjust exposure to environmental harms, the slow crawl or deliberate malfeasance of bureaucracy. It gave a black eye to the island nation and, more tragically, the loss of life was completely avoidable.
What are the causes of this environmental dilemma? According to G. Kumanayake (2013), the culprits are many and varied: inefficient local governments, poor strategizing at the national level, insufficient funding, the spread of low-income settlements in urban areas, market forces that introduce cheap and unsustainable products, lack of environmental health and safety practices among waste collectors, old technology, and limited land for waste disposal.
It's not as if Sri Lanka doesn't have laws and policies dealing with waste management on the books. Relevant regulations have been stipulated in the Local Government Act (delegating waste management responsibilities to local authorities), National Strategy for Solid Waste Management (providing a roadmap for solid waste management at the national level), and Technical Guidelines on Solid Waste Management in Sri Lanka (offering technical guidance for managing solid waste in municipalities), among others. But laws and policies are only as effective as the resources and effort directed toward their implementation. As Bandara (2011) argues, the evidence thus far suggests that Sri Lanka has a long way to go in terms of properly enforcing its "chaotic" regulatory framework.
How can Sri Lanka address its waste management crisis? Here are a few recommendations. First, the duties and obligations of the local and national authorities should be clearly specified in relevant legislation so that there is no overlap in responsibilities or buck-passing (van Zon & Siriwardena 2000). Second, the recycling industry should be formalized and informal collectors should receive training in order to help them earn higher wages and improve coordination at local and national levels (Hikkaduwa et al. 2015). Third, the national government should commit enhanced financial resources toward the purchase of new waste collection vehicles and subsidize solid waste management at the local level (JICA 2016) by supplying bins and trash bags at no cost to Sri Lankans (Bandara 2011). Fourth, civil society and government actors should work together to promote composting organic material, which could be used for energy (via biogas digesters) or fertilizer (Kumanayake 2013).
Through strengthening cooperation among varying levels of government, committing financial and logistical resources to the implementation of environmentally-friendly waste management practices, and raising awareness about the importance of proper waste disposal techniques, Sri Lanka can make serious strides toward alleviating its waste management problem, creating a more hospitable environment for the attainment of development that is truly "sustainable."
The Art of Negotiation in the Developing World
The above Facebook post, written as a reflection upon a recent experience involving my negotiating the price for a service, drew both approbation and admonishment from my friends. Given the controversial nature of the discussion, I felt it was worthy of further explication. My point here is to elucidate the context under which this exchange occurred and describe how foreigners can respectfully navigate monetary transactions in the developing world, especially Sri Lanka.
This is Salon Sriyani. It's located just south of where I am staying this month, along a busy commercial stretch called Kotte Road in the Ethul Kotte neighborhood. Last week on a lark I came to this establishment for a haircut. It was around 7pm. There was one barber working on the only client in the place. The interior, as seen in the photo above, is spare, with concrete floors and plastic chairs. This is a local mom-and-pop hair salon. I waited a few minutes for the barber to finish his current job, and then it was my turn in the seat. The barber gave great attention to cutting my hair, confirmed with me the kind of clipper attachment I wanted used on the back of my head, and asked whether I wanted my beard trimmed as well (I hadn't shaved in months). After sculpting the edges of my hairline with a fresh razor blade (though unaccompanied by the use of hot shaving lather or any other lubricant), the barber finished his work and it came time to pay. I asked him how much I owed him. Without hesitation, he replied 150 Rs (roughly $1 USD). I did not argue. I told him I would be back and I did return, several days later.
The second time I came to Salon Sriyani, it was just after 5pm. The door was open, but the lights were off. As I entered the shop, I noticed the barber, fast asleep in a plank-like position in one of the plastic chairs. I worried about startling him, so I gently lifted one of the plastic chairs and tapped it lightly against the concrete floor. The barber awoke from his slumber. I asked him if he would be willing to trim my beard, which, aside from bestowing upon me a kind of caveman-like appearance, had become unmanageable. He agreed. Just like before he asked what kind of clippers I would like used. We concurred that a number 2 clipper attachment would be suitable for the occasion. Five minutes later, the task was done. I looked less like a vagrant and more like a rugged scholar. Then I asked the barber how much I needed to pay for the service. At this point an old man with wiry gray hair who had been lingering outside appeared in the salon. The barber conversed with the old man briefly in Sinhalese, and then reported the price- 150 Rs.
In that moment, I thought strictly in terms of how much I had paid for a full haircut and how much effort went into my beard trim. Without concerning myself with the exchange rate, I explained to both men how several days before I had paid 150 Rs for a haircut at that very salon. They deliberated again in Sinhalese and settled on 100 Rs. I gladly paid the charge and told the barber that I would definitely be back in the future. I showed the barber that his salon was listed on Swarm, a geo-mapping mobile app used to record the places you visit, and went on my way.
Given the level of criticism generated from my recounting this affair on Facebook, I thought about other experiences I have had in Sri Lanka and asked my Airbnb host, Channa, about what had transpired and whether, from the perspective of a native Sri Lankan, what I had done was improper. To begin, it is not at all uncommon throughout the developing world to have foreigners and locals pay different prices for the exact same goods or services. As a personal example, early on in my trip I went hiking with a friend to Mini World's End near Hunnasgiriya. In order to hike this trail, my friend and I had to purchase tickets at the Knuckles Conservation Centre. Tickets for foreigners are 662 Rs. Tickets for Sri Lankan school children are 5 Rs. I remember paying "foreigner" rates to visit cultural attractions elsewhere in Asia, such as the Swayambhunath Monkey Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, and the Jing'an Temple in Shanghai. However, this situation was a little different. I was paying a private individual for a service.
I asked Channa what he thought about the issue. My gracious host explained to me how for services in Sri Lanka, there is often a price for locals and a different price for foreigners. These prices should ideally be fixed, so all parties know how much they are expected to pay. When you go to a major grocery store in Sri Lanka, for example, all items have the price clearly marked on the product. Channa remarked that the very fact that there was a discussion about how much I should be charged for the service suggests that the price was not fixed, and the fact that the barber immediately agreed to charge me the slightly lower price of 100 Rs indicates that I was initially given an inflated price.
The point of this post was to give more context to this recent event and offer some cultural insight as well. In a marketplace in which prices are fluid, travelers should be prepared to counter initial price quotes, as they may very well be inflated for foreigners. A larger point is that as an obvious foreigner living in the developing world, you have to become your own advocate. I have personally found myself having to advocate for myself more often out here in Sri Lanka than back home in the US. I have had to challenge doctors' assessments of my medical issues and their proposed treatment plans; I have had to yell from the back of a bus that we were approaching my stop so that I could make my way toward the front of the bus in time to exit at my desired location; and I have had to negotiate fares with trishaw drivers in Kandy who do not have meters and charge foreigners significantly inflated prices. This doesn't mean that the people in Sri Lanka are bad or only looking to swindle hapless Americans. It means you have to be a little more on guard than usual, and know when it is appropriate to negotiate the price of goods and services.
As Rabbi Hillel once asked, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?" Perhaps by asking these questions and contemplating the context surrounding the actions of all parties involved, we can arrive at a greater mutual understanding in places with vastly different cultures and practices.
Vesak Festival: Lanterns, Light, and Love
The beginning of my trip coincided with a religious holiday known as Vesak, which falls on the night of a full moon during the month of May. Sri Lanka is a majority Buddhist country, and this year the country was the global epicenter of a UN-sanctioned celebration commemorating the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha. The holiday kicked off in Colombo and the ceremony came to a close in Kandy. At night, the streets of Kandy were aglow with fantastically ornate lanterns called Vesak koodu. Their lighting represents an offering to Buddha. Some came in colors while others rotated on contraptions made of bicycle wheels. Of particular note was the gigantic electric neon display from which Buddhist chants echoed into the damp night. In addition, people lined the side of the roads to give away free food and drink to those passing through in accordance with the practice of alms giving. However, alcohol is not permitted during this occasion. The artisanship and generosity observed during Vesak were truly something to behold.
Sustainability: Sri Lanka's Key to a Greener Future
In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development issued a report, Our Common Future, which has become iconic for defining sustainable development, a component of the broader concept of "sustainability." It announced to the world that to develop in a "sustainable" fashion meant that countries had to "[meet] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."[1] Since that time, principles of sustainability have been integrated into virtually every aspect of life around every corner of the globe. In fact, "'sustainability' has emerged as a universal methodology for evaluating whether human options will yield social and environmental vitality."[2] While many concerns persist regarding how sustainability should inform our current practices, its imprint on modern society is unmistakable. In this article, I briefly trace the history of sustainability in international law, explain how sustainability has affected business, and discuss how sustainability can help Sri Lanka adapt to this dynamic context in which the human impact on the environment can no longer be ignored.
Although the legal foundations for sustainability can be traced at least as far back as the 1300s,[3] it is most often associated with five watershed moments in contemporary international environmental law. In 1972, the Stockholm Declaration, a major output of the UN Conference on the Human Environment, "represented a first taking stock of the global human impact on the environment, an attempt at forging a basic common outlook on how to address the challenge of preserving and enhancing the human environment."[4] Less than a decade later, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) published its World Conservation Strategy (WCS), which signaled "a fundamental policy change for the international conservation movement"[5] and served as the first official document at the international level to mention sustainable development. The WCS argued that development which is sustainable "must take account of social and ecological factors, as well as economic ones; of the living and non-living resource base; and of the long term as well as the short term advantages and disadvantages of alternative actions."[6]
In 1983, the UN adopted the World Charter for Nature, which emphasized the need to use natural resources in a way that preserves "species and ecosystems for the benefit of future generations."[7] While the Charter is unenforceable as a matter of international law, an analysis of the document's history finds that "most developing nations accept the underlying premise of the Charter: the global environment needs substantive and procedural protection from the adverse impacts of social and economic development."[8] As mentioned earlier, Our Common Future, the Brundtland Commission's 1987 report, delivered a definition of the phrase "sustainable development" that is now widely accepted around the world. Finally, twenty years after the Stockholm Declaration, the UN Conference on Environment and Development (also known as the 'Earth Summit')[9] produced the Rio Declaration, an international proclamation consisting of twenty-seven principles urging countries to "protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental system."[10] While not binding on its signatories, the Rio Declaration recognized the inextricable link between environmental protection and development. Together, these instruments comprise the basis for sustainability in international environmental law.
In the two decades since the adoption of the Rio Declaration, sustainability has grown increasingly important within the world of business. In particular, the sustainability movement has prompted the private sector to shift away from the traditional profit-oriented bottom line approach to cost accounting to a more holistic "triple bottom line"[11] perspective which encompasses economic, environmental, and social dimensions of business activity. The emphasis placed on measuring corporate performance in terms of people, planet, and profit has been manifested in various ways: the publication of corporate social responsibility reports, the founding of organizations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the establishment of international standards for environmental management like the ISO 14000 series, the development of green building guidelines under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and the expansion of educational programs in sustainable business (i.e. "Green MBAs").
To be sure, sustainability cannot be achieved unless businesses take action to address their environmental and social impacts. According to the Carbon Disclosure Project Global 500 Climate Change Report 2013, "[50] of the world's 500 largest companies are responsible for nearly three quarters of the group's 3.6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions."[12] However, the 50 largest emitters have actually increased their emissions since 2009. At the same time, Deloitte's 2010 multi-industry survey of 48 executives "highlights a clear recognition…of the importance of sustainability to the future of their businesses."[13] Although these findings suggest a gap between practice and awareness among business leaders, "sustainability is increasingly being seen as a source of innovation and growth rather than simply cost reduction and risk management."[14] While the private sector is faced with the challenge of operating in a world affected by complex drivers such as climate change, deforestation, and population growth, the transition to a sustainable economy can be smoothed by sharing and adopting best practices, establishing partnerships with government and civil society, and improving the monitoring and measurement of business activities through the use of new metrics.[15] Ultimately, economic, environmental, and social goals in business are not mutually exclusive. As Harvard Business School professor Forest L. Reinhardt argues regarding the relationship between corporate environmental policy and business strategy, "[t]he key to success may depend on how the challenges are approached."[16]
What kinds of challenges lie ahead for Sri Lanka in its pursuit of sustainable development? Waste management presents a serious issue. Of the 6,400 tons of waste produced each day in Sri Lanka, over half of the refuse winds up being "dumped in roadsides, water bodies, and low lands, causing serious health and environmental threats."[17] Heavy rains and extended droughts due to climate change may threaten the tea industry, "Sri Lanka's main net foreign exchange earner and source of income for the majority of laborers."[18] Deforestation, one of Sri Lanka's "major environmental problems,"[19] has resulted in a 56% reduction in the country's forest cover from the beginning of the 20th century up until 1994.[20] Diminished forest cover can hold negative consequences for biodiversity, ecotourism, indigenous communities, and pollution mitigation. These are only a few of the concerns which Sri Lankans must confront.
Implementing a sustainability approach to Sri Lanka's development can help address these pressing issues. The Greening Sri Lanka Hotels programme offers a case in point. The hotel industry in Sri Lanka consumes 4-5% of the country's electricity, 50% of which is used to provide air conditioning. Examining hotel operations through the lens of sustainability, it was determined that the industry could reduce its energy consumption, waste production, and water use by 20%.[21] By establishing guidelines for best practices, engaging in transparent data collection, and maintaining project monitoring, the programme is demonstrating that, in addition to reducing the sector's negative impacts on the environment, "adopting good 'green practices' is not only vital for operational cost management and profitability enhancement, but also…a good marketing tool."[22]
Businesses throughout the developing world, especially in places like India, are embracing sustainability with the same enthusiasm and sophistication seen in the West.[23] While this trend may surprise some, countries of all income levels face similar issues—depleting natural resources, rising energy costs, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment, to name a few. But a clean environment is not reserved for the rich only. The path to development does not need to be dirty; sustainability can be applied in any country or business, regardless of size or wealth. Sri Lanka stands at an important moment in its history. It has an uncommon opportunity to realize its potential by developing in a way that treats the environment not as a resource to be exploited, but as an ecosystem worth preserving for future generations. Sustainability can deliver Sri Lankans this promising future.
[1] Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987. Published as Annex to General Assembly document A/42/427, Development and International Co-operation: Environment August 2, 1987. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at <http://www.un-documents.net/wced-ocf.htm>.
[2] Andrew D. Basiago, 1995, "Methods of Defining 'Sustainability,'" Sustainable Development, 3, p. 109.
[3] Klaus Bosselmann, 2008, The Principle of Sustainability: Transforming Law and Governance, (Aldershot: Ashgate), p. 13.
[4] Günther Handl, "Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Declaration), 1972 and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992," United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at <http://untreaty.un.org/cod/avl/ha/dunche/dunche.html>.
[5] John McCormick, 1986, "The Origins of the World Conservation Strategy," Environmental Review: ER, 10(3), p. 177.
[6] World Conservation Strategy: Living Resource Conservation for Sustainable Development, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), 1980. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/WCS-004.pdf>.
[7] UN General Assembly, World Charter for Nature, 28 October 1982, A/RES/37/7. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.refworld.org/docid/3b00f22a10.html>.
[8] Harold W. Wood, Jr., 1985, "United Nations World Charter for Nature: The Developing Nations' Initiative to Establish Protections for the Environment," Ecology Law Quarterly, 12, p. 977.
[9] Ileana M. Porras, 1992, "The Rio Declaration: A New Basis for International Co-operation," Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law, 1(3), p. 245.
[10] United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, 1992, Rio Declaration an Environment and Development, UN Document A/CONF.151/26 (Vol. 1). Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=78&ArtideID=1163>.
[11] John Elkington, 2004, "Enter the Triple Bottom Line," in Adrian Henriques and Julie Richardson (Eds.), The Triple Bottom Line: Does it All Add Up?, (London: Earthscan).
[12] Mike Hower, "10% of World's Largest Companies Produce 73% of GHG," Sustainable Brands, 13 Sep. 2013. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/communications/10-worlds-largest-companies-produce-73-ghg>.
[13] Deloitte, Sustainability in Business Today: A Cross-Industry View, 2010. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-UnitedStates/Local%20Assets/Documents/IMOs/Corporate%20Responsibility%20and%20Sustainability/us_es_sustainability_exec_survey_060110.pdf>.
[14] KPMG International, Expect the Unexpected: Building Business Value in a Changing World, 2012. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.kpmg.com/Global/en/IssuesAndInsights/ArticlesPublications/Documents/building-business-value.pdf>.
[15] See, for example, Dimitar Vlahov, "13 New Types of Data Analysis Every Business Should Consider," Sustainable Brands, 10 Sep. 2013. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/new_metrics/13-new-types-data-analysis-every-business-should-consider>.
[16] Martha Lagace, "Going Green Makes Good Business Sense," Harvard Business School Working Knowledge, 15 Jul. 2002. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/3015.html>.
[17] Shabiya Ali Ahlam, "Towards a Waste-Free Sri Lanka," Daily FT, 5 Apr. 2013. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.ft.lk/2013/04/05/towards-a-waste-free-sri-lanka/>.
[18] M. A. Wijeratne, 1996, "Vulnerability of Sri Lanka Tea Production to Global Climate Change," in Lin Erda et al. (Eds.), Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation in Asia and the Pacific: Manila, Philippines, 15-19 January 1996, (Netherlands: Springer), pp. 87.
[19] National Forest Programmes Update 34, Food and Agriculture Organization, Dec. 2000. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x6900e/x6900e.pdf>.
[20] Ministry of Forestry, Sri Lanka, "Country Report- Sri Lanka," Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study, Food and Agriculture Organization, Working Paper No. APFSOS/WP/16, Aug. 1997. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/003/W7708E/W7708E00.pdf>.
[21] "Project Brief," Greening Sri Lanka Hotels, EU-Switch Asia. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.greeningsrilankahotels.org/index.php?page_cat=project-brief>.
[22] Green Practices of Sri Lankan Hotels, EU-Switch Asia Program – Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project, Research Report No. 001, Jan. 2013. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.greeningsrilankahotels.org/userfiles/Research_Report_Final_2_.pdf>.
[23] George Wyeth, "Emerging Markets Much Quicker to Embrace, Integrate Sustainability into Business," Sustainable Brands, 9 Sep. 2013. Accessed 16 Sep. 2013, Available at: <http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/leadership/emerging-markets-much-quicker-embrace-integrate-sustainability-business?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=businessweekly&utm_campaign=sep9&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonvqXBZKXonjHpfsX56eouXqaylMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4AS8VjI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFTrTBMbVxyLgOXxk%3D>.
Day 10: Back Again
On my last day in Sri Lanka, I visited the US Agency for International Development before going to Bandaranaike International Airport. All I wanted was to obtain a couple pamphlets and let my presence, albeit belated at this point, be known by a local arm of my government. Although I was granted entrance after clearing security and handing over my cellphone, I was only able to visit the library. If I wanted pamphlets, apparently I would have to schedule a meeting with someone and gain official approval. The costs simply exceeded the benefits of such a course of action, so I decided to cut my losses and return to my hotel to write before leaving in the early afternoon.
My journey back to the United States took a total of 35 hours in transit from the time I jumped in a hotel cab to reach the airport until the moment I stepped onto US soil. As penance for choosing an inexpensive flight, I traveled from Sri Lanka to Chennai, India (where I had a 6 hour layover and was herded with several others into the immigration area, as if the airport had never before dealt with passengers who needed to go in different directions upon landing in India. At least they gave me a free Indian vegetarian meal for my troubles), then to Singapore (where I spent my hour-long layover shuttling back and forth between terminals in an attempt to obtain my boarding pass which I had not been given when I checked into Air India back in Sri Lanka), then South Korea (where I had to alight, pass through security again, and return to the same plane), and finally San Francisco, California (where reintegration was quick, and my bag arrived as intact as I did). I made several new acquaintances along the way, including an American-Argentinian ex-pat couple living in Chennai and a Mexican pianist who wanted to study the intersection of music and literature. Although it was an intense one-and-a-half days of travel, I made it safely back to the United States, my wallet now full of useless currency and my stomach full of several different types of Asian cuisine.
It has been quite a trip, and yet I have more traveling ahead in the immediate future- conferences in San Francisco and Chicago in back-to-back weeks, and a workshop on environmental rights at Yale two weeks later. During this time I will transcribe my interviews and follow up with my respondents to ensure the accuracy of their statements and afford them the opportunity to make any clarifications.
Thanks for following my adventures in Sri Lanka and feel free to email me with any comments or questions you may have at josh.gellers@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter: @JoshGellers. Take care everyone, and remember to be safe and enjoy your life no matter where your journeys may take you!
Free food for a weary traveler in Chennai, India.


This affordable MICR e13b font (often called MICR font, or E-13B font) is required to print the numbers and special symbols at the bottom of checks so they can be recognized by the OCR/magnetic ink reader systems used by banks in North America (US and Canada) and other countries (England and Malta in the EU).
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With the Third Reich is at his peak in 1942, the Czech resistance in London plans the most ambitious military operation of WWII – 'Anthropoid'. Two young recruits are sent to Prague to assassinate the most ruthless Nazi leader – Reinhardt Heydrich – head of the SS, the Gestapo and the architect of the 'Final Solution'.
A college student gets involved in the wild partying lifestyle of a professional freestyle moto-x rider.


My wife and are own a 2016 Jayco 23MRB TT. Have enjoyed two years of camping in Canada's western provinces with all of the amenities after years of tenting. Great times with our grandsons and Benny the camp hound. Look forward to participating in the forum.
The members here are GREAT!!! There is a lot of GREAT information to be found here. I am sure that you will have information and pictures to share with us... so please do!!


Pronunciation of Abominate Sorry, Pronunciation doesn't support in this browser!!
To turn from as ill-omened; to hate in the highest degree, as if with religious dread; loathe; as, to abominate all impiety.
Found Wrong Meaning for Abominate?


A normal functioning adrenal gland produces a whole array of hormones but of particular interest is cortisol. The adrenal gland of a healthy person produces about 20mg of cortisol each day which can increase 10 fold during periods of stress. Cortisol is responsible for maintaining normal blood sugar levels, it immobilises fat and protein stores for more energy, it is a anti-inflammatory, controls and modifies most blood cells that participate in immune and/or inflammatory reactions, effects blood vessels and therefore blood pressure, and electrolyte levels in the heart tissue, heart beat, as well as influencing the central nervous system controlling mood and behavior.
During stage 1 adrenal exhaustion cortisol levels increase in response to stress and declining levels of DHEA. During this stage elevated cortisol levels can increase obesity, cholesterol, blood pressure, alters brain chemistry which causes depression and anxiety, alters thyroid metabolism causing reverse T3 dominance, causes insulin resistance and osteoporosis, to name a few. Therefore it is important to take action and help reduce excessive levels. Due to the inverse relationship between DHEA and cortisol by supplmenting DHEA at this stage cortisol usally returns to normal of its own accord. In resistant cases where this does not occur extra supplementation with either 120mg of Beta Sitosterol with B vitamins or by using 600mg of phosphatidyl serine have been reported to reduce excessive cortisol levels.
In cases where stage 1 is left untreated the adrenal exhaustion progesses into stage 2 and stage 3 where the extra supply of cortisol eventually runs out leaving depleted DHEA and cortisol levels resulting with chronic fatigue type symptoms. During this later stage adrenal exhaustion diminished cortisol levels results in inadequate control of its many and various functions (mentioned above) thus maintaining normal physiological function becoming nearly impossible and worsens fatigue like symptoms. It is in these cases where the patient can greatly benefit from a low dose cortisol supplement in combination with DHEA.
Unfortunately for many late stage adrenal exhaustion suffers cortisol is almost always ignored by doctors due to its undeserving bad reputation.
For more in depth information on the treatment of this adrenal fatigue, information on DHEA, pregnenolone, cortisol you are required to log into the free members section. Click on either Existing members or Set up a new account to enter restricted area.