text:
Løkken Verk
Aurskog
Heremance
Indian Head, Maryland
Perry, Florida
Endre Lunde
Senior Vice President, Communications
MAIL P.O. Box 142, NO-2831 Raufoss, Norway
VISIT Enggata 37, 2830 Raufoss, Norway
EMAIL endre.lunde@nammo.com
TEL +4790853270
Nammo AS
VISIT Enggata 37, NO-2830 Raufoss, Norway
EMAIL info@nammo.com
Find Nammo
Photo: Norwegian Armed Forces / Camilla Brevik Hågensen
When Having the Right Ammunition Mattered
Iraq 2017: An armored ISIS suicide truck packed to the brim with explosives speeds towards coalition forces. Norwegian commander Terje Bruøygard watches as Iraqi and other coalition forces fire at it, without penetrating the armor. His unit, however, has something the others do not: Nammo's .50 cal multipurpose ammunition.
Thorstein Korsvold, 13 May, 2020
Lieutenant Colonel Terje Bruøygard – who led a group of Norwegian soldiers advising an Iraqi brigade – knew the situation was becoming critical. In less than a minute, the truck would drive right into hundreds of assembled soldiers and vehicles.
The main part of their column was Iraqi, but several smaller groups, mainly special forces from allied countries, accompanied them.
When the column first became aware of the ISIS suicide bomber speeding towards them, there was no immediate sense of concern, Bruøygard explains. It was still more than a kilometer away, which gave the coalition forces time to react.
Lt. Col. Terje Bruøygard, commanding Officer of the Telemark Battalion. Photo: Anette Ask / Forsvaret / Norwegian Armed Forces
Some of the soldiers had seen incidents like this before. Towards the end of 2017, Mosul had already fallen. Thousands of desperate ISIS fighters still held Anbar province in Iraq, as well as their capital, Raqqa. As the terrorist group neared their final defeat, they experimented more with suicide attacks.
The bomb trucks usually were stopped before they could harm their enemies. But this one kept coming closer.
– We could see it was headed straight for our column. They had welded steel plates onto it. As improvised armor, it worked reasonably well. Some other soldiers in the column fired at the truck, but I don't think they penetrated the armor. I felt we were getting to a point where we needed to do something, says Terje Bruøygard.
Armor penetrating ammunition
One option was to call in air support. The truck would never withstand a direct hit from the air – or perhaps an anti-vehicle missile could be employed directly by the ground forces. But even with such systems at the ready, the window of opportunity was short.
Luckily, the Norwegians had something they could bring to bear almost instantly.
– We have access to special ammunition that is both armor piercing and incendiary. In this particular case, that was an ideal combination, and the ammunition was ready for use.
The MP ammunition was developed in Norway in the 1970s and was originally intended against Soviet trawlers. Norway feared that if the Soviets ever invaded, they could use the trawlers to transport troops into Norway, and at that time the Norwegians lacked weapons that would be effective against the thick trawler hulls.
MP Ammunition Products
MP is short for Multipurpose, an ammunition design that is both armor piercing and incendiary. Using a pyrotechnic ignition chain, the projectile penetrates the surface of a target before exploding inside.
20 mm-series
20 mm x 102 MP LD M70
12.7mm (.50 cal)-series
12.7mm x 99 MP (.50 cal)
Lt. Col. Terje Bruøygard, here in conversation with Iraqi soldiers. Photo: Camilla Brevik Hågensen / Forsvaret / Norwegian Armed Forces
Later, it turned out that the MP ammunition worked very well against other armored targets, especially those carrying flammable cargo.
The ISIS bomb truck speeding towards the soldiers on that day in 2017 definitely had that.
– I decided we had to fire at the truck. We never felt rushed or really threatened. Once we decided, training just took over. We did what we had to do, Bruøygard says.
The Norwegians loaded their .50 cal MP ammunition, looked at the target through the Kongsberg weapon station mounted on their vehicles, aimed and fired. A moment later, they could see the result of the impact.
– We clearly hit it. We saw how it exploded and went up into flames. We believe it could have carried around two hundred kilos of explosives. When we stopped it, it was only a few hundred meters from the rear elements of the column we wanted to protect, Bruøygard explains – and adds: It was a really good feeling; to see that we could stop them.
In May 2019, Terje Bruøygard received the Norwegian War Medal ("Krigsmedaljen") for his efforts in the fight against ISIS. Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold / Forsvaret / Norwegian Armed Forces
After the attack, soldiers from an unnamed allied special forces unit came up to the Norwegians, asking about their ammunition.
– They were astonished by what we had done, and asked about our ammunition. They had probably used the same caliber, but a different type of projectile as they fired at the truck. Since they could not penetrate the armor, they would have liked to have the same ammo, I believe, Bruøygard says.
Two years later, in May 2019, Terje Bruøygard received the Norwegian War Medal ("Krigsmedaljen") for his efforts in the fight against ISIS. The incident where his soldiers possibly saved hundreds of lives by stopping the ISIS suicide truck was part of the reason.
– I feel that we have gotten a lot of recognition for what we did. And of course, there was never room for any doubt: ISIS is an evil organization. We had to stop them, we had to fight them, Bruøygard says, and adds:
– How often can you be part of something like this – liberating a country? I think we're all proud of what we did in the fight against ISIS. And for me personally, I think it was one of the most rewarding things in my life.
Pick at least one area of interest below, and we will send you an email when we post something new.
All updates Company news Defense Space Careers
.50 cal 12.7mm ammunition armoured vehicle combat Iraq IS ISIS MP multipurpose Nammo Norwegian Armed Forces special forces
Thorstein Korsvold
Nammo signs strategic partnership agreement with the Finnish Defense Forces
09 Dec 20 - Nammo and the Finnish Defense Forces (FDF) signed a new long-term strategic partnership agreement today during a brief ceremony at the Finnish Defense Command in Helsinki.
Why have six out of seven recipients of the Nammo-sponsored "best young journalist" awards been women? We asked the most recent award winner, Vivienne Machi.
Four Generations of Nammo
Jostein Lundgaard's family has been making ammunition for Nammo since the very beginning – in 1896. That's four generations! "I was born into a family of factory workers, wanted to continue the tradition, and never regretted that decision," Lundgaard says.
How will Lasers Affect the Future Battlefield? A New Technology Program Aims to Find Out
10 Jun 20 - Even as the first direct energy weapons, more commonly referred to as "laser weapons", are entering service, much is still unknown about what wider impact they may have on military operations. To help address that, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense today announced funding for a new Nammo-supported technology program.
Propelling Missiles into the Future
A lot of today's anti-air missile systems have some pretty serious drawbacks: Altitude and range is limited. fast and manoueverable targets can be very difficult to hit. But air defense systems with ramjets could soon bring vastly improved effectiveness.
What Could the Next War Look Like?
New weapon systems and doctrine are bringing change at an accelerating pace. Yet the age-old problem persists: Everyone plans for the previous war. Experts warn that the next large-scale conflict might be something very different.
The Bullet That Swims
Few things are more effective at stopping a bullet than water. Except this one - the Swimmer goes straight through.
Captaining Uncertain Skies
Nammo CEO Morten Brandtzæg was just 11 years old when he made one of the most important decisions of his life – to become an aviator.
As a group of Norwegian soldiers learned in Iraq, there are times when having the right ammunition means everything.
Reaching farther – hitting harder
For decades, NATO and US forces have focused on fighting insurgent groups. But what happens when…
Copyright © 2020 Nammo AS | Privacy Policy | Register of Business Enterprises: NO 979 984 731 MVA
Nammo retains all rights to this website and the contents published here, except where explicitly stated otherwise. Content, designs and data on the website are protected pursuant to the Copyright Act and other legislation. Rights to all product and company names, logos and trademarks on the website are owned by Nammo. Content may not be altered, reproduced, published, distributed or in other respects used for public or commercial purposes without permission.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.I am happy with itOur Privacy policy


It wasn't easy for a new Kershaw model to put a dent in the knife universe in the same year the brand introduced designs like the Dividend and Natrix and unveiled its first GTC and Al Mar collaborations. And yet, Kershaw's new for 2017 Reverb is flying off the shelves. It's an extraordinary knife that makes it difficult to name a more thoroughly thought out design in its price bracket.
Kershaw bills its Reverb as a backpacking/climbing knife and it's easy to see why. This compact knife weighs roughly an ounce and a half. And sure, the barely-there blade will appeal to the ultralight backpackers who cut their toothbrushes in half to spare the weight, but the Reverb has a lot more going on.
Its stiff, spring-loaded carabiner clip forms part of the handle, and when combined with a narrow deep carry clip gives its owner several carry options. The Reverb can also be slipped into pouches or pockets that you'd never consider using to carry knives of equivalent length because its handle is incredibly slender (less than a 1/3rd of an inch thick).
Despite the thinness and absence of liners, the knife's lock up is sturdy owing to a curved cut within the clip side of the handle that produces a quasi framelock. It's easy to deploy one-handed thanks to a shallow, crisply machined fuller on the blade that also eliminates the need for a space consuming thumbstud or flipper tab.
With machine-contoured G10 scales overlayed by carbon fiber, and a two-tone PVD coated blade, the Reverb is also quite a stylish knife with a look that might end up attached to as many laptop bags as backpacks.
Visit KnifeNews tomorrow to find out which model is #22 on our countdown of the Top 25 Best Selling Blades of 2017.


The official video for "Radio", a brand new song from STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet, can be seen below. The track is taken from Sweet's seventh solo album, "One Sided War", which will be released on August 26 via Rat Pak Records. Backing Michael on the record are WHITESNAKE guitarist Joel Hoekstra, EVANESCENCE drummer Will Hunt, bassist John O'Boyle and East Coast shred-master Ethan Brosh.
Said Sweet: "I wrote the song 'Radio' based on my history in country music and on what seems to be a surge of rock stars trying to become country stars.
"I'm a metalhead at heart and always will be, but I've had the opportunity to write with some of the best writers in Nashville (Blair Daly, Bruce Wallace, Luke Laird) and I've learned how talented these guys are and how serious they take their job.
"Just as metal is a lifestyle, country is as well and you have to live it, not just wake up one morning and decide you're gonna be a country star and have the respect of the country world.
"I grew up with country music, played on my dad's country songs (he co-wrote a #1 country song in 1976 called 'I Don't Want To Have To Marry You') and I know and respect the country music world.
"This song and video is having a little fun with all the guys that think they can just throw on a cowboy hat, some cowboy boots, move to Nashville and become country stars. It's just not that simple and that's just not reality. The same would apply to country stars trying to become metalheads. Kind of funny when you think about it.
"Country music, just like rock, is a lifestyle rich with history and authenticity and each genre should be treated with great respect. You can't fake it. You can try, but the fans will see right through it."
"One Sided War" showcases a full plate of hard rock and classic metal riffs that Michael Sweet has come to be known for throughout his illustrious musical career.
The album, which was recorded at Spirithouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts, is available for pre-order at this location.
"Musically, it's my heaviest solo album," Sweet said. "It's not thrash metal but there are definitely some songs on there that will pop out at you. There are some songs that have a bit of the IRON MAIDEN / DIO feel to them, as well as some songs that have a little bit of a VAN HALEN influence to them. It's a very guitar-oriented, hard rock/metal album with lots of melodies and hooks."
The fast and furious opener "Bizarre" ignites the album's pace with its lightning fast riffage, soaring vocals and blazing guitar solos. Tracks like "Can't Take This Life", "One Sided War", "Golden Age", "I Am" and "Comfort Zone" keep the metal fires ablaze, while songs like "Radio", "One Way" and "You Make Me Wanna" bring the hard rock vibe to the forefront.
"One Sided War" features only one ballad, "Who Am I?", a heartfelt, passionate song that reminds us of the softer side of Michael's talents. Closing out the disc is a bonus track; it's a different version of the song "Can't Take This Life", a duet between Michael and 16-year-old up-and-coming female vocalist Moriah Formica.
An EPK that talks about the CD and contains samples of "Bizarre" and "Radio" is available below.
Sweet is best known as the singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer for Christian rock pioneers STRYPER, who have sold over ten million albums worldwide. In addition to STRYPER, Sweet has had a successful solo career, and he served as the guitarist and co-vocalist for the legendary classic rock band BOSTON from 2007 to2011. The future remains bright for a man who has endured heartbreaking tribulations throughout his life and career, including the 2009 passing of his wife of more than 22 years, Kyle. In 2010, Sweet remarried to Lisa Champagne-Sweet, a woman he describes as "a Godsend and the one who fits perfectly by my side." Sweet continues to record and tour with STRYPER, as well as touring and recording as a solo artist.


Kyrgios Missing Davis Cup Practices at Kooyong; Illness, Possible Injury?
"Nick has a virus," said Aussie debut captain Lleyton Hewitt. "At the moment, he is taking it easy and trying to get over that 100% to be ready to go. I didn't want him around the other boys if he is a bit infectious. It is more of a precaution. He will be ready.
The legends of tennis weighed in on some topics Saturday night.
Roddick stumbles, Spain on top of USA 2-0 in Davis Cup.
Jim Courier announced his U.S. Davis Cup roster for tie against Chile.
Roger Federer gets the answer right.
Jim Courier was officially named the captain of the US Davis Cup team.
Talent can be a heavy burden as most failures rest firmly on the shoulders of the talented.
Playing in his debut tournament on the Outback Champions Series, Rafter used his trademark serve and volley game on the hard courts of the Palmilla Tennis Club to dictate play and set up a possible final-round showdown with Pete Sampras, his top rival during his ATP career. Sampras will play Mats Wilander of Sweden in the tournament's other semifinal on Saturday.


Three BiciSport Masters were nominated in the final panel at Dec `10 for Cycling Australia Cyclist of the Year Awards - Lise Benjamin, David Willmott & Michelle Crawford.
At the NSW Elite Track Championships in Dec `10 - Alan Townsend/David Willmott/Peter Barnard took Gold in the Team Sprint, Michelle Crawford Gold in the Elite Pointscore.
BiciSport took both category wins at the Clarence Street Cup - David Browne took the Men (David Willmott 4th), and Lise Benjamin took the Women (Donna Meehan 2nd).
Trudy Van Der Straaten competed in the NSW Grand Prix Criterium Series in mid December (placing 6th, 6th, 3rd & 5th in the respective rounds). Trudy went on to finish 4th in the series overall.
At the NSW Elite Track Championships in late December - Alan Townsend, Peter Barnard & David Willmott took Gold in the Elite Team Sprint. Lise Benjamin took Silver in the Elite Scratch Race, and Alexandra Green took Gold in the Individual Pursuit.
Alexandra Green and Alex Simmons took 2 Silver medals each at the National Para Track Champs at the DGV in early February (in TT and IP).
BiciSport entered 5 teams in the NSW Masters Team Pursuit Championships in late February. In the All Ages category the teams finished 4th and 10th. The #1 team of Stan Genakis, Stewart Campbell, Steve Brown & Mike O`Brien finished 4th. The #2 team of Trudy Van Der Straaten, Ali Edwards, George Lowe & Graham Tierney finished 10th. In the 150+ category the #1 team set the NSW Record (in 2min 21 secs) and took the win - Phil McKnight, Alec Simmons, Mark Arnold & Mike Lawson. The #2 team took the Bronze in 2min 23secs (Peter Barnard, Alan Townsend, John Crouchley & David Willmott). In the Masters Women - Donna Meehan, Karen Crabb & Sue Tierney took Silver.
The NSW Masters Track Championships in March saw BiciSport Masters take 3 World Best Times, then 9 Gold, 10 Silver & 3 Bronze medals. In the Mens categories - David Willmott set at World Best Time in Sprint qualifying, then took Gold in the Sprint, Time Trial & Scratch. Peter Barnard took Silver in the Time Trial & Sprint. David Browne took Silver in the Scratch. The BiciMasters seemed to take 4th just about everywhere ... Points 4th to Mike O`Brien, Alex Simmons, Mike Lawson & John Crouchley, and Graham Tierney & Alan Townsend both 4th in the Sprint. David Willmott, Peter Barnard & Alan Townsend took Bronze in the Team Sprint. In the Womens categories - Lise Benjamin set a World Best Time in qualifying for the Sprint, then set another WBT in the Time Trial. Lise took Gold in the Time Trial & Team Sprint, plus Silver in the Sprint. Donna Meehan took 3 Gold - Individual Pursuit, Sprint & Team Sprint, Silver in Time Trial & Scratch. Sue Tierney took Silver in the Individual Pursuit & Sprint & Team Sprint. Karen Crabb took Silver in the Team Sprint.
The Masters National Track Championships in April `10 in Melbourne and the BiciSport team took 10 Gold, 7 Silver and 6 Bronze medals plus a World Best Time. Fast forward to March `11 at Dunc Gray and the team took 3 World Best Times, 9 Gold, 5 Silver and 6 Bronze medals. In the Time Trial - David Willmott & Lise Benjamin took WBT`s - then David & Lise took Gold, Peter Barnard & Donna Meehan the Silver, and Karen Crabb the Bronze. In the Points Race - David Willmott the Gold, Mike O`Brien the Silver and Mike Lawson the Bronze. Individual Pursuit - Donna Meehan Gold, John Crouchley Bronze & Mike Lawson 4th. Sprint - Lise Benjamin set a WBT, then took Gold. David Willmott Gold, Peter Barnard Silver. Scratch race - Lise took Gold, Donna Meehan Silver, Trudy Van Der Straaten Bronze. Teams Sprint - David Willmott Gold, Peter Barnard & Alan Townsend Bronze with Mike O`Brien/Paul Meehan 4th. Teams Pursuit - in the 150+ category the team of Simmons/Lawson/Arnold took the win. In the All Ages the team of Campbell, Brown, Genakis & O`Brien took 3rd. David Willmott & Lise Benjamin received Champion of Champions awards in their respect category.


text:
package net.codetojoy;

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.concurrent.*;

public class AsyncBarServiceWrapper {
    private ExecutorService executor = Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor();

    public Future<BarService> startHandshake() {
        return executor.submit(new HandshakeTask());
    }

    public void shutdown() {
        executor.shutdownNow();
    }
}

class HandshakeTask implements Callable<BarService> {
    @Override
    public BarService call() throws Exception {
        BarService barService = new BarService();
        // mock work:
        System.out.println("TRACER handshake: start");
        int N = 10;
        for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) {
            System.out.println("TRACER handsake. working i: " + i);
            try { Thread.sleep(1*1000); } catch (Exception ex) { }
        }
        return barService;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Present guests with seeds in a tracing paper envelope, add a personal message and finish with a stylish fabric wrap.
Step 1) Cut a 21cm by 15cm rectangle of tracing paper. Fold the shorter edges in towards the centre and overlap centrally by 3cm.
Step 2) Run a thumbnail down each edge for a crisp fold. Turn the top 'raw' edges to the back by 1cm and carefully machine stitch 5mm from the edge.
your chosen wording to the front of the packet 1cm below the stitching.
Fill with seeds of your choice.
Step 4) Turn under the remaining 'raw' edges by 1cm and fold and stitch as before.
Cut a 30cm by 13cm strip of fabric and stitch a 2.5cm hem all round.
the position for a bead and for a felt loop. Cut out a 5mm-wide loop long enough to fit around your bead.
Step 6) Stitch bead and loop in place, using the photograph above as a guide.


London is a city which pays great concentration to festivals. Every year in the month of May, almost the whole London celebrates Alfresco Festival blissfully. Every year this festival is celebrated during the springtime in the heart of London, Colebrook Lakes in Tunbridge Wells.
The Alfresco Festival usually consists of rows of street foods and bars. Since the festival is family friendly, it offers a hell lot of entertainment stuff for kids and families. It is a three-day underground music festival. Millions of youngsters celebrate the day by dancing late night on the grounds of Colebrook Lakes.
This year the festival is expected to return in Tunbridge Wells from May 26 to May 29. Since the event is fully dedicated to the music lovers, the festival will host 6 stages of incredible music. It will amuse you with some of the world's best music acts. Music played during the event includes electronica, disco, Balearic, acid house, hip-hop and funk.
So what have you planned for your Festive eve? After an energetic day, your body would definitely be exhausted and would start to crave for something sumptuous food. So why not dine in Delhi Brasserie, one of the best Indian restaurants in London.
The foods served at the restaurant are well seasoned to meet the diverse flavors of the Indian Cuisine. Amuse your guests with platters of Chicken tandoori, Meat Grills and Lamb Ribs.
So if you are planning to host a party or a big event for your friends and family during this special season, contact Delhi Brasserie. They provide the best catering services for events, parties, weddings and anniversaries. Anything from small to big! Delhi Brasserie offers delectable menu options you would look out in a savory Indian feast.


text:
Akidnognathidae is an extinct family of therocephalian therapsids from the Late Permian and Early Triassic of South Africa, Russia and China. The family includes many large-bodied therocephalians that were probably carnivorous, including Moschorhinus and Olivierosuchus. One akidnognathid, Euchambersia, may even have been venomous. Akidnognathids have robust skulls with a pair of large caniniform teeth in their upper jaws. The family is morphologically intermediate between the more basal therocephalian group Scylacosauridae and the more derived group Baurioidea.

Classification

History
The first family-level name used to classify an akidnognathid was Euchambersidae, erected by South African paleontologist Lieuwe Dirk Boonstra in 1934, in reference for the genus Euchambersia, which is possibly one of the oldest known venomous tetrapods. In 1940, German paleontologist Friedrich von Huene changed the spelling of the name to Euchambersiidae, the correct form of Latin. Akidnognathidae was first named in 1954 by South African paleontologists Sidney H. Haughton and A. S. Brink. It included several therocephalians still recognized as akidnognathids as well as several now classified as scylacosaurids. English and American paleontologists D. M. S. Watson and Alfred Romer moved many of these therocephalians into the family Whaitsiidae in 1956, although many were moved back to Akidnognathidae in later years. Whaitsiids and akidnognathids are similar in appearance, leading some paleontologists to propose placing them in a superfamily called Whaitsioidea. Moschorhinidae was erected as another name for the family in 1974, and Annatherapsididae was proposed in 1975. Three subfamilies were also proposed in 1975: Annatherapsidinae, Moschorhininae and Euchambersiinae. While the name Euchambersiidae may have priority over Akidnognathidae because it was named first, Akidnognathidae is currently considered the valid name because it is based on the first named genus of the group, Akidnognathus (Akidnognathus was named in 1918 while Euchambersia was named in 1931).

Phylogeny
Topology recovered by the 2016 analysis of Huttenlocker et al. is showed below.

References

Permian synapsids
Lopingian first appearances
Early Triassic extinctions

Prehistoric therapsid families

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
María del Pilar d'Espagne (-), fille de la reine Isabelle II d'Espagne et sœur du roi Alphonse XII, est une infante d'Espagne.

À sept ans, elle accompagne sa mère en exil à Paris, où elle fait ses études au Collège du Sacré-Cœur. En 1875, avec la restauration de la monarchie au profit de son frère le roi Alphonse XII, elle retourne en Espagne.

Il était prévu de la marier au fils de Napoléon III, le Prince Impérial. L'impératrice Eugénie et la reine Isabelle II étaient en faveur de cette union, mais le jeune prince est tué lors de la guerre anglo-zouloue. Elle meurt subitement deux mois plus tard à Eskoriatza.

Jeunesse

Née le 4 juin 1861 au Palais royal de Madrid, l'infante María del Pilar est la troisième des cinq enfants survivants de la reine Isabelle II d'Espagne et de François d'Assise de Bourbon. L'infante est baptisée le lendemain de sa naissance sous le nom de María del Pilar Berenguela Isabel Francisca de Asís Cristina Sebastiana Gabriela Francisca Caracciolo Saturnina. Ses parrains sont sa tante paternelle Marie-Christine d'Espagne et son mari Sébastien de Bourbon.

Sa mère la reine Isabelle II prêtait peu d'attention à son mari, avec qui elle avait été forcée de se marier à l'âge de seize ans. La reine est malgré tombée enceinte douze fois. Les historiens ont fini par penser que François d'Assise de Bourbon n'était pas le père biologique de la plupart des enfants de la reine. Leur paternité a été attribuée aux différents amants d'Isabelle II. Entre 1859 et 1865, ses attentions se concentraient sur le diplomate et homme politique Miguel Tenorio de Castilla (1818-1912). De douze ans plus âgé qu'Isabelle, Tenorio arrive à la cour en avril 1859 comme secrétaire particulier. Il était veuf et avait une longue carrière politique derrière lui. Il servit la reine avec loyauté et efficacité. En août 1865, il est démis de ses fonctions par le premier ministre Leopoldo O'Donnell, las de son influence sur la reine. C'est à Miguel Tenorio de Castilla que la paternité de l'infante Pilar et de ses sœurs cadettes, Maria de la Paz et Eulalie, est la plus fréquemment attribuée. François d'Assise a tout de même reconnu comme siens tous les enfants nés pendant son mariage. Pilar était sa préférée et celle dont il se sentait le plus proche.

L'infante Pilar passe ses premières années dans l'atmosphère formelle de la cour espagnole. À l'âge de sept ans, son éducation est placée sous la tutelle de la duchesse de Berwick et d'Alba. Ses compagnes de jeu étaient ses sœurs Paz, six ans, et Eulalie, quatre ans. Leur frère Alphonse, dix ans, était éduqué séparément car il était l'héritier du trône. Quant à sa sœur aînée, Isabelle, elle s'est mariée en mai 1868 avec son cousin le comte de Girgenti.

À cette époque, la stabilité du règne d'Isabelle II était fragile. La reine avait en effet perdu les deux hommes politiques les plus éminents de son gouvernement : Léopold O'Donell était mort en novembre 1867 et Narvaez en avril 1868, alors qu'il présidait encore le conseil des ministres. À l'été 1868, après avoir passé quelques jours au palais de la Granja, la famille royale espagnole s'installe sur la côte de Cantabrie. Alors que la famille royale se trouve à Lekeitio, un soulèvement militaire éclata. Le 28 septembre, la défaite des troupes royalistes dirigées par le général Novaliches lors de la bataille d'Alcolée scelle la fin du règne de la reine. Deux jours plus tard, la famille royale espagnole franchit la frontière pour Biarritz.

Exil

La première résidence de la famille royale en exil fut le château de Pau, lieu de naissance de l'ancêtre de Pilar, Henri IV. Le château de Pau était idéalement situé près de la frontière espagnole et il leur a été donné comme résidence temporaire par Napoléon III. Comme le château était très inconfortable, la famille déchue n'y a pas vécu plus d'un mois. Isabelle II décide de s'installer à Paris où elle achète le palais Basilweski, rebaptisé palais de Castille, sur l'avenue du Roi-de-Rome.

Loin de la formalité de la cour espagnole, la vie en exil laissa plus de liberté aux infantes. Elles sont devenues les premières princesses espagnoles à ne pas avoir été éduquées dans l'enceinte d'un palais. Pilar, Paz et Eulalie sont en effet inscrites au Sacré-Cœur, une école catholique dirigée par les religieuses de la rue de Varennes. Bien que le Sacré-Cœur soit un pensionnat, les trois infantes s'y rendaient quotidiennement tout en résidant au palais de Castille. Le français est vite devenu leur première langue. Isabelle II, qui en voulait à sa propre mère de l'avoir négligée, était très dévouée à ses enfants. Le ménage réduit et la proximité apportée par l'exil ont rapproché la reine et ses trois plus jeunes filles, d'autant plus que leur frère étudiait à Vienne tandis que leur sœur aînée vivait en Suisse avec son mari.

Au deuxième anniversaire de leur arrivée en France, la chute de Napoléon III et les troubles à Paris contraignent la reine et ses filles à quitter la ville le 29 septembre 1871. Elles passèrent l'année suivante à l'Hôtel de la paix à Genève. Le 26 novembre 1871, le beau-frère de Pilar, le comte de Girgenti, se suicide. En août 1872, un mois après la fin de la Commune, la reine décide de rentrer à Paris. Leur palais avait survécu aux troubles. Cependant, utilisé comme hôpital, ses intérieurs et ses décorations étaient détruits, ce qui a nécessité d'importantes rénovations. Pilar, âgée de onze ans, retourne suivre des cours au Sacré-Cœur pour deux années de plus, menant une vie de famille tranquille. Lors d'une visite à Rome en 1873, les infantes ont reçu leur première communion des mains du pape Pie IX.

Le 29 décembre 1874, son frère, Alphonse XII, est appelé au trône espagnol, mettant fin à la Première République espagnole. La famille royale est réunie à Paris pour célébrer le Nouvel An.  Le 14 janvier 1875, Alphonse XII arrive en Espagne, il est suivi en mars par l'infante Isabelle, proclamée princesse des Asturies. Pilar, alors âgée de treize ans, reste vivre en France avec sa mère et ses sœurs  en attendant d'être rappelées en Espagne par le nouveau gouvernement.

Retour en Espagne

Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, président du Conseil des ministres, autorise le retour de la reine déchue à l'été 1876. Après presque huit ans d'exil, Pilar débarque à Santander le 30 juillet 1876. Isabelle II n'ayant pas été autorisée par le gouvernement à vivre à Madrid, les infantes restent à l'Escurial jusqu'à ce que leur mère décide de s'installer à Séville.

Pendant près d'un an, entre novembre 1876 et septembre 1877, Pilar a vécu avec sa mère et ses sœurs à l'Alcazar de Séville. Peu de temps après leur arrivée en Andalousie, sa tante Louise-Fernande d'Espagne, son époux le duc de Montpensier Antoine d'Orléans et leurs enfants s'installent au palais de San Telmo à Séville. Le roi Alphonse XII et la princesse Isabelle leur rendent visite à Pâques en 1877. Alphonse XII, amoureux de leur cousine Mercedes d'Orléans, la demande en mariage à cette occasion. Isabelle II s'est opposée à cette union car elle détestait son beau-frère qui avait dépensé une grande fortune pour la déposer. Bouleversée par le choix de son fils et se sentant négligée à Séville Isabelle décide de retourner à Paris. Pilar ne reverra jamais sa mère.

Le 28 septembre 1877, les trois infantes s'installent au Palais royal de Madrid. Son éducation s'y poursuit sous la supervision de sa sœur aînée. Les trois jeunes infantes vivent dans une aile du palais séparées de leurs frères et sœurs aînés, ce qui leur donne une certaine indépendance. Pilar et sa sœur Paz, d'à peine un an plus jeune, étaient particulièrement proches.

Perspectives de mariage

Le 23 janvier 1878, à la basilique Nuestra Señora de Atocha de Madrid, Alphonse XII épouse sa cousine la princesse Mercedes. Pilar, Paz et Eulalie étaient proches de leur cousine et belle-sœur, mais le mariage fut bref. Mercedes fait en effet une fausse couche et meurt six mois après son mariage le 26 juin 1878. On proposa alors à Pilar  d'épouser son cousin éloigné le prince Pierre d'Orléans, neveu du duc de Montpensier. Isabelle II s'opposa à l'idée et le projet n'est pas allé très loin.

L'infante Pilar était troisième dans la ligne de succession, car ni le roi Alphonse XII ni la princesse Isabelle n'avaient alors d'enfants. Sans héritier direct au trône d'Espagne, il était devenu urgent de lui trouver un mari. Depuis les années d'exil à Paris, la reine Isabelle et son amie l'impératrice Eugénie avaient pour projet d'organiser un mariage entre Pilar et le prince impérial. L'idée avait été écartée en raison de la chute de l'Empire français. Isabelle a alors conçu l'idée d'une union encore plus illustre pour sa fille. Le prince héritier Rodolphe d'Autriche étant à la recherche d'une femme, Isabelle demanda à son fils de l'inviter en Espagne. Rodolphe rencontra donc Pilar et fut surpris de constater qu'elle était blonde aux yeux clairs car il pensait que toutes les Espagnoles étaient brunes, mais il ne s'intéressa pas particulièrement à elle.

Pilar espérait toujours épouser Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. Ils s'étaient connus enfants quand les infantes étaient parfois invitées à jouer avec lui au Palais des Tuileries. Le prince vivait alors en exil en Angleterre. II devait effectuer une visite officielle à Madrid à son retour d'Afrique du Sud, où il combattait avec les troupes britanniques, mais il meurt le 1er juin 1879. Pilar en fut profondément bouleversée et ne lui survécu que deux mois. L'on raconte en effet que le jour de la mort du prince, une violette pressée - la fleur des Bonaparte - serait tombée du livre de prières de l'infante et se serait brisée sur la tige. Selon la légende, lorsque Pilar apprit sa mort quelques semaines plus tard, elle serait morte d'un cœur brisé.

Mort

Au début de l'été 1879, un séjour fut organisé pour les trois infantes à Eskoriatza, une petite ville connue pour ses sources d'eau chaude. Le 10 juillet, elles arrivèrent à Eskoriatza après un long et pénible voyage. Dans les semaines qui suivirent, les sœurs se sont reposées, menant une vie paisible et consacrant leur temps à des promenades à travers la campagne et à la lecture. L'infant Paz avait remarqué que Pilar avait l'air pâle et fatiguée, mais puisque les sœurs se lisaient leurs lettres, elle n'a pas écrit à ce sujet à ses frères et sœurs pour éviter de l'alerter.

Le  août, la population locale organisa une fête en l'honneur de l'infante. Vêtue d'une robe blanche et d'un béret rouge, Pilar y assista et en apprécia les divertissements : promenades à dos d'âne et de bœufs et danse en plein air. Cette nuit-là, elle s'est plainte de se sentir fatiguée. Le 3 août, Pilar ne se sentit pas bien et resta au lit toute la journée. La nuit suivante, alors qu'elle lisait Graziella d'Alphonse de Lamartine, elle eut une crise aiguë de convulsions, et perdit connaissance pour ne plus jamais se réveiller. Elle est probablement morte d'une méningite tuberculeuse. Elle est inhumée quelques jours plus tard à l'Escurial.

Le roi Alphonse XII et sa sœur Isabelle sont arrivés trop tard pour la voir vivante.

L'impératrice Eugénie écrivit de Camden le 9 août 1879 à sa mère la comtesse de Montijo : « J'ai reçu un coup terrible en apprenant la mort de l'infante Pilar qui était si proche de mon fils. Vous me dites qu'elle s'est sentie malade après une danse à Eskoriatza. Dieu aurait-il pu vraiment décider de prendre ces deux âmes destinées l'une à l'autre. » L'impératrice Eugénie a envoyé l'une des couronnes de fleurs de l'enterrement de son fils sur la tombe de Pilar.

L'infante Paz, qui avait dix-sept ans à l'époque, a été profondément affectée par la mort de sa sœur. "Tout le monde", écrira-t-elle plus tard, "aimait Pilar par-dessus tout". En 1883, elle épouse le prince Louis-Ferdinand de Bavière et décide d'appeler sa fille unique Pilar, en mémoire de sa sœur bien-aimée. Ainsi, elle a introduit ce prénom espagnol dans la maison de Wittelsbach.

Titres, prédicats et distinctions
 4 juin 1861 - 5 août 1879 : Son Altesse Royale l'infante María del Pilar d'Espagne
 620ème Dame Grand-Croix de l'Ordre de la Reine Marie-Louise

Ascendance

Bibliographie

 Aronson, Theo. Venganza real: la Corona de España, 1829–1965 . Ed.Grijalbo, 1968.
 Bavière, SAR la princesse Pilar de; Chapman-Huston, comandante Desmond. Alfonso XIII. Col. "Z"
 Infante Paz. Cuatro revoluciones e intemedios: Setenta años de mi vida . Espasa-Calpe, Madrid, 1935.
 Infante Eulalie ; Memorias de Doña Eulalia de Borbón, Infanta de España (1864-1931). Ed. Juventud, 1954.
 Rubio, María José. La Chata: La Infanta Isabel de Borbón et la Corona de España . Madrid, La Esfera de los Libros, 2003.

Notes et références

Décès en août 1879
Naissance en juin 1861
Maison de Bourbon (Espagne)
Naissance à Madrid
Décès au Guipuscoa
Personnalité inhumée à l'Escurial
Décès à 18 ans
Dame de l'ordre de la Reine Marie-Louise
Infante espagnole du XIXe siècle
Maria Pilar


The EC is calling for a ban on resource-inefficient consumer products across Europe to stimulate markets for goods and services that have lower lifecycle impacts, creating demand for products that are more durable and easy to recycle. One way to achieve this would be by progressively taking the worst performing products off the market and providing incentives to consumers to adopt more sustainable lifestyles through their purchasing decisions. The European Commission also wants to encourage more sustainable sourcing of raw materials, and argues the case for more private and public investment in resource-efficient technologies and skills, and suggests that SMEs will be important due to the ability to respond swiftly to market demands.


text:
Researchers discover a protein responsible for shaping the nervous system
A team of researchers led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the University of Toronto (U of T) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered a protein that is responsible for shaping the nervous system. This research was made possible with the support of a $1.5-million NeuroScience Canada Brain Repair ProgramTM team grant that enabled scientists from across Canada to work together and fast track their research. This research is reported in the December 8, 2005 issue of the journal Neuron.
"We discovered that p63 is the major death-promoting protein for nerve cells during fetal and post-natal development," said Dr. David Kaplan, the paper's senior author, senior scientist at SickKids, professor of Molecular Genetics, Medical Genetics & Microbiology at U of T, Canada Research Chair in Cancer and Neuroscience, and co-team leader on the NeuroScience Canada Brain Repair Program grant with Dr. Freda Miller of SickKids. "Proteins such as p63 that regulate beneficial cell death processes during development may cause adverse affects later in life by making us more sensitive to injury and disease."
At birth, the nervous system has twice the number of nerve cells than needed. The body disposes of the excess cells by eliminating those that go to the wrong place or form weak or improper connections. If this process does not happen, the nervous system cannot function properly. The expression of the p63 protein guides the nervous system in disposing of the ineffective nerve cells. The protein is from the p53 family of tumour suppressor proteins that is mutated in many human cancers.
While p63 is involved in determining which nerve cells die, the research team also suspects that it determines whether nerve cells die when injured or in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
"The discovery of this new protein represents hope for thousands of people affected by neurological and neuro
Contact: Chelsea Gay
chelsea.gay@sickkids.ca
1. Researchers find pathway that controls cell size and division
2. Researchers watch antibiotics, bacteria meet at atomic level
3. Researchers discover gene responsible for Restless Legs Syndrome
4. Researchers witness natural selection at work in dramatic comeback of male butterflies
5. Researchers discover human embryonic stem cells are the ultimate perpetual fuel cell
6. Researchers use new approach to predict protein function
7. Researchers probe risks, benefits of folic acid fortification
8. Researchers identify genetic mutation that may alter tumor cell proliferation
9. Researchers discover method for identifying how cancer evades the immune system
10. Researchers use adult stem cells to create soft tissue
11. Researchers find gene that spurs development of the epididymis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Do you have a difficult time with the concept of letting go and letting God?
If you have a hard time letting go and trusting in God, you are not alone! As women, we can all struggle with this concept; we are virtually hardwired to worry. It is often so much easier to focus on what we think is best for our lives than it is to surrender and embrace God's will. Our capacity to worry about our family, friends, and careers (which includes stay-at-home mothers) can consume us and cause us to struggle with truly trusting God.
But Divine Trust is different than ordinary trust. Trust in others will always leave you disappointed. (Hint, hint – our families and friends!) In our marriages, we must trust our spouses. We trust that they will love and honor and do what is best for us. But people are not perfect, and they will disappoint us. Despite how much we love our husbands, at some point they will leave us discouraged and disheartened. But God will never disappoint us. Ever. With Divine Trust, you place yourself in the hands of God, a perfect being, who is able to guide and lead you as you navigate through life.
Haven't we all as parents instructed our children to do things because they, in their youth and immaturity, lack the foresight to see the consequences? (Don't touch the stove! Take your raincoat! Stay on the sidewalk!) When children are little, they don't question these commands and trust, blindly, that we will take care of them. But as children grow, as any parent of a teenager knows, they begin to question our direction, exercise their freedom and make choices that may or may not be best for them. By failing to trust that we as parents have their best interest in mind, decisions can be made that sometimes have painful results.
We need to become like little children and surrender our lives to God. We need to permit Him to be the driver in our lives. While its so tempting to try and take the steering wheel back from God, the fact is, our inability to perfectly navigate will leave us lost if we don't surrender and trust that God loves us and will always lead us to the right destination.
As mothers, we need to continually learn to let go and let God be in control. We need to remember the profound words written at the bottom of the Divine Mercy Image: "Jesus, I Trust In You". When we place our trust in Christ its easier to be joyful and maintain a healthy perspective on our lives. Divine Trust is not "wishful thinking" or "happy thoughts" but an act of placing our life in Divine Mercy, recognizing that we are nothing without God, and asking God to have mercy on us for our faults.
Motherhood can often times feel like we are walking on a tight wire – with our families on our backs and a blindfold over our eyes. There are times when it feels as though the whole world is on your shoulders but, the fact is, Christ is bearing our burdens and balancing it all. "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30.) So even when we feel like we are fumbling and do our best to get in His way, God is there with a huge safety net to catch us when we fall. Trust Him.
The modern mother has her plate full! Whether it is work, family life, friends, school commitments, or worrying about our children and our role as mothers, we must never lose sight of the fact that our God is well worth trusting in!


text:
• Clinton: 7 Principles for Sustainable Agricultural Systems Worldwide
• GM Maize for Local Trials by 2010
• OFAB Launched in Tanzania
• Arabic Book on Biotechnology in Egypt
• Regional Program on Biosafety Launched in West Africa
• Egyptian Agriculture Extension Workers Learned Biotechnology
• Scientists Identify Compound that Kills Mycotoxin-Producing Pathogen
• Arabidopsis Genome Gets an Overhaul
• Scientists Decipher Genome of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterium
• Monsanto to Commercialize First Biotech Insect-Protected Soybean in Brazil
• Monsanto, Dole to Collaborate on Veggie Breeding
• Malaysia Moves Toward Setting Up a National Bioethics Committee
• Biofuel Impact on Food Crops in Thailand
• Australia Approves GM Blue Rose
• Malaysian Biotech Human Capital Development Report
• DuPont Makes Cotton Acquisitions in India
• New Serbian Law Prohibits Commercial Growing, Trade of GMOs
• German Court Sentences Anti-GMO Activists for Destroying Wheat Field
• Researchers Modify Castor Oil Plants to Produce Bio-lubricants
• Green Biotechnology and Climate Change
• French Scientists: Germany's GM Maize Ban Unfounded
• Anti-Allergy GM Rice Appears Safe in Animal Studies
• ISAAA Video on "Knowledge, Technology and Poverty Alleviation" Available in 17 Languages"
• Call for John Dillon Memorial Fellowship
Document Reminders
• Book on Biosafety Regulations in the Philippines
• Traditional and Alternative Medicine: Research and Policy Perspective
<< Previous Issue | Next Issue >> [ Text Only | Search | Translations | Get Logo | RSS ]
[ Invite a Friend | Subscribe ]
Clinton: 7 Principles for Sustainable Agricultural Systems Worldwide
Chronic hunger and food security is at the top of the Obama administration agenda. Speaking at the 2009 World Food Prize Announcement Ceremony in Washington, DC, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said: "The effects of chronic hunger cannot be overstated. Hunger is not only a physical condition, it is a drain on economic development, a threat to global security, a barrier to health and education, and a trap for the millions of people worldwide who work from sunup to sundown every single day but can barely produce enough food to sustain their lives and the lives of their families."
Clinton enumerated seven principles for sustainable agricultural systems in rural areas worldwide. These include the need to:
Increase agricultural productivity by expanding access to quality seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation tools.
Stimulate the private sector by improving the storage and processing of foods and improving rural roads and transportation.
Maintain natural resources so that land can be farmed by future generations.
Expand knowledge and training by supporting R&D and cultivating the next generation of plant scientists.
Increase trade so small-scale farmers can sell their crops.
Support policy reform and good governance.
Support women and families.
See the full article at http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/06/124659.htm.
[ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ]
GM Maize for Local Trials by 2010
Kenya will start confined field trials of drought-tolerant transgenic maize variety pending regulatory approval from the National Biosafety Committee. The project is spearheaded by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and is being coordinated by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). Other cooperating institutions include the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Monsanto. AATF, CIMMYT, and Monsanto have agreed that varieties developed through this project will be licensed to AATF.
The project, known as the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project, is being implemented in five African countries – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. The public-private partnership is led by the national agricultural research systems in the respective countries. Funding is provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Visit the AATF website at http://www.aatf-africa.org
OFAB Launched in Tanzania
The Tanzania chapter of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) was launched to serve as a venue to discuss benefits of agricultural biotechnology. Monthly meetings with stakeholders will be held to share knowledge and experiences and facilitate relevant discussion on agricultural biotechnology. "There are specific conditions and different levels of awareness in different countries, therefore the need for localizing the debate on crop biotechnology," said Dr. Hassan Mshinda, director-general of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology, during the launching ceremony.
Mshinda added that a lack of information on the opportunities offered by biotechnology has resulted in the slow adoption of various agro-technologies to address food problems. He said that developing countries need to be part of the dialogue on food biotechnology crops. OFAB is supported by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation which also assists forum chapters in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria.
The full article is available at http://africasciencenews.org/asns/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1365&Itemid=2.
Arabic Book on Biotechnology in Egypt
A new book in Arabic on important papers for decision makers on biotechnology in Egypt has just been published by the Egypt Biotechnology Information Center (EBIC). It includes key definitions of agricultural biotechnology and provides answers to questions on the safety of biotech crops. Likewise, it highlights the role of biotech crops in the developing world particularly India, China, Argentina and Brazil.
The book reviews the experiences of African countries such as South Africa, and Burkina Faso, as well as Egypt as a first Arab country commercializing a biotech crop. This is the second book published by EBIC on the applications of agricultural biotechnology. The first book dealt with topics designed to raise public awareness.
For more information contact Dr. Ismail Abdel Hamid at ebicvision@yahoo.com.
Regional Program on Biosafety Launched in West Africa
The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) has launched a regional biosafety program called the PRB-UEMOA. It is supported by the World Bank and has been established following the need of UEMOA member countries (Burkina Faso, Togo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin and Mali) to have a centralized system of regulation for the development and rapid expansion of modern biotechnology activities in the West Africa sub-region. It envisages instituting and implementing a common institutional and legal framework for the whole region and will also facilitate member countries to honor the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Though initiated in 2007, the three-year program was officially launched on 17th June 2009 by His Excellency the Minister of Environment and Sanitation of Mali, Prof. Sangaré Tiémoko. The Malian Ministers in charge of Promotion of the Family and Child and representatives of the Ministers of Environment, Agriculture and Finance of the UEMOA member states were also present in the launching.
For more information contact : Mali BIC Coordinator Dr. Mohamed N'diaye, mohamedndiaye1@yahoo.fr mohamedndiaye1@yahoo.fr
Egyptian Agriculture Extension Workers Learned Biotechnology
The first in the series of workshops sponsored by the Agricultural Research Center and the Egyptian Biotechnology Information Center was recently held to raise public awareness on biotech crops. The first workshop was held to discuss the importance of biotech crops and the benefits of biotech maize and cotton. It was attended by agricultural extensionists from 20 governates of Egypt. Prof. Mohamed Elgarhey, Deputy Director of Agricultural Research Center mentioned that Egypt had an early start in agricultural biotechnology by establishing the Agriculture Genetic Engineering Research Institute. The cooperation between its extension section and the EBIC will allow a transparent discussion on current issues in agricultural biotechnology.
Prof. Magdy AbdelZaher of Alexandria University discussed his intensive Bt maize field trial studies in over 36 maize-growing areas in Egypt and mentioned that, "the use of biotech maize saves on pesticide usage, gives almost 100% protection from stem borers, and increases yield of 30-40% over the conventional maize varieties". Dr. Hasan Dahey, a researcher of Bt cotton stressed that, "Bt cotton gives full protection against bollworms infestation". He added that the Egyptian Bt cotton variety development project will be successfully completed soon.
For more information contact Dr. Ismail AbdelHamid at ismail@isaaa.org
Scientists Identify Compound that Kills Mycotoxin-Producing Pathogen
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have identified a compound that can inhibit the growth of the plant pathogen Fusarium verticillioides. F. verticillioides is an important cause of corn seedling blight and root, stalk and ear rot. The fungus also produces fumonisin mycotoxins, particularly fumonisin B1, which are toxic to livestock and poultry. Ingestion of F. verticillioides-infected corn is linked with high incidence of esophageal and liver cancers in humans.
The research team, headed by Charles Bacon, identified the compound from a strain Bacillus mojavensis, a plant residing bacterium. The bacterium produces Leu7-surfactin which is effective in controlling Fusarium even at very low concentration (20 micrograms per liter of liquid). Surfactin has a detergent-like activity that dissolves the lipid membranes inside the fungus. It can also be used in textile manufacture and environmental remediation.
The original story is available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090624.htm
Arabidopsis Genome Gets an Overhaul
Arabidopsis thaliana, a ubiquitous weed related to broccoli and mustard, has emerged as a powerful tool for research in plant molecular biology and genetics. Although it has little agricultural importance, Arabidopsis has several advantages that made it the model for understanding the biology of important crops. Its entire genome consists of a small set of genes, many of which have functional analogs in plants with much larger genomes. The complete genome sequence along with gene structure, genome map and physical markers of this model plant reside in a database dubbed the Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR). Recently, the TAIR group released a new version of the genome sequence of Arabidopsis, which includes an array of improvements and novel features.
The new TAIR9 genome release contains detailed information on all 33,518 genes that make up the tiny plant. The TAIR team, based at the Carnegie Institution for Science in California, has made extensive updates to the genome sequence based on new sequence data submissions. "We now have a ranking system that provides a measure of our confidence that the structure of a specific gene is correct," explained TAIR head Eva Huala. Huala and colleagues have also overhauled information on pseudogenes - genes that have lost their protein coding ability.
For more information, read http://www.ciw.edu/news/midget_plant_gets_makeover and http://www.arabidopsis.org/news/news.jsp Visit TAIR at http://www.arabidopsis.org/
Scientists Decipher Genome of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterium
An international team of researchers, led by scientists at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) and Virginia Tech, has completed the genome of Azotobacter vinelandii, an important soil-living and nitrogen-fixing bacterium. The genome sequence is expected to advance research on A. vinelandii's role as a model organism in the investigation of nitrogen fixation and other biochemical processes. The researchers said that the work will also pave the way for new applications in biotechnology, including the possible use of A. vinelandii as a "bio-factory" for the production of other proteins, in particular those that may be damaged by the presence of oxygen. The genome will also provide information about the unique biosynthetic pathways involved in the bacteria's ability to adapt its metabolism to diverse sources of nutrients.
The complete article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JB.00504-09
Monsanto to Commercialize First Biotech Insect-Protected Soybean in Brazil
The stacked trait insect-protected Roundup Ready 2 Yield™ soybeans is planned to be commercialized by Monsanto in Brazil, a Monsanto press release said. Monsanto has completed all regulatory submissions in Brazil and the new genetically modified soybean variety is expected to be commercialized in Brazil early the next decade. "We expect this product to provide a step change for Brazilian soybean farmers by protecting against insects that cause significant economic loss combined with the increased yield provided by the Roundup Ready 2 Yield trait, which was introduced commercially this year in the United States," said Roy Fuchs, oilseed technology lead for Monsanto. "Better insect control can help reduce pesticide applications and offer farmers yield protection, thus helping agriculture meet the food, fuel and fiber needs of a growing population," he added.
Submissions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have been completed, and submissions to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and key import markets will occur over the next several months.
For details see press release at: http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=717
Monsanto, Dole to Collaborate on Veggie Breeding
Monsanto Company and Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. announced that they will be working together to breed vegetables that could be more attractive to consumers. The companies will focus on the nutrition, flavor, color, texture, taste and aroma of broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach. Monsanto stressed that the new varieties will not be genetically modified. New products developed from this collaboration could be commercialized by Dole in North America.
Monsanto has been expanding its vegetable business. The company acquired giant vegetable company Seminis in 2005 and the Netherlands-based De Ruiter Seeds last year.
The press release is available at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=721
Malaysia Moves Toward Setting Up a National Bioethics Committee
Malaysian scientists with support from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (MWFCD), are mulling over the establishment of a National Bioethics Committee (NBC). A workshop to tackle this issue was organized by MWFCD in collaboration with MOSTI, University Malaya and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.
Scientists feel the need to form the NBC given the wide applications of biotechnology that encompass an entire spectrum of human life and the environment. The committee is expected to look into areas such as cloning, gene therapy, genetic modification technology, stem cell research, climate change, nanotechnology and others. An interim steering committee has been set up which will work towards the establishment of the NBC.
For more biotech developments in Malaysia email Mahaletchumy Arujanan of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) at maha@bic.org.my
Biofuel Impact on Food Crops in Thailand
A recent study by the Bank of Thailand found significant correlation between ethanol demand and increases in feedstock prices, particularly for tapioca prices. However, despite higher feedstock prices, increased biofuel demand should have only a marginal impact on food prices. Currently the commodity most susceptible to increased biofuel demand is palm-based cooking oil. However, the price of palm cooking oil is currently regulated by the Thai Government. Ethanol is produced using sugar and tapioca as feedstock.
Longer term increases in the quantity of tapioca produced is not expected to come at the expense of food crops. All other things being equal, ethanol production will likely remain viable despite anticipated higher feedstock prices, which have been driven by market demand and government intervention programs. Price increases for tapioca should drive yield improvements and acreage expansion in the long run. Domestic demand for feed corn, often grown in the same areas as tapioca, will likely be met by low-cost imported corn from neighboring countries. Increased demand for biodiesel should drive acreage expansion for oil palm through orchard replacement.
More information available at Biosafety and Biotechnology Information Center in Thailand at http://safetybio.agri.kps.ku.ac.th/images/stories/pdf/thai.biofuel.food2009.pdf
Australia Approves GM Blue Rose
Florigene Pty Ltd has received approval from Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) for the commercial release of a genetically modified (GM) hybrid tea rose variety. The GM rose, which sports blue flowers, expresses the flavonoid 3'5'-hydroxylase gene from Viola and the anthocyanin 5-acyltransferase gene from Torenia for altered flower color. These genes cause the production of delphinidin, a blue pigment found in a range of edible plants including blueberries and blackcurrants. The GM rose was created by Florigene and Japan-based Suntory Company after 12 years of joint research.
Parent plants and plants for cut‑flowers will be grown by commercial growers registered with Florigene. Flowers that are produced will be sold through normal commercial distribution channels to the public, Australia‑wide. The risk assessment paper prepared by OGTR concluded that the commercial release poses negligible risk to human health and environment safety.
For more information, read the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan prepared by OGTR at http://www.ogtr.gov.au/internet/ogtr/publishing.nsf/Content/dir090-4/$FILE/dir090rarmp.doc
Malaysian Biotech Human Capital Development Report
Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI), Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp) and global research house Frost & Sullivan joined forces in assessing Malaysia's competitive edge in human capital development in the areas of biotech and life sciences. Together they launched Malaysia's first Human Capital Development Report 2009.
This report assesses the needs of the industry, biotech education and research at higher learning institutes, high-demand areas, constraints related to workforce, private-public collaboration, demand gap analysis, and workforce sentiments in the industry. The areas of biotech covered are agricultural, healthcare, and industrial biotechnology. The report is instrumental in mapping Malaysia's current position as the country moves toward being at par with the other countries in the Asian region – especially so in the current economic times.
"The study of human capital development for the Malaysian biotechnology industry contained in this report is both timely and significant. Specific to human capital, effective public-private sectors initiatives are critical in meeting the qualified and competent Malaysian talent in biotechnology," said YBhg. Datuk Dr Maximus J Ongkili, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). CEO of BiotechCorp, Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood believes this report will be an enabling tool to develop programs to address the issues faced by the industry to bridge the gap in human capital development in the biotech sector.
The report is available at http://www.biotechcorp.com.my. For more information, contact mohamad.ali@biotechcorp.com.my or maha@bic.org.my.
DuPont Makes Cotton Acquisitions in India
DuPont announced that it has made two cotton acquisitions in Andra Pradesh to enhance its product lineup in India. DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred has purchased the cotton seed business of Nandi Seeds and acquired cotton germplasm from Nagarjuna Seeds in a bid to tap India's US$250 million cotton seed market.
"These acquisitions will help us enter the cotton seed market here and meet the needs of Indian farmers who grow more than 9 million hectares of cotton each year – more than anywhere else in the world," said K.V. Subbarao, Pioneer India's manager. Pioneer currently offers corn, rice, pearl millet, sunflower and mustard in the Indian market.
The acquisitions are the latest in a series of investments by DuPont in India. DuPont recently established the DuPont Knowledge Center (DKC) in Hyderabad which includes the Biotechnology Research Center.
The press release is available at http://www2.dupont.com/Media_Center/en_US/daily_news/june/article20090626.html
New Serbian Law Prohibits Commercial Growing, Trade of GMOs
Serbia's National Parliament has adopted a new law that prohibits commercial growing of live modified organisms (GMOs), according to a new report by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. The new law, which regulates basic conditions for the use of GMOs in closed and open systems, also prohibits trading of products derived from GMOs. With this law, Serbian import of soybean meal from roundup ready soybeans for cattle feed is no longer possible. Serbia's previous law on GMOS allowed import of RR soybeans, the only GMO product used in the Eastern European nation.
Download the FAS report at http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN%20Publications/New%20Law%20on%20GMO%20is%20prohibiting%20trade%20or%20commercial%20growing%20of%20GMO%20_Belgrade_Serbia_6-10-2009.pdf
German Court Sentences Anti-GMO Activists for Destroying Wheat Field
A group of anti-GMO activists who destroyed a field trial of genetically modified (GM) wheat in the German village of Gatersleben was sentenced last week by a court in Saxony-Anhalt. The court ruled that the group acted against the law on April 21, 2008 as they entered the field trial area maintained by the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research. The anti-GMO group was asked to pay for the damage, which the Institute estimated at not less than 245,000 euros (342,000 USD).
According to the report by GMO Compass, the activists objected to the field trial because of its proximity to the Gatersleben gene bank. They cited the German legal concept of übergesetzlicher Notstand ("extra-statutory necessity") as a justification for the destruction.
Wheat plants are self-pollinating with outcrossing rates estimated at less than 1 percent. The field trial was separated from the Genebank's propagation lots by 500 meters.
The original article is available at http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/449.docu.html
Researchers Modify Castor Oil Plants to Produce Bio-lubricants
Researchers at the University of Almeria in Spain are working to develop genetically modified castor oil plants with altered seed oil composition. The researchers, led by Federico García Maroto, have identified a series of genes and promoters that could increase the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic and palmitic acids, in castor oil seeds. Oils with high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids are ideal for use as bio-lubricant. The oxidation rate of vegetable oils strongly depends on its fatty acid composition. High-oleic acid oils, for instance, resist oxidation, reducing the amount of chemical processing and additives required.
Several research institutions and universities in Spain are working together to develop bio-lubricant-producing castor oil plant varieties suitable to the agronomic conditions in the country.
For more information, visit http://www.andaluciainvestiga.com/english/salaPrensa/notas/090625-01.asp
Green Biotechnology and Climate Change
A new report Green Biotechnology and Climate Change has been released by Eurapabio. It highlights the significant potential of agricultural biotechnology to reduce green house gas emissions, and help crops adapt to a changing climate and produce more food from less available land. The book also provides information on how green biotech allows a range of options to help farmers adopt sustainable agricultural practices that can tackle tomorrow's challenges.
Willy de Greef, Secretary General of EuropaBio, endorsed the book commenting that, "Climate change poses a huge threat to the survival of millions around the world through famine and disease. It's our responsibility to stop talking shop and start leading by acknowledging, endorsing and applying the full range of tools available, including safe agricultural biotech solutions."
For the press release see: http://www.europabio.org/PressReleases/green/PR_090619_Green_Week.pdf . The full report can be downloaded at: http://www.europabio.org/positions/GBE/PP_090619_Climate_Change.pdf
French Scientists: Germany's GM Maize Ban Unfounded
Last April, Germany banned the cultivation of the insect-resistant MON810 maize. The GM maize, developed by Monsanto Company, is the only genetically modified crop approved for cultivation in the European Union. Germany presented new data on the potential environmental impact of the insect-resistant maize, specifically two scientific papers describing laboratory feeding trials on ladybirds and daphnia, and previous data on Lepidoptera, aquatic and soil organisms. A team of researchers from the Joseph Fourier University, Paris-Sud 11 University and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) carried out an examination of these new data.
Agnes Ricroch and colleagues, in a paper published by Transgenic Research, concluded that the German ban "is based on an incomplete list of references, ignores the widely admitted case-by-case approach, and confuses potential hazard and proven risk in the scientific procedure of risk assessment." The researchers further noted that Germany's Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety invoked the ban "on the basis of two inconclusive laboratory studies, which were by nature insufficient to evaluate ecosystem-scale consequences."
The paper is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11248-009-9297-5. Subscribers to the journal can access a supplementary material which lists all papers (including abstracts) considered in the study..
Anti-Allergy GM Rice Appears Safe in Animal Studies
A team of researchers from Japan's National Institute for Agrobiological Sciences has successfully developed a genetically modified rice variety that fights Japanese cedar pollen allergy. What's more, they were able to demonstrate that oral administration of the GM rice is safe. Japanese cedar pollen allergy is an important public health problem in Japan, affecting millions of Japanese from February to April each year.
Fumio Takaiwa and colleagues developed a transgenic rice variety accumulating a hybrid peptide of major human T-cell epitopes (7Crp) from Japanese cedar pollen allergens. 7Crp is an ideal safe tolerogen, since it possesses the same level of immunogenicity as the native allergens without binding to allergen-specific immunoglobulin E.
The researchers fed a steamed version of the transgenic rice and a non-transgenic version to a group of monkeys (crab-eating macaques, Macaca fascicularis) everyday for 26 weeks. At the end of the study period, the test animals did not show any health problems. According to the researchers, this demonstrates that the allergy-fighting rice is safe for consumption. The macaques were monitored for clinical signs, body weight, necropsy findings, histopathological findings, hematological data, blood biochemical data, and urinalysis.
The paper published by the Journal of Food and Agricultural Chemistry is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf900371u
ISAAA Video on "Knowledge, Technology and Poverty Alleviation" Available in 17 Languages"
The abridged version of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) video on "Knowledge, Technology and Poverty Alleviation is now available with subtitles in the 17 languages. The video presents the major findings of the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2008 and addresses the growing interest biotech crops have experienced in the past years, including substantial advances in Africa. It discusses in detail the three questions global society has begun to ask about biotech crops. The translated versions can be downloaded at the following links (copy-paste URL to web browser):
Arabic: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/arabic/
Bahasa Indonesia: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/bahasa/
Bangla: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/bangla/
Chinese: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/chinese/
English: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/
French: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/french/
Hindi: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/hindi/
Japanese: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/japanese/
Malay: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/malay/
Portuguese: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/portuguese/
Russian: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/russian/
Spanish: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/spanish/
Swahili: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/swahili/
Tagalog: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/tagalog/
Thai: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/thai/
Urdu Pakistan: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/urdu pakistan/
Vietnamese: http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/vietnamese/
Call for John Dillon Memorial Fellowship
The John Dillon Memorial Fellowship has recently been established by ACIAR in recognition of Professor John L. Dillon's life-long support for international agricultural research. The Fellowship scheme serves the memory of John Dillon by providing career development opportunities for outstanding young agricultural scientists or economists from ACIAR partner countries who are involved in a current or recently completed ACIAR project. Four to six Fellowships are offered annually. The Fellowship aims to develop leadership skills in the areas of agricultural research management, agricultural policy and/or extension technologies. This is achieved by providing exposure to Australian agriculture across a range of best-practice organisations involved in research, extension and/or policy making.
Applications should be submitted to Mrs. Sharon Harvey, Secretariat John Dillon Memorial Fellowshipc/- ACIAR, GPO Box 1571Canberra ACT 2601 Australia, fax + 61 2 6217 0501, email: harvey@aciar.gov.au. For details on the fellowship and how to apply, visit: http://www.aciar.gov.au/node/2077
Book on Biosafety Regulations in the Philippines
The Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology recently published a book entitled "Biosafety Regulations in the Philippines". The book highlights the milestones of the first fifteen years of the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines as well as the projected role of this regulatory body in meeting the challenges in the next fifteen years. The production of this book was also supported by the Philippine Department of Science and Technology, the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines and the Program for Biosafety Systems.
For more information about the book and to obtain copies, you may contact the NCBP secretariat at jfle@dost.gov.ph For updates on biotechnology in the Philippines you may contact bic@agri.searca.org
Traditional and Alternative Medicine: Research and Policy Perspective
A newly- released book on Traditional and Alternative Medicine Research and Policy is now available. It encompasses the importance of traditional medicine in our modern health systems and discusses the potential applications of phyto-chemicals to assist bio-molecular mechanisms and hence offer realistic and therapeutic possibilities. It includes review papers on production strategies, projection trends, regulatory status and IPR issues, and reports on the characterization and isolation of useful medicinal plant phyto-chemicals, clinical and bioactivity studies comprising antifungal, anticancer, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, hepato-protective and acetylcholinesterase assays. In addition, a series of comprehensive country reports provide an evaluation of the use of traditional health care systems and related research output in many developing countries. There are 58 papers in the book, under four sections, viz., Review Papers, Phytochemistry, Clinical and Bioactivity Studies, and Country Reports.
For the authors, titles of these articles and ordering instructions, see the website of the Center at http://www.namstct.org/
Do not hesitate to tell other colleagues/contacts about this mail list. If they wish to join, they may do so at http://www.isaaa.org/subscribe or they may send an e-mail message to cropbiotechupdate@isaaa.org leaving the subject blank and entering the one-line text message as follows: SUBSCRIBE Crop Biotech Network
To stop receiving this newsletter, please send an e-mail message to cropbiotechupdate@isaaa.org and write, "unsubscribe newsletter" in the subject box.
Please visit Crop Biotech Update web pages (http://www.isaaa.org/kc) to view previous issues of this newsletter and see other available resources for download.


This wonderful piece of writing was recommended to us by poet & author Alice Walker. We consider it to be the most insightful bit of punditry we came across the whole year. Written by Professor Richard Behan (Ph.D, UC Berkeley), it was published just before the June primaries, but with the national party conventions underway, we'd like to share it with you now.
for the sound health of government.
If Hillary Clinton occupies the White House her presidency will be unpleasant for her and chaotic for the country. Ms. Clinton will encounter a nationwide rebellion she cannot comprehend and hence will not address.
The rebellion is already underway, and it will continue. It is not a violent, man-the-barricades revolution, but a visible one in which millions of voters in both parties are openly rejecting conventional candidates. They are seeking a radical transformation of American governance.
Ms. Clinton will take office because she gamed the nomination process brilliantly, but she was victimized by classic tragedy. In the most bizarre political season in memory, she was the right person in the right place at the wrong time.
Since Franklin D. Roosevelt's day only Bill and Hillary Clinton have completed three presidential campaigns, so Ms. Clinton was armed for the fourth with unique experience and savvy: she knew precisely what had to be done, how to do it, and when. She amassed a war chest of hundreds of millions long before anyone else. She recruited 400 superdelegates even before she had opponents. She set up campaign offices in the states with early primaries. And by happy accident or clever arrangement the co-chair of her 2008 presidential campaign, Ms. Wasserman-Schultz, was put in charge of the Democratic National Committee.
When you know a system as well as Ms. Clinton does you know how to game it: she effectively preempted the candidate-space. Of the early prospective candidates, only Governor O'Malley and Senator Sanders moved on into the primaries; she out-polled both of them by monstrous margins.
Ms. Clinton then undertook an orthodox campaign of inoffensive platitudes, defining the issues with customary clichés, and proposing vacuous solutions: doing more for this cause, making improvements in that one, assuring everyone's access to the American Dream, I've been working all my life to benefit the downtrodden, and let's build on President Obama's successes.
Her campaign was exquisitely choreographed, but it was a campaign-by-formula, unimaginative and conventional.
Ms. Clinton was in the right place, however. Her two opponents were so far behind they were scarcely visible.
But the moment in time was not hers. By adopting the Obama template for governing, she through-bolted her campaign to the status quo—while a rebellion was stirring among the American people. And if Jefferson's dictum was correct the rebellion ought to continue, as...a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.
The rebellion would blossom, as Ms. Clinton soon discovered.
The template for governing she adopted is the modus operandi of the "New Democratic Party" that Bill Clinton and she helped construct in the early 1990's, and Barack Obama nurtured. It masquerades as the champion still of working class America, but it is in fact a centrist, even neoliberal party, awash with corporate campaign contributions, and driven by corporate interests. Rigorous scholarly research documents this, as does a voluminous popular literature.
Ms. Clinton failed to see the nascent political rebellion because she was not tuned to the deeply felt anxieties of nearly every family in the nation—i.e., all but the "One Percenters." Comfortably within that stratum herself, she was turned instead only to the mechanics of winning the presidency.
Prominent among working families' anxieties is the loss of wealth and incomes occasioned by the financial crash of 2008 and the off-shoring of 30 million well-paid manufacturing jobs. These events were driven by policies of the Bill Clinton Administration, granting corporate interests priority over the common good, and the Obama Administration expanded on them. The "New Democratic Party" betrayed and abandoned the working families of the nation.
This was not lost on Senator Bernie Sanders, and something similar was soon made apparent to Donald Trump.
No one will accuse Senator Sanders or Mr. Trump of running conventional campaigns. In his very first speech Mr. Sanders acknowledged and Mr. Trump soon discovered the simmering rebellion Ms. Clinton ignored. Tens of thousands of cheering citizens attended Mr. Sanders' rallies, applauding his call for political revolution. Mr. Trump, in his startling destruction of sixteen opponents, discovered the political patience of Republican voters was exhausted as well. The nascent rebellion burst into the open: huge blocks of voters consciously rejected their respective "establishment" parties.
Mr. Sanders' vision has far greater clarity and his proposals are far more detailed than Mr. Trump's. Advocating quantum changes in healthcare, higher education, trade, energy, infrastructure, and taxation policies, he seeks to recapture American democracy, to "make government work for all of us, not just the corporations and the billionaires." His rebel partisans—nearly half the Democratic Party—display a degree of enthusiasm not seen in years.
Mr. Trump's mind is not so disciplined as Mr. Sanders'. Linguists say it works in the wild and simplistic ways of a fourth-grader's, but he intuits the damage done to the domestic economy by the corporate export of American jobs. The idiots in Washington don't know how to do trade deals. They're idiots. I know how to do deals. Hell, I wrote a book about it. I know how to do deals.
His intuition is also accurate respecting the Affordable Care Act: it is a triumph of corporate profiteering at public expense.
The reason so many more people have health coverage today is easily grasped. They were forced by law to buy it. Absent the "public option" President Obama quickly surrendered, however, there is no constraint on costs. The insurance, hospital, and pharmaceutical corporations charge anything they please, so the costs to consumers—and corporate profits—are astronomical and rising. Obamacare is a money machine. In Mr. Trump's vernacular, it is an incredible deal for the health corporations, an incredible deal. But it's a disaster for the American people. It's a disaster.
In contrast to Mr. Sanders' specific prescriptions, Mr. Trump suggests a profoundly generic remedy: Make America Great Again.
For millions of voters this holds great intuitive appeal. We used to be great: America was first in life-expectancy, first in infant survival, first in education, first in health care, first in technology, first in equitable income and wealth distribution, first in home ownership, first in industrial productivity, first in innovation, first in per capita income and wealth, first in reserves of foreign exchange, first in exports, and so on and on. But we don't win any more.
Mr. Trump's rebel partisans—more than half of the Republican Party—yield nothing to Mr. Sanders' in enthusiasm.
A Hillary Clinton presidency, then, would face a national majority of citizens in open rebellion. Either intuitively or consciously they are incensed with the dominance of corporate political power. This is the template of governance Ms. Clinton helped create, the one in which she is historically and demonstrably comfortable, and the one which finances her campaigns for elected office. Wed to those donors, and locked into this mindset of the New Democratic Party, her presidency could not and would not alter significantly the status quo. Proudly she claims as much: "Let's not start from scratch," she says. Corporate dominance would remain unchallenged, the rebellion ignored.
Rebellion scorned will escalate; first to spirited demonstrations we have already seen, conceivably to violence. Only substantive reform can accommodate it.
Reform is neither difficult nor unprecedented. Our history displays a number of means of subordinating corporate interests to the welfare of the American people. More than a century ago—in the "Gilded Age"—the nation faced a similar crisis and dealt with it successfully. And a century before that, effective mechanisms were in place to restrain corporate dominion, even though the threat of it was already visible.
Mr. Jefferson's fears were realized.
As the 1800's progressed corporations in America—particularly the great railroads—fought vigorously and successfully to have these constraints relaxed, and all of them were. The corporate structure escaped any meaningful public control.
By the end of the century, unrestrained corporate enterprise rampaged through the economy—exploiting labor, polluting the environment, concentrating wealth—and dominated the political system. Corporations had learned the art of disguised bribery: financing political campaigns to ensure the passage (or repeal) of legislation in their interests. It was a vivid preview of the conditions we face today.
But their appalling behavior eventually became too egregious to sustain even with graft. A great wave of reformist and anti-trust legislation was enacted. Finally in 1906 Theodore Roosevelt submitted to Congress the Corporate Donations Abolition Act, prohibiting the practice. He signed it into law on January 26, 1907, and that was the end of corporate money flowing to elected officials.
Theodore Roosevelt undertook a revolution, to reclaim American democracy. Perhaps we need a Roosevelt surrogate today.
The Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1910 superseded and greatly strengthened the abolition law. It specified a further and brilliant means of assuring the independence of elected officials: it put stringent limits on campaign expenditures. If you can't spend much, there is no need to solicit much, even from individual donors.
History displays, then, determined efforts to foreclose corporate dominance. But history also shows a failure of political resolve in the late 20th century, because American corporations escaped public oversight and control once more. The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 repealed the Federal Corrupt Practices Act and legalized political action committees or PACs. A convoluted trickle of corporate campaign contributions flowed once more. Then two Supreme Court cases opened the floodgates. First Buckley v. Valeo in 1976 and then Citizens United v. FEC in 2010 gave birth to the Super PAC: contributing money, the Supreme Court decided, is a form of free speech.
No longer prohibited but encouraged to seek political dominance, corporations have lots of money with which to speak freely. There are laws they want passed, and others they want repealed, like the Glass-Steagall Act. That law was a firewall protecting the public interest from high-flying finance, but eleven Wall Street banks hated it. Those eleven banks speak with loud voices, having contributed $83,720,000 over the years to the Clintons' presidential and senatorial campaigns.
Glass-Steagall was repealed during Bill Clinton's Administration. Doing so was a direct cause of the subprime-mortgage crisis and the economic collapse of 2008. The banks were bailed out with taxpayers' money and continue to prosper. The American people continue to suffer.
This is now the template. Corporate interests thrive—exploiting labor, polluting the environment, concentrating wealth, and dominating the political system. But the interests of the nation at large languish, and this will not change until governance is returned to democratic processes. Overturning Citizens United and reinstating The Federal Corrupt Practices Act would be an excellent beginning. Overturning Santa Clara County, to rescind corporate personhood, would be an epochal finale.
None of this will ever appear on the radar screen of a Hillary Clinton presidency.
She is indeed a victim of historic tragedy. Even supposing her intentions were worthy, she gamed the nominating process with a first-and-most strategy. But history intervened when the American people clamored for a radical reclamation of democratic governance, something she did not see, does not comprehend, and cannot possibly deliver. The sheer momentum of her campaign has carried her to the edge of success, but her nomination is by no means inevitable. Many states have yet to vote and the Democratic convention promises to be unruly. There is a good chance she will fail. For the good of the nation she must.
We don't need a Hillary Clinton. This election must be pivotal. We need a Theodore Roosevelt surrogate.


Hori Kerei Taiaroa belonged to the prominent Ngāi Tahu family of Taiaroa. He was born and grew up in Otakou on the Otago peninsula around the 1830s or early 1840s. His mother was Mawera of Ngāti Rangiwhakaputa and his father was Te Matenga Taiaroa of Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki.
Taiaroa was taught to read and write by Wesleyan missionaries. He was christened Hori Kerei after former Governor Sir George Grey1 but was known to his elders as Huriwhenua. He married Tini Pana (Jane Burns) around the late 1850s or the early 1860s at Otakou. Her mother was of Ngāi Tuahuriri of Ngāi Tahu and her Scottish father was a farmer at Moeraki. Hori and Tini had six sons.
Keith Sinclair, 'Grey, George 1812 - 1898', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007, accessed 24 February 2010.
Harry C. Evison, 'Taiaroa, Hori Kerei ? - 1905', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007, accessed 24 February 2010.
Yvonne Elizabeth King - ?


text:
California's Privacy Agency Modifies Proposed CPRA
One of the most notable changes as California shifts its data privacy regulations from the CCPA to the CPRA is the creation of a separate governing body, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA).
The CPPA has been integral to the drafting and implementation process of the new CPRA, but the agency has made modifications to the bill's text twice now this fall, once in October and again in November.
While the January 1, 2023 date of effect remains for the CPRA, these recent tweaks to the bill mean that businesses likely will not receive finalized rules until sometime between January 1 and July 1, the currently proposed date of enforcement.
Businesses should still make every effort to be compliant with changes by January 1, with the recent modifications even possibly having made compliance easier.
The CPPA has published a helpful 16-page chart highlighting the changes and reasons for them.
Here are the highlights:
Unstructured data is now defined as "that which cannot be retrieved or organized in a pre-defined manner without 'disproportionate effort' on behalf of the business, service provider, contractor, or third party."
Businesses no longer have to identify the names of the third parties that control the collection of personal information in their Notice at Collection.
Businesses, service providers, and contractors can delay compliance with requests to correct for information stored on archived backup systems.
Businesses no longer will be required to display the status of a consumer's choice to opt out of the selling or sharing of their personal information.
The CPPA will consider the timing of any violations as well as good faith measures to comply when assessing 2023 violations.


text:
Laura A. Macaluso
Public Art & Public History
A History Lover's Guide to Alexandria and South Fairfax County
The years 2020-2021 is an important time to be writing about Virginia history, as everyday brings new changes across the Commonwealth. Virginia has a special role to play in the shaping of American identity and sense of place due to its outsized Colonial, Revolutionary, Civil War, and Civil Rights history.
As the capital of the Confederacy, and its deep dedication to Lost Cause ideology for the past 150 years, the evolution of Virginia—demonstrated in 2019 by the program #AmericanEvolution (which gave birth to the #1619 project by the New York Times Magazine)—is something to witness, examine, and support. Alexandria has historic houses, museums, one of the state's only municipal-sponsored City Archaeology departments, cemeteries, churches, landscapes and parks, and even 18th century historic restaurants such as Gadsby's Tavern. The city also has public art, interesting neighborhoods, connections to the military, a location along the Potomac shoreline, connections to George Washington, and well documented African American history.
This book–the first of its kind for Alexandria and South Fairfax County–will help you discover and experience these cultural and historic places for yourself.
The History Press · 2022
© 2022 Laura A. Macaluso. Website made by Factory 44


This listing shows the current year's beach sampling results. Use the dropdown box to select a town. Click on the name of a beach to view historical pass/fail data for that location.
This listing shows the current year's beach sampling results.
Use the dropdown box to select a town.
Tap on the name of a beach to view retests and historical pass/fail data for that location.


text:
// Copyright 2010 Google Inc.
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
//
//      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.

package com.google.enterprise.secmgr.authncontroller;

import java.io.IOException;

import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
import javax.annotation.ParametersAreNonnullByDefault;

/**
 * An authentication module is responsible for verification of credentials, and
 * may additionally gather credentials if that can be done without communicating
 * with the user agent.
 */
@ParametersAreNonnullByDefault
public interface AuthnModule {
  /**
   * Will this module handle a given session view?
   *
   * @param view The session view to be used for gathering.
   * @return True iff the module will handle the view.
   */
  public boolean willHandle(SessionView view);

  /**
   * Runs an authentication module.
   *
   * @param view The session view with which the verification will be performed.
   * @return The incremental changes to the session state that the verification
   *     produced.
   * @throws AuthnModuleException if the authority can't finish the authentication.
   * @throws IOException if there are errors communicating with the authority.
   */
  @Nonnull
  public AuthnSessionState authenticate(SessionView view)
      throws IOException, AuthnModuleException;
}