Home > Date > When to try and when to give up?
Seth Godin has just release a mini-book called, "The Dip".
Its about, when it makes sense to give up or keep trying.
How many times have you heard, "winners never give up" or do they?
You can get the mini-book HERE for and maybe it will help you figure out some good stuff about your situation.
Similar to Stay or Go, sometimes you need help deciding what to do next in your job or relationship.


The following Policy Briefs were first published by the Global Policy Journal.
Stefanie Lo: Copyright Law and the Creative Commons – Friends or Foes?
← Is the Creative Commons the Solution to Advancing Knowledge?


text:
Football Focus: 5 football collectables that left collectors champions!
By Dermot Martin | 7th August 2019 | 0
Get with the programme!
Football's back! As the new season kicks-off, it could be time for a heads-up on those old match programme gathering dust in the cupboard. They could be worth more than a bob or two.
The market in rare match programmes and unusual footballing memorabilia is vibrant, even outside the football season.
A few years ago, a family from Ipswich managed to make around £46,000 auctioning off a set of football programmes they had stumbled across at home. It really is worth going into extra time to rummage around.
No messing: Eton paid £35k for historic souvenir
In 2013 an 1882 souvenir programme of an Old Etonians vs Blackburn Rovers FA Cup Final fell out a job lot box of old papers found in Sussex.
It was expected to sell for £10,000 but ultimately netted £35,250. At the time, The Daily Mirror reported that Eton College had successfully bid for the programme to put in the school's museum. For Old Etonians, it must have seemed like a bargain.
That figure surpassed the sale of a Manchester United versus Bristol City 1909 FA Cup final programme sold for £23,500 the year before.
A 1924 Aston Villa v Newcastle FA Cup Final programme did reach £2,100 at auction. The story goes that it rained so heavily during the match and there was so little cover for the Wembley crowd, many people used the programmes as umbrellas. The result was that very few survived the torrent so they are very rare.
'Busby Babes' programmes are so revered
A Manchester United match programme, featuring the ill-fated Busby Babes sold at auction for £1,500. It was an official programme for the European Cup away leg against Red Star Belgrade in 1958. On the fateful flight home, 23 people lost their lives, including eight United players, when their aircraft crashed on take-off at Munich airport.
Source: shropshirestar.com
The programme's cover features an image of the United team, including Tommy Taylor, Billy Whelan and Eddie Colman who all died in the disaster.
The fascination with the Busby Babes is a real indicator of value. In October 2018 a programme from 1957, the year before the tragedy, when United played Wrexham in an FA Cup tie, sold for £650.
It was signed by Matt Busby and seven of the players.
These were exceptional prices but more recent match programmes can attract quite healthy numbers too, provided they are in excellent condition or especially if there is a back-story to them.
Nice one Stan!
Source: Daily Express
Another top seller at a sporting auction recently was a 1953 FA Cup Final leather football, used when Blackpool beat Bolton 4-3. This is remembered as the Stanley Matthews Cup Final, when the legendary winger put on a scintillating performance for the Wembley crowd, almost winning the Cup single-footed. It sold for £5,250.
The day Pele sold off his glory medals
Perhaps the most famous sale of footballing treasure was the one auction in London in 2016. It was held to off-load more than 2,000 items of personal memorabilia acquired by Pele during his fabulous career. Brazilian player Pele is reckoned by many, to be the greatest player to ever play the game.
source: the42.ie
His personal replica of the World Cup (Jules Rimet) trophy fetched £320,000 which was bought by a Swiss watch making company.
Two of the Brazil legend's three World Cup winners' medals also went under the hammer at Sotheby's, for a combined figure of £400,000 – well ahead of their estimated price.
Pele, now 79, once starred in a movie with Michael Caine and Sylvestor Stallone. Escape To Victory was about a fictitious war-time football match between prisoners of war and their guards. The boots Pele wore in the film, netted a cool £10,000.
Some of the Pele sale proceeds went to help fund the largest children's hospital in Brazil, which Pele said was close to his heart.
The Beckham connection
Huge amounts of money have flowed into football with TV rights and along with it the top players have achieved fame and fortune. Some have created their own brand value. Brand Beckham is perhaps the best example with a vast array of signed shirts, fashion goods, cosmetics, programmes, photographs, and football equipment selling world-wide.
David Beckham is especially popular in the USA with high volume signed artefacts selling for four figure sums.
But football stars come and go and collectors ought to ask the question, will these mass-produced items retain true value over the next few decades?
Other star players, as yet unborn, will take to the pitch and thrill the crowds and grab attention. Time will tell.
Fancy owning your own football collectable? Check out our genuine hand-signed photographs of some iconic Football legends including David Seaman, Roger Hunt and Gordon Banks.
Click here to view the full range >>>
Posted in Sport, Uncategorised and tagged football
← Oh lucky you: 6 Lucky finds that changed collectors lives!Revealed: the brand-NEW Paddington™ 50ps that collectors have been eagerly awaiting… →
About Dermot Martin
View all posts by Dermot Martin →

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We, ICF BANK AG WERTPAPIERHANDELSBANK, KAISERSTRASSE 1, 60311 FRANKFURT AM MAIN ("ICF"), are the entity responsible for all personal data you provide to us in the course of our business relationship.
Contact details such as full name, office address, work telephone number, work mobile number, work fax number and work email address, your mobile identification number, and the IP address of your computer when you use our website.
This data is automatically collected in log files when you visit our website for statistical and security purposes only. Individual users always remain anonymous.
Payment details, e.g. data necessary to process payments and prevent fraud, including credit card/EC card numbers, security codes and other billing information.
Other business transaction information, which must necessarily be processed as part of an agreement or other contractual relationship with ICF or which is voluntarily provided by you, such as orders placed, purchases, services and other business transactions, product feedback and other information you provide to us or which arises in connection with a business relationship.
Information about your preferences and interests that we receive from the web tracking or analytics technology referred to in our cookies policy, particularly when you use our website and content that we make available for download (e.g. when you register to download software, ebooks, white papers) or other online services that we offer. For example, we collect information about the content you download from our website and what you have clicked on or viewed and in what way.
Information we obtain from public sources, data bases and credit agencies.
To the extent we are legally obliged to do so for compliance purposes, nformation about, for example, legal disputes or litigation to which you or persons with whom you have business dealings are a party, and information about interactions with you that could be relevant for competition law/antitrust reasons.
Special categories of personal data. In the context of registering for events or seminars, we may ask you to provide information about your health at the time of registration so that we can identify and take into account any disability or special dietary requirements you may have. This information will only be used with your consent. If you do not notify us of any disability or special dietary requirements, we will be unable to make the appropriate arrangements.
To initiate, perform and manage the ICF Group's contractual relationship with you (or your organisation), e.g. by executing transactions and ordering products or services, processing payments, performing accounting, auditing, billing and debt collection tasks, arranging shipments and deliveries, carrying out repairs and providing support services or other services commissioned or requested by you.
To maintain and protect the security of our products, services and websites or other systems, and to prevent and identify security risks, fraud or other criminal or unlawful behaviour.
For general compliance purposes, particularly to ensure compliance with our statutory and regulatory obligations and requirements, such as compliance screenings or notification requirements (e.g. under competition law, export laws, trading sanctions and embargoes, or to prevent economic crime or money laundering). This may entail the following measures: checking your contact details or identity against applicable sanctions lists and confirming your identify if we find a match, recording your partnerships with third parties if they could be relevant for competition law reasons, reporting to or submitting to audits by competent supervisory authorities, law enforcement agencies or other competent authorities.
To provide information within any existing business relationship involving similar or related products or services of ICF to the extent permitted under applicable law.
To ensure compliance with statutory obligations, e.g. retaining sales documents for tax purposes or sending disclosures and other notifications required by law.
For profiling and automated processing: we collect information about your preferences based on your use of our website, products, content available for download (e.g. when you register to download software, ebooks, white papers) or other services that we offer online. We create a user profile based on this information (e.g. what content was downloaded and for how long and how often it was clicked on or viewed) so that we can customise and enhance the quality of our communication and interaction with you (for example through newsletter tracking or website analytics). The reason that we create these profiles is to identify the subject areas that could be of use or of interest to you and to inform you about them in a customised way. The algorithms we use apply this logic and automatically provide you with content and information tailored to you.
Please note: under Article 21(2) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for marketing purposes, including the right to object to the profiling described above. Please see the section on "Your rights" below for a de-tailed explanation of your rights and how you can assert and enforce them.
We will only communicate with you for marketing purposes (e.g. by emailing or calling you) if you have previously and, if required by law, explicitly given your consent thereto. You may withdraw your consent at any time if you no longer wish to receive marketing material from us.
We will not use your personal data to make automated decisions concerning you or create profiles in a manner different to the manner described above.
The legal bases for processing your personal data are set forth in Article 6 GDPR. Depending on which of the above Permitted Purposes we process your personal data for, the processing is done either to perform a contract or other business arrangement with ICF, to comply with our statutory obligations, or to protect the legitimate interests of ICF or third parties, subject always to the condition that your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms do not outweigh the foregoing and prevent such processing. If applicable, your personal data may also be processed based on your explicit consent to the extent you have given it.
Normally, we collect your personal data directly from you in the course of our interactions with you, e.g. when you visit our website, communicate with us regarding our products and services, place an order, subscribe for our newsletter or participate in our customer surveys. We do not receive personal data from third parties.
We may receive your personal data from third parties for the purposes of marketing campaigns if you have given us your explicit consent to do this. Where this is the case, you will be informed about this in accordance with applicable law.
ICF is a global enterprise. It is possible in the course of our business activities that we also forward your personal data to recipients in countries outside the European Economic Area ("third countries") which do not offer the same level of data protection as the level that exists in your home country. To the extent that this occurs, we abide by the applicable data protection requirements and put appropriate safeguards in place to ensure that your personal data is protected and secure; we do this in particular by incorporating EU standard contractual clauses in our agreements, which you can find http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:039:0005:0018:EN:PDF . Please contact us at any time if you would like to receive further information about these safeguards. You will find our contact details below.
To protect your personal data, we have put in place state-of-the-art physical, electronic and process-based safeguards that comply with statutory data protection requirements. These safeguards include the implementation of certain technologies and processes to protect your private sphere, such as secure servers, firewalls and SSL encryption. We act at all times in accordance with applicable laws and requirements relating to the confidentiality and security of personal data.
to credit agencies and other companies in connection with credit decisions, to prevent fraud and for the purposes of debt collection.
Your personal data may also be passed on to third parties if we buy or sell parts of the business or assets; where this is the case, we may potentially disclose personal data to the prospective buyer or seller and their advisers. If ICF or essentially all of its assets are acquired by a third party, the personal data we have saved concerning customers and other contact persons will form part of the assets to be transferred.
We will otherwise only pass on your personal data if you instruct us to do so or consent to the transfer, if we have a legal obligation to transfer your personal data pursuant to a court or regulatory order, or if we suspect fraudulent or criminal behaviour.
We will store your personal data for as long as is necessary to provide the commissioned services, ordered products or requested information and to perform and manage our business relationship with you. If you have asked us not to contact you, we will store this information for as long as is necessary to comply with your request. We also have a legal obligation to retain certain types of personal data for certain periods of time (e.g. pursuant to commercial or tax law record-keeping requirements). Your personal data will be erased without undue delay if it is no longer necessary for these purposes.
Under certain conditions stipulated by law, you may demand access to your personal data and demand its correction or erasure or restrictions to be placed on its processing. You may also object to the processing of your personal data or assert your right to data portability. In particular, you have the right to obtain a copy of the personal data we save concerning you. If you make such requests repeatedly, we may charge a fee. Please refer to Articles 15-22 GDPR for more precise information about your data protection rights.
If you have consented to the processing of your personal data, you may withdraw your consent at any time with prospective effect, in other words the withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. If you withdraw your consent, we will only continue to process your personal data to the extent that there is another legal basis for doing so or we have a legal obligation to do so.
If you would like to make any of the requests referred to above, please provide a brief description of the personal data in question, stating your name, address and data of birth for identity verification purposes, and send it to the address below. We may need you to provide an additional form of identification in order to protect your personal data from unauthorised access. We will review your request carefully and, if necessary, speak to you about how we can best accommodate your request.
If you have any concerns about the way in which we process your personal data or you wish to lodge a complaint, please contact us at the address below to have the matter investigated. If you are not satisfied with our response or you do not believe that we are processing your personal data in accordance with applicable law, you may lodge a complaint with the competent data protection authority in your country.
In general, you provide us with your personal data voluntarily. Your refusal to give consent or to provide your personal data will not usually have any negative implications for you. However, there are certain cases in which ICF is unable to act without certain of your personal data, e.g. if the personal data is necessary in order to process your orders, to provide you with access to an online service or newsletter or to conduct a compliance audit required by law. In these cases, without the relevant personal data ICF is unfortunately unable to settle your inquiry/meet your request.
If you are under 16 years of age, you need the consent of your parents/guardian before you provide us with your personal data. Persons under the age of 16 are not permitted to send us their personal data without such consent.


text:
Google Pixel 3 XL wireless charging confirmed as camera samples leak out
Android and Me Evan Selleck Aug 23, 2018
Android and Me Aug 23, 2018
Evan Selleck Aug 23, 2018 Read Source
Despite the fact that the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL aren't expected to be announced until October, that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from going hog wild and showing off the Pixel 3 XL in just about every conceivable way possible, save for on a stage with Google executives talking about the handset.
Just a couple of days ago, for instance, we got a couple of different snapshots of the Pixel 3 XL and that glorious notch out in the wild thanks to the owner navigating public transit and an eagle-eyed passenger. Before that, a video confirmed some of the specs we'd seen rumored, and we've also seen that Google apparently plans to include a pair of wired Pixel Buds headphones in the box with the future flagship smartphone.
So, here we are and we've got even more confirmations of what Google plans on launching later this year. Thanks to Rozetked.me we've got a clear look at the front of the handset, once again confirming that it will have a pretty noticeable notch at the top and a chin on the bottom. Around back there's that single camera setup, so Google is indeed sticking with that design decision.
There's also an image of the box being unpacked, showing off the phone, the USB-C cable, charger, and those aforementioned wired Pixel Buds headphones:
If that isn't enough, how about a confirmation that the Pixel 3 XL is going to support wireless charging? That's what we get in a quick video posted by the same source on Twitter, which shows the smartphone being set down on a wireless charging pad and then showing an animation that it is being charged.
pic.twitter.com/XtAtAeWreH
— Максим Хорошев (@khoroshev) August 22, 2018
And finally, we've got photo samples from the Pixel 3 XL camera. The same source published a variety of pictures on the blog, showcasing the power of Google's upcoming camera in the flagship smartphone. You can see one below.
So, wireless charging, a seemingly great camera, and a tall notch. What do you think of the Google Pixel 3 XL in all of its unofficial glory so far?
Sources: Rozetked.me (1), (2), Twitter


text:
Sir Brian Souter Sells Bus Business
Stagecoach co-founder Sir Brian Souter's private equity firm, Souter Investments, has announced it is to sell two bus businesses in New Zealand.
It has reached agreement to sell Howick and Eastern Buses and Mana Coach Services to Transdev, the international mobility provider.
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval. Terms have not been disclosed.
With its fleet of 145 buses Howick and Eastern Buses currently operates 23 urban routes on behalf of Auckland Transport, whilst Mana's fleet of 66 buses operates services on behalf of the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Both companies also provide school bus and charter services.
Bill Rae, outgoing Chairman of Howick and Eastern Buses and Mana Coach Services, said: "Both Howick and Eastern Buses and Mana Coach Services are recognised as industry leading urban bus operators, with first-class operational capabilities and strong long-term relationships with key stakeholders."
Souter Investments acquired Mana Coach Services in 2007 and added Howick and Eastern Buses to its stable a year later. During Souter's ownership, the businesses have fulfilled more than 95 million customer journeys and invested more than $63 million in new vehicles.
Mr Rae added: "Following significant capital investment and under the leadership of Sheryll Otway and Craig Chin, both Howick and Eastern Buses and Mana Coach Services are well placed to continue playing a central role in the growth of sustainable, environmentally friendly public transport in Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand's two largest public transport markets."
John Berthinussen, Investment Director at Souter Investments, commented: "Souter Investments has a long history of operating and investing in New Zealand, which is an attractive and easy place to do business, and where there are supportive environmental, demographic and economic conditions for growth in sustainable public transport. We wish Sheryll, Craig and their teams every success for an exciting future as part of one of the largest international public transport operators."
Souter Investments retains ownership of Fullers360, which provides ferry and tourism services on Auckland Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf.
Transdev Australasia CEO Luke Agati commented that the acquisitions provide a great opportunity to strengthen public transport connections in New Zealand's two biggest cities where Transdev has existing rail operations.
"Transdev aims to offer commuters the best possible door-to-door mobility solutions, and the acquisition of Howick and Eastern Buses and Mana Coach Services will mean that we are in a good position to support our clients to improve connections between bus and train services in both Auckland and Wellington," Mr Agati said.
Mr Agati confirmed that there are no plans to change the management structure or operations of either business, rather the focus would be on ensuring a smooth transition and leveraging best practices from local and global operations.
"We have a long history of engaging and partnering with clients and communities in New Zealand, and our goal for the long term is to build on the good work that is being done and grow the networks in both Auckland and Wellington over time," Mr Agati added.
Bancorp Corporate Finance acted as lead financial advisers for Souter Investments, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts as legal advisers and KPMG provided tax advice. Deloitte supplied vendor due diligence services.
About Souter Investments
Souter Investments is one of the UK's leading family investment offices specialising in private equity. Founded in 2006, Souter has invested in over 50 unquoted companies and currently has significant investments in approximately 25 businesses, acting either as the lead investor and as a co-investor with other financial sponsors.
Souter's portfolio includes FinTech online and ecommerce interest-free-only credit provider, DivideBuy; Pet Network International, the leading pet supplies retailer in South East Europe; CoachHire.com, the technology enabled Mobility-as-a-Service business offering value-added end to end managed transport services to the education, corporate and leisure sectors; and Ashtead Technology, which offers fully integrated equipment solutions to the subsea and onshore environmental monitoring and inspection sectors.
In 2019 Souter Investments has also announced the sale of Alexander Dennis and Mobius Life, the latter subject to regulatory approval, following the 2018 sales of OnniBus.com and First Scottish Group.
For more information visit www.souterinvestments.com.
About Transdev:
As an operator and global integrator of mobility, Transdev – the mobility company – gives people the freedom to move whenever and however they choose. We are proud to provide 11 million passenger trips every day thanks to efficient, easy to use and environmentally-friendly transportation services that connect people and communities. Our approach is rooted in long-term partnerships with businesses and public authorities, and in the relentless pursuit of the safest and most innovative mobility solutions. We are a team of people serving people, and mobility is what we do. Transdev is jointly held by Caisse des Dépôts Group (66%) and the RETHMANN Group (34%). In 2018, with 82,000 employees in 20 countries, the Group generated total revenues of 6.9 billion euros. In Australia and New Zealand, our 5,800 employees operate bus, light rail, rail, ferry and new mobility services across seven cities.
For more information visit www.transdev.com.au
New Buses with Geofencing for Brigton & Hove
Brighton & Hove has the first buses in the UK that can be set to run in zero-emissions mode whenever they travel through the city centre.
The company have invested £9.9 million in 30 new Enviro400ER double deck extended range hybrid electric buses, which will be set to run in zero-emissions mode every time they enter the city's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
It's a practice called geofencing and it's the first time it's been combined with zero-emissions technology in the UK.
Not only does this latest technology improve air quality in the city centre but buses also use fuel very efficiently, reducing the emissions that contribute to climate change and improving air quality in other parts of the city.
The new buses will be launched in October on busy route 5, which is used by 7.6 million people a year and equates to 133,104 emissions-free miles driven in the ULEZ each year. Up to 24 route 5 buses an hour run through the zone.
The Enviro400ERs stand out from the rest of the fleet, mirroring the colours of Brighton: the midnight-blue silhouetted skyline, the dark teal of the sea and the iconic pale green of the city's seaside arches.
Managing Director Martin Harris said: "We wanted these buses to reflect the city and the communities they serve. It's a tribute to Brighton life and to the people who live here.
"Our aim is to help improve air quality for everybody by continually cutting emissions and reducing our energy and fuel use.
"These new buses are an important part of our commitment to making Brighton & Hove a clean air city with zero emissions by 2030."
The buses mark the start of the bus company's wider community environmental campaign, Live & Breathe, which appears on the side of each bus.
The campaign will include a stakeholders' tour on the new buses in mid-October, a school competition with a climate change theme and other local events.
Go-Ahead Chief Executive David Brown said: "Go-Ahead is proud to be leading the way on clean transport and this innovation moves us closer to our goal of operating a zero-emissions fleet nationwide by 2035.
"A double decker bus can take as many as 75 cars off the roads in our cities and towns, so when it comes to improving the air quality and congestion in our cities buses are a vital part of the solution, especially with vehicles that can be set to run in zero-emissions mode in sensitive areas like these."
The Enviro400ER buses, which are fully electric drive, run on batteries, topped up via regenerative braking and a small Euro 6 generator, if needed, when the bus is outside the zone.
They're the most practical way of achieving no emissions through the centre of Brighton because they don't need to recharge in the middle of the day. This keeps buses in service and eliminates the need for the city to invest in expensive and intrusive roadside charging stations.
The Enviro400ERs don't have mirrors but instead have two high-definition cameras on the front, relaying pictures to monitors inside the driver's cab.
This is safer because bus drivers get a clearer, wider view of the road, with a better depth of field and fewer blind spots.
Key features and facts
It's the first time in the UK that zero-emission capability has been combined with geofencing
Improved air quality in the city's ULEZ
First hybrid buses in the UK that can run for this long in zero-emissions mode
All route 5 buses will run in zero-emissions mode in the ULEZ from October
Route 5 buses serve 7.6 million passengers a year
Up to 24 route 5 buses an hour run through the ULEZ
This equates to 133,104 emissions-free miles driven in the ULEZ a year
Route 5 is one of the city's busiest routes, covering areas including Hangleton, Hollingbury, Hove, Patcham and Preston Park
They have cameras and monitors, not wing mirrors, for improved safety
A smoother, quieter journey for everyone
The ULEZ covers Castle Square in the Old Steine, North Street and Western Road, as far as Palmeira Square
Enviro400ER buses were built by Alexander Dennis and use BaE Systems' technology
GWR Special Train Achieves Modern Speed Record
A new modern speed record has been set on a train from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington to celebrate the release of Great Western Railway's new timetable, which comes into effect on 15 December.
GWR's bullet-style Intercity Express Train, which has been in service since October 2017 and now operates on all of GWR's long-distance routes, took just 72 minutes to reach London Paddington.
Left to right, Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of GWR, David Eccles, of EDF Energy, and Tim Bowles, incumbent Mayor of the West of England
The special non-stop service marked the new December timetable being made public for the first time. The biggest timetable change on the network since 1976 will offer faster journey times and more frequent services to key locations.
The service left Bristol Temple Meads at 1849 and arrived into London Paddington at 2001 to establish a post-speed restriction record between the two stations.
GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood was accompanied on board last night's special service by guests and local businesses. He said:
"This special run shows just what these Intercity Express Trains are capable of.
"It is less than 12 weeks until the timetable change on Sunday, December 15, and the timing of almost every single train we run will be different. The IETs will be critical to us delivering even more frequent services and quicker journeys.
"Customers will see the fastest journey times between Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington cut to 1 hour 19 minutes – 17 minutes faster than is possible today. And journey times into London, non-stop from Bristol Parkway, will be cut to just 1 hour 8 minutes."
Network Rail Operations Manager, Western, Gary Abbott said:
"We're now able to fully realise the significant benefits from our investment in the rail infrastructure. Setting this new speed record shows what is possible, and we will continue to work with GWR to deliver timetable and journey time improvements in December."
The new December timetable is so significant, especially for those who travel regularly and are used to catching a particular service every day, that GWR has launched an awareness campaign to highlight the changes ahead, and make sure customers are prepared. It is encouraging customers to find out more at www.gwr.com.
CAF Selected to Supply SNCF Inter-City Fleet
SNCF has selected CAF as preferred bidder for a €700m contract to supply 28 electric multiple-units for medium and long-distance Intercités services on the Paris – Clermont-Ferrand and Paris – Limoges – Toulouse routes.
There would be options for up to 75 more train-sets, including 15 which could be used on the Bordeaux – Marseille route.
CAF's offer was awarded the highest score when the bids were reviewed for technical performance, innovation and cost by SNCF and the Directorate General of Infrastructures, Transport & the Sea on September 17.
SNCF confirmed the Spanish company as the preferred bidder the following day, and the formal award decision is to be taken by its board on October 24.
The EMUs are expected to enter revenue service from 2023, gradually replacing locomotive-hauled Corail trains more than 40 years old.
Plans to order 'premium quality' trains as part of a programme to revitalise Trains d'Equilibre du Territoire long-distance passenger services on the conventional network were announced by the French government in February 2016.
CAF said its winning proposal had been designed to provide a 'decisive leap in quality standards' on medium and long-distance routes.
The EMUs would have a maximum speed of 200 km/h, with 'high standards of comfort', including ergonomic seats, wi-fi, power sockets and USB ports. There would be 10 cycle spaces, galleys for 'high quality' trolley catering, and facilities to enable passengers with reduced mobility to board without assistance.
CAF would manufacturer the EMUs at its Bagnères‐de‐Bigorre site in France and Beasain in Spain.
The company said it would invest €30m in the Bagnères‐de‐Bigorre plant, which would become an 'industrial campus' with 11 000 m2 of new workshops and a training centre. The number of employees could increase from 100 to 350, with several hundred indirect jobs at CAF and at its French suppliers.
Wrightbus Sale Fails and Company Enters Administration
Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus, most commonly identified in London with the manufacture of the New Bus for London (NBfL), has entered Administration.
NBfL LT12 September 2012
Just 50 jobs out of 1700 will be retained at the firm.
The company had suffered cash flow problems and had sought investment or a new owner.
Talks with two potential buyers of the firm, best known for building the New Routemaster, known as the "Boris Bus", failed to reach a conclusion last week.
Deloitte, the firm's administrator, said the lack of a buyer for Wrightbus had caused the redundancies.
The Wright family, who founded Wrightbus in 1946, said "global changes from diesel to electric in bus technology have caused a sharp decline in demand for buses in the UK".
Above & below. The Wright NBfL was designed to allow Passengers to board and
alight from the rear platform
In a statement, the family said that it moved work from its facility in Malaysia to Ballymena in a bid to secure local jobs.
"These factors have resulted in significant losses at Wrightbus which our family have been covering for a over a year."
Lothian Volvo B5TL with Wright Eclipse Gemini Mk3 H49/30F bodywork
Accounts show that the Wrightbus group lost £1.7m on a turnover of £227m in 2017.
But its financial situation has deteriorated since then.
Michael Magnay, who is joint administrator, said: "We recognise the companies are crucially important employers in Ballymena, and this will be devastating news for those who worked there, their families and the town, which has already suffered from a number of manufacturing closures in recent years.
Stagecoach Volvo B5TL with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork entering Windermere station
The company made two rounds of redundancies last year with 95 jobs going in February and June - which it said reflected continued low levels of demand for new buses in the UK market.
FirstGroup Sale
FirstGroup is pursuing potential options for the separation of its UK First Bus business, a company spokesman said on Sunday.
It has been reported that the rail and bus operator was poised to offload part of its bus business to its own managers, months after it said it planned to spin off its UK bus arm.
"There are a number of potential outcomes for the separation of First Bus from the group and we are currently pursuing these options," the spokesman said in a statement.
"Although we do not comment on market rumours or speculation, it would be incorrect at this stage to say any one outcome is more likely than another," he said, in response to the report.
A string of management buyouts were said to be the front runners vying for the company's bus operations in Bristol, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, the newspaper said.
The company in May put its iconic North American bus line Greyhound up for sale and said it would spin off its UK bus arm, bowing to shareholder pressure.
BYD ADL Enviro200EV Upgrade
BYD Europe and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) have jointly announced that the companies' electric vehicle partnership will upgrade its market-leading BYD ADL Enviro200EV with ADL's new electric bus heating system and optimised vehicle layouts.
BYD is a global leader in batteries and electric buses, while ADL is a subsidiary of leading independent global bus manufacturer NFI Group Inc. (NFI). The BYD ADL partnership has led the market for electric buses in the United Kingdom since it was formed in 2015.
Using ADL's expertise in bus design to optimise vehicle layouts and maximise the use of available space, the partnership will upgrade the BYD ADL Enviro200EV single decker to the new vehicle lengths of 10.9m (replacing the current 10.8m model) and 11.6m (offering two extra seats over the current 12m model, which it replaces).
The buses will utilise ADL's new all-electric heating system for electric buses. This heat pump solution has been developed to transfer atmospheric heat in to the vehicle. Designed to run efficiently in low ambient temperatures, it can also be used in reverse to cool the vehicle during warmer weather.
The high efficiency of the system enables additional operational range. The upgrade brings the buses in line with the shorter, 10.2m and 9.6m versions of the BYD ADL Enviro200EV as well as the double deck BYD ADL Enviro400EV, all of which have been introduced to the market in 2019.
Orders for the upgraded models have been taken from operators in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, taking the total number of BYD ADL electric buses delivered or on order to 412.
Isbrand Ho, Managing Director of BYD Europe, says: "Here we see yet another example of the close collaboration between BYD and ADL; bringing together its industry-leading resources to develop an exacting specification that benefits UK bus operators and their passengers. I'm pleased to see more and more public transport operators in the UK adopting BYD ADL as an electric mobility solution."
Colin Robertson, ADL Chief Executive, comments: "Our partnership continues to go from strength to strength as bus operators choose reliability and best-in-class support. With this upgrade to the BYD ADL Enviro200EV single decker, we are building even more strongly on ADL's unrivalled experience in designing buses that maximise efficiency, capacity and passenger comfort."
Date for the Diary - NYMR Steam Gala 26th September 2019
As part of this year's Annual Steam Gala, North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG) will be taking over the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) on Thursday 26 September with a celebration of NELPG locomotives, drivers and cleaners!
Locomotives operating will include K1 Locomotive 62005 which will arrive back at the railway this September making a guest appearance.
62005 was designed by the London and North Eastern Railway, built by the North British Locomotive Company in their Queen's Park Works, Glasgow as NBL no 26609 and delivered to the fledgling British Railways in June 1949.
A young Nigel Gresley's first loco design was influenced by the popularity of the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement in North America. The result was the GNR class H2 later LNER original class K1.
This developed into Gresley's highly successful K2 design that served the three railway eras, GNR, LNER and British Railways.
J27 65894 (NER P3 2392) will be operating, double headed with the Lambton Colliery No. 29.
The P3s were powerful hard working engines which, like the T2 0-8-0s, lasted until the end of steam in the North East of England. Built in 1904 by Kitson of Leeds, Works Number 4263, for Lambton Collieries, No. 29 was the first 0-6-2T to be employed on that system and was later joined by No.5. No. 29 was also overhauled at Philadelphia in 1968, by which time the 'main line' running over BR tracks had ceased and it was made redundant with the other remaining steam locomotives on 15 February, 1969. With 65 years in service she must be one of the longest-working steam locomotives in the UK.
Additionally LNER Q6 No. 63395 will be operating. The Q6 was an unglamorous freight workhorse that plied the tracks of the north east of England for 50 years. Remarkably, along with the class J27s, it was one of the very few pre-Grouping steam locomotives to survive right up to the end of steam on British Railways.
Chris Price, General Manager at NYMR, said: "NELPG was formed in 1966 to preserve examples of the last two remaining classes of North Eastern Railway (NER) freight locomotives which were then still operating in the North East of England, before they were finally withdrawn by British Railways. This was successfully achieved and the locomotives were restored by the charity's volunteers before they went to the NYMR where they continue to operate. Like the NYMR, NELPG are a registered charity, with both organisations charitable aims to preserve the golden age of steam for everyone to experience and enjoy. This is a great extension to the Annual Steam Gala, showcasing the stunning engines that have been carefully restored and cared for by the group and is an event, not to be missed."
*Standard Fare Prices for NELPG Gala* Tickets for the NELPG Gala (Pickering to Grosmont returns) Adult/Concession £25.00, Child £12.50 and Family £52.00 (2x Adults & 2x Children)
Sir David Jason welcomes Rocket to York Railway Museum
Stephenson's Rocket will join legends of the steam age such as Mallard and Flying Scotsman this Autumn as the historic locomotive goes on long term display at the National Railway Museum in York.
The engine arrived at the museum on Leeman Road on a low loader on Wednesday, and was welcomed by actor Sir David Jason.
The original Rocket will be displayed at the National Railway Museum for at least a decade initially as part of a new exhibition called Brass, Steel and Fire. Rocket will eventually be one of the stars of the museum's redeveloped Great Hall which is part of the museum's £55m 'Vision 2025' masterplan.
Built in 1829, Rocket is one of the UK's most historically significant objects. After success at the Rainhill Trials in the same year, the engine operated on the world's first inter-city passenger railway in 1830 and helped usher in the railway age, shaping the modern world as we know it. Rocket was the only locomotive to successfully complete the Trials, achieving a then remarkable top speed of 30 mph and securing the engine's place in history.
Designed by George and Robert Stephenson, Rocket's win proved that steam powered locomotives were better at pulling trains than horses or stationary winding engines and that locomotives engines were suitable for widespread use.
Anthony Coulls, Senior Curator at the National Railway Museum, said:
"Rocket was not the first steam engine, but it is certainly one of the most significant and it combined all the technological innovations available at the time to create one engine that was faster and more reliable than anything seen before.
"The technology pioneered by Rocket led to the rapid expansion of the railways, which brought widespread social and economic changes that shaped modern Britain as we know it. I am very excited at the prospect of displaying Stephenson's original Rocket at the National Railway Museum alongside the models of Brass, Steel and Fire which will bring the story of the railways and engineering alive for our visitors."
Rocket will be displayed in a purpose-built room in Station Hall alongside the museum's collection of royal carriages and part of the new exhibition Brass, Steel and Fire. This exhibition will open on 26 September and will tell the story of the first 100 years of railway models.
In the early days of the railways, engineers would make small but mechanically accurate models of new locomotives to test their designs before constructing full-size versions. As a result, many priceless models of historically important engines remain, despite the full-size originals being lost to history.
Ahead of the Rainhill Trials, George and Robert Stephenson had no time to build a model and so Rocket became the ultimate full-size model to test the latest technology of the time.
Alongside Rocket, highlights of the Brass, Steel and Fire exhibition include the world's oldest working model steam engine made in 1836 by Thomas Greener, aged just 16 years old. Thomas became an engineer after working as an apprentice at Shildon Works under Timothy Hackworth. The model is based on a full-size stationary winding engine that would have been used on the Stockton and Darlington Railway to haul coal wagons up steep hills.
Judith McNicol, Director of the National Railway Museum, said:
"Rocket will join the museum as a potent symbol of what can be achieved through STEM and it will inspire new generations of visitors to pursue their own futures in engineering. It will also represent one of the first signs that our ambitious 'Vision 2025' plan to transform the museum is becoming a reality."
In 2018 to share Rocket with a wider audience, the Science Museum Group announced that the historic locomotive would go on a national tour of significant locations with a strong connection to the engine's story. This included a visit to the Discovery Museum in Newcastle, the city where Rocket was built, as part of the Great Exhibition of the North.
The engine then went on display at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester which is based on the site of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.
Brass, Steel and Fire will open at the National Railway Museum on 26 September and will be free to enter. After leaving York, the exhibition will travel to the Science Museum in London although Rocket will remain at the National Railway Museum.
Brass, Steel and Fire is kindly supported by Hornbeam Park Developments and players of the People's Postcode Lottery.
For more information, visit https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/brass-steel-and-fire
TfL's Electric Fleet is Largest in Europe
Electric double-deck buses were launched on routes 43 and 134 recently, by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.
He said "As part of our work to tackle the harmful emissions we breathe and to help tackle the climate emergency, I am proud to announce the first two routes which will exclusively use electric double-deck buses."
"London's toxic air is a shameful health crisis which is causing premature deaths and stunting the growth of children's lungs.
Optare Metrodecker EV
All 12 of the Low Emission Bus Zones the Mayor promised in his manifesto have been delivered, ahead of the 2020 deadline.
Mr Khan added: "This is part of our £300m plan to transform London's entire bus fleet, which is set to reduce bus NOx emissions London-wide by an average of 90 per cent by October 2020"
BYD ADL Enviro400EV operating on route 43
Metroline operates routes 43 and 134 using both BYD ADL Enviro400EVs and Optare Metrodecker EVs.
Metroline's CEO Sean O'Shea says: "Metroline has made a substantial investment and commitment to electric buses, making the UK's largest single order.
"With the launch of London's first exclusively-electric double deck routes, which will carry around 18.5 million people across the capital a year, we will continue making real progress in improving air quality in the capital."
Converting both services to be operated entirely by electric vehicles represents the largest order of electric double deck buses of its kind for London; a significant investment and milestone for Metroline and the TfL network.
Midland Red D9 Photo Shoot
EHA 424D –is a Midland Red D9 new in 1966 Fleet No 5424. It was withdrawn in 1977 used in preservation until 1981.
The vehicle suffered mechanical problems and was off the road until purchased by Roger Burdett in 1998 and restored by 2000.
It was recently used on a photo shoot in Cotswolds villages and Broadway recently. The day was organised by Timeline events https://www.timelineevents.org
Ken Jones was helping out on the day and sent these pictures.
New Liverpool to London Routes for National Express
New routes from Liverpool to London have been launched by National Express with a purse-friendly price-tag.
The coach operator has added a new weekend service to its national network, meaning it can now provide a faster journey between Liverpool and the capital.
Passengers can now opt to travel on a direct service which stops just once between the two cities - from just £6.70 per journey.
The new 552 service will run once a day from Friday to Monday, with the Liverpool-London service departing from Liverpool at 10.15am and arriving at roughly 3.20pm, and the London-Liverpool coach setting off at 5pm and arriving at roughly 10.20pm.
timetable here
John Boughton, Commercial Director at National Express, said: "Our 552 route is a brand new direct service from Liverpool to London.
"With just one stop between the two cities, It offers a quicker service allowing passengers more time to enjoy their destination.
"We already operate over 1,800 services a day - and last year we carried over 20 million passengers.
"We're confident this will offer even more people quick, easy and affordable transport.
"National Express passengers benefit from a guaranteed seat, air conditioning, access to films, TV and magazines through a complimentary onboard entertainment app, as well as power sockets and free WiFi."
Single adult fares on the 552 Liverpool to London Victoria service start from £6.70.
For more information or to book visit www.nationalexpress.com or call 0871 781 81 81.
Class 484 Vivarail Trains for the Isle of Wight
A £26m package of investment in the worn-out Isle of Wight railway line has been unveiled by the government. Class 484 Vivarail trains will be acquired to run on the Island Line.
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris visited Brading Station to make the announcement as the Department for Transport will principally fund South Western Railway's proposals to improve the sustainability of the railway linking Ryde to Shanklin.
This follows a recent multi-million investment announcement by Network Rail into improvements to renew Ryde Railway Pier where trains connect with ferries to Portsmouth.
The proposals were developed in partnership with key stakeholders on the island, including Isle of Wight Council and Solent Local Enterprise Partnership. They have agreed to jointly contribute £1 million to fund a new passing loop at Brading, helping to deliver an even interval half-hourly service to the pier.
The Department will support the investment into improving the tracks and other infrastructure to support the new trains.
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said:
"The current trains have diligently served passengers since 1938 – coinciding with the first ever edition of the Beano and the maiden voyage of the record-setting Mallard steam train – so this upgrade is a long overdue boost. The railway uses ex London Underground trains because of the restricted height of Ryde tunnel.
"This investment in the Class 484 trains means more punctual, reliable trains services and better connections to ferry services, supporting local residents, businesses and tourism. This underlines our determination to provide passengers across the country with the modern rail network they expect."
Andy Mellors, Managing Director of South Western Railway, said:
"This is a great day for the Isle of Wight. I want to pay tribute to our team at Island Line who have kept the current 1938 stock going for so long and to all of the stakeholders who helped us develop our proposals. I look forward to our continuing partnership as we deliver the next exciting chapter in Island Line's history."
Responding to the news Isle of Wight Council leader Dave Stewart said:
"I am really pleased to welcome the decision by the Department for Transport to invest millions into Island Line. Today's announcement follows a long and detailed process involving South Western Railway, the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, the Isle of Wight Council and our MP Bob Seely aimed at securing a long term solution to Island Line.
"Islanders can now look forward to new electric trains, major infrastructure improvement and track upgrades, including a passing loop at Brading, enabling the synchronisation of services with the ferries – all of which supports our desire for sustainable and environmental friendly contribution to our Island connectivity.
"This is great news for the Island, great news for South Western Railway and most importantly great news for the users of Island Line. A big thanks to the government for listening and supporting the island once again."
Vivarail CEO Adrian Shooter said:
"It is a great privilege for Vivarail to be part of the wholesale upgrade of the Island Line. Vivarail will be building three-rail trains to make best use of Island Line's electrified track, this follows on from our diesel units for West Midlands Railway and battery/diesel trains for Transport for Wales – and is an example of how flexible the train is. I look forward to taking the first ride and enjoying the picturesque views of the Isle of Wight from the comfort of the new trains."
The first train is expected to arrive on test in early summer 2020, with track improvement works due to take place over the winter of that year.
Vivarail, pioneers of emission-free trains, has recently run the UK's first ever passenger-carrying diesel/battery hybrid train on the national network. Vivarail trains are converted from ex London Underground stock and are capable of running a variety of power sources. On offer are DMU, EMU, battery or battery hybrid with minimal changes to the base specification.
David Dickson, Director Network Rail Southern Region, said:
"Our plans for the Isle of Wight will see us making a multi-million pound investment to improve the island's infrastructure rail infrastructure and include refurbishing Ryde Pier. We are looking forward to working with SWR to deliver these improvements and to ensuring that together we continue to provide a train service for passengers for years to come."
Island Line is restricted in terms of the size of units that can run on it and so SWR has chosen Vivarail's Class 484 trains. These totally refurbished former London Underground trains will provide more capacity, better accessibility, passenger information systems and wi-fi. The two carriage trains will also have connecting gangways allowing guards to move freely throughout the whole train, collecting revenue and providing passenger assistance.
The proposals submitted to the DfT followed an initial stakeholder consultation back in the autumn of 2017. Feedback from that consultation was then considered by the Island Forum, made of stakeholders including: IOW Commuity Rail Partnership, IOW Steam Railway, the IOW Bus and Rail Users Group, Southern Vectis, KILF, Wightlink and Hovertravel, with detailed proposals reported back to a steering group.
Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely said: "This is great news for the Isle of Wight. With the support of local campaign groups, I am grateful to my colleagues in Government for supporting our local train service, and particularly to the Rail Minister for visiting the Island today to make this announcement with SWR.
"This represents the first significant upgrade to the route for over 50 years, and I look forward to liaising with SWR, Network Rail and the DfT to ensure that the benefits are delivered in a timely manner, with minimal disruption. Island Line serves residents, commuters, visitors and students on a daily basis – and I know how much these rail users will welcome this overdue announcement."
Enviro200's for Lloyds Coaches
Lloyds Coaches, a family business that in 18 years has grown from a fledgling company to one of the leading providers of quality bus and coach services in Wales, has added a further two Enviro200 single decks from Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) to its fleet of over 60 vehicles.
The latest additions are both high specification 10.8m, 41-seat models powered by Cummins engines and Allison 2100 transmissions. They have safety-belted leather seats with under-seat lighting, USB charging points, and sophisticated visual and audio destination systems.
Both buses have gone straight into service on the high profile T12 route that operates between Machynlleth, in Mid Wales, where the company is based, to Newtown, Welshpool, Oswestry and Wrexham.
The route forms part of TrawsCymruConnect, a flagship initiative that links key towns and cities spanning a 90-mile stretch across Mid and North Wales.
The latest Enviro200s join a series of 80-seat Enviro400 double decks which Lloyds Coaches run on their prestigious X28 Coastliner route. Together, both the Enviro200 single and Enviro400 double deck buses are a demonstration of the company's commitment to the introduction of low emission, easy access buses.
Wyn Lloyd, Managing Director and founder of the business, commented: "We have come a long way in 18 years and remain committed to providing quality, best-in-class services. Our investment strategy will therefore remain focused on products and technology that provide stylish, passenger-friendly vehicles, while also reducing emissions and enhancing the environment. Our new Enviro200s do just that."
Free Buses in Dunkirk a Success
The decision to make public transport free in the French town of Dunkirk (Nord) has been hailed a success after a rise in passenger use, and "new dynamism" in the city centre.
The town made public transport 100% free in October 2018. Now, the results of the first evaluation appear positive, and show a considerable increase in passenger numbers.
Free transport has been seen as a social, economic, and ecological step forward for the town, which was the first of its size in Europe to roll out such a scheme.
Mayor Patrice Vergriete chose to encourage residents to use greener forms of transport, rather than punish them for not doing so. The measure was also intended to help people get out of the house more easily, so that they feel less isolated.
He said: "We need to move transport forward. Rather than do it with limitations, we wanted to do it with incentives. Encouraging people to accept this ecological transition."
Figures show bus use during the week rose by 70%, and by 140% during the weekends.
The free network has now been expanded, and more roads have bus-only lanes to encourage smoother transit. The town has also brought in 14 new buses, of which three are electric.
Shopkeepers in the centre of town have also reported an increase in business due to more people coming into the city.
One Dunkirk said: "Before, I never took the bus, I always took the car. Now, I leave the car at home and I get to work more easily by bus. There is a bus every 10 minutes just down the road from my house. It is a lot more practical."
The "free" transport costs the city €15 million per year, and is partly funded by business taxes. The town has also renounced other costly projects in favour of free transport, such as a new sports and culture centre.
Dunkirk's success is said to be prompting interest in the scheme from other towns and cities, including Clermont-Ferrand, Calais, and even Paris.
Children already travel free in Paris, and around 30 other smaller towns in France have already offered a free bus scheme.
Grand Union Trains Apply to Run Scotland to Euston Trains via West Coast Main Line
Grand Union Trains have submitted a notification to the Office of Rail and Road to run the service which would run from Stirling via Larbert and on to Motherwell before joining the West Coast Main Line to London.
A daily service of around three to four trains per day in each direction between Stirling and London Euston is proposed using Class 91 electric trains, with up to nine coaches, which are currently operated by LNER on the east coast mainline and are due to be replaced by the new Azuma trains.
Open Access Operator Grand Union Trains – a company running a service on infrastructure owned by a third party which buys access on a chosen route – is also proposing to start running a Llanelli to London service via Cardiff in 2021.
Grand Union Trains chief executive Ian Yeowart this week pointed out the application process would take 18 months.
He added: "We have started discussions with stakeholders about making this become a reality.
"We are focusing on delivering a number of new direct journey opportunities including linking a number of central Scotland stations (Stirling, Larbert, Greenfaulds and Whifflet) directly with London. We are very grateful for the positive response we have received."
Open Access Operator Grand Central Trains is currently offering similar services from Sunderland and Hartlepool via York and from Bradford and Halifax via Doncaster, both linking with the East Coast Main Line to London Kings Cross.
Mr Yeowart emphasised that Grand Union Trains' proposed Stirling-London service would compete on prices and quality.
He said: "It's a long journey – five and a half hours each way to and from Stirling –and so the seating has to be comfortable.
"There will be competition for passengers between Stirling and other stations like Edinburgh and Glasgow and pressure on prices as well as providing a quality service.
"We believe we have a unique selling point with full size trains with between seven to nine coaches.
"And we expect the Stirling service to drive up usage at stations further afield which is one of the things we found occurred with the North East and West Yorkshire open access routes."
The Grand Union Trains application for the Stirling-London service to the Office of Rail and Road pointed to three to four trains daily in each direction.
It stated: 'Depending on final pathing, first up service (Stirling to London) would depart at around 5.30am, then operate roughly every three to four hours (depending on number operated) with last up service around 4.30pm.
`First down service (London to Stirling) at around 8.33am would then operate roughly every three to four hours (depending on number operated) with last down service around 4.38pm.'
Edinburgh Masterplan Could See Bus Stops Axed
Fears have been raised about the future of Edinburgh's bus services following the announcement of a £314m plan to reshape the city centre.
The revamp will see a series of roads closed to traffic, including Waverley Bridge, in order to cut the amount of traffic in the city centre by a third and make it more pedestrian and cycle friendly.
A Lothian 100 service departing from its stop on Waverley Bridge
The 10-year city centre transformation strategy proposals drawn-up by Edinburgh City Council have been welcomed for taking action to cut air pollution in the Capital and encourage active travel.
But plans for a cull of bus stops in order to speed up journey times and uncertainty over the number of buses which will be allowed to travel through the city centre has raised concern.
Councillor Jo Mowat, the city centre councillor for the Conservatives, has called for greater clarity of the impact of the proposals in general and their effect on residents travelling about the city.
She said: "There's talk about a rationalisation of bus stops which seems to be a reduction in the number of bus stops, there's no two-ways about that."
Lothian are renowned for running excellent regular cross city services such as the 22 from Ocean Terminal where Britannia is on display, to Gayle Centre, a major retail centre.
There was "no clarity" from the City Chambers on how many stops, services and routes might be caught up in any cull, she added.
She said there was an expectation of a reduction in buses on Leith Walk as part of the original tram works but called for clarification on whether any more are at risk.
"The big question, and they're quite disingenuous in the papers, is are they talking about any increase in that reduction of services serving Princes Street and, if they are, what are those?
A first Group vehicle on Princess Street
"There're plenty of pretty pictures, but I'm not one for pretty pictures, I'm more one for practical implementation."
Cllr Mowat called for greater detail on exactly how the council intends to cut city centre traffic by nearly a third with cuts to bus services and routes "hugely controversial."
She added: "I think people will be anxious about how they get to work and how they take weekly trips - like getting the children to scouts or visiting family."
Stagecoach operate numerous services into the city.This vehicle is seen 40 miles from Edinburgh, in Biggar on route 101 to Edinburgh. All of the out of town services need
to access the city centre with minimal delays.
A Stagecoach X55 service to Dunfermline leaving Edinburgh's bus station on
York Place, prior to travelling the 18 mile journey via Rosyth.
Cllr Mowat was responding to the 10-year city centre transformation strategy to prioritise pedestrians and cyclists at a cost of £314m to implement in full.
Read about the council's £314m plan to reshape the city centre. here
Focus Comment
The above news comes at a time when the First Minister has announced significant government funding to improve infrastructure for buses.
Lothian say "As an industry we have always demonstrated that bus travel creates modal shift and encourages active travel journeys whilst delivering long term health, environmental and economic benefits.
However the impacts of ever increasing congestion must now be dealt with to ensure that bus can deliver against the positive announcement from Scottish Government. This will give the opportunity of additional investment to enhance measures already being implemented by operators to encourage active travel and modal shift"
The two announcements seem to contradict each other, as on one hand, Edinburgh Council are talking road closures and fewer bus stops compared to the Scottish Government wanting to invest in improved infrastructure for buses.
Wrightbus Sale Fails and Company Enters Administra...
Date for the Diary - NYMR Steam Gala 26th Septembe...
Sir David Jason welcomes Rocket to York Railway Mu...
Grand Union Trains Apply to Run Scotland to Euston...
TfL Invests in Outer London Bus Routes
Hull Trains Reveals Name for New Fleet
Lothian 1 Million Taps on Contactless Cards Since ...
Quick Delivery of Enviro200's Gets New Transdev Se...
Class 170 Trains for Wales
Introduction of New Trains by Northern to Serve Bl...
Stagecoach Expands into North Bristol and South Gl...
Go Ahead Results for Year Ending 29th June 2019
8th September RT and RF Celebration - Epping & Ong...
Metrodecker +EV Electric Bus Trial for Jersey
Bridge View Light Railway
ScotRail Launch WhatsApp Service Today
Stagecoach Invests £3 million in Lancaster & Morec...


text:
The Panther Tech > Blog > Entertainment > Top 5 Horror Movies you need to watch
Top 5 Horror Movies you need to watch
Posted by Aliza Fatyma June 22, 2019
IT Chapter 2 Complete Review
Horror movies are a great source of entertainment and the industry also made billions of dollars through it. Today we will talk about the top5 horror movies that will keep you awake at nights.
A family seems happy but things change when they move into a new house. Their eldest kid seems to be in a coma but he isn't. He learns how to leave his body and go to a place where all the bad and good souls go. He gets lost there and all the bad demons try to come to his body causing horrific events in the house.
Being afraid and alone the mother contacts a woman named Alice who also helped her husband when he was a kid.
It is based on real-life events. A big family moves into a house and experience horrific events. Hurt and afraid they contact the famous Ed and Lorraine to come and help them. Ed and Lorraine get emotionally attached to the people risking their lives and their loved ones in order to to.help a family living in a demonic house.
The Conjuring is one of the positively critically acclaimed movies of all time. It is completely horrifying to watch as the events are based on real life. The family went through hell in that house.
The Conjuring 2 is also on the list because it is also a great and horrifying movie. This story focuses on a family who moves into the house and starts to feel a few things and events immediately. They contact ed and Lorraine.
The story is based on the murder of the Defeo family. The whole Defeo family was murdered by their Eldest son Robert Defeo. He later claimed that he was forced by a dark entity to kill his own family.
This raised the eyebrows of many people. Many called him a liar and said that he was bluffing. But during the research, they came across a weird fact all the dead bodies were lying on their stomach. All of them were calm when they died.
It was impossible for everyone to stay this calm down tho their bedrooms were close to each other. The things got more ugly when the Lutz family came to move in the house right after the incident. They left the house in less than a week. The film focuses on the family which moved in after the lutz.
Evil Dead 2013
The remake of if the famous classic movie also becomes very famous. The film is based on the story of a girl named Mia who is a drug addict. She invites her brother and his friends to go to their family remote cabin. They all go there to have fun on the weekend. 'But one of the friends raises a demon when he reads something from the book of dead aloud. The demon possesses MIA things making uglier and horrifying. The film has extreme graphics and it is really disturbing as well.
The Sinister: Thriller + Horror
A true crime writer is depressed with his life. He wants to write something hit but fails miserably. He sees the murder of a family on a snuff film and vows to get the information about how they died. To do the work closely he moves his family into the same house.
When he gets to know that the evil forces were also involved in the murder he tries everything to get his family out of there before it is too late.
What to expect from spider man far from home
Aliza Fatyma
Aliza Fatima is a writer/author at The Panther Tech.
Tags: Drama Films Horror movies Thriller
Aliza Fatyma June 22, 2019
Previous Article What to Expect From Spider-Man Far from Home?
Next Article Top 3 Mission Impossible Movies.
232.2k fans like
WhatsApp Web Major Data Breach
Legacies Season 3: Salvatore: The Musical! Release Date
Shazam 2 Release Date, Plot and Cast
CW is Developing Another Riverdale Spinoff Series
EntertainmentGames
Best PlayStation 5 Games To Play in 2021
© 2021The Panther Tech. All Rights Reserved.
Subscribe The Panther Tech Newsletter


text:
Page[remove]1,150
Knox, Thomas Wallace146
Newland, A. G. E.103
Lala, Ramon Reyes60
Worcester, Dean C. (Dean Conant)53
Hannaford, Ebenezer44
La Gironiere, Paul Proust de37
Greenwood, James34
Mitton, G. E. (Geraldine Edith)34
Besso, Salvatore27
Burmese81
Filipinos70
Filipino23
Thais21
Kia Kias17
Chin16
engravings270
portraits146
drawings141
etchings90
paintings33
lithographs2
engravings (color)1
Philippines147
Myanmar130
Myanmar--Chin58
Philippines--Luzon--Manila54
Philippines--Luzon44
Indonesia--West New Guinea21
men[remove]1,150
costume1,004
Burma266
women266
trees189
structures186
You searched for: Format: Page Image Keyword: men
« Previous | 1 - 100 of 1,150 | Next »
1. Handbook of British North Borneo Page 37
British North Borneo Chartered Company
London, W. Clowes, 1890, pg. 37
5. A personal narrative of two years' imprisonment in Burma, 1824-26 Page H
Gouger, Henry
London, J. Murray, 1860, pg. H
Read page H
6. A personal narrative of two years' imprisonment in Burma, 1824-26 Page 144A
8. A personal narrative of two years' imprisonment in Burma, 1824-26 Page 30B
London, J. Murray, 1860, pg. 30B
9. Narrative of events in Borneo and Celebes, down to the occupation of Labuan: from the journals of James Brooke, esq., Rajah of Sar_awak, and governor of Labuan. Together with a narrative of the operations of H.M.S. Iris. By Captain Rodney Mundy, R.N. With numerous plates, maps, charts, and woodcuts, vol.2 Page 294B
London, J. Murray, 1848, pg. 294B
10. In savage isles and settled lands : Malaysia, Australasia and Polynesia, 1888-1891 Page 255
Baden-Powell, Baden Fletcher Smyth
London, R. Bentley and Son, 1892, pg. 255
11. Through India and Burmah with pen and brush Page 4A
London, T. W. Laurie, 1911, pg. 4A
Read page 4A
12. The land of the white elephant: : sights and scenes in south-eastern Asia. : A personal narrative of travel and adventure in farther India, embracing the countries of Burma, Siam, Cambodia, and Cochin-China, 1871-2 Page 309
Vincent, Frank
London, S.Low, Marston, Low and Searle, 1873, pg. 309
13. Letters from Sarawak : addressed to a child, embracing an account of the manners, customs, and religion of the inhabitants of Borneo, the progress of the church mission, and incidents of missionary life among the natives Page 112A
McDougall, Mrs.
London, Grant and Griffith, 1854, pg. 112A
14. Ten years in Sarawak, vol.1 Page 220A
Brooke, Charles Anthoni Johnson, Rajah of Sarawak
London, Tinsley Bros, 1866, pg. 220A
15. Letters from Sarawak : addressed to a child, embracing an account of the manners, customs, and religion of the inhabitants of Borneo, the progress of the church mission, and incidents of missionary life among the natives Page 71
London, Grant and Griffith, 1854, pg. 71
16. Prospective missions in the Indian Archipelago Page I-A
Tuttle, Sarah
Boston, Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, 1833, pg. I-A
Read page I-A
17. Narrative of the Burmese war, detailing the operations of Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell's army, from its landing at Rangoon in May, 1824, to the conclusion of a treaty of peace at Yandaboo, February 1826 Page 164B
Snodgrass, Major (John James)
18. A short account of the Prince of Wales's Island, or Pulo Peenang, in the East Indies : given to Capt. Light by the King of Quedah Page II-B
Trapaud, Elisha
London, J. Stockdale, 1788, pg. II-B
19. From jungle to Java : the trivial impresssions of a short excursion to Netherlands India Page 130A
Keyser, Arthur Louis
Westminster [London], Roxburghe Press, Ltd, 1897, pg. 130A
20. Narrative of the Burmese war, detailing the operations of Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell's army, from its landing at Rangoon in May, 1824, to the conclusion of a treaty of peace at Yandaboo, February 1826 Page II
London, J. Murray, 1827, pg. II
Read page II
21. Our tropical possessions in Malayan India : being a descriptive account of Singapore, Penang, Province Wellesley, and Malacca : their peoples, products, commerce, and government Page 320B
Cameron, John
London, Smith, Elder, 1865, pg. 320B
22. The narrative of Captain David Woodard and four seamen : who lost their ship while in a boat at sea, and surrendered themselves up to the Malays in the island of Celebes; containing an interesting account of their sufferings from hungar and various hardships, and their escape from the Malays, after a captivity of two years and a half: also an account of the manners and customs of the country, and a description of the harbours and coast, and c. ... [Title continues in note] Page D
Woodard, D. N. (David N.)
London, Printed for J. Johnson, 1805, pg. D
23. Cambodge et Siam : voyage et sejour aux ruines des monuments kmers Page 30
Filoz, Auguste Achille Hippolyte
Paris, Gedalge, 1896, pg. 30
24. Cambodge et Siam : voyage et sejour aux ruines des monuments kmers Page 120
Paris, Gedalge, 1896, pg. 120
27. The expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the suppression of piracy : with extracts from the journal of James Brooke, esq., of Sarawak, vol.1 Page III
Keppel, Henry, Sir
New York, Harper and Brothers, 1846, pg. III
28. The expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the suppression of piracy : with extracts from the journal of James Brooke, esq., of Sarawak, vol.1 Page 90A
New York, Harper and Brothers, 1846, pg. 90A
29. Memoir of the life and public services of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles : particularly in the government of Java, 1811-1816, Bencoolen and its dependencies, 1817-1824 : with details of the commerce and resources of the eastern Archipelago, and selections from his correspondence, vol.1 Page 256A
Raffles, Sophia, Lady
London, J. Duncan, 1835, pg. 256A
30. The expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the suppression of piracy : with extracts from the journal of James Brooke, esq., of Sarawak, vol.2 Page 122A
New York, Harper and Brothers, 1846, pg. 122A
31. My child-life in Burmah : or, Recollections and incidents Page 61
33. The expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the suppression of piracy : with extracts from the journal of James Brooke, esq., of Sarawak, vol.2 Page 12B
New York, Harper and Brothers, 1846, pg. 12B
34. Ten years in Sarawak, vol.2 Page II-B
London, Tinsley Bros, 1866, pg. II-B
35. Sport in British Burmah, Assam and the Cassyah and Jyntiah Hills : with notes of sport in the hilly districts of the northern division, Madras presidency, indicating the best localities in those countries for sport, with natural history notes, illustrations of the people, scenery, and game, together with maps to guide the traveller or sportsman, and hints on weapons, fishing-tackle, etc., best suited for killing game met with in those provinces, vol.1 Page 70A
Pollok, Fitz William Thomas
London, Chapman and Hall, 1879, pg. 70A
36. Sport in British Burmah, Assam and the Cassyah and Jyntiah Hills : with notes of sport in the hilly districts of the northern division, Madras presidency, indicating the best localities in those countries for sport, with natural history notes, illustrations of the people, scenery, and game, together with maps to guide the traveller or sportsman, and hints on weapons, fishing-tackle, etc., best suited for killing game met with in those provinces, vol.1 Page III-A
London, Chapman and Hall, 1879, pg. III-A
Read page III-A
37. Sport in British Burmah, Assam and the Cassyah and Jyntiah Hills : with notes of sport in the hilly districts of the northern division, Madras presidency, indicating the best localities in those countries for sport, with natural history notes, illustrations of the people, scenery, and game, together with maps to guide the traveller or sportsman, and hints on weapons, fishing-tackle, etc., best suited for killing game met with in those provinces, vol.1 Page 122A
London, Chapman and Hall, 1879, pg. 122A
39. Letters of Gilbert Little Stark, July 23, 1907-March 12, 1908 Page II-B
Stark, Gilbert Little
Cambridge, Priv. print. at the Riverside press, 1908, pg. II-B
40. Letters of Gilbert Little Stark, July 23, 1907-March 12, 1908 Page 203
Cambridge, Priv. print. at the Riverside press, 1908, pg. 203
41. Letters of Gilbert Little Stark, July 23, 1907-March 12, 1908 Page 30
Cambridge, Priv. print. at the Riverside press, 1908, pg. 30
42. The Philippine Islands Page 95
44. The Philippine Islands Page 101
61. Federated Malay States Railways, 1921; pamphlet of information for travellers Page 110
Federated Malay States Railway
[London?], no recorded publisher, 1921, pg. 110
65. The Philippine Islands Page 6
New York, Continental publishing company, 1899, pg. 6
77. Journal de marche (1888-1889) Evenements du Siam (1891-1893) Page 77
Pavie, Auguste, 1847-1925
Paris, E. Leroux, 1919, pg. 77
79. Journal de marche (1888-1889) Evenements du Siam (1891-1893) Page 253
Paris, E. Leroux, 1919, pg. 253
100. Journal de marche (1888-1889) Evenements du Siam (1891-1893) Page 23


text:
Whisky is for drinking; water is for fighting over
The problem of severe water stress in the United States – and elsewhere – is serious and getting worse. Water stress is what happens when the demand for water exceeds the amount available, or when poor quality restricts its use. It most commonly occurs in areas where available water supplies have been over-exploited, often due to agriculture or urban development.
Depending on diet and lifestyle, a person needs between 2,000 and 5,000 litres of water a day to produce their food and meet their drinking and sanitation requirements
Most people are unaware that the amount of fresh water globally is extremely limited. Ninety-eight percent of the world's water is in the oceans – which makes it unfit for drinking or irrigation because of salt. Just 2% of the world's water is fresh, but the vast majority of our fresh water, 1.6%, is in a frozen state, locked up in the polar ice caps and glaciers. Our available fresh water (.396% of total supply) is found underground in aquifers and wells (0.36%) and the rest of our readily available fresh water, 0.036%, is in lakes and rivers.
A worldwide problem
The World Water Development Report warns over 5 billion people could see water shortages by 2050, leading to conflicts over water unless actions are taken to reduce stress on rivers, lakes, wetlands and reservoirs, states The Guardian.
"Whisky is for drinking; water is for fighting over."
But we don't have to wait until 2050 to see this is already happening. In 2008 Barcelona, Spain had to ship water in on tankers. People in Melbourne lived under the constant threat of water cuts during a prolonged drought from 1998 to 2010. In 2015 Sao Paulo, Brazil suffered its worst water crisis in a century, with the amount of rainfall cut in half. In October 2014 its main reservoir, Cantareira, was under 7% full – barely enough to last a month.
How Cape Town Defeated Day Zero—for Now
Global Health NOW
This year it was Cape Town, South Africa's turn. A combination of population growth, over-development and climate change conspired to bring about the worst drought on record, in the country's most popular tourist city. Officials warned that unless drastic conservation measures were taken, by summer the city's 4 million residents would be forced to cue up for drinking water surrounded by armed guards. "Day Zero", when taps would be turned off due to perilously low reservoir levels, was originally predicted for July 2018 but has now been pushed back to 2019.
Cape Town is not alone. In February 2018, The BBC compiled a list of 11 cities with recurring water supply problems. They are: Sao Paulo, Bangalore, Beijing, Cairo, Jakarta, Moscow, Istanbul, Mexico City, London, Miami and Tokyo.
An estimated 2/3 of the world's population lives in drought conditions for at least one month every year.
The problem of water stress is closely connected to climate change. A report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes developing countries like India are likely to be worst hit by climate change due to the frequency of droughts, which will lead to water shortages and problems with food production.
For more read our The day they turned off the taps (Part 4 of a five-part series on climate change)
The Stockholm International Water Institute has kindly provided some statistics we should all be aware of:
The 10 largest water users (in volume) are India, China, the United States, Pakistan, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Mexico and the Russian Federation.
With rapid population growth, water withdrawals have tripled over the last 50 years. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the world population is predicted to grow from 6.9 billion in 2010 to 8.3 billion in 2030 and to 9.1 billion in 2050. At the same time, urban populations are projected to increase by 2.9 billion, to 6.3 billion by 2050. An estimated 90% of the people expected to be added to the population, by 2050, will be in developing countries, many in regions already in water stress where the current population does not have sustainable access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
Water withdrawals are predicted to increase by 50% by 2025 in developing countries, and by 18% in developed countries.
Water for irrigation and food production constitutes one of the greatest pressures on fresh water resources. Agriculture accounts for around 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, even up to 90% in some fast-growing economies.
Feeding everyone in 2050 could require 50% more water than is needed now.
The dietary shift from predominantly starch-based food to meat and dairy, which require more water, is the greatest to impact on water consumption over the past 30 years. Producing one kg of rice requires approximately 3,500 liters of water while one kg of beef requires 15,000 liters. Producing that one kg of meat requires as much water as an average domestic household uses over 10 months (50l/person/day).
Estimates indicate that there will not be enough water available on current croplands to produce food for the expected population in 2050 if we follow current trends and changes towards diets common in Western nations (3,000 kcal produced per capita, including 20% of calories produced coming from animal proteins).
The US is running out of water
Zeroing in on North America, the United States is running out of fresh water resources. According to the EPA, four out of five state water managers expect water shortages in some part of their states over the next decade. (2014 report)
A major concern is over water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer under the US Great Plains. The Ogallala is the world's largest known aquifer having an approximate area of 450,600 square kilometers and stretches from southern South Dakota through parts of Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and northern Texas.
The Ogallala Aquifer was formed roughly 10 million years ago when water flowed onto the plains from retreating glaciers and streams of the Rocky Mountains.
The main culprit is agriculture – farmers have been drawing water from the aquifer faster than it can be replaced, and now it's not being recharged at all.
From the late 19th century until 2005 the US Geological Survey estimates irrigation pulled 253 million acre-feet from the aquifer – about 9% of its total volume. From 2011 to 2017 it reportedly shrank twice as fast as it had over the previous 60 years. In three leading grain-producing states – Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas – the underground water table has dropped by more than 30 meters.
Over-use is exacerbated by extended droughts caused by global warming. Precipitation is shifting from the mid-latitudes to the low and high latitudes – wet areas are becoming wetter and dry areas drier. Less rainfall in the mid-latitudes means less new water to refill the aquifers that are being depleted the fastest.
This past summer, large swaths of the southern plains experienced drought ranging from "severe" to "exceptional" as seen by this map from Drought Monitor.
A recent study states that droughts are creating a feedback loop whereby the lack of soil moisture raises temperatures, and as the air heats up, it further desiccates the soil. If the aquifer is depleted, it could take 6,000 years to recharge, according to Scientific American.The worst-hit state is Kansas. Farming there is likely to reach a peak around 2040 due to water depletion, and decline after that.
California's Central Valley is another part of the United States under serious water stress. As home to two-thirds of the nation's fruits and nuts, California is heavily dependent on agriculture, deriving more revenue from farming than any other state. However, farming has also put severe pressure on the water supply, especially since the state is in a prolonged drought. Eighty percent of California's water is used for agriculture. That was fine before 2000, but times have changed:
"Once upon a time, much of the state of California was a barren desert. And now, thanks to the worst drought in modern American history, much of the state is turning back into one. Scientists tell us that the 20th century was the wettest century that the state of California had seen in 1000 years. But now weather patterns are reverting back to historical norms, and California is rapidly running out of water."
– Michael Synder, The Economic Collapse
Over-use of underground water supplies in California's Central Valley has resulted in the loss of almost 50% of the storage capacity in all of California's reservoirs.
A Stanford University report says that nearly 60% of the state's water needs are now met by groundwater. That's up from 40% in years when normal amounts of rain and snowfall.
In many areas, wells that used to draw water from 500 feet, are now being drilled to 1,000 feet and more, costing upwards of $300,000 for one well.
The San Joaquin Valley is reportedly sinking – driven by the over-exploitation of groundwater. In some areas the water table has dropped nearly 10 meters.
In the Midwest, the huge sandstone aquifer underlying the Illinois-Wisconsin border, which supplies Chicago and Milwaukee with water, is currently overtaxed and may be depleted in the near future. The 2015 Illinois State Water Survey reported the state's sandstone aquifers are not being used sustainably, that high-capacity wells could be unusable in 15 years, and that many more wells could be dry by 2050. Just over three-quarters of the population of northeastern Illinois – including northern Chicago – rely on groundwater.
Streams, rivers and lakes are almost always closely connected with an aquifer. The depletion of aquifers doesn't allow these surface waters to be recharged; lower water levels in aquifers are reflected in reduced amounts of water flowing at the surface.
The US uses so much water from their river systems that in some, nothing reaches the river's destination. No water reaches the mouth of the Colorado River – low levels could force water shortages in Arizona, Nevada and Mexico by 2020.
The largest US man-made reservoir, Lake Mead, is only about 38% full. The Colorado River Basin which feeds Lake Mead and Lake Powell (48% full) has been drying out over the past two decades. Demands from farms and cities, compounded by growing populations, drought and climate change, are straining the Colorado River and its reservoirs, notes The Denver Post.
"I want people to know that what's going on at Lake Mead is very, very closely tied to what's going on Lake Powell," Doug Kenney said, the group's chair and a professor at the University of Colorado. "We're draining Lake Powell to prop it up."
The Ococee River in the southeastern United States has a large stretch of the river dry on certain days, Nebraska's Platte River is drying up and so is the not-so-mighty-anymore Mississippi.
Clean Technica reports the next three large US cities likely to face a Cape Town-like water crisis are Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Miami.
Canadian water diversion
Canada has been blessed with numerous lakes and rivers – we have 7% of the world's renewable supply of fresh water.
This has our friends to the south eyeing our water supply with envy. The idea of water leaving Canada for the United States has been a conception since at least 1909, when the Boundary Waters Treaty was signed. The treaty aims to resolve disputes that may arise over waters that straddle the US-Canadian border. It establishes the free use of boundary waters for commerce and navigation, and grants federal, provincial or state governments jurisdiction over the use, obstruction and diversion of those waters.
But the Boundary Waters Treaty doesn't say anything about water exports, which is an emerging theme since the United States began to fall into drought early on this century. President George W. Bush first mused about it in 2001, when he suggested talking to Ottawa about a framework for international trade to alleviate fresh water shortages. The idea was quickly dismissed by the then-environment minister, David Anderson.
At the heart of Canada's worry is that once water is opened up for trade within NAFTA (renamed the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, USMCA), it cannot be taken out of the agreement. In other words, Canada couldn't turn off the taps if it didn't like how much water the US was buying, or diverting, from Canada.
Public opinion is on the side of leaving Canadian water alone. A poll taken a few years ago found 61% of Canadians thought fresh water was our most important resource ie. not for sale. All provincial governments except New Brunswick have passed laws banning bulk water transfers.
However despite opposition to the idea, there have been numerous proposals about transferring large amounts of fresh water from Canada to the United States. These have largely remained under the radar – unreported by the mainstream press. Following are breakdowns on three of the most ambitious plans conceived to date:
The Great Recycling and Northern Development (GRAND) Canal of North America (GCNA) was designed by Newfoundland engineer Thomas Kierans to alleviate North America's fresh water shortage problems. As Kierans originally conceived it, the GRAND Canal plans called for the damming and rerouting of northern river systems in Quebec in order to bring fresh water down into the Great Lakes where the water could then be pumped into the American Midwest and the US Sun Belt.
Fresh water run-off from precipitation would be collected in James Bay by means of a series of outflow-only, sea level dikes, constructed across the northern end of James Bay. These dikes would capture the fresh water before it mixes with the salty water of Hudson Bay and create a new source of fresh water equivalent to 2.5 times the flow over Niagara Falls.
The North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWPA) was designed to bring water from Alaska and northern British Columbia to the US.
"NAWAPA was a grand plan. It proposed to tap some of the continent's largest rivers — including the Yukon in Alaska, and the Peace and Fraser in British Columbia — and store most of it in an enormous valley that runs the length of British Columbia, turning the much of the valley into a reservoir 500 miles long. (Lake Mead on the Colorado River, the largest reservoir in the United States, is 112 miles long when full.) A canal would carry fresh water from British Columbia 2,000 miles east to the Great Lakes, diluting their polluted waters and, not incidentally, opening a commercial waterway from Vancouver to Lake Superior. Other canals, tunnels, and pumps would send water from the reservoir in British Columbia to some of the driest regions of the United States and Mexico: the inland Pacific Northwest, the Great Basin, Southern California and the desert Southwest, and the northern Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua."
The Central North American Water Project (CeNAWAP) consists of a series of canals and pumping stations linking Great Bear Lake and Great Slave Lake in the NWT to Lake Athabaska and Lake Winnipeg and then the Great Lakes.
A variation on the CeNAWAP is the Kuiper Diversion Scheme which links the major western rivers, – the Mackenzie, the Peace, the Athabasca, North Saskatchewan, Nelson and Churchill rivers – into a mega water diversion scheme.
What is needed now is an army of patriots to unite around a plan that is: a) sound and capable of mobilizing the quickly evaporating skills and capabilities of our once great economy, b) reminiscent of our great acts of national pride and cultural progress, and c) will serve to restore the public credit of the United States as a source for productive investment.
With a master plan of this kind to change the direction of the nation, a patriotic movement can be formed, even at this late date, which can create the rallying point for the election of a qualified President. The plan enclosed, called NAWAPA XXI, meets these criteria. NAWAPA XXI is based on the original 1964 North American Water and Power Alliance proposal for continental water management1 , but has been updated and expanded to specifically address today's economic needs, including the necessary re-establishment of the U.S. public credit system.
The issue of Canada diverting part of its fresh-water resources to the US has never been on, or has long since faded off most Canadians' radar screens.
Climate change (science says the Earth is going to continue to warm) is going to put Canadian water back on every North American's radar screen. Is water on yours?
If not, maybe it should be.
Ahead of the Herd is on Twitter
Ahead of the Herd is now on FaceBook
Ahead of the Herd is now on YouTube
This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment.
Richard Mills has based this document on information obtained from sources he believes to be reliable but which has not been independently verified.
Richard Mills makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of Richard Mills only and are subject to change without notice. Richard Mills assumes no warranty, liability or guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any information provided within this Report and will not be held liable for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any omission.
Furthermore, I, Richard Mills, assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss or damage or, in particular, for lost profit, which you may incur as a result of the use and existence of the information provided within this Report.
Why commodities? Why now?
Lomiko puts out strong PEA as demand for battery-grade graphite expected to challenge supply
How climate change is reducing food production and pushing tens of millions to the brink of famine
Forward-looking metals and the companies we're invested in