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Namer (Hebrejski: נמ"ר, izgovara se [nameʁ], znači "leopard" i skraćenica je do "Nagmash" (oklopni transporter) i "Merkava") izraelsko je teško borbeno oklopno vozilo pješaštva projektirano na temelju izraelskog tenka Merkava IV. Namer se nalazi u službi Oružanih snaga Izraela (IDF) od 2008. godine.

Povijest

Zbog svog položaja i okruženosti arapskim državama, izraelska vojska je imala česte ratne sukobe sa svojim susjedima oko teritorija. U tim sukobima se pokazalo da protuoklopna oružja, bila ona vođena ili nevođena, mogu probiti oklope tadašnjih tenkova. Zbog toga im nije bio problem uništiti vozila s tanjim i slabijim oklopom, kao npr. oklopne transportere i borbena vozila pješaštva. Iskustva su pokazala da su takva vozila najčešće mete protuoklopnog oružja, jer ako se takvo vozilo uništi dolazi do pogibije ili teško ranavanje svih članova posade i članova pješačkog desanta. Prvi odgovor izraelske vojske je bio teški oklopni transporter Achzarit, koji je nastao na temelju tenka T-55. Na osnovnu masu od 27 tona dodano je 17 tona dodatnog pasivnog oklopa, te je dobiven prvi operativni teški transporter mase 44 tone. Potom je na temelju tenka Centurion razvijena obitelj teških transportera, počevši s Hagmahonom, pa Nakpadonom, te na kraju Pumom. Masa Nakpadona jest 55, a pume 50 tona.

Američka i britanska iskustva iz Iraka pokazala su da njihova borbena vozila pješaštva Bradley i Warrior, mase 30 i 24,5 tona, nedovoljno štite od napada pobunjenika, počesto naoružanih protuoklopnim oružjima napravljenim prije više desetljeća. Iako to još nije dokazano u borbi, s istim se problemom suočava i švedski CV 90 mase 22,8 tona. Zbog toga je njemačka vojska odlučila svoje BVP-e Marder (mase 33,5 tona) zamijeniti znatno bolje oklopljenim Pumama. Specifičnost Pume novi je modularni oklop, koji se može prilagođavati razini ugroze. Zbog toga je maksimalna masa Pume čak 43 tone. Za usporedbu, masa hrvatskog tenka M-84 jest 42 tone.

No, svi su ti teški transporteri razvijeni na osnovama tenkova kod kojih je motor bio smješten u stražnji dio tijela, što i nije bilo najbolje rješenje. S druge strane, izraelska vojska od 1977. u operativnoj uporabi ima tenk Merkavu, kod koje je motor smješten u prednji dio vozila. Zbog toga je Merkava idealna osnova za razvoj teškog transportera.

Povijest

Prve ideje o razvoju teškog transportera čija bi razina oklopne zaštite bila na razini suvremenih tenkova javile su se neposredno nakon okončanja Šestdnevnog rata 1967. godine. Analize uporabe oklopnih snaga i gubitaka pokazale su da tadašnja taktika združene uporabe tenkova i oklopnih transportera obje vrste vozila dovodi pod paljbu istog oružja. Zbog toga je neophodno da se razina oklopne zaštite transportera barem približi razini tenkova. Zapravo su neke analize pokazale da bi razina oklopne zaštite oklopnih transportera morala biti i viša nego tenkova. Razlog za to je bio u različitom načinu djelovanja ovih borbenih vozila. Naime, topovi velikog kalibra omogućuju tenkovima djelovanje na ciljeve s većih udaljenostima, od nekoliko stotina metara pa sve do više od kilometra. S druge strane zadaća oklopnih transportera je da preveze pješaćki desant što bliže cilju koji bi pješaštvo bilo što kraće pod neprijateljskom paljbom. Naravno, povećanje vjerojatnosti preživljavanja moglo se postići kombinaciom snažne paljbene potpore tenkova, topništva i zrakoplovstva, ali i ona se mora ograničit sa smanjenje distance transportera od cilja zbog opasnosti od pogađanja vlastitih vozila.

Povrh toga kalibri topničkog naoružanja BVP-a nekoliko su puta manji od tenkovskih, a to znači da im je i učinkovita udaljenost djelovanja nekoliko puta manja. Povećanje oklopne razine BVP-a značilo bi i posredno povećanje učinkovitosti njihovog naoružanja.

S druge strane puko "nabacivanje" oklopa na već postojeće oklopne transportere i BVP-je ima jednu jako negativnu posljedicu - smanjenje pokretljivosti. Naime, podvozje i snaga motora suvremenih oklopnih transportera i BVP-a projektirani su za točno određenu masu. Zato svaka tona dodatnog oklopa ujedno smanjuje pokretljivost, dodatno opterećuje podvozje, motor i transmisiju, te znatno povećava potrošnju goriva. Zbog smanjenja brzine i ubrzanja tako (pre)opterećeni BVP-i više ne mogu učinkovito pratiti tenkove po bojištu. A taktička pokretljivost BVP-a je ipak važnija od njihove paljbene moći, jer njihova namjena i nije borba protiv tenkova, već protiv pješaštva i laki oklopnih vozila. Ovisno o ugrađenom naoružanju i sustavu za usmjeravanje paljbe (SUP) mogu se rabiti iza djelovanje protiv helikoptera. Nešto je bolja situacija ako će BVP-i djelovati samostalno po dobro uređenim cestama, kao što Bradleyi djeluju u Iraku, jer su tada negativni učinci poveća manje manje izraženi. Sve u svemu puko dodavanje novog oklopa nije prihvatljivo rješenje, barem ne dugoročno.

Prvi konkretni planovi za izradu teškog transportera na osnovama tenka Merkava izrađeni su u Izraelu još 1989. godine, a temeljili su se na iskustvima stečenim tijekom operacije Mir za Galileju u Libanonu 1982., tj. na osnovama iskustava u borbenim uprabama prije spomenutih teških transportera dobiveni preradom zarobljenih ili zastarjelih tenkova. Međutim, u to vrijeme prioritet je bio razvoj tenka Merkava III, te rješavanje problema koji su se javili zbog smještaja motora u prednji dio vozila. Naime, smještaj motora u prednji dio tenka ostavlja stražnji dio praznim. Zbog toga je težište vozila pomaknuto prema naprijed, što tijekom vožnje po "valovitom" terenu dovodi do tendencije ljuljana vozila. Taj je problem kod Merkava donekle rješen smještajem dodatnog streljiva u posebne odjeljeke u stražnjem dijelu vozila.

Nova odgoda razvoja teškog transportera na osnovi Merkave nije imala vojni već politički, tj. financijski uzrok. Kronični nedostatak u državnom proračunu uzrokovao je odgađanje razvoja nekih projekata. U slučaju teškog transportera to je značilo znatno usporenja razvoja. Tako je prvi prototip dovršen tek 2004. godine, a kao osnova iskorištena je Merkava Mk 1. Doduše, pitanje je na koji je način uopće financiran razvoj tog vozila jer ga je razvio Merkava Project Administration (Mantak), inače zadužen za razvoj Merkava. Čak i ime vozila Namer dolazi od NAgmash MERkava, što znači oklopni transporter Merkava. Istovremeno Namer na hebrejskom znači leopard. Specifični izraelski uvjeti omogućili su da se prototip testira u pješačkoj brigadi koja je djelovala u Gazi. Tako je prototip testiran u pravim borbenim uvjetima, a rezultati su bili tako dobri da je izraelska kopnena vojska odmah zatražila nastavak razvoja. Međutim, do pravog napretka došlo je tek u listopadu 2006., odmah nakon, po izraelsku vojsku stresnog sukoba u južnom Libanonu. Libanonska su iskustva, u kojima su se konačno dovela do odluke o početku serijske proizvodnje Namera. Naime, u direktnom srazu s tamošnjom terorističkom skupinom Hezbolah izraelska oklopna vozila nisu prošla najbolje. Zahvaljujući iranskoj i sirijskoj tehničkoj pomoći, Hezbolah je u svom arsenalu imao moderno oružje ruskog i kineskog podrijetla, ponajviše protuoklopne vođene projektile i lake protuoklopne bacače. Rabeći sve mogućnosti terena i unaprijed pripremljene položaje, pripadnici Hezbolaha su čekali da im se izraelski oklopnjaci približe na minimalne domete oružja. Odlično izvježbani od iranskih i sirijskih instruktora, s tih su udaljenosti mogli ne samo pogađati nego i birati njihove najslabije točke. U takvim uvjetima ni tenkovi Merkava 3 nisu prošli najbolje, a kamoli oklopni transporteri. Zbog toga je izraelska vojska zaključila da joj hitno treba novi teški transporter znatno povećane razine zaštite.

Razvoj

Kad je odluka politički potvrđena razvoj novog teškog transportera išao je začuđujuće brzo, posebno u usporedbi s brzinom razvoja sličnih vozila na Zapadu. Tako je prvo predserijsko vozilo bilo gotovo već u ožujku 2008. Iste godine dovršena su još dva, da bi početkom ove godine "svijetlo dana ugledao" i prvi serijski Namer. Koliku važnost Namer ima za izraelsku kopnenu vojsku najbolje govori podatak da u narednih pet godina namjeravaju nabaviti nekoliko stotina primjeraka, te njima opremiti tri pješačke brigade. Uz to Namer će postati osnova za cijelu novu obitelj oklopnih vozila.

Iako se zasniva na komponentima razvijenim za tenk Merkavu, te su koncepcijski jako slični, Namer ima drukčije tijelo, bolje prilagođeno njegovoj namjeni. U razvoju Namera projektanti su uporabili neka potpuno nova rješenja, uključujući uporabu zakošenog oklopa. Njegovi se moduli pričvršćuju na osnovno oklopno tijelo posebnom tehnikom koja eliminirana potrebu spajanja ploča varenjem, jer su se upravo varovi pokazali kao potencijalno slabi dijelovi oklopa. Osim toga dobio je i posebno oblikovanu podnicu koja znatno povećava otpornost na eksplozije mina. A upravo su djelovanja u južnom Libanonu i Gazi pokazala da su eksplozivna sredstva ukopna u zemlju podjednako opasna kao i protuoklopni vođeni projektili. Tako su 2006. na jugu Libanona dvije Merkave uništene kad su naišle na vrlo velike mine ukopane u cestu. Pritom je poginulo pet članova posade. Zbog toga je podnica zakrivljena u plitki V oblik.

Dodatna zaštita

Na osnovno tijelo načinjeno zavarivanjem čeličnih ploča postavljeni su moduli teškog kompozitnog oklopa koji su razvile tvrtke Israel Military Industries (IMI) i Rafael, koje su odgovorne i proizvodnju oklopna za tenkove počevši od Merkave 2 pa sve do Merkave 4. Razina oklopne zaštite je podjednaka i s prednje i bočnih strana vozila. To je posljedica zadnjih borbenih iskustava izraelske vojske koja je otkrila da su je veći postotak pogodata u oklopna vozila došao u njihove bokove nego u prednji dio, za razliku od prijašnjih iskustva iz koja su pokazivala da čak 60% pogodaka dolazi u prednji dio vozila. Do promjene je došlo zbog promjene neprijateljske taktike protuoklopne borbe. U ranijim ratovima izraelski tenkovi uglavnom sukobljavali s tenkovima, pa je većina pogodaka, uslije obostrane paljbe, dolazila u prednji dio vozila. Tijekom borbi u južnom Libanonu 2006. neprijatelj je uglavnom rabio protuoklopne vođene projektile, kojima je znatno lakše pogoditi bočni dio tenka jer tako predstavlja veći cilj. Osim toga neprijatelj je rabio taktiku uporabe zasjeda te su operateri čekali najpovoljniji trenutak za lansiranje projektila, a to je bio onaj kad tenkovski top nije bio okrenut u njihovom smjeru.

Još jedna specifičnost Namera je uporaba posebih panela oklopa koji su na tijelo pričvršćeni preko posebnih opruga (slično rješenje rabe i Merkave 4). Na taj se način smanjuje rizik da će se moduli pomaknuti tijekom prelaska preko prepreka ili jako neravnog terena. U skladu s razvojem novih protuoklopnih oružja koji ciljeve napadaju iz gornje polusfere Namer je dobio debeli oklop i s gornje strane. Kako se ne bi umanjila njegova učinkovitost ni vozač ni odjeljak za pješački desant nemaju krovne otvore. Naime, obični bi otvori, naročito iznad odjeljka za prijevoz desanta, bitno smanjili protuoklopnu zaštitu. S druge strane i na njih se je mogao staviti oklop, ali bi onda njihova težina zahtijevala ugradnju posebnih sustava za otvaranje. Njihovom bi se ugradnjom povećala cijena vozila i masa, te bi se smanjio korisni prostor unutar vozila. Slično je rješenje već prije uporabljeno na Merkavi 4 gdje je iz istog razloga uklonjen krovni otvor punitelja.

Svi ovi postupci učinili su od Namera borbeno vozilo s odličnom razinom oklopne zaštite. Kolika je možda najbolje govori podatak da je borbena masa Namera 62 tone, a borbena masa tenka Merkava 4 65 tona. A Merkava ima kupolu s topom od 120 mm i borbeni komplet od 46 granata. Stručnjaci smatraju da je Merkava 4 trenutno tenk s najvišoj razinom oklopne zaštite na svijetu. Neznatna razlika u masi Namera i Merkave 4 znači da imaju potpuno jednaku taktičnu pokretljivost i razinu oklopne zaštite, a što znači da su idealno usklađeni za zajedničko borbeno djelovanje.

Međutim, pasivni i eksplozivno-reaktivni oklopi od kojih još uvijek ovisi vjerojatnost preživljavanja suvremenih tenkova na bojištu ozbiljno se približila svojim krajnjim granicama. Iako još uvijek postoji mogućnost da se razviju neki novi materijali ili njihove kombinacije, svako poboljšanje oklopne zaštite dosad je uvijek neminovno dovodilo do povećanja mase. Već smo spomenuli da je masa Merkave 62 tone. Masa američkog Abramsa M1A2 je 63, a njemačkog Leoparda 2 A6EX je 62,4 tone. Osim što bitno ograničava njihovu taktičku pokretljivost tako velike težine suvremenih tenkova su problem svih onih koji su zaduženi za njihov strateški prijevoz.

Zbog toga se sve više nade polaže u razvoj aktivnih sustava za proturaketnu zaštitu. Izraelske tvrtke su i na tom području u samom vrhu svjetskog razvoja. Zbog toga izraelska vojska razmatra mogućnost da se Namer opremi Rafaelovim aktivnim sustavom Trophy ili Aspro-A. Sto aktivnih sustava već je ugrađeno na Merkave 4. Druga je opcija da se Nameri opreme sustavom Iron Fist tvrtke IMI. Oba bi sustava omogućila Namerima povećanu otpornost na djelovanja protuoklopnih vođenih projektila i ručnih raketnih bacača, iako bi temelj zaštite i dalje bio teški oklop.

Naoružanje i oprema

Za razliku od snažnog oklopa sveukupna konfiguracija Namera jednaka je uobičajenom oklopnom transporteru i BVP-u. A to prije svega znači da mu je motor (kao i kod Merkava) smješten u prednji dio tijela, desno od vozača. Srednji dio namijenjen je postavljanju naoružanja, dok je stražnji slobodan za prijevoz pješačkog desanta. Zbog specifičnosti kako izraelska vojska rabi oklopna vozila kod Namera je zapovjednik smješten odmah iza vozača, te ima svoju kupolicu. Desno od zapovjednika nalazi se mjesto ciljatelja koji upravlja paljbenom stanicom Katlanit tvrtke Rafael. Daljinski upravljanja paljbena stanica može se naoružati strojnicom kalibra 7,62 mm, teškom strojnicom od 12,7 mm ili automatskim bacačem granata kalibra 40 mm. Ovakvim skromnim naoružanjem Nameri je bliži koncepciji oklopnog transportera nego suvremenog BVP-a. Zbog toga izraelska vojska razmatra i mogućnost da se Namer opremi snažnijim naoružanjem, kao što je daljinski upravljanom paljbenom stanicom Samson (također tvrtke Rafael) naoružanom topom kalibra 30 mm. Mogućnosti postavljanja protuoklopnih vođenih projektila se ne spominje, iako se Samson za izvoz nudi i s tom opcijom. Zapovjednik na raspolaganju ima strojnicu kalibra 7,62 mm pričvršćenu na krov vozila. Sastavni dio naoružanja Namera je i minobacač kalibra 60 mm. Na svakom boku vozila nalazi se set sa šest bacača dimnih bombi.

Iako zapovjednik i ciljatelj imaju krovne otvore za ulazak i izlazak iz vozila u pravilu se rabi velika rampa na stražnjem dijelu vozila. Kako je rampa preteška za ručnu manipulaciju ima poseban pogon. Kako postoji mogućnost da pogon rampe zbog oštećenja ili kvara otkaže u rampu su inkomporirana vrata za izlazak u nuždi. U vratima se nalazi puškarnica koja osigurava mogućnost otvaranja paljbe na neprijatelje koji pokušavaju prići vozilu sa stražnje strane.

Odličnu preglednost iz vozila za zapovjednika i ciljatelja osiguravaju dva kruga periskopa, po jedan iznad svakog otvora. Iako vozač ima samo tri periskopa to ne znači da ima slabu preglednost. Naime, vozač u svakom trenutku na ekranima vidi sliku s po dvije dnevne i dvije noćne kamere smješene na svakom boku vozila. Svaki par pokriva 180 stupnjeva. Uz to po jedan dnevna i noćna kamera postavljene su pokraj rampe na stražnjem dijelu vozila. Sveukupno Namer ima šest kamera koje osiguravaju preglednost svih 360 stupnjeva oko vozila. Uz vozaču, slika s kamera se prenosi zapovjedniku i ciljatelju, te se prikazuje i na ekranima u prostoru za pješački desant.

Osim tri člana posade Namer može prevesti i osam vojnika. Dva reda po četiri sjedala postavljeni su na bokove te su okrenuti prema unutrašnjosti vozila. U vozilo se može, u slučaju hitne potrebe, smjestiti još jedan vojnik. Sjedala su pričvršćena na bokove vozila preko posebnog mehanizma kojem je zadaća da apsorbira udar koji se javlja tijekom eksplozije mine, te se prenosi preko tijela vozila u unutrašnjost. Proizvođač tvrdi da je konstrukcija sjedala bliska katapultrajućim sjedalima na borbenim avionima.

Naravno, unutrašnjost Namera ima sustav za klimatizaciju koji ujedno služi za kemijsku i biološku zaštitu. Zanimljivo je da je pogonski sustav klimatizacijskog uređaja postavljen izvan oklopnog tijela, u svojevrsnu metalnu kutiju smještenu desno od ulazne rampe. Na taj su način projektanti smanjili veličinu i masu oklopa, te iz njega uklonili potencijalno opasan sustav. Lijevo od rampe nalazi se veliki spremnik za gorivo.

Pokretljivost

Velika masa vozila i zahtjev da mu pokretljivost bude na razini tenka Merkava 4 projektantima nije ostavila veliku mogućnost izbora. Zbog toga su odabrali Dieselov motor koji se već rabi u tenkovima Merkava 3 Baz. Riječ je o V-12 Dieselovu motoru AVDS-1790 snage 1200 konjskih snaga. Prvotni proizvođač ovog motora bila je tvrtka Teledyne Continental Motors, a sad ga proizvodi tvrtka L3 Combat Propulsion Systems. Tako je trenutna specifična snaga 19,4 KS/t. Ako se pokaže potrebnim Namer se može opremiti naprednjom inačicom motora AVDS-1790 ili čak motorom MTU 883 (snage 1500 KS) koji se ugrađuje u Merkave 4. Ugradnja jačeg motora povećala bi specifičnu snagu na čak 24 KS/t, te bi bila čak nešto bolja nego kod Merkave 4.

Snaga motora se prenosi preko Renkove automatske hidrokinetičke transmisije sa samo četiri brzine. Hidrauličko je podvozje preuzeto s Merkave 4.

Korisnici

Prvi korisnici Namera je bila Golani Brigada koja se nalazi u sastavu Izraelske kopnene vojske. Prema izvještajima IDF-a, borbeno vozilo pješaštva Namer bit će raspoređeno u pješačkim i borbenim inženjerijskim postrojbama, uz mogućnost budućih planova uvođenja specijalnih inačica za zapovjedne i obavještajne zadaće. Dva Namera su sudjelavala u ratu u Gazi kao dijelovi Golani brigade. Do veljače 2009. IDF je naručio 130 Namera, dok je do sada isporučeno više od 10 vozila. U budućnosti se planira narudžba još dodatnih 800 vozila.

Azerbejdžan i Izrael vode pregovore oko izvoza Namer vozila u Azerbejdžan.

Izvori

 Hrvatski vojnik br. 233., ožujak 2009.

Vanjske poveznice
 Namer na stranici defense-update.com
 Oklopni transporteri izraelske vojske
 Namer na armyrecognition.com
 Namer na army-guide.com
 www.janes.com - Namer

Oklopni transporteri
Oružane snage Izraela
Izraelska vojna vozila


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You'll make the content development process more transparent and easier for a writer to engage with.
You'll speed up the editorial process, getting fewer questions from your writer, and resulting in a more complete, accurate first draft that hits all of your requirements.
Conversely, if your writer isn't working off a content brief, you're both more likely to engage in a frustrating back and forth of questions with a subpar first draft as the result.
"A carefully crafted thesis, sample interview questions, and source suggestions–they're the trifecta of any concept brief," says Cindy Waxer, a freelance writer who works frequently with Tendo. "With these three elements, I typically know exactly what the editor hopes to see in the piece, what will make the client happy, and what will most interest readers."
10 Elements Every Content Brief Should Include
Some assigning editors provide a lot of detail and directives in their content briefs, while others keep it short and sweet. There's nothing wrong with striving to create the ultimate content brief. However you approach it, your goal is to create a reference document that is as helpful as possible for your writer, so she reads it and says, "Looks great, no questions. Working on a draft now." With that said, here are the 10 elements that all content briefs should include:
B2B content needs can target different audiences for different products or services. And audience is everything. Once your writer understands the audience, they can focus on the goals of the piece. Be sure to help your writer home in on the specifics of your ideal audience and provide background on:
Who is the content for, what is their job title or persona, what do they do, what are their careabouts?
What stage of the buyer's journey are they in?
How much do they already know about the topic at hand–should the piece be high-level or more technical?
Content goals
Provide the short-term and long-term goals of the assignment. Cover any specific KPIs by which this content will be measured. Include details that answer questions like these:
What is this asset going to be used for? Is it for the company blog, it is part of a larger campaign, is it for external publication?
Where does this piece fit in the funnel? Is the asset going to be used to build brand awareness, increase reach? Will it be used to create new leads?
Main takeaways: What do you want this piece to convey, what do you want the reader to do/know after engaging? What questions should this piece answer? If you know them, include the specific pain points your writer should focus on.
Providing a summary statement with a working or placeholder title goes a long way to narrowing the focus of the piece.
"A content brief should present the strategy behind the piece," says Michael Semer, a freelance writer. "Why are we creating this piece of content? What's the outcome we want from it, whether it's SEO or a specific user action?"
Even if mentioned earlier in a statement of work (SoW), include the type of content you need. Is it an article, blog post, eBook, or white paper? Is it a thought leadership, trend, or opinion piece, or another flavor?
Editorial guidance
Make sure to give your writer guardrails and include:
Brand voice and tone: How should the piece be written? First-person, third? Specify if it should lean toward promotional, professional, funny, the right level of technical, etc.
Messaging: Provide the writer with any specific messaging they should follow about the product, service, or situation they are writing about.
Word count: Be specific
Providing your writer with additional resources is often an overlooked part of the briefing process. This means going beyond "take a look at our website" for more information. Be sure to include as many of the following support resources as possible:
Include basic info about your company and products, along with competitive differentiators. If you have them, provide your company's editorial style guide and a branding document if helpful.
Attach or link to your in-house style guides, similar articles, in-house materials like product marketing materials, PPT decks, webinars, persona tools, videos, to help your writer get a clearer picture of how to represent your company.
Provide additional articles or assets from competitive or other websites if third-party views will help with research.
Even if you have a plethora of background materials, sometimes more information is needed, which is where a subject matter expert (SME) comes in. Your SME should be an authority on the topic, product, or service the asset will cover. If the assignment requires an SME, include a bio or LinkedIn profile along with additional context as needed. Make it clear whether the SME is available to answer questions over email or in an interview.
CTA and additional links
Is there a main call to action (CTA) the piece should include?
Should the asset link to a supporting blog post or webpage, a contact us form, a demo?
Should it link to third-party research or other external links?
SEO requirements
In addition to the asset itself, should your writer optimize content to boost search engine rankings? If so, be sure to provide:
Focus keywords (primary and secondary) or a keyphrase
External linking requirements
The preferred format for meta title and description (include character count info, if you prefer a CTA approach, etc.)
Social media requirements
In addition to the asset itself, should your writer provide social media copy? This section, like some of the others can be optional, but be sure to provide as much info as you can if social copy is required:
Links to the social channels they are writing for and specific instructions, including voice differences for social
Social media template: If a lot of your writing assignments request social copy, you might consider creating a template that includes all of this info for the writer to fill out, usually once the first draft is okayed.
Examples of successful social posts
Deadlines and timing
Be fair when giving your writer a deadline. You should assign your content as soon as you know you have the need. This is your opportunity to set a very clear deadline. If you're ambiguous, your writer might deprioritize your assignment.
Finally, a word about contact info: You're a resource, too. Let the writer know how best to contact you and most important, be available. Content marketing writing is a two-way street. Make sure your writer can get in touch with you.
Content Brief Formats and Templates
Now that you have a handle on all the information that your freelancer needs to know, it's up to you how to share it. Whether you have a kick-off call with the writer and other stakeholders, make some of this information part of an assignment letter instead, what's important is that your freelancer has all the information needed to start their project.
What's the best way to convey all this information? You can embed your specifications within your email or prepare a separate Word or Google doc with the information, as long as you make it a consistent, repeatable process. Create a format or template that you can reuse will save you time in the long run and ensure consistency from assignment to assignment.
Your content brief template may evolve over time, and that's OK. While it should be a fluid document that is customized to your impending content need, working from a structured format will help you set the right goals, include the most helpful information, ensure a smoother content production process, and increase the chances for a success project. Plus, you'll have a writer who will want to work with you again. Now, go write that brief!
Talk to Tendo
Want to hit a home run with your next content marketing asset? Assign it to Tendo Communications and our team of experienced B2B content creators. Learn more about our content marketing services or contact us.
Filed Under: Content Strategy
inquiries@tendocom.com
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Best Buy customers often prefer the following products when searching for Portable Battery Lightning.
Browse the top-ranked list of Portable Battery Lightning below along with associated reviews and opinions.
"Fun for some games...Fun hand held game...Pros: Great games Turbo buttons Solid response time Nice quality d pad and buttons Cons: Poor viewing angle A little glitchy in menu screens No save states No rewind feature No ability to add additional games No rechargeable battery All in all this is a very solid handheld device...it was a great game, my nephew loved it and I played with it for a couple of days"
Related to "Portable Battery Lightning"


To claima bit 'o yesterday.
You ain't going can we have your seats?
We got front row tickets today!
This entry was posted on Thursday, September 17th, 2015 at 2:35 pm	and is filed under Crazy Stuff I Still Can't Prove. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


It is time to put your summer suits away for the winter, but it is important to take a few precautions to avoid a nasty surprise in the spring.
The water resistant Ventile™ fabric, developed by scientists at the Shirley Institute in Manchester, was a revolution that protected the pilots from immediate soaking and extended life expectancy to 20 minutes. The fabric became a staple supply for the RAF and is still used in RAF and NATO flight suits today.
Our beautiful Autumn collection of bags, caps and accessories is now available in Savile Row. You can download our brochure here or by visiting our travel page.
The stock of special Anniversary Tweeds, we designed and launched at the end of last year have been a huge success. Stock is very limited and we recommend that customers who wish to order a suit, coat or topcoat do so promptly. These very original patterns will not be repeated.
It gives us great pleasure to congratulate two of our talented coat makers on successfully completing The Savile Row Bespoke Association (SRBA) Diploma.
As regular customers will know, we have introduced some very special cloths during our double celebration year, all of which contain patterns, some obvious, but mostly subtle or even hidden.
We introduced customers recently to our range of exclusive worsteds with subtle hidden patterns.
These beautiful medium weight (15oz) lambswool tweeds are woven by one of our favourite mills in Scotland.


Xsights, an independent company, offers objective and impartial measurement of public opinion and perception on key issues such as health, transport, local services, security, education and social policies. Xsights regularly conducts social research and publishes reports about global and national issues and events.
Xsights offers a great deal of experience in reputation and perception management. Xsights measures perception across three different dimensions (economic, emotional and social) and using seven different parameters (awareness, favorability, trust, interaction, satisfaction, loyalty and advocacy). Its robust research and extensive experience enables Xsights to deliver achievable results for corporate reputation as well as effective crisis management strategies.
These days corporate identity is a multifaceted concept that encompasses far more than a logo. Corporate identity represents business principles, values, goals, and the company's vision and mission. Xsights, through its corporate identity positioning research, helps companies to build their own brand identity and manage the perception of different stakeholders.
Corporate Social Responsibility projects are only effective when they are aligned with the core values of the company which implements them. It is important to measure the perceptions of current social responsibility projects among the institution's target audience to shape the strategic decisions about the project. Xsights supports its clients by measuring the impact of CSR projects and advises on how to turn them into sustainable practices over the long term.
Xsights has extensive experience in conducting M&E for development projects. Xsights has worked with clients to determine indicators and develop specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound g M&E frameworks for development projects and multi-country independent evaluations for UN agencies.
Xsights, an independent research company, conducts KAP Surveys on a regular basis on a variety of social issues. These surveys constitute the core of social memory and offer valuable insights about the dynamics of our times.
Xsights offers independent and robust measurement of public opinion and the level of satisfaction with local and central services. Xsights uses its experience in Customer Experience Surveys to interpret government performance and how it compares with private sector.
Xsights takes prides in correctly examining public opinion and predicting voting behavior based on reliable and robust research.


text:
namespace ash {

enum DesksMruType {
  // The MRU window list will include windows from all active and inactive
  // desks.
  kAllDesks,

  // The MRU window list will exclude windows from the inactive desks.
  //
  // NOTE: During an on-going desk-switch animation, getting the MRU window list
  // for the active desk can be inconsistent, depending on at which stage of the
  // animation it is done. If you want the MRU windows in the soon-to-be active
  // desk, then wait for the animation to finish.
  kActiveDesk,
};

// A predicate that determines whether |window| can be included in the MRU
// window list.
bool CanIncludeWindowInMruList(aura::Window* window);

// Maintains a most recently used list of windows. This is used for window
// cycling using Alt+Tab and overview mode.
class ASH_EXPORT MruWindowTracker : public wm::ActivationChangeObserver,
                                    public aura::WindowObserver {
 public:
  using WindowList = std::vector<aura::Window*>;

  MruWindowTracker();

  MruWindowTracker(const MruWindowTracker&) = delete;
  MruWindowTracker& operator=(const MruWindowTracker&) = delete;

  ~MruWindowTracker() override;

  // Returns the set windows in the mru list regardless of whether they can be
  // included in the cycler or not.
  // |desks_mru_type| determines whether to include or exclude windows from the
  // inactive desks.
  // TODO(oshima|afakhry): Investigate if we can consolidate BuildXXXList
  // methods with parameters.
  WindowList BuildAppWindowList(DesksMruType desks_mru_type) const;

  // Returns the set of windows which can be cycled through using the tracked
  // list of most recently used windows.
  // |desks_mru_type| determines whether to include or exclude windows from the
  // inactive desks.
  WindowList BuildMruWindowList(DesksMruType desks_mru_type) const;

  // This does the same thing as the above, but ignores the system modal dialog
  // state and hence the returned list could contain more windows if a system
  // modal dialog window is present.
  // |desks_mru_type| determines whether to include or exclude windows from the
  // inactive desks.
  WindowList BuildWindowListIgnoreModal(DesksMruType desks_mru_type) const;

  // This does the same thing as |BuildMruWindowList()| but with some
  // exclusions. This list is used for cycling through by the keyboard via
  // alt-tab.
  // |desks_mru_type| determines whether to include or exclude windows from the
  // inactive desks.
  WindowList BuildWindowForCycleList(DesksMruType desks_mru_type) const;

  // This does the same thing as |BuildWindowForCycleList()| but includes
  // ARC PIP windows if they exist. Entering PIP for Android can consume the
  // window (in contrast to Chrome PIP, which creates a new window). To support
  // the same interaction as Chrome PIP auto-pip, include the Android PIP window
  // in alt-tab. This will let alt tabbing back to the 'original window' restore
  // that window from PIP, which matches behaviour for Chrome PIP, where
  // alt-tabbing back to the original Chrome tab or app ends auto-PIP.
  WindowList BuildWindowForCycleWithPipList(DesksMruType desks_mru_type) const;

  // Starts or stops ignoring window activations. If no longer ignoring
  // activations the currently active window is moved to the front of the
  // MRU window list. Used by WindowCycleList to avoid adding all cycled
  // windows to the front of the MRU window list.
  void SetIgnoreActivations(bool ignore);

  // Called after |window| moved out of its about-to-be-removed desk, to a new
  // target desk's container. This causes |window| to be made the least-recently
  // used window across all desks.
  void OnWindowMovedOutFromRemovingDesk(aura::Window* window);

  // Called when a window is moved to another desk or created by a window
  // restore feature. This function should be only called by
  // `WindowRestoreController`.
  void OnWindowAlteredByWindowRestore(aura::Window* window);

  const std::vector<aura::Window*>& GetMruWindowsForTesting() {
    return mru_windows_;
  }

 private:
  // Updates the `mru_windows_` list to insert/move `active_window` at/to the
  // back.
  void SetActiveWindow(aura::Window* active_window);

  // wm::ActivationChangeObserver:
  void OnWindowActivated(ActivationReason reason,
                         aura::Window* gained_active,
                         aura::Window* lost_active) override;

  // aura::WindowObserver:
  void OnWindowDestroyed(aura::Window* window) override;

  // List of windows that have been activated in containers that we cycle
  // through, sorted such that the most recently used window comes last. Note
  // that this ordering differs from the lists returned by the
  // `Build*Window*List` functions, which are reversed.
  std::vector<aura::Window*> mru_windows_;

  bool ignore_window_activations_ = false;
};

}  // namespace ash

#endif  // ASH_WM_MRU_WINDOW_TRACKER_H_

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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White Oval Glasses #2024730 We see that you entered an unusual value for your cylinder. This will result in one lens being thicker than the other. Please review your entry and let us know if this is correct.
Channel the mod sixties in this plastic oval frame. The wide frame works well for bold, notice-me glasses or fun sunglasses. It has a matte finish and is available in white and black.


text:
The Bold And The Beautiful Poll: Should Ridge Leave Brooke Or Vice Versa? Vote Now!
SpoilersThe Bold and The Beautiful
By Sean O'Brien	 Last updated Sep 6, 2019
Brooke Logan Forrester (Katherine Kelly Lang) is facing Ridge Forrester's (Thorsten Kaye) wrath on The Bold and the Beautiful. The initial reaction to his son's fall off the cliff was understandable, considering all circumstances. But ongoing accusations are causing major strife.
The epic love story that created what's come to be known as Bridge fits this couple because of the nature of the structure the word represents. Built to be strong and lasting, a real bridge can develop cracks, be damaged, or collapse when in ill repair. Such is the span of this particular relationship on B&B.
Marital breaks, or ends, have occurred in the past, but Brooke and Ridge eventually found their way back to each other. Current matters appear headed to another relationship decision point for both involved parties. But take note, this poll question doesn't ask what will happen, but if readers think Ridge or Brooke should leave the other.
The Bold And The Beautiful Spoilers: Wednesday, September 4 – Bill Confronts Thomas For Messing With The Spencers – Ridge Explodes At Flo
Bold And The Beautiful Spoilers – Son Can Influence Ridge Forrester's Opinion
Brooke insists that she intended no harm to Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson). Ridge arrived at the scene during the exact moment when the opposite seemed true. Thomas' statement to Detective Alex Sanchez (Jeremy Ray Valdez) described what happened as an accident, though he later told the family he knew that wasn't true and was taking the blame for what happened to him.
All of Thomas' actions in keeping Beth Spencer's (Madeline Valdez and River Davidson) existence as Phoebe Forrester a secret were wrong. Ridge is finally admitting that but is choosing to focus on the perceived intentions of his wife in order to provoke a sense of guilt.
Thankfully, Thomas seems to have crossed back over to sanity. He actually was willing himself back to his good side after having a heart-to-heart with Douglas Forrester (Henry Joseph Samiri) at Vincent Walker's (Joe LoCicero) apartment, which was just prior to when Thomas went to the cliff house in order to apologize to Hope Forrester (Annika Noelle). Fans can assume another apology would have been tried with his sister, Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood).
As of today, Atkinson's character possesses the ability to persuade his dad to forgive Brooke. Viewers will eventually learn if he chooses to do so.
Bold And The Beautiful Spoilers – Hope Forrester Protective Of Her Mother
Now that Hope has her baby back, she and Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) can try to live as they hoped. 'Lope' regained an opportunity that was never expected.
Along with this miracle comes a shift in the couple's strife. Instead of Hope feeling obligated to marry Thomas, so she could serve as Douglas' mother, marital angst exists in a different form for her mother.
Hope realized, after the fact, that Thomas was simply trying to apologize. But she doesn't have sympathy for him and remains on guard. That defensive stance also extends to her mother where Thomas and Ridge are concerned.
Bold And The Beautiful Spoilers – History Doesn't Predict The Future
Lang and John McCook (Eric Forrester) are the only actors who remain from B&B's debut in 1987 when it basically replaced Capitol on the daytime schedule. That soap ran from 1982 through 1987.
Ron Moss (who originally played Ridge) was also part of B&B's cast during its debut season in 1987. Kaye became the recast in 2013.
Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Brooke's Pleas Go Unheard – Ridge Stands By Crazy Thomas @celebratesoaps https://t.co/GI7cx2hk6O
— SOS/CTS/HH (@SoapOperaSpy) September 4, 2019
While no recasts of either iconic character are expected, a repeat of history could be projected, meaning that either Ridge or Brooke could choose to separate, or even seek divorce. But great soap operas, like this one, often aren't predictable.
Fans of The Bold and the Beautiful rightfully express their opinions on a regular basis. So, should Ridge leave Brooke or vice versa? Please vote in our poll below!
Should Ridge Leave Brooke Or Vice Versa?
This site is a leading source for everything linked to The Bold and the Beautiful.
Sean O'Brien
After earning a BA in Communications, Sean began his professional career in the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre Red Barons' front office (the Philadelphia Phillies former Triple-A affiliate). He later worked as a print sports writer. During this millennium – Sean became a state licensed school teacher, the author of the children's book Maddie: Teaching Tolerance with a Smile, and a credentialed sports columnist. He's also been a longtime soap opera loyalist.
The Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: B&B Katherine Kelly Lang Joins Cast Of…
The Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Don Diamont Explains How Bill Spencer Goes From…
The Bold and the Beautiful: Thomas and Quinn Team Up To Bring Down Brooke –…
The Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers: Thomas Turns A New Leaf – Redemption…


text:
Posted in Game Reviews, Winnings May 27, 2019
The History of Massive Online Jackpot Wins
Even though the online gambling industry completely revolutionized the way slot machines are played, some things will probably never change. One of them is the jackpot reward. It is a fact that the vast majority of popular slot machines feature jackpots. There are fixed jackpot amounts and progressive jackpots. It is the latter that makes it possible for gamblers around the world to win millions of dollars.
By reducing the total RTP of one or more slot machines, providers and online casinos can take a portion of all the lost bets and put it into the jackpot prize pool, while still maintaining a healthy income thanks to the house edge.
Winning a massive jackpot in land-based casinos is amazing as well, but you quickly realise how scary it is for everyone to know that you've won hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in one spin, especially if it is a local casino. On the other hand, you can stay 100% anonymous while winning same amounts online, unless the casino has unique policies that make revealing your identity for marketing or other purposes mandatory, but that's almost never the case.
Let's go over some of the biggest jackpot wins in the history of online gambling.
Over £13 Million on Mega Moolah
This is one of the rare cases where the identity of a winner of such a massive prize was revealed. The name of the lucky guy is Jon Heywood. He was playing Mega Moolah, an extremely fun-to-play slot machine developed by Microgaming, in October 2015, when he landed a jackpot win of exactly £13,209,300. Jon entered the Guinness World Records book as the winner of the largest jackpot prize ever won by playing an online slot machine.
This 26-year-old soldier living in England donated a portion of the prize to his family, friends, and charity, of course. From what we last heard, he still leads a normal life, enjoying certain luxuries he couldn't have afforded before.
Mega Fortune €17+ Million Win
You're probably wondering why this win takes the number two spot. The only reason is the exchange rate between the euro and sterling at the time. We don't know much about this winner, except that he's in his 40s and lives in Finland.
The craziest part of this story is that the Finnish man bet only €0.25 in the round that got him over 17 million euros. That just refutes all the theories claiming that the bet size matters when it comes to triggering any jackpot reward.
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Mega Fortune €11+ Million Prize
Two years before the lucky guy from Finland won over 17 million, his neighbour from Norway won exactly €11,736,375. The casino claims that the win occurred during the night, and we highly doubt that he got any sleep after the jackpot message appeared on his screen.
€8,557,207 Win on Mega Fortune
NetEnt just can't stop dealing out millions of euros to its players. You won't believe it, but this winner comes from Sweden! This lucky Swede called Alexander couldn't stop celebrating and even woke up his wife to tell her the news. We can only imagine how long it took to convince her that he wasn't just pranking her!
In his public statement, Alexander said that he planned to buy a brand new car, pay off his mortgage, and travel as much as possible.
Mega Moolah $9.2 Million Jackpot
After three consecutive Mega Fortune mentions on this list, Mega Moolah comes into play once again. Unlike the previous few winners, we know almost nothing about this lucky gambler. All we know is that he played Mega Moolah in April 2017 and won over 9.2 million dollars by triggering the main jackpot reward.
Should You Play Jackpot Slot Machines?
It truly comes down to personal preference. In order to enter the competition and get a chance to win millions of dollars, you need to be ready to sacrifice some things. In this case, everyone willing to test their luck by pursuing huge jackpots needs to be aware of the lowered Return to Player (RTP) percentages which are present in some cases.
RTP – your ultimate guide, and explained here!
To prove that's not always the case, let's take the two games we talked about today as examples. Mega Moolah has the RTP of only 88.13%, while Mega Fortune's RTP stands at 96.4%. If you want to dig deeper and find out exactly why that happens, feel free to do so, but note that Mega Moolah developers had a great reason for lowering the RTP so much.
There are many other jackpot games available besides Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune which also awarded millions of dollars to players. However, those wins were not sensational enough to make it to our top 5 list.
Check out our infographic over the biggest jackpots during 2016 & 2017 – you will be amazed!
Casino Jackpots, Casino Slots, Mega Fortune, Mega Moolah, Microgaming, NetEnt, Progressive Jackpot, Winnings


These scripts were written without any knowledge of actual S8 (and I'm holding off on watching the new season until I'm done). It is meant to be believable, extrapolating forward from S1-S7, with endgame for every major remaining storyline.
I've actually been publishing these since June 2018, and there's an existing reader community on r/freefolk and r/shipwisescripts. 8 episodes are finished, out of 11 planned. Hope you enjoy!
Sansa holds Brienne to a promise made while drunk, and it goes as well as can be expected.
Madelynn Tyrell is the youngest child of Mace Tyrell and is kept out of the public eye most of her life. Her grandmother sends her on a strange Diplomatic mission with a large force of soldiers just before Highgarden is taken by Lannister forces. How will this southerner fair in Winterfell as the Army of the Dead marches towards them? Will all of the people gathered be enough to stop the Night King?
Strength, not of just mind and body, but in spirit. Nothing could stop her, she wouldn't let it. Anari Stark, the oldest Stark girl. She was beautiful, kind, and fierce. Anari was protective of her family. When she accompanied her sisters and father to King's Landing, Anari was tested.
Even with the Wolfs-Blood running through her veins, and a strong spirit that saw her through anything, Anari knew she couldn't bare everything on her own. Turning to a Lannister for comfort was not something Anari thought she would do, but Tyrion had proved to be different.
She trusted him, and in their time together, grew to love him. But how much could a Lone Wolf endure when trapped in the Lion's Den?
Sansa and Sandor have entirely different lives. Different families, different places to call home, different ways of thinking. What would it take to drive these two together? As it turns out, not all that much.


text:
Japan auto production loses half a million units since earthquake
Toyota was hit hardest by the Japan quake and warned of severe North American vehicle shortages in the third quarter. Image: Flickr/Jeff Glucker's photostream CC-BY-SA
The Japan earthquake has wiped out production of more than half a million vehicles in the country's auto industry in the last month. Toyota was hit hardest and warned that the U.S. auto market could see shortages of certain vehicles in the third quarter of 2011. Japan's auto production disruptions have also affected Ford, which said parts shortages could have a negative effect on earnings.
Japanese auto industry struggles to rebound
One month after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeast coast, the country's biggest automakers announced that 516,000 units of output had been lost and the total is yet to be determined. Auto plants that have resumed production are at limited capacity and many others are expected to remain offline until late April. Toyota closed all 18 of its plants in Japan following the earthquake and has reopened just two. The company said it will bring the remainder online by April 18 but expects full production to continue only until April 27 because of parts shortages. So far Toyota has lost 260,000 units of volume. Honda resumed operations at its two Japan plants Monday at half capacity and had lost about 58,000 units by April 8. Nissan is operating five domestic plants at limited capacity and is behind about 55,000 units. Suzuki, Mazda, Subaru and Mitsubishi have fallen behind a combined total of about 157,000 vehicles.
Aftershocks ripple across North America
In North America, where Toyota makes nearly 60 percent of its operating profits, the automaker said it will suspend production for five days in April because of shortages of components made in Japan. Toyota has an inventory of more than 300,000 new vehicles for sale in the U.S., which is projected to be an adequate supply until mid-May. Because of production cutbacks, the company may fall behind by 35,000 cars and light trucks at North American factories by April 25. Uncertain vehicle production forecasts for May through July could significantly affect the supply of new Toyotas in North America this summer. High mileage cars such as the Toyota Prius and Yaris will be very hard to find. Along with reduced vehicle inventory, Toyota also expects some paint colors to be scarce because of a damaged chemical manufacturing plant in Japan.
Ford warns of quake effect on earnings
Ford, like most U.S. automakers that rely on parts and components made in Japan, announced in a securities filing with U.S. regulators that supply disruptions could negatively affect the company's financial performance. Ford had already halted operations at its plants in the U.S. and Europe because of parts shortages and said its operations at 13 plants in the Asia-Pacific region could be affected from late April through May. General Motors has also been suspending production and rescheduling shifts at U.S. plants as it adjusts to supply disruptions. Production at most other automakers worldwide has been affected by parts shortages resulting from the Japan earthquake.
Posted in Auto News | Tagged japan auto production, japan automakers, japan earthquake, made in japan, parts shortages, supply disruptions, toyota production, u.s. auto market, vehicle production forecasts


This lecture is intended for students of economics (Wirtschaftswissenschaften) and the lecture gives an introduction into the world of software development with Java. Students are taught how software is created, and they are able to create their own small software projects at the end of the lecture.
Students are learning with current development solutions (like Eclipse) to create software based on Java. This lecture is targeted at unexperienced students and teaches (amongst others) the following topics: variables, control structures with conditions and loops, objects, inheritance. Additionally we present an overview over state of the art process models (like Scrum) for software development to explain to development teams are being managed and coordinated.


Comparative to alternative optical techniques, MonTech's Rubber Dispersion Tester series is most precise and easy to use family of dispersion testers in the rubber industry.
The mixed quality of carbon black, additives and other rubber chemicals directly correlate to the mechanical properties of the finished rubber product. This includes abrasion resistance, tensile strength, crack growth, hardness and more. The Carl-Zeiss optical lens quickly and accurately calculates the number, diameter, and distribution of agglomerates within a rubber sample. The tests performed are compared to the ASTM or ISO standard, indicating the level of rubber dispersion quality.
For measurement of silica dispersion, the 1000x model is recommended. If fillers in a rubber compound are too great in size for an adequate calculation, dropping down in magnification to the 30x model is advisable.


text:
Q: How can I initialize a user's balance in a Substrate blockchain? When I start my Substrate blockchain, I want to initialize users with some free balance.
How can I achieve this?
What if my chain is already running and I do not want to restart it?

A: Genesis Configuration
The best way to set up your Substrate users with some initial free balance is to update your chain_spec.rs file such that users are given units at the genesis block of your blockchain.
This genesis configuration happens through the Balances module:
fn testnet_genesis(initial_authorities: Vec<AuthorityId>, endowed_accounts: Vec<AccountId>, root_key: AccountId) -> GenesisConfig {
    GenesisConfig {
        balances: Some(BalancesConfig {
            transaction_base_fee: 1,
            transaction_byte_fee: 0,
            existential_deposit: 500,
            transfer_fee: 0,
            creation_fee: 0,
            balances: endowed_accounts.iter().cloned().map(|k|(k, 1 << 60)).collect(),
            vesting: vec![],
        }),
        ...
    }
}

Note the balances configuration here where each of the endowed_accounts are iterated, and their balance is set to 1 << 60 (which reads 1 left shift 60, which is 1152921504606846976 in decimal).
For the --dev chain, the endowed_accounts is just Alice, but you can add whatever accounts you want like this:
vec![
    account_key("Alice"),
    account_key("Bob"),
    // From public key
    sr25519::Public::from_ss58check("5GukQt4gJW2XqzFwmm3RHa7x6sYuVcGhuhz72CN7oiBsgffx").unwrap(),

]

Where the account_key function uses the inputted string to generate an sr25519 seed.
fn account_key(s: &str) -> AccountId {
    sr25519::Pair::from_string(&format!("//{}", s), None)
        .expect("static values are valid; qed")
        .public()
}

Sudo Module
If you already have started a blockchain and you have the Sudo module enabled, then use can also make a call to the set_balance privileged function in the Balances module.
This function will allow you to set the free and reserved balance of any account to any value.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Investigations were undertaken to study the influence of drip fertigation levels on fruit quality characters in aonla was carried out during 2011 to 2013. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments of fertigation levels, namely 75, 100 and 125% recommended dose of water soluble fertilizers including, soil application (control) and replicated three times, to test various fruit quality attributes of 8 years aonla cv. NA.7 grown under drip fertigation. The investigation indicated that 125 % recommended dose of water soluble fertilizers (T8) applied through fertigation resulted in maximum fruit quality characters viz., TSS (13.10 Brix and 13.6 0 Brix), Acidity (2.10 % and 2.15%), Ascorbic acid (575.8mg gand 580.6mg g), Reducing sugar (2.70 % and 3.10 %), Non-Reducing sugar (1.60% and 1.85 %) and Total sugar (4.30% and 4.95%) during 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 respectively. Therefore (T8) 125 % recommended doses of NPK in the form of water soluble fertilizers can be suggested for increasing the yield of eight years old aonla cv. NA.7 significantly.


text:
Citizen Sustainable
Living a Conscious & Eco-Friendly Life
6 Best Eco-Friendly Cars (for Every Budget)
Maria Ramos
Maria Ramos is a Las Vegas-based, first wave millennial, first-generation Asian-American writer with a fondness for working extensively within the entertainment, health, wellness, and environmental sustainability industries. She grew up around a family-managed freshwater aquaculture business. In a former life, she was the content head of a Southeast Asian online music publication and a mildly successful musician.
Latest posts by Maria Ramos (see all)
Eco-Friendly Swimwear: Guide to Sustainable Swimsuits (& Best Brands) - April 24, 2020
7 Zero-Waste Sponge Substitutes for Your Eco-Friendly Kitchen - April 13, 2020
Eco-Friendly Living: 100 Practical Ideas You Can Easily Do - April 5, 2020
What comes to mind when you think of common eco-friendly cars?
You may imagine hybrid or electric automobiles, but these vehicle types account for less than 3 percent of U.S. auto sales in 2016. Most environmentally friendly cars on the road run on gasoline, diesel, or biofuels.
The auto industry's adapted in the face of climate change. Switching to alternative fuel sources is not your only option. You don't need deep pockets to reduce your carbon footprint, either.
Thinking of going green and getting a new set of wheels? Before you break the bank and buy a Tesla, consider the relatively cheap eco-friendly cars on the market.
What Are Eco-Friendly Cars and How Are They Different from Other Vehicles?
What Are the Common Types of Eco-Friendly Cars?
1. Fuel-Efficient Conventional Vehicles
2. Biodiesel Vehicles
3. Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs)
4. Electric Vehicles (EVs)
5. Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)
6. Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Aside from Driving an Eco-Friendly Car, What Else Can You Do to Promote a Sustainable Lifestyle?
For the most part, eco-friendly vehicles use non-conventional energy sources. Examples of the latter are biofuels, electricity, and even hydrogen.
Some green car builds may still partially use fossil fuels. Others may combine two environmentally friendly fuels. These machines aim for better greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ratings.
What about conventional cars developed to give you more traveled miles per gallon (MPG)?
Some might not consider these models as green vehicles. For others, they count because they also help the environment. Conventional cars aren't as effective as those that don't run on fossil fuels, but at least they're better than gas guzzlers.
Green vehicles aren't created equal. Some barely make a positive impact on the environment. Others are zero-emission machines.
However, the benefits of eco-friendly cars usually outweigh any downsides. Most environmentally friendly cars do slow the pace of climate change, after all.
Vehicles that need extensive modification before attaining green status don't appear on this list. The latter includes compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane cars.
Below are quick descriptions of eco-friendly cars available to the general public, as well as make and model examples.
Did you know that fossil fuel cars should be phased out by 2028, according to a Greenpeace-commissioned study?
If not, climate change could cause irreparable damage to the planet. Conventional cars may be the most convenient to purchase right now, but they're the worst for the environment, fuel-efficient or not.
If the option must be on the table though, it's worth noting that many models benefit from cutting-edge technology. These advancements can lower emissions and refueling costs while improving mileage.
Here are two examples of fuel-efficient cars:
The 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage is one of the cheapest high-MPG fossil fuel cars around, with a great factory warranty, too. The only downside is the lack of attention to detail when it comes to human comfort. The Mirage has awkward seating and cramped legroom.
The 2019 Honda Fit boasts of a surprisingly spacious back seat. The first of this model's kind came out the same year the brand retired the Honda Insight. Also known as "Jazz" in some countries, the Fit is one of several Honda models known over the past few years to easily average more than 30 MPG.
Certain physical features – like lighter weight and aerodynamic design – lessen a car's carbon footprint, too. Choosing a diesel-powered car over a straight gasoline vehicle helps, too. The former can be up to 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the latter.
Conventional cars may be the most convenient to purchase right now, but they're the worst for the environment, fuel-efficient or not. Click To Tweet
Biodiesel forms by putting oils through esterification, a refinement process that needs an alcohol catalyst like methanol or ethanol. Animal fat, canola oil, cooking grease, soybean oil, and sunflower oil are typical biodiesel bases.
In its pure and unadulterated form, you can call biodiesel B100. Many diesel engines can run on this without needing modifications. In the U.S., using biodiesel and diesel blends like B5 (5 percent biodiesel) and B20 (20 percent biodiesel) is common.
Here are two examples of biodiesel cars:
The Chevrolet Cruze was one of the early diesel cars with the brand approval to run on B20. Comfortable, compact, relatively quiet and reliable, the Cruze made B20 more accessible. Too bad the Chevrolet discontinued the model in 2019.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee runs on B20, too. Among eco-friendly family cars, this SUV is a winner. You can choose between a rear-wheel or a four-wheel drive and even upgrade to a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Biodiesel burns cleaner but is more expensive than diesel. Constant car drivers may notice a slight cost increase in refueling after switching to biodiesel. The biofuel can also turn to gel in low temperatures and possibly clog internal filters.
FFVs are gasoline-powered but can run on ethanol-blended fuel effortlessly. The most common variant of the fuel is E85 (85 percent ethanol). Great organic sources for the needed refined alcohol are corn and sugarcane.
One of the most striking facts about FFVs is that car owners may not always know if their gasoline-powered car counts as one.
How can you tell if your car can handle E85? Ask your vehicle manufacturer or look it up in the owner's manual.
Also: If you purchased your car brand new after 2008 and it features a yellow-hued gas tank cap, it's an FFV.
Here are two examples of FFVs:
The Nissan Frontier is one of those cheap eco-friendly cars that can still look adventure ready. If you need a vehicle for material transport or cross-country travel, this budget-friendly pickup is right up your alley.
The Ford Escape is not always E85-capable. Its 2013 and 2014 models don't have FFV builds. As eco-friendly family cars go, though, it's an affordable choice if you get the right model year.
Warning: If you choose to use E85, going green while driving may cost you more. E85 is close in price to gasoline, but it's significantly less fuel-efficient. You will likely end up spending more to cover the same distance.
Why bother with biodiesel and ethanol-gasoline blends?
Simple: It's not so much a money-saving ploy or even an environmentally friendly one, but a way to be less dependent on fossil fuels and global trade.
Because biodiesel base oils and ethanol are both easy to source, it's also easy to manufacture the needed fuel locally for many countries.
Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) are gasoline-powered but can run on ethanol-blended fuel effortlessly. Click To Tweet
EVs may be one of the most popular eco-friendly cars. A recent AAA survey claims that 1 in 5 U.S. drivers will likely consider an EV for their next car purchase.
The undeniable pop culture presence of the Tesla brand and its CEO, Elon Musk, may have something to do with the widespread awareness.
Instead of a gas tank and an engine, EVs have a battery and an electric motor. These cars have zero tailpipe emissions and boast of the highest miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe).
However, charging EV batteries may possibly contribute to air pollution. The electricity has to come from somewhere, and it's not always going to be sustainable.
For instance: If you plug your EV into a charging station – at home or on the road – and the outlet draws power from a coal plant, the source's byproducts will harm the environment.
Here are two examples of EVs:
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric has been the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)'s top greenest vehicle in the U.S. for three years, since 2017. It is affordable and also comes in two different hybrid builds.
The Tesla Model 3 is as close to budget-friendly as the brand can get. However, the standard build doesn't come with a long-range battery and can't reach the coveted 130 MPGe – you need to pay a lot more for that.
EVs are well-known for being much pricier and more luxurious than other eco-friendly cars, despite models like the Ioniq Electric.
There are even auto enthusiasts that commission six-figure fossil fuel-to-electric conversions from specialty shops like U.K.'s Lunaz Design.
The latter, and several auto shops like it, can expertly retrofit custom vintage vehicles with EV components and other modern conveniences.
Electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions and boast of the highest miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe). Click To Tweet
FCVs are similar to EVs conceptually, except they use hydrogen as fuel onboard. Unlike EVs, which can take longer to charge, refueling an FCV takes only minutes.
These cars burn clean with only heat and water as emissions. While they're amazing for the environment, practical use is limited for now.
In the U.S., there are only a few FCV fueling stations in California and Hawaii as of 2020. The market is currently small.
Here are two examples of FCVs:
The 2019 Hyundai Nexo is the first FCV to go through and ace all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests. On Hyundai's 2020 agenda are the testing and subsequent market release of the Neptune, an FCV truck.
The 2020 Toyota Mirai is a medium-sized sedan with an EPA-estimated driving range of over 300 miles. Quiet and comfortable, it's one of the few FCVs available for commercial purchase in 2020.
Japan's Ministry of the Environment is also reportedly working on a sleek and durable but lightweight hydrogen fuel cell car.
However, it's referred to as a nano cellulose vehicle (NCV) – not an FCV – because it's made completely out of wood.
EVs are likely the most popular of all types of eco-friendly cars, but hybrids seem to be the most attainable and easily understandable for the everyday consumer.
These vehicles have both fuel engines and battery packs, plus a needed charging port at home for PHEVs.
Depending on the model, fossil fuels or biofuels can power the engine. Most battery packs are electric-powered, but a few are hydrogen-powered.
Let's differentiate HEVs from PHEVs: The former predates the latter and is sometimes known as the self-charging or conventional hybrid.
Unlike PHEVs, HEVs cannot recharge while plugged in at a port. They use gas engines to operate and charge their batteries, sometimes having trouble drawing from electric power alone.
You may associate the Toyota Prius with this type of green vehicle, but the more fuel-efficient HEV during the early hybrid days was actually the Honda Insight.
Starting with the original 1999 two-seater model, Honda continued to improve on the design until they discontinued the Insight in 2014.
During the Insight's full run, its reputation as the best HEV rarely dipped. Today, nearly every major vehicle manufacturer offers multiple HEV models.
PHEVs have the same parts, but many do not operate the way HEVs do.
Often, these models can use gas power and electricity at the same time to power themselves as their batteries charge. As long as you keep the gas tank filled, you won't need to plug in your PHEV.
Here are two examples of hybrid cars:
The Toyota Prius is the iconic hybrid model for a good reason. The original 1997 four-door sedan Prius was the first-ever mass-produced HEV. It was also one of the first hybrids to offer intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD). The Prius remains the top-selling HEV to this day, although sales have steadily declined since 2012.
The Kia Niro enjoyed a boost in publicity in 2019 when the brand ran an ad campaign for the model featuring actor Robert De Niro:
Available in EV, HEV, and PHEV form, the latter is particularly impressive. Why? Fuel economy is great even when the Niro PHEV isn't charged, easily maintaining 60 MPG.
Another way to use PHEVs is to plug them in to completely recharge. Because these machines can take hours to do so, charging overnight is a typical routine.
Once fully juiced up, some PHEVs can operate on electricity only with zero emissions. When the battery pack runs out, the fuel engine kicks in, provided the gas tank isn't empty.
Gasoline provides the needed power to keep the vehicle going, almost as a last resort.
To travel further distances between recharging periods, you can add larger and non-standard battery packs to the car. These extra parts can add a lot to the PHEVs' price tags – sometimes thousands of dollars more than the base cost.
Once fully juiced up, some Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) can operate on electricity only with zero emissions. Click To Tweet
Stick with the Sustainable Citizen to find out the many ways you can practice a more eco-conscious lifestyle.
You can practice mindfulness when you cook, eat, purchase, and consume. Veganism may speak to your personal principles, as well as supporting only fair trade or sustainable brands and organizations. Green living habits like recycling and proper waste disposal can extend to your workplace and even your home.
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Photo tip: Wake up early & see the sunrise!
As hard as it was to get up before sunrise while I was in the Dominican Republic on hire for a Destination Wedding, I am so very glad I did.
Early morning sun is soft, beautiful, yet dramatic. It is quiet, peaceful and very few people are around for sunrise, so you have your location all to yourself and your camera! It is a very relaxing and mindful way to practice your photography skills and creativity.
When you meter for your photo, take a reading off of your subject or the ground not off the sun. If you point toward the sun your camera will be fooled and your photo will not turn out as you had imagined. If you take a meter reading off your subject and put the sunrise in the photo you'll have better luck in getting your subject exposed properly, but the sky / sun may still be over exposed in the background.
Wait until the sun is behind clouds to make it more diffused and less contrasty.
Use a little bit of fill flash (if you know how) to brighten your subjects just slightly so that the sun in the background isn't over exposed and blown out in your photo.
Choose the setting you think is correct, then bracket your exposure both over and under exposed and compare the difference on your computer when you get home. Then, next time you shoot at sunrise you'll know better what to expect!


text:
The Pandemic Has Meant a Mountain of Adult Responsibilities
Challenges have impacted students during the pandemic but illness is just one challenge some students have had to confront.
Protecting America's Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence
The U.S. Secret Service will present findings from the agency's newly released report examining targeted school violence.
Depression Center Toolkit
Provides information, tools, support, and resources to guide users through their mental health journeys. The Toolkit offers help to people who are experiencing problems with mood, problems with stress/anxiety, those who have been recently diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder, and those receiving treatment for mood disorders.
Grantee Highlight
Michigan Department of Education Safe and Supportive Schools Final Report
Presents findings for Michigan's Safe and Supportive Schools (S3) grant sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Contains grantee progress and highlights: 65% of schools reported improved school safety scores, 52% of schools reported a decrease in bullying, 30% of Safe and Supportive Schools received "Reward" status, and 70% of S3 2010 Priority schools moved off the Priority List.
Senate approves bill regulating mental health training for Michigan educators
Discusses a bill that will require the Michigan Department of Education to develop standards for educators to recognize mental health needs and refer students for help.
Schools use therapy-based programs for 'overwhelmed' kids
While schools in the U.S. and elsewhere are increasingly teaching social and emotional learning skills, many use a more piecemeal approach, creating a designated class for talking about feelings, or focusing that attention only on the most troubled kids.
(-) Michigan (5)
Instructional Environment (1)
Juvenile-Justice Involved (1)


to get a project utilising up to the minute technology, off the ground.
is able to fund or to suggest sources for funding the project.
to pay back all funding in 38 months from inception.
of payments). If anyone has any ideas I'd be delighted to hear from you.


text:
The Paris Agreement in 2020: Where Are We?
by Tristan Bove Africa Americas Asia Europe Global Commons Oceania Dec 21st 20208 mins
2020 marks the five-year anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the United Nations' 26th annual climate conference (COP26) until November 2021, world leaders from over 70 countries gathered virtually on December 12th to celebrate the event. As of December 2020, 127 nations, responsible for 63% of global emissions, are discussing or have pledged to bring their emissions to net zero within a specified timeframe. Nations acknowledging their ambitions and announcing these pledges are important steps, although mean little in terms of direct action towards mitigating climate change. Over the past five years, countries have begun to be held accountable for emission rates. Which countries have demonstrated strong and tangible progress, and which have failed to do so?
Considering the numerous net-zero commitments that have emerged over the last few months of 2020, and remaining optimistic that these pledges will be honoured, the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) group has estimated a best-case scenario of 2.1°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
These projections indicate a markedly better trajectory for the world relative to five years ago, however they still fall short of the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping temperature rise "well below" 2°C, and ideally below 1.5°C. The December 12 event concluded with a frank statement by Alok Sharma, British Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: "Friends, we must be honest with ourselves […]. As encouraging as all this ambition is, it is not enough."
Much will depend on the actions of the world's current leading emitters, including China, the US, the EU, India and Russia. While most of these countries have announced ambitious plans to reduce emissions and be carbon neutral by mid-century, a lack of tangible action and short-term targets may hinder their legitimacy.
You might also like: What Is The Paris Climate Agreement?
Fig. 1: Compatibility of individual countries' current emission rates with Paris Agreement targets in 2020; Nature.com, sourced from Climate Action Tracker.
Meeting Targets
Overall, few countries are making progress towards meeting the Paris Agreement's more ambitious goal of keeping temperature rise below 1.5°C. However, some major actors have performed commendably well in adhering to the agreement's general targets. India's emissions, for instance, are rated by the CAT as being compatible with the 2°C goal, meaning that while India's emissions continue to increase, they are diminishing at a rate in line with the goal. As the world's fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, India's climate-related actions carry significant weight.
India's investments in renewable energy projects recently outpaced funding for fossil fuels. The country has been making rapid progress in expanding its renewable energy sector and could meet its 2030 target to rely on renewables for 40% of its energy mix early. Much will depend on whether India can decouple itself from fossil fuels in the short term and abandon plans to build new coal-powered plants.
Another entity that has performed reasonably well is the EU, whose financial capacity allows it to set ambitious targets. The bloc is not only on track to meeting its original Paris goals of a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030, but it has also recently announced an increased goal of a 55% reduction. This is an important development, as the EU's original targets were widely seen as unambitious given its wealth.
As the world's third-largest CO2 emitter, the EU was always going to face difficulties in reducing its carbon intensity output. The EU as a whole, as well as many of its constituent countries, has invested extensively in developing a cross-sectoral green economy, notably addressing energy, transportation and agriculture.
A Promising Future for China
Meanwhile, China continues to position itself as a global leader in climate policy, showing tentative promise for a sustainable future. Prior to 2020, China's Paris Agreement goals were widely seen as unambitious and inadequate. However, recent developments and announcements have changed the country's outlook. The country exists as a unique case within the discussion on global emissions. It is the world's highest emitter, and a distinct urban/rural divide, regional inequality and ongoing development in many areas of China mean that the country has yet to reach peak emissions and will continue to invest in coal power over the coming years.
Despite these realities, China's immense financial capacity and desire to be a leader in the tech world has driven the country to invest substantial sums to develop a greener economy. In 2018, more electric cars were purchased in China than in the rest of the world combined, and the country has heavily subsidised the growth of the electric vehicle industry. Despite being the largest consumer of coal, China is also the largest producer of renewable energy. If China is able to implement its national carbon trading scheme over the next five years, it would be home to the world's single largest carbon trading market. China, which has traditionally been a controlled economy, has also shown increased willingness to ride the green wave of market forces to organically achieve decarbonisation.
China has announced or reiterated ambitious climate targets, including pledging to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and to reach peak emissions by 2030. The bravado displayed by President Xi Jinping in his remarks is commendable, although China will need to continue taking decisive action to match its ambitious rhetoric.
Insufficient Efforts
Conversely, some of the world's largest emitters are doing woefully little to meet both individual and collective Paris Agreement targets. Russia, for instance, is the world's fifth-largest emitter, and has expressed little to no interest in decoupling itself from fossil fuels and minimising its carbon footprint. The country is not on track to meet its unambitious Paris target to reduce emission rates by 25-30% by 2030, and has not announced any long-term strategy. Russia has notoriously dragged its feet on climate policy implementation, only ratifying the Paris Agreement in 2019.
In addition to not being on track to meet its 2030 targets, Russia has expanded its reliance on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, while actively limiting the growth of a renewable energy market. The country has also hindered international climate action policy, vehemently opposing the EU's efforts to implement a carbon border tax. Despite witnessing first-hand the warming effects of climate change on the Arctic, Russia has opted to focus on the economic opportunities of these impacts by staking claims to newly-emerged navigational routes in the Arctic and expanding agricultural production further north.
The country has announced tentative legislation that would allow for increased control over CO2 emissions and a carbon market, however any meaningful legislative action is unlikely to occur soon. Before next year's convention, Russia will need to be pressured to update their intended contributions and establish higher targets. Unilateral action against Russia, such as the EU's carbon border tax, could play an important role in motivating the country to decouple itself from fossil fuels.
Another serious offender that has delayed necessary implementation of ambitious climate policy is the US. As the world's second-largest contributor to CO2 emissions, a strong climate policy on behalf of the US would be a significant step towards achieving net-zero emissions. The country's original Paris goal was to reduce emissions by 26-28% by 2025. Despite only formally leaving the agreement in November 2020, the Trump administration has actively rolled back climate-related measures and has given firms liberties to operate free of environmental regulations.
The CAT has rated the US's performance as 'critically insufficient.' While President-elect Joe Biden is set to shift the landscape of climate policy substantially, ample damage has already been done over the past five years. The Biden administration plans to rejoin the Paris Agreement 'on day one,' and announce a new 2030 target and while a Biden presidency may be able to reverse some of the former administration's actions, partisan resistance in the politically polarised country may present obstacles to realising more ambitious goals.
Changing Dynamics
2020 has proven to be a landmark year not only for new net-zero pledges, but also for investments in developing green economies to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many nations have seen the pandemic as an opening to redirect government spending towards expanding their capacity for renewable energy and creating new low-carbon jobs.
Around 30% of the EU's $750 billion stimulus package directly addresses environmentally sustainable projects. France has developed its own stimulus plan, of which one third is to be allocated towards green measures, totalling around €30 billion. Germany has also negotiated a package worth €50 billion to transition towards a greener economy and continued research and development of new technologies. Meanwhile, South Korea has announced its own Green New Deal as part of its economic recovery plan, while New Zealand is expected to place climate change at the centre of its recovery plans. Many more countries are expected to ramp up green investments in the months ahead.
Some countries remain statically opposed to green initiatives within the context of recovery plans. India seems to be inviting private investments to support the country's coal industry, despite the falling costs of renewables. Russia remains unyielding to renewable energy and low-carbon alternatives in its own recovery plans, preferring to support the fossil fuel industry. In the US, it is unclear how much ambitious legislation the incoming administration will be able to push through a potentially divided legislative branch, despite President-elect Biden's economic recovery plan calling for significant investments into green initiatives.
Given the drop in CO2 emissions in 2020 due to the pandemic, global investments towards developing green economies and numerous net-zero pledges, it is possible that greenhouse gas emissions have already reached their peak. While past predictions placed peak global emissions in the mid-2020s, current trends indicate that overall, emissions may never return to 2019 levels even as economies begin to recover.
Fig. 2: Historical, CO2 base and CO2 allowing for COVID-19 carbon intensity trends with uncertainty range; The Breakthrough Institute; 2020.
Best-case scenarios accounting for current trends indicate that the Paris Agreement's goal to keep warming at 2°C by 2100 may be achievable, if just barely. However, it appears that the opportunity to meet the ambitious target of keeping temperature rise below 1.5°C has passed. This failure will have its consequences, particularly on developing countries. The Paris Agreement appears to have provided the necessary momentum to shift nations' focus towards low-carbon alternatives, although the lack of a functional policing mechanism may have doomed the more ambitious targets from the start.
The mid-century net-zero pledges coming from many countries this year are commendable, although countries will need to be held accountable for their actions over the short term. More ambitious and actionable 2025-2030 targets need to be set and announced over the next year.
Much will become clearer over the next few months. The delayed climate conference gives major emitters such as the US and China more time to clarify their climate policy. As countries worldwide continue to evaluate how to implement green initiatives in recovery plans, it is probable that more ambitious targets for emission reductions could be made by or at COP26 next November.
Tristan Bove
Tristan is an International Studies and Chinese graduate of DePaul University. He has experience researching the impacts of humanity's relationship with the environment, and how states can successfully implement strategies for sustainable development. As Policy and Economics Editor, his current interests revolve around the developmental policies that can reconcile equitable economic growth with pathways to a net-zero future.
tristan.bove@earth.org
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Asian Development Bank and People's Republic of China: Fact Sheet
Asian Development Bank | April 2009
Updated yearly, this ADB Fact Sheet provides social and economic indicators on the People's Republic of China as well as concise information on ADB's operations in the country and contact information. The People's Republic of China (PRC) stood as one of the world's fastest-growing economies in 2008 despite the impact of the global financial crisis and natural calamities, including severe snowstorms and the massive Wenchuan earthquake. Gross domestic product (GDP) reached 9%. Following recent changes in the low-income threshold, the PRC Government announced a new official rural poverty line (Chinese yuan [CNY]1,067 [or $157] per capita from CNY785 [or $115]), which classified 43.2 million rural dwellers as poor in 2007, up from 14.8 million under the previous classification, allowing for larger government poverty relief support. The soundness of the banking system and its limited exposure to the sub-prime crisis have prevented financial turmoil contagion in the PRC, but the effects of the crisis have been felt in the real economy through falling external demand and growing unemployment. Plummeting exports reduced industrial output to a 7-year low in late 2008, and economic contraction has resulted in millions of lost jobs.
Asian Development Bank. 2009. Asian Development Bank and People's Republic of China: Fact Sheet. © Asian Development Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/11540/5770.
Governance Approach
Environmentally Sustainable Development
Ecodevelopment
Environment impact assessment
Electronic Government
Communication in rural development
Communication in community development
Environmental auditing
Cumulative effects assessment
Human rights and globalization
Political development
Labor Migration
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