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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India, on October 2, 1869. Although his father was a chief minister for the maharaja of Porbandar, the family came from the traditional caste of grocers (the name Gandhi means "grocer"). His mother's religion was Jainism, a Hindu religion which ideas of nonviolence and vegetarianism are very important. Gandhi said that he was most influenced by his mother, whose life "was an endless chain of fasts and vows. " When, in the company of boyhood friends, he secretly smoked, ate meat, told lies, or wore Western clothing, he had an intense feeling of guilt.
These feelings forced him to make resolutions about his moral behaviour that were to stay with him for the rest of his life. Ghandi married at the age of 13. When he was 18, he went to London to study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1891 and for a while he was attorney in Bombay. From 1893 to 1914 he worked for an Indian firm in South Africa. During these years Gandhi's humiliating experiences of open, official racial discrimination and aphartheid propelled him into agitation on behalf of the Indian community of South Africa.
He started protest campaigns and organized provocating demonstrations, but never used violence. His philosophy was to never fight back against the atrocities, but still never retreat. This, he said, would decrease the hate against him and his fellow believers, and increase the respect felt towards him. Gandhi's one aim was that everybody – hindues, muslims, sikhs, jews, christians, black and white – could live together in peace and harmony. Under the banner "We are citizens of the empire" he gathered Indians from all over South Africa to a march for freedom.
He gradually developed his techniques and tenets of nonviolent resistance, and when he returned to India in January 1915, he was celebrated as a national hero. He was soon asked to participate in and organize India's fight for freedom, as he fought aphatheid in South Africa. Then he started his journey to discover "the real India", the life in the 700. 000 small villages and the countryside with all the hardworking men and women. These were the ones he was going to represent in his fight for justice.
As time passed, more and more people got to know about Gandhi and his controversial views, and Gandhi's popularity grew incredibly fast, something the English Vice-king and government didn't approve of at all. Armed only with honesty and a bamboo stick, Gandhi got through demands like a rebait on rent pay to the English land-owners, freedom for the Indians to grow crops of their own choice and the establishment of a part- Indian commission to hear grievances from the Indians. The Englishmen allowed these demands without questions, "just to see the back of him".
They sent Gandhi to jail several times, but they always had to release him, because he never used or indirectly caused violence or crime. He convinced almost everyone that nonviolence increases respect and decreases hate, but terror-actions and violence justifies the atrocities. Now, the Englishmen were getting afraid of this little, big man. And fright made them dangerous. In the town of Amritsar in 1919, English soliders, armed with guns, attacked and shot to kill hundreds of nationalist demonstrators, demonstrators who's goal was, ironically enough, nonviolence. 1516 demonstrators were killed or wounded.
The general said that he wanted to give the Indians a lesson that would have an impact throughout all of India. The English people and government reputiated this terrible action and the attitude that prompted it. The massacre of Amritsar turned Gandhi to direct political protest, and made it possible for him to propose that maybe it was time for the Englishmen to go home for good. Within a year he was the dominant figure in the Indian National Congress, where Gandhi challenged the Brits: "100. 000 Englishmen cannot control 350 million Indians if these Indians won't cooperate".
That was what Gandhi wanted to achieve when he launched on a policy of noncooperation with the British. Nonviolence and noncooperation would make India independent of the British Empire, and the Indians would see the Englishmen off as friends. The first action of this noncooperation policy was to make the indians realize that to buy and use cotton clothing made in England made the Indian people unemployed and poor. But one day a policeman got killed as a direct consequence of one of the civil disobedience-marches, and Gandhi felt obligated to abandon total noncooperation.
Despite that Gandhi actually stopped a revolution that cold have cost hundreds of Englishmens lives, Gandhi was sentenced to jail, this time on the charges of encouraging the Indian people to noncooperation and civil disobedience. The Englishmen thought that after a few years in jail, Gandhi would be forgotten. But from the first day he became a free man he once again fought for a free India. In 1930 Gandhi arranged one of his most famous anti-English action: The salt march. This was a reaction to England's unreasonable salt-taxes. The Indish people are, as all other people, dependent of salt.
Many Indians couldn't afford salt because of the new taxes. Gandhi gathered hundreds of thousands people, and they all marched towards the Indian Sea to extract salt from the ocean. First, the British government chose to overlook it, but after a while they tried to stop the action. They arrested 90-100. 00 people, and in one demonstration the British soliders killed and wounded 10-20. 000 men. After the salt-massacre the British empire's moral and ethic reputation was lost forever (if there ever were any). India had endured all the cruelties, unreason and hardship, and the people had neither defeated nor retreated.
In everybodies hearts, India was now free and independent. It seemed like the British government finally saw that, because in 1931 Gandhi was invited to participate in a government-conference in London, to discuss "the possible independence of India". But the talking in England ends in nothing, India is still a part of the British empire. Together with his struggle for political independence, Gandhi fought to improve the status of the lowest classes of society, the casteless "Untouchables", whom he called harijans ("children of God").
He was a believer in manual labor and simple living; he spun the thread and wove the cloth for his own garments and insisted that his followers do so, too. He disagreed with those who wanted India to become an industrial country. Gandhi thought that his philisophy, the nonviolent resistance, could be used during World War II. Not without a great number of causualties and deaths of course, but people always get killed or wounded in wars. In 1942-44, Gandhi was imprisoned for the last time, after he had demanded total withdrawal of the British (the "Quit India" movement).
Gandhi was tireless in his attempts to get a closer relationship between the Hindu majority and the numerous minorities of India, particularly the Muslims. His greatest failure, in fact, was his inability to dissuade India Muslims, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, from creating a separate state, Pakistan. When independence of India was finally achieved in 1947 after negotiations in whitch Gandhi was a principal participant, he opposed the partition of India with such intensity that he launched a mass movement against it.
This resulted in a gruesome Civil War in India and Pakistan, the muslims fought the hindues. Millions of people got killed, men, women and children were slaughtered. Gandhi couldn't watch this without action. He started fasting and said he would not eat until he was convinced that the fighting would stop, and never ever start again. And once again the people of India listened to Bapu, the country's Father. The fighting stopped and the people swore that they would rather die than fight again, noone wanted to see Gandhi die!
January 30, 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in Dehli by a Hindu fanatic who mistakenly thought that Gandhi was both pro-Muslim and pro-Pakistan. India had lost their father, the whole world had lost one of the greatest and wisest men ever. Gen. George C. Marshal, American Secretary of State, said about Gandhi: "Mahatma Gandhi has become a spokesman for the concience of all mankind. He was a man who made humility and simple truth more powerful than "Generations to come will scarcely not believe that such a man as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth. "
Essay Papers. (December 2019). Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Retrieved from https://benjaminbarber.org/mohandas-karamchand-gandhi/
"Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi." benjaminbarber.org. 12 2019. 01 2020. .
Essay Papers. December 2019. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. [online]. Available from: https://benjaminbarber.org/mohandas-karamchand-gandhi/ [Accessed 18 January 2020].
Essay Papers. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi [Internet]. December 2019. [Accessed 18 January 2020]; Available from: https://benjaminbarber.org/mohandas-karamchand-gandhi/.
Chapter 8- A.P History Midterm Review
The Evolution of Indian Accounting Standards: Its History and Current Status with Regard to International Financial Reporting Standards
History of Banking in India
African Colonziation In The 19th Centrury


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Villa Living
Fitness & On-Site Rehab
Experience Legacy at Erie Station
Legacy at Erie Station
Legacy at Parklands
Legacy at Clover Blossom
Legacy at Fairways
Legacy at Grande'Vie
Legacy at Park Crescent
The Fountains at Millbrook
The Fountains at RiverVue
Legacy at Cranberry Landing
Legacy at Willow Pond
Legacy at Maiden Park
The Watermark at Brooklyn Heights
A CHANGE OF PLACE WITH A RELAXING PACE
Discover a unique place to call your own.
Love the life you live with a significant dose of small-town originality and charm. Henrietta, New York, has been growing steadily every year since 1930 and now has more than 43,000 residents. A suburb of Rochester, Henrietta's growth is partially a result of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). And, with increasing popularity comes more exciting local events and fun things to do.
If you like adventure, the region offers so much to explore, with natural beauty galore. Visitors to Tinker Nature Park can hike forest trails that were once farmland and explore local heritage at the Tinker Homestead and Farm Museum. You'll also find plenty of shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.
Henrietta Highlights
New York Museum of Transportation
Learn about the transportation history of upstate New York at the New York Museum of Transportation. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and operating artifacts and information about early transportation in the state. You'll find New York's only trolley ride, complete with restored cars initially designed in the 1920s for the Philadelphia and Western Railroad. Don't miss the 14 full-size trolley cars, horse-drawn vehicles, and a steam locomotive and caboose.
Eastman Theatre
The Eastman Theatre's Kodak Hall opened its doors in 1922, showcasing the extravagant decor popular in the 1920s. It was the place for live performances, dance, and screening of silent films. Today, visitors flock to Kodak Hall for orchestra concerts, jazz ensembles, and chorale. If you visit in the spring, you'll find elaborate full-fledged operatic productions on the calendar.
Discover one of Rochester's most stunning natural sights right in town. High Falls is situated along the Genesee River, standing almost 100 feet in height with a massive gorge at the base of the falls. Explore the falls on a scenic tour and capture some stunning photographs. The gushing waters once fed local flour mills and factories. Today, the water helps generate hydroelectric power for the city and surrounding suburbs. There's a visitor center and museum where you can learn more about High Falls and its importance to the greater Rochester area.
The History of Henrietta
Henrietta became a town in 1818, but its history started earlier with the Phelps and Gorham Purchase land sale. That sale opened up the western part of New York for new development following the Revolutionary War. Henrietta was initially referred to as "The Woods of Pittsford" and "West-town." Its name was changed to Henrietta to honor Henrietta Laura Pulteney, Countess of Bath. Sir William Johnstone Pulteney was her father and a significant investor in The Purchase. Early interest in the area included land speculation and possession of natural resources.
EXPLORE LIFE IN HENRIETTA
Enjoy all the colors of every changing season.
Stay up to date on what's going on in the neighborhood, with live updates about local art shows, concerts, comedy events, and more.
Explore Henrietta
1545 Erie Station Road

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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(47162) Chicomendez  es un asteroide perteneciente al cinturón de asteroides, descubierto el 2 de octubre de 1999 por Matteo Santangelo desde el Observatorio de Monte Agliale, en Italia.

Designación y nombre
Chicomendez se designó al principio como .
Más adelante fue nombrado en honor al activista ambiental brasileño Chico Mendes (1944-1988).

Características orbitales
Chicomendez orbita a una distancia media del Sol de 2,2257 ua, pudiendo acercarse hasta 1,9932 ua y alejarse hasta 2,4582 ua. Tiene una excentricidad de 0,1044 y una inclinación orbital de 6,4686° grados. Emplea en completar una órbita alrededor del Sol 1212 días.

Características físicas
Su magnitud absoluta es 15,2.

Véase también
 Lista de asteroides del (47101) al (47200)
 Cuerpo menor del sistema solar
 Cinturón de asteroides

Referencias

Asteroides del cinturón principal
Objetos astronómicos descubiertos por Matteo Santangelo
Objetos astronómicos descubiertos desde el Observatorio de Monte Agliale
Objetos astronómicos descubiertos en 1999
Wikiproyecto:Asteroides/Artículos de asteroides

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We are buzzing about our Beeswax range! O&3 presents Beeswax Yellow (BP/EP). Our Beeswax is produced from the natural secretion of honey Bees. This classic, versatile wax is used in a variety of applications from lip-care through to hair & skin care products. This is a 100% pure & natural wax that has only been filtered & then pelletised to increase the products user ability.
O&3 can confirm Beeswax Yellow (BP/EP) is melted/water washed, melted (100C) filtered & pastillated.
O&3 can confirm Beeswax Yellow (BP/EP)c origin is China.
O&3 can confirm that Beeswax Yellow (BP/EP) supplied is exempt as per Annex IV & V according to EU regulations 1907/2006. This product is not chemically modified, it comes under derogation pursuant to EU regulation 987/2008, Annex II, #9. Hence registration is not required for this product. We can also confirm that none of the substances on the SVHC candidate list can be verified in a concentration of >0.1% in our product.
O&3 can confirm that Beeswax Yellow (BP/EP) IS suitable for food application, only when the appropriate quantity/dilution is used. This material complies with European Food Regulations (i.e. 1881/2006). Please note, if you intend on using this product as a food ingredient we insist you email our Technical Team before doing so for our opinion on the dilution applied to your finished product.
O&3 can confirm that Beeswax Yellow (BP/EP) is suitable for cosmetic application. It is not included in the list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products. Neither does it contain parabens, restricted preservatives, colorants or UV filters (Annex II - VI of EU Regulation 1223/2009).


New Delhi, (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed a tea seller in Odisha's Cuttack for providing education to 70 slum children.
A day after he visited the Odisha city for an event to mark the completion of four years of his government, he spoke about the tea seller, D. Prakash Rao, in the 44th edition of his monthly radio address "Mann Ki Baat".
"He has opened a school named 'Asha Ashvaasan', spending 50 per cent of his income for children living in slums and hutments. He ensures education, health and meals for all the children coming to this school", said the Prime Minister, terming the life of Rao, a tea vendor for the past five decades, "an inspiration to us, our society and the whole country".
He also spoke about underprivileged girls in Rajasthan's Sikar who were stitching clothes for themselves and others.
"Our daughters, who were forced to sift through the garbage and beg from home to home in order to earn a living, today are learning sewing and stitching clothes to cover the impoverished.
"These daughters have become self-reliant today and are living their lives with respect and have become a strong support to their families.
"They have demonstrated that if you have the desire to do something and if you are determined towards that goal then success can be achieved despite all odds," he said.


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'Repression' Tag Archive
Actions, Repression, Saving Iceland
Haukur Hilmarsson – The Loss of a Friend, Killed in the Battle of Afrin
The sad news has come with us that our Icelandic friend and comrade Haukur Hilmarsson, nom de guerre Sahin Hosseini, has fallen in the battle of the Kurdish city of Afrin. He was killed in battle against the Turkish invaders, as a commander in the International Freedom Battalion (IFB) fighting alongside the Kurdish YPG.
We've heard from his Battalion that he first joined in the struggle against IS about a year ago. After his first attempt to reach Rojava through Iraq, getting arrested and deported back to Iceland, he travels straight back and fought in the battle for the liberation of Raqqa. He was loved and appreciated and was given the rank of Commander. When the Turkish army invaded the northern Syrian border, he hurried once again to the defense of the Kurdish revolution.
Haukur, our hearts are full with pain and pride. You were truly beautiful, inspiring, loving, raging, rebelling, an unstoppable force. A storm which we had the fortune to have intertwined with. We've got to know you through our shared love of the wild Icelandic landscape and the actions in defense of its destruction by the aluminum industry. The memories of running through the fields, blocking digging machines, climbing cranes and raving through the streets of Reykjavik. It feels like a lifetime ago, yet you have an unforgettable impression and we feel lucky to consider you as our friend. Even though the years drove us apart and it was hard to keep in touch, we've always carried you in our hearts and minds. With smiles on our faces we watch the images of the Icelandic parliament during the mass protests, and raising the flag of a discount supermarket. A true Anarchist who stood together with your friends at the beginning of the Icelandic anarchist movement. Through all your outrageous ideas and actions, like running on the airport to stop an airplane from deporting an "illegal" immigrant (and even managing, by chance, to block the right plane and stop the deportation), you always had the same smile on your face. A grinning devious smile that's said "let's get into trouble". And it caught on everyone.
When we saw the picture of you in camouflage clothes, with the rifle resting easily on your lap, it was not that same expression on your face anymore. There was a sense of ease in your eyes. A small awkward smile towards the camera. But mostly a sense of being in the place where you could be burning inside yourself. That face was still so much, and it brought tears to our eyes and also brought pride to our hearts. We would have loved to sit aside with you for many more years.
But lives fully lived do not always measure out in time. It is measured by the wind of desires, like a chilly breeze sliding over a field of grass. By the sudden goosebumps in a dark night from the afterglow of a raging and loving fire. In those moments you remind us that you can, and should be, the sum of one's desires and dreams. To keep standing up for that which you believe to be right. And to keep fighting. No matter where your fight lies, and where the fight will take you.
A battle reaching though space and time. Like the poem written by a fighter in the international brigade in the Spanish Civil war against the fascists.
I will not yield
eat dynamite
And I will explode
like a volcano
Dear Haukur. We will miss you with all our hearts. Our thoughts are with your mother, your family, friends and everyone whose life was touched by you in your 31 years on this earth. We will carry you with us forever.
No pasaran!
Corruption, Dams, Democracy deficit, Ecology, Economics, Greenwash, Repression
Large Dams Just Aren't Worth the Cost
By Jacques Leslie
Thayer Scudder, the world's leading authority on the impact of dams on poor people, has changed his mind about dams.
A frequent consultant on large dam projects, Mr. Scudder held out hope through most of his 58-year career that the poverty relief delivered by a properly constructed and managed dam would outweigh the social and environmental damage it caused. Now, at age 84, he has concluded that large dams not only aren't worth their cost, but that many currently under construction "will have disastrous environmental and socio-economic consequences," as he wrote in a recent email.
Mr. Scudder, an emeritus anthropology professor at the California Institute of Technology, describes his disillusionment with dams as gradual. He was a dam proponent when he began his first research project in 1956, documenting the impact of forced resettlement on 57,000 Tonga people in the Gwembe Valley of present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe. Construction of the Kariba Dam, which relied on what was then the largest loan in the World Bank's history, required the Tonga to move from their ancestral homes along the Zambezi River to infertile land downstream. Mr. Scudder has been tracking their disintegration ever since.
Once cohesive and self-sufficient, the Tonga are troubled by intermittent hunger, rampant alcoholism and astronomical unemployment. Desperate for income, some have resorted to illegal drug cultivation and smuggling, elephant poaching, pimping and prostitution. Villagers still lack electricity.
Mr. Scudder's most recent stint as a consultant, on the Nam Theun 2 Dam in Laos, delivered his final disappointment. He and two fellow advisers supported the project because it required the dam's funders to carry out programs that would leave people displaced by the dam in better shape than before the project started. But the dam was finished in 2010, and the programs' goals remain unmet. Meanwhile, the dam's three owners are considering turning over all responsibilities to the Laotian government — "too soon," Mr. Scudder said in an interview. "The government wants to build 60 dams over the next 20 or 30 years, and at the moment it doesn't have the capacity to deal with environmental and social impacts for any single one of them.
"Nam Theun 2 confirmed my longstanding suspicion that the task of building a large dam is just too complex and too damaging to priceless natural resources," he said. He now thinks his most significant accomplishment was not improving a dam, but stopping one: He led a 1992 study that helped prevent construction of a dam that would have harmed Botswana's Okavango Delta, one of the world's last great wetlands.
Part of what moved Mr. Scudder to go public with his revised assessment was the corroboration he found in a stunning Oxford University study published in March in Energy Policy. The study, by Atif Ansar, Bent Flyvbjerg, Alexander Budzier and Daniel Lunn, draws upon cost statistics for 245 large dams built between 1934 and 2007. Without even taking into account social and environmental impacts, which are almost invariably negative and frequently vast, the study finds that "the actual construction costs of large dams are too high to yield a positive return." Read More
Africa, aluminium, Corruption, India, Mining, Pollution, Repression, Rio Tinto Alcan, Vedanta, Workers Rights
Tom Albanese – Blood on Your Hands
On 6th March Tom Albanese, the former Rio Tinto CEO, was appointed CEO of Vedanta Resources, replacing M S Mehta. The newspapers are billing his appointment as an attempt to 'polish the rough edges off [Anil] Agarwal's Vedanta' and to save the company from its current crisis of share price slumps, regulatory delays and widespread community resistance to their operations. This article looks at Albanese's checkered history and the blood remaining on his hands as CEO of Rio Tinto – one of the most infamously abusive mining companies.
The Financial Times notes the importance of his 'fixer' role, noting that:
The quietly spoken and affable geologist is seen as someone willing to throw himself into engaging with governments and communities in some of the "difficult" countries where miners increasingly operate. That is something that Vedanta is seen as desperately needing – not least in India itself. Mr Albanese may lack experience in the country but one analyst says that can give him the opportunity to present himself as a clean pair of hands who will run mines to global standards…"There's a big hill to climb there" Mr Albanese said.(1) Read More
Bjarnarflag, Cultural, Dams, Democracy deficit, Geothermal Energy, Greenwash, Kárahnjúkar, Laws, Mývatn, Repression, Tourism, Þjórsá, Þjórsárver
Björk, Patti Smith, Lykke Li and More to Play Concert for Icelandic Conservation
Event takes place on March 18 in Reykjavik at Harpa.
Bjork will play a concert in protest at the Icelandic government's proposed changes to conservation laws.
The Icelandic singer tops the bill at the event, which will take place on March 18 at the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik, Iceland. Artists appearing include Lykke Li, Patti Smith, Mammút (pictured below), Highlands, Of Monsters And Men, Samaris and Retro Stefson.
The concert is organised in conjunction with the Iceland Nature Conservation Association (INCA), Landvernd, the Icelandic Environment Association and director Darren Aronofsky, whose film Noah was shot on location in Iceland in 2012 and will premiere at Sambíóin Egilshöll Cinema on the same afternoon.
Collectively operating under the name Stopp!, the group aims to encourage the Icelandic authorities to protect Iceland's natural environment and impose controls on the damming of glacial rivers and harnessing of geothermal energy, in light of new legislation, reports RUV.
This project was introduced at a press conference at Harpa on the 3rd of March 2014. Björk and Darren Aronofsky participated in the press conference.
The artists will donate their time and the net income will go to INCA and Landvernd.
The following statement lists the group's demands:
Stop – Guard the Garden!
All over the world too much of priceless nature has been sacrificed for development, often falsely labeled as sustainable. Rain forests have been cut, waterfalls dammed, land eroded, lakes and oceans polluted, earth's climate altered and the oceans are now rapidly getting more and more acidic.
In Iceland, the Karahnjukar Power Plant has become the symbol for the destruction which threatens human existence on this earth.
It is our duty to protect Icelandic nature and leave it to future generations, undamaged. The Icelandic highlands, Europe's largest remaining wilderness – where nature is still largely untouched by man, is not just a refuge and treasure which we inherited and will inherit. The highlands belong to the world as a whole. Nowhere else can we find another Lake Myvatn, Thjorsarver Wetlands, Sprengisandur, Skaftafell or Lake Langisjor.
We demand that Thjorsarver Wetlands, the wilderness west of Thjorsa River and the waterfalls downstream will be protected for all future to come. We strongly protest plans by the Minister for the Environment and Resources to change the demarcation line for the extended nature reserve in the Thjorsarver Wetlands. By doing so, the minister creates a space for a new dam at the outskirts of the area. The way in which the minister interprets the law in order to justify that all nature and/or potential power plants are at stake in each and every new phase of the Master Plan for Conservation and Utilization of Nature Areas is an attack on Icelandic nature and not likely to stand in a court of law. [We have engaged a law firm and we are threatening lawsuit if the Minister goes ahead with his plan]
We now have a unique opportunity to turn the highlands into a national park by bill of law to be adopted by the parliament. Thereby the highlands as a whole will be subject to one administrative unit and clearly defined geographically. Thus all plans for power lines, road construction and/or other man made structures which will fragment valuable landscapes of the highlands will belong to history.
We strongly caution against any plans to construct a geothermal power plant at or near Lake Myvatn. The Bjarnarflag Power Plant is not worth the risk. Lake Myvatn is absolutely unique in this world. Hence, we have a great responsibility for its protection.
We demand that the nature of Reykjanes Peninsula will be protected by establishing a volcanic national park and that all power lines will be put underground.
We find it urgent that the government will secure funds for conservation by hiring land wardens and will protect valuable nature areas against the ever growing pressure of mass tourism.
In particular we protest against the attack on nature conservationists, where unprecedented (sic. S.I. editor) and brutal conduct by the police as well as charges pressed against those who want to protect the Galgahraun Lava, was cruel and unnecessary. We remind that the right of the public to protest nature damage everywhere, worldwide, is a basic premise for the success of securing future human existence on this earth.
We demand that the proposed bill of law repealing the new nature protection laws be withdrawn and that the new laws should take effect, as stipulated, on April 1.
Bjarnarflag, Corruption, Dams, Democracy deficit, Ecology, Economic Collapse, Energy Master Plan, Geothermal Energy, Greenwash, Laws, Mývatn, Repression, Tourism, Þjórsá, Þjórsárver
The Wheels of Greed Are Spinning in Iceland
Iceland once was set as an example of unspoiled nature, clean energy and extraordinary financial recovery. Unfortunately, lately the strong Atlantic winds of change start to blow in the wrong direction.
By Julia Vol
In the wake of the devastating financial crisis that brought Iceland to its knees, the people took charge, went out on the streets and demanded the right-wing government to quit what later will be named the "pots and pans revolution". The right-wing government, led by the Independence Party, was deeply involved in corruption and notoriously known for its crony capitalistic approach in reaching for the country's leadership, which eventually led to the economical collapse.
The new social-democratic alliance led by Johanna Sigurðardóttir came to power in May 2009, and in the aftermath of the financial collapse had a lot of mess to clean and painful decisions to make. However, under Sigurðardóttir's leadership the economic situation stabilized and recovery came about quicker than expected. In the years to follow, Iceland was often quoted as an example for economic recovery to fellow crisis countries such as Greece and Ireland. In addition to essential financial reforms and regulations, the social-democratic government set the foundation for long-term social and environmental sustainability. Natural preservation laws and committees were put forward to minimize the exploitation of Icelandic natural resources for monetary profit, green economy plans were outlined by the Parliament, and sustainability considerations started to receive growing attention in decision-making processes.
Many Icelanders even claim that the crisis turned out to be somewhat a positive thing, breaking the "gold rush" craze grasping the nation over the years prior to the crisis, and helping people get back to basic values and out of their arrogance and greed.
Still, apparently not enough Icelanders shared this optimistic view, as in April 2013 the right-wing coalition led by the infamous Independent and Progressive Parties were voted back into the government, by a majority of 51% of the votes. Only four years after being disgracefully thrown out of Parliament, the two parties were back on the top again. With less than a year in power, things seem to take a backward turn to the worse quite quickly, especially in regards to issues of natural preservation, social justice and governance on the little island.
A More Utilitarian Use of Nature
The results of the administration switch were soon translated into action. Among the first steps of the new government was to cancel out the Ministry of Environment and merge it with the Ministry of Fishing and Agriculture. No conflict of interests there. The new minister of all the above declared upon entering the office, that his administration would be making more utilitarian usage of the Icelandic nature and refused to sign a bill initiated by the previous government to increase nature protection in Iceland. This promising start embodies the governments' general line of argument: that whenever environmental considerations are part of the equation they will always count the least.
It's All About Energy
The previous government had appointed a special professional committee to conduct the "Energy Framework", a document aimed at providing guidelines on which areas of Iceland could be harnessed for power, and which shall be protected, aiming to regulate and limit the exploitation of natural resources for monetary profit. Shortly after coming to power, the new government called to cancel the Energy Framework guidelines and build a new shiny power plant in areas previously categorized as preserved. The government also dismissed over 400 letters from citizens who raised concerns over the new changes – in a manner that was widely described as arrogant and ignorant. Government officials claimed that experts' opinions were more important than public opinion, while forgetting to mention that the two experts appointed to deal with the issues were politically appointed with no expertise in energy nor in preservation.
Over the course of the last half a year new plans have been laid out, setting the stage for more energy projects that violate the Energy Framework and the Icelandic conservation law. Experts from all fields are voicing their concerns and dissatisfaction over the very short-sighted environmental assessments made in the preparations for the new plants, warning constantly about the irreversible damage that will be done to Icelandic wilderness and disturbed ecosystems.
Worldly renowned natural areas such as the Mývatn lake, the Þórsjá river and the Icelandic highlands are put in danger of destruction, all for the cause of producing more energy for aluminum smelters. Lately, the Minister of Environment (and agriculture, and fishing), announced that he aimed to change the existing conservation law to allow further development in preserved areas around the Þórsjá river, including damming the river flow. This area (Þjórsárver, S.I. Ed.) has been protected by both the Environment Agency of Iceland and the Ramsar Convention since 1981. As expected, the Icelandic Nature Conservation Association strongly objected the plan, claiming that this will cause irreversible damage to the entire area and the surrounding waterfalls. The minister's answer to these allegations was that it is okay to sacrifice several waterfalls for the purpose of economic profit which will come out of developing the area.
Infrastructure for Private Interests
The violation of the natural conservation law continued when last October the government presented a brand new program to construct a highway which will pass through an 8,000 year old protected lava field. This expensive plan has been approved by the government right after a long line of a very painful budget cuts in education, welfare, health, culture, research, arts and science (yet not in subsidies to heavy industry). Why such a rush to build a highway in a sparsely populated area in times of financial cuts? The answer followed soon: The family of the Minister of Finances is expected to greatly benefit from the development of this project.
Environmentalist groups appealed against the project to the supreme court, however, the government decided that waiting for the court decision would be a waste of time and gave green light to start the construction. This sparked a protest of concerned citizens, and many of them arrived to express their dissatisfaction with the construction. They were arrested for speaking their mind despite their completely peaceful protest. Among the arrested protesters were some very well-known journalists, professors and public figures, not exactly a group of hooligans. Today, some of these people are facing prosecution
for demanding the government to obey the law. This chain of events vividly demonstrates the government's insistence on proceeding with its plans at all costs, using every possible tool to silence the opposition.
"Enjoy the Icelandic Wilderness (Before it's Too Late)!"
The disruption and destruction of the Icelandic nature reserves is not preventing the new government from attracting as many tourists as possible, and maximizing profits from marketing Icelandic wilderness before it's all gone. Tourism is a very fast-growing industry in post-financial crisis Iceland. The number of tourists has tripled over the past 12 years passing the threshold of 1 million tourists in 2013 (keep in mind that the entire population of Iceland is 380,000 people!). Understandably, this raises concerns over the fragile Icelandic nature, which was never exposed to so many people at once. While the previous government was putting forward regulations and preservation plans, the new government announced that 1 million is not enough and aims to bring over 3 million tourists per year within the next few years. Already today the effects of this fast growing industry are evident all around the island: Massive tourism is damaging fragile ecosystems, and Icelandic cities are turning into tourist attractions with decreased space for the local population. Needless to say that such a steep increase in tourism will put strain on the ecological system, especially since there is still no regulation or infrastructure in place to prevent the long-term effects of massive tourism. No wonder then, that even the New York Times strongly recommended its readers to go to Iceland ASAP, before it's too late.
To Whale or Not to Whale
The paradox of destroying nature while communicating and marketing the image of Iceland as a pure and unspoiled nature destination is very present in the whaling controversy. Last summer the whaling of Fin whales was renewed, and the new administration has also revoked the decision to limit whaling grounds around the capital in favor of whale watching areas. Note that whale watching is the most profitable tourism attraction in the capital area, however, there is an increasing amount of incidents where tourists pay to witness the magic of wild animals but end up watching a very bloody hunting process.
The paradox is that the demand for whale meat worldwide decreases, and that it would be much more profitable to preserve these magnificent creatures for whale watching only. But this does not fall in line with the internal interests of the Icelandic elite, where the family owning the whaling company is well connected. The whaling ships continue their work, and the saddest part of this paradox is that due to low demand many of the endangered animals end their life as dog food in Japan or as some marketing nonsense such as "whale beer".
The Wheels of Greed are Spinning
Iceland is an amazing country and is home to some of the most creative, innovative, talented and entrepreneurial people. It has the potential to become a role model for a sustainable community in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. For a brief moment there it looked that it might even come true. However, it seems that the strong Atlantic winds bring darker times along. Best put into words by the former Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir: "The current government's priorities could not be more different from the ones honored by the last one. Inequality is once again rearing its ugly head, and the sharp knife of austerity has been turned towards the welfare system—all to benefit society's wealthiest and best-off. Once more, the wheels of greed are spinning". Read More
Bauxite, India, Mining, Orissa, Red Mud, Repression, Rio Tinto Alcan, Vedanta
People's Victory Costs Vedanta $10 Billion at Niyamgiri!
On Saturday 11th January the Ministry of Environment and Forests finally gave its statement formally rejecting permission for Vedanta's Niyamgiri mine. This move brings a conclusive end to the ten year struggle of the Dongria Kond tribe, alongside local farmers and dalits, to prevent the mining of this sacred mountain range which is their livelihood. Saving Iceland has followed the struggle and supported our comrades at Foil Vedanta as part of the global solidarity campaign which helped win this unique victory. Read More
Corruption, Democracy deficit, Ecology, Eldorado Gold, Goldmine, Greece, Media bias, Mining, Platina Resources, Repression, Skouries
Skouries – A Story of Political Emancipation
How a mining conflict led to the political emancipation of a community in Northern Greece.
By Evi Papada
Occupied London – From the Greek Streets
Mining conflicts are increasingly surfacing globally due to complains over mines and pollution of water, soil and land occupied as well as over transport and waste disposal. The Skouries forest in Halkidiki has been at the center of a hot dispute between the mining company, Hellas Gold, a subsidiary of the Canadian mining giant Eldorado Gold and local communities. The company claims that an ambitious plan for mining of gold and copper in the area- including deforestation and open pit mining with excavation and everyday use of explosives- will benefit the region through the creation of some 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, while local residents argue that the planned investment will cause considerable damage to the environment and livelihoods, resulting to many more jobs losses in the existing sectors of the local economy (farming, pasture land, fisheries, beekeeping, food processing and tourism). The residents' claims are supported by research conducted by various independent scientific institutions including the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Technical Chamber of Macedonia. In addition to legitimacy questions underpinning the transfer of mining rights from the Greek state to the aforementioned company[1], the Environmental Impact Assessment produced by El Dorado has been found to contain gross methodological discrepancies and whilst the public consultation process could be at best described as cosmetic[2]. Read More
Corruption, Democracy deficit, Economic Collapse, IMF, Media bias, Repression
Come and Meet the Members of the Brand
By Haukur Már Helgason
After being hailed as the world's radical wunderkind for a few years, Iceland left observers perplexed when the parties evidently responsible for its failed neoliberal experiment were voted back in 2013. Who or what runs this shop, really?
You "want to move outside the herd and be independent" because you are "different from the 'ordinary' tourist." You "have above average education" and you "have above average income," says the Icelandic Tourist Industry Association's report from last year, defining their target group, 'the enlightened tourist.' And boy, are you targeted. Read More
Actions, Corruption, Cultural, Democracy deficit, Ecology, Laws, Repression
Passion for Lava – The Struggle to Save Gálgahraun Lavafield
By Dr. Rannveig Magnusdottir
People have different passions. Some people are enthusiastic about coffee, others adore shiny things, yet others are passionate about nature and wildlife. Passion for nature makes people chain themselves to trees, parade naked to protest the fur trade, sail in rough seas to stop whale killing, climb oil rigs to protest drilling etc.
Now in Iceland, a group of environmentalists (lead by the NGO "Friends of the lava" are passionate about protecting a lava field, close to Reykjavík called Gálgahraun (Gallow-lava), from being dug up and buried under major roadworks. Some people might think this very odd. Why protect a small piece of lava since Iceland has so much of it? There is lava pretty much everywhere! There are a number of reasons why this particular lava field is unique and should be kept unspoiled. This lava was formed in the eruption of Búrfell, 8000 years ago and is protected by law.
This beautiful lava field is mostly intact, and contains amazing geological features and old historical paths used by our ancestors. It also has a strong resonance for cultural reasons, as our best known painter, Jóhannes Kjarval, used scenes from the Gálgahraun lava field as inspiration for some of his famous paintings. Furthermore, it is one of the last unspoiled lava fields within the greater Reykjavík area. What upsets people about the situation is that the planned (and possibly illegal) road construction is completely unnecessary. It will only serve a low number of people (Álftanes has a population of 2.484) and the road construction will cost a fortune (approx 6 million Euros).
The argument put forward for the new road layout is that the old road has caused accidents because of icing but out of 44 roads within the greater Reykjavík area, 21 roads were considered more dangerous than the Álftanes road, and of 1427 roads in the whole country, 301 roads have more accidents than Álftanes road. The road could be improved and made much safer for a fraction of what the new road would cost. I don't know exactly what drives the municipality of Garðabær and The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration to pursue this insane road construction but something about the whole thing stinks very badly.
Four nature NGO's have sued the municipality to halt the road construction, but have not been able to change the planned work and the lawsuit is still being processed in court.
In the last weeks hundreds of people have been protecting the lava field and they set up a rota to make sure there was always someone in the lava field protecting it from the bulldozers. These brave people are making a human shield to protect something they love. Today, the police started dragging them away and are carrying them handcuffed like they were the criminals. On days like these it doesn't feel like Iceland is a country of law and order anymore.
If you want to help in any way, you can either show up in Gálgahraun and protest or transfer a donation to their bank account number: 140 05 71017, kennitala. 480207 – 1490. All help is greatly appreciated.
Addition at 13:30 on 21st of October: I just came from Gálgahraun and the bulldozers are already ruining this amazing lava field. Dozens of people have been arrested, there is police everywhere and we all (even the police) stood there horrified watching the screaming bulldozer tear down delicate lava features. The people responsible will stop at nothing, their greed has no limits.
Update in February 2014: Gálgahraun lavafield has been destroyed and the court cases against its defenders have commenced. All are charged for "disobeying police orders". (S.I .Ed.)
Andrej Hunko, Democracy deficit, Laws, Mark Kennedy, Police, Repression, Saving Iceland
Secrets and Lies: Undercover Police Operations Raise More Questions than Answers
Chris Jones, Statewatch
British police officers undercover in protest movements have been shown to have regularly operated outside the UK. Activists, lawyers and MPs have all called for an independent public inquiry in order to reveal the full extent of the practice.
Two-and-a-half years after the unmasking of Mark Kennedy and other police spies in protest movements, new information has emerged that reveals the extent to which police forces across Europe colluded in their deployment. Accusations have been made that police infiltrators were at the forefront of planning protests, acting as agent provocateurs. European law enforcement agencies coordinated these activities in secretive, unaccountable transnational working groups. Police officers formed long-term, intimate relationships with activists, had children with them, and became part of their extended families. The identities of dead children were stolen to create cover "legends."
Rather than provide answers, this information has given rise to more questions:
• On what grounds was infiltration authorised?
• Did national police forces have knowledge of foreign undercover officers operating on their territory and, if so, did they benefit from information obtained by those officers?
• Is forming relationships with "targets" – including having children with them – official state policy?
• To what extent are undercover deployments demonstrative of coordinated European police operations?
• How many – if any – of the groups infiltrated by undercover agents can be said to warrant such levels of intrusion, and how is this assessed?
Legal challenges and political inquiries have been made – and are ongoing – in an attempt to find answers to some of these questions. Official reviews have been carried out in a number of countries, but those that have been made public – for example in Iceland and the UK – have been condemned as lacklustre and shallow by political activists, journalists and elected representatives. [1] The majority of these reviews have been kept secret, providing no answers to those affected by the actions of undercover officers, while those who authorised and took part in the operations have yet to be called to account. While officials may have occasionally wrung their hands and expressed concern, no heads have rolled – yet. [2]
Repeated calls have been made in the UK for an independent public inquiry into the use of police spies to infiltrate movements, including by a former Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald, which have so far been resisted. [3] This article illustrates significant collusion amongst European police forces and arguably only a Europe-wide inquiry, for example by the European Parliament, can go some way towards establishing the extent to which authorities across the continent have undermined civil liberties and human rights. Read More


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Home » Lifestyle » Luke Wilson Breaks Down 'Family Stone' Dermot Mulroney Chase Scene
Luke Wilson Breaks Down 'Family Stone' Dermot Mulroney Chase Scene
12/25/2021 Lifestyle Comments Off on Luke Wilson Breaks Down 'Family Stone' Dermot Mulroney Chase Scene
Watch the breakfast strata! Luke Wilson and Dermot Mulroney's tussle in The Family Stone may have ended in a flash, but the pinnacle scene in the beloved 2005 family drama took much longer to shoot.
A Guide to Every Holiday Movie on TV This Season
"I definitely think it was a couple of days because those dinner table scenes always slows things down. You got the food, and the different closeups and the wide shots and things like that. But once it got turned into that chase and basically a stunt, they had to rig the table and they had to get the food. As fun as those [scenes] are, they do become athletic events where you don't want to blow takes," Wilson, 50, exclusively revealed to Us Weekly. "As much fun as it is, you are certainly concentrating like, 'OK I have to be over here when that happens, and over there when that happens and under the table.' And then the stunt man is going to break the leg out and then Dermot is going to jump on top of me and the turkey is going to fall over. … As organized as they are, they do become chaotic, which can happen sometimes with regular stunts. Once you get rolling they get an energy of their own."
Wilson and Mulroney, 58, played polar opposite brothers in the Thomas Bezucha film. When Mulroney's Everett believes Wilson's Ben slept with his fiancee, Meredith, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, 56, he chases him from the living room to the kitchen until they are eventually rolling around under the table and Meredith is left with her Christmas dish splattered on her shirt. Matriarch Sybil (Diane Keaton) and sister Amy (Rachel McAdams) also slip on the mess and fall alongside their uptight holiday guest.
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"Something like that [takes] an hour to set it up. Sarah Jessica would have to get a new blouse and [fix] her hair," Wilson explained. "That was really fun where I kind of limped back to my car after running around and wrestling with Dermot so much."
The cast — which also includes Craig T. Nelson, Claire Danes, Tyrone Giordano, Brian White, Elizabeth Reaser and Paul Schneider — took part in rehearsals pre-production to bond.
"We definitely had rehearsals, which is kind of unusual in this day and age. And then we worked together on — some of us would go to sign language training together. Craig T., I remember doing it with those guys," Wilson noted. (Giordano played his deaf brother onscreen.) "We did wind up spending more time together and had a couple of nice dinners. It's very helpful. Because Diane — we were all kind of admired her. And in my mind, here's Sarah Jessica and she's sort of this icon of fashion and humor from Sex and the City and then here's the original icon of fashion and humor — Diane. … And then Rachel McAdams was great. … I just remember those being kind of exciting where you're going to dinner alone meeting all these people. Some of them that you know and most of them you don't so you are a little bit uncomfortable walking in. And then I just remember the idea of leaving and saying like, 'These people are great! I can't wait to work with them.'"
Mulroney felt the same way about the ensemble — and Wilson. "We had such an amazing time. I will indeed always love him as a brother," the Hanna actor told Us last month. "I haven't seen him in too long … and boy, I'd love to work with him again. That'd be such a thrill. What a great actor and a great friend."
Lifetime Announces 35 Holiday Movies
Both actors had no idea that The Family Stone would still resonate with audiences today. "I did not see that coming. I knew we were making a brilliant film. Tom Bezucha wrote, directed, designed and just handcrafted this whole film. He's just a brilliant director. So I knew we were in great hands and the cast is incredible," Mulroney told Us. "In several films, there's just no way to even think forward to the future, how it would remain mature over time. So the few that I've been in that have that long life, it's so satisfying. It's incredible because that movie really is like a gift that keeps on giving every year and it brings so much joy and so much heart to people's lives. It's incredible. I knew we'd have it in that initial launch, but I never saw that it would remain. Whole families value that movie together. And to be part of something that, that has that kind of a human connection is remarkable. It doesn't always happen."
Wilson too "can't believe" that it's become a Christmas staple. "I consider that such hallowed ground, the holiday movies," he said. "I did watch that during the pandemic. It was on one night and I watched it in its entirety and I can see why families might kind of get a kick out of watching this all together just because it has so many different, likable characters. Even though it is a a family that does have some turmoil in it and some heartbreak. I'm really happy about how well that's done. … Diane, of course, she was kind of our leader on the movie. She would never say that but everyone was so admiring of her."
Unlike Wilson, "it's been a while" since Dermot last saw the movie. But that will soon change. "Even as we're talking, I decided I'm going to watch it this season," he told Us. "For sure!"
Like most families, the Stones embraced their holidays traditions — with the family coming home to celebrate, baking their annual dishes and decorating the tree together. Off screen, Wilson and his actor brother Owen Wilson used to play football, something he hopes to do once more.
"We used to have this great Christmas Day football game called the Snow Bowl, which was kind of iconic with our family and friends where everybody knew Christmas Day we had a football game. So people would have their Christmas mornings and then come to our house and have a big family football game where everybody would be involved. The smaller kids and some of the girls would go into the house and then it would come down to some of the teenage boys and the dads would get a little more rough and tense but still fun," the Stargirl actor told Us. "But that was our greatest tradition. That's kind of a bummer of getting older. It kind of faded away with everyone getting older and moving away, but that was kind of our best tradition. But hopefully with Owen and Andrew [Wilson] and their kids we can get it up and running again."
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How the AFL ladder would look under Leigh Matthews' theory
Christopher Chrysostomou
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 20: Leigh Matthews attends the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at Crown Casino on October 20, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)
Earlier in the year, AFL legend Leigh Matthews suggested a new concept to increase scoring in the AFL, which is at a 52-year low.
Matthews argues the problem lies with the lack of incentive to kick as many goals as possible and suggested bonus premiership points for teams who score more than 100 points in a game could increase scoring in the AFL.
"It doesn't matter what you do with the rules, coaches determine how the game looks. We've got to incentivise the coaches to score more," he said on 3AW earlier in the year.
"For instance, say you score 100 points, you get an extra premiership point, win or lose. It has nothing to do with the spectacle and the rules of the game the umpires have to adjudicate; it just impacts the ladder as the year goes on."
To test Lethal's idea, we incorporated the bonus point system to the 2019 AFL season to determine whether it would make a difference to the ladder.
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The current AFL ladder
Overall, the bonus point affected eight teams who either moved up or down on the ladder.
Essendon is the big winners in the system, climbing two positions to replace Port Adelaide in seventh position.
The Power slip down to eighth, which knocks cross-town rivals Adelaide out of the top eight.
The big mover inside the top eight is Brisbane who leapfrogs Collingwood into third on the ladder. The Lions began the season by collecting bonus points in their first three games and have currently received bonus points in seven of their 10 wins.
Under Matthews' proposed system, teams would receive a bonus point for scoring over 100 points in defeats as well.
Carlton would be the main benefactor of this system as they have reached a century of points in two of their losses this season.
The full extent of Matthews' theory is difficult to explain with the current format given teams do not have an incentive to score over 100 points.
Yet what we can argue is that it will not drastically alter the ladder.
The full ladder including bonus points is listed below.
Ladder including bonus point for scoring 100+ points Pts 100+
1. Geelong (-) 54 6
2. West Coast (-) 48 4
3. Brisbane (+1) 47 7
4. Collingwood (-1) 45 5
5. GWS (-) 42 6
6. Richmond (-) 39 3
7. Essendon (+2) 35 3
8. Port Adelaide (-1) 34 2
9. Adelaide (-1) 34 2
10. Fremantle (+1) 31 3
11. North Melbourne (-1) 31 3
12. Western Bulldogs (-) 30 2
13. Sydney (+1) 25 1
14. Hawthorn (-1) 24 0
15. St Kilda (-) 24 0
16. Melbourne (-) 23 3
17. Carlton (-) 15 3
18. Gold Coast (-) 12 0
2019 AFL Ladder
George July 14, 2019 at 10:42 am
I think it is an excellent idea! They do something similar in the English Premier League, don't they, with 3 points for a win, 1 for the draw (which happens more often than not) and of course none for a loss.
I can't see why it wouldn't work – then we'd really see a whole new game!
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Gregory L. Norris, Writer
Welcome to the online home of novelist and screenwriter Gregory L. Norris, a writer chasing his own tale.
Experience the Magic of Arthurian!
(Poster art by Judi Calhoun)
Mysterious signs began to appear across the northern hamlet of Berlin, New Hampshire. Even greater mysteries were hinted at through portents, word of mouth, short feature articles in The Berlin Daily Sun, and the Internet destination the curious were directed to, Arthurian. Ancient secrets are about to be revealed, thanks to the luminous Jonathan Dubey, playwright and driving force behind the two-hour theater production set in pre-Camelot England, which takes to the stage starting this week in a venue unlike any other, in a region famous for -- and in desperate need of -- a healthy and thriving theater scene.
It was my pleasure to sit down with Jonathan, a talented scribe from my wonderful Berlin Writers' Group who pens poetry, short fiction, and memoir in addition to writing phenomenal plays (he's also hard at work on a murder mystery for the local dinner theater circuit), about Arthurian, which invites the audience meet a young Arthur, positing the details that created one of history's most beloved legends.
Talk me through the play's genesis.
With a low-budget theater company, I was looking for something that we could do with very inexpensive rights -- or for free. And I thought that something written locally would be the best way to go. I had difficulty finding the right project to work on, so I decided why not try writing something myself? Since I was a kid, I've been fascinated with King Arthur legends, in all the various forms -- books, movies, cartoons. And I realized that classic literature is free to adapt, and because there are so many different interpretations that contradict, I could just about do anything I wanted with the story. But I tried to keep as true as possible to the classic fantasy of Sir Thomas Malory. Sir Thomas took all these legends and myths passed down through oral tradition and put them to paper. They got nabbed and rewritten -- still under his name, but making it very Christian and religious. The church pulled a lot of the mysticism, paganism, sex, and magic out of it. And now we're putting this show on in a church!
(Arthurian Playwright/Director Jonathan Dubey)
You don't appear in Arthurian but are its director. Still, you have a lot of history with the local theater scene in this section of the great northern chimney of New Hampshire.
When I was a teenager, I was involved in a couple of shows in Middle School, High School, and the local community theater, Theatre North. I then took fifteen years off to grow up, get married, have a career, and buy a house, but returned to community theater five years ago. I found it to be an organization with goodhearted people but not enough of them, and cursed by the burden of serious financial problems. That theater organization recently disbanded and Arthurian is our attempt to bring something positive out of the ashes -- and to keep the spirit of Theatre North alive as something new.
Local theater in Northern New Hampshire has something of a storied history. Why is it so important to keep the spirit and magic alive?
It's important to know about local community theater in this area in that there isn't any here anymore. One can travel over an hour to see community theater or summer stock, but art and culture is desperately lacking in this and other economically-depressed regions. There are artists here, and good ones. There are writers and other talented people in Berlin and the surrounding communities, and the public needs to know they're here and to celebrate with us.
(Mario Molina as Sir Pellinore in Arthurian)
Arthurian takes a unique glimpse into the King Arthur Legend by showing his life before he was king. What can the audience expect?
It's a real 'King Arthur Begins' bent, an origin story, starting with Arthur's heritage when his blood father, Uther Pendragon, and Merlin set in motion the events leading to the boy's destiny. Mostly, it details the difficulties of growing up where he's so different from his adoptive family. We, the audience, steal a glimpse into the workings within the walls of Sir Ector's estate, and come to understand these legendary characters in an intimate and unexpected manner. Arthur is tempted to make the same mistakes as his blood father, but ultimately makes the correct though difficult choices that eventually shape his fate.
(Arthurian's cast and crew)
You have an amazing cast of local actors!
We have a varied yet talented cast: young Tanner Cote, in his first performance as "Kay"; June Desmond as "Mim", the Head of the Household -- she runs the house, really! -- has over twenty-five years of stage experience; Zachary Boucher as Arthur has some theater experience, but this is his first lead role; after performing the titular role in The Diary of Anne Frank, Samantha Kilbride changes it up as "Sir Ector"; Tyler Fowler and Miranda Braziere play multiple roles, most notably the devious "Scrounger" and the sinister "Larcena"; Mario Molina commands the stage as "Sir Pellinore"; Corey Shaink brings us a quirky and mercurial new take on "Merlin"; and Mary Champlin as the ingenue "Andrivete". Ramona Dube handles the props as well as the small but important role as "Taubitha", a servant. Amelia Kendall deftly handles the lights and sounds, and first time Assistant Director Danielle Robichaud also serves as Stage Manager. The entire cast and crew are local, all living within twenty miles of retrofitted church venue.
Posted by Gregory L. Norris at 11:00 AM
Labels: Arthurian, Berlin, Berlin Writers' Group, Camelot, Epic, Excalibur, Gregory L. Norris, Jonathan Dubey, King Arthur, Merlin, New Hampshire, Sir Pellinore, Sir Thomas Malory, Theatre North, Uther Pendragon
I absolutely loved this play! Granted my best friend Sam (and my friends Corey and Ramona) were in it ;)
-Kate Tilton
katetilton.com
Gregory Norris
My Short Story Collection
Three Days of Heaven in Xanadu
Gregory L. Norris
I am a full-time professional writer, with numerous publication credits to my resume, mostly in national magazines and fiction anthologies. A former writer at Sci Fi, the official magazine of the Sci Fi Channel (before all those ridiculous Ys invaded), I once worked as a screenwriter on two episodes of Paramount's modern classic, Star Trek: Voyager and am the author of the handbook to all-things-Sunnydale, The Q Guide to Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Alyson Books, 2008). In late 2009, two of my paranormal romance novels for Ravenous Romance (www.ravenousromance.com) were reprinted as special editions by Home Shopping Network as part of their "Escape with Romance" segment – the first time HSN has offered novels to their customers. In late 2011, my collection of brandy-new terrifying short and long fiction, The Fierce and Unforgiving Muse: A Baker's Dozen From the Terrifying Mind of Gregory L. Norris is being published by Evil Jester Press. I have fiction forthcoming from the fine people at Cleis Press, STARbooks, EJP, The Library of Horror, Simon and Shuster, and Pill Hill Press, to name a few.


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To request to order a new fleet vehicle, complete the New/Replacement Vehicle Request Form and email to bgs.fleetservices@vermont.gov.
Annually FMS sends each department a list of their assigned vehicles which have been identified for replacement based on their age, mileage and/or condition. It is important to initiate the replacement order request as quickly as possible to ensure the order is placed prior to the manufacturer's production build out date, which varies by model. To initiate an order the New/Replacement Vehicle Request Form must be submitted to FMS. Vehicles identified by FMS for replacement must be replaced or returned to FMS, or justification submitted to and approved by FMS.
A New/Replacement Vehicle Request Form must be completed for each new assignment and submitted to FMS. New vehicle requests will be filled with an existing fleet vehicle when available. Requests for new assignments should be submitted as soon as the agency becomes aware a vehicle is needed. If an existing fleet vehicle is not available for reassignment, a new vehicle will be ordered which may take approximately 18 weeks to receive delivery from the date FMS places the order.
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If you choose not to replace the Fleet Vehicles that FMS has recommended for replacement and if vehicle has 75,000 or more miles on it; is 6 years old or older; or is considered in fair to poor condition, Fleet Management Services reserves the right to only complete preventative maintenance on the vehicle. If the vehicle needs repair, FMS may remove the vehicle from service.
Please Note: FMS does not typically have extra vehicles that can be used as a temporary replacement if your vehicle is taken out of service.


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WFP, MOE Celebrate School Feeding Day
By New Republic Liberia	 On Jun 3, 2018
By T. Saye Goinleh
The United Nations Food Agency, (WFP), the Ministry of Education and partners on Friday, June 1, 2018 celebrated Africa Day of School Feeding in Monrovia with a parade through the principal streets of Monrovia and an indoor program at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Ashmun Street.
The event which brought together government officials, officials of UN agencies, students from various schools and other development partners highlighted the relevance of school meals in the education of the African children as well as the importance of home-grown food school feeding to enhance food security.
Serving as keynote speaker, Deputy Agriculture Minister for Planning, Research and Extension, Cllr. Cyrenus Cephus lauded WFP and the Ministry of Education along with their partners for organizing the program and proposed the establishment of a "School Garden'' programs all over Liberia, something he believes will enable schools to have their own grown food.
Deputy Minister Cephus said with the help of school feeding across Liberia, many parents are relieved because they no longer have to wake their children up early morning to prepare them for school as they themselves are willing to get up sooner. He noted that if the program continues especially in the rural parts, school enrollment will increase.
In remarks, Assistant Education Minister For Students And Personnel Services, Othello W.Nimely said African School Feeding Day is a day set aside by African heads of states and governments during the 26th summit of the African Union in January 2016 in support of school feeding and chose June 1 of each year to be celebrated across the continent of Africa.
Assistant Minister Nimely mentioned that in recent years, home-grown school feeding has been the focus of the program across African including Liberia. He said African countries and the African Union have already adopted policies in favor of home-grown school feeding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nimely noted that the program has been a key tool in realizing the effort to encourage every child to keep in the classrooms as many students are happy and encouraged to be school mainly the younger ones.
According to him, the school feeding initiative is being mainly supported by the World Food Program and Mary's Meals International has had a significant impact on enrolment, retention and attendance as well as reducing dropout rates among school age children across Liberia.
Additionally, Nimely noted that Mary Meals international has helped by directly reducing short-term hunger among children and serves as vehicle for meeting their nutritional requirements and at the same time closing the gender gap between boys' and girls' enrollment.
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Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.
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Archive for February 11th, 2014
Frozen water lines are causing problems in La Salle
Posted by wlpo on February 11, 2014
You don't realize how often you use the tap until your water line freezes. Just ask the many people in La Salle who are desperate to have their line thaw.
Public Works Superintendent Jeff Bumgarner says they have 25 homes with water lines that are frozen somewhere between the water meter and the buffalo box. Attempts to thaw the lines with a thawing machine have been mostly unsuccessful.
His next idea comes from Ottawa and involves digging to the water line and running hot water over it.
A man on 6th Street has been without running water for a week. He's hiring a plumber with hopes the line could be thawed using an electrical current.
The city is encouraging everyone to leave their water running.
Pipe organ concerts to resume in Streator
The 15th Annual pipe organ festival "Pipe Dreams" returns to Streator. Organists from five churches will perform Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday's schedule begins at 1pm at Park Presbyterian Church; 2pm at Holy Trinity Lutheran; and 3pm at First United Methodist Church. Sunday's schedule is: 2pm at Christ Episcopal Church and at 3pm at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran.
There's no charge to list but freewill offerings are accepted on behalf of local charities.
Power Outage Affected Thousands In Ottawa
Power is back on in Ottawa.
An Ameren spokeswoman says a little before 7am Tuesday, over 2,000 customers in Ottawa were without power because of broken crossarms with their infrastructure.
The outage ended up lasting about four hours.
Frozen water pipes continue to be an issue
Add La Salle to the list of towns asking that you let your faucet at least trickle to avoid frozen water pipes.
The La Salle clerk's office says they're getting word of a "lot of frozen lines" around town. Marseilles, Ottawa, and Oglesby city officials have also urged you to let your faucet run.
Officials in Marseilles say some lines have taken a week to thaw.
Penny Gas Causes Traffic Jams At Illinois Shell Station
WOODSTOCK, Ill. (AP) – An error at a Woodstock gas station caused pumps to sell gas for a penny a gallon.
A Shell station mistakenly sold the nearly-free gas for about two hours Sunday night.
As word spread, cars lined up and blocked traffic.
Woodstock Police used an emergency shut-off to stop the sales before the gas station closed in order to reset the pumps to regular prices. The station clerk working at the time wasn't aware of the glitch.
It wasn't clear how much penny gas was sold.
Sporting goods chain coming to Peru
You will have a reason to go shopping at the former Peru Kmart. A portion of the building at Route 251 and Wenzel Road will be occupied by a Dunham's Sports.
Economic Development Director Bob Vickery announced the new business Monday night. The building will still have space for more businesses. There are plans for a business to be built on the northeast corner of the lot.
That new business hasn't been announced yet but City Clerk Dave Bartley says it will not be a Hooters, contrary to the internet rumor.
Peru to buy back stolen truck
The International dump truck stolen from a Peru city garage is returning to the city's fleet. The truck was stolen in September and found three months later in the Marshall County Fish and Wildlife Area.
The truck took a beating but the city's mechanic thinks it can be repaired. Police Chief Doug Bernabei explained it to the city council Monday night.
He says although they have already received approximately $35,000 from their insurance they can buy the truck back for $8,000 and repair it for $5,000.
Nobody has been charged for the burglary. Bernabei believes it was done maliciously. Nothing else was stolen and whoever took it drove or through a gate.
The truck will replace a truck that's no longer road worthy.


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Just because you're following a gluten-free diet, we know that you don't want to compromise quality, nor do you want to give up your favorite holiday traditions. We believe in starting with quality ingredients, like organic flours and meals that are naturally gluten-free.
Around the holidays, we like to keep things warm, casual, and welcoming. Let your guests nosh on easy finger foods and skip the fussy hors d'oeuvres.


A friend recently posted on Facebook a photograph of her small carefully packed carry on bag that she boasted would be for her 6 week holiday. I commented that I need 6 bags for a weekend away.
I have seen smartly dressed women and men at airports, train stations etc. carrying or wheeling one small bag and I wonder how they do it.
I find it hard to choose so I pack everything then only use a bit of what I take and vow next time I will not take as much. This can be for a weekend away to visit my children or cousins or for a longer trip.
Once when I was much younger I looked at my friend with one bag while I was struggling to keep up as we walked to a bus stop as I had two bulging bags, my coat, handbag, a small plastic bag, a teddy bear etc.
I started to think there was me in life, carrying my emotional baggage full of all my worries with me where ever I went.
While she was light and free. I wondered would I ever be like her.
So far I have not had any luck cutting down on my physical baggage at all. I always over pack and still forget things.
I wonder if there is a correlation between emotional baggage and physical baggage.
If I carried less bags would I worry less?
Do you pack light and have little emotional baggage?
Are you like me with lots of baggage both physical and emotional?


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