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Ag critics will be watching the next throne speech carefully
Our coverage of Bill 6 draws attention
Calf price drop cushioned by price insurance
Letters to the editor – December 3, 2015
Handmade hunting knife worthy of family keepsake
By Kelsey Johnson
After a five-month hiatus, parliamentarians will take their seats in the House of Commons Dec. 3.
Ottawa, quiet recently without the hustle of bustle of the Hill, is back.
First on the agenda is the election of a new speaker of the House of Commons. (Current speaker Andrew Scheer, a Conservative MP from Saskatchewan, has opted not to run for speaker and instead has been named Opposition house leader by interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose.)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will unveil his government's priorities Dec. 4 in his first speech from the throne since being elected Oct. 19.
While agriculture rarely dominates speeches from the throne, industry and those close to the industry will still watch closely.
Among industry concerns: the fate of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and the ongoing review of Canada's grain transportation system, both of which have imminent timelines.
Trudeau has promised to debate the TPP in Parliament and consult with Canadians. When the debate will begin remains unclear. Meanwhile, agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay has asked agriculture stakeholders to write him about how the TPP will affect their industries.
South of the border, it's crunch time. American officials and stakeholders have long said the best outcome for the TPP is to have it passed before the American primaries. If that's the case, Congress must be done debating and reviewing the legislation by the end of January. (The primaries start Feb. 1.)
It's possible Canada's own TPP debate timeline could mirror that of its American counterparts.
Poultry, egg and dairy farmers will look to the speech from the throne for hints about a TPP compensation package. The previous Conservative government had promised a $4.3 billion compensation package for supply managed farmers.
The package, then-agriculture minister Gerry Ritz had said, would be used to cover concessions made under the pending Canada-Europe trade deal and the TPP.
International trade minister Chrystia Freeland has said her government is not bound to the commitment, telling reporters recently the package is under review. (The previous cabinet never adopted the spending authorities). With Ritz now the Opposition's trade critic, expect the fate of the compensation package to be on his radar.
Then there's the ongoing review of Canada's grain transportation system.
While the review is not on the main political radar, overshadowed by the Liberals' plan to decriminalize marijuana, the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and the war against ISIS, the Canadian Transportation Act could emerge as a sleeping giant politically.
Canada's two largest railways are powerful stakeholders in Ottawa's political landscape and are still angry over the previous government's handling of the 2013-14 crisis. Canadian Pacific Railway is challenging the previous government's decision to extend the interswitching radius to 160 kilometres from 30 km under their Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act (C-30). A hearing is scheduled for later this month.
Meanwhile, farm groups hope the review has long-term solutions to their grain transportation woes. The Liberals have said little about the ongoing review, but it did garner a specific mention in both MacAulay and transport minister Marc Garneau's mandate letters.
Trudeau has also instructed MacAulay and infrastructure minister Amarjeet Sohi to make "significant investments in transportation infrastructure, including short-line rail spurs and inland and port loading terminals to improve efficiency, remove bottlenecks and increase system capacity."
No more details about how that would work have been released.
With the report's submission deadline fast approaching, the CTA review could well earn a mention in Friday's speech from the throne. Review chair David Emerson must submit his report to Garneau by the end of December.
The transport minister then has 30 sitting days to table the review's recommendations and final report in parliament.
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Above all, Cuban rum is said to have a certain aroma and taste profile, which is usually described as light, flowery and very balanced. Now after such a sentence, you might expect that I'll let something different follow and write about a Cuban rum that's out of line, but I'm not going to do so. Instead I would like to review a group of Cuban rums today that are relatively exemplary for the rum nation, but do not yet have as much international recognition as other brands.
Conde de Cuba is the name of the bottlings that come from "The Ron Sevilla Factory" in Las Tunas in southeastern Cuba, where rum has been distilled since 1946. In accordance with Cuban law, the rum is made entirely from local sugar cane. The variety "Medialuna" is cultivated here on their own plantations and is also processed there to the final rum. The fresh sugar cane juice is boiled in order to produce molasses and finally it is allowed to ferment in large tanks with the help of the distillery's very own yeast cultures. In the Ron de Cuba series different bottlings exist and in the following I will have a closer look on most of them.
The Conde de Cuba Silver Dry is the "unmatured" quality of the range, i.e. the white rum. However, also this white rum is not really an unmatured one (as I've recently also spoken about in the course of my article about the Veritas White Blended Rum), because it is made by blending different matured rums and a subsequent filtration, hence the white color. With an ABV of "only" 38%, this rum (as well as the other rums of the series) may be a little weak for my taste, but maybe I'll be taught a better lesson here.
Aroma: The Conde de Cuba Silver Dry offers a very light nose. Vanilla and coconut nuances arise, but this is not really complex and intense. However, we are not really dealing with a classic "sipping" spirit here.
Taste: Also on the palate, this rum is slim, simple and mild with vanilla, again associations of coconut and a certain cream note.
Well, it's certainly not the best white rum I've tried so far. It does not come close to the quality of a Veritas White Blended Rum or a Plantation Three Stars. But if you're looking for an uncomplicated, light rum and of course think of it as a cocktail ingredient, you won't do much wrong. In any case, I used it in a Ron Collins and was satisfied.
Preparation: Shake all ingredients except for the soda water vigorously in a shaker and pour into a glass filled with fresh ice. Add the soda water.
The Conde de Cuba 3 Años is the next higher maturation level in the range. It was allowed to mature in oak barrels for three to four years (the fact that former Whisky barrels from Scotland or Ireland are used is probably not surprising, given the tense relations between the USA and Cuba).
Aroma: Theres not really much showing up on the nose here yet. The first impression is still very light with subtle oak notes and a certain, fine herbal tone. Associations of vanilla cream cross my mind.
Taste: Also on the palate, this rum is a very mild and fine one with a quite slim body. A creamy vanilla, some oak wood, cinnamon and orange notes are all I can find here. Also not a real "sipping-rum", but a solid three year old.
Finish: relatively short and surprisingly dry.
With an age of three years, the Conde de Cuba 3 Años is still very close to the Silver Dry, which is why I decided to mix it in a very interesting drink that is actually based on a white rum. The "Lilli" is a cocktail by Davide Demarchi, which I discovered in the German book "Cocktailian Volume 2" about rum and cachaça. The combination of white rum with rosemary and sage is a great thing and here the three-year-old Conde de Cuba harmonizes really well!
Preparation: Shake all ingredients except for the soda water with ice cubes in the shaker for approx. 10 to 15 seconds and finally pour completely into the pre-cooled glass without straining. Top with soda water.
In the case of the Conde de Cuba 5 Años, the manufacturer reports production using the Solera process. And that is unfortunately – contrary to my praise for Cuban rum – not really a plus point, especially not with regard to product transparency. I went into this a little bit more in the context of my review of the Ron Cihuatán Solera 8. Nevertheless: in the end something else decides for me!
Aroma: Regardless of the pros and cons of a Solera, this one shows a certain maturation compared to the three-year-old. Especially the orange tones step into the foreground and the herbs are also emphasized: above all I can find some sage here. Otherwise caramel, oak, nutmeg and some cinnamon combine to a quite appealing, but still very light rum.
Taste: Relatively palatable, but not particularly complex. Orange and vanilla go hand in hand here; spice notes from the barrels are also present and offer a much-uncomplicated rum enjoyment.
Finish: slightly longer than the three-year-old, especially with spices and oak.
Aroma: The significantly higher age is immediately noticeable in intensity and complexity. Oak tones are overly clear and bring with them a whole load of spices: cinnamon and nutmeg are back, subtle clove, vanilla, saffron and a very fine smoke also come through. There are no more fruit notes, which can be found here, but a rich honey, caramel and coffee.
Taste: On the palate, there is a similar picture because here too basically no fruit can be found, but spicy oak with a load of spices, vanilla and caramel, honey, milk chocolate, coffee and cinnamon. A beautiful and convincing rum, which still conveys the light-footed Cuban flair skillfully.
Finish: long-lasting with spices and oak.
The Conde de Cuba Elixir is no longer really a rum, but a "Punch au Rhum", as the label tells us. In addition to plenty of sugar, regional spices and fruits have been added, but these are not mentioned in detail. With only 32% vol. the Conde de Cuba Elixir is therefore much weaker.
Aroma: You can immediately scent the sweetness, no question about it. Nevertheless, the Conde de Cuba Elixir remains rather modest and light in its appearance. The full load of fruit and spice that I initially expected from the term "Punch au Rhum" (as for example with the Clément Créole Shrubb) is not apparent here. Rather, the scent reminds of sugar cane juice.
Taste: Sweet and sugary with spices – Here I actually have something in my glass that remains rather subtle and light, but which should appeal above all to friends of sweet tastes. If you keep in mind that some spirits are sold under the name "Rum", which are much sweeter than the Conde de Cuba Elixir, then you can easily make a recommendation to friends of such "sweet rums".
Here I was curious about a cocktail and dared to try a variant of the Daiquiri, in which the Conde de Cuba should set its own accent together with fresh mint and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao. The variant simply listens to the name "Las Tunas Daiquiri" to honour the region of origin of the Conde de Cuba.
Preparation: Shake all ingredients vigorously on ice and finally strain twice into the pre-cooled glass.
Overall, the Conde de Cuba Rums certainly do not reinvent the wheel and even though the 15 year old is already a recommendable sipping rum, I think especially of cocktails in connection with the series. This is not even meant to be a qualitative degradation of the rums (nor do I want to say that sipping qualities have no place in cocktails in return), but simply to make clear that there can be done a lot with the Conde de Cuba rums in a shaker a stirring glass. As long as you're not up to finding your new all-time sipping favorite.


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Turkey as an Actor of Stability in Lebanon: Responses and Scenarios
Mustafa Yetim
Turkey began to increase its presence in the Levant because of the civil war in Syria, and also had to establish a presence in North Africa in the following years in relation to the developments in Libya. Turkey's emergence as a permanent military-political power during these two long-standing internal conflicts that seriously jeopardized regional stability and active Turkish support have, to a certain extent, created stability and a conflict-free environment in North Africa and the Levant, the very important shores of the Eastern Mediterranean.
In other words, Turkey, which began to shape developments in Syria in cooperation with the legitimate opposition and in Libya with the legitimate government, managed to ensure that the actors it supported became more effective first on the ground, and then in the respective negotiation processes. This reality on the ground has intensified discussions about the possibility that Turkey can become a factor of stability in a number of other countries, such as Yemen and Libya, which have long been buckling under the region's chronic problems. In this regard, Turkey's recent growing interest in Lebanon has led to different kinds of assessments both in the region and in Lebanon.
These different assessments about Turkey's stability-oriented activism in the abovementioned regions and the likelihood of its influence increasing in Lebanon can be summarized in three main approaches. According to the first one, Turkey's role in the region, advocated by countries like Qatar, is positive and should be supported.
The second approach is that of Iran, which has been working on its channels of cooperation with Ankara, instead of making confrontational moves, despite the fact that they have long been rivals and Iran is highly uncomfortable about Turkey's growing regional influence. The third approach is the one adopted by countries that see Turkey's now permanent regional role in the Eastern Mediterranean as a direct threat to their interests; an approach built on a perception informed by a body of disinformation that the media organs manipulated by these countries/actors have been striving to generate and disseminate.
This short work, based on the arguments developed by the adherents of the third approach in regard to Turkey's growing presence in Lebanon, will be analyzing the chief objectives of these arguments over the different dimensions of Turkey's Lebanon policy and how its relations with the religious-sectarian groups in Lebanon might play out.
Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA), Israel, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and former colonial power France have been employing a wide range of political, military and media tools in order to restrain Turkey's growing influence in the region. In particular, France, whose primary interest in the region is reestablishing and consolidating its former colonial influence, has developed multi-dimensional relations with Egypt, the UAE and Israel, whose main adopted target has long been the reversing of the democratization processes brought about by the Arab uprisings, and with Greece and the GCA, which aim to deny Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) their rights in the Eastern Mediterranean through illegal methods.
Therefore, these countries have begun to use the same rhetoric about Turkey's initiatives in Lebanon as the one they adopted against Turkey's activities in the countries where it has been an actor of stability.
The media organs of these countries, which have developed almost a common language in this regard, have been engaged in the dissemination of such baseless claims as, "Turkey aims to become the protector of the Sunnis in Lebanon", "Turkey supports the Muslim Brotherhood", "Turkey has an Islamic attitude", "Turkey has been trying to create groups in northern Lebanon loyal to itself" and, even, "Turkey has smuggled weapons into Lebanon".
Using these baseless claims that even Armenia voices, the actors in question have supported France, one of the primary foreign culprits responsible for the chronic problems in Lebanon, as a power that will hopefully counterbalance Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean in general, and in Lebanon in particular.
Ankara, with its interest in Lebanon growing particularly after it joined the peacekeeping force under the United Nations (UN) following the conflicts between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, opened the Turkish Trauma and Rehabilitation Center in 2010 in Sayda, which is known as a Hezbollah-controlled area, and a branch of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) as well.
Moreover, with the intensification of the activities in Lebanon of such institutions as the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), the main axis of Turkey's approach to Lebanon came into greater focus. This benevolent approach became more pronounced after the Beirut Port explosion on Aug.
4 this year, with Vice President Fuat Oktay and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who visited the country right after the explosion, emphasizing in definitive terms during their visit that Turkey did not discriminate between any groups in Lebanon and was following a win-win policy based on maintaining contact with every group in the country to make sure that Lebanon is restructured economically and politically, as well as in all other key areas.
Compared to the French approach to the country, Turkey apparently felt the need to openly state again that the sole purpose of its interest in Lebanon is to contribute to the efforts to reestablish stability, and that it has nothing to do with any colonial aims or any intention to exploit natural resources. Therefore, although Turkey is already shown high levels of sympathy particularly by the Sunni and Turkish-origin communities in northern Lebanon and [the Lebanese] Tripoli, it has also adopted the aim of developing communication with all of the parties involved, as evidenced by the visits to many groups in the country.
In this context, despite its political-military conflict in the Syrian civil war with Turkey, and despite its favorable approach to the terrorist PKK-PYD, the Iran-backed Hezbollah does not seem to oppose the Iran-Turkey cooperation in Syria. Furthermore, Hezbollah has strong ties with Hamas and its relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE are severely problematic, and in this regard, it also seems to have an approach similar to that of Turkey.
Therefore, one might safely conclude that Hezbollah will not be averse to Turkey's role in Lebanon, hoping that it would help to break the Saudi-Emirati influence in the country and also serve as a new counterweight to Israel. The fact that the Turkish hospital built by Turkey in Sayda is in a Hezbollah-controlled area may also be a sign that Hezbollah does not have a radical attitude towards Turkey.
On the other hand, apart from Hezbollah, important figures in the Lebanese Shiite community such as Sheikh Subhi al-Tufayli, who was the first secretary general of Hezbollah, made positive remarks about Turkey's efforts in Syria and Libya.
This is yet another indication that Turkey, with its non-sectarian approach, is on the right track and that major Shiite figures do not take issue with the likelihood of Turkish influence increasing in Lebanon. Thanks to the strong historical and cultural ties dating from the Ottoman period, there is a very fertile ground for developing multifaceted relations between Turkey and Lebanon, but also thanks to the about 50-80 thousand Kavashra Turkmens in the Akkar region in northern Lebanon, communities known as "Mardalli" with members numbering in the vicinity of 20-30 thousand who are originally from the southeastern Turkish province of Mardin, and also the Sunni groups in the country.
Maronite Christians, however, seem to have an overall negative attitude towards Turkey, as evidenced by the anti-Ottoman remarks Lebanese President Michel Aoun made on account of the 100th founding anniversary of Lebanon. Considering that the Maronite groups have traditionally been supported by France, one can easily make sense of this attitude.
But on the other hand, it should also be noted that the Maronite groups do not monolithically have the same attitude. Some of these groups have positive relations with Israel, while others stand close to the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) of Michel Aoun, and some are in alliance with Hezbollah. In other words, as seen in Lebanon's sectarian groups, there are pluralistic and different approaches in the Maronite community as well, and this could open the door for Turkey to develop relations with some of the Maronite groups there.
One of the groups with radically negative views on Turkey is the Armenian Lebanese community, although they do not exert much influence on Lebanon's domestic and foreign politics. One might say that the improvement of the relations between Turkey and this Armenian-Lebanese community is contingent on Turkey's political relations with Armenia and the attitude of the Armenian diaspora.
The Claim that France is "Neutral" is a Deliberate Distortion of the Reality
As far as the Druze, another major sectarian group in Lebanon, and particularly the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), which basically leads this community, are concerned, it seems possible for Turkey to develop relations with the PSP within a certain framework, considering that it is an ally of the Future Party of Saad al-Hariri, which, just like Turkey, is strongly opposed to the Bashar Assad regime in Syria.
Therefore, with its strategic importance in terms of the energy reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean and their transfer to the world markets, as well as with its many sectarian-religious communities, Lebanon clearly needs Turkey's stabilizing role. In Lebanon, where political conflicts between different sects have become a chronic issue owing to the systemic divisions, a stable environment likely to be created with the support of Turkey would be making a positive contribution to the other conflict zones in the Middle East as well.
This being the case, France, with its colonial past, and the actors in question that it has been supporting describing Turkey's stability-oriented Lebanon initiatives as "neo-Ottoman" and "Sunni-centered" is very ironic, to say the least, not least because France is the chief foreign culprit responsible for the chronic problems the country is still mired in.
To put it more clearly, France, whose Lebanon policy has long been centered on the Christian Maronites in the country, being presented by the aforementioned actors as "neutral" and being "in communication with all of the groups" in the country, whereas Turkey, despite its truly inclusive policies about Lebanon, being accused of being "Sunni-centered" and "acting as an invader" is merely a deliberate distortion of the current as well as historical realities.
With an actual base and strong background in Lebanon's culture and history, Turkey shares a common ground in various fields with a number of other actors apart from the Sunni and Turkmen communities that already support it and thus has the capacity to play a conciliatory role between the local actors in Lebanon.
Thus, having repeatedly stressed that its Lebanon policy is not sectarian, Turkey is an actor that has been acting on the basis of inclusivity and humanitarian aid toward the rebuilding of the country in every way, and as such, its potential to make positive contributions to Lebanon's stability, despite all the black propaganda against it, is sufficiently high.
This article was published in Anadolu Agency website under the title of "Turkey as an actor of stability in Lebanon: Responses and scenarios" on November 13, 2020.
"Renewed" Period in the Lebanon Politics and Michel Aoun: Chances and Impossibilities
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MANTECA -- Recently, Manteca's local Santa Claus was put into hospice care and now the community is rallying to ensure he will be remembered forever.
For the past decade, Ben Jetton has taken the seat of Santa at a hut in downtown Manteca off Union Road and West Yosemite Avenue, listening to the Christmas wishes of children and pets alike.
"I love to do it because of the community atmosphere," Jetton said during an interview in 2013. "I love the people. I love the children."
That love shown through being Santa can still be felt as people hang around the hut, though Jetton is no longer there.
"Ben's wish, as well as ours, is to keep the hut open and keep it going," said Penni Jordan. "That would be everything to us, so that his legacy can keep going."
Thoughts on Jetton's legacy becoming more prominent this past week after he entered hospice, a battle with cancer nearing a close.
Jordan, whose son Isaac has special needs and would visit Santa nearly every day, and Jennifer Munoz, say they will continue to honor the legacy of the man born to be Santa.
"I think he was born with the hat and the suit on and a twinkle in his eye," Munoz said. "He came out, instead of crying, he came out saying, 'Ho, ho, ho.'"
Thanks to Jetton's insistence on a ramp for those with special needs, everyone can visit the hut, which is still open for families and pets to get their picture taken. His daughter Monique will be behind the camera as another Santa fills in. The community hopes that a nonprofit will take on the hut to continue the yearly tradition.
A YouCaring account has been set up to help Jetton's wife and daughter.


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Aiming to Change: In CANDLES, a teenaged playwright tackles gun violence
Smalley Bogg January 7, 2020	No Comments
Inspired by the experience and advocacy of students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, one local young playwright is asking audiences to pay attention to youth voices and to see past partisan politics.
In Candles, Angelina DeMonte, Philadelphia Young Playwrights resident playwright and Harriton High School sophomore, shows how deeply youth are affected by these tragedies and highlights the multitude of ways they can – and do – grieve, process, speak out, and advocate for themselves. With at least 100 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in the US in 2019 so far, and over 100 reported threats against schools a month in Pennsylvania in the last academic year, this incredibly timely world premiere will be Philadelphia Young Playwrights' first ever Barrymore-eligible production.
"I created characters who are journalists, because as a writer, I understand how writers think – the ability and the drive to pick something apart in order to figure it out, to look deeper into questions that some people may be too scared to ask," says DeMonte. "The writing and speeches of the Stoneman Douglas students after the 2018 shooting were also inspiring. And I was curious about the idea of speaking out in different ways than what's usually publicized, and to explore how student journalists might navigate the issue fake news."
Directed by Bi Jean Ngo, Candles will premiere at the Arden Theatre's Hamilton Family Arts Centeron Thursday, January 16, 2020, at 7:00pm and run through January 25. Supported by DeMonte's extensive research into the Parkland shooting, the play follows three students in the school newspaper club after their Philadelphia area school high school is attacked by an armed student. Candles explores their carefully crafted, individualized responses to trauma, and seamlessly integrates poetry, spoken word, and music as the students realize they can make their voices heard not only through traditional protest, but by using what they know best: writing, reporting, and music (sound design by Lucas Fendlay). It stars Ang Bey, Danielle Coates, Owen Corey, Tyler S. Elliott, and Yannick Haynes.
Angelina Demonte
"DeMonte researched the effects of trauma, and then took the different potential responses to trauma and personalized them, grounded them in the details of these characters' lives to show that there's more than one way we can walk away from a devastating event like this. She has an incredible ability to synthesize information she's passionate about and put it down on the page so that it comes to life as a story rather than just facts," says Mindy Early, Philadelphia Young Playwrights' director of education and program services, and a trauma-informed teaching artist and trainer.
This production of Candles builds on Philadelphia Young Playwrights' efforts in recent years to lift young people's voices into community conversation as legitimate artists. It is the first production of their Resident Playwright Professional Development Project, which offers one student playwright the crucial opportunity for pre-professional development; a full-fledged, professional production; and portfolio-building.
"Philadelphia Young Playwrights is saying, 'This topic matters. This young person's voice matters. And through this one voice, we're saying the voice of all young people matter, and should be lifted into community conversation more frequently," says Lisa Nelson-Haynes, executive director of Philadelphia Young Playwrights.
DeMonte started writing plays in eighth grade through Philadelphia Young Playwrights' in-school program. Her first play, Say Who Are You That Mumbles In The Dark, was selected among over 700 entries for Philadelphia Young Playwrights' New Voices Festival and was performed at Temple University in October 2018. It was during this production that she first realized she could channel her passion for speaking out against gun violence through her playwriting. She has been in the Resident Playwrights Program, where she developed Candles, since 2018. The multidisciplinary play draws on her experience as a poet, actor, spoken word artist, and musician.
Each performance will include a talkback led by a Philadelphia Young Playwrights staff member. The talkback will feature various members of the artistic team, and will give audiences and artists the opportunity to learn from one another, while offering insights into the creative process and the thematic content of the work.
[Arden Theatre's Hamilton Family Arts Center, 62 N 2nd Street] January 16-25, 2020; .phillyyoungplaywrights.org
Abby SchlackmanAng BeyBi Jean NgoBrittany BrewerDanielle CoatesLucas FendlayMarisa GittelmanNoelle McManusOwen CoreyTyler S. ElliottYannick Haynes
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We are all about development that makes a difference and moves cities forward. The Peebles Corporation has a well-established history of committing our bottom line to the long-term betterment of the communities in which we build.
A prime example is our career-focused educational programs for youth that have become models for neighborhoods in transition. Our programs remain long after the project is done. In 2001, after completing construction of the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center in Washington, D.C., we founded the Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT). Today, it comprises three separate academies incorporated into high schools throughout the District whose students are 92% minority.
AOHT serves approximately 400 students annually and exposes minority youth to all aspects of the hospitality industry, from operations to ownership, to prepare them for promising futures in the business. AOHT has been so successful it's been adopted as the hospitality model by the National Academy Foundation, a network of educational, business and community leaders who work together to ensure high school students in high need communities are ready for successful futures.
Peebles plans to replicate this model and open a similar entrepreneurial program in Charlotte's Brooklyn Village development. In Miami, Don and Katrina Peebles helped found CARE Elementary School to provide an education to the underserved youth of the Overtown community. The goal of CARE is to give children from this community the best opportunity for academic success and character development. CARE places an emphasis on inclusion, understanding, and acceptance, by valuing the strong multicultural backgrounds of its community and providing a nurturing and safe environment in which to prepare assertive, lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
Community - Leading
Open dialogue.
Stakeholder participation.
Public service programs.
These are the components crucial to the success of every Peebles Corporation project. Community engagement early in the process ensures full transparency and allows us the opportunity to fine-tune the project to achieve the best product possible for the neighborhood.
PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE
Copyright © 2021 The Peebles Corporation


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U.S. reaches daily high of nearly 228,000 COVID-19 cases with California in focus; Russia starts vaccinations
Coronavirus infections continue to spread at record levels in the United States, reaching a new daily high of nearly 228,000 cases on Friday.
The 227,885 cases eclipses the previous high of more than 217,000 on Thursday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
The seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 attributable deaths in the U.S. has passed 2,000 for the first time since the spring. It reached 2,011 on Friday. Two weeks ago, the seven-day average was 1,448. There were 2,607 deaths reported in the U.S. on Friday.
Read: CDC forecasts up to 19,500 deaths from COVID-19 in week ending Dec. 26
Globally, Johns Hopkins reports more than 1.5 million people have died from the coronavirus pandemic, including more than 279,000 in the United States.
Read: Biden wants Americans to wear masks for 100 days — do they protect against COVID-19 or merely promote healthy behavior?
THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
A coronavirus surge hitting much of the U.S. is threatening to overwhelm hospitals in California. Five San Francisco Bay Area counties have imposed a new stay-at-home order for their residents that will take effect Sunday. Much of the rest of the state could join this weekend. In Washington, optimism is finally building for a COVID-19 aid bill that would offer relief for businesses, the unemployed, schools and health care providers. In Moscow, thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations ahead of a Russia-wide immunization effort, though the Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety.
Read : California on the brink: Virus rages and closures imminent
Don't miss: Bank workers could get COVID vaccines before most Americans
MOSCOW — Thousands of doctors, teachers and others in high-risk groups have signed up Saturday for a coronavirus vaccination in Moscow.
The vaccination effort comes three days after President Vladimir Putin ordered the launch of a "large-scale" immunization campaign even though a Russian-designed vaccine has yet to complete the advanced studies needed to ensure its effectiveness and safety in line with established scientific protocols.
The Russian leader said Wednesday that more than 2 million doses of the Sputnik V shot will be available in the next few days, allowing authorities to offer shots to medical workers and teachers across the country starting late next week.
On Saturday, Russia reported a record 28,782 daily cases, including 7,993 in Moscow. Russia's 2.4 million confirmed cases is the fourth-largest caseload in the world behind the United States, India and Brazil.
There's been 42,684 total confirmed deaths in Russia.
Read: What we still don't know about COVID vaccines after the U.K.'s emergency-use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech candidate
NEW DELHI — India has registered 36,652 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.
India's health ministry on Saturday also recorded 512 deaths in the past 24 hours, taking total deaths to nearly 140,000. The pace of new cases has seen a downward trend, with single-day cases remaining below the 50,000 mark for a month.
India has 9.6 million total cases, second behind the U.S. with 14.3 million. But globally it has one of the lowest deaths per million population, according to the Health Ministry.
India's home ministry has allowed states to impose local restrictions, such as night curfews. It has asked state officials to consult before imposing lockdowns at state, district or city levels.
CASPER, Wyo. — An official in Wyoming's Department of Health involved in the state's response to the coronavirus is questioning the legitimacy of the pandemic and describes a forthcoming vaccine as a biological weapon.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Igor Shepherd called COVID-19 a "so-called pandemic" at a Nov. 10 event in Loveland, Colorado. It says Shepherd described efforts to develop a vaccine as a plot by Russia and China to spread communism worldwide.
Shepherd was introduced as a Wyoming Department of Health employee before his presentation.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and other top state officials have declined to comment.
VENTNOR, N.J. — The FBI is telling anyone who underwent a coronavirus test at a New Jersey laboratory to get retested and to contact the agency.
In a statement Friday on Twitter, the FBI's Newark office urges people who were recently tested for the virus at Infinity Diagnostic Laboratory in Ventnor "to be retested as soon as possible." It also asks that anyone who was administered a finger-prick blood test at the laboratory to contact a victim assistance unit at the FBI.
The announcement gave no further details, and a message left with the FBI seeking further information was not immediately returned.
Voicemail for the company's operations director Friday evening said it was closed and didn't offer the opportunity to leave a message.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has authorized medically trained National Guard soldiers to fill nursing roles, drive ambulances and perform coronavirus testing for hospitals that are overstretched on staffing while they care for a climbing number of coronavirus patients.
The order Friday allows the adjutant general to send hospitals reinforcements from the Tennessee National Guard. The state is focusing on troops who are actively assigned, including those serving in coronavirus testing roles statewide, but not those currently serving in civilian jobs in health care.


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Joe Brown – alpinista britannico
 Joe Brown – cantante britannico
 Joe Brown – cestista
 Joe Brown – giocatore di football americano statunitense
 Joe Brown – pugile statunitense
Joe Brown (1884-1965) – attore statunitense
Joe E. Brown (1892-1973) – attore statunitense
Joe Brown Jr. (1921-2001) – attore statunitense

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


SA36 news, reviews and local events in SA36 areas including Clydau, Crymych, Glogue, and communities in SA36. Are these places the most relevant to this postcode? Let us know!
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About Zecotek & Our Team
History of Zecotek
Zecotek LFS Scintillation Crystals
Zecotek MAPD Photo Detectors
Zecotek LFS Scintillation Crystals – Arrays
3D Technologies
Zecotek 3D Displays
US$2.5 Million Payment for LFS Crystals
4 years ago by Zecotek
Zecotek Receives US$2.5 million Payment for LFS Scintillation Crystals Purchase
Singapore, December 29, 2014 – Zecotek Photonics Inc. (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I; OTCPK: ZMSPF), a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for industrial, healthcare and scientific markets, today announced that its subsidiary Zecotek Imaging Systems Pte. Ltd. has received a payment of US $2.5 million for new and previous orders of the Company`s patented LFS crystals and crystal arrays. The total sum includes an initial payment of US$500,000, as part of a long term plan to supply crystal arrays for use in new generation Time of Flight positron emission tomography (PET) scanners, and pre-clinical scanners for pharmaceutical drug development.
"PET medical device OEMs and developers within the imaging industry are recognizing the price point and unique performance and technological advantages of Zecotek`s patented LFS scintillation crystals," said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc. "The molecular imaging industry is growing at rapid rate, particularly at the pre-clinical level for pharmaceutical drug analysis, and the clinical level with the advent of Time-of-Flight PET modality for higher spatial resolution and more accurate diagnostics. We have started to capitalize on our advanced imaging components and sound strategic partnerships as the market shows readiness for the adoption of new technologies. Commercialization has been a long and challenging journey, but we are nearing the point where we can look forward to full-scale adoption of our technologies and to substantial upside in the New Year."
Zecotek's patented (US patent No. 7,132,060) LFS scintillation crystals are known for their high light yields and ultra-fast decay times which allow for faster and higher-resolution operation of medical and industrial imaging devices including PET medical scanners. Zecotek's line of LFS crystals covers a wide range of emission wavelengths which can be tailored to match the spectral sensitivity of various photo detectors including the solid-state MAPD photo detector arrays.
The LFS scintillation crystals are manufactured under contract by the Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Company (BOET), a subsidiary of North-China Research Institute of Electronics-Optics and an industry leader in growing, cutting, polishing and large scale production of scintillation crystals grown by the Czochralski method. Zecotek's manufacturing process permits the growth of large-diameter boules with uniform properties and without cracking (a problem with many competing scintillation materials), resulting in high element output and lower unit costs.
About Zecotek
Zecotek Photonics Inc (TSX-V: ZMS; Frankfurt: W1I) is a photonics technology company developing high-performance scintillation crystals, photo detectors, positron emission tomography scanning technologies, 3D auto-stereoscopic displays, and lasers for applications in medical, high-tech and industrial sectors. Founded in 2004, Zecotek operates three divisions: Imaging Systems, Laser Systems and 3D Display Systems with labs located in Canada, Korea, Russia, Singapore and U.S.A. The management team is focused on building shareholder value by commercializing over 50 patented and patent pending novel photonic technologies directly and through strategic alliances and joint ventures with leading industry partners including Hamamatsu Photonics (Japan), the European Organization for Nuclear Research (Switzerland), Beijing Opto-Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. (China), NuCare Medical Systems (South Korea), the University of Washington (United States), and National NanoFab Center (South Korea). For more information visit Zecotek Photonics, follow @zecotek on Twitter and "like" us in Facebook.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management's expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results and trends may differ materially from what may have been stated.
For Additional Information Please Contact:
Zecotek Photonics Inc.
Michael Minder
ir@zecotek.com
The TSX Venture 50® are the top 10 companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, in each of five major industry sectors – mining, oil & gas, technology & life sciences, diversified industries and clean technology – based on a ranking formula with equal weighting given to return on investment, market cap growth, trading volume and analyst coverage. All data was as of December 31, 2013.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. If you would like to receive news from Zecotek in the future please visit the corporate website at www.zecotek.com.
US Patent Granted to Zecotek for Data Acquisition
Zecotek Moved to Commercialise Photonics Technologies
Chinese Institute for High Energy Physics Commits to Zecotek's LFS Scintillation Crystal for Adoption in Advanced Scientific Equipment
The NA61 Experiment at CERN Orders More MAPDs
Zecotek Ships over US$225,000 of LFS Scintillation Crystals
Hamamatsu to Showcase Zecotek Imaging Technologies
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Have questions about our products? Want to see our products on display in Vancouver and Singapore? Thinking about investing?
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Crasco Building
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© 2019 Zecotek Photonics Inc.


Under the auspicious presence and support of Her Excellency Madam Cécile Longé, The French Ambassador to Bahrain, Bahrain Fashion Incubator (BFI) represented by its co-founders Mrs. Jalila Aarab and Mrs. Lamees Qasem, met with leading figures and pillars of the French Fashion Industry in Paris, France. The meetings were held with Mr. Christian Blanckaert, President of Christian Blanckaert Management and Former Executive Vice President of Hermès International and Chairman & CEO of Hermès Sellier, and Mr. Pascal Morand, Executive President of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, the leading fashion federation responsible for the promotion of French brands, Fashion culture and international development in addition to organization of Paris Fashion Week.
BFI also held a fruitful meeting with Professor Helene Kassimatis, Deputy Director of Executive Education at Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) the leading Fashion Design and Fashion Management Academic Institution in France and the world.
The meetings which were organized by Ecole Supérieure des Affaires (ESA) Business School and represented by Ms. Cheryl Mattar and Mrs. Sandra Aboud, focused on discussing collaboration initiatives between BFI and the French institutions and figures for its pre-incubation program (Dilmun Star), incubation program (Designer in Residence) as well as developing customised academic programs to be held in Bahrain and France for the benefit of building a fashion eco-system in Bahrain and the GCC region.


The difference between taking care of your own plumbing issues and hiring outside help is incredible when it comes to your cash flow. Why not see if you can do some of the jobs yourself? Of course, a professional offering property maintenance services will be the best option, but you can at least become a little more knowledgeable on the subject. Here are some useful facts and tips.
Before starting any plumbing project be sure to turn off the main water supply. Water damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair. To minimize damage, turn the main water supply off as well as any shut off valves near where you are working. This will save a great deal of hardship later on.
Roots from a tree in your back yard can be a real headache when it comes to plumbing. Make sure if you have a big tree or bush or some kind of plant with a big root system that you ask your plumbing company about root killing agents. You can flush these down your toilet and kill any roots that may be blocking your pipes and save yourself a lot of money by stopping a backup before it happens.


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Evil 'Transformers' DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 08/29/2011
Evil 'Transformers'
No, it's not the sci-fi action flick we are writing about. It's about the real "Transformers" in our world — those giant, steel-hearted, mechanical monsters roaming the boardrooms of power companies that "transform" public utilities into humongous profit machines. It's about power companies that transform the public's need for electricity into an unimaginable nightmare for millions of Filipino consumers.
Once the Lopez Group, the Philippine Electric Corp. (Philec) and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) are both seen in this light. One supplies actual power transformers and related equipment to the other at what many consider as massive transfer prices of up to 500 percent or more. Our source, who will only testify in public once Congress musters the courage to conduct an honest-to-goodness investigation, claims to have the goods on this.
For a time, as Meralco transitioned from the old guard to the new, sanguine hopes about the eventual dissolution of the tight embrace between the two said companies were raised. It was even claimed that power prices will be brought down since that kind of a set-up will end with the change in management.
It has been pointed out by industry watchers that these so-called "sweetheart deals" form a major component of Meralco's capital base submission to the state regulatory body, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), upon which the past 12-percent Return-on-Rate Base (RoRB) and the current 15.8-percent Performance Based Regulation (PBR) rate setting schemes are computed. If the supplies and equipment — from transformers, electric poles, to project costs of installations such as substations or plants — are overpriced by exponential percentages, then so are our electricity rates.
The source of this news has, in fact, gone directly to the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of Philec which price power transformers for each mega volt-ampere (MVA), similar to horsepower in engines.
In the Taiwan OEM plant visited by our informant for the purpose of getting the real bottom price, for instance, a quote of P250,000/MVA was given — far less than the P600,000/MVA reported in the Philippines, even if the usual discounts of 30 and 15 percent given to buyers, including most Philippine electric cooperatives, were to be deducted.
Further, if a high-end Japanese brand is preferred, which the Taiwanese plant also officially produces, then a simple expedient of tacking on the Japanese brand's steel plate for it to be priced higher is resorted to. Is this what Meralco does?
In claiming the need for a top-of-the-line variant, it uses the Japanese name plate to increase the quote as well as its capital base with the ERC — which the regulating agency unfortunately approves without as much as a whimper — to the tune of P1,600,000/MVA!
When the Lopez Group sold control of Meralco, there was indeed that opportunity to cut the monopolistic relationship between the two inextricably linked power firms, with hopes that rates will go down in spite of the already escalating bent of the onerous PBR. But nothing has changed. Filings made for the power distributor's capital expenditures continue to be based on vastly overpriced claims; hence, its 80 to 90 percent yearly profit increases.
Fortunately, power consumers all over the country have begun to understand more comprehensively the massive swindle that is the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), or the post-Edsa II power privatization law that has spawned many "monsters:"
From the ERC that is believed to be captured by Meralco; to the state holding firm Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm) that is petitioning for consumers to shoulder the Universal Charge that will pay for $18 billion (still!) in National Power Corp. (Napocor) debts, which were promised to have been paid with privatization but never were; to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) that wants to raise rates to pay for damages caused by typhoons "Ondoy," "Basyang," etc., leaving its multi-billion insurance untouched; to the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (Pemc) that wants to raise rates for "administrative modernization" (a euphemism for raising officers' salaries); to its adjunct, the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (Wesm), which averages rates based on the highest (instead of the lowest) fluctuations, there are certainly more Epira monsters to discover — and decipher.
What puzzles is that Congress, which is into every sort of investigation imaginable, has not touched on the festering and oppressive electricity scams being perpetrated right before our very eyes. It seems the likes of Rep. Henedina Abad and Sen. Serge Osmeña, who head their respective chamber's energy committees, are oblivious to appearing as stooges of these power giants.
Given this, will anyone else take the cudgels for the suffering Philippine economy, our industries, and our people? Or is everyone just too scared of the Philippines' very own, steel-hearted, steel-fisted "Transformers"? The answer need not be more than meets the eye.
(My new e-mail: mentong2011@gmail.com. Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino/Radyo OpinYon, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 5 to 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Thursday, 5 to 6 p.m. on 1098AM; Talk News TV with HTL, Saturday, 8:15 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on GNN, Destiny Cable Channel 8; visit http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com for our articles plus TV and radio archives)
Evil 'Transformers' DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel...
China and Gloria EDITORIAL 08/29/2011
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'Mina' death toll rises to 8; over 100K people aff...
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House panel approves P1.816-T budget for 2012 By G...
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Grand Old Lady of Katipunan's remains to be transf...


After about 5 minutes of arguing and discussing, my brain and i had come to this conclusion. There is no real contender for this song actually, i had fell in love with it within its first verse. The imagery in it, the emotions, the little stories, the subtle humors, the pure musics-god i cant hide how much i envy this guy. It seems that he is blessed with a muse made out of pure gold, that shone angelic light to whatever he think and see. And my muse is the ghost of an old witch that swears a lot and fart all the time.


text:
The Who: At Kilburn 1977 (2009)
Not Rated | Video | 138 min | Music
They are one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time. For over four decades, they have changed modern music as we know it. But some of their most famous performances have never been... See full summary »
Percussionist
Jeff Stein
Listening to You: The Who at the Isle of Wight 1970
Queen Live at Wembley '86
Quadrophenia: Live in London
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
The Shepperton Studio's concert was filmed due to the poor quality of the Kilburn show, and to keep its continuity for "The Kids Are Alright" the band members had to dress in the same outfits as previously worn in 1977, except Keith, who choose not too.
Join Together
Written by Pete Townshend
Performed by The Who
Kilburn, London, England, UK


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Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner 'Need Not Apply' to Exclusive Florida Country Club
Getty Images, Page Six, Instagram
Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner "need not apply" to an exclusive country club in Florida.
The couple purchased land for $30 million on Indian Creek, considered among the wealthiest neighborhoods in the US. Neighbors include Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, Julio Iglesias, and Carl Icahn.
But owning a plot of land on the private island doesn't guarantee admission to the exclusive Indian Creek Country Club, according to Page Six.
A source tells Page Six, "You have to be nominated and make a formal application. But it only takes one member to object against any new member, and many members are objecting, particularly after the events at the Capitol on Jan. 6."
The source said members of the club were annoyed by Ivanka's "American patriots" tweet following the riots in Washington, DC.
Ivanka, 39, was with her father, President Donald Trump, in DC when he made his infamous speech prior to the riots.
"Jared and Ivanka can lunch with their fellow 'patriots' at Mar-a-Lago," the source said. "The Indian Creek Country Club members are very picky and the word is that Javanka need not apply."
The 300-member club is regarded as Dade County's "most exclusive, and controversial, private society." Admission fees exceed $150,000 a year.
Ivanka's half-sister, Tiffany Trump, is also searching for property in Miami, Page Six reports.
Tiffany, 27, who just graduated from Georgetown Law School, is searching for a condo or a house on South Beach, a source tells Page Six.
She currently lives at the swanky and ultra expensive Setai Hotel on South Beach with her boyfriend Michael Boulous, from a wealthy family in Nigeria.
Ivanka and Tiffany will be near their father who moves permanently to his exclusive Mar-a-Lago Club resort in Palm Beach, Florida after he leaves office on January 20.
Tags: celebrity homes, country club membership, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump, Tiffany Trump
Trump Pardons Lil Wayne, Kodak Black & Kwame Kilpatrick
Trump May Pardon Lil Wayne, Kodak Black & Joe Exotic Before Term Ends
Democrats want restaurants and schools reopened 'as soon as possible' (Can you guess why?)


What's Membibre de la Hoz Like?
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Lifestyle Modefotografie von Scott Redinger, Werbefotograf in Köln, Koeln, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duesseldorf, NRW, Deutschland, Germany and Miami. Fashion lookbook shoot for Sugar Clothing featuring models, Rachel Serrano (Wilhelmina), Samantha Drew (Wilhelmina) and Barrett Sharpe (CGM). Shot at Miami Beach, Florida. Styling: Lina Rodriguez. Makeup/hair: Crystal Gossman (Agency Gerard). Fashion photographer, Scott Redinger-Libolt.


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IGU new Commission on Geography for Future Earth: Coupled Human-Earth Systems for Sustainability established
The International Geographical Union announces that a new Commission on "Geography for Future Earth: Coupled Human Earth Systems for Sustainability" (IGU-GFE) has formally established recently. The Commission will promote research and innovation in relation to sustainability, and provide a platform for communication among geographers globally.
The mission of the proposed commission of Geography for Future Earth: Coupled Human-Earth Systems for Sustainability is to promote Geography for people to thrive in a sustainable and equitable world. Under the banner of IGU and Future Earth, the commission will serve as the focal point for developing, coordinating, and implementing interdisciplinary research and education related to coupled human-earth system dynamics and sustainable development. The commission will seeks to build and connect knowledge to increase the impact of research, to explore new development paths, and contribute to achieving goals on global sustainable development by finding new ways to sustainable development.
Highly intertwined with humanity, the land systems is the most complex and important sub-systems of the coupled human-Earth systems. The proposed commission of Geography for Future Earth: Coupled Human-Earth Systems for Sustainability will initially focus on the human-land systems and its interfaces with coastal ocean and atmosphere. We will promote wider analysis and innovative thinking about global land sustainability through the bridging and synthesis of physical geography, human geography, ecology, hydrology, atmospheric, climate and social sciences. With this mission, the commission aims at promoting and facilitating the following six thematic areas:
Fundamentals of Geography for Future Earth, and especially new theories and hypothesis on coupled human-earth systems for sustainability;
Open and inclusive platforms for Geospatial Big Data and observations of coupled human-earth systems;
Integrated Earth system models to deepen our understanding of complex Earth systems and human dynamics across different scales;
Linkages and dynamic analysis among ecological process, services, and human wellbeing;
Human Contributions and Responses to global climate/environmental changes and sustainability;
Evaluation tools for sustainable development, multi-scale sustainability evaluation, and sustainable scenarios for transformative development pathways.
The commission aims to support the purpose of IGU to promote Geography through initiating and coordinating geographical research and teaching around the world. It will endeavor to collaborate with global scholars in the field of ecological services and human needs, natural and anthropogenic processes, human-earth systems dynamics and modelling, sustainability evaluation and sustainable development solutions.
The steering committee for the Commission will be chaired by Dr. Prof. Bojie Fu, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University/Distinguished Professor of Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, with the Vice-chair, Dr. Prof. Mark Stafford Smith, Chief Coordinating Scientist in Institute of Land and Water, CSIRO, Australia.
Future Earth Staff Member
FutureEarth@chikyu.ac.jp
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature
The Regional Center for Future Earth in Asia builds networks among research communities and stakeholders in the region and promotes the Future Earth initiative in Asia to enhance global sustainability.
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All Live-in Relationships Are Not Covered Under Provisions Of Domestic Violence Act.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
BENCH AT AURANGABAD
CRIMINAL REVISION APPLICATION NO. 82 OF 2017
Reshma Begum W/o Gajanfar Kazi, APPLICANT
Aged 30 years, Occ. Household,
R/o. At present N-6, A, 120 CIDCO,
Aurangabad, Taluka & Dist. Aurangabad
V E R S U S
[1] The State of Maharashtra RESPONDENTS
[2] Gajanfar Kazi @ Jawed S/o Kazi
Qaiseruddin, Aged 41 years, Occ.Mechanic,
R/o. Katkatgate, Aurangabad, Taluka & Dist. Aurangabad
Mr. N.R. Shaikh, Advocate for the Applicant
Mr. A.R. Kale, A.P.P. for the Respondent No.1-State
Mr. H.I. Pathan, Advocate for the Respondent No.2
CORAM : MANGESH S. PATIL, J.
Reserved On : 29 June 2018
Pronounced On : 25 July 2018
J U D G M E N T :
Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith. By consent, the matter is heard finally.
2. Very short issue that arises for determination in this Revision is as to the interpretation of provision of Section 2 [f] of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 [hereinafter referred to as 'the D.V. Act']. The factual matrix leading to revision can be put in a short compass.
3. The applicant who belongs to Jain Hindu community was married to one Shantaram Mahadu Ughade and the couple begotten a child out of the wedlock. It was averred that, that marriage was brought to an end by virtue of a customary divorce on 15.10.2011. It is averred that she thereafter came in contact with the respondent No.2 who is a Muslim by religion. The acquaintance blossomed into an affair. He was already married and was having children. She got converted to Islam and the couple entered into a marital tie in presence of a Kazi on 21.07.2012. The couple also got a child out of such relation on 29.04.2013. However, a dispute arose and the couple separated. She filed a proceeding under Section 12 of the D.V. Act against him in the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class at Aurangabad bearing Criminal Misc. Application No.28 of 2013.
4. The respondent No.2 contested the proceeding primarily on the ground that the applicant was already married and so was he. The marriage between the two was not legally possible, since they were already having subsisting marital relation. He also denied even that she was staying with him in some kind of relation.
5. The learned Magistrate allowed the application holding that the relationship between the two was in the nature of marriage and was covered by Section 2 [f] of the D.V. Act and granted various reliefs.
6. Being aggrieved, the respondent No.2 preferred Appeal under Section 29 of the D.V. Act bearing Criminal appeal No. 156 of 2015. The learned Addl. Sessions Judge by the impugned Judgment and order dated 12.01.2017 relying upon Judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Velusamy Vs. D. Patchaiammal; 2010 (3) Bom. C.R. (Cri.) 764 (S.C.) concluded that the applicant and the respondent No.2 were not qualified to enter into a legal marriage since they were already married and their marriages were in subsistence. The relationship was not covered by Section 2 [f] of the D.V. Act. She was not entitled to take recourse to the provision of Section 12 of the D.V. Act. The appeal was allowed and the Judgment and order passed by the Magistrate was set aside. Hence, this Revision.
7. The learned Advocate for the applicant submitted that since the applicant had already got the customary divorce in the form of execution of Notarized Deed on 15.11.2011, her first marriage had come to an end. Since the respondent No.2 is Muslim, his personal Law permits him to solemnize the second marriage. Since there is evidence in the form of testimony of Kazi and a Nikahnama demonstrating that the marriage was solemnized between the applicant and respondent No.2, the relationship between the two was in the nature of marriage within the meaning of Section 2 [f] of the D.V. Act. The couple had also has a child out of the relation. There was a birth certificate of the child which demonstrated that the couple was holding themselves out as husband and wife and the relationship was duly covered under that provision. The observation and the conclusion drawn by the Magistrate was unassailable. The learned Addl. Sessions Judge has ignored these aspects and without any cogent and convincing reason, quashed and set aside the Judgment of the Magistrate. There is no sufficient legal basis to substantiate the interpretation of the learned Addl. Sessions Judge. The impugned Judgment and order is not tenable in law and be quashed and set aside, thereby restoring the Judgment and order passed by the Magistrate.
8. Though the respondent No.2 has been disputing all the averments, there is enough material to show that the applicant and the respondent No.2 had established a kind of relationship. They had entered into marriage ceremony in presence of a Kazi [PW 2]. A Nikahnama was executed [Exhibit 35]. There is also a Birth Certificate showing that a child was born to the applicant and the respondent No.2 was shown as the father of the child.
9. However, it is necessary to ascertain, whether such kind of relationship is covered by the definition of domestic relationship as contained in Section 2 [f] of the D.V. Act. The definition reads thus :
"domestic relationship" means a relationship between two persons who live or have, at any point of time, lived together in a shared household, when they are related by consanguinity, marriage, or through a relationship in the nature of marriage, adoption or are family members living together as a joint family.
It is important to note that the interpretation put on the definition and particularly the words 'relationship in the nature of marriage' by the Supreme Court in the case of Velusamy [supra] to mean :
[a] The couple must hold themselves out to society as being akin
to spouses.
[b] They must be of legal age of marry.
[c] They must be otherwise qualified to enter into a legal
marriage, including being unmarried.
[d] They must have voluntarily cohabited and held themselves out
to the world as being akin to spouses for a significant period of time.
Even in the case of Indra Sarma v. V.K.V. Sarma; AIR 2014 S.C. 309, a comparison has been made between the relations which are in the nature of marriage and live in relationship and guidelines have been culled out to distinguish between the two.
10. Perusal of these decisions makes it abundantly clear that not all the live in relationships are covered by the provision of Section 2 [f] of the D.V. Act. It is only those which qualify to be the relationship in the nature of marriage which are governed by that provision. In order to constitute such relationship, a legal marriage between the two must be possible.
7 Cri.Rev.Apln 82/17
11. There is one more aspect which needs such an interpretation to be put to words 'relationship in the nature of marriage' contained in Section 2 [f] of the D.V. Act. It is well recognized principle of interpretation of statute that a statute should be interpreted in a manner which would not promote illegality. It has made a provision to enable a woman in a relationship in the nature of marriage to seek various remedies under the D.V. Act. One cannot put an interpretation to Section 2 [f] of the D.V. Act which would promote an adulterous relationship which is an offence punishable under Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code. Therefore, these words will have to be interpreted in a conducive and harmonious manner so as not to offend a penal provision contained in the Code. Therefore looked at from this angle, one cannot interpret this provision which would offend any law. The legislature in its wisdom has enacted the Law so as to cover and protect not only a legally wedded wife but has gone a step further to bring in its ambit a woman who has been in a relationship in the nature of marriage. Use of word 'marriage' to qualify the relationship is conspicuous and the only interpretation that can be put is that the marriage between the couple must be legally possible. Any other interpretation which would offend any other law would not be permissible.
12. Once it is clear that in order to enable the applicant to claim 8 Cri.Rev.Apln 82/17 any relief under the D.V. Act the relation between her and the respondent No.2 was not in the nature of marriage, she is clearly not entitled to claim any relief under that Act. Admittedly, on her own admission, her first marriage was still in subsistence, and if that be so, she could not have married legally with the respondent No.2 albeit he is a Muslim and his personal law permits him to solemnize the second marriage. In view of such state of factual matrix and the evidence, the observation and the conclusion drawn by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge that the relationship between these two did not fall into the 'domestic relationship' as defined under Section 2 [f] of the D.V. Act is unassailable. The Revision is dismissed.
The rule is discharged.
[ MANGESH S. PATIL, J. ]
When counter claim will be barred by limitation?
Whether superior court can direct subordinate court to pass particular order on application of any party?


People landing at Heathrow from countries outside of the European Economic Area are facing such lengthy queues to have their passports looked at that airlines are handing out drinks and snacks to stop people passing out or kicking off, with border control routinely keeping visitors lining up at passport control for more than two hours.
Virgin Atlantic is now publicly complaining about the delays suffered by visitors to the UK, claiming that Border Force – the department tasked with manning the borders and carrying out checks – is missing its 45-minute processing target by miles and leaving some travellers stuck in passport check queues for more than two and a half hours. They heard we liked queuing and that's what they get from day one. Happily, though, Virgin is now supplying its queuing arrivals with refreshments from a little trolley, hoping that a selection of drinks and snacks might stop people going crazy from the wait. Look at all the types of sugar-free Coke we have now.
Virgin's flier division boss Craig Kreeger said: "This summer significant queues at Border Control mean that thousands of visitors have regularly faced the longest queues in London to get their passports checked, often over two hours, leaving them frustrated before they've even started their trip. At a time when the UK needs to show the world it is open for business, the government and Border Force need to provide a great first impression for every visitor every time."


text:
Oscar Gonzalez
Helen Rodriguez Trias: How She Fought Forced Sterilization Practices In Puerto Rico
A dark time in US history.
Google celebrated what would have been Helen Rodriguez Trias' 89th birthday on Saturday with a Google Doodle. Of her vast amount of work fighting for the reproductive rights of women, Rodriguez Trias' work against the forced sterilization of women is arguably her most important contribution during her lifetime.
Forced sterilization was a common practice in Puerto Rico, where Rodriguez Trias lived in her younger years and received her medical degree. It was here where she came across the realization that many women on the island were sterile due to a law passed on the island, which was supposed to address the unemployment concerns at the time, but instead was a masked attempt at population control.
Helen Rodríguez Trías Google Doodle Google
During the Spanish—American War in 1898, the US invaded Puerto Rico, which led Spain to cede the island to the US, making it a territory. Once under US control, poverty on the island began to grow due to sugar, cigarette, and other manufacturers began monopolizing the farms in Puerto Rico. Law 116 took effect in 1937 in Puerto Rico to address the poverty issue, but focused on sterilization of women, which was pushed by individuals and US lawmakers. While in effect, the women of the island were also test subjects for birth control drugs including "the pill." It was repealed in 1960, but a report in 1976 showed 37 percent of women of childbearing age had been sterilized.
It was in 1974 when Rodriguez Trias helped form the Committee to End Sterilization Abuse with the goal to stop forced sterilization in both the US and abroad. During the '70s, due to a growing number of Mexican immigrants, there were forced sterilization campaigns to sterilize the women. Some hospitals in certain US cities would sterilize women without proper consent. The committee fought for better guidelines in local hospitals in New York City such as requiring written consent and a waiting period. The guidelines then became used in hospitals across the US in 1978.
Rodriguez Trias' work for women's reproductive rights continued into the '80s and '90s. For her diligent work throughout her career, Trias was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal as an ''outstanding educator and dynamic leader in public health" in 2001.
Throughout her career, Rodriguez Trias spoke on the issues affecting both women and minorities in health and economic matters and gave some important quotes about those issues.
When Ali Fought Superman, He Won
By William Hoffman
Benjamin Franklin Fought Fake News With His Bestselling Almanacs
Who Would Win if Batman Actually Fought Boba Fett?
By Ryan Britt


The most obvious place to look for the big progress being made is in new school concepts. Perhaps the shining example is Danish firm 3xn's plan for a massive Green School in Stockholm, which centres on a greenhouse, extending upwards to feature vertical farms and hanging gardens, with space for education from kindergarten to high school, as well as college dorms and senior apartments for what 3xn affectionately call "a full-lifetime of sustainable living".
A similar project is the somewhat less pricey Farming Kindergarten in Vietnam, designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects. The school was built under a tight budget but is intended as a prototype for sustainable school design, where children can learn how to grow their own food.
These examples still leave a lot to be desired, especially when considering the mounting proof that poor air quality in schools has a considerable effect on a child's learning. Luckily, small additions can also make a big difference. Several studies have shown that the simple introduction of a few plants can drastically improve the distinctly poor air quality present in schools. For instance, a research study published in Environment and Behaviour showed that the introduction of six plants to the back of a Taiwan classroom, led to stronger feelings of comfort and friendliness among students, as well as significantly fewer hours of sick leave and punishment records due to misbehaviour.
One company that has cropped-up to respond to this more immediate solution is Ogreen. By observing which plants purify the air most effectively, Ogreen has introduced the affectionately-named Ogreen Champ, an air-purifying plant which provides 30 square metres of clean air. In this spirit, the website Really Good Stuff also provides a handy list of plants for the classroom. The snake plant tops its list as "one of the toughest houseplants around", with stiff green leaves that can survive without bright sunlight.
Besides all that, there is of course the option to simply get kids outside during school hours. Leading the way are initiatives such as the "Early Nature Lessons" in Denmark's so-called "Forest Preschools" and organisations such as the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom in the UK, and the United Stated-based website Tree Hugger, also offer a helpful list of suggestions for how urban schools can introduce outdoor learning to their curriculum.
Perhaps the most encouraging efforts, however, are represented in projects that fall somewhere in between all of the above. Projects like Ed Harwood's 'aeroponic' mini-farm, which sits in the school cafeteria at Philip's Academy, and was recently profiled in the New Yorker. Produced in 2010, the farm grows six to seven crops a year, without soil, sunlight or large amounts of water. Perfect for an urban environment, the farm is used to teach chemistry, maths and biology to kids up to eighth grade, some of whom have never even seen vegetables growing. In this instance, plants are introduced to the school environment but children are also encouraged to get outside and grow things themselves.
Whether it's new schools, fresh plants, or outdoor activity, all these efforts show that there's a new way to incorporate green in education systems. So, in the spirit of supporting this critically important movement, we'd like to hear from you. Do you have an inspiring story of getting kids out into nature? Because where better than the classroom to sow the seeds of a greener future?


The High Court has sensationally reversed the recent acceptance in Australian law of an 'implied term of mutual trust and confidence' in employment contracts. The decision in Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Barker  HCA 32 has now ended over a decade of legal debate, with the conclusion that the implied term of mutual trust and confidence is not a feature of Australian law.
Why was the term rejected?
The implied term of trust and confidence was originally an invention of English law. The term is automatically implied into English contracts of employment (unless inconsistent with an express term), and provides that the parties to the employment contract must not engage, without reasonable cause, in conduct likely to destroy or seriously damage the relationship of trust and confidence between the parties.
When looking at the previous (now overruled) decision in these proceedings which upheld the existence of the implied term, we remarked on how this rather ambiguously defined term would introduce uncertainty as to what conduct is permissible by either party to an employment contract. The High Court agrees with this assessment, describing the application of the proposed term as 'inherently uncertain'.
Australian common law does support the implication of implied terms into employment contracts. However, an implied term will only be implied into a contract if, among other things, the presence of the term is 'necessary' to give business efficacy to the contract. The High Court found that a term of mutual trust and confidence is not 'necessary' to give business efficacy to an employment contract. Consequently, the High Court determined that such a term should not be implied into employment contracts by law.
The conditions in England which necessitate the implication of a term of mutual trust and confidence into employment contracts do not exist in Australia. The High Court determined that other Courts which have simply imported English principles regarding the implied term of mutual trust and confidence without 'inspect[ing them] at the border to determine their adaptability to native soil' have erred in doing so.
Can employers and employees now simply destroy trust and confidence without consequence?
The answer to this question is no. Despite the lack of an implied term of trust and confidence, actions which 'destroy trust and confidence' are likely to fall foul of existing statutes and legal doctrines. These include principles relating to adverse action, discrimination, and the duty of co-operation. Employees also have an obligation of fidelity to employers. Additionally, the High Court has expressly opted not to decide upon the question of whether it is necessary to imply a term of 'good faith' into employment contracts, leaving that particular debate open to further argument.
The extinguishment of this debate restores some clarity as to what conduct employers and employees can and cannot engage in within the bounds of their contracts of employment.
However, the absence of the term of mutual trust and confidence does give employers and employees alike one less string to their bow in pursuing claims or defending decisions. This will compel employers and employees to identify with greater precision the legal reasons for their claim or decision.
Importantly for employers, it is no longer possible to rely on the shape-shifting implied term of 'mutual trust and confidence' to argue that an employee has breached their contract, or in turn to justify a dismissal or other action. If an employer wants an employee to be bound by a particular term or policy, it must be included or incorporated by an express term in the applicable contract of employment.
For more specific information on any of the material contained in this article please contact Sathish Dasan on 08 8210 1253 or sdasan@normans.com.au, or Lincoln Smith on 08 8210 1203 or lsmith@normans.com.au.