text:
"Anchor Babies" by any other name
Where 'Anchor Babies' Can Be a Lucrative Business
Wealthy Chinese 'birth tourists' on visas spend freely in Southern California
By Miriam Jordan, As reported in the Wall Street Journal
COSTA MESA, Calif.—Thousands of wealthy foreign women, mostly Chinese, come to America each year for the express purpose of having babies on U.S. soil. The women arrive on tourist visas and typically go home with the baby after several months.
But before the women leave with what critics have called "anchor babies," they typically spend thousands of dollars in private hospitals, high-end shopping malls and luxury apartment complexes. That has made this practice, known as maternity or birth tourism, a lucrative business in certain areas of the U.S., including this one southeast of Los Angeles.
On a recent Sunday at the upscale South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Mandarin speakers, many of them visibly pregnant, far outnumbered other shoppers at Chanel, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani and other designer stores. Two women with protruding bellies emerged from Fendi speaking Mandarin, one of them pushing a new-looking stroller overflowing with bags. Down one mall corridor, seven women who appeared pregnant chatted in Mandarin on a bench, shopping bags at their feet.
"They see something they like, they buy it," said Joanne Lee, one of three Mandarin-speaking salespeople out of six at a Coach shop. "They buy multiple pieces."
The rise of Chinese birth tourism reflects the new wealth in China, and uncertainty among some of its citizens regarding the country's long-term economic future. A child born in the U.S. automatically becomes an American citizen, and under federal law, when the child turns 21, he or she can sponsor foreign family members for a green card, and eventually citizenship.
The Center for Immigration Studies, which supports a crackdown on the practice and favors more immigration restrictions overall, estimates that 40,000 women visit the U.S. annually on birth tourism, most from China.
Birth tourists represent a fraction of the 2.2 million Chinese visitors who spent about $24 billion in the U.S. last year, according to the Commerce Department. But Chinese tourists overall were the biggest foreign spenders per capita, and the pregnant visitors typically stay much longer than the two-week average for Chinese visitors.
Though there are few hard figures on its full impact, maternity tourism has left a noticeable imprint on the regional economy here in recent years. Federal investigators, who raided several Southern California businesses that facilitate maternity tourism in March on suspicion that they had committed crimes including visa fraud and tax evasion, estimate that each woman pays $40,000 to $80,000 on packages that include accommodation, transportation to hospitals, and help getting passports for their newborns.
Karthick Ramakrishnan, a public policy professor at the University of California, Riverside, who has studied the phenomenon, estimates the women spend about $1 billion annually in the U.S., a figure that excludes discretionary spending on the likes of shopping and dining out.
"These are people of means who are not going to a county hospital to deliver their babies," he said.
Even if some maternity tourism businesses face prosecution following the March raids, Chinese women, their doctors and the hospitals where they give birth are unlikely to be penalized, said Carl Shusterman, a former federal immigration lawyer. It is legal for foreigners who are pregnant to travel to the U.S. and give birth, though it is considered fraud to lie to U.S. officials about the purpose of a visit to obtain a visa.
On a recent evening in nearby Irvine, about a dozen Chinese pregnant women strolled in the park of a resort-style residential complex. Most declined to answer questions, but Wasie Su said she entered the U.S. on a multiple-entry tourist visa to give birth. She plans to have a daughter in the country Nov. 20, and said she was doing it for the child's future, not as a plan to gain U.S. citizenship.
"It's worth the money and time spent here to give my daughter better options," she said, adding, "I got my family, friends and business" in China. "I don't want a green card from this baby."
Donald Trump, who is running for the GOP presidential nomination, suggested over the summer that the U.S.'s birthright citizenship policy be reconsidered in light of the phenomenon of "anchor babies." That move would likely require changing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, according to legal experts.
While the women from China entered legally, thousands of women in the country illegally have babies on U.S. soil—295,000 in 2013, according to the Pew Research Center. Those babies can later sponsor their family for residency and enable them to secure public benefits.
Unlike the poorer women, who are uninsured, most Chinese women have their children at private hospitals. Newport Beach Hoag Hospital offers a "maternity package" in which, assuming no complications, a vaginal delivery costs $7,500 and a Caesarean-section birth costs $10,750. Those are substantially higher rates than are paid to hospitals by health plans of insured American patients, according to health-care experts.
In response to questions about Chinese birth tourists, Hoag said it provides health care to whoever seeks it. "Our only priority is providing the very best care for those in need," it said in a statement.
Though they are popular with retailers and other businesses, some in Orange County voice displeasure about Chinese birth tourists.
"It bothers me that my grandchildren will be competing with these women's babies to get into college," said John Michael of Irvine, a retired physician, adding: "My family will have paid taxes all along, and they'll walk right in."
Some businesses report that the number of pregnant Chinese women coming here recently appears to be declining, which could be due to the faltering Chinese economy, or the negative publicity from the federal investigation, they say.
A salesperson at a Giorgio Armani had a different theory: It is the Year of the Ram in the Chinese Zodiac, a less auspicious time for childbirth than the Year of the Dragon, which ended in February.
Benferro @insideins.com
Labels: Anchor Babies, California, China, Chinese, Donald Trump, Trump, US Citizenship, WSJ
New Refugee Program Is Actually an Unauthorized Fa...
Although No Longer a "Hot News Item", Wave Of Ille...
Problems with Automation: The rest of the story
An Open Letter: Curtailing Syrian Nationals Unfett...
Here's A Guy That Gets It
Nothing would surprise me anymore!
Problems with Automation: Nothing new for Immigrat...


text:
New affordable housing complex could bring 96 low-rent apartments to Milton
A new $18 million apartment complex project could bring nearly 100 affordable housing units to Milton at a time when rent and home prices across Santa Rosa County are skyrocketing and more people are having trouble finding low-cost housing options.
The project, dubbed Tranquility at Milton, is in the early conceptual stages. It is proposed for a 24-acre plot of land near the intersection of Glover Lane and U.S. 90. Timshel Development Group, which bills itself as a developer of "affordable multifamily communities," is under contract for the property and is conducting wetlands studies.
"We got in contact with them through work we've done on the Affordable Housing Committee, and they said, 'Hey, we would love to propose some ways to become involved in helping your community,'" said Milton City Councilman Casey Powell, who chairs the Affordable Housing Committee. The committee was formed about a year ago to address housing issues throughout the city of about 10,000 people.
"Timshel, this is what they do," Powell added. "They have several successful projects throughout Georgia and Florida."
Housing in Santa Rosa:Santa Rosa County short on homes for first-time buyers, middle-class families, report says
Sales tax debate:'Nastiest' election ever? Just 2 weeks away, Santa Rosa County special election heats up
The complex is in extremely early stages, but if it all goes according to plan, construction could break ground in March 2021 and tenants could move in by September 2022.
Tranquility would have six residential buildings, containing 96 total units, and one club house. Each unit would have a refrigerator, full-size range and oven and washer/dryer hookups, and the complex would also have a dog park, playground, splash pad and picnic pavilion.
The median income in Santa Rosa County is $53,390. Eighty-six units would be reserved for families who make at or below 60% of the median income, which equates to about $32,000, while 10 units would serve families who fall below 33% of the median income, or about $17,000 a year.
Tranquility would also provide several programs at no cost to residents, including adult literacy classes, employment assistance and financial management.
But to move forward to the next stage, Timshel is looking to secure funding from the Florida Housing Finance Corp., which assists local governments with affordable housing opportunities. The developer is asking for a $354,000 loan from the city of Milton, which it says will help its case to get money from the state and matching funds.
The City Council expressed a willingness to give the $354,000 loan, but will officially vote on it at next Monday's City Council meeting. The statewide deadline for applying for allocation for 2020 housing credits is Nov. 5.
"I think for an $18 million investment into our local economy, as far as construction is concerned and as far as affordable housing, I think this is a really good project and I hope everyone thinks about that," Powell told council members Monday night. "I do know there are things that need to be addressed and concerns we have to talk about, but the question of funding comes down to, are we willing to contribute as a city in the form of a loan to help with the construction of a conceptual project such as this?
At the meeting, Councilman George Jordan laid out a reason for backing the project.
"Normally, I'm against the city getting into any kind of banking," he said. "But looking at the opportunity that's before us, there's something else that falls under my consideration. This dollar-per-dollar amount is almost 100% offset by impact fees, which will be up front prior to any building or any development, so we're basically getting ($355,000) up front cash from them. We're giving them a loan for that same amount that will be paid back in whatever amount of time that we decide to set on the loan. So, considering all things, it doesn't look too bad."
'Workforce housing' is a strong need in Milton
Powell said he and other citizens on the Affordable Housing Committee identified the need for more low-cost rent opportunities as a key mission for the city of Milton.
"The people that are doing the bulk of the work in the community are having the hardest time finding somewhere to live," he told the News Journal. "We're not necessarily focusing on Section 8 housing, though that is a part of it. But if you're working a minimum-wage job in Santa Rosa County, how difficult is it for you to actually afford housing?"
It's relatively difficult for many minimum-wage workers in Milton, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The median gross rent in Milton is $1,032 per month, which means Milton workers who make under $10/hour (the minimum wage in Florida is $8.46/hour) are forced to spend more than 60% of their income on rent. FDEO estimates about half of Milton's residents work minimum-wage jobs.
Tax revenues increasing:Santa Rosa County property tax revenues are at an all-time high. Here's what that means
Angela Lewis, an Army veteran, has lived in Milton since 2004. Standing outside of her home on Birch Street on Tuesday morning, near the community center and public library, Lewis was taking a break from packing — a small fire in her home forced her to stay with a friend until the home could be repaired. Lewis rents the home on Birch Street, and said she works two minimum-wage jobs — and is about to take on a third — just to be able to afford it.
"You feel like you're being punished for not being rich," she said. "Trying to find something reasonable around here is almost impossible, especially when you're in the process of moving, coming up with deposits and first month's and last month's rent. There are a lot of people who have good jobs that still can't afford to live here."
Around the corner, on Sanders Street, resident Michelle Jernigan felt the same way. She lives in a $450 a month home with three other adults, a child and two dogs and considers herself "extremely lucky" to have found a place for rent under $500.
"I've had a few people come live with me because they couldn't find anything," she said. "People try and get on their feet and find a place to live, but there aren't that many affordable places, and the ones that are, are gone quick. It's kind of like they're setting themselves up for failure."
Powell says he and other committee and council members have "a few more things in the works" to address the affordable housing issue in Milton, and he's hopeful that the Tranquility project will come to fruition. The developer told the city the company expects to have an approximately one in four chance of having its funding application approved by the state. If it doesn't receive the funds, the future of the project is uncertain.
"I'm hopeful that this could be a good thing for our community," Powell said. "This would help a lot of people."
View in new tab

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
OVO Newsroom
OVO launches the world's first widely available domestic vehicle-to-grid charger
OVO unveiled its breakthrough into energy technology with the launch of a range of revolutionary products that will make up the distributed, domestic energy system of the future.
Founder and CEO Stephen Fitzpatrick outlined how OVO is solving future energy challenges using artificial intelligence, technology and years of working with customers to redesign the entire energy system.
He introduced OVO's proprietary platform VCharge, the intelligence behind the new energy system, that remotely connects and coordinates an unlimited number of small-scale household storage devices in real time, with split-second latency and no effort from consumers.
He revealed the technology that could solve one of the biggest challenges of integrating electric vehicles onto the grid, with the world's first widely available domestic bi-directional 6kW OVO Vehicle-to-Grid Charger, and the 7kW OVO Smart Charger.
Also unveiled at the event was OVO's Home Energy Storage solution – a powerful battery that could reduce household electricity bills and help balance the grid.
London, 18 April 2018 - Today at its first ever Energy Technology Product Showcase, OVO unveiled a range of products that together with its intelligent platform VCharge will form the components of a distributed, domestic energy system for the future.
The range includes the world's first widely available, domestic electric vehicle-to-grid charger, designed and manufactured in the UK. The charger will accelerate the global transition to electric vehicles and will enable drivers to sell surplus energy from their electric vehicle batteries back to the electricity grid – meaning they may never have to pay to be on the road again.
Building an intelligent distributed energy system for the future
OVO CEO and Founder Stephen Fitzpatrick said: "Renewable energy and electric vehicles are perfect partners for the 21st Century. Today we're launching the world's first widely available vehicle-to-grid charger, helping to solve one of the biggest challenges facing the energy sector. We're enabling thousands of EV batteries to help balance the grid in times of peak demand, more renewable energy to come onto the system, and households to reduce their electricity bills.
"This is the first step in building the distributed energy system of the future. One that is truly customer centric and built around households and their connected energy storage devices.
"Our completely new approach to energy has been made possible by the convergence of emerging technologies, applying intelligence, and years of working with customers to redesign the entire energy system."
The world's first widely available domestic Vehicle-to-Grid Charger
The OVO Vehicle-to-Grid Charger is the world's first widely available domestic bi-directional charger. Using VCharge, this charger will give drivers the option to discharge and sell surplus electricity from their electric vehicle batteries back to the electricity grid, helping to supply energy at times of peak demand. VCharge will also optimise vehicle charging to take advantage of cheaper electricity when it's available and when there are more renewables in the system. Through their partnership, Nissan and OVO are leading the way with this technology.
In addition, OVO is launching a Smart Charger which, like the vehicle-to-grid charger, will enable electric vehicles to be charged during off-peak hours, thereby easing pressure on the electricity grid as well as allowing drivers to take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity.
One of the first intelligent systems of its kind
An intelligent platform for the future electric grid, VCharge is a highly scalable system that captures the value of flexibility present in all energy resources. It remotely connects distributed flexible electrical devices and aggregates them into a virtual power plant. This connected system reacts as a whole to changes in demand and supply, recognising strain and reacting within a second. By intelligently managing both generation and demand in this way, using VCharge could facilitate more renewable energy generation and supply without the need for costly infrastructure investment.
UK's first home energy storage product for the mass market
OVO is also announcing its debut in the home battery market with a Home Energy Storage solution. This powerful battery with a custom built control and communications unit will dynamically and proactively manage energy and power use. It will enable everyone to store, use and sell back electricity, whether or not they produce it themselves.
UK's first smart-enabled electric heaters
The smart electrification of heating is an essential component of decarbonising our energy system. Showcased at the event was the OVO Heat Dynamo, an internet connected smart switch that can be retrofitted to electric storage heaters. It allows users to control the level of heat they want, when they want it via OVO's Smart Heat Customer App, while reducing their electricity bills by as much as 30% and providing balancing services to the electricity grid.
For media enquiries please contact: media@ovoenergy.com or 0203 697 6375.
For more information about OVO Group: www.ovogroup.co.uk/
About the OVO Vehicle-to-Grid Charger
The 6kW OVO Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Charger is the world's first domestic bi-directional charger. It offers drivers of certain electric vehicles the opportunity to discharge excess electricity from their cars back to the electric grid to help supply energy at times of peak demand. It is the first such product to be produced and made commercially available at volume in the world. The OVO Vehicle-to-Grid Charger will be rolled out from summer 2018 for up to 1,000 Nissan electric vehicle owners as part of a two-year trial, as part of funding from OLEV and BEIS with the support of Innovate UK, it will be free for OVO Energy customers on the trial. Fully designed and made in the UK, we're also helping to develop the UK's high-tech manufacturing sector.
Available to Nissan LEAF drivers with a 30 or 40 kWh battery, the OVO Vehicle-to-Grid Charger could enable Nissan drivers to have free power for their electric vehicles by selling energy back to the grid. This is an important step for both companies to deliver their mission to offer customers free power for their electric vehicles.
About VCharge
One of the first systems of its kind in the world to utilise renewable energy that would otherwise be wasted, VCharge is the intelligent solution for the environment enabling us to solve the problems caused by growing pressure on the UK's electricity grid. VCharge remotely connects distributed flexible electrical devices (electric vehicles, home batteries, storage heaters) enabling the UK grid to symbiotically react to changes in demand and supply. VCharge recognises system stress in the electricity grid from national to micro-regional levels and responds to changing conditions within seconds. From managing demand at peak times to providing highly responsive grid balancing services for multiple devices and appliances, VCharge automatically adjusts electricity flow to devices, providing greater flexibility so that everyone gets the power they need, when they need it, for the lowest possible price. By intelligently managing both generation and demand in this way, using VCharge could facilitate more renewable energy generation and supply without the need for costly infrastructure investment.
About the OVO Smart Charger
OVO's first 7kW Smart Charger is compatible with all electric vehicles. Using VCharge, it responds to signals on pricing and demand from the grid. It can automatically charge cars during off-peak periods when demand for electricity is lower and energy is cheaper and possibly greener. It can also pause charging during peak periods to manage strain on the grid.
About the Home Energy Storage solution
The Home Energy Storage product consists of a state of the art rechargeable battery, with ultra fast control and local frequency sensing, and a high power bidirectional inverter. Using the real time intelligent VCharge platform, the product has been designed to dynamically and proactively manage energy and power use. It buys energy cheaply when demand is low, stores it, then discharges it to the house when consumers need it, as well as back into the grid at times of peak demand.
About the OVO Heat Dynamo
The OVO Heat Dynamo is an ultra-low latency, IoT-connected, multi-purpose load switch that can be retrofitted to an electric storage heater to give it smart controls.
Using high speed frequency sensing and power metering, this wi-fi connected device allows users to control the level of heat they want, when they want it, via OVO's Smart Heat Customer App.
The device is part of OVO's strategy to make heating greener through electrification while providing more value for customers. OVO is also working with manufacturers to launch the first electric storage heaters with built-in VCharge integration later in 2018. These will be the world's first smart-grid enabled electric storage heaters, which will support balancing of the electricity grid by providing extra capacity for flexible energy distribution.
OVO is the UK's largest independent energy technology company and supplier. Across the group, OVO serves nearly one million customers with intelligent energy services and other home services. Founded in 2009 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, OVO redesigned the energy experience to be fairer, greener and simpler for all. Today OVO is no longer simply an energy retail business: it is group of innovative, dynamic companies, all striving to harness technological advances with great consumer propositions to deliver affordable, clean energy to everyone.


Aren't happy with this searching result? - Customers who bought 2 Italian Kitchen also bought: Super Turkey Tail, Venetian Decorative Toilet Tissue Holder, and Series Windshield Suction Cup Mount. Specify your shopping searches with buy 2 Italian Kitchen for sale, best 2 Italian Kitchen offers, shop 2 Italian Kitchen.


Happy New Year. My best wishes.
2011 has just got over. 2012 is here.
2011 must have been good or bad for each one of us depending upon our Kundli.
For India, it was exceptionally a bad year. It was a year of scams, political instability, issues of governance, slide of Rs, crash of sensex, Chinese high handedness, Army Chief's age controversy, Ramdev episode, Anna agitation, Manipur blockade, and Shameful Lokpal debate in RS etc. None of this could make India proud.
2012 is going to be tough in every sense.
 UPA has to set its credibility which couldn't have been worse.
 BJP has to find its space of the main opposition party which usurped by Anna.
 Elections in five states could be real game changer, not so much for any party, but for this country where common man has been on receiving end, waiting for a change.
 Inflation has to be contained.
 GDP is not making us proud.
 Industrial production is at its lowest.
 Forty plus Rajya Sabha seats will fall vacant.
 Vice President of India is due for retirement.
 President of India is due for retirement.
 Media might want to work on issues relating to its credibility.
 Media might want to relook at paid news issues.
 Slow down in US and Euro zone crises old a cause of worry.
 India Rs to US $ parity may touch Rs 70.
 Fuel prices may touch Rs 100 / lt.
The list is just too long. One hopes India will stand strong and determined.
We might see more billionaires in India.
We might see more MPs becoming Crorepatis (Means aren't important).
2012 may just be the year of and for change, hopefully for the better.
PAPPU is still waiting for Roti-Kapada-Makaan.
We can hope for the better.
Though I expect to be called a pessimist and a cynic, I cannot help saying that this Anarchist land has been getting more anarchist. Will it change? If only wishes were horses and horses could fly!!!
will the generation that comes out of our academic institutions thriving on mediocrity, outdated quotas, and the generation that see nothing wrong in greasing hands, be instruments that would want to change India?
Elections in 5 states too...but who cares about the issues u have raised? They are busy discussing whether Salman Rushdie should be allowed in India?


File: A Metro Red Line train.
A blind man fell off a Los Angeles Metro train platform Thursday afternoon and a Red Line train was unable to stop in time before reaching the man, but he escaped unscathed.
At 3:22 p.m. at the Wilshire and Vermont Metro station, "A blind man with a cane was walking toward the edge of the platform" spokesman Paul Gonzales told KPCC. The arriving train operator saw him walking toward the platform and sounded his horn, Gonzales said, but the man reportedly kept walking until he fell off the platform and in the way of the arriving train.
The train operator applied his brakes but the vehicle couldn't stop in time, Gonzales said. However, the blind man, a 47-year-old L.A. resident, lay flat next to the rails and the train passed over him. It stopped with the man beneath the second of six cars.
The L.A. Fire Department rescued the man from beneath the train and he had no visible injuries, Gonzales said.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim. Paramedics transported him to L.A County+USC Medical Center for observation.
Service on the Red Line was briefly interrupted because of the incident, but is now back to normal.


Hello everyone! Happy new month and welcome back to my blog. So today I got you guys an awesome post "Healthyfoods: Everyday foods for healthy life" so you can live healthier for the rest of the year and the years to come. As we all know that "Health is Wealth". Eating well and exercising regularly are required for being healthy.
Since eating well is an important part to stay healthy, we should keep an eye on the nutrition we are taking daily. We have some daily value requirements (DV%) of nutrients that we are required to intake to be healthy. In present busy hectic life and the lifestyle that we lead, we often eat processed and junk food which fuel weight gain and even skips meals which thoroughly affects our nutrition intake and ultimately our health. The tag healthyfoods are foods rich in compounds (such as antioxidants, fatty acids, vitamins & minerals) which gives you the nutrition enough or more than your DV% in small servings. Here is a list of 10 healthyfoods you should eat everyday.
Flaxseeds are an easy way to add a big dose of fiber into your diet. They can be purchased in the bulk food area of any grocery store and can be sprinkled over salads, fish or any type of meal or snack. For you to know how healthy these are, a single tablespoon of ground flaxseed sprinkled over cereal, yogurt or salad provides an easy 2.3grams of fiber.
Beans are nutritional powerhouses packed with protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, potassium, and low in fat. The soluble fiber found in beans soaks up cholesterol, allowing your body to dispose it before it sticks to your artery walls. They're also proven to be one of the best sources of antioxidants. Beans can be incorporated into your diet in many ways. You can whip up a nice batch of chilli with tons of kidney beans, you can serve them fresh or you can work them into a salad.
Rejoice you can eat chocolate! But first of all chocolate here means Dark Chocolate. Dark Chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health as it contains a decent amount of soluble fiber and is loaded with minerals. They are rich in antioxidants, contains high amount of iron, manganese, magnesium & copper. You can eat chocolate everyday, but just a small piece will do. If you keep a portion check, then consumption of dark chocolate can reduce risk of blood clots, lower blood pressure, improve skin quality, and even sharpen problem-solving skills. If you want to eat any chocolate choose the one that has at least 70 percent cocoa to optimize the antioxidant power and health benefits.
A single serving of yogurt will give you a significant amount calcium for the day. It contains high amount of Protein, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Phosphorus & Selenium. Full-fat yogurt contains almost every single nutrient needed by humans. It helps in the improvement of bone health, may lower blood pressure and probiotics found in yogurt helps in good digestion and also helps in losing weight. Starting your day off with a cup of yogurt will work wonders for your overall health.
If you're going to kick your day off with a cup of yogurt, consider adding a spoonful (or two) of oats. Oats have been proven to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, making them a great choice for adults looking to reduce these levels. 1 1/2 cups (375ml) of cooked oatmeal or the packets of instant oatmeal provide enough betaglucan to lower blood cholesterol by about five percent and heart attack by about ten percent.
Broccoli should be your number one choice when it comes to vegetables. The sulfur compounds found in broccoli which signal our genes to increase production of enzymes and detoxify potentially cancer – causing compounds. Broccoli prevents cancer, reduces cholesterol and also reducing allergic reaction and inflammation. Also helps to care for the skin and eye. Broccoli can be eaten uncooked with a low-fat veggie dip or can be cooked and used as a side dish, worked into a salad or incorporated into a casserole. The possibilities are endless.
Eggs are a great source of high quality protein. It provides 6g of protein per egg along with all nine amino acids, Vitamin D, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12, Selenium, omega-3 fatty acids and Choline (an essential nutrient necessary for a wide range of functions from cellular maintenance to creating neurotransmitters). Eating one (or two) eggs in the morning can help you lose weight, have better eyesight, keep your heart healthy and also raise you a good cholesterol.
I guess you already know that milk is rich in bone-building nutrients such as Calcium and Vitamin D, but it may also help your body use fat for energy instead of storing it. Being rich in calcium protects the body from major chronic ailments such as cancer, bone loss, arthritic conditions etc for adults, lactose free milk is good for you and you can also drink varieties of soy or almond milk. One percent of skim milk will be great as part of healthy diet.
Mixed nuts are a great source of heart-healthy unsaturated fats. A recent study reveals that adults who consumed nuts on a regular basis were likely to live 2years longer than their non-nut-eating counterparts. They are packed with healthy fat, proteins, vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. They are rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids with anti-inflammatory properties. They also contain vital B-complex group of vitamins which are essential for optimum health and well-being. Walnuts and Almonds are your best options when it comes to choosing which nuts to eat. Walnuts are great for your heart, peanuts for brain, almonds for disease prevention, pistachios are specially rich in Vitamin B6 etc. Ideal nut serving per day is 28 to 30 grams if you are having any unsalted specific nut and a handful if you are having mixed nuts. Snacking on these tasty products will benefit your health in countless ways.
Eating one large, fresh orange will give you 100 percent of your daily recommended vitamin C. It protects against cancer including that of the skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. It can help prevent kidney diseases. It lower cholesterol, since they're full of soluble fiber. It aid in good eye health and protect skin. This tasty fruit is also high in fiber and folate, making it one of the best fruits to incorporate into your daily diet.
Judging how healthy i eat from this list, it's obvious I need to step up my food game. This is insightful dear, thank you for this post.
Ps: I won't roll my eye on those eating walnut again, Lol.
This was well written and informative, thank you!
Thanks for stopping by dear. Don't forget to follow my blog for more ☺.


text:
Q: Discrete Metric Space Clarification I'm trying to understand metric spaces, and from what I understand, they consist of a set $X$ and a distance function $d$. This distance function must output a real number that follows 3 properties (or 4 depending on how specific your definition is), which I will not bother going over in this question, since they all make sense to me.
Up until this point, everything seems pretty intuitive.
What I'm trying to clarify is this: is $d$ meant to return the "actual distance" between two points, or is it just a function that maps the points of the cartesian product of $X$ to satisfy the properties of a metric space? I ask this because when looking at the discrete metric space, the discrete metric does not actually take into account what the set $X$'s points are (aside from whether or not they are the same). It just outputs numbers that fit the definition of a metric space.
However, the set of real numbers $R$ is a metric space when the distance function $d = |x - y|$ is used, which makes perfect sense to me since $d$ in this case would output the actual distance between the points in $R$.

A: There is no such thing as "actual distance", you assume then a prefered metric already by making that statement. A metric is function that assign real values to any pair of elements and behaves in a manner that remindsof our concept of distance. However without a metric the concept of distance is meaningless.
It is therefore a mathematical generalization of our intuitive idea of distance, and those 3 properties is what is needed to capture that intuition.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Type the words in order to summon units to defeat the ink armies of chaos in this flash game.
A fun game of typing defense.
Climb high up the mountains by typing words.
Knock the giant off the cliff by typing.
Type as fast as possible to save earth from space rocks.
A typing game where you must type all the letters to shoot them.


text:
Solidarity Campaign for IDEA (International Drama/Theatre and Education Association)
February 20, 2014 Cultura21, newsBrazil, Education Association, International Drama/Theatre, Manoela Souza, Marta Suplicy, Ministry Of Culture, Robin Pascoe, Solidarity Campaign
This post comes to you from Cultura21
IDEA (The International Drama/Theatre and Education Association) currently needs some help from all of us who are supportive of arts education, in a difficult situation they are experiencing at the moment with the Ministry of Culture in Brazil.
The campaign focus in short (quote from Robin Pascoe):
We need to convince Ms Marta Suplicy, Minister of Culture in Brazil to intervene to resolve a case which is seriously damaging the professional and personal lives of key drama educators in the Brazilian Network of Arteducators (ABRA). For three years, ABRA has carried a debt which has now grown to US$300,000, caused by the Ministry of Culture, who have refused to meet the organizers to reach a bilateral resolution, since January 2012.
Please find more details in this PDF file: Letter from IDEA to its members, friends and partners (January 2014) To support this campaign, please use the following Word document: Action letter (January 2014)
You can also watch this campaign video from Manoela Souza of the Brazilian Network of Arteducators:
This post is also available in: French, Spanish.
Cultura21 is a transversal, translocal network, constituted of an international level grounded in several Cultura21 organizations around the world.
Cultura21′s international network, launched in April 2007, offers the online and offline platform for exchanges and mutual learning among its members.
The activities of Cultura21 at the international level are coordinated by a team representing the different Cultura21 organizations worldwide, and currently constituted of:
– Sacha Kagan (based in Lüneburg, Germany) and Rana Öztürk (based in Berlin, Germany)
– Oleg Koefoed and Kajsa Paludan (both based in Copenhagen, Denmark)
– Hans Dieleman (based in Mexico-City, Mexico)
– Francesca Cozzolino and David Knaute (both based in Paris, France)
Cultura21 is not only an informal network. Its strength and vitality relies upon the activities of several organizations around the world which are sharing the vision and mission of Cultura21
Go to Cultura21
Prix Coal 2014: PARIS
October 3, 2013 news, Open Calls13 February, City Artists, Climate Change, Coal Association, Coal Price, Creative Approach, Current Environmental Issues, French Capital, Harmony With Nature, International Projects, Ministry Of Culture, Modernity, Multipolar World, Price Art, Sobriety, Social Organizations, Societal Issues, Transportation Land, Urban Culture, World Capitals
The COAL Art & Environment Prize reveals the wealth of answers brought by artists to current environmental issues. Since 2010, the COAL Prize has honored ten projects related to environmental issues each year, which are selected through a call for international projects and in which hundreds of artists from around the world participate. One artist is awarded the Prix COAL worth € 10,000 by a jury of personalities from the art and ecology. In 2013 COAL price on the theme Adaptation , was presented to Lawrence Tixador for its "transitional architecture."
In 2014, the theme of the COAL Prize is PARIS . Environmental and societal issues of the French capital are numerous: pollution, energy, sprawl, transportation, land use, biodiversity loss, climate change adaptation, etc.. A creative approach to ecology emerges in new social organizations, alternative modes of productions, collaborative ways of living and working that promote usability as well as the happy sobriety. Having long has Paris been the city of light, the symbol of industrial modernity and progress… will she once again shine in the post embodying ecological modernity?
Paris, one of the world capitals of culture and creation, invites artists in 2014 to demonstrate the central role that art can play in a sustainable and responsible city. Artists, predominantly urban, heirs of the diversity embodied in Paris are invited to shake, rethink, reinvent the capital, in a multipolar world and connected to define a fairer and radiant urban culture in harmony with nature.
The COAL Price 2014 will be presented in Paris on 13 February 2014, at a ceremony attended by the ten selected artists and personalities of art and sustainable development.
Established in 2010 by the COAL association, Coalition for art and sustainable development, COAL Price Art and Environment, is under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy and the National Center for Visual Arts.
Download the call for projects pdf
The closing date of the call for projects is January 5, 2014 at midnight .
COAL The award will be presented February 13, 2014.
The selection committee and the jury will be announced shortly.
See the jury of the previous edition
Selection of projects
The criteria for selection of projects take into account the artistic value, relevance (understanding of the issues), originality (ability to suggest approaches, thematic or angles of original view), pedagogy (the ability to convey a message , awareness), social and participative approach (engagement, testimony, efficiency, societal dynamics), eco-design and feasibility.
The COAL Price supports artistic projects in progress or planned. Its endowment of € 10,000 does not necessarily intended to cover all production costs of the project and should be considered as an aid to development.
Beyond the presentation of COAL Prize, the call for proposals is also an opportunity to promote artists involved and witness the creative potential of art on the theme of the environment.
Coal wants to promote the networking of these artists with scientists and stakeholders, produces, develops and promotes projects identified by the call for proposals in the context of exhibitions, events and commands. Projects may be a broadcast on resource 0, national arts and ecologies platform, with the consent of the artists.
The application shall consist of the following documents together in a single pdf file ( The application should not exceed 20 pages):
-A summary description of the proposed and illustrated with his artistic dimension and put into perspective with the environmental issue and the annual theme project
– Two high-definition visuals illustrating the project
-A note on the technical characteristics of the project, particularly in terms of infrastructure and means of production
, a budget estimate;
-A Curriculum Vitae and an artistic record.
Submission of applications
All proposals must be submitted on the server COAL before 5 January 2014.
> Put your online folder on the server COAL
By participating in this call, the authors projects expressly authorize the COAL association publish, reproduce and publicly distribute all or part of the elements of their project for all purposes related to the promotion and communication of project COAL in all media by all media, in all countries and for HOW LONG LEGAL COPYRIGHT. Projects submitted and not selected will remain in the archives of the COAL association. However, they remain the property of their authors. Participation in this call for projects resulting full acceptance of the above conditions.
For any request please write to: contact (at) projetcoal.fr
Competition To Design A Sustainable Theatre Now Open
December 10, 2012 Conferences, Open Calls, WSDAnthony Hopkins, British Theatre Designers, Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Uk, Collaborative Proposals, College Of Music, Digital Submissions, International Performance, Ministry Of Culture, Oistat, Performance Design, Public Performances, Royal College Of Music, Sound Proof, Stage Design, Theatre Architects, Theatre Spaces, Welsh College Of Music, Welsh Government, Winning Design
Could You Design a Sustainable Theatre?
World Stage Design 2013 is a celebration of International performance design from the world of theatre, opera and dance. The event will take place in Cardiff, UK in September 2013, hosted by the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and includes an exhibition as well as public performances and installations in non theatre spaces
The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is seeking proposals for a competition to design a sustainable temporal theatre, to be built in Cardiff, as part of the World Stage Design 2013 festival.
This competition is open to students and emerging practitioners from across all related disciplines; theatre architects, technicians and scenographers should all see this as an opportunity to develop and apply their practice. Collaborative proposals are also welcome.
The theatre will be built in the courtyard of the Anthony Hopkins Centre (adjacent to Cardiff castle) and must seat between 100 and 150 people. The structure must be weather and sound-proof and be designed using either existing and readily available building components or alternative sustainable elements. Full entry details available from the website http://www.wsd2013.com/competition/
All design entries will be exhibited on the WSD2013 online gallery, the best ten designs will be exhibited in Cardiff and the winning design will be built and performed in for the duration of the festival.
Digital submissions must be received by 1 March 2013
Registering interest is available through http://www.wsd2013.com/competition/
Email: WSD2013@oistat.org
WSD2013 is hosted by the Royal College of Music & Drama and is supported by the Welsh Government, OISTAT, the Ministry of Culture Taiwan, & the Society of British Theatre Designers.
COAL Prize Art and Environment 2013: Adaptation
December 8, 2012 ecoartscotlandApplication Deadline, Art And Science, Art Center, Art Research, Coal, Concrete Solutions, Contemporary Artist, Curators, Edge Research, Environmental Issues, Fremantle, French Ministry, French Organization, International Networks, Ministry Of Culture, Private Art, Private Benefactor, Research Associate, School Of Art, Theoretical Texts
This post comes to you from EcoArtScotland
Application deadline: February 28th, 2013
http://www.projetcoal.org/coal/category/prix-coal-2013/
The Coal Prize Art and Environment rewards each year a project by a contemporary artist involved in environmental issues. Its goals are to promote and support the vital role which art and creation play in raising awareness, supporting concrete solutions and encouraging a culture of ecology. The winner is selected out of ten short-listed by a jury of well-known specialists in art, research, ecology and sustainable development.
The 2013 Coal Prize will reward entries that focus on adaptation issues. The award of the 2013 Coal Prize will take place in spring 2013 at Le Laboratoire, a private art center specializing in the blending of art and science.
The prize carries an award of 10,000 Euros. Launched in 2010 by the French organization Coal, the coalition for art and sustainable development, the Coal Prize is supported by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, theFrench Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development, the National Centre of Fine Arts (CNAP), Le Laboratoire, PwC and a private benefactor.
Organizers of the Prague Quadrennial announce the new title and concept for 2011
April 21, 2009 AnnouncementsArchitecture Section, Artistic Director, Boris, Curators, Current Trends, Existence, Genres, International Exhibition, Ministry Of Culture, Organizers, Performance Design, Performance Disciplines, Pq, Prague, Scenography, Slovak, Stage Designer, Theatre Architecture, Twelfth Edition, Visual Arts
The twelfth edition of the biggest international exhibition dedicated to scenography and theatre architecture Prague Quadrennial (PQ) will take place in June 2011, however, organizers are already busy preparing it. The PQ 2011 wants to introduce a large number of performance disciplines from theatre and visual arts to even larger audience than in 2007 when almost 30.000 visitors and 5.000 active participants visited the PQ 07.
After more than 40 years of existence, the Prague Quadrennial International Exhibition of Scenography and Theatre Architecture is changing its name to the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, with the goal of breaking down the often imaginary differences between the performance fields. "In the next edition we want to include a wider range of disciplines and genres connected to performance design and to observe current trends in contemporary performance," explains Sodja Lotker, Artistic Director of the PQ. This is also the reason for widening the international team of curators and commissioners for each section and project. Boris Kudlička, Slovak stage designer, was appointed the General Commissioner of the PQ.
The Prague Quadrennial will be traditionally divided in three main sections: the Section of Countries and Regions, the Architecture Section and the Student Section. "In these days we officially call for countries from all over the world to take part in all three sections and we announce the deadline for applications – 30th June 2009," says Pavla Petrová, the Director of the PQ and the Arts and Theatre Institute. The event is focused on professionals and general public.
The Prague Quadrennial is announced by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and it appoints the Arts and Theatre Institute to be the organizer. More information can be found at www.pq.cz.
The Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space is the largest event of its kind in the world – presenting contemporary work in a variety of performance design disciplines and genres – costume, stage, light, sound design, and theatre architecture for dance, opera, drama, site specific, multi-media performances, and performance art, etc. Every four years, since it's establishing in 1967, the Prague Quadrennial has presented work from more than seventy countries, from five continents, in individual countries' expositions in three competitive sections. The Golden Triga is awarded for the best exposition as well as gold medals.
The largest part of the PQ 2011 will be again the Section of Countries and Regions that represents works from all performance design disciplines in each country and region in the past six years. The organizers hope that the national curators will have a strong concept that will introduce unique and specific contemporary trends in a given country or region. Works can be presented in a group exhibition, a monographic exhibition of a single artist or an exposition/installation that it itself is performance space. Organizers hope to strengthen presentation in all scenographic disciplines at the PQ 2011 and relations among them. Fifty-one countries from five continents took part in this section in 2007.
Like in the previous years, vast space will be dedicated to students of art schools in the so-called Student Section. After great success of the last edition of the PQ, the project Scenofest will strengthen the educational aspect again. It is a common project of the Prague Quadrennial and the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT). The program of Scenofest will consist of workshops, lectures, performances etc. The great interest from the students in the PQ 07 demonstrates the importance of the event; 2.200 students of theatre and art schools took part in it.
The Architecture Section will deal with the question "What is a theatre now?". The section aims to strengthen a dialogue among theatre architecture, stage design and contemporary theatre. It is conceived as a gathering ground for stage designers and other theatremakers with creators of theatre space. The section will focus on all types of theatre space: constructed (built), performed (improvised) and imagined (unbuilt) in the 21st century.
Although the exhibition takes place in 2011, the deadline of the applications for the countries and regions which are interested in participating in the PQ 2011 is 30th June 2009. Each country participating in the PQ must appoint its own curator who sends the obligatory application for the individual sections and coordinates the representation of their country in the PQ. Further artistic and organizational conditions of participation in the PQ are stated in the Statute and Concept and can be found at www.pq.cz.
Other programs that will address the international public will accompany three exhibition sections of the Prague Quadrennial. Programs are designed to create a platform for creative exchange between the theatre professionals, students and public. A successful program in the streets of Prague will be repeated, as well as the program PQ for Children.
The PQ 2011 is prepared by an international team of professionals. Dorita Hannah, an architect and stage designer from New Zealand was appointed a Commissioner of the Architecture Section. A leading British sound designer Steven Brown became a curator of sound design. Simona Rybáková, Czech costume designer and the winner of the Golden Triga in 1999, is a curator of a costume project Extreme Materials. American lighting designer Cindy Limauro will lead Scenofest. A German director and theatre researcher Thea Brejzek was appointed the curator of theory. A Czech stage designer and director Tomáš Žižka is in charge of a project focused on African theatre. An interactive installation/performance called Intersection will be an important part of the PQ 2011 with many international partners. The whole event will be accompanied by a rich program composed of lectures, presentations, discussions, costume shows, meetings and theatre performances.
A Slovak stage designer Boris Kudlička is the General Commissioner for the Prague Quadrennial 2011. Kudlička works mainly for opera, ballet and film. He has collaborated with many leading scenes in Europe and the USA and important directors and conductors like Mariusz Trelinski, Roman Polanski, Keith Warner, Dale Duising, Kent Nagano or Placido Domingo. Boris Kudlička has taken part in three editions of the PQ and he won the Golden Medal for the best use of theatre technology in 2007. He also received Dosky 2003 award, Norwid Award (Polish Theatre Institute), the Award of the Minister of Culture of Poland Gloria Artis.
The core of the PQ management is Pavla Petrová – Director, Sodja Zupanc Lotker – Artistic Director, Daniela Pařízková – Deputy Director and Petr Prokop as Head Manager.
The place and date of the PQ 2011 will be announced during 2009 because the left wing of the Industrial Palace that hosted the PQ in previous years was destroyed by fire in October 2008.
Detailed information including a concept, status and archive of past editions of the Prague Quadrennial since 1967 are available at www.pq.cz


We Christians get so busy doing "good things" for God that we neglect our relationship with God. It's easy to spend such a large amount of time attending church, visiting small groups, singing in choirs, cooking food for baby-having friends, serving on committees, etc. that we run out of time for important practices that draw us closer to God–things like Bible-reading time, devotional time, prayer time, or quiet time. Obviously, doing "good things" like attending church or singing in choirs aren't bad practices in and of themselves (I personally view the practice of preparing and taking meals to friends who've recently had a baby as a holy sacrament.). The problem is this: the more that we neglect our relationship with God, the less powerful and/or effective our "good things" become.
Fellow parents: we face a similar problem when it comes to raising children. As my kids get older, I'm noticing all to well how easy it is to fall into the trap of busyness. I don't know about you other parents out there, but sometimes I get so busy doing "good things" for my kids that I neglect things that build relationships with them. It's easy to spend such a large amount of time enrolling for sports, cleaning the house, doing laundry, doing dishes, shopping for clothes, scheduling appointments, working extra hours to pay for [insert item children want here], etc. that we run out of time or energy for important relationship-building activities like family dinners, bedtime stories, uninterrupted-by-cell-phone car conversations, uninterrupted-by-cell-phone [insert any activity here], or one-on-one prayer time. Obviously, doing "good things" for our kids isn't a bad practice in and of itself. We all want our kids to succeed (or, at a minimum, it'd be nice if they ate off of clean plates). The problem is this: the more that we neglect spending time on the things that build our relationships with our kids, the less effective we become at raising healthy kids.
To sum it up another way, here's what I feel like God has been telling me lately. Perhaps you can learn something from it as well.
Focus less on doing laundry or cleaning house or searching the Internet for the best decorating ideas for your kids' rooms. Your spiritual gift is not decorating. Focus more on facilitating conversations at family dinner or reading bedtime stories or playing catch. Also, get off of your cell phone.


text:
Aims and Intended Learning Outcomes
Sample Reading List
Staff and Faculty
Languages and other training
Our Scholarships
We want to give as many students and scholars to possibility to work with us and get involved in the EuroSud programme. That's why we do our best to provide as many of them as possible with scholarships. Explore these pages to find out more about the available opportunities.
Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
The most popular choice for financial support are the Erasmus Mundus programme scholarships.
Other funding opportunities for students
There are other ways for students to receive financial support provided by our various consortium partners.
Funding for Scholars
We welcome scholars from all over the world to work with us and want to support you as much as possible in financial aspects.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
eurosud@glasgow.ac.uk
© 2022 EUROSUD - South European Studies. All rights reserved
We use cookies from third party services for marketing activities and to offer you a better experience.
Read about how we use cookies and how you can control them by clicking "Privacy Preferences".
We use the Hubspot service to enable video content streaming on this site.


text:
San Saturnino (llamada oficialmente Santa María de San Sadurniño) es una parroquia y un lugar español del municipio de San Saturnino, en la provincia de La Coruña, Galicia.

Entidades de población

Entidades de población que forman parte de la parroquia:

Despoblado

 O Pumariño

Suprimidos

 Avenida do Marqués de Figueroa
 Avenida do Marqués de San Sadurniño
 Plaza Duques da Conquista (Praza dos Duques da Conquista)

Demografía

Parroquia

Lugar

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Parroquias de San Saturnino
Localidades de San Saturnino
Localidades de la provincia de La Coruña

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
entertainment / Movies
Oscar viewership up for first time in five years
Agence France-Presse / 06:29 AM February 26, 2019
An image of Freddie Mercury appears on screen as Brian May, left, and Adam Lambert of Queen perform at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP
LOS ANGELES, United States – The 91st Academy Awards telecast rebounded from a four-year slump to record 29.6 million viewers this time around, an 11 percent rise from 2018's all-time low, ABC said on Monday.
The increase is welcome news for organizers who stumbled through a series of headline-grabbing missteps in the run-up to the show, including backtracking on a best popular film category and pulling the plug on a host for the first time in three decades.
The hostless and shortened format appears to have pleased viewers, with the 200-minute show broadcast by ABC the most-watched entertainment telecast in two years, ABC said in a statement.
"Year to year, 'The Oscars' audience surged by 3.1 million viewers (29.6 million vs. 26.5 million) and jumped 13 percent in adults 18-49 (7.7 rating vs. 6.8 rating)," ABC said, quoting data from the Nielsen Company.
It added that the show dominated social media Sunday night with 17.7 million interactions, the majority on Twitter (75 percent), followed by Instagram and Facebook.
Apart from a shortened broadcast and a change in format, entertainment experts attribute the rise in viewership this year to the presence of blockbusters and performances by the iconic band Queen and Lady Gaga. /cbb
Jane de Leon 'ready to surrender all' for Darna role
Ara Mina: Yes to kissing, but no more baring
TAGS: ABC, Academy Awards, Entertainment, Oscars
Franchise renewal for TV5, CBCP lapses into law


Your Portsmouth home is like a book — it gets judged by its cover.
Our network of lawn care companies in Portsmouth, NH will give you a lush green lawn and can improve the overall look of your home, improving curb appeal and even increasing your property value.
In Portsmouth, NH Trugreen is our featured partner. Portsmouth homeowners can depend on TruGreen for year-round care that is specifically meant for lawns in the city of Portsmouth. Trugreen consists of lawn care experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your lawn, no matter where you live in Portsmouth. A TruGreen specialist can take a look at your lawns grass type and soil condition and come up with the best lawn care service for your home.
Portsmouth homeowners can depend on Lawncare.net for year-round care that is specifically meant for lawns in the city of Portsmouth.
Lawncare.net is a team of lawn care experts who are highly qualified to provide the best recommendations for you and your lawn, no matter which part of Portsmouth you live in.


text:
Gold needs a positive comprehensive policy: Y V Reddy
Y V Reddy, the seasoned banker and the 21st governor of the Reserve Bank of India between 2003 and 2008, feels there is lot more to gold than in its colour and its attributes of providing safety, security and under difficult circumstances, even liquidity.
By E Kumar Sharma
Y V Reddy, the seasoned banker and the 21st governor of the Reserve Bank of India between 2003 and 2008, feels there is lot more to gold than in its colour and its attributes of providing safety, security and under difficult circumstances, even liquidity. "We have to recognize that gold is an industry. It has as huge retail market. Millions of citizens are involved in transactions in gold. It has employment potential." And that is not all. "The manner in which the industry develops will have an impact on the future of the financial sector" since "gold has some characteristics of money" and is a "substitute for financial asset." Therefore, he feels it is time, "The government places a white paper incorporating a positive comprehensive policy on gold."
Reddy said this as part of his talk at the Hyderabad Literary Festival on Sunday, January 29th, where he was invited to share some of his "interesting experiences".
Reddy, who has authored several books and who was also been the chairman of the Fourteenth Finance Commission of India, in his long years with the Indian central bank, has had to often deal with gold albeit "in an official capacity", as he likes to add. For instance, he has seen the country's transition from being a borrower to a lender and subsequently even a buyer of gold. "It is matter of personal satisfaction for me that I was dealing with gold to raise resources in 1991 and to obtain funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and by 2002, when I joined as the ED on the IMF board, India, "got the clearance (from the IMF) to be a lender." Subsequently (after 2008-09), he says, "we build enough reserves to enable my successor to purchase gold from the IMF," the very institution, to which India had to earlier not only pledge gold but also physically transport it as per its conditions for financial assistance in 1991.
Looking back, Reddy does see some of the measures taken by the government in the recent years as significant while apparently a lot more needs to be done. "In the budget of 2015, the government has taken initiative for three schemes. One of them, on Gold coins is a bold step in recognition of gold as an industry. Recent initiatives on consumer protection through strengthening role of Bureau of India Standards are noteworthy. These measures are better than the previous ones which were muddled. However, they are still ad hoc and disjointed. The white, black and yellow dimensions of gold supply and demand are still getting mixed up."
Reddy has for long maintained the need to have a "positive comprehensive policy" on gold. In fact, even back in December 2015, while delivering the 12th Dr Amitabh Chowdhury Annual Memorial lecture in Guwahati, on the topic of 'gold policy in India', Dr Reddy had said, "it may appear inappropriate to discourage import of gold that meets needs of women, while import of luxury cars and men's shaving lotions are permitted freely…..public policy in regard to gold should be fair to all, and not imply a bias against tradition or a bias against gender." He then, called for a policy that "should address the three different sources of demand for gold in a differentiated manner. First, in regard to the demand arising out of cultural factors, property rights and general preferences, these will get resolved over the longer term depending on the socio-economic developments. Second, the development of financial sector to provide reliable alternatives to gold as a form of saving for individual investors must be considered over the medium-term. Third, the demand for gold arising out of black money transactions requires immediate and serious attention in view of its nefarious influence on economic system and social fabric."
Reddy, while concluding his talk at the literary festival in Hyderabad, said, "In November 2016, in the context of demonetization, gold came back into news. The demand for gold from black money sources and the demand for gold for jewellery purpose could not be adequately distinguished during the process. This is the legacy of a negative attitude to gold industry which dominated our country for decades. That policy resulted in smuggling and generation of black money" and therefore there are good reasons why, he sees a case for a "positive comprehensive policy on gold."
Mumbai Rains: Report closed roads on Google Maps, here's how
Environment Ministry goes green! Acquires electric cars for official use
Kalpataru Power Transmission acquires 100% stake in Shree Shubham Logistics


Love may have been in the air yesterday but it has been swiftly replaced with fun. Lots of fun and tech. That's because TechRadar's daily news in brief is here - the perfect antitodote to your romantic hangover.
Here are 10 stories to help you forget that nagging feeling that you got royally ripped off by the man selling you roses in the petrol station last night.